The Bicol Universitarian Volume XLVIII Issue 01 by The Bicol Universitarian

The Bicol Universitarian Official Student Publication of Bicol University Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

Crestfallen Frontliners: The Struggles with Disrimination FEATURE / page 2

‘Rolly’ leaves P124M damage to BU NEWS / page 25

Resilient but Negligent

OPINION / page 12

BEACON AFTER WARS HE Fought a silent battle between sanity and survival yet he won

2 FEATURE

Fairness

Crestfallen Frontliners: The Struggles with Discrimination KATHRINA NECOLLIE SERDEÑA AND CHRISTINE HERMIDA This year has been full of immense tragedies with the rise of COVID-19 cases in the global setting. We continuously witness how healthcare workers, armed with courage and diligence to fulfill their sworn oath, lead the battle against the deadly virus that has already taken millions of lives. But as far as exhaustion from the daily fight and prevalent lack of medical support in combating the disease go, the state of these healthcare workers are at risk as well, more so with the number of COVID-19 patients drastically increasing every day. As the risks become more alarming, it is truly heartbreaking to witness that the people who

“

Being a COVIDpositive patient is not a crime, it is a challenge from heaven

fight the virus are the very same ones who experience the excruciating repercussions it bring. One of the people who experienced these repercussions is Christian Marlo De Guzman, a nursing graduate from Bicol University Tabaco Campus, and is now a licensed nurse working in one of the hospitals in Albay. Despite being inundated with chances to work in Manila, De Guzman chose to serve the people in Rapu-Rapu, a coastal municipality in Albay, and realized that their town is in dire need of nurses and medical professionals. De Guzman has foreseen the possibility of contracting the virus since he is one of the medical practitioners who is in constant contact with COVID-19 patients and is the overall in-charge of managing the response team in the community he works in. Despite seeing a huge possibility to contract the virus, he still hoped he wouldn’t. All hope was drained from him when his swab test results came back positive and was dubbed as BICOL #1623. Fever, loss of taste and smell, shortness of breath, sore throat, diarrhea, weak joints, and aching muscles were the symptoms that De Guzman manifested.

Since physical contact was strictly prohibited, De Guzman bravely faced the virus by independently taking his vital signs, which included his temperature, blood pressure, and respiration rate. Also, regularly taking vitamin B-complex has become his cornerstone to strengthen his muscle tone and joints. Because their local hospital lacks the medical equipment needed to monitor and control his condition, the hospital head ordered to have him transferred from their local hospital to the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH) where his declining health can be treated. It was a trip that he could never forget. Pure fear and disgust were written on the people’s faces once he was unloaded from the police mobile and was told to wait for the boat, his only way to reach the hospital, which never arrived. It was disheartening to once be everyone’s hero, one that has been looking after the wellbeing of the sick without anticipating a favor in return, only to be detested like a criminal after contracting the virus that imprinted fear on everyone. His only glimmer of hope came from the people who reached out to him after his Facebook post amplified his

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

Accuracy

appeal for sympathy and help. Through these people, he was able to find a boat that sailed him across the sea. His chills were at their peak and he traveled without an oxygen tank because they couldn’t load the heavy equipment on the small boat. Nevertheless, countless prayers and well wishes for the betterment of his condition compensated for the hardships he went through. Despite facing these challenges, he draws strength and motivation from his family and community to continue defying life’s pursuit of bringing him down. He is not only fighting for himself but also for his family’s future and his dreams of helping the people of his island community. The sense of fulfillment is also something he lives for. Despite experiencing long shifts with setbacks on the apparatuses used, his patients regarded him as their lionheart even outside of his working quarters. For him, despite having one of the lowest salaries among government workers, no monetary value can top the happiness he feels when helping the ill and the unprivileged. With ambitions of being a doctor and ultimately aiding the marginalized, the thought of giving up never crossed his mind. His soul is full of determination and dedication to continue with his life in order to rekindle the life within others. It’s what keeps him grounded–knowing that God has plans for him and that his life doesn’t stop with this virus. “Being a COVID-positive patient is not a crime, it is a challenge from heaven,” De Guzman said in an exclusive interview with The Bicol Universitarian with regards to the discrimination experienced as a COVID-19

Genuine Student Service

positive health-care worker. He fully understands the fear that the public holds towards positive healthcare workers, but to hold them accountable for the manifestation of the disease is unjust. Here they are, relentlessly fighting fatigue and shielding the rest of the world from acquiring the virus, yet people still choose to undermine their efforts. He humbly requests the public to strictly follow health protocols implemented by the Department of Health and asks for continuous prayers to alleviate the pain and worry of the COVID-19 positive patients. A simple wave, smile, or nod is enough encouragement for them to keep on fighting. He also calls on the government to send support to the fallen healthcare workers, especially the ones who contracted the virus–whether it be cash assistance and other benefits they promised to give under the Bayanihan Act. Before the pandemic, healthcare workers were simple breadwinners working for their families and attending to their patients, but they have taken the challenge to lead the frontline despite the risks it brings. This shows their willingness to care for their patients even in a dangerous setting and the passion they hold for saving the world. With a number of healthcare workers that have fallen from the battle, it is now our duty to respect their hard work and relive the sacrifices they made for the world’s safety. They are our frontliners, and we should always remember them as the chevaliers of this century. Some may have fallen, but they should never be forgotten.

GRAPHICS BY EMMANUEL BANDOLA

3 CONTENTS

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

The Bicol Universitarian Editorial Board and Staff A.Y. 2020- 2021

what’s inside?

Cathrynn Joyce P. Miraña Editor-in-Chief Jessie L. Hermida Associate Editor Denver O. Godezano Managing Editor Writers Maria Jessaniel Buena Jobert Mercadero Denise Marie Flores Lea Mae Boringot Arianne Kim Colle Kathrina Serdeña Maria Lani Balderas Joanne Borromeo Chamy Ornillo Jerven Antivola Mark Terrenz Fulgar Layout Artists Marinella Camu Jhoana Icaranom Arnulfo Kier Requio Carl Michael Baylon Joshua Dwayne Saludez Cartoonists Daryl Millena Klein Paul Buella Emmanuel Bandola Julianne Dizon Eugene Espenilla Henry Delavin Jerwin Queding Public Relations Staff Darlene Lastrullo France Marie Rubis Jimwell Kenneth Tanay Kezia Shane Reyes Cecille Guan Christine Erica Hermida Videojournalist Karl Edward Janson Dr. Gremil Alessandro A. Naz Technical Adviser

CARTOON BY EMMANUEL BANDOLA

NEWS

Mascariñas on face-to-face classes: I would not dare to venture into that USC, CSCs, OSAS proposal prompted BU admin to issue academic ease

FEATURE

Crestfallen Frontliners: The Struggles with Disrimination

Truth-tellers that can no longer be On media repression

Voices for Freedom: The Silenced Sounds that Echoed Justice

BUCM maintains highperformance rate in PLE 2019, 2020

BU Pres debunks allegations on social media post, denies “grave” neglect of COVID-19 protocols

Every Piso Counts: Bueños’ tales with the #PisoParaSaLaptop campaign

BU waives face-to-face BUCET 2021; adopts ‘holistic’ evaluation

Vanguard of the Academe

Tabang sa Pag-Adal’s Financial Pledge soar to 500k two months after launch

A School Year in the Education Sector: New but not so Normal

Rhytmic or arrythmic: Behind the scene of Bu’s 2020 Virtual Hataw

The Unbalanced Scale of Philippine Justice: It Ends with Us

BU adopts ‘assisted enrollment’ for second sem

Mascariñas shares updates on BU infrastructures and academic guidelines

BU Health Services explains additional enrollment requirements

If I Only Had A Time Machine On student’s mental health amid a pandemic

The boy who hugged the tree

‘Rolly’ leaves P124M damage to BU

Pfizer: I Choosy You!

Diocese of Legazpi aids BUeños via MOA on Flexible Learning Delivery

CAL student Sabalboro’s ‘Out’ obtains spot on Top 12 of national songwriting tilt

OP-ED

Critically Speaking... Editor’s Note on the noncompliance with memorandums Letter to the Editor

LITERARY

Must Be You Battle Within Self and in Virtual Class

Palatimbangan Sigaw Mula Sa Kabundukan

The Bicol Universitarian

10 11

The Social Dilemma

Resilient but Negligent

Vox Populi Response of the faculty and students about f2f classes

Amplified Struggles

From the Desk

Comics

UnibeNews

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1st Semester, A.Y. 2020- 2021 CASH INFLOW Remaining Cash (2019-2020) 113,745.29 First Semester Fund 238,332.00

Total Cash Inflow 352,077.29

CASH OUTFLOW News Magazine 72,200 Website Development 40,000 Office Supplies 3,459 Action Planning 4,770 January Presswork 5,200 Expenses February Presswork 5,855 Expenses Operational Expenses 5,000 Transportation Expenses 4,145 Total Cash Outflow 140,629.00 CASH INFLOW CASH OUTFLOW

352,077.29 140,629.00

Remaining Cash

211,448.29

as of (02/20/21)

Prepared by:

DENVER O. GODEZANO Managing Editor

Noted: DR. GREMIL ALESSANDRO NAZ Technical Adviser

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

4 NEWS

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

Mascariñas on face-to-face classes: I would not dare to venture into that KEZIA SHANE REYES

Despite the go signal given by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to conduct pilot testing of face-to-face classes, Bicol University (BU) President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas does not have plans to comply with it. “Although DepEd is now thinking of conducting some pilot testing for face-to-face [classes], I would not dare to venture into that,” Mas-

cariñas said during an interview with the Bicol Universitarian on December 17. Mascariñas added that he is willing to invest on vaccines and vaccinate all students and personnel of BU before proceeding to a face-to-face setup of learning. “If we venture into face-to-face meeting next year, I’ll be glad to invest on vaccines, we could vaccinate all our students and personnel so we can proceed with face to face classes but without that, I do not want to risk your health and security,” he added. Duterte’s go signal

to conduct pilot testing of face-to-face classes was withdrawn due to the emergence of a new COVID-19 strain that has a higher infectious rate. Pending Laboratory and Practicum subjects According to Mascariñas, courses taking laboratory and practicum subjects are all pending and will be offered in the future before the student graduates. “For now, in the case of nursing and medicine, they are all pending, for other courses like agriculture for instance in engineering, social work, we had to offer

these courses that are practicum maybe sometime in the future before they graduate, maybe by that time okay naman na ang situation,” Mascariñas said. Resumption of faceto-face classes is eyed for medical courses but COVID-19 National Task Force chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. clarified that the resumption of face-to-face classes would be approved on a case-to-case basis. He said no educational institution would be allowed to hold face-to-face sessions without the approval of authorities.

USC, CSCs, OSAS proposal prompts BU admin to issue academic ease CECILLE GUAN AND ARIANNE COLLE With reports from Lea Mae Boringot

Joint efforts from the Bicol University Student Council (USC), College Student Councils(CSCs), and the Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS) prompted the BU administration to issue a six-day midterm interlude on October 26-31, in response to the calls for an academic ease. This was made possible through a proposal letter submitted by the USC due to several concerns and struggles raised by the students regarding the current mode of learning. The proposal was personally presented by OSAS to the Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) and the Office of the President (OP). “The accomplishment of the letter was a collaborative effort of the USC, Office of the Student Regent (OSR), and the respective College Student Councils (CSCs) of BU. Our call for academic ease was duly supported by the Bicol University Office of Student

Affairs and Services,” USC Interim Chairperson and Student Regent Vince Joseph Vibar stated in an interview with The Bicol Universitarian. “Upon the executive council’s instruction, which complemented the initiative of our CSCs and USC Junior Councilors, we have been monitoring social media postings and receiving private messages via our respective council pages and personal accounts of bona fide students who have been sharing their concerns and difficulties amid this flexible learning,” Vibar added. He added that faculty members also reached out to the council and gave feedbacks regarding the situation about the ongoing online classes. The goals of the said proposal are to give time for students to catch up with their impending school tasks, for faculty members to have more time in preparing instructional materials, and to reflect upon needed adjustments for a more

efficient learning for the students. The OSAS pledged its support to the organization’s proposal since it agreed to the call for an academic ease. “My OSAS team, the student welfare with our registered guidance counselors, student development, and institu-

“

It is also our role and mandate to protect the students’ interest and welfare

tional student program divisions, visited the OVPAA and OP and personally presented and discussed the available and updated student welfare data last Monday afternoon. We pushed and

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

supported for interlude,” OSAS Dean Dr. Benjamin D. Nebres III said during an interview with The Bicol Universitarian. “It is also our role and mandate to protect the students’ interest and welfare and to recommend to the administration what is duly right and good for the students and the university. We always support a sound and healthy mental health especially that we are in the abnormal and transition time. Remember, this is an abnormal time and expect for abnormal experiences,” Nebres added. Student initiatives towards the same calls Months before the midterm interlude was issued, students’ and faculty’s sentiments with regards to their flexible learning experiences have flooded various social media sites. Their calls for academic ease were amplified by the initiatives of various student organizations, one of which is BU League of Democrats (BU

Leaders), a student-political University-Based Organization (UBO). They crafted a petition, appealing to postpone the conduct of online classes to give the BU administration ample time to plan, strategize, and further ensure free, inclusive, accessible, and health-friendly quality of education. The petition was uploaded on their Facebook page. A group of students also conducted their own initiative to further amply the calls for academic ease. They flooded the comment section of USC’s SMILE Fest, a Facebook Livestream conducted on September 22, with their cries about online classes. The online protesters were disappointed as the BU-USC moderators did not acknowledge their calls during the live event but Bicol University - University Student Council (BU-USC) Interim Chairperson and Student Regent Vince Joseph Vibar apologized over the evaded calls of the students.

5 NEWS

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

BUCM maintains high-performance rate in PLE 2019, 2020 CECILLE GUAN AND CHRISTINE HERMIDA

Bicol University College of Medicine (BUCM) was able to maintain its high-performance rate in the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) when it attained a 98.04% passing rate during the September 2019 PLE and a 100% and 83.72% passing rate during the March and September 2020 PLE respectively. The 2019 batch (Class “Nanguna”) has ignited excellence as they welcome 50 PLE passers through the teamwork of the associates and the former dean – Dr. Ruben N. Caragay. For batch 2020, which is being headed by the new dean, Dr. Luis Mendoza has taken pride in producing two passers for the March batch and 41 passers for the November batch. The 2020 PLE was divided since the month of March marked the time that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had spread all over the country. As the global outbreak took its place, it deeply affected the preparation of the examinees. In an interview with The Bicol Univer-

sitarian, Dr. Rose Lauraya, Associate Dean of BUCM, said that there was an intensive review that started on July 2020 onwards, but it was completely different from last year’s intensive interview as it was conducted through Zoom or through Google Meet since they cannot be brought together in one location, unlike before where medical students and professors lived together for two months. Lauraya emphasized the challenges in this year’s review sessions for incoming PLE 2020. There were no hospital interactions last March 2020, therefore, their internship was halted for four months. The power interruption, low data connectivity, and the three tropical cyclones, which were Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses, made the medical clerks distracted during their review session. Lauraya said that the second day of PLE was the time when Typhoon Ulysses had hit the Philippines. “They were also kind of distracted during the second day because of the

GRAPHICS BY EMMANUEL BANDOLA

typhoon, because of the noise of the typhoon and then the brownout inside the testing center”, she added. As Dr. Luis Mendoza was appointed as the new dean of BUCM, the college continues what Dr. Caragay has started. Lauraya said, “We already started on the right foot but of course we are just improving, siguro, some of the areas, such as the area of instruction, research, and then our extension.” Lauraya also said that the students need more time, for actual work in laboratories by reinforcing some of the skills that they have been reading based on the theories. The examinees managed their review by conducting remote learning through video conferencing such as utilizing Zoom and Google meet applications, and through the help of the topnotch review. For the examinees, they seize every single day as an opportunity to review and prepare them for the board exam. Lauraya stated that “Since day one,

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

the day they enter Bicol University, we’ve been preparing them for the board exam.” Another tactic that prepared the examinees for the PLE was the problem-based learning, which is considered to be one of the strengths of their curriculum. In this method, the learners are given cases that they analyze on their own and then facilitated later on by either a preceptor, a consultant, or a doctor that would help them discuss the cases. Lauraya added that the problem-based learning method makes their students study on their own even without prompting them, which is very important especially that face-to-face learning is not being implemented due to the pandemic. Through problem-based learning, they are already well-informed whenever they are presented with various cases. She also emphasized the BUCM’s satisfaction in this year’s performance of BU examinees in PLE. “We are still very happy unibe.online@gmail.com

with what the results have been which is 98% then followed by a 100% for the March and September and for this November batch, medyo bumaba, to 83% because of the challenges, I believe,” she said. ”That had happened but still, we’re still happy for that because we’re still higher than the national passing rate so it’s still fair enough and we’re still happy with the result of what our students have been giving to the university and to the college,” she added.

“

That had happened but still, we’re still happy for that because we’re still higher than the national passing rate

thebicoluniversitarian

6 NEWS

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

BU Pres debunks allegations on social media post, denies ‘grave’ neglect of COVID-19 protocols CATHRYN JOYCE MIRAÑA AND JESSIE HERMIDA

In a phone call interview with Radyo Veritas Legazpi on August 12, BU President Arnulfo Mascariñas debunked the allegations made by a Facebook post on a COVID-19 related incident that took place inside the university. This was after the BU Freedom Wall, a Facebook page that posts the clamor of BU students, published a statement on August 11, from an anonymous sender on the university’s alleged mishandling of a Globe Telecom personnel assigned at BU who turned out positive later for COVID-19. The post sparked outrage in various social media platforms and chat groups, which led to Mascariñas accepting the invitation to be interviewed by the said radio station and releasing an official statement addressing the matter on BU’s official Facebook page. Debunking the Allegations Mascariñas debunked four allegations from the social media post. The first allegation stated that a certain official from the administration suggested to quarantine the team of four people from Globe Telecom in the university. According to Mascariñas, the City Health Office gave permission to the said team to stay in BU. “The team from our service provider was given clearance by the City Health Office before they were allowed to enter the Bicol University premises, as attested by the local

coordinator of the service provider. They were also advised, as attested by their local coordinator, to stay within Bicol University in lieu of a hotel,” Mascariñas said. On the other hand, the second allegation was about a misunderstanding between a security guard from the College of Science (CS) building one and the Globe Telecom team members after the latter refused to have their body temperatures checked. Mascariñas clarified that no such commotion occurred and that the misunderstanding was caused by the guard not expecting the team to arrive that day. The guard refused to let the members inside and went to the Information and Communication Technology Office (ICTO) director to confirm their presence. “The ICTO director denied that such commotion involving her took place duman sa building [CSB1]. Kaya an ginibo kaitong guwardiya, nag-duman siya sa office kan ICTO director to get a confirmation kung ini-expect niya itong mga Globe providers to install the

equipment kan university and sabi kan director, ito ngaya we expect them to come kaya pinalaog kaitong guwardiya,” Mascariñas said. The third allegation stated that the personnel from Globe Telecom were given the privilege to enter the university premises with ease and leniency from the guards on duty. The president explained that the team, as stated in an incident report submitted to his office, had undergone temperature checks, and no high body temperatures were recorded upon entrance in the university. “Digdi po sa report na tig-sumitir kan Globe sa opisina ko po, last Saturday, August 8, sabi ninda igdi, note that the temperature is being checked once they enter the premises of BU, no report of high temperature upon entrance. Hence, they were allowed by the guard to enter,” Mascariñas said. The fourth allegation said that the Globe Telecom team was summoned last Monday, August 10, at the president’s office to discuss some

important matters. Mascariñas cleared this by saying that while a meeting took place on the given day, it was not with the Globe Telecom team but with the ICTO and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) to discuss a proposal of adopting an online admission system next academic year. AO released With the news of a Globe Telecom personnel assigned at BU testing positive for COVID-19, new protocols were issued by the Office of the President through the Administrative Order No. 138, series of 2020. To mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in BU, the AO states that the personnel from the ICTO and Polangui Campus (PC) with primary contact with the COVID-19 positive personnel shall undergo home quarantine for 14 days. They are also required to undergo swab testing on the 8th day after exposure. ICTO and PC personnel with secondary contact are advised to be on work from home (WFH) arrangement for 14 days and are required to report to their respective

“I vehemently deny that it is a lack in our part to observe these protocols”

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

barangay health emergency response teams. If one of them experiences COVID-19 symptoms, he or she should automatically contact the local health authorities or the BU medical services. Areas where the COVID-19 positive personnel roamed shall also be immediately disinfected and closed for three days. The concerned facilities and buildings are those in the CS, College of Nursing (CN), and the men’s dormitory. Grave neglect of protocols Mascariñas denied that the incident was a case of grave neglect of health safety protocols during this pandemic. “I vehemently deny that it is a lack in our part to observe these protocols. In fact, as early as February, we’ve been implementing strict measures to safeguard the safety of our personnel and all students and stakeholders, and we have created the BU COVID response team to monitor all these activities that are being undertaken on the ground,” he said. Mascariñas added that the sender of the social media post should have approached his office or written a letter raising his or her concern. “Siguro po itong nagsurat kaiyan is not aware of all the things that we are doing at the ground level. Siguro itong nagsurat kung ang ginibo niya nagsurat sa’ko or nagdigdi sa opisina to find answers to all these queries po, I think we would be able to answer all his/her queries and siguro iba ang maluwas sa pigsurat sa freedom wall,” he said. GRAPHICS BY JULIANNE DIZON

7 NEWS

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

BU waives face-to-face BUCET 2021; adopts ‘holistic’ evaluation LEA MAE BORINGOT

The usual faceto-face setup of the Bicol University College Entrance Test (BUCET) was waived and was replaced with a “holistic” evaluation of students who would apply for admission in BU. Instead of the usual BUCET, students will be asked to accomplish a Personal Information Sheet (PIS) and an Application Portfolio (AP). Both PIS and AP shall be attested by the Class Adviser and School Principal of the student. Applicants will be evaluated holistically in terms of the university’s core values which are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

In terms of scholarship, this is assessed through the General Weighted Average (GWA) of the student in his or her junior and senior high school (Grades 9,10, and 11) which will comprise 70 percent of the total admission evaluation. The rest of the core values will be assessed through the portfolios submitted by the student which will comprise 30 percent of the total admission evaluation. Enclosed in the portfolio are the following: an extra-curricular profile; community engagement, leadership, and advocacy; part-

PHOTO CREDITS: BU Admissions Office Facebook page

CROWDED LINES. Pre-pandemic college application in the BU Admission Office corridors filled with long queue of students.

HOLISTIC EXAM. BU Admissions Office shifts its college application to online platforms and transforms BUCET into an holistic evaluation of the students.

time work; competitive awards and citations; and a sample portfolio showing excellence in the sciences, humanities, arts, sports, photography, woodworking, composing music, writing poetry, short stories and essays, culinary arts, and technology. Submission of requirements is from January 12, 2021, to March 12, 2021 which can be done through the following modes: online through Google Forms available at the BU website; courier addressed to BU Admissions Office (BUAO); face to face submission to the BUAO; or through drop boxes in designated guardhouses of the BU campuses. A panel of evaluators per college, who will manually assess all requirements submitted, shall be organized by the university. This process of admitting students will be temporary but BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas said that there is a chance that the university could adopt this method permanently if the process is successful. “Kung okay siya, maybe we can adapt that permanently. It’s only interim but who knows kung maging successful siya,” Mascariñas said. Any queries about the enrollment process may be sent to the BUOA official email: bu_admissions@bicol-u.edu.ph BUCET 2020 results released After months of delay, Bicol University Admissions Office (BUAO) on June 13, has

The Bicol Universitarian

released the results of the BUCET for the academic year 2020-2021. Applicants of different undergraduate degree programs may view their individual BUCET results by visiting the official BU Admissions website. However, some students reported that they cannot access the said website. In response, the BUAO Facebook page posted the list of qualified and waitlisted students per program. Applicants will be redirected to google drive links to view the results. A printed copy of the individual results will also be mailed to the applicants’ home addresses. On the other hand, applicants are advised to follow the online and printed instructions of the enrollment process to be released by each college. Delay of Results The release of the results was postponed from April 15 after Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown, which started in mid-March, led BUAO to temporarily stop the processing of the results, as per the advice of the Bicol University’s Executive Committee headed by the university president. According to Dr. Hennie Lomibao, dean of admissions, the results could also not be processed outside the premises of the office to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the results.

UnibeNews

Tabang sa Pag-Adal’s Financial Pledge soars to 500k two months after launch ARIANNE COLLE & JIMWELL TANAY

Providing financial assistance to underprivileged students for online classes, Tabang sa Pag-Adal program collected a total of 573,660 pesos worth of financial donations in a span of two months. “As of now, the pledge amounted to 573, 660 php, accounting all financial assistance, pledges. Meron na rin tayong natanggap na mga in-kind [donation],” said Attorney Alex C. Nepomuceno, head of the program and dean of the College of Social Science and Philosophy. Though it has only been a few months since the start of the program, it already helped beneficiaries which were carefully selected per college by first assessing the individuals who need it most in flexible learning. “May mga estudyante tayo na out of financial condition, they will feel that they are hopeless. There will be hopelessness in them na parang wala naman silang pagkukunan ng sustento sa pagaaral nila. Atleast they will feel that the University can be of help to them.” Nepomuceno added. He emphasized that the reinforcements coming from private and independent entities strengthened the quantity and quality of help of the program. Meanwhile, the program was halted due to the disruptions caused by the consecutive typhoons. Nepomuceno admitted that they temporarily shifted to Tabang sa Pagbangon for BU personnel and students. However, he assured that the programs will continue again soon. “Let us help each other, pray always for the success of the program and once you are given any assistance, in kind or in cash, please take the personal responsibility on how to value the help given to you. Also I’m giving the appreciation and thanks to our donors,” Nepomuceno said. As of writing, the program has yet to secure a permit from the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) as the body insists that it should come from the central office since the program’s donations are on a national scope. The calamities hindered the official bank account to be fully operational and further limiting the promotion of the said activity. “We’ll have full blast next year [2021].…Sabi nga nila kapit lang,” he concluded.

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

8 EDITORIAL

Fairness

CRITICALLY SPEAKING

AMID THE COVID-19 pandemic, various schools and universities have been releasing their own memorandums on how to aid the faculty and students in carrying out the learning process and in coping with the socalled “new normal” way of learning. Bicol University (BU) has been releasing its own office and administrative memorandums. Enclosed in these memos are guidelines to be followed by all the students and the teaching and non-teaching staff. In terms of carrying out the flexible learning method, the BU faculty has been given the authority by the university to carry out either synchronous or asynchronous sessions, giving maximum leniency and consideration to the students. Memos are also released in consideration of the unexpected scenar-

ios that could affect the learning process of the students such as power interruptions issued by various electric cooperatives, signal maintenance and interruptions issued by telecommunication companies and internet service providers, and weather disturbances such as tropical depressions and typhoons. Memos issuing a suspension of synchronous and asynchronous sessions for a particular period of time is usually done to address these problems. Despite the issuance of a memo, some students would still wonder why is it that their professors would still give them Google Meet links

Genuine Student Service

for a synchronous session? Why is it that they would still get notifications from their Google Classroom app, telling them that their professor uploaded another module or assessment? Weren’t they able to read the memorandum? Are they purposely disobeying these administrative orders, leaving their students dismayed? This issue of non-compliance with the memos was further heightened due to the onslaught of succeeding typhoons that hit the Bicol Region from October 25 to November 11, 2020. These weather disturbances, particularly Super Typhoon Rolly,

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

Accuracy

brought heavy damage to infrastructure and utilities, dislocation of many families, and loss of life and shelter. This pushed BU to issue memorandums suspending both synchronous and asynchronous levels and eventually ending the first semester due to the heavy damages brought by the succeeding typhoons wherein power utilities and internet connectivity were heavily damaged, which are very vital in the conduct of flexible learning activities. However, several reports of professors conducting assessments and synchronous sessions are still being received

by the Bicol University - University Student Council (BU-USC) and these reports are then forwarded to the Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS), Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), and Office of the President (OP). According to BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas, USC reported to him that there was one faculty who still required his/her students to submit projects and to prepare for an exam. On November 16, 2020, Rise for Education, a progressive student organization, conducted a survey on the feasibility of resumption of classes. According to the results of their survey, 36 percent, or 1912 students, responded that some of their professors are asking them to comply with their academic requirements even after the typhoons, of which 780 students responded that

GRAPHICS BY HENRY DELAVIN AND JULIANNE DIZON

9 EDITORIAL

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

they are still not able to comply with the said requirements. Whenever a professor is not following the memo issues, students should reach out to them in a respectful way, informing them of their concerns. If these professors still refuse to follow the said memo or meet the students halfway in addressing their concerns, then it’s high time that a report should be filed. These reports, accompanied by proper documentation, can be forwarded to their respective deans, College Student Councils (CSCs), USC, OSAS, and student publications. They can even forward their reports directly to the OVPAA or OP. Once a report has been received, the supporting documents will be verified. The dean of the college where the reported professor belongs to will then call his or her attention. If the professor still won’t abide by the memo, despite being called out by their dean, then the OP will issue a show-cause order, charging the faculty administratively for insubordination. Once charged with this, the professor

CARTOON BY KLEIN PAUL BUELLA

may not be able to receive his or her salary. Why would some professors even violate the memo in the first place? Some professors would still give their students activities and assessments because they want to train their students as early as now and prepare them for their life outside the academe. Some professors would also conduct synchronous sessions because their students would request it from them. Despite the professors wanting to shape their students’ future, they should remember that we are still in the abnormal times and that not all can cope easily with this flexible learning. It is advisable to adjust their teaching strategies and activities to ensure the welfare of the students, given that this pandemic has caused a lot of problems already. Students also should not abuse their professors, they should learn how to be resourceful and properly manage their time in terms of complying with their requirements. They should

not report their professors for petty and vague reasons. These reports should be backed up with proper shreds of evidence and documentation. As students, we should demand accountability from our professors. We are in this university to be trained as individuals who should think critically. We should know what we deserve. If we know that something or a situation is becoming biased towards one side, as critical-minded individuals, we should analyze the situation and take appropriate action for change to occur. With this power to speak up, we should not abuse it. As students, we should report with validity backed up by shreds of evidence. Professors must follow protocols or at least meet in the middle with the demands of their students. The administration must establish a stronger support system in terms of receiving complaints from students, for the students to be encouraged in exercising their rights to speak up.

LETTER to THE EDITOR Benedicite! The Academic Year 2020-2021 has been a rollercoaster ride for most of us BUeños. We were forced to face this COVID-19 pandemic and natural calamities also hit us in the latter part of 2020 that tested our human capacities. These aforementioned challenges tested our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects, it has undeniably made fear and anxiety inevitable; but it must not be allowed to flourish and must not remain unaddressed. In this part of my letter, allow me to cite reminders that I have crafted and have anchored in the four pillars of Bicol University: As guided by the Pillar of Leadership, let us become extraordinary leaders who can withstand extra-ordinary situations that the world may conceive. Ultimately, let us become leaders and breed more selfless individuals. As guided by the Pillar of Service, let us become a stronghold for others who could share their blanket of strength to those who shiver in the coldness of fear and doubts amid these trying times. Let us become selfless servant-leaders. As guided by the Pillar of Scholarship, let us do our part in this challenging learning modality in order to become a BUeño graduate who touches the lives of people amongst diverse communities. Let us become brilliant servant-leaders, fair and wise. As guided by the Pillar of Character, let us always choose to be kind and empathetic towards our less fortunate brothers and sisters, especially amid these critical days. Let us become brilliant servant-leaders armored with good character. To all the bullies who would attempt to deliberately taunt, intimidate, and instill fear on our youth and members, you will never be welcome in Bicol University! I am encouraging my fellow students to continue their vigilance and continually act in order to safeguard and ensure respect for every BUeño’s freedom of expression. Academic Freedom is the prize that must be kept untainted. No bully, even of great power, wealth, and influence can demolish these rights! Our vigilance must also be emphasized inside our online classrooms, ensuring that no academic or nonacademic related abuse and injustice will be experienced during and after classes. I am appealing to the esteemed teaching staff of the colleges and institutes of Bicol University to always uphold leniency and compassion in the conduct of their classes at all times. Perfection may be for the extra-ordinary but, what is extra-ordinary now is this pandemic that we are facing; what is deemed perfect now is a compassionate heart. That in all things, God may be glorified! For the students of Bicol University, VINCE JOSEPH L. VIBAR Interim Chairperson and Student Regent Bicol University-University Student Council

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

10 OPINION

Fairness

The Social Dilemma

altering our perception of the truth. Social media gives its users the power to publish almost anything as long as it doesn’t violate community guidelines. More than 5,760,000 blog posts are published on the Internet every single day. Because of these, we are presented with various information that is yet to be verified but we all equate these blogs as truthful already. A recent study from Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) shows that an overwhelming majority of senior high school to doctorate students in the Bicol region cannot distinguish a news item from a paid editorial article. Presented with a news article and a sponsored or branded content article on liquefied natural gas, 98.3 percent of the students could not spot the difference. These social media platforms make it possible to

Intrinsic Logic CATHRYNN JOYCE MIRANA

YOU’VE HEARD HUNDREDS of times how social media is bad for you, and yet you just shrug off these claims because nothing bad seems to happen when you are using it. You even enjoy using it and spend most of your time on it. It’s also very convenient to use. These social media apps can be downloaded for free. What if I told you that social

media is not the product that we are using, but social media is using us as their product. We are their product because our attention is the product being sold to various advertisers. On average, we spend more than two hours on social media per day. Given the immense amount of attention we are giving to these social media sites, it had been responsible for

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

spread manipulative narratives. One concrete example is the Raffy Tulfo in Action program. Trial by publicity is basically what Tulfo’s program is all about. The public witnessing the issues in the program are likely to adopt the mob W mentality, which leaves people end-user with heightened platform negative emotions about what they practi just witnessed. This, thinking o in turn, subjects the accused to with the collective inf disapproval of the public. We tend to be involved in the issues arising in social media platforms because it is in our biology. We always have a tendency to be socially involved but due to the various

“

Amplified Struggles F.R.I.E.N.D.S. JESSIE HERMIDA

TWO DECADES INTO THE 21st century but none of us had expected the surge of problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaving us naked and unprepared, it drastically changed the dynamics of our society and forced us to cope up with this so-called “new normal.” This “new-normal” paved the way for most countries to a more advanced method of learning which would help this generation of students to pursue their studies even in the comfort of their homes. Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

But, it was a completely different story for developing countries like the Philippines, as it has been almost a year and it still has been struggling to shift from traditional classes to distance learning. Realistically, the Philippines is far from being technologically advanced. According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the country nabbed the 83rd spot out of 138 countries in terms of digital readiness. Meanwhile, the 2020 Glob-

al Web Index notes that only 67 percent of the Philippine population have access to the internet. Out of the 67 percent, only 67 percent have access to laptop and computers, while 40 percent have access to tablets. With these staggering numbers, it shows the profound impact on families, communities, the educational system, and learning across the country. The most marginalized, poverty-stricken, and vulnerable students will be at the greatest disadvantage.

GRAPHICS BY JULIANNE DIZON

11 OPINION

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

perceptions that social media exposes us to, we tend to develop cognitive dissonance the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes. We also have the tendency to develop a herd mentality a behavior wherein We, as the people act the way or adopt rs of these same similar behaviors ms, should as the people them, often ice critical around ignoring their own once faced feelings in the a piece of process. So, should we formation. stop using social media? But these platforms have been deemed effective in information dissemination and have made it easier to connect with other people but these platforms should be used properly in

creating an environment of critical thinkers. It should not be full of people who mindlessly follow a trend that had triggered their emotions but left them critically blinded. Social media offers us this perceived sense of perfection that rewards us with hearts, likes, and thumbs up but we equate this with value and equate it with the truth. This is just fake and brittle popularity. Not everything that most people agree on should be perceived already as the truth. Social Media wants to psychologically figure out how to manipulate us as fast as possible. It, therefore, creates an alternate reality. Social media has been a factor in conditioning our perception. We are becoming petty information grabbers because some posts trigger our emotions. At an age where information is easily accessible, it is high

time that we include information literacy in our educational curriculum. Educational institutions should immerse their students in fact-checking courses. Companies handling these social media platforms should be on high alert in censoring information that has the tendency to manipulate the public. We, as the end-users of these platforms, should practice critical thinking once faced with a piece of information. I’d like to leave you with a quote from Renée Diresta, a research manager of Stanford Internet Observatory. “Before you share, fact check.

Also, since most students do not have equal access to and expertise on digital technologies, it leaves them with haphazard information. Although these inequalities existed earlier, the COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed this digital divide. This just leaves us the question “How can we push through online learning if the availability of resources does not meet the needs of the stakeholders in the educational sector?” Education in these trying times is not enjoying but rather exhausting. It is not fulfilling but rather depressing. News about recent events concerning online classes have also been alarming— that this is no longer a matter of passing or failing but rather, a matter of life and death. It is disheartening to hear that students are selling sensitive pictures just to raise money to purchase the necessary gadgets to be used in the online learning set-up, while

some claimed their own lives as they cannot handle the pressure of these online classes. This is not just also making students perform poorly but this is costing them their lives. In this case, online learning is amplifying the struggles of unprivileged children, which are already failing to receive quality education, even before the pandemic has started. On the teachers’ side, the transition to online learning is a complete burden despite the conducted seminars for adjustment. They too faced unstable internet connection and the availability of digital devices, which hindered them to deliver quality education to their students. To ease this problem, most resorted to module-making or asynchronous learning. However, this too also became a struggle due to the demands of the institution. Some were hastily forced to

pandemic has served as a wakeproduce modules, just to meet up call for most educational the deadline set and to justiinstitutions to further improve fy the salary expenses of the their curriculum and provide teachers. Rushing these modaccessibil ity ules can profor students duce errors, so of all walks of it was no colife. If distance incidence that learning is for the public had long term, the criticized the glaring gramAlthough flawed system carematical errors these inequalities needs ful attention and wrong solutions of existed earlier, the and should be on the some modules. COVID-19 pandemic placed language of Moreover, these modules has further exposed i n s t r u c t i o n , proare just a bandthis digital divide. content gression, and aid solution relevance for and don’t even students. provide the real T h e experience of shock of the actual teachCOVID-19 crisis on education ing. Those who can attend classhas been unprecedented. It is a es virtually have an advantage to no brainer to invest in learning those who can’t, thus shows the as it is deemed to be the prepagaps between the privileged and ration for the young generations unprivileged learners. to solve future epidemics and With all of these said, this crises tomorrow.

“

The Bicol Universitarian

Consider the source. Do that extra Google. If it seems like it’s designed to push your emotional buttons, it probably is.”

“

UnibeNews

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

12 OPINION

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

Resilient, but negligent

Blank Space

DENVER GODEZANO DREADFUL AS IT WAS, WE have been devastated by catastrophic calamities in 2020. Of course, this has been a normal phase for Filipinos every single year since we are situated in a region where earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and typhoons are normal. In short, we are used to it. We are used to endless babbling of politicians that we are strong and we can surpass anything, we are used to unprepared tactics, inefficient leaders, and everything that is less because we are made to believe that we are resilient and we can move on from anything that devastated us. Well, that should not be the case, because we, Filipinos, deserve more than this political saire. We can’t be resilient and at the same time negligent. Before the year ends, Bicol experienced a series of typhoons. The biggest of the year, Rolly, targeted mainland Bicol leaving its provinces totally wrecked and the citizens homeless. An excruciating lahar flow and flood in Guinobatan claimed lives including a BU Student. It was allegedly caused by quarrying at the foot of Mt. Mayon, and the grave truth is, it was also the case 14 years ago when more than a thousand fatalities was recorded at Legazpi City. It simply means, we haven’t learned that much from previous events since we can always move on and

“

easily forget about the occurrence. The government should have anticipated the event, it’s either the quarrying should stop or relocation of these families from dangerous zones have made a priority. Even when we stop pointing fingers, the fact that a super typhoon is coming, the worst case scenario must have been foreseen by citizens and politicians alike. Since Filipinos are brainwashed by our own resiliency, we are also guilty relying on this. We are not cats who have seven lives we are humans, planning and thinking ahead is our advantage when facing natural calamities. We cannot always start from scratch and begin again because we can always prepare. Conversely, the government enactment plays a huge counterpart. A lot of citizens blame their Local Government Units (LGUs) for negligence. Cagayan flood surprised the entire nation as homes were submerged in water and thousand of families are affected. Even the event was said to be unexpected since it was the worst in 40 years, response should come fast enough because there are funds allotted for disasters. But according to Commission of Audit (COA), there is an underspending as the province does not have the equipments required under minimum standards for disaster preparedness. In the

Since Filipinos are brainwashed by our own resiliency, we are also guilty relying on this.

end, Duterte defended LGUs and said they have responded well and there are orders given. If Yolanda’s negligence was to the Aquino’s administration, it was Rolly and Ullysses that caught Duterte’s incompetence. It was grave delinquency coming from our leaders that has been consistent, never the genuine care for the people. Sure, we can con-

cede to the fact that we are strong and flexible human tested by time and trained by the Pacific Ring of Fire. But having these characteristics doesn’t mean we are immortals and demigods of the Pacific like Moana’s Maui, because in reality we are citizens of a democratic republic that deserves merit and value from our leaders whom we entrusted tax payer’s money.

Resiliency should not be the means, it’s just an additional advantage of our citizens that must not be taken for granted. Grave negligence is the chain that needs to be cut to free ourselves from these rotten beliefs that we can surpass anything, it may be true, but the grim reaper can be the one waiting for us.

FROM THE DESK COVID-19. I know, reading that abbreviation has already sent a wave of quarantine, online classes, and work-from-home memories flashing before your eyes. We were the batch of students who have been slapped by the challenges brought by this pandemic. The pandemic that locked us up in our homes, abruptly canceled our face-to-face classes and plans, allowed us to witness how our government leaders handled this crisis, forced us to continue our learning through online platforms, and accepted this so-called “new normal.” We were also the batch of campus journalists who were alarmed by how the pandemic has heightened the issues of freedom of expression and press freedom. From the issuance of a cease and desist order to ABC-CBN, one of the largest media companies in our country, to the implementation of the Anti-terror law, which expanded the definition of terrorism that was a gateway for the government to arrest anyone who is critical of the government. The threats, arrests, and killings of campus journalists, activists, or anyone who is critical of the government’s efforts in handling the pandemic sent a chilling effect to us campus journalists. Some of us refused and were discouraged to join the publication this academic year 2020 - 2021 but some were empowered to speak up more and encouraged others to be more vigilant. The publication in its 50th year served the student body by utilizing its online platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to publish articles for the student body to be aware of the current events and announcements from the university and the country. The foundation of the publication was further challenged when our former editor-in-chief tendered his resignation. As the newly appointed EIC, I was flooded and overwhelmed with the pressure of continuously supplying the BUeños with information alongside carrying my responsibilities as a student. Nevertheless, I was constantly supported by the rest of the editorial board and staff in upholding unibe’s mantra of fairness, accuracy, and genuine student service. There were instances that the publication committed mistakes and lapses in its articles but rest assured it was taken care of and it taught countless lessons to the editorial board and staff. Despite the never-ending struggles brought by the pandemic, rest assure that the publication will continue to serve the student body by being vigilant watchdogs of the university. Cathrynn Joyce P. Miraña Editor-in-Chief AY 2020 - 2021

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

CARTOON BY JULIANNE DIZON

13 OPINION

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

} sana all privileged { by daryl millena

VOX POPULI

“What are your thoughts on President’s Mascariñas decision not to have face-to-face classes yet and plans to vaccinate all students and personnel before proceeding to a F2F learning set up?”

| PAULA JASMINE ABAS TRILLES, 1ST YEAR - BS ACCOUNTANCY As for me, I’m glad na ‘di pinush ang face-to-face. Pero at the same time, required na naman ang online classes next sem, which is very ineffective especially sa mga students na nagtetake ning course na gaya ng course ko na kailangan talaga ng personal guidance from our profs. JOHN KENNETH PUNAY, 1ST YEAR STUDENT - BA COMMUNICATION | It’s honestly quite disappointing that we will not be experiencing it for even a longer period of time. We had missed tons of experiences for the whole semester because of this pandemic, that’s why I am really hoping that we will be having a better situation next year. | JAYRA BLANCHE, 2ND YEAR STUDENT - BS METEOROLOGY It’s a wise decision on Mr. Mascariñas’ part. In line with this, I think the university should improve the online class policies now that we’re going to continue its implementation.

CHRISTIAN IRVIN BAUTISTA, 1ST YEAR STUDENT - JURIS DOCTOR | The university president’s decision to invest on vaccines for its students and employees before venturing into f2f learning is the best compromise we can have. The question now however is, is BU financially ready to invest on vaccines considering the huge number of its students and employees?

} panlasa {

by henry delavin

| PROF. MARIA KARINA LUTH DISCAYA As much as I like to have face-to-face classes, I also do not like to gamble on the health of everybody. Let’s hope and pray we get the vaccine soon so as we can go back to the life we once had.

MAYET PALABRICA MARCAYDA, 2ND YEAR STUDENT - JOURNALISM | Para sakin, mas okay kasi mas marami pa rin ang walang sapat na budget pang suporta dahil sa mga lockdown na nangyare. Mas better na isa hindi isa alang- alang yung health natin kasi yung buhay kapag nawala, ‘di na yun maibabalik pa. | ANONYMOUS - SY 2020- 2021 | The plans to vaccinate all students are very promising and would assure if not, most of us with the guarantee of resistance against Covid-19. However, we have to be realistic about certain things. How will the university accumulate or generate funds for the vaccine? Will the university shoulder the vaccination expenses for the entire student body and personnel? Will there be an ample amount of vaccines available for all? Will everyone consent to take the vaccine despite numerous qualms about its effectiveness? These are a few questions that come to mind. Nevertheless, we support the school administration in making the best decision for the benefit of all.

} ACADEMIC BREAK? {

by DARYL MILLENA

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

14 FEATURE

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

Truth-tellers that can no longer be ARIANNE COLLE

If pens are forcibly prevented from doing their jobs, swords will again be given a chance to summon a bloody battle. Harsh as it may sound, the recent clamors brought upon by the brutal and drastic ways to silence the press are echoing louder in the country. Pens that can tell the truth and have the potential to deliver justice are being blotted with red stains, thus weakening their forces and trying to bring them down. The role that the media plays in the awareness of the masses is crucial. They turn scenarios into words and relay them to people. Halting them to do so is an action not only committed to repressing the media but also the people themselves. Freedom of expression, which enables everyone to possess the right to get hold of information and to be free to express themselves, are being tampered with, as the hands of abusive people violently cover the mouths of journalists and media practitioners. Rampant scenarios have been occurring and it even reached a

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

point that a journalist’s life was taken away just because he was doing his job. Last September 14, a Balangibog TV journalist which goes by the name of Jobert “Polpog” Bercasio was shot dead at Sea Breeze Homes in Sorsogon City at around 8 p.m. He was the 17th journalist killed in the Duterte administration. Similar scenario occurred last June 2020 as Maria Ressa, one of the most prominent journalists today from Rappler, was accused and was found guilty of cyber libel over a story that alleged links between a businessman and a top judge. A journalist with the intent to put the true criminal behind the cold bars of the prison ended up being the one caged, trapped, and silenced. In a snap, the tides turned on her due to one reason: power. Additionally, the ABS-CBN Shutdown, which caused an uproar to the public, reveals how much power can overrule the law. “This is ABS-CBN, now signing off.” These were the last words heard from the network’s golden voice, as the country’s biggest network signed off after the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) ordered it to shut down. Just recently, this media giant was

denied by 70 lawmakers with a new franchise, halting news and other entertainment shows to be aired. Such happening exposes that the people sitting in power can even bring down a giant voice that people have trusted for decades just because it does not favor their side. The silent cries of the journalists and media practitioners continue as the current situation tries to disable them from doing their jobs. Many other journalists and media practitioners are out there, trying to deliver relevant facts to the people every day while facing these threats and gambling their lives, just for people to attain the information that they deserve. The happenings involving the media and the acts to repress it endangers Philippine democracy as well as the people’s rights. With the media being pushed to the edge, the freedom of information and the right to expression goes along with it. A chaotic scenario awaits the masses if this keeps up. However, the pen continues to battle in the forefront no matter how much it is tried to be stepped on. It is struggling so that the sword would not champ over it. It is in the frontline, defending freedom and truth as it hopes for the Filipinos to do the same.

GRAPHICS BY EMMANUEL BANDOLA

15 FEATURE

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

Voices for Freedom: The Silenced Sounds that Echoed Justice MA. LANI BALDERAS

It has not been long when the Philippines declared its freedom from the suppression of different colonizers, including the supposed long-lived sovereignty from the Spaniards which lasted for almost three centuries. The Filipino people resisted and revolted

just to defend the country from the heinous oppression. They have suffered enough to be silenced. It was from then on that every Juan learned the importance of freedom; to have rights and achieve justice at all times. It has been what the voices always call for until it was killed and silenced. This year, it is not only the COVID-19 pandemic who claimed a lot of lives

as time went on. Extrajudicial killings and red-tagging have both been controversial as activists are indicted as either a ”leftist”, a ”communist”, or worse, a ”threat” after being labeled as members of the surging terrorism groups in the country. It is no surprise how these activists have been shouting for freedom yet

were silenced after doing so. Some of them are agriculturists; one, a doctor; others, indigenous people and even artists. These activists have their voices sound so loud that it threatens those in power which they are resisting with. If the voices have be-

come more than it was before, it must not be silenced for it produces noise. It must be heard and answered properly for it to be at peace. If one fears the noise it evokes, then one must be questioned for credibility and genuineness in serving peace and safety to the people. A father can never silence the wail of his children with violence. He works out to provide what is needed and is asked by his children to make them at peace and hear no cry anymore.

The Unbalanced Scale of Philippine Justice: It Ends with Us KATHRINA SERDEÑA & KEZIA REYES

In the Philippines where one class is above the other in an endless game of attaining justice, what chances do the poor have to win against the powerful? It has been almost a year since the COVID-19 pandemic brought misfortune and despair to millions of Filipinos, filling everyone’s heart with fear of when this dilemma will end. As health measures and protocols are implemented to restrain the virus, laws and regulations are also enacted granting President Duterte additional authority to combat the pandemic. This catastrophe made the government impose nationwide lockdowns and businesses are on a virtual standstill. But despite all the preventive measures and strict laws, there are citizens who still disobey the policies that are enforced. What’s worst is that some of them are the ones who uphold the law and justice system of our country.

Throughout the ongoing quarantine period, many violators of quarantine protocols have been divided into three sections: a) those who paid a fine; b) those who were arrested and jailed; and c) those who run free without any condemnation of the law. Such happy lives they live while those without the cover of money and power face the grave consequences. The now-appointed PNP Chief Debold Sinas had been on fiery ground for the infamous “mañanita” his friends and colleagues had prepared for him. Senator Koko Pimentel who tested positive for COVID-19 had carelessly infected frontliners when he rushed to aid his laboring wife. Senator Manny Pacquiao likewise held a party and was given blatant ignorance despite the warning of PNP personnel on recent civilian gathering allegations. People in power and in position are not held accountable of their wrongdoings, and those who are decent law-abiding citizens

GRAPHICS BY EMMANUEL BANDOLA & DARYL MILLENA

but are defenseless should pay the consequences. Six of the victims who experienced this excruciating reality are the “Piston 6” jeepney drivers who were arrested and brought to the precinct last June for violating the imposed quarantine protocols while conducting a protest on the resumption of jeepney drivers’ operation along Metro Manila. These underprivileged jeepney drivers were charged with “disobedience to social distancing” and were fined 3,000 pesos each. However, it was distasteful when Sen. Koko Pimentel, Mocha Uson, and newly promoted PNP chief Debold Sinas, were exempted from receiving rightful repercussions for their actions. They sit in higher positions but they abuse the power given to them. In fact, they have violated graver regulations and escalated the risk of acquiring the virus on a higher level than the Piston 6 and other rule-breakers. But the mere drivers, forced to come out and battle the virus to bring food on their tables, are the ones who suffer the lashes of

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

the biased system instead. Indeed, it is a great dismay. This is not the type of institution we wish to be handed down to our future generations. This pandemic shows that inequality is still existing, and the unprivileged are made to pay just to be given a bit of equal treatment. We are responsible for all the actions we take and face the punishment that we deserve. The current generation needs a society that molds the best example of a role model that enables justice and fairness as essential elements of safe society. Laws have to be imposed justly for if not safety and human rights are at stake. Whether you are wealthy or poor, the scale of justice must always be balanced, symbolizing impartiality and truth for every citizen. unibe.online@gmail.com

Otherwise, it will always be a game of power, where the empty-handed have nothing to do but surrender to the prejudiced system. It should end with us. This bigoted, rotten system ends with us.

thebicoluniversitarian

Every Pis

Bueños' tales with the #Pis CHAMY ORNILLO, FRANCE RUBIS, & JIMWELL TANAY

The rays of the sunrise touched her cheeks as she flashed a smile combing her hair. Last night, she did not wake up at 2:00 a.m. where internet connection is stable to do and pass her requirements. At 5:00 a.m., she didn’t bother to walk the muddy steep to their farmland to meet the fair internet connection and attend her 8:00 a.m. class. Her plea for help through a social-media driven charity campaign had blossomed. Smelling fresh and clean, she sits comfortably on the wooden chair made by her father. Powered by the home Wi-Fi, she turns on her laptop. With her hot coffee in hand, she indulged the type of comfort she never knew existed while waiting for her online class to begin. Due to the overwhelming demand of online learning, several students joined the #PisoParaSaLaptop campaign. Underprivileged voices pleaded for monetary help by posting their online class struggles. Several students from Bicol University also participated in the campaign. “The fact na ECE student po ako and I have a Computer Programming subject, I really need to have a laptop po. Since wala pong stable na

work ang parents ko. And suddenly, I saw many posts on Facebook about it, kaya naisip ko, why not itry ko.” Floriel Llorera, an Electrical Engineering student said. On the other hand, they never lost hope and held on to their prayers that would one day be answered. The campaign reignited the flames of hope in their lives. They were given a chance to stand on the same pedestal as other students who were more fortunate. It also opened up an opportunity for them to keep up with the change in the educational set-up. Social media has truly proven itself to be a powerful medium in reaching out to others, and especially in these cases, aiding the dreams of students who are studying. “Nung nakita ko yung campaign na ito ng BU na catch attention ko and sabi ko bakit hindi ko subukan? Having a laptop lalo at this time na online classes pati pagsubmit at gawa ng outputs per course subject ay nakakatulong. Unlike before, na mano mano ako sa phone mag edit ng file which is hindi maiiwasan na magagalaw sya pag binuksan sa PC. At this time, I can easily make output, pass that on time and with good quality,” said the BSED

pr sp

AB ac dr

tu lap

no st re

fro po na isa ka

po th wi his

ka pa

sa to

an of jou a an m ins

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

GRAPHICS BY KLEIN PAUL BUELLA, EUGENE ESPINILLA, AND EMMANUEL BANDOLA

s o Co u n t s :

soParaSaLaptop campaign

tudent, Hazel N. Abila “Dahil sa Piso Para sa Laptop post, nalaman ng rofessor ko na kelangan ko ng laptop so someone ponsored me.” Daniela Zepeda BSED student said. Erika Balangawan Buenvenida, a second year B Philosophy student said that the money she ccumulated led her to buy a laptop, Wi-Fi, flash rive, and school supplies for her siblings. “Salamat kasi may mga naniwala sakin and umulong kaya agad-agad po akong nakabili ng ptop.” Ella Carilla, a BS Social Work student said. Despite the unfortunate fact that there were ot enough funds to provide the needs of every tudent due to the insufficient donations, others eceived help through other ways. “Actually, lahat ng money po na nagather ko om piso-para-sa-laptop campaign is hindi ko pa o nagagalaw. Since, I have my work, and the fact a “Wish Ko Lang” is giving me a laptop, I decided na ave na lang po yun for future purposes especially apag face to face classes na.” Floriel Llorera added Gabriel Orogo Gavila, a BUPC student, saw a ost about the campaign on Facebook. He added hat if there’s an opportunity to own a laptop, he ill use it in good use and will share its benefit to s siblings. “Yung sa Gcash ko po nagagamit ko pang load apag nag o-online class ako at yung iba nakasave a po.” Gabriel Gavila, BUPC student. Babet Martinez, a Civil Engineering student aid that the money he gathered was not enough o buy a laptop. The road may have come to a series of twists nd turns and made events complicated for each f the students, it was not enough to hinder their urney in facing challenges and their drive to find solution to their problem. Their perseverance nd determination served as their light in the midst of the storm. Their successes served as an spiration to many that hardships should never be

PAGE DESIGN BY MARINELLA CAMU

a hindrance. According to Hazel, “I want to encourage and tell them na if you’re really determined to finish study, walang anumang sitwasyon ang makakahadlang sayo. So, to all of the determined and passionate students out there, don’t give up and never stop for God will make a way. All of your hardships and sufferings will be paid off. Make your futures epitome real! “ Up until here, the scarcity of resources to keep up with online learning has pushed the horizon of possibilities. Collective and bundled, is not only the benefits extracted from the campaign but also the general sense of compassion and camaraderie. The “Piso Para sa Laptop” campaign has crossed the line of success. In this new set-up, students who are burdened by financial incapabilities was given limited access to opportunities and learnings. This alternative to traditional education is not for everyone. Beyond the financial help, it is their drive to pursue education that made them afford the benefits coming from the campaign. “Para sa mga kapwa ko estudyante na hanggang ngayon ay nahihirapan sa bagong sistema ngayon ng edukasyon. Gusto ko lang sabihin na wag tayo susuko sa pag-aaral, isipin natin na ito’y pagsubok lamang na huhubog sa ating kakayahan.” Carilla said. The #PisoParaSaLaptop campaign has showered hopes and opportunities in this educational drought. Every peso dropping into a students’ account serves as a wakeup call for one to hang on to their dreams. One of these days, a donor could tell how his candy-worth coin in his pocket has unlocked someone else’s future. “Palagi ko tong sinasabi sa sarili ko na sana mapagod lang tayo pero di tayo susuko.” She added with concrete conviction.

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

18 FEATURE NEWS

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

a d c e e r m d A a e o f th Vangu KEZIA REYES, DARLENE LASTRULLO, JERVEN ANTIVOLA, AND CECILLE GUAN

Our country had been seared in the flame of calamities in just a span of weeks. It brought distress to the lives of the Filipinos due to the devastation it has caused. Natural calamities and disturbances are already part of our yearly quest and the Filipino people have already learned to embrace these inevitable phenomena. Even as the unseen enemy had slowly crept and unfurled around the globe, it has left no trace but death. Typhoons and other disasters swept our land however, the vanguard of the academe will never stop serving the students and the community. Various Bicol University organizations

and student councils have conducted donation drives left and right. From helping the stranded students during the lockdown to helping the families and students who were ravaged by the typhoons, these student organizations offered help to those who really needed it. Last March 2020, as major restrictions were implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19, several students were not able to go home to their respective provinces and thus were stranded in their apartments and boarding houses. Luckily, they received help from the Bicol University University Student Council (BU-USC), the highest student governing body of Bicol University. These

stranded students were closely monitored, given some grocery items, and some were even sent home with the Oplan Hatod program. When online classes started last August 2020, several students struggled to keep up with their synchronous classes due to the lack of smartphone load. Several student organizations spearheaded their own programs wherein they raised funds for smartphone load assistance and more than P10,000 worth of mobile load were distributed to chosen students. Upon witnessing the drastic damage brought by the succeeding typhoons that ravaged Bicol Region and some areas of the Philippines, several college student

councils and student organizations of BU utilized various social media platforms and spearheaded their own donation drives. Hundreds of families benefited from their joint efforts. Food packs, clothes, toiletries, and hygiene kits were among the items received by the beneficiaries chosen by these student organizations These students poured their hearts in helping the communities who suffered from the consecutive typhoons in a short period of time and those students of Bicol University who endured the challenges as we approached the 2020-2021 academic year in the new normal. The volunteers did not just provide aid supplies in the wake of these disasters or challenges, but they also gave hope

to every person they’ve reached. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and gloominess of the weather, they never stopped reaching out to people who needed assistance. Their unity, awareness, and understanding in these situations mobilized them to take initiative. Their volunteerism, driven by their passion to help, mounted a transformation in these situations. Their community involvement made them see the real struggles of our society and soon realized how their actions could contribute to better outcomes for the community. In this time of crisis, we have envisioned “leaders and change agents for social transformation and development’’ as mentioned in Bicol University’s vision. SERVICE AND CHARACTER. BU community conducts donation drive across Albay to help typhoon victims.

PHOTO CREDITS: BU College of Arts and Letters Student Council, BU College of Engineering Student Council BU College of NursingStudent Council BU College of Science Student Council BU College of Student Council

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

GRAPHICS BY HENRY DELAVIN

19 FEATURE

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

A School Year in the Education Sector: New but not so Normal JOANNE BORROMEO

No one anticipated that we’ll be experiencing a pandemic this 2020. A state of severe public health emergency was raised across nations. COVID-19 impeded almost everything in our plans, a catastrophic phenomenon of time that turned the life of everyone around, rapidly drifting apart from the way it used to be. One of the most affected are those in the education sector. Prompted by the fear of COVID-19 transmission and infection, the education sector adopted the blended learning method as the alternative delivery mode of lessons to the students. The teachers experienced first the stress brought by the changes in the education sector due to the pandemic. Most of them are completely puzzled with the cards they are holding before their eyes — printing of modules, arranging and stapling every copy, the emptying of ink bottles, and the lack of sufficient budget assistance, all while anticipating the deadline for the distribution of learning materials. They cannot swap the cards nor omit one and they can never turn

GRAPHICS BY EUGENE ESPINILLA

the tables of the situation for it is the mandate of the government. Furthermore, the working load of these teachers got heavier, more difficult, and stressful when there are late arrivals of learning materials from the central office of the Department of Education (DepEd). In this case, the regional or division module writers rashly craft remedies in order to not miss the lessons needed for a week or weeks to come. When the late modules arrive in school, it cannot be used anymore for it was supposed to be for the past week. Students might get confused if it will still be distributed to them. From the students’ point of view, some will look at this blended learning as an ineffective way to learn due to piled-up modules per week with too many re-

quired activities to be answered in each lesson. Students said that they cannot enjoy their weekends, holidays, nor vacation because they spent it all answering and understanding the modules. Yet, burning the midnight oil is not true for all. Some are just merely complying with the requirements — others just copy the answers of their classmates sent through social media platforms or rewrite the keys to correction found on the last page of some modules.

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

Moreover, with the incessant errors from the learning materials surfacing across different social media platforms that include obscure guidelines, grammatical errors, and incorrect mathematical equations, some students get discouraged from studying. They are also voicing-out their dismay and stress using their personal accounts in social media. Through the use of memes, rants, and indulging in some social media challenges like the #punitinangmodulechallenge, where a student rips his or her modules into shreds in front of the camera and post it. Social media became the outlet of some students wherein gaining favorable reactions and comments on their posts becomes the basis that there are people walking in the

unibe.online@gmail.com

same shoes as theirs. With the continuous ravage of the pandemic, the quality of education being delivered and received is compromised. The efficiency of learning is at stake, where the objectives of teachers do not meet half-way with the students’ outputs. That is why, undoubtedly, this new education system seems to be a gloomy and tragic chapter in the lives of both teachers and students. This is truly a challenging school year. It pushed the education sector to its limits and pressed the institutions’ coping capability. Notwithstanding, blaming nor condemning will do no good, neither it’ll change the situation. Everyone needs to extend their patience and widen their understanding. We are all living in this new normal, which it may not be the same as before, but we are still well, alive and kicking. Indeed, educators and learners should go on, never lose hope, and that later the four corners of the classrooms will be filled with academic noise, laughter, and memories when the long hide from the deadly virus is over.

thebicoluniversitarian

20 FEATURE

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

Rhythmic or arryt scene of BU’s 202 JESSANIEL BUENA AND DENISE FLORES

This year’s countless catastrophes that seem to lurk frequently had been made more profound by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, forcing multiple minor and major occasions to a standstill. These events were either moved, rescheduled, or even worse…cancelled. Moreover, most of us could really conclude that 2020 is indeed cancelled, as these anticipations were all blown up by the virus bomb and shoved to our faces. We are witnessing these series of unfolding nightmarish events as we are stuck at home and in front of a screen is our only way of connection to the world. Among one of the most impacted major events was Bicol University’s BU Week, a week of festivities celebrating the university’s founding anniversary. Founded on June 21, 1969, this year was supposedly the 51st Founding Anniversary had it not been for the pandemic, which added to the university’s long list of missed events for the academic year 2020-2021. It is undeniably the most awaited week for the whole university, where the celebration is always iconic, merry, and record-breaking. Headlines across some news sites had always highlighted BU’s signature tradition—the BU HATAW. However, this year is entirely a different case. Following the mandated safety protocols in containing the virus, faceto-face classes were not allowed, and mass gatherings were strictly prohibited. In resolution, Bicol University had used the “go online” card once again. As a result, instead of the usual festivities and celebration of the founding anniversary, the university had modified the annual occasion to be done in online platforms, still ensuring student participation amidst the health crisis. Institute of Physical Education Sports

\ a n d Recreation (IPESR) Director Carina Lanuza Sales stated that the decision to still continue the virtual HATAW was from her suggestion during a meeting with the university president, Dr. Arnulfo Mascarinas. According to Sales, it was more challenging to do the HATAW virtually since traditionally, introduction of HATAW routines are usually done face-to-face. “It was quite sad na hindi sya actual makikita, that’s why ginawa n a m i n g virtual para hindi na ulit maputol yung hataw tradition for the second time,” said Sales referring to the two-year hiatus of the HATAW tradition during the academic year 2016-2018. Moreover, in preparation for the virtual HATAW, Sales said that the budget was not a problem because even before, they do not use much budget for the HATAW. The guidelines for participating in the “virtual HATAW” was to record self-videos of involved students and submit them after five days, as told by their instructors, which generated diverse sentiments, mostly opposing the short allotted time. The students, mostly freshmen, had ranted about the short heads-up while some questioned the necessity of HATAW.

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

GRAPHICS BY JULIANNE DIZON

21 FEATURE

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. t Issue 1 August-December 2020

thmic: Behind the 20 Virtual Hataw “Time management is kailangan talaga pero nakakadrain na rin kasi ang online classes so we still have to make time to rest,” shared freshman Civil Engineering student Jan Carlo Bagasbas, pressing that with the numerous school tasks given to them, the virtual HATAW poses a lot of hassle. In response, BU-IPESR Director Sales explained that the decision itself to continue the festivity was late and that they were prepared for the reactions especially of the freshmen who will participate for the first time. “Short yung span to submit because the decision and the preparation actually happened during the first week of September. We doubled our time to prepare and come up with the routine and video,” Sales stated. “It’s great that there’s an attempt to keep the tradition going amidst the situation we’re in and it’s also a great way for students to be able to focus on something recreational besides the stress on the academic work,” said Stephanie Barrameda, a second-year nursing student. “But we already have so much on our plate with the increased workload brought about by the online classes,” she added. “Imagine having to receive news of virtual HATAW being given just a few days before the expected date of presentation when last year we were given a few weeks to prepare. Instead of being even just a little bit excited, I got even more

PAGE DESIGN BY JHOANA ICARANOM

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

stressed,” said Francesca Marie Flores, a second-year food technology student. Not only students are affected by the change, Jarmi Diane Mandane, BUIPESR instructor, shared the struggles instructors are also facing in the light of teaching the HATAW routines. "In my point of view the greatest challenge would be the difficulty with internet connection or worse no access to an internet connection. This greatly affects the conduct of any online learning," Mandane said. Mandane also emphasized the importance of HATAW even in the midst of the health crisis as the said activity can be viewed beneficial to students. "This activity is an opportunity to held students to keep themselves active and moving because they are held seated attending their online class and is alarming to their health status. Being sedentary can increase the risk for diseases," she added. BUIPESR Instructor Rocelle Alvarado explained why all freshman and sophomores are required to participate in the virtual HATAW. “Hindi lang katawan natin igagalaw natin kundi puso’t isipan. Yung pagmamahal mo bilang isang oragon na Bueño, dapat humahataw,” Alvarado said. They say that you are not a pureblooded Bueño unless you experienced the mass presentation and danced among the crowds of excited students, facing the grandstand and sprawled across the sports complex. The essence and the spirit of camaraderie is strong during that “proud Bueño moment.” There is a subtle belief that the HATAW is the ritual that anoints a student to becoming a complete BUeño. But there are limitations to some things no matter how persistent and willing one could be. There is no solution that paves way to strings of difficulties.

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

22 NEWS

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

BU adopts ‘assisted enrollment’ for second sem DENVER GODEZANO With reports from Darlene Lastrullo

Due to the problems encountered by Bicol University (BU) students in accessing the BU-Online Registration System (BU-ORS) during the enrollment for the first semester, an assisted enrollment for the second semester will be adopted by the university. “Last august 3, it was enrollment time and we faced many problems. Students as well faced many problems. So, in order to avoid the same experience, what we plan to do for the second semester is assisted enrollment,” Dr. Amelia Dorosan, BU vice president for academic affairs, said. According to Dorosan, all college registrars will pre-register the students. Students will be

asked to answer a survey via Google Forms or paper and pen. This survey is intended to authorize BU to enroll the students for the second semester. The survey form will be asking two questions. The first question is ‘are you enrolling in Bicol University this second semester?’ The second question is ‘will you authorize Bicol University to enroll you for the second semester?’ If a student answered no to any of the two questions, they will be asked to provide a reason as to why they are not enrolling in BU. Once the student answered yes to both questions and submitted the survey, they are automatically enrolled. Certificate of Registration (COR) will be handed out to the students via their

BU email before the start of the second semester which is on January 18. Students who cannot access the Google Forms can answer the survey by proceeding to any guardhouse of the BU campuses. They will be provided a paper and pen to answer the one-page survey. “We are doing this because we wanted to facilitate the process for all students, in that way wala na tayong problema,” Dorosan said. Backlash on first sem enrollment Some students of Bicol University expressed their dissent from the recurring technical failures of BU-ORS, as they enroll for the first semester of the academic year 2020 - 2021. With the schedule

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

of enrollment for regular students starting on August 3, several students already accessed the system as early as 12 midnight, but some were unable to enroll due to the inaccessibility of the servers and wrong inputs in their data. Subsequently, BU students voiced their comments and ridiculed the system on various social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #BUEnrollment. Calls for an extension of the enrollment period are also being raised. In an online interview with The Bicol Universitarian, Dr. Laarni D. Pancho, director of the Bicol University Information and Communications Technology Office (BU-ICTO), answered some queries on the

technical failures in the BU-ORS website. Laarni explained that there are other contributing factors for the said technical failures such as weak and unstable internet connectivity and in most cases, the simultaneous access of students to the servers. The simultaneous usage causes the server to slow down and become unresponsive. Upon the implementation of online classes, the BU-ICTO faced high demands to activate and repair university e-mails, both from old and new students of Bicol University. ICTO is also having problems addressing the e-mails of concerns they receive, because not only do they cater to the entire university, they also receive many queries that cannot be answered by their office.

23 NEWS

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

PROGRESS IN PANDEMIC. Continuous infrastructure development can be seen among BU campuses to provide better experience for students when in-person classes finally resume. Buildings and facilities such as the Food Court and CAL Building, were finished during the pandemic amidst restrictions. Daily operations followed health protocols imposed by the government.

Mascariñas shares updates on BU infrastructures and academic guidelines JESSANIEL BUENA

With Bicol University (BU) students engaging in distance mode of learning due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas shares several updates on the infrastructures of the university, as well as improvements on the academic guidelines. Infrastructures such as buildings, facilities, transportation alongside the improvements on academic guidelines were discussed during an interview with The Bicol Universitarian on December 17. On buildings and facilities According to Mascariñas, among the new buildings that are being built and planned are the new BU College of Arts and Letters (CAL) building, BU College of Law (BUCL) building, additional buildings in BU East Campus, Regional Home Disaster Response Center (RHDRC), additional BU dormitories, and the recently

completed BU food court. A blessing and inauguration ceremony of the new BUCAL building was held at Barangay Sagpon, Sitio Olag, Barangay Kiwalo Road on December 16. The said building will have an amphitheater on its third floor and it is projected to be completed by 2022. Meanwhile, RHDRC, a 3-story building with a floor area of 3/4 hectares is set to be inaugurated by March 2022. He said that it could host 7,000 participants and is “the biggest [building] so far in Bicol Region,” according to Mascariñas. On 2021, the three-story BUCL building will be constructed beside the Ricardo A. Arcilla building, formerly known as the General Administration and Support Services building. Last March 12, 2020, the said building had its groundbreaking ceremony at the BU Main Campus. Also, in BU East Campus, he said that they plan to finish the Civil Engineering, Electrical, and Automotive building. BU will also be having

additional dormitories in BU College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) and BU East Campus. “By 2022 or after that, our dream of housing at least ¼ of our students inside the university will be realized, just like what they do in big universities, they house their students,” Mascariñas said. BU has already constructed dormitories in Main Campus, BU College of Education (BUCE), BU Tabaco Campus (TC), and BU Polangui Campus (PC). “Yung food court beside the library is already completed kaya lang I doubt if we can open that now sa situation natin ngayon,” he stated regarding the recently completed BU Food Court. In addition, he also aims to improve the facilities of BU College of Medicine (CM) and Information Technology (IT) of BU College of Science, and plans to install Closed-circuit television (CCTV), also known as video surveillance, all around the campus. He said that 85 million pesos was allotted for BUCM

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

for facilities improvement, and a proposal with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) worth 24 million pesos was done to modernize the IT facilities. Moreover, different colleges in BU have already bought CCTVs that are ready for installation. On transportation Mascariñas stated that road connection network, road widening, and fixing of the covered walks in BU are also priorities of the administration. On the road connection network in BU, he had a discussion with Legazpi Mayor Noel E. Rosal about the road at the back of the Student Union Center (SUC) building. “Kami ni [Mayor] Rosal share the same plan na later on ang mga jeepney sa BU na maikot, from Sorsogon, from third district, maikot na,” he said. He aims to complete the said project by 2021. On BU mimicking the University of the Philippines (UP) ‘ikot jeepneys’, he plans to push through with that, but BU will not be putting

unibe.online@gmail.com

inside university jeepneys. “I would not encourage yung jeepneys inside the campus, yung usok, yung noise, maray pa itong padyak or electric tricycles,” he stated. BU had also made plans with Ako Bikol (AKB) Partylist to conduct road widening inside the campus. Furthermore, covered walks in Main, Daraga and BU East Campus will be fixed. BINHI Arboretum Project “Yung Project Arboretum is a partnership wherein BU will be tapped to propagate yung endangered tree species dito sa BU and then later on, we are going to plant these tree species in the campus,” Mascariñas stated. He added that it is part of the ‘greening’ of the university. The BINHI Arboretum Project, as a comprehensive forest restoration program between BU and Energy Development Corporation (EDC), has started last Infrastructures Update / jump to page 26

thebicoluniversitarian

24 NEWS

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

BU Health Services explains additional enrollment requirements

JOANNE BORROMEO

As the withdrawal of additional enrollment requirements sparked outrage from the freshmen enrollees of the academic year 2020-2021, Bicol University Health Services explains the need for these additional requirements and how the students will benefit from it. Medical requirements such as complete blood count (CBC), blood typing, and hepatitis b laboratory test results were included in the mandatory list of requirements for enrollment but was withdrawn due to the situation brought by the pandemic. This withdrawal of medical requirements sparked outrage and confusion from the community of freshmen enrollees, claiming that it was unfair to those who have already taken the now-op-

tional laboratory tests. Dr. Julio M. Abainza, the university physician at the BU Health Services, explained the reasons why these three additional requirements are now included in the list of medical requirements for incoming freshmen students. Aid in emergency situations These laboratory results are considered as emergency requirements in case a student falls ill or is involved in an accident during his or her stay inside the university or during off-campus activities. "Halimbawa nagkaroon 'yung estudyante ng dengue, tinatanong ako ng hospital kung alam ko ang blood type para mapabilis ang pag-ano [aid], wala ako maibigay kasi wala tayong basis or wala man lamang sa record ng estudyante ang kanyang blood

type," Abainza said. Once a student is rushed to a medical institution, provided that he or she has submitted to the university clinic these additional laboratory tests, it may speed up the response of the medical professionals present in the situation. OJT Requirements Dr. Abainza also revealed how several students have failed to enter certain on-thejob training (OJT) and internships due to most of it requiring a hepatitis B screening. Several students have approached him, asking what to do due to their Hepa B tests returning positive. "Mahirap ko 'yan mai-clear kasi ang clearance niyan, one year ang treatment. So, dapat ko malaman as early as now para makapag-advice ako ng vaccination," he said. He also urged the students to undergo

the hepatitis B laboratory test as early as now to avoid delays in their application for jobs after graduation. Parallelism to International Standards Bicol University has several partners not just locally but also internationally. The

“

No doctor will recommend something na hindi advantageous sa client nya.

university has sent many students abroad due to its partnership with several universities and companies

outside the country. Before a student goes abroad, certain medical requirements are asked by the university or company that he or she will be sent to. Dr. Abainza said that the medical requirements of the university should be parallel to those of the international universities and companies to ensure that their standards are at par with BU Despite the nonstop clamor of the student body, Dr. Abainza clarified that the money spent on the additional medical requirements will not be for nothing. "They should not question it [additional medical requirements] because I am requiring it as a doctor. No doctor will recommend something na hindi advantageous sa client nya," Dr. Abainza said.

SHIFTING DEMANDS. University clinic staff validating registrations of incoming freshmen students through checking their medical requirements.

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

25 NEWS

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

‘Rolly’ leaves P124M damage to BU Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni), considered as the most powerful storm recorded worldwide this year, left at least P124 million worth of damage to the infrastructures of Bicol University (BU). As Rolly made its landfall on November 2, tropical cyclone signal number five was raised in Albay. Strong winds and rain caused significant damage to infrastructures, particularly in the academe. “The Albay Provincial Disaster Management Office would conduct their own assessment as required by CHED. In the case of BU, the total damage recorded was raised to 124 million pesos to all the BU campuses” BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas said in an interview with The Bicol Universitarian. BU Tabaco Campus

(BUTC) and BU College of Agriculture and Forestry (BUCAF) are the campuses with severe damage recorded. BUTC recorded an estimate of 80% damage. Roofings of the buildings were detached including ceilings, lintel, walls and columns, doors, windows, and electrical connections. BUTC’s ICT room with 35 desktops was also ravaged. “My recommendation for BUTC is to construct typhoon proof buildings. It’s a big challenge for me how to address these kinds of damage caused by typhoons and as a record, Typhoon Rolly had the biggest damage to the university” Mascariñas said. The President said that the start of reconstruction will depend on the availability of funds.

“We allotted 15% of our income to disaster fund but that’s too small. I have to beg for funds from our politicians. I have to call the senators and congressmen. I have to call and write to them” - he added Mascariñas ended the interview by urging the students to work together with and trust the administration. “We are all in the adjustment process, this is the first time we ever felt the effects of the pandemic and typhoons at the same time. Now is the time that we should work together and trust each other. The admin is here to serve our students and we want only the best for them and that is the reason why we are doing our best to address the needs of our students,” Mascariñas said.

JERVEN ANTIVOLA With reports from Darlene Lastrullo

PHOTO CREDITS: Bicol University Facebook page

TOTALLY WRECKED. Heavy damages to primary buildings and infrastructures across BU campuses left by Typhoon Rolly in November

Diocese of Legazpi aids BUeños via MOA on Flexible Learning Delivery MARK TERRENZ FULGAR AND FRANCE RUBIS

To help the struggling students of Bicol University (BU) with their online classes, the Diocese of Legazpi pledges to provide donations and projects to support the students’ needs in flexible learning In accordance with the program, BU officials signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Diocese of Legazpi to help the University and its students

to be a hub for delivery of flexible learning materials. “We had a meeting with the good bishop last July and we just relayed to them the struggles of the students and we arrived at a consensus that the parishes could help BU in delivery of flexible learning,” BU President Arnulfo Mascariñas said. On the coordination meeting last July 23 of the BU officials with the Diocese of Legazpi, BU asked for a part-

nership with the Diocese to allow the parishes and chapels to be a channel where students can be allotted a space to access net connectivity to download lessons. The students can also do research and have their modules photocopied. Parishes with no or slow internet connectivity can be used as drop-off points where students can access modules. The MOA stated that the partnership with BU will

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

seek the assistance of local parishes in the Diocese of Legazpi for the selected students that are having a hard time coping with their synchronous online classes. “Some of the parishes have their own internet connection, they also have their chapels for networks, which can be used for distribution of materials,” Mascariñas added. There was also an appeal to the Bishop to in-

unibe.online@gmail.com

struct the two dioceses of Sorsogon and Masbate to also extend the assistance to the BUeños residing from those provinces. Flexible Learning Delivery The St. Rose of Lima Parish in Bacacay, Albay initiated ‘Adopt a BUeño for Wi-Fi access’ program that was headed by Parish Priest and Vicar Forayne for Flexible Learning / jump to next page

thebicoluniversitarian

26 NEWS

Flexible Learning / from page 25

the First Vicariate Fr. Edwin Bragais and the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC). The provision of the project includes internet connectivity, load allowance, and Wi-Fi sponsorships. As of report on Oct. 23 from BUZZette, the official executive publication of BU Office of the President, there are at least 11 sponsors who have guaranteed their support to provide load/ data allowance for selected Bueños, and four parishioners with strong Wi-Fi connection who have agreed to lend for Bueños to their internet. The parish also built a booth manned by BU students and volunteers that will facilitate the donations and pledges. This will serve as an information desk about the program. The St. John the Baptist Parish also pledges for free Wi-Fi use and drop-off point for the students of BU Tabaco. Additionally, The Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish in Malinao and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Malilipot, Albay committed their parishes to be drop-off points for learning materials for those BU students from their respective municipalities.

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

CAL student Sabalboro’s ‘Out’ obtains spot on Top 12 of national songwriting tilt DENISE FLORES Bicol University College of Arts and Letters third year Journalism student Erica Sabalboro obtained a spot in the Top 12 of Himig Handog with her original composition ‘Out’. Himig Handog is a multimedia songwriting and music video competition operated by Star Music and ABS CBN Corporation, widely participated by thousands of aspiring Filipino songwriters and deemed as the country’s premier songwriting competition. The competition aims to harness talents from across the country and also accepts entries from abroad-based Filipinos. The competition starts on selecting 100 songs among thousands of entries until narrowed down to the final official Top 12 through extensive evaluation and deliberation. Twelve song finalists will be interpreted by locally known singers and each will be directed a music video as part of the contest. Sabalboro was one of the youngest composer finalists who made it to the top 12 of the competition. Her song, ‘Out’ was interpreted by Fatima Louise of Idol Philippines which was written in En-

glish, Tagalog, and Bicolano. Being chosen among the thousand submission entries, Sabalboro said she didn’t quite expect her song to be qualified as it is not written in Tagalog and is mainlyintheEnglishlanguage. “I wasn’t really expecting it. I was expecting my other song which is “Takbo” to actually make it,” Sabalboro pressed. Also known for its theme and annual presentation of love songs, Sabalboro admits to having doubts on her song’s genre being different from the usual songs popularized by Himig Handog. In an online article by Inquirer.net, ABS-CBN Music creative director Jonathan Manalo stated that they dropped the theme and that they are open to a variety of genres this season. “It’s not strictly about love songs this time. That’s why, this year, we have songs about how tough it is to be poor [in this time of pandemic]. There’s more variety,” Manalo said. When asked about what her song is about, Sabalboro said ‘Out’ is a song about wanting to escape from everything. An advocate for mental health awareness, Sabalboro wanted people to take mental health issues se-

riously through her song. “Since a lot of songs these days don’t talk about this situation that much, I decided to voice out through this way,” Sabalboro pressed. The most-awaited part of the competition is the finals night, which is usually held in big-door arenas and attended by famous names in the music industry. However, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are a lot of restrictions that affected the traditional flow of the competition. Sabalboro also expressed her opinion about joining a much different Himig Handog this year. “Although there were some restrictions, I can say that this pandemic didn’t really hold back the spirit of the competition,” she stated. Some details are still disclosed by the management; however, the competition is set to conclude in February 2021 where the winning song and songwriter will be announced with the price of 1 million pesos. Along with her goal

in delivering her message through ‘Out’, Sabalboro also wants to explore more genres and is actually considering pursuing the music industry. “If I’ll win this competition, I think it would be a great opportunity for me to explore more about music and other genres,” Sabalboro stated.

PHOTO CREDITS: Erica Sabalboro

Infrastructures Update / from page 23

November 6 and they are in partnership with BU College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) and BU College of Science (CS). On academic guidelines New academic guidelines have also been planned such as investment on flexible and blended learning, international enrollment

system, ‘big class concept’, and a proposed new curriculum in BU College of Engineering (CENG). Mascariñas stated that he had already talked with the BU Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Amelia A. Dorosan about the investment on flexible learning. By 2022, they plan to experiment on blended learning wherein half of the class is

face-to-face while the other half is online. Moreover, he and Dorosan are also putting groundwork for BU to embark on an international enrollment system. “We follow what is being done in UP, La Salle, say for one subject there are 5 sections or classes, mapili ka dyan. Maski major subjects pwede yan,” according to him. By midterm, BU should have an approved

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

class schedule and faculty load so that students can pre-register and choose their schedule and professor. “Nahihiling ko ang faculty, one faculty for instance would be handling the same subject 9 times, 11 times whole day the whole week. Why don’t we introduce the big class concept,” he said on the implementation of ‘big class concept’. The said con-

cept requires ‘big classrooms’ like Daraga and BU East Campus’ Amphitheaters. With this, BU students from different sections can come together to attend the same class to the said ‘big classrooms’. He is also considering returning the 5-year-curriculum of BUCENG for this school year, in which the 5th year would be devoted to industry immersion.

27 FEATURE

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

If I Only Had A Time Machine JOBERT MERCADERO

I can even reminisce the past: I used to walk around the campus to attend my next class, folks enjoying the soccer field at sunset, students savoring their meals at the canteens, and others rushing to get where they need to be. What a lovely split-seconds of time at Bicol University in a day. I can still vividly imagine myself facing the whiteboard to indulge in the discussion but now I’m facing my mobile phone, trying hard to learn with the screen in between. It was a four-cornered classroom before but now, nature is the new room where trees serve as our roof and tall-grass stands as our enclosure. Actually, with my fellow BUeños from our barangay, we need to be on top of a hill just to have access to a 4G signal. However, we usually tend to be very annoyed when 4G turns to H+, a trying hard moment to keep pace with online discussion. Every time that we will be joining the class, we always encounter so many disruptions. The browser just loads itself repeatedly, the

CARTOON BY DARYL MILLENA

phone lags and suddenly runs out of battery, and we also had to endure the heat or rain. Also, not all were given the privilege to have gadgets to handle the demands of flexible learning. Some of us own old model phones, has no laptop, and no Wi-Fi just mobile data and personally, I couldn’t help myself not to be worried when I’m always out of the online room due to internet connection with limited bases. It really stressed me that there are learners who can keep up with this mode of learning while I encounter heightened anxiety every time my phone lags. It was hard to accept that in this new normal, we don’t have a common ground to learn. Also, the quick turn to platforms such as Google Meet, Google Class, and Zoom are just a whole new world for most of us. It’s hard to learn over these gadgets. I can feel the radiation that negatively penetrates our brain and poisons the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is responsible for learning, recalling, and thinking.

We get stressed and we get triggered, especially when we were being bombarded with school works having almost the same deadlines. As a matter of fact, there are suicide cases of students that are being linked to online classes. They get depressed when cannot face the demands of the virtual mode of learning. Some reasons rooted from being rejected by their professors to accept their preparations after not submitting it on time. It disappoints them, knowing that they took much effort and time to do the re-

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

quirements but failed to submit because of the slow internet connection. However, whenever we get stressed, take time to keep calm. Look for that peaceful persona that stays within. Don’t be too hard on yourselves, rest and breathe when everything is going wrong. One realization I’ve learned is that the world has changed so much. From the very beginning of the innocent world of Eve and Adam, it took a big leap towards a world where technolo-

unibe.online@gmail.com

gy runs our world. Even the system of learning has now come over the screens, just a surprising makeover brought by theCOVID-19 pandemic. To end, if I only had a time machine to bring back the past and enjoy every little moment at Bicol University, I would rather indulge every step of the way. I would definitely rearrange the past and correct it, bring back the lives, and add colors for them to live.

thebicoluniversitarian

28 FEATURE

Fairness

Accuracy

Genuine Student Service

The boy who hugged the tree LEA BORINGOT

Storms will come and storms will go. At last, the sun melted the snow. But now the tree could not grow. The storm had thorn her roots. The moon gazed down and softly said, “Sometimes we lose our way. But somehow we start again. That’s how life is, you know.” “That’s how life is,” said the head of the family who got their roof blown off meters away from their home. “That’s how life is, said the single mother of five who got their hut knocked down by the latest storm. “That’s how life is,” said the kids who traverse the flood. With a heavy heart, “that’s how life is,” said the man who lost his family to the rain-induced lahar flow. “That’s how life is,”…” the boy mumbled as he recalls a line from his favorite story The Hugging Tree. Seeing the blown off roofs, washed-out houses, withering stalks of banana trees, broken decade-old acacia trees, reclining and broken electric posts with wires hanging in the air or laid down in the streets, weeks after the

onslaught of the parade of typhoons, the boy asked, “Is this how life should really be?” On October 25, 2020, Typhoon Quinta thrashed the Bicol Region as it made its first two landfalls in San Miguel Islands, Tabaco City, and Malinao, Albay. With 130 kph sustained winds, the category 3 tropical cyclone, placed over P 286.3 million worth of damages among agriculture and infrastructure in Bicol Region. As it carved out a destructive path along regions III, IV-A, IV-B, and V, 27 people died, 40 were injured, while four were reported missing. Not long after, while people are still reeling to patch-up their roofs and clean their yards, and while different electric cooperatives haven’t yet completely fix the damaged electric posts and lines brought by the hit of Typhoon Quinta, on the early morning of November 1, 2020, Super Typhoon Rolly rushed to obliterate the already devastated Bicol Region, with Bato, Catanduanes as the ground zero, taking the first and

most destructive hit. With catastrophic winds ranging from 250 kph to 315 kph, the tropical cyclone category 5, caused detrimental damages in Catanduanes, floodings in around 40 different towns of Albay and Camarines Sur, lahar flows in the three towns of Albay, and irrevocable damages to electric power lines. All in all, it left Bicol region with agricultural and infrastructure damages amounting to P6 billion. At the same time, it recorded 25 deaths, 399 injuries, and 6 people missing along regions of Cordillera, IV-A, IV-B, and V. And as if Bicol region were not lashed enough, Typhoon Ulysses poured torrential rains and angry winds along the region while it’s on its way to make its first Philippine landfall in the Quezon province after it traversed Vietnam. With 140 kph sustained winds, it caused the Bicol region to lose P2.4 billion worth of damages in agriculture and infrastructure. The triggered floods and landslides that

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

occurred on the onslaught of the category 4 tropical cyclone, caused 73 deaths, 24 injuries, and 19 people missing along Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Cagayan, Isabela, and Bicol region. By climate crisis spiking up, and the Philippines placing 2nd as the country most affected of climate change as per the Global Climate Risk Index, next to Japan (1st) and before Germany (3rd), and considering that the country is situated in the pacific ring of fire and the “typhoon belt”, it is evident that “there will be no more friendly typhoons” in the coming years. Bearing this in mind, it should be expected from the government to come up with plans for natural calamities and disasters. As it is their duty to serve and protect the people of the country, it is only due to demand most of the responsibility and accountability from them. However, instead of keeping up with the alarming rate of climate change and coming up with effective pre and post-disaster plans, it seems like our public servants

are keener on corruption and mishandling of funds for disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction while exploiting the narrative of Filipino resiliency. While there is nothing wrong with Filipino resiliency of being able to adapt well in adversities, despite any types of natural hazards and disasters, it should also be noted that this narrative has long undermined the immediate and long-term action from the government that the Filipinos deserve. Following this, it is a must that the government redefines and relearns the narrative of Filipino resilience. That instead of exploiting and considering it as a virtue, our narrative of resilience must rather put stress on the national and local government to boost their pre and post-disaster mitigation and rehabilitation plans. Because “that’s how life is” is not enough excuse for life’s suffering. The hugging tree is resilient. But she might not make it without the boy who hugged her first. Filipinos, being the tree that adapts and grew on a granite cliff, could weather any storm or crisis, yes. She might break her boughs and thorn her roots, but as long as the government is there to help – hug her, to pour rich brown earth on and tuck her rugged roots, there’d be no doubt that even after the storm, she could still spread her branches high and wide.

CARTOON BY EUGENE ESPINILLA

29 FEATURE

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XLVIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

Pfizer, I Choosy You! KATHRINA NECOLLIE IMPERIAL

Thirteen months into this global pandemic that changed the lives of everyone, vaccines have finally reached the hands of governments. Scientists had made rigorous research to these so-called miracles in bottles in hopes to find a cure. After endless struggle of waiting for medication to be available in the market, humanity is running through the momentum of remedy. Among the recommended vaccines are the American-induced Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. But the Philippine government is eyeing Aztrazenica and Pfizer as the top choices for vaccines. As people living in a democratic country, we have the right to choose and demand the government for the best cure to obtain the best results. But in recent news, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Filipinos cannot choose what brand of COVID-19 vaccine they will receive from the national government. “Wala pong pilian, wala po kasing pilitan... Tama lang naman po ‘yan, walang pilian kasi hindi naman natin mako-control talaga kung ano’ng darating at libre po ito,” Roque said. He also added that health is everyone’s right but Filipinos should not be “choosy” when looking for available vaccines as there are millions to be injected. With millions of lives at stake, many health experts slammed his remark, indicating that health is a basic right. If the government really works for the people, then they should ensure the right vaccine to be given to Filipinos. Indeed, health is a basic right that the highest perpetrators of security; the government, should prioritize in these times. Those remarks coming from a fellow Filipino slice the throats of the marginalized, the voiceless sector, even more. It seems that no Filipino has the ability to choose their preferred vaccine, else they would be labeled as “choosy” as what Roque has said. Threading deeper, this “choosy” attitude has points to ponder on. Almost a week ago, news flooded various social media platforms of a doctor’s death after taking vaccine shots. Late CARTOON BY EMMANUEL BANDOLA

Dr. Gregory Michael, an OBGYNE living in Miami died two weeks after taking the Pfizer vaccine. Continuous investigations of state departments and even independent ones from Pfizer itself hint that there is no correlation between his death and the vaccine shot. Even with this, people should be aware of the side effects these COVID-19 vaccines may bring. The possible integration of chemicals in the vaccine might affect a person’s state of health. And with the Dengvaxia scare that occurred in 2018, it was no doubt that people then had second thoughts on receiving vaccines. Experts believe that there 50% of the population still fear the controversial issue, opting to skip the vaccine. This is according to a Pulse Asia survey on January 7. Out of 2,400 adults, 47 percent opt to skip taking the vaccine shot and 37 would want to undergo vaccination, with 21 percent still undecided. Concerns in safety, recent death news, and precedent vaccine occurrences are some of the reasons why Filipinos play the “choosy” character, and with discrepancies in data, it should be totally understandable. With the right to free speech limited to censorship to protect individual safety from redtagging, the right to free will is also condemned in these trying times. In the end, there’s only one question that pops into mind: Do Filipinos really have the right to receive vaccination? Might as well not, or we will be branded as “choosy” when we only want the best vaccine type. The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

30 LITERARY

PAGE DESIGN BY MARINELLA CAMU

ILLUSTRATION BY KLEIN PAUL BUELLA AND EMMANUEL BANDOLA

Must be you LEA BORINGOT

ou don’ t deserve this, so don’t falter. After the fall, pull yourself together.

Palatimbang

Get up! Help yourself! This started within you. Let’s end it too, with you. . . . Not you holding a knife, while your sheets in bed red. Let’s end this with you, opening the curtains, letting the light in. Pain thawed, remnants lingering, reality accepted. Let someone help you. Reach out your hand. Let’s start it with you.

CHAMMY ORNILLO

arinig ko minsan sa usap-usapan ng iba, Nakakatawa raw na makita akong nagsisikap kahit wala namang pag-asa Wala naman akong pakialam Hindi naman nila ramdam ang mag-asam Sabi nila sumuko na ako, Sa hinandang bagong plataporma imposible raw ang matuto Ngunit wala naman akong masamang ginagawa Gusto ko lang namang makapag-uwi ng diploma Minsan nilang naitanong nang ma-loko, Bakit mo pinipilit ang pangarap na hindi naman para sayo? Nanuod ang puso, ngunit ang ngiti’y hindi naglaho Nadapa man ako ngunit hindi niyo ako mapipigilang matuto. Alam ko na bibigyan ako ng dahilan upang

umayaw, Ngunit ayokong u pangangantyaw Ayokong kaawaan a Dahil lamang sa g miserable

Nag-mukha mang p linyang kanilang bin Mananatiling deter Hindi iiwanan ang k Kahit lubos nang na

Aaminin ‘kong mar luha Hindi dahil sa walan Hindi dahil sa mara Kundi’y natutuwa a laging kinakaya

Pinapamilyar ko pa At di sapat na tangg

SIGAW MULA S JOBERT MERCADERO

Celebrating 50 years of ethical journalism

mangalap

ng pasigaw naming hinain, tila’y isa lamang na bulong Naririnig ba o isa lamang na umid na ugong Hindi kami makasabay ng buo sa bagong sistema Hanggang kailan pa ba kami mababahala!

Kabundukan an silid-aralan Animo’y langit a naming bubong Mga puno’t dam Mahirap ngunit umurong!

“Hindi madaling sumabay sa agos!” Ito ang aming sigaw at pilit niyayapos “Tila’y wala kaming natututunan!” Mahirap itong bitawan ngunit ito ang katotohanan.

Nagtataasang d lilim Sa tuwing haha haring araw Masyadong maa dumilim Mangingitim an bughaw

Hindi kami pinagpala sa mga gadget na de-kalidad Ang iba’y pinaglumaan na’t masyado ng may edad Suntok sa buwan na signal na masyadong mailap Hindi madaling maghanap, mahirap

Sa pagpatak ng ng bundok Takbo doon, tak lang ng sulok

31 LITERARY

The Bicol Universitarian Vol. XVXIII Issue 1 August-December 2020

You turned in!

Hindi pa naman huli ang lahat Upang gumawa ng bagay na para sa sarili lang naman dapat

gan

Hindi ako titigil Kahit ako’y may pinapatigil Marahil ay hindi ko malinaw na makita ang mundo na nababanggit nilang madilim Datapwa’t meron akong panghuhugutang ‘di mahirap madaliin

umurong sa paulit-ulit na

Hindi man ako nabiyayaan ng paningin Sigurado akong maganda ang kinabukasang naghihintay saakin Hindi balakid ang kapansanan Sa pag-asang tumatanaw sa malayang daanan

ang sarili gusto nila na akong maging

patalim sa pandinig ang mga nitawan, rminado sa pag-sagwan katagang, Laban lang! ahihirapan

raming beses na tumulo ang

ng naniniwala aming nangungutya ako na sa kabila ng lahat ay

a ang landas, gapin ang rasong tumakas

Namulat akong nangangapa sa kawalan, Naging mahirap ang pag-aaral sa gitna ng kabulagan Pero hindi iyon isang hamon Ngunit senyales nang muli’t-muling pagbangon Mistula akong palatimbangan, At nilalakad ang lubak-lubak na direksyon ng hangganan Gayunpaman alam ‘kong dadalhin ako nito sa maayos na direksyon Sukbit ang ebidensya ng pagpapagal at determinasyon Narinig ko minsan sa usap-usapan ng iba, Nakakatawa raw na makita akong nagsisikap kahit wala namang pag-asa Wala naman akong pakialam Hindi naman nila ramdam ang mag-asam

Battle

Within Self and in

Virtual Classes JOANNE BORROMEO

unning fast as you can Having a tight grip on your cellphone Finding a spot with strong data connection Amidst the thunder and falling rain. Climbing the mountain every day Always taking the path with no other way No other place to turn to or stay To attend class virtually.

SA KABUNDUKAN

ng tumayo naming

ang pansamantala g mo ang waring dingding pipiliting hindi

damo ang nagsisilbing

agupit ang bagsik ni

aliwalas hanggang sa

ng ulap na una ng kulay ulan habang nasa taas

kbo dito makahanap

Isang masisilungang papawi sa bugso ng ulan Minsa’y mayabong na puno ang pansamantalang kanlungan.

Loading connection is desolating Like “Come on, what’s going on?” You are alone, but feeling so toxic within To be disconnected in the real-time discussion.

Hindi rin mawawala ang daan na maputik at madulas Makikita ang sipag sa bawat iniwang bakas Hindi alintana ang sistemang hindi patas Kaming nahihirapan ngayon, magbubunga rin bukas.

Battling with this pandemic-prompted education That serves best for those privileged learners Online class shatters other students’ confidence and hopes This system slowly sucks their entire being. Yet, don’t let this situation succumb your will You are far stronger than these trials, so stand still Your goal and dreams shall prevail And shine upon in this gloomy trail.

Dulot ng tila pinag-iwanan ng kabihasnan Nahihirapan kaming makasabay sa daloy ng kasalukuyan Makikita kaming nasa masukal na kagubatan Nakikipagsapalaran at pilit na nakikipagsabayan.

If you must, keep on running, climbing and battling Refresh, it’ll be loading then connecting Overcoming the pressure of virtual class Someday it will be a story, you should be proud of to share.

The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian

DEADLY QUEST: UNSPOKEN SUFFERINGS WE FOUGHT A BATTLE WHERE WE ARE ALREADY DEFEATED TO BEGIN WITH

The Bicol Universitarian Official Student Publication of Bicol University The Bicol Universitarian

UnibeNews

unibe.online@gmail.com

thebicoluniversitarian