tWS 2022-2023 14th Issue

SHS urges Admin to complete SHS building

by RANJIE NOCETE SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY (SU)

Senior High School (SHS) principal

Kemmons Kilat urged the SU Administration to complete the SHS building for the next school year due to the lack of classrooms.

“We have parents and students already complaining. I am fervently praying that the completion of the entire building will be by June-July [at] the latest,” he said.

Kilat said the building’s completion date was supposed to be in August 2022, which was then moved to November 2022.

On the delay, he said, “Silliman should have asked the contractor or compelled the contractor to finish on time.”

Meanwhile, Jane Belarmino, vice president for development, enterprise, and external affairs, said the delay was due to a “conglomeration of many things.”

These factors included community quarantine, weather conditions, design changes due to a change in layout, various structural revisions to the water tank, the final location of the septic tank, and revisions in the structural design, said Belarmino.

She said that they were practicing “due diligence” to ensure the safety of the building.

“The administration is really very sensitive to the needs of the students, but…things like buildings that are supposed to be strong, be safe, well designed…It doesn’t happen overnight,” she said.

Belarmino said that she cannot set a date for the building’s completion since “the contractor has also not promised a specific date.”

West wing

The west wing of the building is 95 percent complete, according to Belarmino.

She said that the contractors are processing a temporary building permit so it can be used “hopefully” before the school year ends.

However, Kilat said that using the west wing while construction is ongoing is “not advisable” because of “security concerns and safety concerns.”

“They will build a tunnel

Continuedonpage4

Masscom holds first Mr. and Ms. Pageant

by STEFAN SALDON

COLLEGE OF MASS COMMUNICATION (CMC) carried out its first-ever Mr. and Ms. pageant to select their representatives for Mr. Hibalag and Miss Silliman, respectively.

Before its two-year hiatus from said pageants, CMC selected its delegates through appointment, said Sophia Angelique Garzon, cochairperson of Mr. and Ms. Masscom.

Moreover, Ms. MassCom 2023 winner Tyrashelvy Villamil said that choosing a representative in

CMC through a pageant allows a “fair selection” of representatives.

“This is a contrast to just assigning the role to one person while there are many aspiring candidates wanting to compete for the opportunity,” Villamil said.

Plans to establish an official committee for Mr. and Ms. Masscom are also set in motion as an addition to all existing Kapunungan sa mga Mass Communicators committees, according to CMC governor Garzon.

She said that a “sustainable” search will eventually be achieved once the committee

Library relocation curbs Galilean Fellowship

by RAY DONAIRE

THE SECOND SEMESTER’S Galilean Fellowship plans were affected by the relocation of the Silliman University library to the university gym, according to Paean Taripe, head organizer of the University Christian Life Emphasis Month (UCLEM).

UCLEM was supposed to be held in Ravello Physical Education Field near the university gym so that the latter could be used in case of a downpour, Taripe said.

Instead, he said that they gave colleges the freedom to choose their venue to ensure the “home vibes” of the fellowship.

“[Last Feb. 21], [the] College of Education had it [at the] Silliman Hall grounds [because the place gives the vibe],” he added.

With the theme: “Be Strong: Stand for Truth, in Reverence Obey and Cultivate your Faith in God,” the fellowship aimed to equip Sillimanians to be stronger once leaving the institution and be ready for real-world experience. tWS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE column

becomes an integral part of the council since organizers can better prepare for upcoming events.

The pageant is an opportunity to encourage action towards positive change, said Stephen Tiu, cochairperson of Mr. and Ms. Masscom.

“It’s also nice if they will support our candidate’s advocacy,” He added.

He said Mr. and Ms. Masscom is also a platform for maskomistas to express their advocacies.

Mr. and Ms. Masscom winners, Genno Gabriel Rabaya and Villamil advocated for women and queer safety, and children’s welfare. tWS

VOTING WITH PURPOSE

Stefan Saldon

Paean Dyree Taripe

Senior High School building design by the Silliman University Architecture Department faculty Photo courtesy SillimanUniversityWebsite

Voting with Purpose

EDITORIAL

The Double Standard in Valuing Virginity

STEFAN SALDON | Writer, tWS

I have always enjoyed reading Filipino romance books. When you read, you also can’t help but notice that apart from the other factors that influence a book— or any form of entertainment for that matter—there are cultural identities that linger. When I read Filipino romance novels, I notice that apart from Filipino jokes and references, there are also Filipinobased social constructs present in the text. I believe this is necessary, especially when targeting a certain audience, as it allows them to feel a sense of familiarity.

despite the male lead also being a sexually active person.

Exhibit C: Readers in the comment section voicing out their disappointment because the male lead isn’t the female lead’s “first,” without any questions asked whether the female lead is also the male lead’s “first.”

the idea becomes unacceptable, and society expects the woman to be taught and reminded of the essence of protecting her “pagkababae [femininity].”

This flawed idea is heavily spread in the country, and even up to this day, where the present is in a continuous shift to modernization, this perception is still alive—in real-life settings, in television shows, and even in romance books.

With Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) elections just around the corner, it is essential that we, as a student body, take the time to evaluate the candidates running for office as well as the current student leaders.

Student leaders have a tremendous impact on campus life, from organizing events and activities to advocating for policies that affect the students’ Silliman experience. They represent the student body in meetings with the SU administration and are responsible for making sure their voices are heard.

A recent opportunity for students to partake in evaluating student leaders was a survey conducted by the SUSG Students’ Rights and Welfare Committee to gather feedback on conducting a separate survey to “assess the effectiveness of the college governors and identifying areas where improvements can be made.”

As students, we owe it to ourselves to make informed decisions about who we want to lead us.

Being informed means taking the time to research the candidates’ platforms and track records. It is important to know what they stand for, what their priorities are, and how they plan to achieve their goals.

Voting for the most popular candidates or for the party with an appealing campaign while

being uninformed demeans one’s right to vote. Critical thinking and research skills need to be utilized in deciding which individuals have the skills and the dedication to do their jobs, and do them right.

Evaluating the candidates also means asking tough questions. Students should be willing to challenge their ideas and ask for clarification on their positions. It is only by engaging in a dialogue with the candidates that we can get a sense of who they are and what they stand for.

We from the Weekly Sillimanian believe that voting is not the end of our responsibility as students. Once leaders are elected, they need to be held accountable. This includes attending meetings and events and providing feedback on their performance. Now more than ever, it is crucial to assess the individuals whom we entrust our present and future to, and to continue to create and push for constructive criticism and evaluation so that elected officials hold true to their campaign promises.

SUSG elections are an essential part of college life and should be taken seriously. By being informed and evaluating the candidates, we can ensure that we are choosing the right people to lead us, thus, ensuring that we are taking an active role in shaping our college experience. tWS

sillimaniansspeak

“ Jeepneys are not only synonymous with our tradition but also with our transportation. Removing these vehicles will not only hurt the tradition of our country but also its people. The Jeepney Modernization Program was made to modernize jeeps not to phase them out. The removal of jeepneys will sting but its pros further outweigh its cons. The only problem it has is the way it is being implemented, if the government wants the people to cooperate then it should help its people, not fight it.”

Kenneth Galagaran | 12 STEAM

Next Issue's Question:

What do you think of the sportsmanship in Intrams 2023?

For your answers, just text Rainne Nocete (0998-555-7391). Indicate your full name (with middle initial), course and year.

Editor-in-Chief Anna Avery T. Zapanta

Associate Editor Ranjie Mae C. Nocete

News Editor Nathaniel E. Carampatana

Feature Editor Ivan Anthony A. Adaro

Web Manager Sheikha A. Encabo

Business Manager

Klodia Reese M. Gabaya

News Writers Paul Ray G. Donaire Stefan R. Saldon

Allianah Junnice F. Bolotaulo Natania Shay S. Du

Filipinos, both culturally and socially, have been “conservative” people. Virginity, for example, is valued heavily. Now, this wouldn’t be a problem if one values his or her virginity. But what makes this concept a flaw among Filipinos (and perhaps even in other parts of the world) is the double standard present and the misogynistic and patriarchal tendency in the perception of this value that shoves this notion only towards women.

Let’s go back to the romance book statement and associate it with valuing virginity based on my personal experience as a reader.

Exhibit A: A sexually active male lead and an innocent virgin female lead as a common pair in Filipino romance books

Now let’s move on and see the lack of the audience’s familiarity when reading a romance book because it doesn’t line up with what they were taught about valuing virginity.

Exhibit B: Readers who refuse to read a particular book because the female lead is a sexually active woman, and yet these are the same readers who are hyping another romance book

In a 2018 study of the “Valuation of Women’s Virginity in the Philippines,” results show that 60 percent of respondents said that a woman being a virgin until she gets married is very important. On a qualitative account of this study, male participants reasoned the importance of women’s virginity as a gift offered to men. Meanwhile, female participants expressed concern about their husband’s opinions when one is not a virgin anymore.

The problem with these statements is the words “gift” and “husband,” because the highlighted idea is basically “to please their husband,” a statement we don’t often hear said the other way around.

Around 66 percent of women disapprove of men having sex before marriage, and only less than half of men (45 percent) also feel the same. With the interviews conducted, results show that men being virgins are ridiculed and considered shameful in contrast to a woman’s virginity, which is highly valued.

When we hear about men who are sexually driven and active, one of the overused excuses for their behavior is that they are: “Lalake man gud [It’s because he’s a man],” or “Natural ra na kay lalake man [It’s natural because he’s a man].”

It seems that society itself is obliged to adjust to a man’s “natural” behavior. Whereas when it is a sexually driven woman,

Habakkuk's Complaints and Our Cry for Justice

PAEAN DYREE TARIPE | Master of Divinity - Junior

In light of the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on March 4, 2023, and the continuing impunity and merciless killing not only in the province but even across the country, this reminds us of the time of Judah when the city of Jerusalem was finally captured by Babylon where corruption, political instability, and violence ruled over. This happened years after the sudden and untimely demise of King Josiah who was considered to be the best of the very best among the kings of Judah.

Witnessing all of these at that time was the prophet Habbakuk whose own book begins with a series of gut-level complaints to the Lord and demands immediate answers to the injustices beholding before him. His cry could also be similar to us as recorded in the following verses:

Habakkuk 1:2-3 says, “How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife and clamorous discord.”

God responded to Habakkuk’s cry for justice in verse 5, “Look over the nations and see, and be utterly amazed! For a work is being done in your days that you would not have believed, were it told.”

Unsatisfied with God’s “vague” response, Habakkuk then replied as if intending to put God into a corner within his own traditional faith understanding in verse 13. “Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil, and the sight of misery you cannot endure. Why, then, do you gaze on the faithful in silence while the wicked man devours one more just than himself?”

Like Habakkuk, we are already fed up with the unresolved killings and impunity in our country; like the prophet, we cry for justice and we question God who is supposed to reward the righteous and punish the wicked automatically. In his earnest longing for an answer from the Lord, he declared that he will keep on waiting for the divine reply at the guard post.

Habakkuk 2:1 states, “I will stand at my guard post, and station myself upon the rampart, and keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what answer he will give to my complaint.”

For Habakkuk, the guard post became a symbol of waiting for the answer of the Lord to his own question of meaning and faith, then the Lord replied to the prophet, saying, “Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, and it will not be late. The rash man

This biased concept frustrates me because of how completely idiotic and baffling it is. A woman shouldn’t be confined within a ridiculous societal expectation when the other gender is free and isn’t heavily guarded with the same notion. If you expect a woman to value her virginity, why can’t the same assumption be made about men?

More importantly, degradation is another factor associated when a woman does break this “value.” It seems that a woman’s worth is questioned and even looked down on, whereas a man who breaks the same value remains unaffected.

To end this, I must say again that I don’t have any problem whatsoever with both men and women who do value their virginity, and I completely respect if one does wait until marriage. My rants and opinions are only aimed at the unbiased and visible double standard of valuing virginity. I say, if you let a man roam around breaking this value without any consequences, I believe women should be allowed to do the same. And I say, when women are expected to value their virginity, I assume this applies to men as well. Degrading a woman just because she failed to value her virginity or shaming a man just because he is still a virgin is not the kind of society that I want to live in, and it is surely not the type of community I expect to progress.

has no integrity; but the just man, because of his faith, shall live.”

It is in this theme of faithful, righteous waiting for the completion of the work of God despite the terrible times that Habakkuk makes his greatest contribution to the prophetic tradition of Israel and was not lost even during the time of Jesus and the beginnings of the church as developed by the Apostle Paul and the Protestant reformers later on.

In conclusion, Habakkuk becomes a source of one of the most profound expressions of a faithful response to a faithshattering reality—a reality that shocked the people of Negros Oriental and a reality that will forever scar the province. As we still process these faith-shattering realities, we send out, as one Silliman community, our sincerest condolences to the family of the late Governor Roel RagayDegamo, a Sillimanian, and the families of the 5 other victims who died together with him.

Let this passage in Habakkuk 3:17-19 strengthen and comfort us that even in the midst of apparent hopelessness and barrenness, there is a stubborn hope and rejoicing in the Lord: “For though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines, though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment, though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord and exult in my saving God. My Lord is my strength; he makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights.”

Feature Writers Keisiah Dawn T. Tiaoson

Lea Katrina P. Cañizares Nina Isabelle J. Alolod

Photographer Francis Ryan B. Pabiania

Cartoonist Lady Lynn W. Aplicano

Social Media Manager Rainne C. Nocete

Graphic Artist Rainne C. Nocete Julianne Rissa P. Gabriel Layout Artist Jarixa E. Balbuena Adviser Winona Jane C. Agir

the Weekly Sillimanian is published every week by the students of Silliman University, with editorial and business addresses at 1/F Oriental Hall, Silliman University, Hibbard Avenue, Dumaguete City 6200, Philippines, SU PO Box 24. Telephone number (35) 422-6002 loc. 243. www.facebook.com/tWSillimanian weeklysillimanian@su.edu.ph

Opinions expressed in the columns are those of the columnists and not of tWS or of Silliman University. Comments, questions, and suggestions are highly appreciated. All submitted manuscripts become the property of tWS. Manuscripts will be edited for brevity and clarity.

What are your thoughts on the jeepney phaseout?

Compiled by Rainne Nocete | tWS Social Media Manager/Graphic Artist

To Give Her Flowers

This 2023, National Women’s Month is placing an emphasis on gender equality and inclusive society from this year to 2028. The theme is titled “WE for gender equality and inclusive society,” wherein WE stands for Women and Everyone highlighting the role of women themselves and everyone in pursuit of gender equality. This makes for an important reminder to recognize past and present women’s successes in society due to the instances in history wherein women’s contributions have been overshadowed.

Take Monopoly for example: it is one of the most played board games of all time, and it is credited to the Parker Brothers. Not many know that it was actually Elizabeth Magie Phillips who came up with the original inspiration for the game. Furthermore, the first computer program in the world was written by Ada Lovelace in the 1840s long before the first computing machine was ever invented.

It is ironic that most of these fields have now been attributed to men. The gaming industry–be it digital or physical–has been geared towards men, and the tech industry is found to be male dominated as well with the likes of Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Jack Ma and many others. With this, we now redirect the spotlight on several

notable women from Dumaguete and their respective contributions to society.

Poet, fiction writer, and literary critic Edith Tiempo first comes to mind in regards to this subject. Not only did she found Silliman National Writers Workshop, but she has also won several awards for her works including but not limited to the National Artist Award for Literature and the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

Another literary figure would be Elsa Martinez Coscolluela, a Silliman University (SU) alumni, who won sixteen Palanca awards in the field of drama. Her best known play “In My Father’s House” was first produced onstage in 1988 and its popularity has reached overseas in San Francisco, New York City, and Kyoto.

Kitty Taniguchi, SU alumni and modern and contemporary artist, has also marked her name in the art industry with her solo exhibitions at Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ayala Museum, Pinto Gallery, and at the Mariyah Gallery. Drawn from her own experiences, Taniguchi’s work touches on themes of femininity which challenges

local zine, which are small circulated, self-published original works, titled “Lutong Baybay” featuring beloved seafood recipes from Dumaguete was created by women from six different fishing communities. This zine was a response to the controversial 174-hectare reclamation project and served to put a face to the communities whose livelihoods were threatened by the project.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report, it would take 132 years to reach gender equality worldwide with the current rate of progress, in which the global gender gap is closed by only 68.1%. This instance urges us to continue our efforts for gender equality and women’s empowerment long after National Women’s Month passes. The relevance of such topics will continue to persist unless proper and effective changes are made. Acknowledging women’s accomplishments can be a good place to start, as it encourages for a more inclusive space that would further strengthen society as a whole. tWS

Cool for the Summer: Earth – Friendly Edition

by DAWN TIAOSON

The sun is most awake during these days–it is summer time! March to May is Philippines’ Summer Season. Before the pandemic, people usually spend their vacation with sand between their toes and gentle waves. However, summer is now composed of normal school days. No beaches, no mountain-climbing, and no staycations, just tests and papers to submit. In Silliman, the campus beside the sea, the heat seems impossible to beat.

It is natural during summer time to crave for cold drinks, sunscreen, fancy treats, and things to help forget the burning skin. But, students must still keep in mind their environmental responsibilities even during summertime.

Here are some recommendations to achieve a guilt-free summer fun:

1. Use a Non-chemical Sunscreen. Sunscreens contain harmful chemicals that pollute the environment and somehow do harm on the human skin. Though a typical sunscreen do protect the skin, ingredients like oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate, and parabens are actually not the best option. Mineral protections with ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are way better for the skin, and for the environment.

Unti-unti

Up Dharma Down

“Tagpuan at Buod ng mga Pulo”

2. Choose fresh air over airconditioning.

Air-conditioning harms the environment. It uses a lot of energy and is responsible for 3.4% of greenhouse gas emission annually. Its energy consumption creates pollution in the form of trapped gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Additionally, it causes a great increase in the electricity bill.

3. Prepare your own cold drink.

Buying cold drinks from stores and coffee shops is usually convenient, and preparing your own drink sounds like a lot of work. Making your own drink on the other hand means using reusable bottles and containers. It is also a great idea to invite friends over to help you make a smoothie, or just prepare one for each of them too. Besides bonding with friends, you are being friendly to the Earth too.

4. Consider a beach clean-up drive: Find a friend with the same passion towards the environment, and organize a clean-up drive together! Beaches are home for many sea creatures, but as time

passes these places become more and more polluted. Plastic bottles, picnic containers, sunscreen residue, and many more. Start by collecting the garbage from the shore, and segregate them properly.

If this sounds like an enormous job, consider setting an example through making visual representations of how to segregate your wastes and put it beside the beach’s disposal area.

5. Do not hoard swimwear.

Buy only if necessary. Hoarding swimwear, beach clothes, tank tops, and all other types of clothing is unsustainable. Too much clutter becomes impossible to keep or clean, and will result in disposal. Plus, the carbon emission of fast fashion production is of great concern.

This summer fun, fashion, and skincare are essentials but so is the proper response to the call of being a responsible individual. Maintaining, preserving, and protecting the environment in our little ways favour not just humans, but also the other species. tWS

by DAWN TIAOSON

Paano hinubog ang pagsintang Kaakibat ang walang hanggan?

Maaring hubog sa mga matang nangungulila sa kumot O buhat ng mga labing nakasimangot --Ngunit may kislap sa bawat sulyap At indak sa bawat halik at yakap.

Wariin mang ika’y kayumangi’t ako’y maputi O ako’y makata’t ika’y mang-aawit --Sa yaman nitong lahi, tayo’y iisa Sa lawak nitong daigdig, karangalang ika’y makita.

Kuwento sa timog iyong binaon, Epiko sa hilaga kaniyang ipinaksa. Kendeng sa kanluran bukas ay hahatawin, Dito sa silangan, bawat isa’y yayakapin. Bagamat tayo’y iisa sa lahi’t, anak ni Ina, Luha mo’y lungkot ko rin, maging tagumpay ko ay atin.

Mata mo’y salamin ng aking kaluluwa. Higit ay ‘di nais kung kayo’y kinulang

At sa bagyo, sakuna’t unos, Puso’y tumataba sa kaalamang --Tiwasa’y ‘di nanaisin kung ako’y nanlilimos.

Tagpuan ng pulo ang pagbabayanihan, ang pagkaka-isa Sa yaman nitong lahi, Katarungan, pagmamahal sa kapwa, at karampatan Ang buod ng buong ikinalulugod.

Up Dharma Down is a band from the Philippines. They have been together since 2004. The group incorporates influences from rock, trip-hop, electronica and post-rock to create a sound which stands out in the local scene. The band got the name from the word Dharma, meaning an aspect of truth or reality.

CHECK US OUT!

fb.com/tWSillimanian @tWSillimanian @twsillimanian twsillimanian.com

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You may send your 300-500 words opinion write-up to the Weekly Sillimanian email: weeklysillimanian@su.edu.ph. You are free to choose your topic. Kindly include your full name and a photo of yourself. Please submit in an editable file format. For inquiries, contact us through our social media accounts.

frompage1| SHS urges admin... there for the students’ safe passage. We’re seeing [them] using used materials from [Building and Grounds]... but I think the safety officer did not agree so, therefore, we do not use them,” he said.

SHS on delay

SHS council governor Ella Vasquez said that some SHS students were “disappointed” while others were “understanding” of the construction delay.

Like Kilat, Vasquez said the “deadliest deadline” would be this summer.

Moreover, Belarmino said that she hopes the rest of the building will be done before next school year but cannot promise a date because she “cannot control everything.”

As of writing, the SHS department, with around 1,700 students, attends hybrid classes and shares classrooms with other departments while their building is under construction. tWS

Schools convergence targets student network for zero-waste sustainability

by NATHANIEL CARAMPATANA

ABOUT 100 STUDENT leaders from schools and universities around Dumaguete City and the municipalities of Bacong and Sibulan were gathered for the discussion and promotion of zero-waste programs during the Zero Waste Youth Convergence 2023 at the Silliman University Hall on February 17.

The convergence, organized by the Zero Waste Youth Negros Oriental (ZWY NegOr), aimed to increase awareness among students on ways to observe proper waste management and environmental sustainability.

ZWY NegOr President Mark Krylle Paitan said, “We want to share zero-waste advocacies with them; that is why we are gathering them to help them jumpstart their zerowaste program in their schools…”

Paitan also emphasized the need to create a network of students and youth members from local sectors to ensure the project’s sustainability.

Moreover, Mercy Ferrer, a Community Zero-Waste advocate, said that waste management is a serious issue and that school

networks would help propel the progress of the advocacy.

“I think a network of kindred spirits like teachers, administrators, principals, and student government can come together and discuss what we can do individually. The local government should hear what the waste workers say because they are making their efforts, but they are not supported that much by their barangays,” Ferrer added.

Among the speakers of the green initiative were Paitan, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)Asia Pacific Executive Director Froilan Grate, and Kinaiyahan, Inc. President Leodegario Rosales, all imparting their knowledge on building “#SustainableSchools,” the event’s central theme.

The Dumaguete Women Waste Workers Association was also among the attendees. They presented their work on maintaining Dumaguete and Apo Island waste-free.

Aloha Santos, president of the association, said, “I am encouraging all the people to practice zerowaste to slowly eliminate the increased rate of plastic pollution not just in Metro Dumaguete but also in other communities.” tWS

UCLEM ends with call for youth empowerment

by SHAY DU

CHAIR OF THE United Church of Christ in the Philippines’ (UCCP) Negros District Conference (NDC) urged the youth to have “strength” in a time when “sin [makes people] miserable” during the University Christian Life Emphasis Month (UCLEM) for this semester.

Glynda Descuatan, also a retired media practitioner, gave the sermon for the event’s culmination.

Her message, titled “Strong in the Midst of a Storm,” emphasized the duty of the youth to “take an active part in the great campaign” against different “storms.”

She said these storms could come through personal and

social problems, such as disaster, persecution, or corruption.

To face these storms, she said that the youth must use the kind of strength that comes from a combination of actual power and an awareness of it.

She added that the youth need to use this strength to stand firm in their beliefs at a time when the lines between right and wrong are blurred.

Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) President John Christian Entrata made a similar call for students to “be strong” in the face of worries.

He said that the EDSA People Power Revolution, which was commemorated a day before the UCLEM culmination, should

remind students that “it is high time that we Sillimanians stand for the truth and keep holding the line.”

Descuatan and Entrata delivered their messages at the SUSG and All Organization Culmination Service that was held at the SU Church on Feb. 26.

This semester’s UCLEM celebration was focused on the theme “Be STRONG: Stand for Truth in Reverence, Obey and Nurture our Faith in God.”

Worship services and Galilean fellowships were also held during the said celebration, which started on Feb. 5.

Photo courtesy LocalUCCPchair(CourtesyofSillimanUniversityYouthWorship)