tWS 2022-2023 7th Issue

SU declares climate emergency

SU ROTC Corps of Sponsors sets up food kiosk, targets incarcerated and orphans as beneficiaries

by SHAY DU

THE CORPS OF SPONSORS of the Silliman University Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (SUROTC) opened a temporary food kiosk at the Ausejo Hall on Nov. 17 to raise funds for their Christmas outreach program.

Beneficiaries of the program include the incarcerated people at the Dumaguete City Jail and the orphans of the Casa Esperanza of Angels Foundation.

The kiosk opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m. on all weekdays except Wednesdays.

Earnings from the kiosk will be used to buy hygiene kits and clothing for the incarcerated people, while the children from Casa Esperanza

will receive food. The Corps of Sponsors also planned to organize programs for the beneficiaries.

“Since it’s a Christmas activity, I think there’s going to be forms of entertainment there and prizes even,” said Lynnette Layon, president of the Corps of Sponsors. “Just to bring smiles [to] their faces.”

While the fundraising this time around is for the Christmas outreach, the initiative may continue next semester.

The Corps of Sponsors also intended to implement more projects throughout the rest of the school year.

Layon expressed that while these projects cannot be revealed yet, she hopes the public will stay tuned for the organization’s future events.

The fundraising will end on Dec. 2. tWS

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY (SU) became the first university in the country to declare a climate emergency following the university’s Board of Trustees adoption on Nov. 11.

SU President Dr. Betty McCann said, “When I was approached by the environment committee of the student government, it came spontaneously because it flows from our own Silliman environmental principles, policies, and guidelines.”

She said that the declaration confirms and strengthens the university’s environmental principles, policies, and guidelines.

“For so many years, Silliman University has believed in this phenomenon, but declaring it out in the open is also a way for us to embrace the responsibility of doing something more for the climate changes happening to us,” she added.

SU further committed to mobilizing more resources for action-oriented climate change education and service learning.

Dr. McCann saw research as a means to uncover practices that need to be changed or modified and implement new practices to support the recent climate emergency declaration.

“You are a resource, we can mobilize student groups, faculty, staff, and administration to be involved in projects and research related to climate change,” she said.

The university’s service learning program aimed to achieve specific educational outcomes through the integration of classroom theories and community-based projects.

Through this, students can select service opportunities from various causes such as

environment, marine conservation, farmers and fisherfolk, health, and community empowerment.

Dr. McCann described the university’s program as community engagement activities initiated in the academic division.

She shared, “When students are brought to fishing communities… they get to understand more about overfishing, about the need to have artificial reefs and making sure areas declared to be marine sanctuaries are protected so that life in the sea would continue to survive.”

Before the declaration, SU also installed solar panels, implemented a Zero Waste strategy to reduce waste, and declared SU as a wildlife sanctuary as part of its Environmental Principles, Policies, and Guidelines adopted in 2018. tWS

SU Celebrates UCLEM, F2F Galilean Fellowship Returns

by NATHANIEL CARAMPATANA

SILLIMAN

UNIVERSITY celebrated the University Christian Life Emphasis Month (UCLEM) with the return of the face-to-face Galilean Fellowship on Nov. 15 and 17 with the theme “#GLOW: Grow as Learners, Obeying the Word”.

After a two-year absence, the University Spiritual Life Council (USLC) partnered with the Religion and Peace Studies Department (RPSD) in facilitating the Galilean Fellowship.

Galilean Fellowship Head Facilitator, Paean Taripe, stated that the reason behind the partnership was for easier mobilization and dissemination of deliverables and activities.

by ALLIANAH BOLOTAULO

SU students showcase their poster for Galilean Fellowship Photo courtesy GabrielAnjeloTo,SUCC

Pres. Betty McCann explains university's environmental principles, policies, and guidelines | Photo courtesy Francis Pabiana

Safety First

EDITORIAL

The campus beside the sea, Silliman University (SU), is known as a Christian institution housing a student population of over 10,000. It is to be expected that with a large campus and student body like SU, appropriate safety measures must be a priority.

With the security systems set in place in Silliman, the school is deemed to be safe and well-protected. Upon entry, the university requires a validated Silliman ID from any student, faculty, or staff to enter the campus, along with self-generated QR codes that facilitate contact tracing. Security guards are also stationed at every gate and entrance.

But with the recent cases of theft popping up all across the campus, one may question if this claim still holds true.

Among those that fell victim to the theft cases is a grade 11 student who lost Php 7,000 when she left her bag in the classroom for her physical education class.

Another victim of these rampant theft cases is a college freshman who had Php 2,000 stolen when she left her wallet in the comfort room.

When asked what the freshman would like to say to the thief, she said, “May God bless you wherever you are right now. May you be filled with awakenings and realizations.”

Both victims expressed their wish for SU to add video surveillance cameras along the hallway to prevent similar cases.

Editor-in-Chief

One of Silliman’s missions is to be a Christian institution that commits itself to “total human development for the well-being of society and environment.” The presence of thievery or any misconduct amongst the Silliman community goes against the very principles that the university holds itself upon.

The aforementioned victims are just two among numerous theft cases within the supposedly “safe” university.

We from the Weekly Sillimanian call everyone in the Silliman community to reflect upon one’s actions and remember to uphold the values a true and proud Sillimanian embodies. We are all working individuals trying to make it through the fast-paced and ever-changing world of today. This status quo calls for togetherness – not disharmony due to criminal or detrimental activity.

Moreover, tWS also calls for Silliman University and the Campus Security and Safety Office to consider adding video surveillance cameras along the campus hallways to better monitor and capture perpetrators should any more crimes occur in school.

Although the tightening of security measures such as adding video surveillance cameras can prevent cases of misconduct from occurring in the halls of Silliman, the action must come from within for true change to happen. tWS

Nathaniel E. Carampatana Feature Editor

Sheikha

Klodia

Nina

Stefan R. Saldon

Allianah

Natania Shay S. Du

Mary Reyshel P. Repe

Longing

WINONA JANE C. AGIR | Adviser, tWS

Do you miss someone? How do you cope with longing? How does it feel? How long will it take for you to be okay?

During every Christmas season, there is a certain longing I will always feel. I often find myself down, sickly, and lacking during this time of the year. It has been five years since I lost my light and best friend – my mother. I lost her during the most joyous month of the year, December. Some might think I should not feel this way anymore because it has been five years already, but it is really a different, difficult, and heavy feeling whenever I hear the word December.

In an article by an assistant professor of psychiatry and director of the Statistical Modeling Core of Women’s Health Research at Yale, Paul Maciejewski, yearning is a significant aspect of grief and is a feeling that mainly reflects the absence of a departed loved one.

It is a longing for reunion with someone who died, a heartache because of an incapability to reconnect with the person. He added that a person may cognitively accept that their loved one died but may still long for them and feel the pain of grief.

Yes, I already accepted the fact that I no longer have a mother. I no longer have someone who cooks delicious meals at home whenever I feel tired and crave a home-cooked meal. I no longer have someone I can rely on and talk about anything because she always has her ears open for me. I no longer have someone I can hug whenever I feel like life is so hard on me. But accepting it does not mean I no longer yearn for my mother’s care.

There may be different forms of longing and ways to cope with it. An effective coping mechanism for me is acknowledging what I feel. Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist

who was a former writer for Verywell Health, stated in an article that acceptance only means letting your emotions out and letting them be without trying to suppress or change them. It denotes that you know what you feel, and you accept that these feelings exist and will not last.

Whenever I start to yearn for my mother, I accept my feelings and do not deny them.

For anyone with a longing in their heart, it is not a weakness to feel that way. Embrace and acknowledge that feeling. It is okay to feel a certain kind of yearning if you have lost someone or something. As Susan Cain once said, life is more moving and richer when we learn to accept pain, bittersweet feelings, and sadness. Life is not always all about victory, happiness, and good times. There may be bad days, defeats, or sorrow. Accepting every good and bad feeling can help deepen our relationships and connections to people as it improves our sense of humanity. This could help people be empathetic to others.

To

Meme

or Not to Meme: How Memes Shape Our Culture

Memes are used in a staggering array of contexts today. They can act as conversation starters, assist you to resolve a problem, prove a point, and they can also help us connect and feel like we belong.

Memes have long been a darling among internet users, but they are increasingly used in everyday interactions. They are commonplace, not just on 4Chan and 9GAG, but also inside jokes and threads. Memes also aid in leisure as we browse and put off doing things while trying to avoid reading upsetting news. They allow users to express themselves through skillfully remixed text, image, and video templates.

However, memes also have a serious aspect. They can cross cultural boundaries and create shared identities among individuals. They are a language in and of themselves. These shareable visual jokes can be effective vehicles for political subversion, societal influence, and even self-expression.

Memes can also give a glimpse into the lives and perspectives of the generation they are intended for.

The use of dark humor and the lightening of serious subjects through memes is a prevalent theme among younger generations. For them, memes serve as a coping strategy. It is not surprising that young people have learned to cope with negativity by using humor that explores darker subjects, some of which other people would find far too serious to be humorous.

Earlier memes, in contrast, are lighter or more ludicrous, as evidenced by well-known older memes like the iconic “I Can Haz Cheezburger” cat. Gritty comedic relief has replaced broad pleasant humor in humor, reflecting the harm being done to young people’s mental health owing to a variety of circumstances.

With online communication, language and communication have also shifted away from the vocal accompaniment. Although some younger generations may have trouble having in-person conversations, they are skilled at communicating online, evidenced by their growing capacity to express themselves more fully without the usual limitations imposed by textual communication.

The reason for this is that younger generations are more adept at understanding the subtleties of internet slang than they are at distinguishing between different voice tones and body language.

Some aspects of meme culture have caused ripples in our actual social networks. After all, every meme has a creator who intended to post a viral message, whether for amusement or persuasion. Meme culture is becoming more nuanced as it spreads throughout society. Memes today make references to many different aspects of society and use a variety of media.

Memes can reveal a lot about the worldview of the younger generations, but understanding them requires knowledge of the generational differences in memes. Memes today are very different from memes that were popular just a few years ago, demonstrating how quickly culture is changing.

Memes may appear to some to be a lighthearted aspect of internet humor, but in reality, they reveal much more about our culture than just what young people find amusing. The creation of memes can provide insight into the true extent to which culture is changing around us.

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) 4226002 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.

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Feature Writers

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LEA KATRINA P. CANIZARES | Writer, tWS

bestsellers

of su farm

by RAY DONAIRE

As an institution that advocates food security, programs and establishments under the Silliman University College of Agriculture (SUCOA) thrive on campus. SUCOA students and staff work hand-in-hand to produce quality agricultural goods that they are able to sell to the public.

Curious about SU Farm’s best produce? Rafael Nepomuceno, a faculty member and the acting farm manager at the college shared some of the five bestsellers at SU Farm:

1.

Eggs.

Considered one of the staple foods, eggs make up the population’s diet. As eaten regularly—even daily, it is becoming a major supply in agricultural production. At SU Farm, a tray of 30 would cost around Php190-250 varying with the size of the eggs from small to jumbo. This product is mostly purchased by some students, local neighborhoods, and even foreigners.

2. Chicken.

Rich in protein and with several ways to cook to your taste, chicken poultry is a huge investment in the agriculture business. The SU Farm delivers chicken products to some local business stalls in Dumaguete City.

3. Milk Products

The SU Farm keeps dairy cattle for milk production.

HIMIG SA

dalampasigan

by LEA CANIZARES

Sa dalampasigan, kiliti ng haringaraw sa ‘king nakaarkong labi ang bumungad

Tinutunaw ang nanlalamig na puso dulot ng kanyang mga sinag.

Kagaanan habang nagpapaanod tungo sa katarikan ay aking naramdaman

Bagama’t ang mga paa’y nakatali sa libingan.

Nanatiling nakayapak sa mapipinong buhangin

At ninanais na marinig mula sa ‘yong dila ang awitin.

Subalit, tinatangay ng hangin ang mga liriko sa ‘king kamay Iyon pala’y awit na ‘di pa kinakanta.

Pinagmamasdan ko ang maliit kong hakbang sa dalampasigan

Habang naglalaho ang luha ko sa ingay ng mga along nagpapalitan.

At ang lahat ng patak nito ay sumusulat ng maririkit na awit

Isang makabuluhang mensahe ng lumbay at pag-ibig.

Ang pag-ibig ay isang musikang binubuo ng dalawang pusong nagmamahalan.

Ang pag-ibig ay isang musikang nanatiling matatag kahit sa malamig na kalagayan.

Among the notable programs of the farm is the distribution of milk products for School-Based Feeding Program around the province of Negros Oriental in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). Aside from that, the SU Farm also supplies milk to hotels and shops, such as Don Roberto’s Bar & Restaurant for breads and pastries.

4. Vegetables

Garlic, Ginger, Green Chili, Onion, Potato, Silk Squash (Patola), and Tomato are some of the vegetables marketed at SU Farm. These are fresh and relatively cheaper compared to the ones sold in the public market. The farm also offers wholesale retail prices which attracts the businesses around the province.

5. Piglets

With the increasing quantity of pigs, the SU Farm is receiving a good demand in swine production.

5

Nepomuceno quoted that during the pandemic, the farm was not able to continue its swine production due to strict border restrictions, but now that it has lifted, it is expected that by January the operation will resume as wide in public.

Nepumuceno said that the SU Farm ensures not only the quality of agricultural production, but also its affordability in the market—a mission that is truly in the service of societal needs.

In the Philippines, a country that mostly relies on its agricultural sector, it is important to highlight the importance of our farmers who feed the masses. Their work is no mere job, but a profession that requires years of experience. Beyond that, the vastness of opportunity in the field of agriculture is limitless.

“The development [of] technology in agriculture is very fast, so there [are] really a lot of things in store for certain agriculturists,” Nepomuceno added. tWS

Eco-friendly alternatives for college students

by DAWN TIAOSON

Humans are said to be one of the most advanced beings to exist on planet Earth throughout the millennia. They have the ability to understand and comprehend. They can think rationally and weigh for themselves the consequences of their own actions. Accordingly, the logical responsibility to protect and preserve the environment is imposed upon them.

However, this particular moral obligation has been neglected. The deteriorating health of Earth is a longterm problem to animals and humans alike, and it is critical to act now. At this point, alerting people to the numerous problems regarding plastics, waste, and unsustainable practices is far from enough to do justice—but united consistent efforts and shifts towards sustainable alternatives can.

A reevaluated personal university lifestyle is necessary in the effort to reduce carbon footprints. Unlearning standard practices ingrained by social culture and profit-minded corporations can steer humanity against compromising the health of the environment. For ‘tired and broke’ college students this is easier said than done, so here are 5 simple and convenient alternatives to help take a preliminary step towards environmental conservation:

1. Benefit from reusable cups.

However satisfying it is to walk around the campus while holding a logo-stamped single-use cup from a coffee shop, one could opt to bring outcome of reducing waste that will end up in landfills and help keep the environment cleaner and healthier

2.Bring a towel/ handkerchief with you.

Retouching one’s appearance, refreshing, or simply wiping sweat away, does not need to produce

waste. Face towels and handkerchiefs are not just reusable, they are also a cheaper option in the long run. Wet wipes are made of microplastics, which are a non-biodegradable product that clogs water systems and affects marine animals such as sea turtles, among others.

3. Walk or ride a bicycle more often than taking a pedicab.

Walking instead of paying for a pedicab ride is not just a form of saving money and exercising , but it also helps in reducing air pollution. The decrease of carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles helps in addressing problems regarding greenhouse gases.

4. Bring your own water bottle.

Plastic water bottles are singleuse and contribute to waste pollution as they are non-biodegradable and have a hazardous production process. Bringing your own water bottle is an advantage. Not only does it keep your drink cold or hot, but it also eliminates additional payment for a purchase of bottled water every time you are thirsty.

5. Carry eating utensils and lunch boxes with you.

A take-out lunch is especially common for students for reasons of convenience, time-saving, and the lack of seating space where they buy food. Take out containers are usually single-use, and both plastic and paper containers are

harmful because they emit massive amounts of pollutants during production. Bringing your own lunch box and eating utensils will eliminate the need for single-use containers.

These are just a few of several simple steps in securing an environment that would still be able to sustain life a hundred years from now, the journey can

start even at the grass root levels. Earth is everyone’s home and responsibility, and the consequences of humanity’s unlawful actions are now far beyond prediction. It is imperative to recognize the role of humanity as “Stewards of Nature,” and be reminded that as the environment is protected, so is the very existence of humanity. tWS

sillimaniansspeak

Bryll

Next Issue's Question: Were you satisfied with your first semester back in campus? For your answers, just text Rainne Nocete (0998-555-7391). Indicate your full name (with middle initial), course and year.

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

"How do you feel about Silliman being the first Philippine university to declare a state of climate emergency?"

“I felt proud and indifferent at the same time when i saw that SU was the first to declare climate emergency.”

“As a Sillimanian and a strong youth supporter for climate response actions, I feel extremely proud and honored that SU spearheaded a call for action. This shows everyone that we are serious in taking action to address climate change. This decision is a reflection of the awareness of SU and its stakeholders that everyone should be responsible for a more environmentally-aware Philippines.”

Crissan Charles Doit Bantaya | BS Political Science II

Mr. and Ms. Silliman International crown China and Russia as winners

by STEFAN SALDON & REYSHEL REPE

the advocacy she had chosen.

She shared that as a member of the younger generation, it was important to demonstrate that she and her peers all have their ideas on how to improve the quality of life for everyone.

He explained how identical the respect and friendliness he received from Filipinos is to the humanitarian sense of the Chinese greeting.

Ms. Russia, Elizaveta Usacheva, and Mr. China, Yao Jiangang were both recognized as Ms. and Mr. Silliman International after competing with three other candidates from the United States and South Africa, each presenting their advocacies.

Usacheva and Jiangang presented their advocacies on the importance of freedom and expressing oneself without judgment.

“Freedom of speech is very important, not just for my country but for every country,” Usacheva said as she stated her reason for supporting frompage1| SU celebrates...

“The RPSD was a big help especially…in requiring students to participate because they really need to have that as an experience,” he said.

Taripe also added that banners displayed near the amphitheater were a part of their requirement for the students’ Reading and Interpreting the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures classes.

Aside from making banners and joining the discussions and services,

“And freedom is the most essential factor that will help us do it,” Usacheva concluded.

Moreover, Yao advocated removing the barrier between the different cultures, especially for local and non-local students.

“We never say that any country’s culture is good or bad,” Yao added. “But we can say, we can learn something from other people.”

Yao shared his message with a piece of Chinese culture. “Chinese people will say ‘Have you eaten?’ when they meet someone.”

the UCLEM and Galilean Fellowship served as an appreciation and application of the spiritual message.

He also said that although the UCLEM has a religious aspect, it does not limit nonbelievers from celebrating the event and invites them instead.

“This will really become an inspiration to you as a Sillimanian, especially since our university promotes whole-person education and part of that is the spiritual aspect, the spiritual health,” he said.

Miss Silliman 2022, Angelica Faith Generoso, expressed her sentiments in working alongside the crowned Mr. and Ms. Silliman International in the future.

“If given the chance to really collaborate with Mr. and Ms. Silliman International, it would be a very great experience knowing that we will be able to merge very big minds,” Generoso said.

The International Cultural Exchange was previously a variety show where various countries showcased their culture on stage. The show was later transformed into pageantry in 2006. tWS

Nicole Villarin, one of the attendees, commended the efforts of the USLC in successfully organizing the fellowship.

“For two years, there were no physical gatherings for the Galilean Fellowship. It was as if Silliman lost one of its trademark events of the year. Now that it’s back, the team behind it deserves recognition. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing students gathering and discussing the word of God,” she said.

Moreover, Shay Du, another attendee, stated that the Galilean Fellowship gave her the chance to share her thoughts on her faith and learn about others’ spiritual experiences.

“Regardless of our individual beliefs, we were able to connect to each other on a more personal level through our varying experiences of faith. Not only did this help me build relationships with other people, but it also gave me an idea about what the wider Silliman community is like – one that strives to help each of its members in their own personal struggles,” she said.

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Taripe then advised Sillimanians to not be intimidated by the church and instead, embrace the opportunity and be more active, especially during the UCLEM.

“You don’t need to be converted to Christianity or believe in our faith, but we should at least appreciate and involve ourselves in the religious activities of the university,” he said.

The USLC will be organizing another Galilean Fellowship in the second semester and will focus on the senior students of the university.

MISTER AND MISS Silliman International contestants took initiative to show the importance of freedom and culture during the International Cultural Exchange 2022 held at Silliman Hall, last Saturday.

Yao Jiangang (black tux) and Elizaveta Usacheva (white dress) as Mr. and Ms. Silliman Internat'l Photo courtesy PhilipLeiDicen,SUCC