UM CHORALE KICKS OFF 2ND GRAND CONCERT AT TAGUM

By Johana S. Makol

Philippines’ pride University of Mindanao Chorale (UMC) held their 2nd Grand Concert with the theme, “PadayonIkaduhang Pagsubang” at the Historical Cultural Center, Tagumpay Theater, Tagum City, last September 11, 2022, in partnership with the City Government of Tagum, the Music Capital of the South.

In the said event, UMC showcases its repertoire presented during the Taipei International Choral Festival, upbringing Philippines’ music and culture led by Choirmaster Mr. Timothy Paul Atencio.

UM Chorale President Charlz Kenneth Tumamac states that the intention for the said performance is the promotion of the nation’s arts and culture.

“Our main reason is to promote the music and culture of our country through cultural singing and showcase our repertoire in the region,” said Tumamac.

A total of 18 songs were performed in the one-and-the-half concert. It started with Avinu (Our Father), arranged by Eudenice Palaruan, followed by other classical and liturgical genres like Agnus Dei by Ian Gabriel Corpus.

parents, program heads, and a representative from the Records and Admission Center. Also, former students outrebounded Malaysia and attended the orientation to give significant ideas, and practical tips for getting to their host country.

Since the pandemic, this is the first time where the institution would send off outbound students to AIMS for a face-to-face exchange study.

The UM External Relations and International Affairs Office successfully conducted pre-departure orientation for its outbound exchange students happened Tuesday, September 13, 2022. Three students from the BS Accountancy and BS Business Analytics programs will leave the country for a five-month exchange program at the University of Malaya in Malaysia under the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) program, while one student from the BS Electronics Engineering program will begin his six-week diploma course at the University of Texas in the United States

Friday, September 16, 2022.

Dr. Reynaldo Castro, VP for ERIAO, organized the orientation, which was attended by the outbound students, their parents, program heads, and a representative from the Records and Admission Center. Former students who were sent to Malaysia also attended the orientation to share important ideas and practical recommendations on how to go to their host country. Since the pandemic, it was the first time the institution would send off outbound students to AIMS for a face-to-face exchange study.

Pieces such as “Bahay” by Robert Delgado and Jeffrey Beunsuceso’s “Walang Natira” was also staged by the said chorale, which exhibited the country’s social issues and current societal events under the genre of contemporary.

In the latter part, the chorale sang the “Three Kalinga Chants” of Nilo Alcala and Eudenice Palarua’s “Koyu No Tebelul” highlights the cultural and traditional side of the country’s different tribes.

Around 250 audiences jammed on the crowd’s favorite “This is Me” version, and the final piece, “Listen,” officially ended the concert.

Tumamac added that the concert paves the way to generate funds for future community engagements and projects and serves as the means for farewell as they bound to a new repertoire.

“Although I am proud to say that we have successfully aced our concert series. It is unfortunate that we have decided to say our farewells to our current repertoire,” Tumamac stated.

As UMC fans await, the chorale prepares for a new repertoire, moving forward as instruments for music and arts of the Southern Islands.

UM-CHS ADMINISTERS VACCINATION ROLL-OUT INSIDE THE INSTITUTION

By Marcy Nil Ogsoc

The University of Mindanao’s Center for Health Services conducted a COVID-19 vaccination and booster roll-out inside the institution, in partnership with the Davao City Health Office-United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at UM Matina and UM Bolton Gymnasium last August 24–25.

The USAID provided the 1st and 2nd dose series and 1st and 2nd dose booster shots to students, staff, and professors of the university to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection inside the institution.

“It was a successful activity by the CHS (Center for Health Services) and CHO (City Health Office) as we were able to save hundreds of lives during that 2-day event,” Isiah James Francisco said, the Head Nurse of the UM-CHS. In Addition, there are 841 students from the university who were vaccinated and received booster shots, with 566 students from the Matina campus and 275 students from the Bolton campus.

Denver Saraceno, a fourth-year BS Chemical Engineering student at the University stated: “Our country has school vaccination requirements to mitigate the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases like COVID-19; thus, it was a great initiative of the University of Mindanao–Center for Health Services to seek assistance from USAID (Davao City Health Office) by implementing a vaccination roll-out.” where he also got his booster shot as part of the vaccination campaign.

The United States helped the Davao City Health Office to create a strategy for providing rapid, accessible, and free

COVID-19 services. They offered COVID-19 triaging, testing, contact tracing, monitoring, and management in an effective and efficient manner.

“USAID’s support in increasing capacity in case detection and testing is evident through the dispatch of mobile swabbing teams and the provision of testing kits and supplies, which now includes the deployment of vaccination teams to far-flung areas,” Department of Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Roy B. Ferrer said during the handover and launching of Davao City’s community-based COVID-19 response. Head Nurse Francisco added that the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) plans to have another set of vaccination drives in all universities and colleges in Mindanao to achieve herd immunity, especially for the learners.

My group mates and I are planning on how to report “agrarian reform” in GE8 inside the classroom. While in the middle of the discussion, I jokingly said that to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, we must eat the rich. Everybody laughed except for one person who argued that it was offensive because I generalized that all farmers are poor. I was about to make a retort, but I restrained myself because it might be a sensitive topic for that person.

Sensitivity has been a recent social movement on social media and real-life scenarios. Disrespecting any culture,

As we reach the 21st Century, we have embraced myriads of changes in various aspects of our lives. The same way goes with our educational system, it has evolved and integrated so many modifications throughout the years. Before, I vividly remember how firm and stern the disciplinary methods were. However, today, we can see how students have become so liberated and entitled, leading to some circumstances that teachers are already being aggravated and abused by them. The same comparison also applies to how teachers have treated students from being authoritarian or the center of the classroom to being a facilitator of instructions. Currently, we face the

The fake news and misinformation about specific topics like kidnapping, rape, and robbery started to circulate online as the new academic year got underway across the country, particularly here in Davao City.

If we can still remember the numerous safety or awareness posts on social media about the rumors of hold-up situations in numerous locations throughout the city including Gaisano Mall Bajada, NCCC Uyanguren, Catalunan Grande, and many other locations. According to Sunstar News, this was posted by Charles Japheth Lagradante Luzada, an 18-year-old

As the public embraced the new normal, the educational sector is slowly opening its doors to face-to-face classes. Along with this, the university announced the official blended class schedule for the school year 2022-2023. It is a combination of face-to-face classes and online learning.

Upon hearing this announcement, several students expressed their sentiments, saying that it is too early to conduct the blended learning, knowing there are still active cases of COVID-19 and the threat of Monkeypox. However, some show anticipation race, minority, or even cracking a dark humor joke will cause you to be canceled regardless of what degree the insensitivity is within the context. You will be labelled as an ableist, racist, a homophobe, an enabler— and the list goes on. While cancel culture a good reminder that we must think what will come out of our mouths, sometimes this concept has just become absurd. What seemslike a harmless joke or most prominent concern of how students today have become so entitled and sometimes disrespectful to their teachers; and as teachers what should they employ to address this issue? Knowing students of today are given full protection and privilege compared to as before.

In the Philippines, we are taught with different educational management or classroom handling; it simply depends on the teacher which one is effective. Personally, I believe that by organiz ing the school’s disciplinary pro cedures and teaching students what forms of behav- student from Toril. He will receive a six-month prison sentence and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000 if the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) files criminal charges against him for disturbing public order in the city. In fact, Teresita P. Gaspan, a spokeswoman for the Davao City Police Office, advised internet users to refrain from uploading offensive material about the city’s law and order crisis.

Everyone has the freedom to share information online whenever they want, of finally visiting the campus after two years.

Blended learning favors students who prefer attending school for face-toface instruction and doing the school work during an asynchronous schedule. Some may find this setup confusing, but this is the new normal that we are trying to embrace. We cannot take hold of online classes forever. There is nothing wrong with online classes. In fact, this helps the statement will become problematic in a snap because people will scrutinize whatever you say. At this point, cancel culture makes it hard for people to even fully express themselves due to various interpretations in every context.

Back to my anecdote, my statement was supposed to focus on the anti-rich to lessen the social class gap. However, my classmate views it from a different angle, thinking I was talking about the farmers and how poor they are. Evidently, jokes can be interpreted in various ways, and they could be either humorous or harmful.

Cancel Culture And The Death Of Humor

MOCKINGJAIB | Jaiben Lloyd A. Alabado j.alabado.512958@umindanao.edu.ph CONTRIBUTOR

Humor is good as it gives us comical relief. However, we should instill in our minds that in every joke or even in small conversations, we should tread lightly and think before we speak. Consider ior are expected of them and what types are prohibited, a school discipline policy can assist in avoiding and controlling problems with student behavior. However, such regulation comes with built-in restrictions. Moreover, as a student of the College of Teacher Education, I have seen the two sides of the coin; the side of the students and the side of the teachers. Commonly, the underlying

NATURE VS. NURTURE: REINFORCEMENT OF DISCIPLINE AMONGST 21ST CENTURY STUDENTS

JM SHAWARMA Jose Maria Salvador N. Araullo j.araullo.521188@umindanao.edu.ph ASSOCIATE EDITOR and to express their thoughts as they like it. However, we should constantly keep in mind that using social media platforms to disseminate information should always be done responsibly and with the intention of raising awareness rather than instilling fear to the public. Being media literate problem lies with the student’s upbringing. There are students who have encountered some form of bad approach in their homes and as teachers, they should serve as their second parents by consulting them and giving advice. In addition, by also setting boundaries for the students help them learn about the difference between right and wrong. But also, students should help themselves at the same time, since it will be pointless if teachers are the ones always doing an effort to help them.

Furthermore, and citizen journalists, we must always keep in mind that everyone’s safety comes first. For this reason, we must avoid spreading false information that can shock the public. We must use common sense. After allm kidnapping problems should not be taken lightly.

SOCIAL MEDIA: A NEW PLATFORM OF MISINFORMATION?

KYOMIRIAH SPEAKS

Shiny Deborah Rose Bullecer s.bullecer.517972@umindanao.edu.ph MANAGING EDITOR educational sector to continue operating amidst the pandemic. But is this effective for all students? Can they apply what they have learned online in face-to-face interaction?

Furthering study on how to handle the issue of fake news on social media is another action that can be taken. One of the biggest issues our society is currently facing is fake news.

As Peter C. Herman, a San Diego State University professor, tells us, online learning is not the future. We need physical interaction and engage in a dialogue. Hence, a who your audience is and how much more or less amount of humor is needed to form a joke. It is a celebration that we have evolved and realized it is a mistake to joke anything around regardless of how sensitive the topic is. Remember that words may inspire, destroy, or can make a person laugh. People should be critical enough to distinguish between harmless and offensive jokes. Otherwise, I’ll be charging you guilty for the death of humor. Please do not cancel me after writing that punchline.

UMians should be enlightened that teachers of today are doing their best to help their students in the best way they can. Let us not overpower and abuse our privileges. We should learn to teach ourselves about the real essence of discipline as we know our limitations and boundaries. But also, teachers should be reminded that employing proper ways of disciplining will also improve their students’ character and personalities. Discipline should always be used to change behavior rather than punish them. Hence, students won’t grow resentment towards teachers, but rather encourage them to remain engaged in their classes and not despise them.

If we can’t stop it, how can we ensure that we live in a peaceful society when there are many people who enjoy corrupting other people’s minds? It’s okay to share information online, but we should always act responsibly. May we be the ones who still choose to verify facts before disclosing it to others in a world full of “Marites.” genuine education is what we need amidst a pandemic.

Indeed, to express oneself freely means to pay a price for respecting other people’s peace and order. In other words, in order to experience freedom freely, one must be liberated from the depths of the delusion that one can abuse their rights without consequence.

Embodying Blended

LEARNING

At Um

SHIELA GUMAMELA | Sheila Mae Garcia s.garcia.510943@umindanao.edu.ph

LITERARY WRITER

Today, we may have uncertainties about blended learning and the risk of going to school, but it is time to give it a try. And let this be a reminder to follow safety health protocols and the class schedule to avoid spreading the virus. Make this mode of instructional delivery an opportunity to explore the university, the people inside it, and an avenue

FIRST-EVER HOP-SCOTCHING MONKEYPOX CASE IN THE NATION, IS THERE A CAUSE FOR ALARM? IS A TRAVEL BAN SHOULD BE IMPOSED?

By John Lloyd Baoy

MANILA, 29th of July -

The Department of Health (DOH) issued an announcement on the first confirmed case of the Monkeypox virus in the nation, a 31-year-old returnee who has a prior recorded travel history to countries with detected Monkeypox cases. As of today, upon an in-depth case investigation of the DOH, ten (10) persons were suspected that had contact, and three (3) of whom dwell under the same roof. According to the World Health Organization, Monkeypox is a type of viral zoonosis, a virus from animals transmitted to humans, which symptoms are highly related to smallpox however, less clinically severe. Upon confirming the very first case, is a travel ban ought to be implemented by the Philippine government?

“Let me emphasize that COVID-19 is (far) different from monkeypox virus… Closing our borders… is somehow IRRATIONAL at this point,” words from DOH OIC Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday,

August 2. Under clinical bases, to implement a travel ban is beating your head against the wall and squeezing blood from a turnip - futile. A travel ban is futile during this virus outbreak for four reasons; Monkeypox is not AIRBORNE does not spread susceptibly and is not highly transmittable, cases are highly detectable (refer to skin rashes and lesions symptoms), infected persons are highly containable by 3 weeks (21-days) isolation, 2 vaccines and anti-viral drugs are AVAILABLE! (Jynneos to make memories. or Imvamune/Imvanex and ACAM2000).

Although everything new takes time to embrace, the important thing is, we are trying. We are trying to make this new normal setup work together by embodying blended learning. Also, let this be the way to keep our determination to continue schooling and bring glory to our family, friends, and the institution.

Nevertheless, when going to school, do not forget to wear your mask and observe social distancing, Ga! By this, we are not just protecting ourselves but others as well.

However, health protocols and precautions still should be observed by the public and by those with contact with the virus. Even with the statistical fact that this virus is apparent and seeable and with a 0-11% mortality rate which sums up to five (5) deaths among 16,016 recorded cases globally, WE SHOULD NOT BE COMPLACENT and never let history repeat itself. An ounce of prevention is as weight and worth an ounce of cure.