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COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES
VOLUME 53 ISSUE 02 | February - May 2021
Trinity Community Development Section gets inspired by the Maginhawa Community Pantry, creates Trinitian Pantry for frontline workers of Trinity University of Asia Photo Via : Trinity Community Development Section Facebook page
TUA celebrates 58th FD amid pandemic BY JOE ASHER P. FUENTES
Despite the ongoing health crisis brought by COVID-19 pandemic, Trinity University of Asia (TUA) successfully celebrated its 58th foundation anniversary via online channels last Feb. 15 to 20, 2021. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Celebrating Abundance Towards the Diamond Years,” in preparation for the university’s diamond anniversary in 2023.
The celebration started with a thanksgiving mass presided by The Most Rev. Joel Pachao, the Prime Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. It was followed immediately by the Bp. Paul Mathews Service Awards for TUA employees celebrating their jubilee years, led by Prof. Gracia D.G. Sarao of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, who is celebrating her 40 years at TUA.
Different units and organizations also put up several online contests that catered to students of TUA and other institutions. Trinity Observer hosted TriniThink 2021, an intercollege quiz bee, while the CASE organized SCHOLa Fiesta and Cultural and Language Festival, which were participated by several students from different parts of the Philippines. The College of Allied Health Sciences, the Psychology Department, and
the Biology Department also held online quiz bees related to their fields. Several colleges also organized their own episodes of TrinityTalk, an online panel discussion where prominent personalities in different fields were invited to share insights on trends and issues that interest the students. TUA celebrates 58th Foundation amid pandemic | p.2
TUA to host health consortium conference BY: TO Staff
With the hopes of bringing to light the humanity’s journey in surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and carving a new future in the new normal, Trinity University of Asia (TUA) will host the 5th International Symposium and 12th Annual Scientific Conference of the Metro Manila Health Research and Development Consortium (MMHRDC) on Sept. 24 to 25, 2021 via online platforms.
conference will highlight the current scientific and empirical knowledge and capabilities, as well as prospects, roles, and gaps in information in many aspects of human life during the pandemic.
Anchoring on the theme “COVID-19 Pandemic Realities: Equitable Initiatives for a Healthy Juan,” the
Dr. Prathana Langkarpint of Payap University, Thailand, will talk about the future of global health care
ANY QUERIES?
Plenary speakers are prominent personalities in health education and research, governance, business, hospitality industry, and other related fields in and outside the Philippines.
@TheTrinityObserver
while Dr. Michelle Min-Yu Li of Chang Jung Christian University, Taiwan will discuss the technology and strategies in transforming global education. Meanwhile, Dr. John Robert Bautista of University of Texas in Austin, U.S.A., will speak on the new roles and impacts of public information, focusing on the internet and the spread of fake news. Dr. Emmanuel Luna of University of the Philippines Resilience Institute will discuss risk management and empowerment for health resiliency. His talk will be followed immediately by
CASE conducts spiritual webinar
p.3 The Legacy of Dr. Marlon Gomez
p.5
TUA to host health consortium conference | p.3
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tua_to@tua.edu.ph
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News
News CASE conducts spiritual webinar BY : Raya De Leoz
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri shares his stories about faith and hardship during the pandemic Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer Documentation Staff
“We must tell the truth. Honor and dignity is the most important thing in life.” These were the words of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri during the spiritual nurturance webinar hosted by the College of Arts, Sciences and Education (CASE) last Feb. 18 via Zoom. Senator Zubiri, together with Dr. Rolex M. Cailing and Rev. Leonardo Galenza Jr., were the invited guests of the activity which was part of the 58th foundation anniversary celebration of Trinity University of Asia (TUA). Senator Zubiri, who is on his second term in Philippine Senate, shared that the most significant instance when he felt the deep need to communicate with the Lord was when he learned his win in the 2007 election was rigged. He immediately “We are all equal in resigned in 2011. He believed that God humbled him during that time.
the eyes of God and in
COVID-19. There is no quick fix,” -Dr. Cailing
one’s faith in time of suffering.
The senator, who was the 142nd case of COVID-19 in the country, also said that contracting the virus last year allowed him to reflect and shed light to his vulnerability Meanwhile, Dr. Cailing and Rev. Galenza, All4Christ Ministries, Inc. executive board member chairman respectively, shared how to hold on
“It is not easy to hold on especially if you are weak, especially when Faith is confronted by our vulnerability. This is the time we need one another,” said Dr. Cailing. “No matter what happens, we know we all are under God’s care,” added Rev. Galenza. Senator Joel Villanueva also graced the event and sent his wellwishes to the university’s constituents. The annual Spiritual Nurturance activity was held online for the first time due to strict government restriction on mass gathering during the pandemic.
Observer hosts Intercollege Quiz Bee
TUA celebrates...from page 1 The Media and Communication (MAC) Department, in partnership with the Languages and Contemporary Human Studies (LACHS) Department, on the other hand, arranged the two-day National Conference on Language and Education, which highlighted the importance of global languages such as Mandarin and English in the present globalized world. The online conference reached more than 24,000 engagements in social media and has attracted audiences, including educators and language enthusiasts, from all over the country. The annual Spiritual Nurturance, held via Zoom for the first time this year, featured the sharing of the Hon. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, and preachers Rev. leonardo Galanza Jr. and Dr. Rolex M. Cailing. Senator Joel Villanueva also briefly graced the event to extend his well wishes to Trinitian constituents. In a surprising twist to usual beauty pageants, the Mr. and Miss TUA was held virtually too last Feb. 19. Dubbed as Ambassadors of Peace Education, Patricia Misenas of CASE and Edwin Baradas Jr. of St. Luke’s College of Nursing, were crowned Mr. and Miss TUA respectively. The flexibility of online competition allowed Baradas to compete and win the title while in the United States. Bea Bianca Racelis of Senior High School and Joseph Anton Bañas of CASE were declared first
Maria Franisa Avendaño-Umali, AB Mass Communication Batch 2006 and newscaster at DZBB, received the most outstanding alumni award while Medine Karakuş, BSEd major in English Batch 2015, was chosen as the Young Alumni Achiever awardee. “Dr. Trinidad and the Foundation Week Celebrations Committee were able to maximize online platforms to still mark the event. For that, we are very thankful,” said Mr. Caleb Conne Coniate, Manager of Global Education and Industry Relations Office (GEIRO). Mr. Coniate served as master of ceremonies in many programs of the foundation week celebration. Dr. Fernando Trinidad III, Dean of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, is the overall chairman of the Foundation Week Celebrations Committee. Majority of the events were broadcasted simultaneously to the official social media accounts of the university.
BY : Jean Andrei G. Senen
The media partnership aimed to strengthen the reach of the event through social media, as well as to encourage up-and-coming
BY : Russel Loreto
Trinity University of Asia’s College of Medical Technology (CMT) has achieved an astounding 84.62% passing rate in the March 2021 Medical Technologist Licensure examinations (MTLE) way above the national passing rate of 59.09%.
The week-long celebration was capped with Trinity Icons, a virtual homecoming and outstanding alumni awards night.
NU pub partners with TO in JournFest In celebration of the National Arts Month in February 2021, The National, the official publication of The National University-Manila, hosts the Camilo Osias Arts Festival with the theme “Amplifying the Role of Campus Journalism towards Press Liberty Amidst Pandemic”. In line with this, The National partners with the Trinity Observer as one of their Campus Media Partners.
By: Jean Andrei G. Senen
runners up while Sara Richard John Alloyce of College of Engineering and Information Sciences, and Ryjem Roj Obsum of the Junior High School were chosen as the second runners up.
journalists to showcase their journalistic capabilities by participating in their various activities. CAMAF aims to discover ten students who excelled in journalism, photojournalism, editorial cartooning, and flash report nationwide. It was a contest open to both Senior High School and College students. Ms. Princess Angel Najera, a third year student from the College of Tourism entered the PhotoJournalism Contest with the theme: Freedom through Arts. Her piece is titled: Kalayaang Alay Para Mabuhay.
CMT clutches impressive passing rate
Twenty out of the twenty six first-time takers from Trinity University of Asia are now registered medical technologists.
In this picture: Reinald Mendez (second to the left top row) bested other participants in Trinithink 2021 Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer Documentation Staff
history, mathematics, general science, religion, and pop-culture.
In the spirit of excellence for Trinity University of Asia’s 57th founding anniversary, Trinity Observer held TriniThink 2021, an intercollege quiz bee where bona fide Senior High School and College students of TUA are tested in a contest of wit and knowledge. The event gathered sixteen students representing their colleges in a three-round competition with different questions that ranged from general information,
Sweeping the competition, Reinal Andrei Mendez from Senior High School (SHS) emerged as the champion of TriniThink 2021 after perfecting all the questions in the championship round. Jan Victor Ayson from the College of Arts and Sciences (CASE) and Lourdes Nicole Pedrezuela from the College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) came in as first and second runners-up respectively.
In addition to his title as champion, Mendez won a cash prize of PHP 3,000 while the 1st runner up and 2nd runner up won 1,000 and 2,000 PHP, respectively. Unlike the first TriniThink held live in the university last year, the entire competition this year was held online via Zoom in line with the shift to online classes, as well as to ensure the safety of all the participants of the events.
During the January 2021 MTLE, CMT achieved an 80% passing rate, beating out the national average passing rate of 67.69%. The January MTLE is for approved examinees of the March and August 2020 MTLE only, which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the September 2019 MTLE, TUA ranked 6th in the best performing schools in the entire country with a passing rate of 96.97%.
from page 1...TUA to host health consortium conference Atty. Krissi Shaffina Twyla Rubin of the Commission on Human Rights. She will present women’s involvement in health resiliency. In the afternoon of the first day of the conference, Dr. Ma. Martina Geraldine Dimalibot of St. Luke’s Medical Center, Col. Alladin Collado of Cebu Police Provincial Office, and Ms. Rhodora Angela Ferrer of Private Education Assistance Committee will share narratives on the challenges in the workplace, peace and order, and education, respectively. Medical Director Dr. Melvin Sanicas, Mr. David Hind of Asia Pacific Institute for Events Management, and Ms. Joanne Golong-Gomez of Hilton Manila, on the other hand, will share global perspectives on COVAX, safety in events management, and leisure and recreation. The second day of the conference will feature Dr. Randy Misael Dellosa of LifeChange.org who will speak
about holistic perspectives on coping with health issues in the workplace. Mr. Jerico Bajador, Nurse Training Coordinator of National Center for Mental Health, will also present the topic Holistic Health Care management in the Hospital and Public Health.
Arts, Sciences and Education. “Currently, health and COVID-19 being the top concerns of the world at the moment, this event hopes to bring about understanding of the different realities that we face in all aspects of life and society.”
Concluding the plenary is Dr. Shake Guevarra-Hocson of Far Eastern University who will discuss the online promotion of holistic health at home.
Dr. Maria Antonia C. Capili, URDC Director is the official representative of TUA to the MMHRDC is the overall organizing committee chair of the event
The conference will also feature oral research competition for the undergraduate and professional levels, poster research paper competition, and creative competitions including video memes, spoken word poetry, vlogging, pitch-to-policymakers, and photo competition. “TUA is because of betterment Howell Ho,
involved in this endeavor our commitment for the of our society,” said Dr. Dean of the College of
Established in 2009, MMHRDC aims to strengthen collaboration and develop research capability of health research institutions in the National Capital Region. It has 43 member institutions composed of hospitals, private companies, organizations, and higher education institutions, including TUA.
The Official 2021 MMHRDC banner Photo Courtesy: Dr. Howell Ho
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News
TUA organizes culture and language festival BY : Charles Worren E. Laureta
The CuLA aims to showcase talents of Filipino students nationally in public speaking, video making and disk-jockeying Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer Documentation Staff
With the aim of showcasing the public speaking, video making, and disc jockeying talents of young Filipinos nationwide, Trinity University of Asia (TUA) organized the Culture and Language (CuLa) Festival as part of its 58th founding anniversary celebration last Feb. 17, 2021. Princess Sophia R. Domingo of Bago Bantay Elementary School was declared winner in the Grade School division of elocution while Aira Ragos of Alaminos City National High School won in the DJ and VJ MYX’s Junior and Senior High School division. Both winners received cash prizes and gift vouchers.
BY : Jonel Sayon
News Feature CHTM puts up local publication BY : Princess Angel Grace Najeera
With the aim of having a fair and transparent communication among students, councils and faculty within the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, a local publication for the College was born. Dubbed as the “CHTM Insider”, the new media organization for CHTM will be responsible for providing news and information and school updates to the CHTM community. The publication is also tasked to oversee the creation of high quality materials for the CHTM department. “The beginning was the hardest phase of CHTM Insider, since most of us had minimal to no-experience. It was hard because there were a lot of students who joined the community and some of them left. But I’m really grateful to work with them,” said Alexander Sembreno, the newly-installed Editor-in chief of the publication For Elleine Jamille Factoran, the associate editor of CHTM insider, she believes in the phrase: ‘Solam Veritatem’ which translates for “Nothing but the Truth.” According to her, this is one of the most important values in journalism, and that the community is more than an organization within the campus. It is a starting point of CHTM students who wants to share their skills in the field of journalism
The Legacy of Dr. Marlon Gomez By: Russel Loreto Dr. Marlon de Jesus Gomez is an esteemed academician, leader, colleague, friend, father and a husband. Most of all, he is someone that embodies Trinitian values of integrity, excellence, innovation, teamwork and social responsibility. Dr. Marlon rose from the ranks. From being a faculty of Mathematics at the then College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), he became Dean of Students for the last 12 years.
A Family Man
“I admire Sir Gomez for his openness to us back when I was still studying. He has such a pure heart and (was) always jolly in and outside the classroom,” he added.
“He is a devoted husband and a good father and a provider,” said Dr. Serena Gomez, the wife of Dr. Marlon Gomez. “Though he looks strict he is gentle and understanding with his children,” she added. “He is straightforward and di mo siya mapepreno especially if he is in the right,” Dr. Serena said. The Gomez couple are alumni from Trinity University of Asia from the BS Math program. They started out as classmates, then became friends and co-teachers and now as husband and wife. “He loves me very much, di niya ako iniwan kahit masama na pakiramdam nya,” she said with a crack in her voice.
changes that former students imprinted. She noticed the stress of student leaders whenever publication materials were needed for the College. She came up with the idea of creating a publication to ease the burden of student leaders in communicating to their constituents thus helping them focus on their duties. To form the first members of the organization, she contacted CHTM students whom she saw a potential in journalism
Psych holds well-being seminar
“Self-diagnosis on mental health can cause serious damage.”
“A lot of people have told me to be strong, pero mahirap talaga but despite that, I know that God is with me,” said Dr. Serena while trying to hold back her tears. They have three children, namely Sean Matthew, Symoun and Myles who are also studying at Trinity University of Asia. Dr. Marlon Gomez’ takes a photo together with his eldest son, Sean. Photo Courtesy: Dr. Serena Gomez
“I’d like to thank a really special person, who up to now has spent more than a third of his life pouring love to me, my siblings, and to Mommy. Thank you Dad, for everything you’ve given us as a father,” read in a letter shared to us by Dr. Serena that was written by Sean Matthew Gomez for Dr. Marlon’s 50th birthday. In that same letter he thanks his father for sharing his wisdom and love for video games. He also thanks his father for doing his best and working hard to provide for their family.
This was the message of Mr. Novie Palarisan, a psychologist and guidance counselor and one of the three invited speakers of the webinar entitled Nurturing Psychological Well-being, organized by the Psychology Department of the College of Arts, Sciences and Education last Feb. 20, 2021.
An Esteemed Colleague
Mr. Palarisan was joined by fellow Psychologist Prof. Yeng Gatchalian and Dr. Nichole Tangco in the discussion of coping mechanisms in the new normal of education. “When it comes to your mental health, always seek a professional. Never self-diagnose yourself because that can cause serious damage to your mental health,” said Mr. Palarisan. The speaker also pointed out the importance of “Sacred Hour” or the exclusive time and attention given by a person to himself and his needs. They also suggested that spending time doing the things that a person loves can greatly improve mental health conditions.
Mental health experts and advocates Mr. Paralisan, Prof Gatchalian and Dr. Nicole Tiangco share their tips on nurturing one’s well-being during hard times. Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer Documentation Staff
The webinar was organized in response to the increasing cases of students and faculty struggling to cope with the sudden shift in the modes of learning.
Hosted by Ms. Dawnie Dela Cruz and Mr. Rommel Agbayani, faculty members from the Psychology Department, the webinar was broadcasted live in their official Facebook account.
An Inspiring Leader and a Teacher “He is approachable, he greets us pag nakasalubong sa hallway (he greets us when we meet in the hallway), and (Dr. Marlon is) such a great educator as well,”said Arnold Sarreal, an alumnus from Batch 2008-2009.
The publication is the brainchild of Jhenelyn
The CHTM Insider published their first Issue, The competition and awarding ceremonies were held via Zoom and broadcasted si- Christmas Special in December 2020. They are open multaneously via official Facebook accounts of to CHTM students all year-round who want to develop and use their skills. the university.
“Dr. Gomez knows his trade. He knows what should be done and how it should be done, and he takes responsibility for the decision.” said Ma’am Degay. “He supported students’ programs and activities and inspired students, especially student leaders, to go over and above. He walked the talk,” she added.
He also worked with CHED (Commission on Higher Education) in the GIA (Grants in Aid) program from 2005-2007. He has also published a number of research on Mathematics and Education. Needless to say, but he has left a legacy not only for himself but also for the recognition of Trinity University of Asia.
Schools from all over Philippines partic- Cruz, former president of the Tourism Society. ipated in the Gradeschool Elocution and Senior She believes that leadership is like a battlefield--before engaging in a war, one must hold the legacy and High School VJ and DJ competitions. The event was hosted by Ms. Justine Sophia M. Justo and Mr. Ian Galman of the TUA Senior High School Department. Judges were Dr. Juliet A. Demalen of the Graduate School, Ms. Rosary Quiling, English and Arts teacher at TUA-SHS, and Dr. Heidee Ferrer, DepEd Supervisor and faculty of the College of Arts Sciences and Education, teaching German language.
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(From left to right) Mr. Homer Balmes, Ms. Lea Degay and Dr. Marlon Gomez. They are colleagues that have worked alot together for the welfare and development of Trinitians Photo Courtesy: Dr. Serena Gomez via Dr. Marlon Gomez’ Facebook
“Dr. Marlon will surely be missed for so many reasons, “ said Ms. Lea B. Degay who worked with Dr. Gomez for around 9 years in the Student Affairs Center (SAC). “He was a supportive leader who believed and encouraged his staff and who did not hesitate to give a ‘pat on your back’ for a job well done.”
Dr. Gomez is the Dean of Students who unapologetically fights for the studentry. His office finds ways to develop and hone not just student leaders but the Trinitian community as a whole.
“From the very short time I’ve been able to interact virtually with Dr. Marlon, I knew to myself that I want to learn from him more, not just about the knowledge he can share, but also the right attitude and skills in leadership,” said Danica Espiritu who served as Batch 2020-2021’s College of Arts, Science and Education (CASE) student councilor. “It was also shocking for some of the student council officers because a week before the sad news, he had been able to help us with our proposal,” she added. Dr. Marlon Gomez oversees and supervises all university-wide and college wide organizations, including University Student Council (USC) . The USC is the highest student body office and a group of students who are elected by the student body to address issues of concern and organize student events and activities. He is well regarded in the Trinitian community as someone who is approachable and pro-student. He would support student leaders in executing their ideas and help them refine their project proposals. “One thing that I won’t forget is during the recognition day and he told my parents “ Ang swerte niyo From the archives: The 2019 Trinitian of the Year awarding ceremony po kay Ryan”(You are Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer 2019 very lucky with Ryan) and until now that memory will never be forgotten by my parents and I,”said Ryan del Mundo. Ryan del Mundo is the Trinitian of the Year of Batch 2019 and served as the USC College of Engineering and Information Sciences (CEIS) councilor for batch 2017-2018. “Yung influence niya yung isa sa mga naging strong foundation ko to give my best and be a better servant leader to my fellow Trinitians,”he added. Dr. Marlon J. Gomez is really an embodiment of a teacher that cares for the students and a person who would devote their time, effort and skills for the Trinitian community. He might be long gone but his legacy and leadership will forever be remembered and cherished by the Trinitian community.
Editor’s Note: On April 12, 2021, Dr. Marlon J. Gomez, the Dean of Students and a professor at TUA Graduate school died from complications of COVID-19. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Serena C. Gomez, and three children.
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Literary
Features BECAUSE WE CAN’T WRITE OUR OWN STORIES BY: Mayzelle Riz A. Vejano
The last few weeks of 2020 felt like reading a hopeful epilogue after the unfortunate climax and falling action of the first installment in a book series. When everything before that last chapter didn’t go the way you wanted them to, you’d hold on to the last pages and hope you’d find a hint that things could still change in the next book. It felt like this for a lot of us; like the new year meant everything would change. And just like a series’ die-hard fan, we enthusiastically welcomed the next chapter. Four months into 2021 and I’m stuck here at home, looking back to last year when a lot of us were hoping that 2021 would signify our recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. How are we now, really? I’d say it’s the exact opposite of our wishful thinking. We treated January as a fresh start and welcomed the year with smiles and hope, but vanished immediately when we realized that we could’ve gotten millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as early as January if all the requirements were submitted and processed on time. Fear started to creep in more when the first UK variant was detected in the country. February, the month of love, would have been a great reason to smile, if only we could meet all our loved ones. It was a pain to send chocolates and flowers in place of our presence. March had the highest daily COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic and broke those records day after day. Later that month, the NCR Plus (NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) was
placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) once again. Déjà vu, right? Almost exactly a year ago, we were also isolating ourselves inside our homes. We were wishing to see our friends. We didn’t like the online set-up and we didn’t want to miss any opportunities outside and families could barely hold on and provide for their needs. The same concerns and what-if ’s for the second time. You’ve gone through it once and you think you can deal with it a second time, but you end up coming up with nothing. Time has changed, but time has also brought us back to this experience that we hoped we’d never face again. At this point, it feels like coping means watching things happen and trying to live with it because you don’t have a choice. We can’t choose when there are no options. Most of us are hoping that things wouldn’t be the same throughout the next pages. I know a lot of us wish we could write it on our own and make things happen the way that’s ideal for everyone. If only our wishful thinking could come to life, we’d all be back to how it used to be before the pandemic. Unfortunately, what’s ideal cannot always turn into a reality. We want to take things in our own hands and give it our best but sometimes, even after we do, things don’t change. We can’t be the author of our own lives even if we work hard enough to be in control. Because we can’t write our own stories, we just play our part in it, and fulfill that role. We keep that role, survive, and hope that whoever is writing this story will let us see a better epilogue soon. That’s our 2021 story.
The Perception of SLCN Students on Online Return Demonstrations and Related Learning Experiences BY: Reem Guada Y. Lee It has been a year ever since we shifted to online classes due to the pandemic. Because of the shift to online classes, freshmen Nursing students in particular are doing their Return Demonstrations (retdems) while sophomores are busy with Related Learning Experience (RLE) in the comfort of their homes. To get their opinion and stand on this, a survey was conducted and they were asked the following questions: What are their thoughts on this? Do they find it effective? What are their doubts and fears on this? Are they able to perform the tasks properly? Do they get enough feedback from their professors with regards to performing the task correctly? What are they hoping for? The freshmen and sophomore respondents’ names were omitted. Here are their responses: Based on the answers of some freshmen students, they find it hard because of some circumstances and such practical skills are better learned in a face-to-face setting. A freshman stated: “As a nursing student with this kind of situation right now, even if we want to learn practical skills in face-to-face classes, we really don’t have any choice at all. But we are privileged enough to gain knowledge through online classes since it’s the only best alternative solution that we have now.” For the sophomores, they find their RLEs helpful and informative because of their hardworking professors, but then clinical duties are what nursing students look forward to.“Despite the pandemic, I am very much happy with our RLEs, for our professors are trying their best in order to make our RLE rotations enjoyable yet filled with useful information. Every rotation leads to different lessons and realizations, nursing-wise and life lessons in general.” When asked about the effectiveness, freshmen students do not find it effective in an online set-up because of limited equipment, and since it is one of the practical skills nurses need to learn, it is best done under guidance and supervision (personally) by the professor. “I can’t say that it is fully effective since we are not able to personally witness the demonstration, and I think that sometimes we miss small details in performing the demonstration.” Freshmen students fear that they only learn through knowledge and not through practical skills, which is more needed in this field, and they doubt whether they can do and apply it correctly or not. “Life of a nurse is all about hand-on situations and I think with this lack of knowledge there’ll be certain mistakes made in the future if we are asked by a professor to do a task since we don’t have the practice at all.”
Sophomores also worry about relatively the same thing. “I do fear that we may not be able to perform as well when it comes to the clinical field due to the lack of physical return demonstrations. But all we can do right now is to hope that this pandemic would end soon in order for us to make up for the lack of clinical exposure.” However, freshman students said they are able to perform well with different ways and techniques such as time management and the use of learning materials provided by the professors. “With the help of lectures and hand-on practices from YouTube medical videos specifically, I am able to perform my tasks properly. On top of that, my mother is a doctor so she is helping me whenever I ask for a certain procedure that a task is asking to do.” While there are some sophomore students who struggle from time to time and there are students who are able to perform well by taking one step at a time. “I could say that I could perform the tasks properly, sometimes it’s quite hard to balance things out in terms of RLE outputs and lecture exams. But little by little, I try to prioritize and organize my tasks by scheduling them. Organizing and prioritizing are very important when it comes to dealing with exams and school work.” To conclude the survey, both freshmen and sophomore students, and even professors, are hoping for face-to-face classes as they think it is the most effective way for them to learn. “Just like others in general, I am hoping for a face-to-face class soon even though it’s going to be limited, it’s nice to have hands-on practical learning so that I am able to apply it to my future profession.” “Although RLE is quite successful for me, I think we learn best if we’re physically exposed to the field. That’s why I am hoping that this pandemic ends soon in order for us to learn better. We would be able to master specific kinds of skills if we try and practice them to actual people. All we could do right now is to hope and pray that this pandemic would end, for the betterment of our learning and for the betterment of everyone’s lives.” There are a lot of courses which require physical and practical learning, and are best learned in a face-to-face setting for the students to better apply specific skills. Nursing students look forward to the clinical duties and capping and pinning ceremony, but due to the pandemic and the current situation, such ceremonies are not allowed. The digital shift of education is indeed challenging. It’s one of the toughest challenges given to us, but we are stronger than we think.
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Extras
Extras
Aries
(Mar 21 - April 19)
Taurus
(April 20 - May 20)
By: Tired EDITOR | Artwork by: maria rumbaoa
Confront mo na ang groupmate mo na walang ambag para sa finals. I-confront mo na rin crush mo. Mag-ready ka nalang baka i-seen kalang nilang dalawa. Lucky Color: Red Things To Avoid: Facebook Messenger
Capricorn
(Jun 21 - Jul 22)
Virgo
(Aug 23 - Sep 22)
(Nov 22- Dec 21)
(Dec 22 - Jan 19)
Makakatulog ka habang nasa harap ng computer. Sasakit ang ulo mo tas sasabihan ka ng mama mo, “kakakompyuter mo yan.” Lucky Object: Mousepad na naging unan Medicine to take: Mefenamic acid
Happy ka ngayon, matatapos mo na lahat ng finals mo. Magkaka 1.0 ka. Lucky Number: 1 Unlucky Number: 3
(Jul 23 - Aug 22)
(Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Pagod ka na, oo pagod ka nang magisa lang sa buhay; kaya ikaw ay maghahanap ng karamay. Lucky App: Tinder (charot) Unlucky supernatural creature: Ghosts
Sagitarrius
(May 21 - Jun 20)
Leo
Scorpio
Comic Corner
Lalago ang mga pinaghirapan mo, ung maliit na halaman mo na tinanim noong simula ng quarantine ay mamumunga na. Lucky Plant: Kamatis Future ulam: Tinola with kamatis
Wag kalimutan hugasan ang plato bago magtiktok. Palaging uminom ng water, nakakapagod mag hit the whoah. Lucky App : TikTok Place to avoid : Kusina (feel ko lang)
Cancer
(Sep 23 - Oct 22)
Ma-didiscover mo na ang peace mo, kase lahat ng gc ay nakamute or naka-ignore. Maawa ka sa groupmates mo bhie. Things to open: Groupchats Lucky Number: 13
Taposin mo na finals mo bhie, maya na yang k-pop mo Lucky Object: Notebook Things To Avoid: V-live
Gemini
Libra
Aquarius
(Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Pisces
(Feb 19 - Mar 20)
Mahina ang pressure ng tubig ngayon kaya dapat kang magipon ng tubig para makakaligo sa susunod na araw. Joke lang, pwede pumasok sa online classes na walang ligo. Lucky Item : Tawas para sa kili-kili Things you should do: Maligo
Message mo na si crush tas sabay daw kayo pabakuna, char may bakuna na ba? #Bakuna Lucky Mythical Creature: Bakunawa Next travel destination: Sa vaccination site
Blessed by the moon ka this week. May isang Aries sa buhay mo na malaki ang crush sayo, pero dapat acads muna Lucky Item: Acads Things to avoid: Late night talks (marupok kase sha)
Tigil-tigilan mo ang pagiging perfectionist mo, wala kang matatapos jan. Unlucky activity: Procrastination Things to do: Finals requirements
Here are some of the questions that appeared in Trinithink, do you think you can answer them all? 1) Find the average of the ff. numbers: 1-25. 2) How many years was the Philippines colonized under Spain? 3)Who wrote Dekada’ 70? 4) What is the value of Avogadro’s number? 5) What is 9-3÷ ⅓ +1? 6) Which river flows through Paris? 7) The Battle of Austerlitz took place during which war? 8) What year was Trinity University of Asia established? 9) Which country in the world consumes the most chocolate per capita? 10) What are the Jain scriptures called?
BE FEATURED!
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1) 13
2) 333 years 3) Lualhati Bautista 4) 6.022 x 10^23 5) 1 6) River Seine 7) Napoleonic Wars 8) 1963 9) Switzerland 10) Agmas (precepts) or Siddhantas
Answers:
10 Opinion
Opinion
When the lights go out ESTHEIM Andy Nathaniel M. Legwis | Editor-in-Chief
Tired. If there was one word that encompasses the one constant feeling I have been experiencing, it’s tired. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have lost motivation to do things that I need to do. Lack of sleep, overflow of work, and the constant exposure to screens has been pushing me to the edge. One of the worst things to lose in oneself is motivation. Once it is lost, your drive to move onward is lost, and you are left stuck in one
place, stagnant. The fire inside you is, in the simplest sense, burnt up. Losing physical interaction with the people we work with, our friends, as well as our families, has damaged our ability to cope. It makes us feel alone, more so than we already are. Although the internet exists to bridge this gap, it can only do so much. What a lot of people struggle with is the fact that the quarantine has diminished our sense of space. The spaces we consider personal are also the spaces we enjoy, the
place where we find respite, and this isn’t always inside our houses. Being subject to this situation for over a year has forced a lot of people to run on fumes. We push for perfection in a dire and unideal situation, and yet we still end up blaming ourselves when we come up short. When the price of productivity is burning the flame in us out, can we still call it growth? When the lights go out, we lose sight of our path. It becomes easy, then, to get tunnel-visioned when the light is scarce, and it becomes more convenient to blame a person than it is to question the system. For students, it is so easy to lash out on their teachers. However, educators are also victims to the shift. Just as we feel the
Why should we protect community pantries? responsibility to move onward with our lives regardless of the situation we are in, educators are burdened with the task to ensure that we are capable of doing so. As we slowly piece together the life we once had, we must learn to be empathetic, and to understand that although we are all in the same boat, we do not share the same experiences. In this regard, we must also learn to take a step back and cut ourselves some slack. We all have something we miss from then. That, for me, was the commute home. Commuting has always been therapeutic for me. It was my alone time. It let me be with my thoughts. I could honestly use a jeepney ride home.
Unsung Filipino heroes
Them being called as our heroes with the matching applause and offering of songs and performances in appreciation of their service to others.
the big and small jobs who are risking their lives in making a great impact in the betterment of our situation in the middle of this health crisis. Heroes often have their own fancy costumes with capes and masks. But in the case of our Filipino heroes who are in battle but don’t have armour and shields to protect them because they lack equipment and protective gears.
But not only the health workers need recognition but also the real life day to day heroes. The local workers who risk becoming infected themselves—who risk infecting their own families.
Not only by risking their lives and safety is what makes them our heroes because in the perception of heroism is that it is not the obligation of these workers to put themselves at risk.
Online Delivery Drivers, who take the roads in scorching temperatures to deliver foods and goods in our everyday needs. Store keepers, cashiers, market vendors and all the essential workers who devote themselves in making our adapting to this new normal easier.
They have not already agreed to take on this risk as part of their job and so are voluntarily going to work to help others. Their service is out and beyond the call of duty.
DAKILA Joe Asher P. Fuentes | Managing Editor
What does it mean to be a hero? Heroes in films, comics and books are often defined to have superhuman powers, to fly, to lift heavy things, see through walls and run faster than the speed of light. But we humans don’t have such extraordinary superpowers when we help the people in distress, but what we have in us is our ability to see injustices and to take them on—often at great risk to ourselves and others. Since the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic the term ‘hero’ has been used throughout the world. It has been used to identify the heroic and unremarkable service of the people who worked in the quarantine facilities along with the patients to contain the spread of the virus and also the people who continue in working to sustain and help us to this new normal.
We all know it’s been a year since the start of lockdown and the quarantine but let’s always be grateful to the people behind
But why do we need heroes? Because these people work the best they can to demonstrate positivity to society and serve as powerful examples in making a difference in our world.
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And if people will hear their stories, they can inspire others to do heroic things too. That’s why, thank you to all the health workers, from the nurses, doctors and lab technicians, Thank you to all the delivery drivers and food workers for preparing our food and delivering it in the fastest way possible. Thank you to the teachers and professors who are changing their entire plans for the rest of the semester in order to keep children educated. Thank you to the journalists who are working overtime and facing strange conditions to relay important information to the public. Thank you to all the people who are keeping in together. And if you’re staying home right now, thank you. Together, we are all heroes. We will get better soon.
THE POLEMIC Russel Anthony P. Loreto | Associate Editor
On April 14, a lady by the name of Ana Patricia Non set a humble and small bamboo cart on a pavement in Maginhawa. It was stocked with goods worth 800 pesos of vegetables, rice, noodles, canned food and bottled water. From that one small initiative it sparked a national movement that echoed the words of “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan. Kumuha batay sa pangangailangan.” (Give whatever you can. Take only what you need.) Its reach was so far and wide that this movement has started similar movements in other countries. However, community pantries are now under attack as they face issues of red-tagging. Why are they
so motivated to close down these initiatives whose sole purpose is to help and save those who are poor and starving? This pandemic has been particularly devastating for Filipinos especially for the urban poor, the same people who are the most vulnerable in our society. Turning a blind eye on these issues and threats is like cutting the cord of a person who is on lifesupport. Silence on these issues won’t do us any good. People now succumbed to the fear mongering from the alleged claims that the community pantries started out because radical idelogies.
In my humble opinion, this kind of thinking is hurtful and ignorant. People need help and they need help fast. Trying to tag advocates as communists in this political climate is devastating to these people who just want to help other people. If you are so afraid of communists and detest them so much, let me give you an example of a country that has an advocacy like this that is accepted and is ultra-capitalist — the United States of America. In America, their equivalents of community pantries are food banks, soup kitchens, pantries and shelters. These are found throughout the U.S.A and operate on this same principle. These facilities are where the needy can get what they need and where people can donate their excess food or funds.
Helping other people will not overthrow the government. Helping the needy and hungry will not hurt anyone. In this time of crisis, instead of trying to spread hate and fear mongering we should help each other. Giving your extra food out of goodwill will not suddenly cause civil unrest. I will not delve so much into my opinions on these political axises as that is not the point of this piece. If you hate civil unrest so much, you should help people out. Because, helpful advocates won’t overthrow the government but hungry people in a crisis would. So why should we protect these advocacies? Because, community pantries are not a move from the left or an act of terrorism. Community pantries are exemplification of our Filipino values of resilience and social responsibility. Community pantries is the the modern day bayanihan
Votes are more than just ballots PIERROT Jean Andrei G. Senen | News Editor
Since late 2019, voter registration for the upcoming 2022 elections have already been open, and despite the pandemic and the need for everyone to stay at home and quarantine, the Commission on Elections had adapted to the circumstances and had launched online registrations, making it accessible despite the ongoing pandemic. And rightfully so, since the 2022 elections are coming in fast. Ever since registration for voting opened last 2019, everyone, especially the youth and non-registered voters have been strongly encouraged to get themselves registered. Given the state of society now, voting has become more important than ever. And something people should realize, I think, is that voting was always important. From simple elections, such as classroom
elections, student council elections, or even Barangay elections, giving people the privilege to vote should be considered as something powerful. As quoted from the Spider-Man comics, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Being able to vote ideally puts the power into the hands of the people. The power to decide together who seems fit to run institutions, neighborhoods, and even nations. The Philippines especially, being a democratic country, heavily depends on voting when it comes to choosing the next leaders. As mentioned before, voting is a heavy power. And at this point, it’s important to mention that voting doesn’t concern just a single person’s life; whoever is
granted power impacts the life of every person under someone with power. Choosing certain leaders will lead to certain actions that would eventually be implemented and change the lives of everyone. Registering to vote holds so much value now that our eyes have opened to what power can really do for the people around us. We need to remember that whoever we decide to put up there, we may as well be putting our lives and the lives of everyone else at stake. Even if you feel like a decision like this wouldn’t affect you directly, it’s important to take into consideration that the world doesn’t revolve around just you. A new act could be passed, and while it may not affect your way of life, it could affect the lives of so many other people, and quite possibly, could take a turn for the worst. As mentioned before, voting is a privilege that nowadays, not everyone can afford to possess. Having this privilege comes with
the responsibility of knowing your candidate well, and knowing to vote for someone based on their capabilities. And that’s why as a society, it’s about time we took voting a little more seriously. Especially within the youth. The youth are going to inherit the country one day, and with that in mind, the vote of the youth is needed now more than ever. While it is understandable that several cannot register to vote given certain circumstances, refusing to register to vote, despite having the privilege to do so, comes off as ignorant. Keep in mind, what may not affect you, will affect so many other people. Voting is a civic duty, and when society votes wisely, powerful changes may come from it. Voting nowadays is more than just papers and ballots; voting means changing society for better or for worse.
February - May 2021
A Year of Quarantine: Looking Back
T
he past year of quarantine was not a cake walk. Being separated for more than 365 days from our school, workplaces, friends and even family members is not easy to cope with. Jobs were taken away, sacrifices were made, and lives were lost. What started as a “break” week for a lot of people ended up extending indefinitely, becoming the norm that we are now knee-deep in. In public spaces we wage war against the virus by staying far apart, this struggle continues on even in our private lives. It has been relatively hard to connect with people and have heart-warming interactions. As morale plummeted, so did productivity. As students, the line that divided work from rest became marred by the need to move forward and to maintain the status quo. The difference became indistinguishable, as we woke up and worked and slept in one place. At first glance, it will appear trivial, convenient even; but that lack of distinction is what diminishes our personal space with stress. As students, we have been expected to perform to the best of our abilities to comply with the requirements set forth by the program that we have chosen. On the flipside, our educators are expected to share knowledge and experience as optimally as possible, even amidst being under sub-optimal circumstances themselves. The thing is, CoViD19 was only the catalyst. Through the months, we as a nation have had to go through so much - physically, mentally, and emotionally. What we have lost as a country for the past year goes beyond the virus. If anything, CoViD19 revealed our weaknesses as a nation, further exacerbated by mistakes and inefficiencies of those in power.
As a publication, we knew that our online presence had to be amped up to a hundred. People were looking through the one place that the CoViD19 virus could not reach – online. The need for information accessibility was at an all time high. Naturally, we consume news that not only concerns the Philippines, but other countries as well. Learning about the developments of the virus both in the country and outside can be interpreted quite differently, depending on how you look at it. On one hand, it is inspiring because we see that the virus is not impossible to quell, as other countries have already proven that it can be eradicated. On the other hand, it makes us question how, after more than a year, have we not done the
Editor-in-Chief
Andy Nathaniel M. Legwis
Head of Writers
Raya Isabelle De Leoz
Associate Editor
Russel Anthony P. Loreto
Head of Graphics
Malachi Diwa Castro
same. Regardless of whether the news we were about to share was good or bad, it was our duty to release it in an unadulterated, unbiased manner. As Filipinos, however, it pains us to witness the country in such a state. But here we are. While it’s easy to quantify days locked in as losses, it’s even harder to quantify the people who were affected because of this pandemic. Maybe this could have all been avoided if we only acted quickly and decisively against COVID-19. Maybe, we would have been back to normal sooner than later. Just maybe.
Illustrators
Staff Writers:
Documentation
Reem Guada Y. Lee
Michael Evan B. Parocha Ma. Kristina Angela R. Rumbaoa
Mayzelle Riz A. Vejano
Lianne Gwyn Prado
Kristina V. Pelobello
John Andrei K. Libutan
Kate Parojinog Gullem
Managing Editor
Joe Asher P. Fuentes
Head of Illustrators
Jasmine Joy Badua
DJ Anthony A. Andaya
Lexine Caryl N. Soriano Elinjane S. Vinson
News Editor
Jean Andrei G. Senen
Head of Documentation
Rana Sophia De Leoz
Alexandra B. Calanoc
Gino Gabriel D. Tuason
Mr. Divino L. Cantal Jr.
Head of Social Media Managers King Mohammad Tillah
Technical Adviser
Jonel Sayon
Julia Ysabel Quirino Espiritu
Earl John R. Patricio
Charles Worren E. Laureta
Elinjane S. Vinson
Social Media Managers
Sheryl Leih S. Gonzalez
Layout Artists and Graphics Jamilla Marie San Andres Julia Andrea Ravela
To Write. To Struggle. To Serve.
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