Augustinian the
Responsive • Developmental • Research-based
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Philippines VOLUME LXV• NUMBER 4 • MAY 15, 2019
Tallies of Change. Following major reform in SC constitution, SCOMEL officers count votes of candidates to lead the new USA Student Government. USA PUB PHOTO • bobbiejo m. he aley
suffrage, not suffering Pioneer University of San Agustin Student Government election faces issues - SCOMEL by PHILIP ROBERT C. ALABAN
Despite the revision of the University of San Agustin Student Council (SC) constitution and by-laws, same concerns from the previous elections were still raised in the first University of San Agustin Student Government (USASG) elections held last March 13, 2019 at the USA Outside Courts A and B.
The concerns focused on the three-year issue of the lack of two or more opposing political parties, validity of the process of voting, and the number of cast votes not reaching two thirds of the total voting population. “The way I see it, maybe this is our culture in the
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University strengthens int’l ties with I2CANProTech University of San Agustin hosts Iloilo International Conference on Advanced Natural Products Technologies (I2CANProTech).
University. Yes, I agree that an opposing party would create the necessary checks and balances for the elections, but then again, ang estudyante na ina ang ga decide kung mapadalagan or maboto sila or indi,” stated USASG Presidentelect Martin Ortiz, earning 2,459 votes out of 6,244, the highest
number of votes among other candidates in other positions in an interview with The Augustinian. In line with the previous USASC elections, the USASG’s ticket-election method dictates that if a president of a political party wins, all the members of his executive cabinet also follow
suit, eradicating the need to cast vote for his remaining running mates. USASG Vice President Internal-elect and Chairman of the Constitutional and Electoral Reforms Committee, Ervin ELECTIONS
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Mga Naglahong Deboto
Untangling the Knots
Ang bawat eleksyon ay panahon upang magluklok ng mga pinunong magiging boses ng masa, ngunit paano kung nawalan na ng ganang makilahok ang mga tao sa pagkakataon na ito?
A closer look on the constitutional reform of the University of San Agustin Student Government and the changes it entails.
Rotary Club, USA-SACEO aid Anilao fisherfolks
USA COL, sole PH qualifier at Asia-Pacific moot court tilt
BY rj junsay & ROCHELLE MAE M. MUZONES
Charity on Sail. Fishermen folks of Sta. Rita, Anilao try out their fishing boats donated by the Rotary Club Foundation in collaboration with the University of San Agustin as aid for their livelihood.
“Words are not enough to describe how thankful we are for giving us this exceptional opportunity and changing the lives of our fisher folks.” Thus stressed Barangay Chairman Lyka Joy Debuque-Gelle on the Blessing and Turnover Ceremony of the 55 units of fishing boats donated by the Rotary Foundation and in collaboration with the University of San Agustin at Sta. Rita, Anilao on November 28, 2018. As part of the Anilao Boat Project, members of the Sta. Rita Fishermen Association went through 11 sessions of capacity building activities headed by University through the Social Advocacy and Community Engagement Office (SACEO) on leadership, values, business literacy, environmental protection, and coastal resource management and gender sensitivity. anilao
USA PUB PHOTO • bobbiejo m. healey
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BY EMY ROSE G. GALLEGO Competing against 21 teams from seven countries, the University of San Agustin College of Law (USA-COL) team, being the only Philippine team to qualify, placed fifth in the 2019 Asia Pacific Moot Court Competition by the International Trademark Association (INTA) held last March 1-2, 2019 at Singapore Management University. USA-COL team comprised of Warlie Diaz, Joseph Negrillo, Dayanara Buensuceso, and Theo Javriel Chavez, with Atty. Anfred Panes as coach won all matches in the preliminary rounds against Singapore and India. “It was a great honor to be the only Filipino team to reach the top 5. We seldom get opportunities to compete at this level but at that moment, knowing that we made it at that point because of the support of a lot of people back home, it was definitely a privilege, a pleasure, and a humbling experience to represent our country,” expressed Buensuceso. Launched in 2018 by the INTA, the annual moot court competition allows law students to develop their brief writing
PTFoMS presents media security guidelines to stakeholders BY CHITO CEZAR P. BATOON, JR. For the last leg of the regional seminar of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), stakeholders and guests from five regions in the country convened during the discourse on the Administrative Order No. 1 and its operational guidelines at Iloilo Convention Center on December 5, 2018. The PTFoMS event gathered media practitioners and
“WE ACT ON EACH CASE EVEN BEFORE SOMETHING BAD ACTUALLY HAPPENS. at the first sign of trouble, our task force already comes in” - egco members of law enforcement agencies from Regions IV-B (Mimaropa), V (Bicol Region), VI
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USA PUB PHOTO • Bj B. Escarilla
(Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas) and VIII (Eastern Visayas).
“I believed and we all believed that this is the first, the first of its kind in our country, in Asia and probably the whole world. Although we have always been at the forefront of the campaign against violence media workers for the past, for more than a decade already,” said PTFoMS Undersecretary and Executive Director Jose Joel Sy Egco. media security
We’re online! VIsit our website, w w w. usapub. net.
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GLOBAL LIMELIGHT. USA College of Law proved their competence as they placed fifth in the 2019 Asia Pacific Moot Court Competition in Singapore file PHOTO • warlie z. diaz
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Volume LXV • Number 4 May 15, 2019
news USA tops March 2019 MedTech, Pharmacy Board Exams
USA Student Press Corps marks 90th Year
BY ROCHELLE MAE M. MUZONES Besting other universities and colleges all over the Philippines, the University of San Agustin once again emerged as one of the best performing schools for the March 2019 licensure examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission in the fields of Medical Technology and Pharmacy. T h e University rose five steps as it finished the March 2019 Pharmacist L i c e n s u r e Examination (PLE) on the file photo • fifth spot, posting a rating of 91.11 and 123 new pharmacists. “The secret will always be my faculty. I have excellent faculty members who are very much committed to ensure that we produce excellent Augustinian pharmacists,” shared Remi Charlene Salvilla, academic supervisor of the Pharmacy department, with The Augustinian. Adding to this, Pharmacy graduate Pauline Rose Flor ranked fourth among the 3, 234 examinees with a score of 91.60 percent. “To the Augustinian community, who have always been with us through thick and thin, thank you for imparting your knowledge and expertise to us. Now that we have come
this far, we hope to continue making you proud by being the Augustinian pharmacists, embodying the values that you have instilled in us,” Flor told The Augustinian. Futhermore, after its 100 percent performance on September 2018, the University landed only third in the March 2019 Medical Technologist L i c e n s u r e Examination (MTLE) earning a rating of 97.78 and producing 88 new licensed medical technologists. FLOR “Everything yearbook office that is written in the syllabus, in the instructional materials, we adhere to it. Every summer we review our curriculum, we review our syllabus, then, we have a meeting with the clinical instructors and the faculty about students with difficulties. We see to it that all of these will be addressed,” said Joe Perez, Jr., academic supervisor of the Medical Laboratory Science Department when asked about the measures specifically taken by the program. Both programs administer comprehensive examinations and pre-board examinations before graduation as part of the measures taken by the college to ensure that they will produce competent and equipped graduates.
USASC hosts Augustinian Forum BY emy rose g. Gallego With the primary aim to offer students the opportunity to provide feedback and hear answers from the University’s administration, the University of San Agustin Student Council (USASC) led the 3rd Augustinian Forum (A-Forum) at the Bar Review Room, January 16, 2019. The A-Forum centers on the principles of this year’s USASC policy statement #USAKita, which means transparency, inclusivity, and sustainability among its members. “Believing that an open communication yields development, A-Forum is also an avenue for Augustinians to exercise their right to speak and be heard. The forum seeks to enlighten the parties concerned of what is happening that the others may be unaware of. The conduct of the Augustinian Forum empowers every Augustinian in the University to be more aware and critical of the issues that are taking place within the university and [the]country,” said Ervin Gedmaire Caro, USA Student Council vice president II. Compared with last year’s AForum, no dean from colleges were present, only the faculty and staff were present including University Registrar Gemma Buday-Halili, Accounting Office
Chief Ojay Gonzales, Director for the Budget and Finance Department Katherine Grabato, Student Affairs and Welfare Office Director Eric Divinagracia, Philanthropic, External and Alumni Relations Director Rev. Fr. Williener Jack Luna, O.S.A., and Administrative, General Services Office Director Fray Urminico Baronda IV, O.S.A, faculty members Jessica Fedriga of College of Commerce, and Dr. Remy Charlene Salvilla of the Pharmacy Department. “The significance of the A-Forum is that the students were given a chance to share their sentiments to the administration directly and also receive answers regarding their concerns. Through this, the problems and concerns would be heard and the administration will know where to act on and improve,” expressed College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education Prime Minister Andreu Bele Padernal. According to Caro, this year’s forum agenda, which focuses on issues concerning the academic affairs, student formation and affairs, security and general services, and other issues, was more categorized and streamlined efficiently, thereby, providing a better experience for feedbacking.
almost a century of journalism excellence. Josefa Reyes (third from right), the only living daughter of one of the USA Publications’ founders Jose Garcia-Sanchez, and her husband Albert Reyes (third from left) receive the award for the founders presented by the USA Publications and Augustinian friars during the 90th Anniversary Exhibit and Alumni Awards Night at Iloilo Grand Hotel. USA PUB PHOTO • EDREA CLAIRE G. GREGORE BY GLAIZA RAE D. AMABLE For almost a century of being a multi-awarded media outlet for community debate and faithful service, the University of San Agustin Publications (USA Pub) celebrated its 90th anniversary through an exhibit and awards night at Iloilo Grand Hotel, March 2,2019. University President Rev. Fr. Frederick Comendador, O.S.A., Josefa “Pepita” Reyes, the only living daughter of Jose Garcia-Sanchez together with
The Augustinian Mirror, staff gain nat’l recognitions by Paulene a. Buenafe Upholding 90 years of excellence, the University of San Agustin Publications (USA Pub), the official press corps of the University of San Agustin, bagged awards in two national journalism competitions, The Manila Times and The Manila Times College Campus Press Awards 2018, and the 14th The Spectrum Fellowship and 8th National Campus Press Awards. Out of 504 school publications who participated in The Manila Times and The Manila Times College Campus Press Awards 2018, the USA Pub made it to the list of 36 awardees, with The Augustinian Mirror garnering the Best Layout and Design by College Publication, and the five-month Marawi siege and rehabilitation coverage by Rj Junsay and Allaine Rose Emnacen entitled “Transcending The Boundaries Of Faith” as Best Feature Story by College Students during the awarding at Savoy Hotel Manila, Pasay City, Metro Manila last January 31. “It is our prime responsibility as campus
journalists to deliver quality stories upholding the truth about social issues. To receive national recognition is far beyond what I personally wanted and this is just a reward for all of our hardwork,” shared Junsay, USA Pub’s editorin-chief. Meanwhile, USA Pub Managing Editor Erika Danielle Pepito was hailed as Campus Journalist of the Year at the 8th National Campus Press Awards during the 14th The Spectrum Fellowship, Nature’s Village Resort, Talisay City, April 1-4. “I have to say it was more of a relief, because two of my editors-in-chief bagged the same award. I felt underqualified because I’m just a managing editor, and the fact that the organizing school’s sister schools are also participating is no stranger to me. I’m very grateful that my editor-in-chief gave me this opportunity, saw my potential, and fueled me with the extra boosts of confidence I needed,” said Pepito. Furthermore, the USA Publications was also awarded
ELECTIONS
of San Agustin. The competency, knowledge and skills that you have obtained from these trainings will help you in maximize the use of the project given by the Rotary Club,” expressed Project Chairman Jigger Latoza during the ceremony. Moreover, this boat project came upon through the initiatives of the Rotary Club District 1150 of the South Wales, United Kingdom and facilitated by Rotary Club of Iloilo District 3850 headed by Latoza and in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Anilao with regard to barangay selection. “To our guests, thank you for helping our fisherfolks, you could have easily looked the other way but you still chose Brgy. Sta. Rita. On behalf of the fisherfolks of Sta. Rita, I would check on the progress of this project to make sure that it will be sustainable and it would have an impact not only to their livelihood as well to the education of their children and to the community,” shared Mayor
USA PUB PHOTO • BOBBIEJO M. HEALEY
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Gedmaire Caro, emphasized, “The USASC’s structure is erroneous. Our existing positions are literally and figuratively elementary. They are too basic to perform [the] complex functions of an actual government.” Aside from the candidates for the college councils who were running under independent parties, the sole partylist with candidates vying for the national seats, Partido Aguila, had no competition at all. “We really can’t avoid lapses and raised concerns from candidates, faculty, and especially [from] the students,” said Student Committee on Elections Chairman Andreu Bele Padernal said. anilao
Voicing out. With the drive to promote transparency, administrators convene with the students from the different colleges in hearing and addressing students feedback during the third Augustinian Forum.
her husband Mr. Albert Reyes, who represented the founders of the USA Pub, and the alumni of the said publications graced the event. “From the inspired idea of two high school students in 1927, the USA Publications has established itself as a leading college paper and magazine in the region and in the country. The awards and recognition of “The Augustinian” and “The Augustinian Mirror”
over the years attest to the excellent formation of the editors and staff not only in terms of academics and campus journalism, but also in their personal endeavors,” shared USA President with The Augustinian. Recognitions were given to the first editors of various publications of the USA Pub, Carlos Palanca Awardees, the editor with the longest term and among the awardees is Anita Belosillo, the moderator with the longest term, represented by Lory
Noquera, USA Pub alumna. “An Augustinian is a model of perseverance and excellence. In living up to your apostolate as campus journalists, you continue to endure the challenges that go with your chosen endeavor,” emphasized Rev. Fr. Wilson Capellan, O.S.A., vice president for Augustinian Formation and Mission. The said celebration served to keep lines of communication open with former editors and staffers who marked the fulfillment of a vision of inculcating social consciousness to its audience through responsive, developmental and research-based campus journalism through the years. “Those who came before us really paved the way to an Augustinian excellent campus journalism. Without them, we will not be this eager and passionate to continue the 90-year-old legacy of the USA Pub,” stated Editor-in-Chief Rj Junsay during the event. Aside from giving recognition to the alumni of USA Pub, high school journalists and publications outside the university in the region were also awarded in the SanAg Campus Press Awards including Pavia National High School “Ang Biyaya” as the Best Publication.
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“After the community survey, you (Anilao fishermen) have undergone necessary trainings through the University
RAISING THE BAR. The Augustinian Mirror receives Best Lay-out Design by College Publication, with Rj Junsay and Allaine Rose Emnacen’s coverage on Marawi Siege and Rehabilitation awarded as Best Feature Story during the The Manila Times and The Manila Times College Campus Press Awards 2018. USA PUB PHOTO • EDREA CLAIRE G. GREGORE
as 2nd runner-up Best Magazine Layout and Best Magazine for the Augustinian Mirror, 1st runner -up Best Newspaper Layout for The Augustinian and 1st runnerup Best Literary Folio for IrongIrong at the said fellowship spearheaded by The Spectrum, official media corps of University of St. La Salle – Bacolod. “The crisis opened my eyes to the issues the country is facing. The article we wrote will
also serve as an eye opener to our fellow Filipinos to take a stand and if possible, provide solutions. Winning in Manila Times is a stepping stone to influence people and to make a difference,” emphasized Emnacen. Maria Cristy Daguay, moderator of USA Pub expressed that enhanced trainings are needed for more staffers to be provided with opportunities to compete at the national level.
Nathalie Ann Debuque. Furthermore, the University plans to have Brgy. Sta Rita as one of its partner communities. “More than anything else, sustainability is critical when developing a community project. With full support from the University administration and with Rotary Club, I am confident that we can sustain our commitment to Anilao,” said Maria Cristy Daguay, director of the University’s SACEO, in her closing remarks.
of our own. We read ten books and more than fifty landmark American and European cases pertaining to trademark law. For the oral rounds, we discussed all we have learned, reviewed even the smallest detail in the moot problem, formulated questions that the judges may praise and prepared for our speeches,” said Diaz. Diaz admitted that aside from the funding, it is a challenge for them to balance their time in preparing for the competition, their jobs, and studies. “[W]ith the unending support of the University, the college and alumni, we were able to secure the needed amount to compete in less than three weeks. Aside from preparing for the competition, we have to fulfill our work commitments and ensure that we are doing well with our academic studies. We spurred each other to work well together toward a common goal,” shared Diaz.
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and advocacy skills by applying legal principles to a fictional problem, and advocating their legal positions in a mock courtroom experience. “For our memorial, we prepared for more than two months. As a field of law, trademark law is relatively young and unexplored in our country. We heavily relied on foreign jurisprudence which are in pari materia with that
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news
USA strenghtens int’l ties with I2CANProTech by rj junsay With the aim of creating international partnerships and discussing advancement in research, undergraduate and professional researchers from local, national, and international academic institutions gathered as the University of San Agustin (USA) hosted the 2nd USAAcademia Sinica (Taiwan) Bilateral Research Symposium and Iloilo International Conference on Advanced Natural Products Technologies (I2CANProTech) through its Office of Research and Global Relations in partnership with Academia Sinica in Taiwan held at Courtyard by Marriott, April 28-30, 2019. I2CANProTech served as a venue for the promotion and discussion of research on various fields of studies such as in biology, chemistry, as well as pharmacology of terrestrial, marine, and microbial natural products, with participants from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and United Kingdom. “If you look at the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals, research is a major player to build the economy. It’s not just business. Research-based decision-making is important
by KENT LEXTER B. CO
A BIND of Excellence. The Associate Vice President for Research and Global Relations, the University President, and representatives of the Academia Sinica in Taiwan formally open the 2nd USA-Academia Sinica (Taiwan) Bilateral Research Symposium and Iloilo International Conference on Advanced Natural Products Technologies (I2CANProTech). FILE PHOTO • PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
to propel the economy. So the USA, in partnership with our international friends, are taking a major role to ensure that we support the national government’s efforts in ensuring that decisions by the local and national government are supported by sound data and sound policy,” shared Dr. Jonel Saludes, associate vice president for Research and Global Relations of the University with The Augustinian. Futhermore, according to Saludes, I2CANProTech is also a tribute to and a celebration
of the 70th year of Iloilo’s groundbreaking contribution to the global fight against infectious diseases, as the soil from which the actinomycte bacteria Saccharopolyspora erythraea that produces the first macrolide antibiotic named Ilosone® (Erythromycin) was originally collected from Iloilo in 1949. “University of San Agustin is really doing good science,” commended Dr. Amelia Guebara, former DOST undersecretary for Research and Development. During the opening
ceremony, a partnership contract was signed between USA, Merck, and Omnibus Biomedical System. In addition, a signing of a Memorandum of Agreement among USA, RainPhil, and Iloilo Medical City took place as well. “USA is really right on target as we have our motto of Virtus et Scientia. It’s about developing the characters of students, virtues and at the same time endowing them the necessary knowledge and competence to be the best in their field.,” said Rev. Fr. Frederick Comendador, OSA, USA President.
Jaro Archdiocesan Youth Com celebrates 2018 AYD
UPHOLDING THE FAITH. Parish youth ministries and youth organizations all over the region gather at the University of San Agustin to commemorate the 2018 Archdiocesan Youth Day. USA PUB PHOTO • DANIEL JEFF C. TELIC by JIELYN ANNE l. BASTIAN With the theme, “The Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved. Gifted. Empowered,” the Archdiocese of Jaro, together
with the Jaro Archdiocesan Youth Commission celebrated the 2018 Archdiocesan Youth Day at the University of San Agustin
Gym which was participated by different parish youth ministries, Catholic schools and other youth organizations in the Archdiocese from November 30 - December 1, 2018. Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo, D.D. presided the opening mass during the event comprising of plenary sessions, concert spearheaded by priests and youth and the festival of talents. “You are God’s beloved. Whoever you are, and whatever you do; whatever limitations you have and whatever sins you have committed, God loves you.”, said Rev. Fr. Mark Lester Senina in the first plenary session entitled as “Beloved”. Group activities, responses, and creative liturgies wherein
chosen people talked about their experiences related to the theme were incorporated with the sessions. “I know God loves me because all this time he is not breaking me, but he was actually building me,” John Christian Lopez, one of the speakers, said in his testimony during the same session. The archdiocese of Jaro and the JAYC launched the Year of the Youth programs, which included spiritual formation for the youth and youth ministers, environmental protection, and other social apostolate for the young. Furthermore, the plenary sessions were led by Senina, Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, O.P, and Jessica Dator Bercilla.
USA Pub reigns supreme in regional journalism tilt b y wilkienson c. mu ro Another year, another set of awards earned by the University of San Agustin Publications (USA Pub) as they dominated the 2018 Regional College Press Conference (COPRE) and Awards and 2019 IWAG Awards, both spearheaded by the Philippine Information Agency – VI, November 29, 2018 and February 26, 2019, respectively. Against 94 tertiary schools across Panay Island, The Augustinian Mirror, the official student magazine of San Agustin, regained its titles as COPRE’s Best Magazine with the following minor category awards: Best Magazine Layout, Best Cover Design and Best Feature Page. “Do not rest on your laurels. Do not be too complacent with your accomplishments. There are still more challenges to hurdle, the greatest of which is to ensure that just as you inform, your information also give your audience the tools that will enabke them to make better decisions as Augustinian and as Filipinos,” emphasized Maria Cristy Daguay, moderator of USA Pub. The Dingding ni Gusting, the official wall newspaper of
USA SC clarifies TGIF 2019: Obra results mishap
the University to its partner community in Leganes, Iloilo, served as another highlight to this year’s wave of recognitions when it defended its title of Region’s Best Wall Newspaper for the third time in a row. “Being a neophyte community editor of the region’s best wallnewspaper for two years brings too much pressure, yet with the constant support of our editor-in-chief as well as the previous editors and the people of Nabitasan, we managed to produce a high quality output,” expressed Emy Rose Gallego, editor for Community Affairs Team. Other group awards also included The Augustinian to the top lists of awardees which were second Best Tabloid, third Best E-Newsletter and fifth Best Literary Folio. “These winnings justified how the USA Pub, its predecessors and the new generation of Augustinian journalists, continuously bring honor to the University for 90 years,” said Erika Danielle Pepito, managing editor. Likewise, the individual
showcasing of journalistic talents were also gauged through the writing competitions as five USA Pub staff placed in the top five in Filipino categories namely: Pepito (1st place - Feature Writing and 3rd place Copyreading and Headline Writing); Rochelle Mae Muzones, associate editor (3rd place - Feature Writing); Gallego (1st place - News Writing, 3rd place - Editorial Writing, and 4th place - Copyreading and Headline Writing; Romari Charlz Diaz, art director (third in Editorial Cartooning); and Glaiza Rae Amable, staff writer for Creative Writing Team (Best in Production
Number and first runner-up for Ms. COPRE.) On the other hand, Junsay prevailed as the top IWAG Awardee of 2019 out of 40 qualifiers after a thorough panel selection of campus editors and writers in Western Visayas. “Being able to top the IWAG Award screening is far from what I asked for. I just wanted to continue the legacy of our seniors. It’s not just about continuing the legacy of the USA Pub, but leaving something that the future staff could work with for journalism is a history in the making,” emphasized Junsay.
BESTING THE BEST. The USA Publications rose to victory as they took home numerous awards in the 2018 Regional College Press Conference and Awards spearheaded by Philippine Information Agency Region 6. USA PUB PHOTO • EDREA CLAIRE G. GREGORE
In the midst of the controversies during the post-awarding that led to the recomputation of the results in the Thank God It’s Fashion (TGIF), one of the major events during the U-Week Celebration, the USA Student Council acknowledged their mistake on the tabulation and declared College of Commerce (COC) as the champion of 2019 TGIF: Obra, March 6, 2019. Martin Ortiz, the chairman for Grievance Committee, stated that the recalculation was done on March 4 after receiving suspicions and formal complaints raised by various departments resulting to a remediation meeting with the co-curricular advisers and presidents of each department on March 6. “All colleges filed a complaint except for CLASE. They complained in a sense that they want to see the results for their recounting. It was for transparency which we are happy to give. In our view, it is their right to ask questions, if they have doubts with the validity of the results,” said Ortiz. Meanwhile, Aldwin Barbaton, the Chairman of TGIF 2019: Obra explained that the initial tabulation was found to have statistical errors made by the system during the competition proper. “We showed them the actual results and they recognized them. We also came to an agreement that all trophies that didn’t belong to them, must be returned to the rightful winner. Everyone agreed and some actually returned them but not all. There was some resistance to give the awards back,” shared Ortiz. With the help of the Statistics Office, the recounting of the said results revealed that College of Technology (COT), and College of Health and Allied Medical Professions placed first runner-up and second runner-up respectively. “We kind of knew something was off with the results but of course we had to have composure. We accepted the 1st runner-up trophy with no special awards though we really felt like the COT crew deserved a little bit more credit. We tried to argue about the tabulations. Other colleges did, too. But nobody pin point where it all went wrong so the USA SC had to investigate and redo the tabulations. At that point, all we could do was wait and trust the council in handling the situation,” expressed Karla Beverly Tan, TGIF chairperson of COT. The Basic Education Department (BED) has not yet returned the trophies as of this writing. Ortiz clarified that, with time, they will give what is due to the winners. “It’s just a matter of time when the award will be given. In any case, we will have a separate ceremony for them. We will have to pick a specific date where they can be awarded in public” said Ortiz. The title was awarded to COC from BED after the USA Student Council released a re-tabulation of the results of TGIF 2019: Obra last March 6,2019.
FASHION WITH PASSION. The clash of style and creativity continues as Augustinians set the runway on fire this year’s TGIF 2019: OBRA. USA PUB PHOTO • EDREA CLAIRE G. GREGORE
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In his welcome remarks, Egco emphasized the synopsis and that the mandate of the task force on media security is to become “very proactive”. “Meaning, we act on each case even before something bad actually happens. So, at the first sign of trouble, our task force already comes in because what good would our task force be if we are just counting the dead,” he underscored in his welcome address. Media practioners from Western Visayas including Nestor Burgos, the president of National Union of Journalists in the Philippines and students from various universities including West Visayas State University, Iloilo Science and Technology - University, and University of San Agustin (USA) participated in the said seminar. “We are glad that through the Philippine Information AgencyRegion VI, we, the student journalists, are given the opportunity to be enlightened about the current situation of the Philippine media practioners and their rights to safety,” shared Rj Junsay, editor-inchief of USA Publications. Egco noted that the goal of the task force, which is anchored on President Duterte’s administrative order, is to act on various kinds of harassments and threats on media practitioners and highlighted the importance of the partnership between media and the government agencies. “Through this, we were able to show in detail the functions of concerned agencies,” said Egco. PTFoMS is an inter-agency body composed of different law enforcement agencies, Office of the President and, media partners. It was created through A.O. No. 01 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2016 to address media violence; it is headed by the Department of Justice, co-chaired by the Presidential Communications Operations Office, with the Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Office of the Solictor General, Presidential Human Rights Committee, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation, as members.
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Volume LXV • Number 4 may 15, 2019
EdiTORiALANDOPiNiON Mga naglahong Deboto E D I T O R Y A L
Tatlong eleksyon na ang nagdaan ngunit sa hindi mawaring kadahilanan ay iisang partido pa rin ang tumatakbo para sa iba’t-ibang posisyon sa University of San Agustin student Council (UsAsC) o kinikilala na ngayong UsA student government. Nawala na bang tuluyan ang naglalagablab na apoy ng kagustuhang magtaguyod ng pagbabago sa Unibersidad ng mga estudyante, o mas pinipili na lamang ng karamihan sa mga magaaral ang maging piping saksi dulot ng kawalang tiwala sa kapangyarihan at kapasidad ng isang gobyernong kapwa nila estudyante ang nasa ulo? taong 2016 nang huling magkaroon ng maigting na kumpetisyon sa pagitan ng tatlong partido sa Unibersidad. sa naturang eleksyon ay nanalo ang Partido aguila na pinapangunahan ni Dave garin, Bs Business administration. Nang sumapit ang taong 2017 ay Partido aguila na lamang ang naglakas
loob na makilahok sa eleksyon na noo’y pinamunuan ni erika Mae Draper, aB Political science. tanging 2,587 o 37 porsyento ng pangkalahatang populasyon ng mga botante ang bumoto kay Draper, pinakamataas na bilang ng boto kung ihahambing sa boto ng iba pa niyang kasamahan. ayon sa artikulo V, sek. 2 ng
USA Publications Responsive • Developmental • Research-based
Rj jUNsAY
Editor-in-Chief ERiKA dANiELLE M. PEPiTO managing Editor wiLKiENsON C. MURO Associate Editor ROChELLE MAE M. MUzONEs Associate Editor MA. jUdiEL i. QUiNTAR Circulation manager MARiA CRisTY E. dAgUAY moderator ART ANd dEsigN TEAM: Romari Charlz F. Diaz (Art Director), Helda Mae P. Godoy, Reynelyn P. Yorac, June Ivan S. Gumban (Staff Artists) COMMUNiTY AffAiRs TEAM: Emy Rose G. Gallego (Community Editor), Chito Cezar P. Batoon, Jr., Jeff G. Tolentino, Jielyn Anne L. Bastian (Staff Writers) CREATiVE wRiTiNg TEAM: Mark Anthony A. Masacote (literary Editor), Everild Dominique A. Camique, Glaiza Rae D. Amable, Jerico M. Severino (Staff Writers) PhOTOgRAPhY TEAM: Edrea Claire G. Gregore (photography Director), Miguel Carlos J. Llamado, Bobbiejo M. Healey, Daniel Jeff C. Telic (Staff Photographers), Bj B. Escarilla (Videographer), Steven John N. Sumbing, Colleen Gaile B. Bilbao (Apprentice Staff Photographers) PROgRAM MANAgEMENT TEAM: Philip Robert C. Alaban (program Director), Paulene A. Buenafe (Staff Writer), kent Lexter B. Co (Website Administrator)
Augustinian the
ThE AUgUsTiNiAN is the official student newspaper of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Philippines. It is published regularly by the USA Publications, which envisions itself as an Augustinian center of campus journalism, fostering the advocacy of the common good and acting as voice of the student body through responsive, developmental, and research-based campus journalism. Contributions, comments, and suggestions may be sent to the editors. No part of this publication can be reproduced by any means without permission and authority from the USA Publications. Colophon: This newsletter was carefully designed to balance traditional principles, history, as well as modern trends to maximize the amount of information without compromising the visual appeal of the publication. This was produced using Adobe Photoshop CS6, Adobe InDesign CS6, and Adobe Illustrator CS6. Exo and Merriweather were used for the text. Address: 2/F Alumni Bldg., University of San Agustin, General Luna Street, Iloilo City, Philippines 5000 Phone Number: (033) 337 4842 local 189 Website: www.usapub.net Email: usapublications1@gmail.com We encourage you to recycle this publication. Let’s help save the environment.
Constitution and By laws ng Usa sC, “the election of the officers of the Usa sC shall be done by annual popular voting.” Kung kaya kahit hindi nakaabot ng 4,699 or 2/3 ng boto ng kabuuang populasyon ng mga magaaral ang mga tumakbo noong naturang taon, naging katanggap tanggap ang resulta ng naturang
hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng karamahihan kung paanong ang dating porma ng aktibismo ng pagrarally sa gitna ng mga kalsada ay unti-unting pinalitan ng mga mas gigil na pagaaklas gamit ang iba’t-ibang social media sites ng mga tao partikular na ang mga kabataan. Isang malaking hamon para sa mga Pilipino lalo na sa mga kabataan kung paano gagamitin sa epektibong paraan ang social media para sa repormang kanilang pinaglalaban sa gitna ng magulong mundo nito. Unang nabigyan ng mukha ang aktibismo sa Pilipinas noong panahon ng mga Kastila sa pamamagitan ng isang matalino at tahimik na paraan gamit ang pluma at papel na sinimulan ni gat Jose rizal. ang bawat titik ng kanyang mga nobela ang untiunting gumising sa damdaming nasyonalismo ng mga Pilipino. Ito ang siyang naghudyat para bigyang buhay ang Katipunan. Ilang daang taon ang lumipas ay napalitan ito ng mukha ng paglalakad sa mga kalsada habang iwinawagayway ang mga bandera at iba pang sulatin kaakibat ang pagsigaw ng “Makibaka! huwag matakot!” noong Batas Militar. Ilang dekada pa ang lumipas at nagbago na ang mukha ng pagaaklas sa ating bayan. Mula sa mga isyu sa pulitika, digmaan, droga hanggang sa mga usapin kagaya ng bullying at body shaming ay malayang nakakapagbigay ng kani-kanilang opinyon ang bawat mamamayanang may aktibong social media account. ayon sa isang artikulo ni Keith thomson, isang Network and Communications officer ng UNoY Peacebuilders, binabago
eleksyon. Nang sumunod na taon ay naluklok sa posisyon ang parehong partido sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Joseph Martin Daza, Bs Business administration, na nakatamo ng 1,895 na boto, pinakamataas na bilang ng boto kung ikukumpara sa ibang nanalo sa eleksyon noong Marso ng taong 2018. hindi maitatanggi na mababang bilang pa rin ang may aktibong partisipasyon sa eleksyson. Nawalan na ng gana ang estudyante na makilahok dahil bumoto man sila o hindi ay mailuluklok pa rin sa pwesto ang mga nagtatangkang maging
bahagi ng student council. Isang nakakalungkot na sitwasyon ang maikling oras na inilaan para sa pangangampanya ng mga kandidato. Noong 2017 ay nabigyan lamang ng dalawang araw ang Partido aguila na mangampanya dahil 48 oras bago ang araw ang eleksyon ng makapasa sila sa deliberasyon na pinamahalaan ng student Commission on elections (sCoMel). samantala sa sitwasyon naman nina Daza ay natapos ang pagsusumite ng Certificate of Candidacy, pangangampanya at grand rally sa loob ng isang linggo lamang ayon kay Marisol tormon, dating sCoMel head commissioner. sa kabilang banda, maaari rin namang mas pinili ng mga estudyante ng Unibersidad na mas pagtuunan ng pansin ang kanilang pag-aaral kasabay ng biglaang pagpapatupad ng 60 percent passing percentage noong taong 2016. hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng karamihan na kinakailangan na magbigay ng sapat na oras ang isang magaaral na opisyal ng sC para sa iba’t-ibang proyektong ng student council. Ngayong taon, naging matunog ang pagbabago ng porma ng gobyerno sa Unibersidad nang ipinanukala ni ervin Caro, dating Vice President II at ngayon ay Internal Vice President-elect at ni Martin ortiz na dati’y Public Communications officer I at ngayon ay Presidentelect ng Usa sg. sa kasamaang palad, ganoon pa rin ang naging sitwasyon ng eleksyon. 2,435
mag-aaral lamang ang bumoto at iisang partido pa rin ang tumakbo. tila kanser na ata na mabilisang kumakalat ang pagiging walang pasubali ng mga estudyante sa takbo ng pulitika na pinamumunuan ng kapwa nila estudyante. Kung ihahambing pa sa ibang prestihiyosong Unibersidad kagaya ng Unibersidad ng santo tomas ay walang binatbat ang init ng eleksyon dahil sa matinding kumpetisyon ng mga estudyante. hindi mapapantayan ang political will ng mga estudyante para sila ay mabigyan ng boses. ano na nga ba ang katayuan ng political will ng mga estudyante sa ating Unibersidad? May tiwala pa ba ang mga estudyante sa gobyerno? ang patuloy na pagbibigay daan sa eleksyon na may iisang partido at mangilan-ngilan na kumokontra dito ay pawang pag-aappoint na lamang. Kung ganito lamang ay masasabi kong tayo mismo ang gumagawa ng mga dahilan para sa ating pagkadismaya hindi lamang sa takbo ng pulitika sa loob ng Unibersidad kundi ang pagkadismaya sa takbo ng utak ng mga napipintong propesyonal na magtatapos sa ating palatuntunan sa hinaharap. ang kasalukuyang estado ng pagiging “passive” ng mga mag-aaral ay sumasalamin sa mentalidad ng mga Pilipino sa halalan nitong Mayo. Kung kaya’t kabataan, gisingin niyo ang nahihimbing na damdaming nasyonalismo. Buhayin muli ang diwa ng isang makabayan at mapag-aklas para sa repormang pang-Juan dela Cruz.
aNG NaGbaGONG mukHa NG akTIbIsmO aCroPHoniC
Rj Junsay, BS ChE ‘19 Scan code to send an email reply
“MAGING ANO PA MAN ANG PORMA NG AkTIBISMO AY HINDI DAPAT MAILIBING SA LIMOT ANG TOTOONG DAHILAN NG PAG-AAkLAS, AT ITO AY ANG HANGARING MAPABUTI ANG LAGAY NG ATING BAYAN. ”. na ng social media ang konsepto ng pag-uulat at medya. ang paggamit ng mga mamahayag ng mga social media sites para sa kanilang pag-uulat ng balita ay lumalawak. ang mga kaganapan sa Kony 2012 campaign at ang arab spring ay ilan lamang sa mga kaganapang nagpapatunay kung gaano kalakas ang impluwensya ng social media sa mga desisyon at aksyon ng masa. Mas maraming kabataan ang mas aktibo sa kung tawagin ay “social media activism” dahil sila ang kadalasang gumagamit ng mga social media platforms. Kung tutuusin, ang wastong paggamit ng social media para isulong ang mga repormang nararapat para sa bayan ay may abilidad itong impluwensyahan ang gobyerno. sa lawak ng sakop ng social media ay hindi lamang mga isyu sa bansa ang nagkakaroon ng kaalaman ang mga tao, kung hindi pati na rin ang mga usapin ng ibang nasyon. Kaugnay nito, kinakailangan na maipahatid ang tamang mensahe sa partikular na grupo ng mga tao para lubusang maging epektibo ang pagbabagong ipinaglalaban.
sa kabilang banda ay may malaking posibilidad na maging isang “popularity contest” na lamang ang social media activism sa mga partikular na isyu ayon kay Marten Yousef, spokesman ng special tibunal for lebanon. Kung sabagay, ang social media activism ay nagbibigay daan para malayang maipahayag ng mga tao ang kanilang mga saloobin sa iba’t-ibang usaping bayan nang hindi personal na humarap sa mga nakakasagutan nito sa social media. Mas malakas ang loob ng karamihan dahil maaari naman silang magdeactivate or burahin mismo ang kanilang mga account para makatakas sa gulong kanilang kinasasangkutan. Isa pa ay maaring maging isang labanan ng kung tawagin ay “trolls” ang mga sana’y isang matalinong diskusyon ng mga suliranin na kinakaharap ng ating bayan. hindi maipagkakaila na marami pa ring ang mga “reactive” kung ihahambing sa mga “proactive” na netizens. Basta may masabi lamang ang mga netizens ay sasabak na sila sa gera ng wala man lang mga armas kaakibat ng mga nakalap
sana nilang impormasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagbabasa ng mga balita at masinsinang pagalam ng iba’t-ibang angulo ng kwento o isyu na pinag-uusapan. hindi magiging epektibo ang “social media activism” kung hindi gagamitin ng mga tao ang kanilang kritikal na pag-iisip at kung patuloy nilang papairalin ang bugso ng kanilang mga damdamin kaysa sa kanilang utak. Maaaring naapektuhan na nga ng teknolohiya ang paraan ng mga tao upang ipahiwatig ang pagbabagong nais nilang makamit. Naging madali at mabilis ang pagkuha ng atensyon ng karamihan sa pamamagitan ng social media pero lalong pang gumulo. sa kabila nito, maging ano pa man ang porma ng aktibismo ay hindi dapat mailibing sa limot ang totoong dahilan ng pag-aaklas, at ito ay ang hangaring mapabuti ang lagay ng ating bayan. Nasa ating mga kamay pa rin ang pagbabago. Mukha lamang ng aktibismo ang nagbabago, hindi dapat ang hangarin na maituwid ang mga kamalian at magkaroon ng totoong reporma.
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Philippines
www.usapub.net
Kamaikailan lamang nang nagdesisyon muli ang bawat Pilipino kung sino ang nararapat na iluklok sa pwesto sa iba’t ibang posisyon, mapanasyonal man o lokal. Subalit, bago pa man sila manumpa sa kanikanilang tungkulin at maupo sa pwesto, tayo muna ay magnilaynilay at magbalik-tanaw sa mga pinili at sa desisyon natin noong nakaraang halalan. Ang tanong ko ay hindi kung sino ang mga nanalo kundi kung magkano ang halaga ng iyong boto? Ilang araw bago ang eleksyon ay lumutang sa internet ang larawan ng ‘di umano ay pamimigay ng relief goods at pera kasama ng lista ng mga kandidato na dapat botohin ng isang partido sa probinsya ng Iloilo. Ilang araw matapos mailathala ang nasabing insidente ay lumabas naman sa isang pahayagan nagsasabi na laganap na ang vote buying at vote selling sa probinsya lamang ng Iloilo. Ayon sa Omnibus Election Code, Article XXII Section 261, ay kabilang sa ipinagbabawal ng mga gawain ay ang pagbili ng boto at pagbebenta ng boto. Ang sinumang nagbigay at nangako ng pera o ng kaparehong bagay, trabaho, prangkisa at pagsagot ng mga bayarin ng isang tao, asosasyon, korporasyon o komunidad upang hikayatin ang isang indibidwal o ang pangkalahatang publiko na botohin sila, na pigilan ang karapatan nitong bumoto para sa kanila o laban sa sinumang kandidato sa kabilang partido ay maituturing na nagkasala sa batas. Ayon pa rito, ang sinumang mahuhuli ay pinapatawan ng pagkabilanggo, pagkawala ng karapatang bumoto at diskwalipikasyon sa pag-upo sa
MAY HALAGA PA BA? Giving the microbes the upper hand
stalwart
Rochelle Mae M. Muzones BS Accountancy ‘19 Scan code to send an email reply
anumang pwesto sa gobyerno. Subalit, sa kabila ng pagpasa ng batas na sumasalungat sa mga gawaing kagaya nito ay talamak pa rin ang pagbebenta at pagbibili ng boto. Hindi na ito lingid sa kaalaman ng nakakarami. Simula’t sapol ay nandiyan na ang vote buying at vote selling sa sistema ng politika at sa paglipas ng panahon ay parami ng parami ang mga deboto nito. Ang malala pa rito ay kahit anong dami ng nagrereport sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno patungkol rito ay hindi pa rin mahuli-huli at mapanagot ang ugat at utak ng pagbibili ng boto. Saan nga ba nagkulang ang gobyerno o ang mga mamamayan para puksain ito? “These are raw information that needs to be validated.” Ito ang naging tugon ni Police Brigader General John Bulalacao, hepe ng Region VI, patungkol sa kumakalat na litrato ng pamimigay ng relief goods at pera. Ayon naman kay Commision on Elections (COMELEC) Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros ay wala pang natatangap na reklamo ang kaniyang opisina patungkol sa nasabing isyu. Sa parte naman ng mga mamamayan ay binibigyan sila ng kapangyarihang umaresto sa pamamagitan ng tinatawag na citizen’s arrest. Ayon kay Col. Marlon Tayaba, Iloilo Police
Provincial Office director, ang publiko ay maaaring sumagawa ng citizen’s arrest kapag lantaran nilang nakita ang pagbebenta at pagbibili ng boto. Dagdag pa ni Tayaba, maaari ring isumbong ang lokasyon at iba pang detalye kung saan nagaganap ang nasabing iligal na gawain para mabigyan ng agarang aksyon. Dagdag pa rito, Mayo 9 nang nagdeklara na ang COMELEC ng giyera laban sa vote buying. Inilunsad ng COMELEC ang Kontra Bigay task force upang sugpuin ang mga nagbebenta at nagbibili ng boto. Kasama ng COMELEC ang Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Interior and Local Government at Integrated Bar of the Philippines sa implementasyon ng nasabing task force. Layon nito na magkaroon ng pormal na hinaing ang mga nagrereklamo sa sinumang kandidato na lumabag sa batas. Kung sasagutin ko ang aking katanungan kung bakit hindi mahuli-huli ang utak ng pagbibili at pagbebenta ng boto at kung saan nagkulang ang sambayan para puksain ito, ang pagkawalang pakiaalam ang nakikita kong sagot ko dito. Maraming solusyon ang isinisiwalat pero iilan lamang ang umaaksyon. Maraming salita,
HOLD THE LINE EPOCH
Erika Danielle M. Pepito, BS Psych ‘19 Scan code to send an email reply
Since Rodrigo Duterte took his seat in the Malacanang, Rappler, specifically Maria Ressa, its CEO and executive editor, has kept him under their watch. It seems that the administration is reciprocating the act by putting them under scrutiny and continuously having charges filed against the veteran journalist and her online news platform. Ressa and Rappler are under fire as cases were filed against them several times for violating the Cybercrime Law and the Anti-Dummy Law. This was after allegations were made against Rappler for investments made to it by the Omidyar Network last 2015, which Ressa denied. Human rights advocates and observers pegged such acts as “weaponizing the rule of law” to curtail press freedom. It speaks of how the government is using the rule of law to oppress its watchdogs rather than take down the real enemy – social issues that keep the country in shackles and leave it in the rubble. Instead of focusing its efforts of alleviating the plight of the masses, the government is so engrossed in slamming its critics that it comes off as petty. The persecutions made against Ressa and her team of journalists are no different than the history of shameless killings in the country, except this time, it was done through character assassination and oral defamation. Rappler started off with a team of 12 reporters and
A5
developers and now is the fourth biggest Philippine news portal. It also serves as Facebook’s fact checker in the Philippines in the pursuit of combatting fake news. In fact, this thrust earned Rappler, and one of its founders, Ressa, the ire of Duterte. Rappler made tabs on the troll army supporting Duterte who were behind the spreading of fake news stories (or false information), as well as the government-indicted war against drugs, extrajudicial killings, and human rights violations. The rift between the big man and the journalist was fueled when Duterte claimed in his State of the Nation Address 2017 that Rappler is “fully owned” by the Americans, to Ressa’s surprise. Although Ressa denied the allegation, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) demanded hundreds of documents for investigation, which resulted to the SEC revoking Rappler’s license in January 2017. The lawsuit reached the Court of Appeals which was remanded for lack of basis. The news outlet allegedly failed to pay taxes of P133 million on its bond sales with two foreign parties, and was pressed charges on this in just five months when it normally takes at least a year of investigation. This also resulted to a warrant to arrest Ressa last November 2018. A court case was recently filed against Ressa and Rappler for an investigative report published in May 29, 2012,
disclosing former chief justice Renato Corona using businessman Wilfredo Keng’s vehicle, whose name was linked to illegal drugs and human trafficking. The said report contained “malicious imputations of crimes, with bad intentions, purposely to
iilan lang ang gawa. Anupaman, nagpapasalamat pa rin tayo sa mga tagapaglingkod ng gobyerno at mga mamamayan na walang sawang tumutugon sa baluktot nating sistema subalit kung ating susumahin, iilan lamang iyan sa libo-libong pinaghalong mga opisyal ng mga ahensiya at mga botante. Iilan lamang. Nakikita na natin ang problema, ang katotohanan, pero bakit pilit pa rin nating sinasara ang ating mga mata? Marahil para sa iyo ay walang silbi na ang opinyon na ito. Marahil tapos na ang halalan at tatlong taon pa ang ating hihintayin para magkaroon ng silbi ang artikulong ito. Subalit ang nais kong ipahiwatig ay hindi lang ito para sa ngayon kung hindi para sa bukas pa na ating haharapin at ng mga susunod na henerasyon. Nais kong ipahiwatig na kung ano man ang mayroon tayo sa kinabukasan ay dulot ito ng kung ano tayo ngayon. Sana’y maging bukas ang isipan ng bawat Pilipino na hindi lamang isang daan o limang daan ang halaga ng ating boto at walang anumang salapi ang makapagtitimbang ng halaga nito. Kabayan, nasa mga palad mo ang liwanag ng bukas ng mga susunod na henerasyon, nawa’y panghawakan mo ito nang mabuti. members of the 2016 board. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said that the cyber libel charge is a “shameless act of persecution by a bully government.” Journalists and other supporters have clamored for the President to lay off Ressa and Rappler, accussing the arrests as an attack on press freedom and a violation of the said right. It is evident that the media, inasmuch as it tries to thwart lies and black propaganda by protecting the image of true and genuine journalism despite the spread of misinformation and culture of impunity, also falls prey
Instead of focusing its efforts of alleviating the plight of the masses, the government is so engrossed in slamming its critics that it comes off as petty. malign, dishonor and discredit my character and good reputation,” as stated in Keng’s cyber libel complaint. What was questionable was why the RA 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was used against them, when it was enacted four months after the report’s publication. Ressa was arrested at the Rappler headquarters and was taken to the National Bureau of Investigation and she posted a bail of P100,000. In light with the eighth arrest of Ressa, five United States senators condemned the human rights violations in the country under the Duterte administration, and also called for the immediate release of Senator Leila De Lima. Ressa posted bails worth P190,000 for the aforementioned cases, while Rappler was asked to cash out P2.036 million in bail and travel bonds as of March 29, 2019, covering Ressa, Managing Editor Glenda Gloria, former Researcher Reynaldo Santos, Jr., and five
to the predator. Questioned and ridiculed, this is what happens when watchdogs bark upon spotting a threatening occurrence that could derail the country. For what it’s worth, this exploitation of the press is not enough to hamper Ressa and Rappler from continuing their mission of keeping a close eye on the government’s every move. This simply intensified their efforts to take down wrongful allegations and point out the lapses and setbacks of the current administration. Ressa made a name for herself as she devoted twenty years of service as an investigative journalist, foreign correspondent, CNN Manila and Jakarta Bureau Chief, and ABS-CBN News Division Head. Surely the Time Person of the Year 2018’s battle with the President had amplified her reputation as a journalist who will hold the line, defend press freedom, and shake the narrative, whatever it takes.
dr. blood
Wilkienson C. Muro BS MLS ‘19 Scan code to send an email reply Most people may be busy with the political conflict brought about by the recently concluded elections. Some would be busy with the current trends in fashion, or in technology. Some would point out the thinning ozone layer just above our heads. But how about the lingering and growing issue on antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? Has anyone given enough attention for this to be resolved? Maybe, by reading this article, this is the first time you bumped into this topic. This long ignored problem shall be one of the top priorities of the country’s leaders and health workers. Each day, everyone catches fire. AMR fuels the fire that sooner or later is going to devour us when we customarily take unprescribed medicine when sick, or when doctors do not follow the correct mechanism of prescribing or curing the clinically sick. Leaders and health workers must inform the public of AMR before we end up dying without knowing the very cause of our downfall. Our body is naturally composed of bacteria. They facilitate our defense against many disease-causing microbes. The concept behind this mechanism is that our naturally-occurring microbes compete with other microorganism present or introduced in our body. The overgrowth of these foreign microorganisms or of our body’s bacteria themselves will cause the onset of a certain infection or a disease. In connection to AMR, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined this as the change of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites) when they are exposed to antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics). Microorganisms that develop AMR are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”. This change refers to their own ability to combat the drugs that people are taking especially if those are not specifically intended to destroy them. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others. These bacteria use mechanisms like the enzymatic degradation of antibacterial drugs, the alteration of bacterial proteins that are antimicrobial targets, and changing in membrane permeability to antibiotics. These enable them to manipulate the drug to cause further infection, and worse, spread. Over the course of AMR in the whole world, scientists pointed out six most common causes for AMR to thrive further and to cost a wide
If we get caught in the same mentality of “leaving it to the next generations” to handle our recent biological catastrophe, then there is no turning back from obliteration. scope of damage to the society. These include the misuse, overuse, and over-prescription of antibiotics; patients not finishing the entire antibiotic course; overuse of antibiotics in livestock and fish farming; poor infection control in health care settings; poor hygiene and sanitation; and delayed discovery of new antibiotics. In the study of Carolyn Anne Michael, Dale Dominey-Howes and Maurizo Labbate entitled “Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis: Causes, Consequences, and Management”, three major factors determine this crisis: first, the increasing frequency of AMR phenotypes among microbes is an evolutionary response to the widespread use of antimicrobials; second, the large and globally connected human population allows pathogens in any environment access to all of humanity; and, lastly the extensive and often unnecessary use of antimicrobials by humanity provides the strong selective pressure that is driving the evolutionary response in the microbial world. WHO estimates 480,000 new cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a form of tuberculosis (MDR-TB) that is resistant to the two most powerful anti-TB drugs in 2014. Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), a form of tuberculosis that is resistant to at least four of the core anti-TB drugs, has been identified in 105 countries. An estimated 9.7 percent of people with MDR-TB have XDR-TB. Another is the resistance of Escherichia coli, an intestinal parasite, to the most widely used medicines for the treatment of urinary tract infections (fluoroquinolone antibiotics). More than half of the patients in other countries are unresponsive to this drug. Likewise, the treatment failure to gonorrhoea’s last resort of medicine (third generation cephalosporin antibiotics) has been confirmed in at least 10 countries (Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). Medicines, particularly the antibiotics, are contributory to curing the diseases and infections that debilitate human health. However, everyone should be reminded that they are not doctors to administer improperly prescribed medications. In this instance, even the doctors shall take full responsibility to any drug they prescribe. Identification before administration should always be the hierarchy of curing disease. We do not cure a common cold with loperamide, likewise, a headache with robitussin. Cliche as it goes, never solve a problem with another problem. Everytime we do not observe correct medication, we give bacteria time to be more invincible, to be more resistant, thus, making us more susceptibe and weaker. Thus, we are gradually losing the battle. We might fall into oblivion first before we can even solve other harms. This if we resort to the correct method of eradicating the diseases and infections. However, if we get caught in the same mentality of “leaving it to the next generations” to handle our recent biological catastrophe, then there is no turning back from obliteration. We do not want to give the microbes the upper hand.
A6 Augustinian the
Volume LXV • Number 4 May 15, 2019
special report
Untangling the Knots
USA SC Plebiscite Results
Total Number of Votes: 1,219 out of 6,244 legible student voters
A look into the constitutional reform of the USA Student Government and the changes it entails bY usa publications staff
While some are still reeling from the one-party control these past three years that created deep divisions yet to unite, the student council of the University of San Agustin (USA) subjected the nine-year-old constitution into major revamps. The centralized planning and government regulations and laws restructured the Augustinian political ways and means. However, as this new constitution strives to set the foundation of the whole student body, a lot of questions were still raised, leaving us into thinking – in what parts of the new constitution did the specific revisions reflect?
U SA PUB a rtwor k • ro mari ch arl z f. dia z
REVISED TO AUGUSTINIANIZE Prior to the establishment of the University of San Agustin Student Government (USASG), the University of San Agustin Student Council (USASC) served as the supreme representative of the Augustinian students. Just like any other form of government, its constitution steers and regulates the council officers in their proposed thrusts and frameworks. However, some setbacks have been recognized and the ultimate resolution for this is the 2019 USASG Constitution. The new constitution inherits its general concept and ideal form from the old constitution. Shaira Marie Jopson-Espinosa, one of the advisers of the USASC 2018-2019, supported the proposal for a unified student government. “As one of their (previous) advisers, I supported the previous officers in the conduct of their preliminary activities to advocate and disseminate the new constitution. The constitution was revised to unite all governments of councils of various colleges and departments, to provide equal representation of officers to be seated in the new Student Government, and to provide innovations such as creations of standing committees in the promotion of Augustinian advocacies and ad hoc committees to address the students’ special concerns.” It also acknowledged the need to succinctly define functions, powers, and responsibilities of the positions and to encourage student participation. In an interview with The Augustinian, Eric Divinagracia, director of Student Affairs and Welfare Office, opined that the new constitution is clearer in terms of structure and Augustinian identity as it carries the seven Augustinian advocacies. It also integrated into the whole structure the Local Governments, which were separate when the different colleges had their own, with a uniformed agenda. “In the old constitution,
it [was] permissible to monopolize power [in which] a person could consolidate [it] in the Government by having his own people from just one college run with him [in the] supreme council. [In] the new constitution, it was solved with equal representations – three Senators per college, whereas in the previous, anyone could run from a different college,” explained incoming Student Government President Martin Ortiz and one of the framers of the 2019 USASG Constitution, adding, “We had legal advisers to this matter namely Atty. Noel Sinco and Atty. Perla Gauzon. We also heard insights and opinions from Ms. Gian Bermudo, former USASC adviser and Dr. Sonia Daquila, Foreign Service and Political Science academic supervisor.” “Written in my position paper, which I had submitted to Mr. Eric Divinagracia, I placed emphasis on the necessity to create a compact and unified student government, in which the political structure of the former USASC cannot provide. In our case, the Student Government observes a federal form of government, meaning, these college councils are extremely supreme and powerful in their own spheres,” expressed Ervin Gedmaire Caro, incoming vice president internal and USASG constitution framer, in an online interview. “The existing framework of the USASC has become obsolete as we progress. Recently, the University has introduced to us the seven Augustinian Advocacies. The existing framework, if kept and be filled with officers who are unaware of this, cannot promote these advocacies as well.” Caro emphasized the reform’s major points: 1) the Basic Education Department (BED) membership composed of the Grade School, Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS), 2) Student Representatives Assembly, having habitually failed to convene for such purposes, abolished and replaced by the Senators from each college, 3) centralization of funds and form of government for efficient task delegations, 4) intensifying proper information dissemination, and 5) equal representation. “In addition, the committee also anchored on the ACE Principle: A – Augustinianize, C-Centralize, and E – Equal
Representation,” said Caro. However, Caro stated that due to legal matters in the University and also the change in administration by the year 2020, the membership of the BED was put on hold. “Ideally, [the plan] is to include the JHS and SHS, but then again when we tried to do it, there’s apparently, shall we say, resistance because it’s new but also there [are] higher complications. When I say higher complications, it’s not yet official but there are difficulties because the SHS and JHS, some of them are minors. Unlike us, college students, they still need to have consent. At least, that’s the explanation that they’ve given to us when we [went] there to Sambag [campus],” added Ortiz. Divinagracia also explained on the inclusions of the Student Government, wherein “the Student Government is a college organization, whose members come from the undergraduates, so that means excluding the College of Law, the Graduate School, and the BED. Since others are looking forward to being part of a more unified government, there are those who felt that they are better and more efficient if they are an autonomous government. Particularly since they are underage and they have their own specific agenda and their own political culture, the Student Government did not impose.” ONE WAY TICKET One of the evident changes in the 2019 USASG Constitution is the structural change. In contrast to the previous structure, it is stated in Article VI, Section 3, that “The University Student Government will be composed of the President, Vice President Internal, Vice President External, Executive Secretary, Deputy Executive Secretary to be ticket elected at large by the national body, and Senators, to be elected locally by their respective College Student Governments to represent their College to the University Student Government.” “Their participation is ensured. So we move from just being ‘allowed’ to ‘ensured’ because if it’s ‘allowed’, it is possible that they won’t run or be elected in their desired position but if ‘ensured’, there will be reserved slots for them to represent their college in [the] National Government. Whereas, in the old constitution, it’s possible that majority of the members of the student council is from a specific college,” said Ortiz. In addition, the popular voting method was changed to ticket electoral system. In simpler terms, if the president of a political party wins, all of his executive members also win. “The reason why we, the framers, came up with this idea is to protect and promote effective
strategies in keeping equal representation in the USASG. Also, it’s a strategy in which there should be two parties (which Martin and I really wanted to happen), and candidates will be compelled to get running mates from other colleges in order to win,” said Caro. Ortiz explained that this also served as a safety method mechanism. “Ideally, if there is an opposing party, the rational thing [to] do is that I would find other members of my party from other departments so that [I can] maximize my support from departments as well right? That is to prevent the scenario that the President’s executive cabinet is also from his own department as well,” said Ortiz. Divinagracia also explained that the system aims to secure unified working relations within the Student Government. “If you elect the president, you elect the rest of the ticket. In the same manner as you elect the president in the US, you elect the president, you elect also the vice president. In the Philippines, if you elect the president, you separately elect the vice president. Sometimes the problem is, if they come from two different parties, there is no unity in the country. You select the ticket, however, that is balanced by the Senate. You are also giving the executive the opportunity to choose people that he or she can trust, who will eventually work, who have good working relationships with him or her. That remains to be seen, what’s going to happen, on how they will manage the whole thing. But if you look at it as of the moment, there is one party. In the future, there is a possibility that there will be different parties.” AUTONOMOUS BUT NOT INDEPENDENT Unlike the previous constitution where colleges can establish their own governments, Article VI Section I of the new constitution states that there will be two divisions: the University Student Government and the College Student Governments. The USASG will act as the national organ while the College Student Governments as local organs to represent their respective colleges. Also stated in the Section 3, Article VIII, “The University Student Government vests the College Student Governments local autonomy to maximize their functions and discharge their duties and responsibilities.” Caro explained that despite the established hierarchy, the colleges are still independent and need not the approval of the National Government for their projects. He also added their budget need not to be approved and approximated by the Government. “They [can] keep creating their projects, activities, provided these are in consonance with the activities of the USASG National Body and are not contrary to established laws – institutional, organizational, local, and national,” said Caro. Divinagracia clarified that the Local Governments have fiscal autonomy. “The Local Governments can actually have fiscal autonomy, in the sense
Data from the USA Student Commission on Elections 2019 that they have the authority to get membership fees from their respective members, just like in the previous Government. The National Government has a separate budget from what I understand. They will have fiscal autonomy with their own funds, but with regards to the national fund, they need to propose to the Senate. That’s why they have Senators who represent their respective colleges and who will determine where the Government is going and what its programs are going to be.” However, Ortiz said that the college Governments will have autonomy to govern their respective colleges but they are no longer independent. “They will still function just like before but not as independent councils themselves. That’s why we have the ‘One Government, One leadership, One goal’ because it’s one big Government now... There’s only one Government, the USA Student Government. So they are autonomous but [are] not independent,” said Ortiz. MISSING PIECES The Augustinian interviewed some of the student leaders of the University regarding their level of awareness regarding the constitutional change and their participation in the plebiscite last February 27. Erico John Magabilin, vice president of Political Science Republic shared, “I am fully aware of the constitutional changes made by the Student Council. I believe that the newly approved constitution paves the way for a progressive representation of the welfare of the students... The number of students that participated during the plebiscite was a clear manifestation that changes are underway in the University.” One thousand fortytwo students voted yes in the plebiscite out of 1, 219 who voted and 6,244 legible student voters. Jan Alvin Banias, and Zainab Julie Safdar, vice president of Academics of Junior Philippine Institue of Accountants and fourth year representative of the Nursing Council respectively expressed that they were not fully aware of the revision of the consitution and they did not also participated in the plebiscite. On the other hand, Nikka Marie Jalandoni, president of Psyche Cell, and Janiel Alcalde, president of Sports Association of Managers and Accountants, said that they were fully aware of the constitutional changes but wasn’t able to vote in the plebiscite. Lemuel Ben Belasoto, former vice president II of Epsilon Alpha Chi of College of Technology, in an interview with The Augustinian shared, “This (the results) indicates a massive dissonance between the thrusts of the student ‘government’ and that of the student populace. The leaders are out of touch with their constituents. Two hypotheses can be be inferred:1. That voter education is poor.2.
That voter participation is poor. Either way, in the five years that I have been in the University the student elections have slipped down a slippery slope into a popularity contest. The town and the gown have finally this in common.The students are obviously oblivious and apathetic of their government’s goals which are distant from their own. Perhaps it’s time that the government break free from their comfortable conformity with the status quo and the powers that be and maybe take notice of what their voters actually want.” Although clarifications regarding the plebiscite’s legitimacy surfaced since not all students were able to vote, Ortiz further emphasized, “We are a democracy. We respect the choice of the students to vote or to abstain. Just because not everyone voted it doesn’t follow that the plebiscite isn’t legitimate. As far as the former USASC Constitution is concerned, we follow the plurality vote. Therefore, as long as there are more ‘yeses’ than ‘nos,’ the constitution is valid. The plebiscite that took place is valid.” Divinagracia also added, “The constitution, once it’s approved by a plebiscite, the author becomes the people. Just like our constitution also, there was a constitutional commission who wrote it, but eventually, when it was ratified by virtue of plebiscite, it becomes now the constitution of the government of the people.” In the same light, Divinagracia also hoped that the community can “develop a political culture where we are more aware and we participate because we want to,” noting that the small number of votes in the plebiscite reflect a lack of information campaign, interest, or relevance among the students. The Augustinian tried to reach out to the College of Law but they have no comments regarding the plebiscite because according to them they are an independent council. Despite the efforts in revamping the Constitution, one major subject was not given enough emphasis – freedom of information. In the old constitution, matters on financial reports were tackled on Article IX - Funds. Specific and clear dispositions regarding transparency on financial reports and project allocations are no longer found in the new constitution. The adjustments caused by the transition will soon be felt, and at this point, we will have to wait to assess if this constitutional change would either stimulate the students’ political mindset to take part and contribute, or would just sharpen its focus to frustrate the true will of the electorate. The challenge for the new Student Government is quite straightforward, but it thrives to meet the end “for Augustinians, by the Augustinians, and of Augustinians.”
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Philippines
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sports feature WVRAA still at third place as 2019 Palaro enters final stages
FILE PHOTO • PANAYNEWS.net
by glaiza rae d. amable
ON THE RUN. The Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association(WVRAA) athletes lead the running events during the 2019 Palarong Pambansa in Davao City.
Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Blue Barons continue to solidify its hold of the third place behind the National Capital Region Athletic Asssociation (NCRAA) and Southern Tagalog - Calabarzon Athletic Association (STCAA) during the 2019 Palarong Pambansa in Davao City, April 28 to May 4. The WVRAA made a big splash as it retained its overall rank amassing 46 gold, 55 silver, and 53 bronze medals, out of individual and team regular sports disciplines. “In the history of Palaro, Western Visayas for several times has been a perennial challenger/contender of the NCR in the coveted championship crown. Western Visayas has been and always been a source of raw talents to represent the Philippines in the international sporting area,” emphasized Assistant Secretary Revsee Acuña Escobedo, urging the athletes to perform better. Blue Barons’ tracksters
Trexie dela Torre and Jamela de Asis scored major wind after wrapping up 5.77 meters and 12.30-meter heave, shattering two Palaro records in secondary girls long jump and secondary girls shot put, respectively, while high-jump queen Alexie Caimoso of Iloilo hiked her gold medal as she successfully defended her title in the 110-meter hurdles secondary girls. “I expected to win the gold but not that kind of record kasi mababa ang jump ko. May back injury kasi ako after the 110 meter hurdles,” Caimoso said in an interview with ABS-CBN News. Elsewhere, the WVRAA’s
secondary boys football team added another accolade after Jamie Rosquillo and Gerhard Jens Moreno successfully gave 2-1 victory over the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA), however the secondary boys basketball team bowed out of contention after losing in the quarterfinals to NCRAA, but this was overshadowed by The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts-represented secondary volleyball team as they made it to the finals after half a decade of trying. “We are happy that we will be able to improve our finish last year but we know that we
The 180-board flip: From the streets to Asian Games From the streets to the bigger arena, a Cebuana teen chases the pavements, her dreams, and bigger opportunities with her skateboard.
SOURCE• SPORTS.INQUIRER.COM
by JEFF G. TOLENTINO
Margielyn Didal, a native of Lahug, Cebu City unleashed an outburst emotion which her body mirrored into a dance. Her clouding vision on a sunny afternoon at Jakabaring Sports City Skate Park brought her to the realization of her feat. A once skateboardless girl dreaming in the streets of her hometown conquered the summit of the Asian Games women’s skateboarding division. Roll Back On Bare Streets Didal’s journey to the gold didn’t go with a flick of a skateboard. In her early career, Didal’s mother saw her passion as something a girl should not
do. Confined within gender-set barriers, she managed to hone her skills at the Concave Park in General Echavez street which served as a haven for her and her dream.
“At first, I was against her (Margielyn) will of engaging to skateboarding because it is a dangerous type of sports. However, I cannot do anything about her decision because she fell in love with it and she enjoys skateboarding,” shared Lito Didal, Margielyn’s father, in an Interview with ABS-CBN. With her new-found playground, Didal learned the language of the trade. She nabbed the opportunity to practice by borrowing a skateboard from her friends. Saving fifty pesos for rent from her earnings in helping her mother with their little merchandise and by selling newspapers, Didal knew what challenges lie ahead. Persistent and determined, everyone seemed to chip with her developing talent. “The first time that I tried riding a skateboard, I felt comfortable. After a week which is also my second time to ride the board, I managed to do a trick that would tak six to one year of practice to exhibit,”shared Didal in another interview. Death Wobbled Momentum Performing for the love of the game, competitions and
will have a tough opponent. Nevertheless, we will just give our best and hope for a positive result,” said Assistant Coach Biboy Calamba prior the game. Furthermore, WVRAA also claimed silver medals from Mary Ledel De Guzman in espada y daga arnis and taekwondo jins Red Roncal (featherweight) and JV Anthony Villaron (middleweight) while bronze medalists include athletics’ Mark Roy Bartolome in 400-m dash, Renato Marfa in 110-m hurdles, Kennard Alarba in 100-m dash and Edraline Celestial in 1500-m run, and gymnast Lennon Chiva, Walter Petipet and Riger Randera in team event.
fame sat at bay. Little did she know, she was riding a death wobble towards the top. What others thought to be just another normal girl dreaming in the bare streets of her hometown would go through curves, aerials and flips to land on the ground with her dreams intact. “Everytime that I want to try a trick, despite several falls, I couldn’t be more happier each time I land perfectly.” Conquering heights in winning local street skateboarding competitions in her hometown while slowly earning her parents’ support, Didal’s milestone of having her very first skateboard was a makeshift. The wheels, deck, grip tape, trucks and some other parts were contributed by her friends. With their hopes in her potential, they skated away with the security guards on the run to chase chase after them. “When we skate on the streets, we always get kicked out. Security guards would sometimes cock their shotguns just to tell us to leave,” shared Jeff Gonzales, and older statesmen of Philippine Skateboarding and Didal’s friend on an article on ESPN 5. On her rise to fame before being invited to the 2018 X Games Minneapolis Asian Games in Indonesia, Didal competed in a street league skateboarding in London, the largest skateboarding competition in the world where she bagged the eighth place against other countries. She was also the first Filipina to be invited to represent
USA PUB infographics • romari charlz f. diaz source • PANAYNEWS.net
the Philippines in the women’s street skateboarding category in the Asian Games. However, on 2014, she suffered an accident which nearly sealed her career. “After I fractured my collarbone, I stopped and that’s when I was cut off from my sponsorships.” To Greater Heights Coming back from a major stumble of her career, she started training for the Asian Games. Packed with raw talent, dedication and a steadfast dream, Didal was not set to conquer greater heights as the Asian Games caliber. “We have a fighting chance but we cannot settle just like that. We have to be better,” said Monty Mendigoria, president of the Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines. Driven by the hopes of all Filipinos behind her back and the voice of all street skateboarders who were considered nuisance of the street, Didal paved a way for ESPORTS
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but experienced teams, such as TNC Predator and Execration, that they are ready if they may be selected as representatives. “I think we are the number one Philippine team, the whole Filipino roster [is] the same team that has competed [against players] on the top of the world,” said Paulo Sy, manager of TNC Predator. “Oppurtunity na naming ‘yun pero kailangan pa rin
a different perspective. Along the way, she was able to bring honor to the Philippines. Didal eventually clinched the Philippines’ fourth gold medal on the Asian Games. Taking the game with head on confidence, she is constantly throwing her arms air and dabbing with her supporters. With swift and clean maneuver of her tricks, the game was decided. Capturing the moment, she raised both hands in praise with her tears clouding her vision. “I hope my gold medal victory could change the perception of the public on skateboarding. We need their support. I hope they don’t arrest us on the streets,” Didal shared in an article published by The Manila Times. Didal now aims for 2020 Tokyo Olympics training to conquer greater heights of her career. It’s going to be the big goal in my life to get that gold medal,” Didal concluded. naming mag sikap. Siyempre, nakatingin sayo ang buong Pilipinas kaya kailangan gawin mo lahat na makakaya mo para manalo,” said Bill Alfonso, Mobile Legends Team leader of Execration. The SEA Games, a biennial regional multi-sport event, will take place from November 30 to December 10, 2019 in the Philippines but the venue for the eSports competition of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games is yet to be announced.
Augustinian the
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Volume LXV • Number 4 May 15, 2019
Volume LXV • Number 4 May 15, 2019
sports
CLASH OF COLLEGES. Aspiring taekwondo players of various colleges in the University grip tight to their goal of dominating the game with their lower body strength during the Intramurals. USA PUB PHOTO • daniel jeff c. telic
Bound for Nationals USA jins to represent Western Visayas in National PRISAA
BLOOD AND SWEAT. Sean Kristine Doce gets emotional after her fight at the taekwondo women’s competition kyorugi category and earning a gold medal for the ILOILOPRISSA team during the WVPRISAA 2019. file PHOTO • jcl visuals by emy rose g. gallego Competing against four provinces across the region, the University of San Agustin (USA) taekwondo women’s team beefed up the Iloilo delegation in nabbing the championship title during the 2019 Western
Visayas Private Schools Athletic Association (WVPRISAA) Meet taekwondo match held at Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, March 2-6, 2019. Iloilo netted 30 golds, 12 silver, and six bronze medals in the poomsae and kyorugi categories.
“The reason that we’ve won is our prayers and by helping one another. We all know that our sport is not a team event but whether we will win or lose, we have one another. The difficulties that we encountered became our motivation and we use it as our strength, not as a weakness, maybe that is why we succeed,” expressed Sean Kristine Doce, gold medalist in kyurogi. Despite the lack of facilities, the team clinched its first championship in the Iloilo Private Schools Athletic Association (ILOPRISAA) last November as it has been long dominated by Central Philippine University, hence making it to be the representative of Iloilo in the whole region. “We are fortunate because our coach has a close friend who has a taekwondo gym, so our athletes practice there. They do not know about this. So that’s the secret that we have. Though you cannot see them practicing here in the University, why we excel is because we find ways and means so that our athletes could practice and give pride to the University,” Demosthenes Toledo, USA sports office director, told The Augustinian in
an interview. Doce admitted that aside from training late at night, their biggest challenge is the gaining and losing of weight. “Even though your stomach is really full you need to eat more and also some of us starve and thirst ourselves to achieve the weight we needed. It’s not easy to train with an empty stomach but we need to do it, “ shared Doce. Winning golds were Doce, Ma. Jessa Paz Ortega, and Pave Rynel Bero, while finishing with silver and bronze medals were Charmae Sarduma and Scarlet Valencia, respectively. “Our key secret that we became the champion is our desire and determination to win and the fact that we consider ourselves as Augustinians, we are molded to become humble. I am telling them not to lose hope despite of the limitation the University has, you are still privileged that you have the chance to represent the University. Though you cannot be seen here practicing, show to our administrators and to our students that you are worth to be considered as champions in your own field, in your own endeavor,” Toledo added.
SEA Games feature first set of eSports
GOING DIGITAL. Alan Peter Cayetano announces the addition of Esports in the upcoming 2019 SEA Games during a press conference at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. file PHOTO • the Philippine News Agency by KENT LEXTER B. CO “SEA Games is about sports and competition but still we cannot forget about its goal of unity and inclusion. Gamers are part of this community,” said Alan Peter Cayetano, Philippine SEA Games Organizing
Committee (PHISCOG) chairman. The (PHISGOC) and its eSports partner Razer announced the first set of eSports titles last November 18, 2018, showing the world that the SEA Games are not limited to athletes. “We are working with all involved publishers and partners
to lock down the titles within the next few weeks, and look forward to watching the region’s best esports athletes face off in the arena next year,” said Ramon Suzara, PHISGOC executive director. It will be the first time that eSports will be contested as a
medal event in a multi-sport competition sanctioned by the International Sports Committee. The games to be played are Dota 2 and StarCraft II for the PC, Arena of Valor and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on mobile devices, and Tekken 7 and one unannounced game, for the console. “In the three weeks since we announced eSports as a medal event at SEA Games 2019, we’ve seen a phenomenal level of interest from all segments of the industry, most of all game publishers. The shortlisting of six games in such a short time is evidence that the notion of Esports as a legitimate sporting event is no longer a fad,” Razer Co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan stated. As of now, there are currently no announced representatives for the eSports esports
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Republika ng mga Talangka PETRICHOR EMY ROSE G. GALLEGO AB Pol Sci ‘22 Scan code to send an email reply Sa gitna ng mga ugong-ugong ng pagkansela ng Pilipinas ng pagho-host nito ng 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, iginiit ng Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) na ang kanilang paghahanda para sa darating na Nobyembre ay tuloy na tuloy na at wala ng atrasan. Matatandaang noong 2017 ay muntikan ng bitawan ng bansa ang hosting rights nang ito ay maipit sa kasagsagan ng digmaan sa Marawi, subalit ito nama’y matagumpay na isulong. Nitong nakaraang buwan ay nagsimulang muli ang gusot nang umano ay may namumuong hidwaan sa pagitan ng mga sports official bunsod ng mabagal na pag-usad ng mga paghahanda at limitadong pondo. Sa isang artikulo na inilabas ng Rappler noong March 23 hinggil sa press conference na ginanap patungkol sa nasabing palaro, inihayag ni Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman ng PHISGOC na crab mentality ang ugat ng mga isyung naglulutangan kaugnay ng nakatakdang pag-host ng bansa. Saad niya, “Kapag everyone wants to do something great and then kapag naayos na, hihilahin ‘yung iba pababa. Everyone’s so passionate sa sports but you have to come to a consensus and a decision one point at a time. Hindi naman sampu kayong magde-decide, ‘yung siyam, um-oo na tapos susundin mo ‘yung isa.”
“Nakakahiya mang isipin ngunit totoong namamayagpag na sa pagkatao ng mga Pilipino ang pagiging utak talangka.” Nakakahiya mang isipin ngunit totoong namamayagpag na sa pagkatao ng mga Pilipino ang pagiging utak talangka. Katulad ng kilos ng mga alimasag kapag ito’y mahuli at malagay sa balde ay isa-isang naghihilahan pababa, para lang maiangat ang kanilang sarili patungo sa itaas at makawala. Hindi tuloy makatakas kahit ang isa sa kanila. Ang ganitong pag-uugali ay nagsimula pa noong panahon ng mga Espanyol nang pinagsabong-sabong nila ang mga Pilipino upang sila’y magkawatak-watak. Isang hamon para sa pagdaos ng SEA Games ang pagsailalim nito sa budget cut ng PhP 5 bilyon mula sa PhP 7.5 bilyon na mungkahing pondo na inaprobahan ng senado. Ilang buwan na lamang ang bibilangin at ngayo’y nasa ilalim pa ng rekonstruksyon ang mga pasilidad at pagdadausan ng laro. Nahihirapan din ang mga atleta sa kakulangan sa mga pasilidad sa pag-ensayo. Hindi lamang matagumpay na pagdaraos nito ang hangad ng Pilipinas kundi ang makamit ang kampyonato na huling nakuha nang pangunahan din ng bansa ang SEA Games noong 2005. Ito ay isang oportunidad upang maiangat ang imahe ng mga Pilipino sa larangan ng isports at dito rin masusubok ang ating pagkakaisa. Ang masasabi ko lang sa ating gobyerno ay sana isantabi muna ang mga personal na hidwaan at ipokus ang atensyon sa nalalapit na aktibidad. Subukan nating magtulungan upang makatulong at hindi para manalo sa labanang walang halaga. Araw-araw, halos ang mga balita sa telebisyon at sa radyo ay tungkol sa mga pagtatalo at pamimintang sa mga sesyon sa senado. Dagdag pa rito ang mga anomaliya na ginagawa ng mga kandidato tuwing eleksyon. Ang paninira sa kalaban ang usong pamaraan ng pagkampanya. May pag-asa pa bang magbago ang mga Pilipino? Bakit hindi? Pilipino rin ang nagpa-uso ng bayanihan. Ipalagay mo na lang ang kahihinatnan kung ang mga alimasag ay nagpatong-patong para makadaan sa kanila ang kapwa alimasag at kung hinila naman sila ng mga nakatakas na alimasag pataas para makalaya din sila. Ang tagumpay ng isa ay tiyak na tagumpay ng lahat.