Today's Carolinian - April 2019 Magazine

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APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cesar Carlos Heyrosa ASSOCIATE EDITOR - INTERNAL AFFAIRS Paulie Yap ASSOCIATE EDITOR - EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Theresa Kate Palompon MANAGING EDITOR FOR ADMINISTRATION Sofia Isabel Tajos HEAD OF WRITING DEPARTMENT Kyn Noel Pestaño CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anton Elijah Lin SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS Laura Posadas and Regie Vocales NEWS EDITOR - TALAMBAN CAMPUS Dave Carl Bernasibo NEWS EDITOR - DOWNTOWN AND SOUTH CAMPUS Louisa Concepcion Carredo

FEATURE EDITOR Paolo Perez LITERARY EDITOR Brynch Bonachita STAFF SECRETARY Blaise Pancho ONLINE MANAGING EDITORS Christine Diaz DIRECTOR FOR CIRCULATION AND STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT Kerstein Nicole Labay HEAD PHOTOJOURNALIST Keith Raymier Ayuman ASSISTANT HEAD PHOTOJOURNALIST Jessa Marie Pedrola HEAD VIDEOGRAPHER Robert Michael Lim ASSISTANT HEAD VIDEOGRAPHER Frank Go HEAD ILLUSTRATOR Eduard Jude Jamolin ASSISTANT HEAD ILLUSTRATOR Phoemela delos Santos LAYOUT SUPERVISOR Riza Mae Colon SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Drix Lloyd Ponteres

EDITORIAL STAFF OPERATIONS

FINANCE OFFICERS Erme Jr. Legario, Renee Lopez

ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Niña Margaret Millares, Jeff

Loreen Nacauge, Nathaniel Niar, Zachels Nuñeza , Vince

Marc Padao, Jel Pamela Pagulong, Jasmin Reyes, Jeanne

Sherlyn Tello, Kate Jacinth Visorro, Delbert Jon Michael Yu

WEBSITE DEVELOPER Cathy Aldanio, Allan

Jericho Bargamento, Marietoni Codiniera, Ryan Omongos,

Joshua Tahanlangit

WRITING DEPARTMENT

NEWS BUREAU

WRITERS Januar Junior Aguja, Mary Elizah Castillo,

Lara Eviota, Kim Libarnes, Bernardo Mitra, Maria

Consuelo Pacilan, Abygale Velasquez

CREATIVE DEPARTMENT

LAYOUT ARTISTS Kobe Bryan Abellanosa, Julia Jubac,

Jose Preben Layola, Aubrey Joy Morales,

Patricia Denise Rafanan

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Francis Ian Palanca, Meriam Joyce Truz

ILLUSTRATORS Christine Mae Alferan, Philip Luke Manghihilot,

Christ Ian Palomares, Sabrina Joyce Tamayo

PHOTOJOURNALISTS Joanne Marie Bolo, Dodds

Marvin Campomanes, Christian Rey Caracena, Jason

Matthew Lim, Niña Margaret Millares, Lance Matthew Pahang,

Garel Sison

VIDEOGRAPHERS Irie Aldana, Annikka Felicitty Balaga,

Maureen Mantos, Michael Vince Paca

VIDEO EDITORS Keandrei Andrade, Julia Veronica Toledo

The Progressive Student Publication of the University of San Carlos

UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS Cebu City, Cebu Philippines 6000 VOLUME XXIX No. 15 APRIL 2019

THE COVER As the academic year is about to come to a close, we gather the achievements and the lessons as we walk toward the new. For us to move forward, some things must end.

Words by Cesar Carlos Heyrosa Art Direction and Cover by Anton Elijah Lin

HOW TO REACH US LETTERS TO THE EDITOR,

with the writer’s name, e-mail address and contact number, should be e-mailed to todayscarolinianusc@gmail.com. Letters may be edited for reasons of space and clarity.

© 2019. TODAY’S CAROLINIAN All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Today’s Carolinian publishes one to two issues per academic year.

Today’s Carolinian may also publish occasional extra issues. An electronic version (PDF Format) of every publication is available in the Today’s Carolinian website.

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.

SSC | MAY 6, 2019 NATIONAL | MAY 13, 2019

EDITOR’S NOTE “Here we go round the prickly pear Prickly pear prickly pear Here we go round the prickly pear At five o’clock in the morning.

Between the conception And the creation Between the emotion And the response Falls the Shadow Life is very long”

Between the idea And the reality Between the motion And the act Falls the Shadow For Thine is the Kingdom

EDITOR’S NOTE

Not with a bang but a whimper.

A new chapter in a 365-book. Songs about the tortuous path. Stories of hardships, of pressing on. It is already ingrained in our culture that we ought to romanticize clichés about the journey and its beginnings. Hope.

Strength. Going through it all. In this way, however, we fail to see that the curtains must close — that there comes a point that the show goes on no more.

Here lies our problem: Our failure to see that all things must end is congruent to our failure to see the moral of the story. We refuse to learn from the mistakes of those before us: from the SSC’s mishandling of our money to sudden spikes in tuition fees, from the ever-mounting prices of goods to the terrors of martial law, from the rise of strongman politics advocating cruelty over justice to the protection of harmful traditionalist values. All these go on, for humanity as a whole wants a second act, when an ending is gravely needed.

It is their end or ours, and no compromise in between. We can only move forward if we choose for some things to end — not with dramatic explosions, but with a swathing peace among ourselves. This is a call to end electing the corrupt and the incompetent in the SSC and the Philippine government this May. This is a call to end toxic traditionalist ideals. This is a call to end ignorance and indifference in our university.

For in the end, only we remain.

“Between the desire And the spasm Between the potency And the existence Between the essence And the descent Falls the Shadow For Thine is the Kingdom For Thine is Life is For Thine is the This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper.”

—T.S. Eliot, The Hollow Men TC

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CONTENTS 43

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FEATURE Anomalous SMEI Keyboard Varisities On Blockchains and the Future of Videogames Awaken! Seeing Right through a Facade On-Screen

1 5 7 11

NEWS FEATURE Rebranded, Repurposed, Revealed: Sustainability Tourism in the Philippines

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NOTEBOOK Did Change Come?

More on the New Tuition Fee

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VOX POPULI Will you vote? Why or why not?

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OPINION Reviewing the Promise of K-12 Do Credentials Matter?

The Blame Game: Accountability in Politics In Which the Answer is Simple Here’s Why Academic Performance of SSC Candidates Matter

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LITERARY Warmth Pasidaan

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REVIEW Games People Play: 10 Video Games on PC

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FEATURE Report No.: 49 Title: Anomalous Site in Forest Area South of Science and Mathematics Education Institute, Talamban Campus Researchers: Head, F.S.; Heyrosa, C.C.L.; Ayuman, K.R.G.; Lin, A.E.E. Date of filing: March 9, 2018 Status: Declassified Introduction:a Separate reports previously described anomalous phenomena and their respective recommendations for concealment in the Science and Mathematics Education Institute (SMEI) and the surrounding forest of the University of San Carlos – Talamban Campus (USC–TC). Specifically, these are: faint mumblings of Christian prayers in rooms SMB1 and SMB2 during evening classes (Report No. 6, 2003); a humanoid entity described as a female human monikered “Cindy” in the third floor of the Arnoldus Science Complex (Report No. 11, 2012); humanoid entities resembling faceless children seen solely via peripheral vision in the forested area (Report No. 12, 2012); and a humanoid with hands for feet crawling on the ceiling in room SMB3 (Report No. 20, 2015).

On Oct. 15, 2013, an earthquake, recorded at MMS 7.2, hit Central Visayas, with an epicenter in Sagbayan, Bohol.

The aforementioned earthquake subsequently caused a previously undiscovered concrete flooring approximately 150 m south of SMEI to be destroyed. The said entrance appears as a cave opening nearly perfectly round in shape, with an approximate diameter of 0.92 m.

Coincidentally, an increase in the frequency of students and personnel encountering the anomalous phenomena described in Reports No. 6, 11, 12 and 20 has been observed after the cave had been revealed. Notably, students and personnel with weak sensitivity to anomalous phenomena (See Appendix II for diagnosis) were also made susceptible to such encounters. The university administration was able to track down the persons who claimed to encounter such phenomena, and spent for psychological and amnestic therapies with the drug Anantashexine.

Highlights of Exploration Logs: Exploration team: The exploration team was duly recommended by Fr. Angelo Bagut, SVD along with his proposal reports. Chosen among 72 applicants were:

• Ayuman, K.R.G. – student photojournalist,

Today’s Carolinian

• Head, F.S. – student journalist, Today’s Carolinian

• Ito, C.Y. – full professor, Department of Biology

• Lim, F.A. – responding officer, USC Incident

Response Team

• Napoles, D.F.V. – president, USC Incident

Response Team

• Rosales, J.A. – councilor, USC Supreme

Student Council

• Seville, T.E. – O5 security officer, SCP Foundation

(outsourced service)

• Taya, R.I. – associate professor, Department of

Civil Engineering

• Yagan, C.P. – full professor, Department of Physics

• Ybon, A.J.L. – councilor, USC Supreme

Student Council Highlights of exploration, Nov. 21, 2016: Site: Cave interior and second opening

Dr. Christof Yagan of the Department of Physics hypothesized a correlation between the discovery of the cave and the increase of anomalous encounters. With this, Vice President for Administration Fr. Angelo Bagut, SVD proposed the exploration of the cave interior on Oct. 21, 2016. The aforementioned proposal was approved by the board of trustees of the University of San Carlos on Oct. 28, 2016. Exploration was done from Nov. 21 to 28, 2016.

Fig. 1. Location of anomalous site hidden among foliage, photo taken in 2019

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FEATURE Entrance of cave sloped downwards at an angle of about 40 degrees estimated by Taya. Sunlight was not sufficient for lighting inside the cave, and illumination was only achieved through flashlights. Taya also identified the cave walls to be of limestone, following general non-anomalous formation of caves. The path was straightforward, with a second opening visible after about 15 minutes of walking.

The said opening was reached after about five more minutes.

The team exited to what could be described as a forested area. The area beyond the second opening here forth shall be referred to as USC–TC02, for conditions that the team would eventually discover. The SMEI building (SMEI02) was in sight nearby from the cave exit. Upon closer inspection, the building was found in a state of abandonment and dilapidation. Overgrowth indicated that this the building was abandoned for a long period according to Seville.

Highlights of exploration: Nov. 26, 2016: Site: Stad02 The team entered the narrow building in Stad02 without incident after Taya and Yagan confirmed of the structural integrity of the building. Upon entering the classrooms, however, Rosales detected a humanoid being huddled in the corner. Despite warnings from both Seville and Head, she approached it, prompting the humanoid to run to the ceiling of the classroom, which then revealed that it had hands where we normally have feet, revealing a connection to Report No. 20.

Upon the incident, faint mumblings of Christian prayers began emanating in the room, similar to Report 6. However, the mumblings were steadily increasing in volume.

At this point, Ito described being watched by faceless humanoid entities that can only be seen in conditions described by Report No. 12. Seville directed the return to the first opening of the cave because of the uncertainty of the safety of the team.

Highlights of exploration, Nov. 24, 2016: Site: USC–TC02 main circuit road, canteen of LBB02 After confirming from Report No. 12 that the humanoid beings therein were harmless when left unprovoked, Seville suggested the return to USC–TC02. With strict instructions to ignore any non-team member they might see, the team exited the forest through the walkway west of the basketball court (BCT02), which was likewise in a state of abandonment and disrepair, without incident.

Following the main cemented road, the area beyond the cave opening was found to be identical to USC–TC. Notably, all buildings in USC–TC02 were in a similar state of abandonment and disrepair. Fauna was not detected in the USC–TC02. Interestingly, versions of the Michael Richartz Building and the Josef Baumgartner Learning Resource Center were absent in USC–TC02. It should be noted that both buildings were fully constructed before the completion of the USC Stadium, of which a version (Stad02) exists in USC–TC02. Stad02 was therefore marked as an area of interest.

Fig. 2. The entity seen in the Stad02

It was also found out that the gates of USC–TC02 led out to a river instead of Gov. M. Cuenco, Ave. The river is of undetermined depth and flowed north with a strong current.

The opposite riverbank was visible, but citing possible hazards owing to a similar phenomenon in the outskirts of Bern, Switzerland, Seville advised against exploration beyond USC–TC02.

Afterward, the team explored the canteen and study area of the Lawrence Bunzel Building (LBB02). A graffiti of “ASA ANG SSC? [Where is the SSC?]” made of a reddish-brown substance was found on the east wall, where Pabugnawan was supposedly located. Ito and Seville confirmed the substance to be dried blood.

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FEATURE Highlights of exploration, Nov. 28, 2016: Site: CO102 Upon the suggestion of Fr. Angelo Bagut, SVD, the team visited the Cocofed One – Administrative Building (CO102) in USC–TC02. Head, Napoles and Ito stated noticing more instances of the beings in Report No. 12.

to commit murder within USC–TC02.

The post said: “Klaro na kaayo ning mga boang nga mas naa pa’y paki nga makadaog sila kaysa sa mutabang nato! Mga wa’y gamit! Di baya kahibaw mugamit sa kwarta nato, mga Carolinians! Patilawon ni nato sila kung unsa sila ka-wala’y gamit! Pampusilon ni nato ugma! Awa ni’s Cindy Uy. Mas naa pa’y oras mangaway sa kontra kaysa sa mu-graduate.

Di gyud ni nato pa-graduate-on! [It’s very clear that these people care more about winning the election than helping us! They are useless! They don’t even know how to use our money, Carolinians! Let’s make them taste how useless they are! We’ll gun them down tomorrow! Look at Cindy Uy. She has more time attacking her rivals than graduating. Let’s make sure she doesn’t graduate!]” Attached to the post is an image showing Uy’s grades for the first and second semesters of academic year 1992 to 1993.

The incident led to 782 fatalities, as well as 1,063 non-fatal injuries in USC–TC02. The perpetuators of the incident were imposed a death sentence. Following the death of key university administrators, the abandonment of students and the cost of insurance, USC–TC02 was forced to close down.

The pistol found by Ybon was found to have no anomalous properties.

Fig. 3. Instance or entity in Report No. 12 in CO102 The team entered the office of the vice president for administration on the second floor of CO102. Inside the office, Seville collected the documents on the table of Fr. Angelo Bagut, SVD. At that instant, Ybon began to be visibly distraught and, after a metallic sound was heard, picked up a 9-mm automatic pistol from the floor. Ybon began speaking hysterically, “Ipapusil mo niya. Sorry kaayo. Sorry gyud.

Wa raw mi gamit. [He wants to have you gunned down. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. They say we are useless.]” She was subsequently subdued by Ayuman and Napoles, and the pistol was collected by Seville along with the documents as evidence.

Similar to Rosales and Lim, Ybon was enrolled in amnestic therapy involving strong doses of Anantashexine following the group’s exit of USC–TC02. Fr. Angelo Bagut, SVD directed to stop exploration.

Evidence Log The documents collected by Seville revealed that USC– TC02 was last used in 1994. However, the same documents discussed the use of social media websites, albeit different from those used in the present day.

During an incident where Cindy Carnation Uy, the chairman of the USC–TC02 version of PDP-Laban Carolinian Party and notable for resembling the entity described in Report No. 11, engaged in mudslinging during the SSC election of 1993, the administrators of a page critical of the SSC in social media site MyPals posted material urging freshmen

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Conclusion and Recommendations As of writing, Yagan and Seville were unable to reach a conclusion as to why USC–TC02 exists. Unlike other anomalous phenomena that are easier to contain or prevent, it is deemed that the only method to contain USC–TC02 was to seal the cave entrance, with no guarantee of complete success.

It is thus recommended that the cave entrance to USC–TC02 be sealed with concrete. A steel plate is then to be placed atop the concrete to ensure concealment. Furthermore, Seville suggested that a building with a closed room containing the sealed cave entrance be built. University personnel are to be tasked to check on the state of the steel plate at least twice a month. The building may be reserved for the use of the upcoming senior high school students so as not to arouse suspicion.

We also suggest merging Reports No. 6, 11, 12, 20 and 49, as the phenomena described by the said reports are related.

TC

“When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?”

— Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

Photograph by Christian Rey Caracena

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D R A O B Y KE

S R O I R WAR Kim G. Libarnes Photo by Dodds Marvin Campomanes

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Over 1 million dollars in earnings.

It was what then-16-year old Sumail Hassan, under the username Suma1L, bagged in the 2015 edition of The International DOTA 2 (Defense of the Ancients 2) Championships, an annual competition graced by the world’s top Red Bull-infused teens duking it out in arguably one of the most recognized events in esports.

Sumail’s record-worthy feat was only emphasized in his stellar run with his team, the Evil Geniuses, who made a stunning comeback win to muster the top spot in the tourney. This Pakistani native is now the youngest player to surpass the million-dollar mark in esports earnings, setting the tone for the electronic sports scene to clear its lanes in the international stage. With last year’s prize pool reaching over USD 25 million — a seven-digit prize pool — there’s no question as to its growing popularity particularly to local computer shop regulars who aspire to be playing alongside their cyber heroes.

So, unless you’ve been living offline the past couple of years, you’ve probably — most likely, have heard about the growing multi-million-dollar industry of eSports. But it’s not always all about clearing lanes, smashing turrets, and jungling creeps, eSports come in all shapes and sizes such as sports, real time strategy games such as Starcraft and Command and Conquer, first-person shooter games with the likes of Call of Duty and Counter Strike, and multiplayer online battle arena games such as League of Legends and DOTA 2.

Despite the massive prize pools, competitive professional leagues and player season formats, its legitimacy as a sport continues to be shrouded in question, with critics hitting back at its credibility, considering its lack of recognition at the Olympics. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach stressed that esports are “contrary to the Olympic rules and values of sport,” with concerns such as the incapacity of governing body, substance abuse and fair play surrounding the virtual gaming community.

As the rise of growing eSport leagues such as ESL (Electronic Sports League), the Overwatch League and even the Smash Masters League continues, they fortify their defense against bashers. In 2018, DOTA 2’s The International (TI) hit a total of 15 million viewers who tuning into the finals match, with streaming services such as Twitch also racking up views from their online viewing platform. Unsurprisingly, this number continues to escalate through the years, and it’s not just viewership. Gaming teams who participate also come from different parts of the map,

with the Chinese comprising the majority. With the involvement gaining traction internationally, sporting associations have also begun to take note.

Just last year, esports was one of the highlights of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia as the annual sports gathering collaborated in a joint effort with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the Asian Electronic Sports Federation, and the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee, to feature six games as demonstration sports. Though the winners did not receive official medals and the wins were not part of the overall tally, they did get to play while bearing their flags on their shoulders and prove to their mothers that computer games aren’t a waste of time. The games, League of Legends, Hearthstone, Starcraft II, Pro Evolution Soccer 2018, Tencent’s Arena of Valor, and Clash Royale, starred national teams from all parts of Asia in an attempt to embrace the rise of the digital era of competitive sports. The 2022 edition slated in Hangzhou is taking it a step further as the Chinese circuit steps to the plate in the upsurge in competitive gaming.

“The OCA has always been committed to the inheritance, development, and improvement of Asian sports,” OCA president Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah said, although this wasn’t a fresh idea.

It was 2013, with the 4th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, where eSports initially drew first blood in the international sporting scene, with games such as FIFA 13 and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 taking the spotlight. Computer buffs took home medals for both individual and team events. With tourneys set across waters, however, logistics and travel documents can prove difficult.

Fortunately, countries including the Philippines have now offered P1 Visas for cyber athletes looking to carry our flag in the international esports arena. P1 Visas can be secured by entertainers and athletes should they wish to participate in events in the United States. These athlete licenses were procured by local-bred Filipino gaming teams TnC Pro Team and Execration in the 2017 TI DOTA 2 Championships.

Whether or not it makes the cut in the Olympic stage, gamers alike will always have their hearts set on their favorite pastime.

Ultimately, the likelihood of computer shops being the new nesting grounds for would-be cyber athletes continues to be a blurry one, but the Olympics isn’t an impossible push — and hopefully, it’s not GG for the growing eSports community. Will we see our national flags decking out the computer monitors? Or will hope continue to be disconnected for these keyboard varsities?

TC

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ON BLOCKCHAINS

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THE FUTURE OF VIDEOGAMES Kyn Pestano

Illustration by Eduard Jude Jamolin

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rom its relatively early and humble beginnings half a century ago, video games have come quite a long way, ballooning into an industry worth USD 100 billion that pervades the daily lives of more than 2 billion people across the globe.

Classics such as Nintendo’s Game Boy with Pokémon at its helm and others have paved the way not only for the general discipline of game production, but also for the simplicity of the brick and mortar gaming economy which it introduced, where developers made physical copies of their games and had them sold in physical stores for fixed prices. With the advent of the internet, however, platforms have now vastly diversified, branching out from the original hand-held consoles to smartphones and PCs with the use of the internet as the avenue for the acquisition of games. Consequently, the physical economy of gaming is now approaching significantly lesser sustainability compared to prior years because of the arrival of the aforementioned platforms and their corresponding monetizing avenues. The competition now, simply put, is becoming too extreme for most developers to secure a foothold in the gaming industry with only one mode of monetization. With this, internet-reliant platforms are now starting to recognize the possible merits of decentralization and the loss that would arise from neglecting its structure.

Decentralization is simply the usage of a network of individual computers connected with each other to perform, record and verify digital transactions. The structural foundation of this is called a blockchain, and the mode of payment between transactions is called cryptocurrencies. This allows the structure to return individual users their privacy and significantly reduced the risk of hacking and data infringement, as, instead of having only one central server to meddle, a hacker would need to simultaneously breach all the individual servers making up the network to access a part or the totality of it. Another advantage, and the one we’re most concerned about, is the integration of cryptocurrencies that enable it to sustain itself without a centralized authority doing so. A common example of a platform utilizing such a structure is Torrent.

Although there are several online giants out there that utilize centralization, such as Facebook and Google, for the benefit of the subject at hand, let’s focus on one particularly successful centralized gaming platform — Steam. Started in 2003 by Valve Corporation, Steam has since grown to become the multi-billion dollar giant that it is today. Yet despite this massive growth, Steam still falls into the pitfalls of undermining its clientele by allowing a massive, near-unregulated, influx of competition without providing additional avenues by which they can promote, sell and monetize their products. This creates the typical algorithmic outcome of the rich being richer and the poor being poorer.

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One such possibility for a decentralized monetization platform is establishing a blockchain-based ecosystem, or marketplace, where a cryptocurrency specifically designed for use within it may be utilized as the primary mode of payment, if not directly, then as a basis for valuing specific assets or items within it.

If gaming giants such as Steam decide to shift their models into a blockchain-powered marketplace, then gamers will more likely purchase items and digital assets with in-game, cryptocurrencybacked tokens. Apart from its value in fiat money, an item could also be given by developers a corresponding crypto value. This would accomplish the rise in purchases by allowing gamers to liquefy their assets once they are done or are already bored with one game and want to transfer to another. The fiat money they spent on an item can be returned to them as cryptocurrencies, which they can, in turn, use to purchase other items within the marketplace. This would allow them greater flexibility on their gaming purchases, and their monetary investment in games would be continuously rising, regardless of how many different games they have been playing for a certain period of time.

Following the decentralization of its marketplace, a blockchainbased marketplace could provide a solution for grey markets, where developers lose as much as 40 percent of their income on in-game assets due to some players trading them outside of the platform by using fiat money. With a decentralized marketplace, gamers can liquefy their assets conveniently and securely, appeasing themselves with the thought of “true ownership” which blockchains can provide. Additionally, Steam and developers could actually profit greatly from the advent of these fluid transactions by imposing transaction fees which will use the specific cryptocurrency circulating within the marketplace.

The gaming ecosystem would now become a triangular interaction between gamers, developer, and gaming platforms such as Steam. With developers and companies ridding themselves of expensive and uncertain traffic from publishing ads with centralized platforms such as YouTube and Google, a significant increase in the budget for game production and compensation for influencers who actually can put in genuine traffic to games would be made.

As with any other, however, the existence of the gaming industry’s demand and supply will always be traced down to the grassroots.

No industry can stand without the patronization of individuals.

As such, the expansion of video gaming’s demographic and the shifting of its perceived cultural paradigm will prove to be the fuel that can carry it through the years.

In contrast to earlier years, where video games, among many others, were still primarily seen as the domain of men, gender advances throughout the world have enabled women to pursue any walk of life, including gaming. In the United States today, roughly 40 percent of the gaming population is made up of women. Furthermore, with the advent of esports, digitalized gaming via smartphones, increased financial weight in the market, among others, gaming is now perceived in most cultures as either a definite lifestyle addition or a reputable source of income, and even career. This shift in both demographics and social perception has caused the market for video games to increase at a significant pace, and with the advent of several technologies which could further its advancement, there is little room for doubt when it comes to the future of the industry. TC

Complementing the above possible monetization models of Steam, or any other platform, the possible eventual standard would be the overhaul of the perception of gaming as entertainment, and the creation of an entire economy rooted in blockchain-based gaming as a full-time job. This can be realized by utilizing the above proposals of a cryptocurrency-based valuation of digital assets and liquid economies.

At present, the only way to earn money if you are a gamer uninterested in the actual production process of games is to become an influencer — someone who generates traffic via social media and corresponding ads by producing content relevant to the games being showcased. This can be overturned completely with the integration of the said monetizing models.

In-game progress can then be monetized by selling rare items or assets achieved within the game and converting the cryptocurrency gained into fiat money.

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N E K A AW EEN

IGHT R G N I E SE

SCR N O E D ACA UGH A F

THRO

Abygale Velasquez Illustration by Sabrina Joyce Therese Tamayo

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“Discourse and critical thinking are essential tools when it comes to securing progress in a democratic society. But in the end, unity and engaged participation are what make it happen.”

social media. Different tactics from various candidates have been rampant, all striving to be relevant, going with what’s trending, making statements and other whatnots.

— Splendid Literarium

Endorsements for the upcoming elections have been easy for the candidates this time, with lots of options to advance and encourage their audience to show their hands for them. Paths to promote their candidacy have been wider than ever. The major platform for their crusade is social media. Thus, their plans and future outlooks becomes visible through this. COMELEC monitors these online on-goings and even keeps track on “influencers” that support some runners. This wide array of strategies that happen online gives no doubt on how huge the effects of social media are on the upcoming elections. While social media has been a line for the politicians to uphold and boost their candidacy, it has been an avenue for the citizens to discuss and be discerned. These platforms are being talked about and shared. Just through likes and reactions, a candidate could make it or break it. Though, the problematic case of fake news is one of the hindrances that could alter this good impact of social media on critical conversations, it could be dealt with accordingly by being a responsible and evaluative social media user.

20 million+ likes.

19 million+ shares.

119 million+ accounts.

A year-end report of understanding social media in the Philippines in 2018 estimated about 119 million mobile subscriptions, and 47 percent of these are active social media users; 87 percent are adults, and 20 to 9 year-olds are the most active users. Are you one of these people?

Voter registration ended last Sept. 29, 2018. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) had more than 2.5 million registered new voters, with an estimated total number of 61 million registered voters for the 2019 elections. The majority of them have access to online platforms.

The 2019 Philippine general election is the midterm election wherein the elected candidate would start his service midway of term of the country’s current president. Twelve seats in the Senate, all seats in the House of Representatives, and all provincial, city, and municipal level elected positions would be open for candidacy.

Verify facts from social media. Do not be fooled by the headlines alone and their big facade of goodness on-screen. Nevertheless, social media has been a valuable source and advantageous of its purpose.

Owing to its massive reach, social media wields the largest influence towards the public nowadays. It has become an avenue to disseminate information, be it the truth or a lie. Convenience at our fingertips. If one happens to scroll up and down on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, then one must have heard, and seen painfully familiar names, many particularly credible.

Know better. With all the hidden agendas, false promises, and even impossible ways of some politicians that are vying desperately for a seat, we must know how to filter these and not be blinded. One way to see this is the highlights of debates that happen on live television since this has also been the apple of the online eye; it has been beneficent in creating interactive exchange of thoughts and opinions that influence the citizens in determining and choosing their bets for the different positions in the government.

The campaign period started on Feb. 12, 2019. Since then, traditional posters and banners with their full smile and graceful appearance, name printed in capital to make sure people can see it from one kilometer distance, to banners. As it happens, billboards of runners have been pasted everywhere, and not just that, of course the barangay gatherings, coined as “pulongpulong” that would be held late at night, the only night that the brightest light and booming sound speaker would be rented to co-exist as a combo to capture people from their scheduled sleep and make time to listen to them candidates never did go out of style. Keep the patience high up, because this daily supply of political stress issued from breakfast to dinner is still going to be concluded far on, May 11. The “old ways” of campaigning, still present on televisions, live videos, and hashtags up to now, are employed by candidates to persuade, be heard, and be voted for. This is why the frontline of propagandas, promotions, and political issues are all over online, because what could possibly make these candidates be more recognized? The answer is

With 2.5 million newly registered voters, this is the game-changer.

For the voters, especially those doing so for the first time, be aware, be involved, cast your votes and make it count.

Politics has a funny way of reminding people that we make bad choices sometimes, and that we should diminish the attitude of negligence, start being critical, and make wise decisions to avoid the mayhem that has been entangled for a long time in the current state.

Long lines of candidates.

61 million voters.

One goal.

Awaken! This might just be the beginning of a long-awaited ending. TC

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

12

NEWS FEATURE

Januar Junior Aguja

Graphics by Anton Elijah Lin

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TODAY’S CAROLINIAN | APRIL 2019

NEWS FEATURE In 2012, the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched a thennew tourism campaign under the slogan, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”. Conceptualized by the advertising agency BBDO Guerrero, it became a widely successful campaign on an international level, attracting 5 million tourists since its launch.

Seven years later, the department and the advertising agency decided to give their successful campaign a major facelift with a renewed focus. They revealed the rebranding of the campaign on Feb. 18, 2019, at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila.

The rebranded campaign aims to promote “sustainable tourism”. DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that they’re “coming into 2019 with a renewed and refreshed sense of purpose, with more and more travelers conscious about their ecological footprint, the cultures and experiences they are consuming and simply wanting to know how they can give back.” With this in mind, Romulo-Puyat added that “[the] time is ripe for a re-purposing of the word ‘fun’”. She emphasized that continuing the campaign instead of launching an entirely new one is “the essence of sustainability”.

As such, the rebranded campaign promotes the use of social media as a means of sustainability, encouraging tourists and residents alike to post about the country’s attractions. Mr. Demetrio Anticuando, BS Tourism Management program head from USC’s Department of Business Administration, stated that “Instagram travelers”, those that post pictures of attractions online, would be a great opportunity for promoting the country’s attractions. However, he expressed concern about whether the photographed attractions are ready to accept tourists, especially concerning , the community and the visitors, and their safety. He explained that “if there are no regulations and policies in place, it’s almost evitable [that] it would not be as beautiful as it was when it was seen by the first batch of travelers.”

The rebranding of the campaign came in with the negative international news coverage of the country because of several political events surrounding President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration. Financial magazine CEOWORLD has ranked the Philippines first in the list of the most dangerous countries of 2019. Mr. Anticuando said that “no matter how beautiful our attractions are and how known we are for our world-class hospitality, if the issue of security and political instability is lingering [our country], it’s one of the major blows that the Philippine tourism industry has to deal with.”

Despite the political instability, there have been attempts to boost the country’s tourism by the current administration. One of the major attempts was the rehabilitation of Boracay, which the campaign has been using to promote the tourism of the country since the island’s reopening after a six-month closure last year.

Jel Pamela Pagulong, a first-year student of BA Political Science, believed that the rehabilitation is in line with the campaign’s goal of promoting sustainable tourism, which “focuses on environmental protection and preservation of our tourist spots.” Kenneth Samoza, a first-year student of BS Tourism Management, said the rehabilitation shows how much the country cares in promoting sustainable tourism and preserving the country’s tourist spots.

Mr. Anticuando said that tourism is everybody’s business. He explained that “part of our responsibility as Carolinians [and] as Filipinos [is] to give our fair share of responsibility in order to promote the Philippines, and not just [soley] rely on Department of Tourism. If we are sincere in promoting our country or if we have a pride of place within us, we should be a part of it.“ TC

One of the main aspects of the rebranded campaign was the new typeface of the logo called “Barabara”, designed by Michelle Co, who is the art director of BBDO Guerrero. The name was derived from “Harabara”, the font of the original campaign’s logo. In an interview with Esquire Philippines, she said that the creation of Barabara was inspired by the local hand-painted signs seen in jeepneys, tricycles and some beach resorts. Co said that “the Philippines has always been something unique. I don’t think other countries have the type of flavor, taste, art style that we have. We made a custom typeface that is deserving of the personality of our country.”

Rey Orlanes Jr., a fourth-year student of BFA Advertising Arts, said he likes the font as it’s “a reminiscent of the jeepney signages.” He added, “It’s like the modern calligraphy of the Philippines.” Rona Mariz Gelbolingo, a graduate of BS Marketing Management, said she likes how fresh the logo is as “it’s subtle yet eye-catching and with a customized font that was made to showcase [our country’s] history.” However, Mr. Anticuando felt that the campaign needed to have a deeper, more relevant explanation on why they designed Barabara and how it speaks as a country. He believes the typeface that the font was inspired from is no longer seen anywhere in Cebu.

be part of the fun with barabara!

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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NOTEBOOK

DID CHANGE COME?

A Retrospective of the past SSC’s year Berns Mitra and Paulie Yap

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TODAY’S CAROLINIAN | APRIL 2019

Photo by Dodds Marvin Campomanes

NOTEBOOK

Every year, Carolinians are presented with a slew of grand promises consolidated into a vision of a USC with reasonable tuition fees, a functional student complaint system, more activities, more parties, and even more mental health projects that simply never come to be. Each time, their hopeful proponents return with renewed zeal and grandeur that reduces campaign periods to sites of competitive tomfoolery.

The Supreme Student Council (SSC) election this May is fast approaching and last year’s brought an unexpected political shift, breaking the trend of the last seven years. The time is ripe to take a step back and evaluate how the council did this year. Did the shift bring any substantial change to the operations and perception of the council? Did change come?

Let’s look at the key issues that this year’s council had to face.

1.

Massive Tuition Fee Increase

This year saw one of, if not the most drastic tuition fee increases in USC history. The first-year students reported either a jump or an incremental increase in their tuition. Programs like BS Business Administration —Marketing Management increased from around PHP 30,000 straight to PHP 40,000 while programs like BFA Advertising Arts increased from PHP 30,000 in increments of PHP 10,000 until it finally reached PHP 60,000 in the span of a few days.

A major exacerbating factor to an already terrible situation is the timing of the increase. While dubbed as a “New Tuition Fee,” the increase was only implemented four weeks into the school year. This crosses the two-week refund period for withdrawal, so students who realized they cannot afford to study in USC were trapped and forced to pay the full amount and completely disabled from transferring to a more reasonably-priced institution. This also made students unable to acquire scholarships, which require signed assessments — something the university could not provide until the increase. All of this only garnishes the obvious conclusion that an increase well into the school year was simply wrong.

With STAND taking the majority and helm of the SSC, as the party that takes pride in its strong anti-tuition fee increase stance, one would expect the council to take decisive and impactful action on the matter.

This was the case when the administration attempted to raise the standard PHP 2,000 semestral down payment to PHP 3,000. The council took swift action, and was able to get it back down to its original cost.

As for the major tuition fee increase, however, things did not go as smoothly. Some moves were made throughout the academic year like meeting with the administration, which only ended with the priests claiming that it was out of their hands. The council’s most concrete action on the increase so far is its March 2019 threat to take the matter up to the Commission on Higher Education with an accompanying signature campaign.

While it is admittedly difficult to evaluate the council’s performance in this regard given that no set of officers in recent years has had to deal with an increase of this magnitude, it still raises a few questions. With thousands of students already suffering the PHP 30,000 increase, could this maneuver be too late? Is this as much as we can expect from a party whose main campaign battle cry is against tuition and other fees increases (TOFI)? Do we, perhaps, hold them to a different standard because of said battle cry?

2.

Missing SSC Funds

SSC campaign periods every year are freckled with insults and low blows that grow in outrageousness parallel to the promises that end up neglected.

The allegations in last year’s campaign, however, took a severely disturbing turn as members of the ex-majority party Tingog and the minority parties exchanged accusations of missing or mismanaged council funds. Two figures to recall: PHP 32,000 and PHP 90,000.

On February 27, 2018, the SSC published a statement demanding the reimbursement of PHP 37,000 from now-incumbent President Joahanna Veloso. The statement, viewed by many as politically motivated given its timing, shamed Veloso for her failure to reimburse the amount, later reduced to PHP 32,000, which was originally shelled out for the 2016 GADJA. Shortly after, the SSC’s Commission on Audit (COA) released a report showing that the Tingog-bannered 2017 Carolinian Summit, Warriors’ Week, Warriors’ Run, and Week of Welcome showed differences totaling about PHP 199,000. The anomalous projects named had as their proponents former councilors Sharland Malazarte, Joelia Lee Yu, Jodimarie Tio, Dorothie Lazala, and current councilor James Cabalhug.

How were these resolved? With resistance, of course.

Tingog began by insisting that the documents they presented should have been considered valid despite Philippine auditing standards and common sense

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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NOTEBOOK

saying otherwise, lost their majority streak, and then later presented receipts deemed proper by COA — all of which former COA Chair Nhanina Asupan observed had differences, albeit smaller.

On the other hand, according to Committee on Finance Chair Kimberly Lim, Veloso eventually produced PHP 12,000, which so far lacks documentation but is supposedly reflected in the council’s bank account. Veloso has promised the council to settle the full amount before the end of March 2019 — a promise that echoes the one she made in September 2018. Veloso’s ability to pay is largely dependent on a third-party account, presumably who the money was dispensed to, and as such is only accountable for the amount and not liable.

The council appears to have learned its lesson when it comes to handling public funds and general public accountability this year. They began publishing liquidation reports on the SSC’s Facebook page within weeks of any event or project that come along with detailed attendance reports, allowing students to appraise an officer’s dedication to their elected position. The council also turned down a proposed event — a Tingog legacy platform — that would have potentially cost them over PHP 600,000 if it failed, and so on.

However wonderful, this is not a complete transformation. This year’s COA under Chair Nyx Ty has failed to produce an audit report on the expenses of the first semester, and Ty remains unreachable to the current officers of the council.

This appears to be an ongoing tradition in the commission, with the COA of A.Y. 2017–2018 under former President Deodatus Burgos so far unable to complete its report due to lacking financial statements from the officers of that term. Lim has attempted to reach out to last year’s officers.

3.Student Manual — or lack thereof Those who did not go through the K-12 program will recall receiving a copy of the 2013 USC Student Manual as soon as they enrolled in the university.

This is not at all the case with the current first-year students. None of them were provided with the new version of the manual, not all of them were informed that they are expected to follow the 2013 manual — a version they have no access to. This leaves them in a frighteningly vulnerable position — allowing for the guards, faculty and higher administration to

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exploit their engineered ignorance of the school’s policies.

The SSC was included in the creation of a new manual draft that was uploaded on ISMIS. This version of the manual has since been taken down for the administration’s further revisions, which President Veloso points out the SSC has been excluded from. It need not be said that excluding the students and their elected representatives in the formation of the policies that will govern us is an ethical disaster waiting to happen — if not happening already. Students continue to wait for updates regarding the new student manual.

Previous years saw the administration “working closely” with the SSC as they revised the student manual. Their current attitude toward the council has tangibly shifted what with their exclusion of the student representatives from the drafting process.

If this tells us anything, it is that oftentimes it is the administration’s refusal to cooperate with the students that stunts the council’s ability to perform. So, while the council may have done their honest best in standing firm in their banner “For the Carolinians, we remain,” the administration ultimately served to obstruct the council’s function.

Other than being present throughout most of the new manual’s drafting, the SSC’s latest action on the matter was posting an update on the administration’s progress with the manual including the prospective date of its distribution.

4. Forgotten Platforms Prior to the election on March 1, 2018, reused platforms and a few fresh ones were presented to the Carolinians during the campaign period. After a share of tears, salutations, and promises that would once again remain unfulfilled, these did not materialize when they took their seats in the council.

The school year is about to come to a close, yet there has been no word or updates on a number of projects that were promised to us last year.

For one, the Mental Health Boot Camp, the umpteenth iteration of the Student Power Party’s (SPP) mental health advocacy, never came to be.

SPP also appears to have dropped its calling for a “colorless” and “decentralized but more supreme” SSC. Another platform known as the Tingog-bannered

NOTEBOOK

Magna Carta for Students’ Rights, a name we are all familiar with because of its incessant mention in the past years, has disappeared completely in light of recent progress with the student manual and lives up to its reputation of being a seasonal advocacy. The last known version of the student manual did not contain a Bill of Rights for students and members of the council have remarked that the Magna Carta is no longer being discussed.

In STAND’s case, there’s the GSCOPE, which is supposed to function as a complaints system where students can send in their concerns with and feedback on the university in the hope that they will be resolved. It was implemented last year and promised again in the last election, but was suddenly and inexplicably discontinued this year.

There are no known official channels for student complaints in the university. While the council appears to have implemented the GSCOPE as a response to the tuition fee increase, it has to be noted that this is different from the proposed student complaint system during the last election.

Failing to live up to these expectations is a major reason why students have never thought highly of the council, especially as these platforms are the main hooks for student support and votes. This problematic habit of the SSC may likely be why voter turnout has been pathetic for the longest time.

Would it not be better for parties and candidates to concentrate their efforts and campaigns on a few solid and feasible platforms during the campaign?

Should we not expect more from the people we pay 12 pesos to every semester? Can we blame the students for their debilitating disappointment?

This academic year saw more dialogues with the administration, likely because of the fact that the SSC has made a concerted effort to be more visible on both social media and offline. Another reason for this could be that the administration has attempted to make big moves under our noses that are simply unacceptable. Nonetheless, this kind of presence and proactivity is mildly refreshing on the part of the council and maybe even impressive considering their significantly fewer resources this year.

Did any substantial change come as a result of the political shift in the SSC? Perhaps, but it was not enough to significantly alter the public’s perception of the council — or critically improve student life.

TC

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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NOTEBOOK

More on the New Tuition Fee Maria Consuelo Pacilan

Photograph by Joanne Marie Bolo and Rey Caracena

Four weeks into the first semester of school year 2018 – 2019, the freshmen students of the new curriculum were struck with perhaps the most unprecedented and drastic changes in tuition fee that the university had ever seen. All programs ranging from the hard and soft sciences, business and marketing, engineering, and medical courses saw a university-wide raise of PHP 5,000 to upwards of PHP 30,000 in their respective assessments. These changes, dubbed as the “new tuition fee”, fueled an onslaught of bitter sentiments as students felt cheated by the administration for having announced the new computations well into the beginning of the first semester.

The pricing reforms were a result of the new policies, standards and guidelines (PSGs), and the new prospectus from the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) of the different disciplines, as explained by Vice President for Academic Affairs, Fr. Aleksander Gaut, SVD. As of late, almost all departments in the university have adopted the new PSGs and CMOs to accommodate the new curriculum brought by the shifting educational diorama of the Philippines. Because of the requirements of the PSGs, Fr. Gaut stated that certainly, other private universities may have also had to make different arrangements in the computation of the price of their new freshmen’s programs.

He explained that students were allowed to enroll even before their assessments were available because of the delays on the issuance of the complete package for the new tuition fees of the freshmen’s programs. The tuition fees for the continuing students were not touched. This justifies the labelling of the pricing reforms as new tuition fees since the tuition fee from the new freshmen’s programs were not rehashed from the previous

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batches. The Office of Finance claims to have told the new enrollees that there would be a new tuition fee more or less higher than the existing one because of the new programs and PSGs. The pricing reforms, however, were not specified in figures as these were not yet available.

Additionally, the issuance of the PSGs for some programs were very late. Programs like BS Pharmacy and BS Architecture also had issues with the prospectus that still needed to be settled; hence the final computations took some time to produce. Instead of issuing fragmented announcements yet to be finalized, the university chose to put the assessments on hold.

The Department of Nursing, for one, arguably suffered the most significant changes in the issuance of the new tuition fee. At PHP 98,000, leagues away from the initial PHP 60,000 range that enrollees of the program were initially promised, the BS Nursing is currently USC’s most expensive program. Khristle Ann C. Alfafara, the Nursing Arts Laboratory Coordinator, explains however, that this is for good reason.

From 2017 to 2018, the nursing laboratory went through a major renovation and got a massive facelift. The current laboratory, fitted with a handful of new equipment, now offers a more effective simulation of an actual hospital environment.

Among others, the new equipment includes mannequins, birthing simulators, operating tables, a computer and even CCTV cameras. New units were also opened, such as the emergency trauma unit, the critical care unit, and a nurses’ station along with a central supply equipped with various laboratory equipment that students are free to access for their class demonstrations. A brand new

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debriefing room was also constructed so students can view and assess recorded performances of their class demonstrations.

Perhaps a more important factor that led to the changes in their tuition fee can be attributed to the stipulations stated in the program’s CHED Memorandum Order (CMO). Many programs in the new PSGs dictate an average class size. As explained by Ms. Alfafara, the class size mandated for their two laboratory subjects is ten students to one instructor as opposed to lecture classes usually computed with an average range of 35 to 40 students for one instructor. With the smaller class size, more teachers also need to be employed in order to oversee the different classes.

Hence, the laboratory fees increased since there are now much less students to subsidize the costs of one laboratory subject.

Ms. Alfafara also pointed out that in the previous curriculum, one of the program’s laboratory subjects was strictly a summer offering. In the new curriculum, however, health assessment was made available alongside their other subjects for the first semester. With more units and subjects compressed in a single semester, the tuition fee expectedly shot up.

Laboratory fees for other programs are also usually computed with a lower class average than lecture fees. Pricing reforms for freshmen students of the architecture programs were also affected by the mandated class size of 20 students to one instructor for all major subjects stipulated in their CMO. Different conditions also apply to other programs with unique PSGs and CMOs of their own. Fr. Gaut noted one of the stipulations in the new PSGs with regards to the requirements for faculty members.

Technically, all PSGs for the new programs do not allow instructors with no master’s degree to teach in the university anymore.

In the case of the Department of Fine Arts, Ms. Ivy Marie Castro, the department chairperson, explained that while there were no significant changes in their facilities, the department had invested in faculty development. A handful of teachers had been sent to Cardiff for further education in graduate school. Their programs were also affected by their newer, more research-based courses.

Plans are also underway for the development of their facilities.

As previously mentioned in last year’s meeting with the administration and representatives of the student body, another factor in the pricing reforms is the maintenance of expensive programs, as well as the salaries of teachers and non-teaching personnel. Programs like BFA Advertising Arts and BFA Cinema make use of expensive facilities, yet they have a much smaller student population compared to other programs. Once again, less students to subsidize costs would mean higher tuition fees.

prospectus that had to be taken into account. These included the requirements for faculty members, new laboratory facilities, and the services required to maintain the existing and new facilities.

“That’s the only value that we can offer, but we cannot make it free,” says Fr. Gaut on why students should demand for better facilities and services.

The Office of Finance carefully accounted for all the computations made in the pricing reforms. Fr. Gaut encourages students to come to him personally if they find any discrepancies in the computations so that the assessment can be refined.

Such was the case for students of the Department of Tourism and Management when the new department head proposed to scratch off courses that were deemed unnecessary to their program.

Fr. Gaut admits that the university is challenged in complying with the demands of the new PSGs. He stresses that these cannot be achieved simultaneously and instantly all at once. He promises that in due time, the administration will provide what is due to their students.

On the matter regarding the teacher’s salaries, Mr. Levi Lenaria, Founding President of the College Independent Faculty Union, stated that despite the new tuition fee, there have been no incremental adjustments in the faculty’s salary and other benefits for the past three or four academic years. What they have received instead is an annual financial assistance to compensate for their inadequate salaries, which he maintains still isn’t enough since teachers also work after hours. On the other end, Fr. Gaut clarified that if this were a tuition fee increase, then the teachers would have also had a salary increase. Since this is not a tuition fee increase but instead, a new tuition fee, then no corresponding salary increases can be made. It is also important to note that the problem of underpaid teachers is not only limited to the university, but is actually a systemic problem that continues to persist in the Philippine educational system.

On top of the new PSGs stipulated in the CMO as well as other institutional expenditures, it is also crucial to factor in the current status of low enrollment rates as another major component that drove the high prices of the new tuition fee. Taking into account the size of the university, hundreds of classrooms require maintenance but not all of them are filled.

Safer programs with relatively bigger class sizes such as those in the School of Engineering and the School of Business and Economics were still subjected to the high prices of the new tuition fee because of other variables specific to their PSGs and

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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Moreover, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act was signed into law in August of 2017, granting free education at over a hundred state universities and colleges in the Philippines. This meant more students may have preferred to enroll in state colleges over private universities for programs that could possibly offer the same, if not, better quality education for free. Such was the case for the enrollment in the university last year. Fr. Gaut himself expressed his concern that while the creation of the bill had good intentions, it could lead to the death of private universities. Despite that, he insists that no other university can compete with the University of San Carlos in terms of facilities.

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NOTEBOOK

“We will stand and operate on the promise of quality service and quality education. That’s the only thing now that we can do. But otherwise, our lives might, more and more, become very difficult this coming school year,” says Fr. Gaut on the threat posed by state universities to private universities.

Couple this with the K12 program that’s caused gaps in the year levels yet to be filled in the year 2022. Even the recent shift in the school calendar also contributed to low enrollment rates. Hundreds of fresh senior high school graduates may have opted to enter universities with school calendars beginning in June rather than universities, like ours, that have adopted the new school calendar. From these factors, it can be deduced that freshmen students are paying more not only because of the new CMO, but because the smaller student population could not subsidize the costs of maintaining a university as large as ours if not for the new tuition fee. Fr. Gaut states that better enrollment rates in the next academic years could offset the high prices of the new tuition fee and guarantee sufficient loads for teachers. However, as of March 2019, he recalls that the number of entrance exam takers have not yet even amounted to a thousand students for the next academic year.

Apart from students, even teachers are paying the price of low enrollment rates. Less classes to teach would mean less teaching loads and insufficient salaries for teachers.

Teachers that have chosen to stay in programs in danger

of being “frozen” are forced to accept payments on an honorarium basis.

With these factors laid out, it’s important to note that the new tuition fee isn’t necessarily a case of priests cheating students in order to stuff their own pockets. The new tuition fee is the product of a complex set of circumstances none of us were able to predict. However, these circumstances do not absolve the administration of their shortcomings. If anything, the administration should be blamed for their lack of foresight. For one, they could have been more aggressive with their campaigns to get more students enrolled in the university and they could have also delayed the shift in the school calendar.

In a recent meeting with Mr. Karlon Rama, a media professor from the Department of Communications, Linguistics, and Literature, it was established that nothing in the university approximates a legitimate advertising campaign. The market is there, but it remains untapped because the school had been so reliant on the reputation of its name until today’s crisis. These findings have led to the creation of a new university page, which Fr. Gaut encourages students to spread. If enrollment rates go up, more students could share the costs of the new tuition fee.

For now, Fr. Gaut assures that there will be no tuition fee increase for A.Y. 2019 – 2020. TC

Disclaimer: Details of the article were gathered before March 27, 2019. Subsequent happenings, including the supposed ISMIS glitch, are thus not included.

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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VOX SECTION POPULI

BALLOT NO. 101623122003

WILL YOU VOTE? WHY OR WHY NOT?

Collected by Christine Diaz, Zachels Nuñeza, Vince Padao and Kate Visorro

SLG

SCHOOL OF LAW AND GOVERNANCE Anonymous

Maica Carmel Dizon

BA Pol Sci

LLB

Yes, for this coming May election, I will exercise my right to vote .

Yes, I will/do vote. It is a right of an individual to vote.

Elections happens only every three years and, if you lose the opportunity to vote you also lose the privilege to change the governmental system. Your opinions and beliefs matter.

Voting allows me to express my preference of who, in my opinion, are qualified to take a seat in office.

I do believe in the saying that every single vote counts.

Through experience it does matter, with just one single vote it can change and shift the system.

SBE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS Ma. Wenna A. Abapo

Anonymous

BS HM

BS A

I will vote. Other than it is an obligation, your one vote can make a difference of a candidate’s standing and opportunity to lead the people. And that person will lead a school, city, or a country, wherein he can either ruin or save its constituent.

Yes, I will vote because it is a personal right bestowed by the state upon me. Moreover, voting will allow me to voice out my opinions in regards with the government as well as it makes me feel that I am truly involved with the society I live in.

SAFAD

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, FINE ARTS AND DESIGN

30 23

Anonymous

Anonymous

BFA - Cin

BS Arch 5

Sometimes. I do vote sometimes. I particularly just want to be neutral when it comes to politics.

But during the times when I do vote is when I truly know the person that I’m voting for, knowing that that person would bring about a change for the better.

Voting is a matter of making decisions. It is an opportunity to choose something or someone that we think that suits our preferences. We vote because we live in a democratic country, and by that, we have the possibility to choose what’s righteous or worthy. Voting can also be a measurement for politicians on how he can see himself as leader. For instance, majority of the people vote for that particular candidate could mean that he qualifies the position more than his opponent.

TODAY’S CAROLINIAN | APRIL 2019

VOX SECTION POPULI

SED

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Carmel B. Lopez

Anonymous

BS Ed – EC Ed – Mont Ed

BS Ed Science

Yes, because every vote counts, and besides I have the right to be part of the decision making that will give an impact to my life.

There’s so much going on when we talk about elections. It’s an event one shouldn’t miss out. It’s actually my first time so I can’t wait to cast my own vote to people who are worthy of being in the office and people who are more than willing to sacrifice their time just to better our country.

SOE

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Troy Austin Go

Anonymous

BS IE

BS EE

I vote to create change towards an ideal society based on my perspective. To select those who, I think, can actually make that idea/ dream a reality.

Yes, I will vote. Why? Simply because I care about the future of our country considering nowadays, many officials do not deserve the seat and power that they are enjoying right now.

SAS

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCE Anonymous

Aaron Bruce Clarin

BA Hist

BA Comm-Med

I can’t vote for the upcoming election, but if given the chance I will still not vote. Given that the system is dysfunctional why vote for those people whose background are questionable. I’m more willing to practice my vote if and only if there’s a big change in the system.

Yes I do vote. Because its everyone’s right to vote and it is something that we should do as Filipino to vote for someone who we think that could made a profound change in our nation. To vote is necessary and a must as a Filipino citizen.

SHCP

SCHOOL OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS Anonymous

Anonymous

BS N

BS N - 1

Yes I will because my vote will serve as an instrument to make my country a better one. I know that every vote count, so I will contribute for the betterment of my country.

Yes I will vote. Because it is my right as a citizen of the Philippines to choose the appropriate leaders that will lead and serve me and my fellow Filipinos. I will not waste that right and I know that I am smart enough to know which candidates deserve my vote because the candidates I vote also reflect me as a person.

PRECINCT NO.

200310162312

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

24 31

“Never despair. Never surrender.”

— Alan Moore, Watchmen

Illustration by Eduard Jude Jamolin

“I think you guys are going to have to come up with a lot of wonderful new lies, or people just aren’t going to want to go on living.”

— Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five

Illustration by Keith Raymier Ayuman

OPINION

Reviewing the Promise of K-12

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Brynch Bonachita

Photograph by Lance Matthew Pahang

OPINION On May 15, 2013, then-President Benigno Aqunio III signed Republic Act 10533 or the K-12 program into law, envisioning a global standard of education for the Filipino people. It dreamt of senior high-school graduates being employed in the workforce and an education grounded in society. Public policies, however, are crafted beyond visions; it is rooted in social investigation by taking into account the social conditions of a country. Today, the promise of K-12 has yet to be delivered.

Constantino’s Mis-education of the Filipino emphasized that education is an important tool for “economic emancipation, political independence, and cultural renaissance.” Its multi-faceted nature implies the need for a careful assessment when institutionalizing reforms in educational systems. Given our socioeconomic conditions, K-12’s hasty implementation is doing harm and will do more harm than deliver its speculative benefits. Why is this the case?

For an educational system to be effective, it must first take into account its main stakeholder — the students.

The insufficiency of classrooms, libraries and other facilities that are needed for conducive learning are already manifested in the 10-year Basic Education Cycle. Adding two more years would further this problem with the need to accommodate Grade 11 and 12 students. Just last year, the Department of Education promised to address the shortage by constructing 85,000 classrooms. However, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said that barely 3,000 classrooms were constructed.

Even if the K-12 program have reforms worthy of merit: mother-tongue based education, recontextualization of the curriculum and a specialized form of education, these benefits are only accrued by those who can afford to, considering how more than 100 million Filipinos as of 2016 live below the national poverty line. Not only that, students are either forced to drop out because of additional expenses or study in private high schools from the lack of Grades 11 and 12 in public high schools.

The quality of education also suffers because teachers were given trainings for a mere month or two for a subject they have to teach for a year. What is worse is that the learning materials needed for teaching were insufficient. Instead of addressing these problems, much of the K-12 budget are allocated to fund the voucher system which has not been enough to sustain schooling.

These dire conditions can be traced back to the educational sector being underfunded and underdeveloped. In the Philippines, our budget for education has not reached the global standard of 6 percent of a country’s gross domestic product. On the

other hand, to say we should pool more funding for education is also misguided. Even if there is an increase in budget, these issues do not exist in a vacuum; that is, our current sociopolitical system inherently makes it difficult to develop our social institutions and instill genuine change.

With a neoliberal framework that maintains competition as the defining feature for social relations, the state ultimately serves market interests over the public good because meritocracy in an unequal world only benefit the few. The illusion of a fair competition is manifested by the privileged crediting their wealth and power through merit while ignoring their structural advantages. The poor, on the other hand, are blamed for their failures even when they could barely change their circumstances. Limiting competition, therefore, is seen as repugnant, leading our government to minimize corporate taxes and tariffs through, for example, the legislation of the rice tarrification law, which prioritizes foreign industries to compete in our market.

As private entities have more capital, there is a notion that through privatization, social institutions are more likely to develop. But in reality, privatization of public goods has transformed these institutions with the goal to profit, case in point: The water crisis in Manila for privatizing water, leaving its mandate as secondary. But most importantly, our economy has become dependent on foreign countries and corporations in the process.

Our development is in the hands of a dysfunctional trickle-down system where we get less returns, resulting to the inadequacy of funds for public services.

Implementing structural changes for developing a self-reliant economy is already difficult when private entities largely influence what, when and how policies are crafted. Which is why legislations for national industrialization, genuine agrarian reform and other progressive policies crucial for development are not implemented because the state ultimately caters to businesses than its people. In the context of education, K-12 not only became a means to milk money from Filipino families, but to also export cheap labor rather than the holistic formation of students.

What we have to understand is that the conditions of our educational system are part of a larger problem. Given that we are citizens of our country, we have an obligation to participate in building our nation. For now, we must call for the suspension of the program. Its failure is a product of a government that is unwilling to cater to the needs of the Filipino people and for as long as the state operates under a neoliberal framework, the dreams of K-12 will never be realized. TC

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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OPINION

Do Credentials

?

MATTER

Theresa Kate Palompon

In the words of practically every Filipino parent, “Ang edukasyon lamang ang tanging kayaman na maipapamana namin sa iyo anak.”

Now, a typical Filipino anecdote usually starts and ends with the protagonist trying to make ends meet to get a good education. Despite these narratives revolving around the “isang kahig, isang tuka” plight of the country’s masses, there has always been room for education in the picture. Even those beyond their prime strive to get a diploma framed and hung on the wall.

In the Philippines, there is an established mentality that often correlates one’s educational attainment to success. It is a common belief in our culture that a good education can take you to places. That your diploma is the key that would unlock a vault of opportunities for you and your family.

Education has always been equated to a good life. Unlike other countries, a degree has always been an imperative in the Philippines. We do not really have any other option but to proceed to college, graduate, and find a stable job that could adequately support the family’s needs.

At present, most companies consider a college degree as a minimum standard of entry for those aspiring to apply for a particular position. While the practice is common for whitecollar workers, some blue-collar workers would have to get a certification from accredited agencies offering technical education programs to prove that they have acquired the necessary skills set for the job at hand.

While education may make up a big chunk of a person’s credentials, it certainly does not end there. Experience is often a deciding factor for most companies along with other qualifications they have imposed upon their applicants. Some employers would even require proof of an applicant’s good moral and conduct.

From these practices, it is safe to say that there is much hassle and preparation needed to be able to make a living.

Employees must conform to standards imposed by their employers to yield the best results. However, why can’t we impose the same standards for our country’s politicians?

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OPINION

As the election period creeps into vision and the bets have been placed, have you ever wondered how one may qualify to run for public office? What does it take to be able to draft laws and lead our nation?

The answer is pretty simple: not much.

If we look into the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the qualifications set for those aspiring to run for public office would only include citizenship (whether natural-born or not), required years of residency, voter’s registration, and minimum age requirement.

Surprisingly, the minimum educational attainment required is a candidate’s ability to read and write.

Imagine having to accomplish four years in university, taking the board examination, and harboring as much experience to be in a job that only affects you and your company for the most part. Surely, one would expect more from the people who would impact our government and our country including our relationship with those beyond its borders.

With a strong mentality that gives value for education, why can’t Filipinos fight for credible candidates to run for office?

“Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.”Article 21, paragraph 1, United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Among the various reasons why we cannot bar individuals from running for office, solely on the ground that they do not possess the necessary credentials, is because such undermines their right to participate in our country’s governance. Although this right has been omitted from the constitution’s Bill of Rights and its other provisions, the country still adheres to the UDHR as a signatory of such proposition. Which means, the Philippines is obliged to recognize these rights and ensure their fulfillment.

Apart from this, our lawmakers would not be too eager to draft an amendment or law on the matter. After all, it would mean putting their position, including that of their cohorts, at risk. For the sake of their self-preservation, we could not really count on those in office to uphold the standards that we expect our leaders to embody.

As a result, anyone can become a political candidate long as they possess all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications enshrined in our country’s constitution.

the country.

As the Athenian philosopher, Plato, once said: “Grant the right to rule to the best, either individuals or laws, even on the basis of tacit consent of the governed.” In his time, he believed that noble birth, beautiful looks, and even intelligence and power, if without knowledge, would not render a person the title to rule.

Furthermore, the best should not have knowledge alone, but must also have an opinion about the political concepts and issues relevant to one’s society.

In today’s political environment, our officials have such diverse political backgrounds. Some even have minimal to none. We have athletes, celebrities, scions from famous political dynasties and even candidates claiming to have graduated from ivy league schools abroad.

Unfortunately, most of these candidates have opted to deviate from engaging in debates or open discourses in order to concentrate their resources towards conducting political campaigns.

In a country where the elections is but another reality show season, voters are stripped of the opportunity to truly get to know their candidates. Thus, they divert their attention to seeking “qualifications” that are of a different nature and purpose. Ones that may or may not be relevant to the position a candidate aspires to have.

If only each candidate were to submit a résumé, maybe then our voters would have the necessary information they need to pick their candidate. Without one, voters might dive into a risky investment with zero recovery that is irrevocable in the next three or six years.

It is not about voting for the person with the most academic credentials and experience, but it allows the voter to get to know these candidates and to use it as a gauge to determine a candidate’s possible performance. Perhaps, politicians should take a page out of their own book and conform to the same standards in their own work that they expect of professionals.

In the course of this discussion, one question remains: Do credentials matter?

Yes, they do. But only if we let them. TC

Since we do not have any control over the law nor do we have the right to interfere with the rights of others, the only variable in the equation we can change would be us—the voters. Just as human resource managers have no control over their applicants, voters can only hope that those running for office are qualified for the job. However, just as human resource managers have the authority to accept the applicant he/she deems fitting, voters are also vested with the power to choose the best candidate to rule

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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OPINION

THE BLAME GAME:

ACCOUNTABILITY Paolo Perez

With another election season in full swing, candidates are once again posed to make claims, bold promises and, most reliably, countless sidesteps and excuses to explain away their inevitable faux pas with a wave of the hand. While Malacañang’s more dedicated personnel, usually in the form of Salvador Panelo, are on call to correct presidential missteps, on the campaign trail, most candidates are not so equipped.

There is, however, a weapon even more powerful than a delusional spokesperson, one that has eluded seemingly the entire Philippine government: “I’m sorry,” or its even more humble cousin, “I was wrong.”

It seems as though modern politics is allergic to the apology, obstinate to the point of bullheadedness. For most of us, swallowing our own pride and admitting our mistakes are painful, yet ultimately necessary lessons. Humility is a sign of maturity, and while we cannot be expected to exhibit it at all times, introspection is a critical part of our own growth.

Politicians, it seems, play by different rules. Admitting one was wrong is a mortal offense, perhaps a career-ending one.

Take the Marcos siblings, whose continued denial of their father’s atrocities to this day forms a core part of their campaign strategy. To rebuild a false utopia, put another Marcos in power. And yet, would it not be a far more effective narrative for them to admit that, yes, the Philippines suffered under their father? Why do they push the narrative of another golden age when they could just as easily ask for another chance, for public trust to redeem their family’s name?

Perhaps we should be thankful that neither of the Marcos’ campaign teams is nuanced enough to think of such a thing, lest it turn out to be even more successful than their current approach.

More so than her family history, Imee Marcos in particular has had an audacious senate run. Without even getting into her proposals and platforms, Marcos’ candidacy was set upon by opponents for her fraudulent claims of graduating from not one, but two prestigious universities: Princeton University in the United States and the University of the Philippines College of Law. After repeated debunking by school officials and even the Princeton student publication, Marcos continued to insist on her status as a graduate. Fellow senatorial candidate and presidential daughter Sara Duterte responded with a claim that honesty is not an electoral issue

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IN POLITICS nor an important quality for public officials, something the 1987 Constitution disagrees with. However, whether or not honesty is an electoral issue, it is widely agreed upon that it is a virtue — and so is accountability.

Buck-passing, a show of irresponsibility so ubiquitous that it has its own term, is not a problem exclusive to the Duterte administration. The Aquino era was criticized numerous times for issues such as power outages and the Mamasapano incident. Although blame is usually traded between the “dilawans” and “Dutertards”, the fact is, this inability to own up to one’s mistakes is a sign of immaturity that crosses party lines. It is a painfully obvious problem of politics today.

It crosses party lines and is not only a Philippine problem, but a worldwide one, and its increasing abundance in headlines and public discourse is alarming.

This stubbornness is merely an indication of an ingrained, toxic trend of the political climate. No matter the problem, from corruption to letting drug kingpins off the hook to swim free, it is always someone else’s fault until, eventually, we forget about it and it becomes no one’s fault, but everyone’s burden to bear. When issues — many of them the exact issues that propel once-candidates to Malacañang or a seat in the senate — are ignored, they fester and rot until they become a societal plague that the next batch of government hopefuls exploit, and ultimately overlook, for their own ends.

In this culture of showboating and grandstanding, where one slip-up can cost thousands of votes, “I’m sorry” becomes less of a heartfelt admission of wrongdoing so much as a chink in the armor, a potentially fatal display of weakness.

While politicians feed and thrive off this culture, the voters are the ones who ultimately sustain it: ordinary people who make ordinary mistakes, electing ordinary people expecting superhuman performance with no room for error.

Politicians are merely a reflection of the system, a public persona cultivated as an amalgam of winning traits. They are today’s chimera, unnatural and, at times, seemingly inhuman.

Politics is more than a game — it is a way of life, one with impact on all others, and weakness has to be quashed.

Sadly, in the process, integrity and accountability go with it.

TC

OPINION Illustration by Christ Ian Palomares

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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OPINION

IN

IC H W

E W S

N A E

H T H

S I R

P M

E L

I S

Louisa Concepcion Carredo Photo by Jason Matthew Lim

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OPINION

With the chaos of alleyways being plastered with the over exaggerated smiles of senate hopefuls and news reports constantly buzzing with political controversies left and right, it is not much of a surprise that a lot of Filipino citizens have grown discouraged and apathetic with regards to voting.

Even on a significantly smaller scale such as the university’s very own Supreme Student Council, students disregard the opportunity to cast their vote because they apparently do not feel any real significant change in the right direction and because they consider it to just be school politics.

There is no denying that to some extent they do have a point.

Voting can sometimes feel useless because the vote of one single person cannot possibly affect the numbers, right? Voting is pointless because the system is corrupt anyway, right?

Wrong, because if an entire student body or an entire nation has this mindset and allows it to breed in others, then no one is going to be heading to the ballot boxes come election time. It is this self-absorbed approach to voting that screams a welcome to foul play to take place during elections because if the student body and the citizens do not care, the results might as well be tampered with by those who have the power to do so.

Then we go on to complain and criticize, on social media and to our friends and family. We rant and we get angry at all the corrupt leaders and the selfish politicians, but the thing is, we choose not to play our crucial albeit seemingly insignificant part in deciding the future of our country because we choose not to vote. The decision to take for granted the right to have a choice by not

voting is in a way stomping on the justification of a democracy even existing in our school and in the Philippines.

Having a democracy means having a choice, having a choice means having an opinion, and having an opinion means criticism and complaints are allowed, welcomed even. We unlike other communities and countries are able to have some say in who gets to take the seats of power that control change. Yes, more often that not those seats are taken unfairly, but at least our opinions get to be voiced out.

There may be power in a voiced-out opinion, but an opinion is a noun; it only inspires change. To vote is a verb; it affects and leads to change. It has become quite evident in this community and in this nation that even though we are continuously voicing out our opinions, they quite rarely are actually being listened to, and that is where the problem lies. No matter how strong our opinions are or how backed-up with evidence they may be, leaders will not care to listen, consider or even pay attention to them. What they do take notice of is action. Therefore, rather than depend heavily on a noun, we collectively need to realize the importance of a verb and the power it holds. Our opinions can only do so much, it is our vote that can turn opinions into actual action and in turn, it is action that can lead our country to change.

The state of our school and the state of the country can be blamed on its leaders. The state of our leaders — that is all on us. TC

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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OPINION

OPINION

Here’s Why ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SSC CANDIDATES MATTER Kerstein Nicole Labay

Illustration by Mar Virgil Eway

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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OPINION

Early into the 2019 Senatorial Elections, Imee Marcos has been ringing the bells for all the wrong reasons. Her controversial take on political dynasty during the senatorial debate that was televised nationally, her fabricated educational background from prestigious universities within and outside the country and not to mention her already stomach-churning family history during the infamous Martial Law period — all contribute too well to a distasteful rejection from the general public.

I’ll spare you all the other details because you have heard and seen this in your news feeds, of course, and I expect that you are one of those who is critical of her educational background. If not, it’s safe to presume that you are one of those people who ask the question: “So what?” Worse, though, is, “What’s the matter with that? I don’t even feel the weight of their efforts more so about their educational attainment when I can’t even feel my taxes being put to good use. I have decided not to vote this upcoming election because there is no point at all.”

The statistics don’t lie. Voter turnouts barely reach the minimum because of a mindset that has been perpetuated long before we even decided to pursue a degree in this university. Every time someone upright, of sound character and track record, join the sea of mudslinging college politics, someone had to splash it for him, “I bet that guy is no different from the guy in my Sociology class who has nothing better to do than befriending all of us last March. I didn’t even know he existed until I saw the large tarpaulin with his face on it.”

Three academic years ago, one councilor only served one semester, a far cry from the required one full academic year according to the provision of the Supreme Student Council (SSC) Constitution. Another went on to secure a spot in the council right before her graduation ceremony. It wouldn’t be surprising if one of this incumbent set of collegiate politicians is academically delinquent. Even while you’re reading this, most aspirants must have missed their lectures to give time for the campaign period.

Let’s be honest. Most of us may prefer SSC candidates whom we have heard from somewhere because it’s convenient that way.

How can we find the time to look into the track records of over 50 candidates while we struggle to meet our own deadlines?

Who are we to judge the candidates based on their academic performance when we, ourselves, let our sanity hang by a thread in order to make it out alive in our respective programs? But here’s the deal. Academic performances do matter because

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before they decide to vie for a slot in the SSC, they are students.

No college instructor would say, “This student is flunking my class but because he is part of the SSC; I’ll give him a pass,” nor would a critical student like you and me say, “I will vote for this candidate. How dedicated could he be for switching from one program to another in order to render more years in the SSC?” Of course, academic performance is not limited to one’s capacity to maintain high grades or landing a spot in the Dean’s List because these are just icing on the cake. It does matter because, in a nutshell, we see how they manage the university experience of the entire student body with the way they deal with theirs.

Perhaps those quirky-named students who got thrilled after receiving an invitation from political parties didn’t really realize that they were scouted to run for office because their names rang harmoniously with votes and in turn, increase political traction within the university. It is as if they fail to see that the party doesn’t recognize their capacity for leadership.

Perhaps that upright guy who is about to enter college politics saw how convoluted the SSC was. Who would think that he was the one to bring change? We were too busy thinking that all candidates are the same — arrogant, vain and superficial — while we sleep on the people who deserve our votes.

Not to mention, we have also cultivated smart-shaming whenever one was to speak his mind. We say “Ikaw na lage bright” as we dismiss someone’s opinion over our insecurities. That person eventually develops anxiety, and we kill somebody’s dream not even thinking that he might be the one to represent our values.

Grades measure one’s sense of responsibility, not intelligence.

So, the academic performance of these SSC candidates is a reflection of their duty to protect our interests in a system where everything is oppressive. We elect them and criticize them harshly for not thinking about advocacies they pushed on the back of the shelf just to put ours first.

Most importantly, their academic performance matters because it enables them to serve us. Those who perform poorly will either give up their slot to focus on their education or decide to transfer to another university. When we vote for these people, we only have ourselves to blame for discontinued projects and subpar public service. We could’ve given our support to those who are

OPINION

willing and capable of representing us even when they have their own battles to win.

This is why we’ve got to do our share. We can’t expect every candidate to be academically exemplary. We’ve got to know each of them, at least, through the way they carry themselves and their advocacies and the way they address pressing issues. We’ve got to know them beyond the mudslinging incidents plastered in every social media site we’ve signed up on. We’ve got to be less indifferent because that’s where we begin to deviate from those people who think that voting brings no good.

Why should we allow ourselves to be impregnated with the empty promises from people we often meet in the hallways? Why don’t we look into the misfits whom we have never seen even once?

Perhaps they, too, can’t afford to miss their lectures. Perhaps they’ve been taking that damned Sociology class in order to better develop their critical ability. Perhaps they’ve been too busy to shape their opinions instead of exchanging small talks with strangers whom they wish to vote for them.

It’s time we become critical of whom we put in office. TC

APRIL 2019 | TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

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LITERARY

Warmth Warmth Sofia Isabel Tajos

Illustration by Christine Mae Alferan

A child has the right to its basic needs.

He has a right to food.

It hurts. I’m not sure I can take one more hit.

THUD!

I ready myself for another blow, but it does not come. I look up, and through the pain I think that it’s funny how I still involuntarily wince at each jab. I may have gotten used to this, the daily morning routine, but the feeling of betrayal still comes whenever I look at my mother.

She stares at me with a look of disgust — and maybe a little bit of sadness, if that was possible.

Education.

THUD! Physical protection.

THUD! Physical protection.

THUD! You will never be grateful enough for what I do for you, will you? You will never be anything in life. You will remain a useless, good-for-nothing fool. You will be nothing when I die; you need me.

THUD! A child has the right to its basic needs — physical protection included. This is what I tell my mother, just like every time she raises a hand at me for all of the things I have failed and will fail to be.

I am a child! I am your child! I cry and cry but she never hears me. Every hit, every word, they hurt. I continue to cry as my body absorbs every blow.

Will I always be not enough? Will I always hurt?

THUD! She continues to hit me, again and again.

I have nothing else to do but cry harder. I do not understand how her hands do not hurt yet.

I have the right to physical protection!

Please, stop!

THUD!

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I love you, my child. If you only knew how much I love you.

It is always like this. After every beating, I look at her with tear-filled eyes, and then there is a declaration of love. As if pain is the only sacrifice for love. Perhaps she thinks that she is merely taking care of me, molding me into what I should be.

Perhaps this is her way of showing me that she thinks about me — making me hurt.

I have already given you the world. You will understand, someday. You will be thankful that I have brought you into this world.

I don’t think I will ever be grateful.

They say my mother was a gentle person once, before the separation, but I do not believe she had ever loved me. I was always the child in the background, the one who helped cook meals but never got to sit at the table, the one who tidied up my brother’s toys because I didn’t have any of my own to sort. Now my brother is with father, and I cannot help but hope he is doing better than I am. I look at my arms filled with fresh wounds and newly-healed scars. My bones are built up of mistakes and hurtful things, and every time I try to resist my fate, only a desolated whisper comes out.

Maybe my mother does love me. Maybe a twisted concept of love can still be called love — the type of love that forces you to suffer and then tells you that it is for the better.

My mother has already left my room, and is probably off to do whatever the day asks of her. I allow myself to calm down for a few minutes and then I get up and look at the mirror. After the horrible session, there is much to do about my face.

I shower and then put on something that helps hide the bruises. Maybe if they can’t be seen, they wouldn’t hurt as much, too. It’s wishful thinking, though.

My mother’s words can’t be seen, but they sure do hurt anyway.

Truth be told, I do have the things I physically and mentally need. There’s food on the table, a roof above my head and I go to school every day. These still aren’t substitutes for warmth and happiness. Parental neglect can be emotional neglect, too. A separation may hurt, but it is not right to pass the hurt to your children.

A child has the right to its basic needs.

I have the right to a love that does not blame me for existing. I have the right to a love that does not leave me bruised for things that happened to it that I have no control over.

I have the right to a love that makes me want to love, too. TC

LITERARY

LITERARY

P PA AS SI ID DA AA AN N Regie Vocales

Illustation by Philip Luke Manghihilot

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Tulo patay sa engkwentro. Duha ka balay naugdaw sa sunog.

Bata gi-rape sa kawayanan ug gilumsan sa sapa. Babae gipanitan ang nawng ug gikuhaan sa dila. Buntis giluba ang tiyan ug gilaplapan. Simbahan gibombahan ug girakrakan ang mga nanimba. Unsa pa?

UNSA PA? Naglingkod si Isma sa pinakaluyo sa klase ug naniid siya sa iyang mga klasmeyt nga nagistorya bahin sa mga balita.

“Hoy kuyawa atong gipatay oy, tiguwang pa jud.” “Kato jung gi-rape kay bata pa.” “Naay simbahan gitamnan ug bomba, naa pa juy mga taw.” “Na naunsa naman ning world oy.”

Dunay laing grupo nga nagistorya bahin sa mga estudyante sa ilang eskwelahan. “Hoy si Lenard ba gwapo jud siya.”

“Si Kean jud oy.” “Oy buntis daw si Rhea?” “Buwag na daw silang Dino.” Wala tagda si Isma tungod sa mga hungihong sa eskwelahan nga lahi siyag tinuhoan. Mibarog siya sa pagbagting sa kampanilya.

Tungang gabii gadagan padulong sa kapilya si Isma. “Padulong na siya,” hunghong sa hangin niya.

Naabot siya sa karaang kapilya nga gi-abandona ug gipalibotan ug mga paras ug dali-dali niyang abli sa pultahan nga gikandadohan. Midagan siya sa karaang estatuwa sa ilang santos ug gikuha ang mga kandila sa ilawom sa lamisa. Gidala niya tanang kandila nga iyang nahakop didto sa altar. Kalit mibundak ang pultahan agi sa kusog nga hangin ug nangahulog ang ubang kandila. Wala na niya kini gipangpunit. Mikuot siya sa posporo sa iyang bulsa ug gidagkotan tagsa-tagsa ang mga kandila. Balik-balik siyag dagkot apan ang hangin dili mohunong.

“Huwat sa!” mandar ni Isma nga milanog sa kangitngit.

Nisiga ang mga kandila ug mihilom ang palibot. Ang kusog sa pitik sa dughan ug ang gininhawaan ra niya ang madunggan.

Buntag sayo mibangon si Isma

TODAY’S CAROLINIAN | APRIL 2019

sa pagpangandam sa iyang pag-eskwela. Padulong na siya molakaw sa dihang giapas siya sa iyang amahan.

“Day, ayaw kalimot ha.”

Nitando si Isma.

Diretsog uli paghuman sa klase si Isma sa ilaha ug gisugat siya sa iyang biyudang iyaan nga gahilak.

“Day, imo tatay...” Nagtan-aw si Isma sa iyang iyaan nga nagtiyabaw sa iyang atubangan ug iya kini gigakos. Nagtutok si Isma sa salog hain nahimutang ang lawas sa iyang amahan nga luspad na ug nagbalit-ad nagtutok sa kisame.

Human panihapon, nanghipos si Isma sa kinan-an nilang duha sa iyang iyaan. “Day, ikaw nay bahala dinhi ha.”

“Naa ra kay posporo?”

Pangutana ni Isma sa iyang iyaan nga milakaw na sa ngitngit nga dalan.

Mao sad ang moguba.

Ang pagpangawat, pagpanglugos Pagpatay, ug pagpangilad Dili ra dinhi kutob ang tanan.

Naa pay mo-abot.

Daghan pa ang mo-abot.

Walay maminaw, Ug walay maluwas.”

Namuhi na ang mga estudyante.

Ang ka-grupo ni Isma sa pagpanglimpyo kay nangita niya.

“Murag nisibat man to. Ingon siya dapat dili daw siya maglangay,” pulong ni Sabel.

“Ok ra kaha to siya?”

“Nanlimbawt akong balhibo sa iyang gipang-ingon” “Wa ra to oy weirdo ra gyud to siya.”

“Namatyan baya siya. Siya nalang usa.”

“O naa ra. Ako ray dagkot.

Amping diha ha?”

Isma Bansig, 16 anyos nga dalagita, nakit-an sa karaang bodega nga gi-abandona ug gipalibotan ug paras. Wala nay mata ug gilaksi ang ba-ba, luspad na ang lawas ug nagbalit-ad naghangad sa kisame.

Gisirad-an ni Isma ang pultahan.

Unsa pa? TC

Biyuda, wala nay mga sanina ug wala nay ngipon nga naabtan sa mga tanod didto sa kalibunan sa Sitio Manalansang.

Nahilom ang tibuok klase sa unang adlaw ni Isma nga misulod human wala mitungha sa klase sa usa ka-semana. “Condolence Is...” Nilingkod si Isma sa iyang lingkoranan. “ Wala mo kahibaw.

Wala mo kahibaw.” Nilingi si Sabel nga tupad niya. “Ngano ka Is?” “Wala mo kahibaw. Wala mo kahibaw.

Ang pakiglambigit natong tanan Isip lamang usa ka-distraksyon sa realidad Ang realidad nga kitang tanan gamay, Kitang tanan walay pulos.

Akong pamatud-an nga kitang mga buhi pa Walay mabuhat sa umaabot nga paghukom Sa lagiting nga Taga-mugna Kay kung kinsa ang naghimo

LITERARY

“We did everything adults would do.

What went wrong?”

— William Golding, Lord of the Flies

Photograph by Joanne Marie Bolo

REVIEW

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TODAY’S CAROLINIAN | APRIL 2019

REVIEW

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY:

10 VIDEO GAMES ON PC Blaise Pancho & Robert Michael Lim

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REVIEW From the 8- and 16-bit heyday in the ‘80s to the 3D and HD era of the 2000s, almost everyone has played a video game, ranging from humble Nintendo consoles to bite-sized mobile phones. Since their conception in the ‘60s, video games have long been ingrained in modern society. As a result, gamers — casual and competitive alike — were born. Having known to have debates between other competing games, against popular consoles, and even within themselves, the gaming community quickly cemented its reputation as a democratic forum for expression and leisure. There are many consoles to play games from but there is one that stands out the most: personal computers or PCs. Most of us have played or owned a PC at some point for work or leisure, but they are also a backbone of both gamers and developers.

Here’s our list of 10 timeless games to play on PC.

SPEC OPS: THE LINE

Year: 2012 Genre: Third-person military shooter

Do you want to experience the horrors of war without actually diving into one? Well, Spec Ops: The Line might just be for you. On the surface, it looks like a cookie-cutter third-person military shooter with an emphasis on cover mechanics, but this classic example of “play the game, enjoy the story” examines the harsh effects of war as the player fights through the sandstorm-ridden city of Dubai.

From here, the game may induce some actual guilt, emotional pain and psychological torment — just like in real war! In summary, a unique and exceptional storyline and well-crafted character arcs wrapped as a generic third-person shooter — highly recommended for story-focused gamers.

DOOM

Year: 2016 Genre: First-person shooter

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Long before Bethesda took the country road to nuking West Virginia (and themselves), they released this gem. Doom was the epitome of first-person shooters of the ‘90s, and its reboot held up surprisingly well against a year of mediocrity and microtransactions. You play as Doomguy, ready to rip and tear the guts out of the demons of hell in this fun, gory and oddly cathartic first-person shooter. Controls are terrific especially on mouse and keyboard, and the game feels arcade-y without being clunky. Looking for quick stress relief? Go for this one.

TODAY’S CAROLINIAN | APRIL 2019

REVIEW

SIMCITY 4: DELUXE EDITION

Year: 2004 Genre: Simulator

This was the real deal when it came to urban simulators until Cities: Skyline took over. While it looks old, this quirky and informative game is right up the alley of budding architects, urban planners, economists and mayors. Plan and plop down buildings, build roads, satisfy your citizens, control city budgets, and manage or destroy your cities and towns in this pre-Sims series by Maxis. Even for 15 years, its community is still active and there are dozens of mods to choose from, which are also compatible on any computer. We highly recommend the deluxe edition for more features such as highways, landmarks and utilities.

FAR CRY 3

Year: 2012 Genre: Open world; action-adventure

As Funhaus’s Adam Kovic infamously said, “like Skyrim with guns.” However, this quintessential Ubisoft first-person sandbox game isn’t just a stripped-down rehash of a successful formula — it revamped its predecessors and redefined the genre. Liberate outposts, craft items, climb towers and take down mercenaries out for blood. Gameplay is solid, and the environment is well-rendered, with an organic approach to stealth and combat with a great storyline to boot. Further games in the series like Far Cry 4 and 5 are similar in content and style generally, but this classic is worth a play. Though further down the line, there is also Far Cry Primal. Like Skyrim with guns… without guns?

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REVIEW

Year: 2016 Genre: Run-and-gun platformer

Touted as the Dark Souls of platformers, Cuphead lets you play as a guy with a cup for a head.

That’s all there is to say really, aside from the bullet hell difficulty, even harder boss fights and a sense of real pride and accomplishment after defeating that bloody dragon after 17 tries (or more).

The art style is a visual artist’s dream. Painstakingly retro, akin to Looney Tunes, 1940s Disney or Max Fleischer himself, the developers of Cuphead deserve kudos for making an inimitable game.

Plus, it has a co-op mode where two friends die together repeatedly from the same dragon. Its specs are friendly to any computer, but it’s recommended to play with a controller.

TRANSISTOR

Year: 2014 Genre: Turn-based strategy

Transistor is the long-awaited sequel game of Bastion by indie developer, Supergiant Games. The story, art and original soundtrack of the game is beyond phenomenal. The game’s length itself is quite robust yet short. If you’re the type to wait turns and strategize your every move while having the excitement, this game is recommended for you.

DON’T STARVE TOGETHER

Year: 2018 Genre: Survival

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Similar to the original Don’t Starve, this is the standalone multiplayer survival game that will knock you out of your seats. The mechanic is very much alike to the single player game: explore and try to survive, but in this case, with your friends. If you’re the kind of person who likes a noir, Tim Burtonesque graphics and hardcore gameplay, then this is a good recommendation.

TODAY’S CAROLINIAN | APRIL 2019

REVIEW

TEKKEN 7

Year: 2017 Genre: Fighting

The seventh installment of the franchise, Namco’s Tekken 7 is considered a really great game for all ages, from old pros of the game to newbies who button-smash their way to winning the match. You can either choose to play with a keyboard, a controller or even an arcade stick, making it easy for anyone who wants to try out the game. Whether you want to be mechanically good at the game or you just want to have a good time with friends, this game is a must-have.

STARDEW VALLEY

Year: 2016 Genre: Simulation

Do you want to micromanage? Well, this game is a bang for your buck! This Harvest Moon-inspired indie game has you manage your limited time and energy as you clear land, plant and tend crops, raise livestock, mine for resources and develop friendships and relationships with your townsfolk.

This game will surely give you an 8-bit nostalgia reminiscent of Gameboy and SNES and will offer you a homey escape from the hectic pace of everyday life. Stardew Valley also features four-player co-op if you want to micromanage even further.

LEFT 4 DEAD 2

Year: 2009 Genre: Survival first-person co-op

This game from Valve needs no introduction. At some point in our lives, most of us have played this game. Whether you are going solo or with friends, this game will surely entertain you. More or less, it feels like an improved version of the first game without compromising its design while still being infinitely replayable. You can play at any difficulty, but it is strongly suggested to play in the hardest difficulty in a full-stack team at least once to get the complete experience of wildly alternating between screaming and laughing while trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.

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PARTING SHOT

“I try to avoid stories that end with… and he was never seen again.”

— Ken Poirot

Photograph by Lance Matthew Pahang

LIQUIDATION

TODAY’S CAROLINIAN

Statement of Cash Flows For the Second Semester 2018-2019

Cash Balance, Beginning Cash Receipts: Second Semester Budget Receivable from Staff KURIS Literary Contest Sponsorship Interest Income Total Cash Available for Use Cash Disbursements: Fellowship Day:

Accommodation Expense

Transportation Expense Teambuilding:

Accommodation Expense

Food Expense

Transportation Expense

Honorarium Expense KURIS Literary Festival:

Supplies Expense

Food Expense

Prizes Expense

Video Expense

Honorarium Expense Spectrum Fellowship:

Registration Fee

Travel Expense Printing Fees:

January Newsletter

KURIS Poster

Recruitment Posters

KURIS Literary Folio

January Newsletter Archives

April Magazine Other Expenses:

Supplies Expense

Delivery Expense

Transportation Expense

Load Expense

Online Maintenance Expense

Bank Charge- Inter-branch Withdrawal

Tax Expense Cash Balance, End

P

227,570.99

P

212,569.60 1,875.00 16,000.00 128.12 458,143.71

P

325,400.62 132,743.09

P

500.00 1,100.00

P 1,600.00

32,300.00 10,492.00 6,800.00 1,374.00

50,966.00

P 266.00 45.00 11,300.00 1,500.00 279.00

13,390.00

30,000.00

P

P

20,000.00 10,000.00 13,250.00 50.00 630.00 81,354.00 4,675.00 125,800.00

225,759.00

860.00 200.00 200.00 2,400.00 100.00 25.62

3,685.62

Prepared By: THERESA KATE PALOMPON Associate Editor - for External Affairs Today's Carolinian

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