No. 21

115 years

TOWARDS A PROGRESSIVE CAMPUS PRESS VOL. LXXXIX NO.21 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018

EROTICISM IN LITERATURE: Assistant professor and author Ian Rosales Casocot entertains questions about his topic “Sex in Philippine Literature” in the Albert Faurot lecture last January 22 at the Audio-Visual Theater 1. The Albert Faurot lecture series is sponsored by the Culture and Arts Council and is now on its 12th year. PHOTO by Jill Silva

SU to increase tuition fee?

SUSG not consulted about tuition increase

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY administration will have to consult the student government organization first before a proposal on tuition increase is submitted to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as mandated by law.

Vice President for Finance and Administration Fe Marie Tagle said they had a meeting with the Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) before they submitted the notice to CHED to increase tuition.

However, SUSG President Allison Ladero said he and his executive committee do not recall, or have any records of, having a consultation with the administration about the planned tuition increase.

According to Article III Section 5 of the CHED memorandum on Consultation Process and Requirements, “All Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), public or private, intending to increase their tuition and other school fees for the ensuing Academic Year shall conduct consultations, as hereinafter defined and provided, with their student councils/

governments, and their faculty, alumni and/or non-teaching personnel associations.”

“If I remember correctly, we only had meetings concerning the SUFA issue back in July, and the student issues this month. Although a probable tuition hike would always be mentioned from time to time during those meetings. But we didn’t have a separate meeting solely focused on tuition hike consultation.

Maybe the admin had it with the previous SUSG administration,” said Ladero.

It is also stated in the memorandum under Article III Section 6.2 that consultation periods with the involved parties should be done before February 28 of the academic year prior to the year when the increase will take effect.

Vice President for Finance and Administration Fe Marie Tagle clarified that the administration is yet to consult the SUSG, faculty, and students this February regarding the projected tuition fee hike. “[The tuition fee increase] P4 has been approved by the Board

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY (SU) may increase tuition fee by 10 percent starting June 2018 according to an advisory by the university last Jan. 26.

The advisory stated that the possible increase is only applicable for incoming enrollees and college students who will shift to a different academic program.

“Students who enrolled in Silliman before June 2018 and remain in the same course or program by the new school year will pay the same tutition as before,” it stated.

SU Vice President for Finance and Administration Atty. Fe Marie Tagle said the increase is needed to sustain the

Chrisse Martha B. Gillesania News Wr iter

UNITED NATIONS marine scientist, Dr. Hilconida Calumpong, calls upon the people and the government to heed the warnings of scientists to start acting upon climate change.

“We cannot reverse climate change; but what we can do is we should not be denying what is causing all of these,” said Calumpong, who is also Director of the Silliman

Ray Chen S. Bahinting Editor-in- Chief

Jameela I. Mendoza News Wr iter improvement of learning facilities and services for the incoming school year especially for students under the K to 12 program.

She added there will be changes in the curriculum of the different colleges, and professional courses will also be altered.

Freshmen college students will have General Education (GE) courses on top of their respective majors, Tagle said. She

P4

People cause the hastening of climate change, says UN scientist University Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences.

She said the use of fossil fuels, bad farming practices and burning or incineration that emit gasses to the atmosphere are the leading causes of climate change.

Award-winning novelist talks about eroticism in PH literature

CULTURE EXCHANGE: Senior Business Management student, Cloie Avila (center) tutors Lee Myeongwon (left) and Kim Jeongmin (right) after a full day of classes.

Kim and Lee are part of the 64 student-delegates from Hannam University in South Korea. 42 are enrolled in the Intensive English Program by the Language Center of the English and Literature Department. Meanwhile, 22 are under the College of Business Administration and Linton School of Global Business in Hannam University. The program runs from Jan. 8 to Feb. 3. PHOTO BY: Gift Libby

added that these courses are different from the usual arts subjects in college, since they are integrative.

“So they will have math, technology, application... It’s a different thing (from the arts subjects before). The usual [arts subjects] that we had is now in Senior High School,”Tagle said.

As for adjustments, Tagle said the administration will be imposing additional fees like graduation and diploma fees to programs like the Senior High School (SHS), who now have their own department.

“Naa man sila’y courses that they have their fees, we’ll be imposing those fees. Example, they will be

Jameela I. Mendoza News Wr iter LITERARY PIECES centered on when the Catholic Women’s League eroticism or sex faced a backlash in 1930s took Alfon to court for her short story to 1950s due to Philippine conservatives, “Fairy Tale for the City.” said Palanca-awardee, Ian Casocot, The story talks about a young man’s during the Albert Faurot Lecture series initiation into sex. for Culture and the Arts last Jan. 22.

As a result, Casocot said that there “(Angela Manalang-Gloria) is a lack of eroticism in Philippine was supposed to win the Philippine Literature.

Commonwealth Literary Award in 1940, “No Filipino has made a name for but it was taken away from her because himself or herself in the (erotica) genre,” her poem (“Revolt From Hymen”) was said Casocot. considered pornographic,” he said.

In the confusion of distinction He added that even National between erotica and pornography, he said Artist for literature Jose Garcia Villa the two can be distinguished but can also was expelled from the University of the overlap.

Philippines for writing erotic poems “The shadiness of that overlap like “Coconut Poem,” which likened the frightens many writers and readers… But coconut to a woman’s breast. if you think about it, both erotica He also shared the story of Estrella and pornography are exercises in Alfon who was almost jailed in 1955 dealing with the human body,” P4

“These activities [are] hastening the changes in our atmosphere and that is really what’s causing climate change,” Calumpong added.

She said the increase of heat is logarithmic, meaning from 10 to 100 to 10,000.

She added that Earth’s temperature has already increased, and if the average annual temperature P4

Check Inside twsOPINIONS

EDITORIAL

TUITION HIKE

COLUMN

Hayaan Mo Sila Jameela I. Mendoza

2 twsopinions

the weekly sillimanian February 2, 2018

Tuition Hike

T

he strike that occurred last year raised our awareness on many facets of Silliman University (SU). While the Silliman University Faculty Association (SUFA) legally fought for what was rightful and just, students noticed a lot of disparity between what they paid for and what they received. This has caused a wave of justified complaints in social media and around the campus.

Just when the issues concerning the alleged anomalies regarding fees and tuition paid by students slowly came to a silence, a new center of discussion arises.

On Jan. 26, SU issued a statement saying that the university will increase the tuition fee by no more than 10 percent, effective June 2018. The increase will exclude those who are continuing students but will affect new enrolees and continuing students who will transfer to a new course or program.

This announcement has caused yet another stir not only within SU but also outside, especially in social media. All eyes are on the administration.

The Weekly Sillimanian (tWS) thinks that it is only fitting to look into where the increased fees will go before we make any accusations toward the administration.

Vice President for Finance and Administration Fe Marie Tagle explained that the manor recipient of earnings from the tuition increase will be the Senior High School and the K to 12 Program. Major changes will be made in their curriculum to ensure that senior high school students get the quality education they deserve.

Changes will also be made on the curriculum of the college students in coherence with the changes in the SHS curriculum.

The fees will also be used to upgrade learning facilities in SU. We have to take note that despite the donations and grants given to SU, there are some physical areas on campus that need improvements. The university cannot rely solely on donations to make such improvements.

We also have to take the university professors into consideration.

By June 2018, more teachers would have doctorate degrees. At present, many teachers in SU are title holders. It would only be fair to increase their salaries for the services they render. Our professors in SU are of high caliber after all.

Given all these outlets for the money, tWS relies on the administration’s responsibility to ensure that praiseworthy changes can be explicitly seen as effects of this hike.

As the ones that keep this university running, the student body should keep an open eye on all the shifts that occur in the campus— physically and metaphorically. tWS would like to espouse the importance of the students’ participation and willingness to observe events like these.

The student body should also meticulously keep an open ear to all news that goes around the campus and keep tabs on the plans and current projects of the administration.

It is okay to expect the best outcomes in terms of quality education for the next semester. After all, it is with your investment in this school that enables it to be better than it already is.

Nothing is too expensive when one can fully experience the worth that they paid for. tws

editorial

sillimaniansspeak Compiled by Miles Therese Granada, Circulation Manager

“How can Silliman help in solving the growing garbage problem of Dumaguete City?”

HAYAAN MO SILA GOLDILOCKS’ PORRIDGE Jameela I. Mendoza News Writer

They come in groups when they hang out in malls. Wearing their fake Supreme cap, fake Thrasher shirt, ripped jeans, fake pair of Yeezys or Vans Old Skool. They enjoy taking group photos at parking lots. When photos or videos of them are posted on Facebook, netizens begin the online shame parade in the comments section. “Cancer of the Philippines” is a usual comment, followed by “these jejemons destroyed street wear fashion.”

Their current favorite song, of course, is a tune familiar to most of us. The chorus starts: “Kalimutan mo na ‘yan, sige, sige, maglibang…”

A few weeks ago, the song “Hayaan Mo Sila” by rap group Ex Battalion went viral after YouTube removed the song’s music video because of a copyright complaint on the song’s beat.

Netizens were quick to accuse the group of being thieves with no originality, when in fact the group had actually bought the rights to

In my opinion, students should be educated first because they are the future generation. As I’ve seen, some don’t even care if their trash are properly segregated in the trash bins.

Jose Mari Pileo Ricardo BS in Computer Engineering -V

ME BEFORE YOU

For me, through proper education; with proper education and information dissemination, all good things will branch out. If more people are well informed, more can help to hopefully minimize or even prevent at most the growth of garbage here in Dumaguete City. I really do think that with that, we can help save the environment with respect to the growing population.

Daniel Mari L. Badon, BS in Biology-IV Silliman, being a well known and respected institution, can help promote cleanliness by having regular clean-up drives so that the institution may set an example and hopefully encourage others to join the clean-up drives as well.

Carmela L. Sindiong, Grade 12-STEAM Silliman can donate garbage cans to Dumaguete City because as I have observed, garbage cans are barely seen here unlike in other cities/municipalities.

Precel Faye V. Guerrero BS in Information and Technology -III

Next Issue’s Question: What can you say about the possible increase of tuition fee in the university this June 2018?

For your answers, just scan the logo on the left or text the CIrculation Manager (09759664662). Indicate your full name (with middle initial), course and year.

News Writers

Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor News Editor Features Editor Business Manager Web Manager Office Manager Circulation Manager

Ray Chen S. Bahinting Gresheen Gift M. Libby Sommer J. Buyante Carlee Cherokeeh T. Calingacion Jenievieve Ann O. Amores Jedidiah Jan L. Colinco Jasmyn Olmido Doreen Joan P. Lumayag Miles Therese P. Granada

Feature Writers

rent the beat from its maker. The problem was that the song started earning more when it became a hit among the masses, and so the owner of the beat demanded the group to buy full rights to the song.

This issue turned into a witch hunt, an opportunity for people who constantly ridicule trends among the masses to justify their pretentious elitism disguised as concern for OPM. The word “jejemon” had surely evolved. In 2010, it was a linguistic term to name the distorted typing and texting style that was popular among teens, which caused educators and grammarians to worry.

Then in later years, it grew into a subculture in Philippine popular culture. In 2018, however, “jejemon” or simply “jeje” is an adjective used to belittle the trends within the 6-culture of many teens from lower-income families. It has gone beyond merely poking fun and has become degrading, as it is often uttered with disgust. It is now a word synonymous to “cheap” and “ugly,” used by millennials in careless

LOST IN THE WORLD Irah Kaye R. Osumo Layout Artist

According to William E. Gladstone, “SELFISHNESS is the greatest curse of the human race.” For me, it is true.

People now seem to consciously and unconsciously put themselves first over other people.

When I was on my way to school, an accident occurred on the road near the airport. It was an accident involving a motorcycle and a car. The car made a sudden turn

Esther Micah B. Gillesania Chrisse Martha B. Gillesania Francis Ryan B. Pabiania Meilynne Gem C. Sonjaco Edna Lhou P. Masicampo Joevic B. Baclayanto Jameela I. Mendoza

to the right side of the road when a motorcycle behind bumped into it.

There was no blood, but what’s unpleasant about the scenario was that the car driver checked his car first for scratches and damages, rather than checking if the driver of the motorcycle was okay.

Is this kind of behavior normal? For the car owner, it might be normal, but for the crowd witnessing such action, it was insulting.

Criticisms on the car driver filled

Layout Artists Graphic Artist Cartoonists Photojournalists

Merell Lystra L. Recta Angelica Mae D. Gomez Margarita M. Delos Santos Kyle B. Reyes Adviser

abandon, unaware of its elitist tone.

Ex Battalion and their song became a laughingstock. Many people who had a different taste in music couldn’t believe this song was popular; and as sheep follow the herd, people continued to mock the song and labeled it as “jeje.”

This word has become a staple in millennial lingo, with people saying it’s just part of the typical Filipino way of harmlessly making fun of people, the same way we jokingly mimic the way conyos speak. But each time “jeje” is used to describe something from the masses and their interests—whether it’s Vice Ganda’s films, overrated pop songs, or their sense of style—the more it is ingrained among the privileged that they have the right to belittle the masses’ taste. After all, there is a difference between satire and being matapobre.

No one has the right to dictate what other people can enjoy, but criticism also cannot be avoided.

What can be avoided is perpetuating the “I’m better than you” state of mind by avoiding the use of degrading terms like “jeje.” It’s a fact of life that people like different things; better to accept this rather than subscribing to the elitist bubble.

Literally, hayaan mo sila (let them be). tws

the air, consequently.

Putting yourself first can make other people perceive you as a selfish and an arrogant person. We perceive people like the car driver as someone who is self-absorbed and who only cares for his own life and his luxuries, in that case, his car.

What we don’t realize is that if we are in the situation itself, we’ll also be guilty of acting like him. We’ll be prioritizing ourselves more than the people that are involved. Humans as we are, we cannot help it but to think of ourselves first. It is a fact and we cannot deny it.

In this world full of selfish people, would you choose to think of yourself first or to help others? tws

Irah Kaye R. Osumo Michael Diosim C. Endab Gloria Gem T. Lumayag

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 local 243.

Hervey Angelo F. Avenido Josh Parilla

https://www.facebook.com/tWSilliman/

Al Remuel B. Tubongbanua Hannah Diane E. Bengco Jill C. Silva Enrique Nicholas M. Bejar Dave Dianne O. Ludoc Celia E. Acedo

https://www.twitter.com/tWSilliman/ theweeklysillimanian.com 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.

Member: College Editors Guild of the Philippines

the weekly sillimanian February 2, 2018

twsfeatures 3

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION: Our environment is constantly changing. The influxes of natural disasters and environmental concerns are quite alarming. In this day and age, people need to be aware of what types of environmental problems our planet is facing.

Not Just a Deed but a Mindset Angelica Mae D. Gomez Feature Writer

lation and the increasing use of energy that places heavy pressures on earth and our environment, solutions will have to be found.

Environmental initiatives in Du According to the Global maguete Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives In the past years, local non(GAIA), Southeast Asia, with the government initiatives by GAIA, help of ASEAN, is considered Mother Earth Foundation, and War one of the world’s on Waste Negros Orienfastest growing tal (WOW-NOr) as well regions.

Unforas youth leaders from tunately, industrischools here have been alization and ecoworking non-stop in imnomic growth have plementing more sustaincome at a heavy able advocacies that will price: It has left the truly lessen the problems environment and faced by our environment. people behind.

“Solving Duma Going to a guete’s waste crisis remore local context, quires changing human for instance, in Mabehavior and one of the nila, the growing ways to do it is through and uncontrolled the youth. It is an enlightFerrer population adds Merci ened youth that can move Co-Founder, WOW-NOr to the problem. A their elders to change, lot people are misustain Zero Waste, and grating to Manila make it integral to the to find jobs and a place to live. culture for generations to come,” said However, the high cost of shelter Merci Ferrer, co-founder of WOWforces some of them to become squat- NOr. ters. Because of that, they live under Among those initiatives bridges, along river banks and beside would be practicing waste segregarailways. As the population grows, tion, reusing/recycling and installing pollution from these places became Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) worse. It causes floods because the in every barangay in Dumaguete drainage is blocked by trash.

City, the STRAW WARS campaign

Although we could never of Silliman University (SU) students stop the rapidly growing world popu- calling for resort and cafeteria owners

to do away with straws and the Plastic-Free Dumaguete, a beach cleanup held every Saturday.

The latter is an initiative started by twelve-year old Miguel Teves, a 6th grader at Southdale Integrated School. “As a Dumagueteño,

ernment Environment Committee Chair, said, “I believe that the best way to change the mindset of the people so that they will give more value to the environment is to show them that it is possible to live life with lesser or no plastic at all.”

young people are also the hope of good things to come. Young people have better access to information about the environment than their elders. They can introduce fresh ideas and outlook to environment-related issues because anti-ecological ways of thinking and behaving are not ingrained in them. A major reason why the youth ought to take the lead in protecting the environment is stronger awareness of the issues and a greater stake in long-term sustainability.

What now?

The point right now is to not feel defeated. Instead, we should have faith and a change of mindset because when we truly change our minds, the world starts to change, too. And this is where the hard work kicks in. What we need to do is to unlock the creativity and innovation that can turn us away from social and environmental disaster to a cleaner, greener and sustainable living. tws

It is an enlightened youth that can move their elders to change, sustain Zero Waste, and make it integral to the culture for generations to come.’’

MaSEAkap at MaSEApag na Batang Dagat Coastal Clean-up PHOTO FROM: SUSG Environment Committee Facebook Page

I don’t want to be passive about (the pollution that) I see,” Teves said.

In SU, the Environment Committee of the Student Government currently heads the “MaSEAkap at MaSEApag na Batang Dagat,” a monthly community outreach. It helps spread information regarding the petition to ban plastic bags in Dumaguete City, among other initiatives.

Julmar Misa, Student Gov-

The role of youth for a cleaner and greener environment

Future generations are so much affected by today’s course of action because concerns such as the depletion of resources, the loss of biodiversity and radioactive waste are everywhere and they will not go away in a snap.

Apart from having a greater challenge in the more distant future,

SOURCES: Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Zero waste helps solve city’s garbage woe, says environmentalist by Sommer J. Buyante A 12-year-old’s Cause by Esther Micah B. Gillesania Youth Participation in Effective Environmental Protection Posted on November 19, 2010 in Environment (https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2010/11/ youth-participation-in-effective-environmentalprotection/)

MICROINSURANCE:

Unpopular and Underrated Hero Financial stability can be hard to recover when lost through traumatic and unexpected events. Events such as sudden death and natural calamities can affect a family’s source of income by having them pay for the damages to be recovered.

In order to avoid financial instability from these events, it’s always a good idea to have an insurance plan in hand in order to successfully regain what the family has lost.

Although insurance plans can be useful, most of these plans can be pricey. A regular insurance plan may cost an average of P18,000 and not many can afford that. In order for everyone to be able to afford insurance, the Department of Finance introduced “microinsurance” The month of January is dedicated to the success of this product in the Philippine setting. Thus, its significance is worth knowing about. This product may help you or your family in the case of any unexpected event.

What is it and how does it work?

According to a YouTube video uploaded by the late Department of Finance Director Joselito Almario, Micro Insurance, is described as “the provision of insurance products and service that meet the needs of the low- income sector for risk protection and relief against distress and misfortune.”

In other words, microinsurance works the same way as a regular insurance plan, but on a smaller scale. A regular insurance plan costs about P 18,000 a month. This plan is expensive compared to a microinsurance plan which can cost about P 40 for four months. This is a much more affordable investment for those who cannot shell out too much money on an insurance plan.

In addition to it’s being affordable, it is also accessible.

Finance services such as “Cebuana Luhiller” and “M Luhiller” offer some microinsurance plans that cover accidents, fire, life, and health. These plans also have a maximum beneficiary limit of about 15,000- 20,000 pesos.

Kyle B. Reyes Feature Writer

Who can avail?

Anyone can avail for a microinsurance plan because of its affordable price tag and accessibility. This can be useful for those who work in the low income sector (jeepney drivers, farmers, etc.) and newly graduated college students.

The low income sector in the Philippines only receives an average income of about P6,000 a month according to the Phil-

PHOTO FROM: healthimpactnews.com

ippine Statistics Authority. This doesn’t necessarily help them when a large amount of money is needed as soon as possible. Microinsurance is in fact targeted to those who are part of the low income sector. This helps them keep the money that they earn and not shell out too much on medical or home rebuilding bills.

However, microinsurance is not just for the low income sector. Students who just graduated from college and are looking to have their own insurance plan can start with this. This way, they can stay insured without being bothered about paying for an expensive plan along with other expensive things they must play which include their electricity bill and the rent for their apartment.

This can be a good starting point until they have enough money to pay for a more premium insurance plan.

Why is it significant?

As mentioned earlier, microinsurance is not only a convenient plan but a helpful one as well. During Typhoon Yolanda back in 2013, about 100,000 microinsurance beneficiaries have been aided within the first three months. This was one the times microinsurance was needed. This was also where it started to show its popularity.

The Philippines has already made 31 million Filipinos get affordable insurance plans. Because of this, the country, along with India, has been recognized by the world as one of the few countries that offered this kind of insurance plan according to microisurancenetwork.org.

In honor of its success, President Gloria MacapagalArroyo signed Proclamation 1212, s. 2007 recognizing January as the “National Micro Insurance Month” in 2007. According to the proclamation, “all concerned government agencies instrumentalities… are hereby enjoined and encourage to initiate and participate in relevant and meaningful activities…” Activities would include training programs such as the 2012 Training on Micro Insurance Advocacy, and Advocacy seminars.

Microinsurance is a plan that has proven to be successful when it comes to its target clients. If only the government could give attention and aid to this idea, then most if not, all Filipinos won’t have to fear for their health, families, livelihood, education, and community anymore than they already do. Filipinos should have somewhere to rely on when things get worse and microinsurance surely will be of great help. tws

SOURCES: https://www.imoney.ph/health-insurance http://business.inquirer.net/204102/disaster-prone-ph-sees-rise-microinsurance http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2007/01/10/proclamation-no-1212-s-2007/ https://psa.gov.ph/content/filipino-families-poorest-decile-earn-six-thousand-pesosmonthly-average-2012-results-2012

4 twsbackpage RANDOMspace:

the

the weekly sillimanian February 2, 2018

Cradle of Artists. Dumaguete is blessed to have a community of artists. Bacause of their unique creativity, they deserve to have a spotlight wherein they can show the world that Dumaguete’s local artists have their own flair KITTY TANIGUCHI

A Sillimanian and a voice of the oppressed women, Kitty defines the power of women in the society on every masterpiece.

HERSLEY-VEN CASERO

JANA JUMALON ALANO

A Dumaguete-based visual photographer in his 30s, Hersley’s works reflect the human element and interactions, revealing reality in a subtle way.

A Dumaguete-based artist and singer-songwriter, Jana represents her travels and passion reflecting the scars and triumphs of life on every masterpiece

ASHER BEN ALPAY

A self-taught illustrator of Negros Oriental, Asher proved that he can compete with international digital artists around the world during the Hubbard’s Illustrators of the Future Contest.

Compiled by Merell Lystra Recta ,Feature Wrtier via A self-taught illustrator of Negros Oriental, Asher proved that he can compete with international digital artists around the world during the Hubbard’s Illustrators of the Future Contest.; http://hersleycasero.daportfolio.com/; https://arthubstudio.wordpress.com/artists/jana-jumalon-alano/; ttp://newsinfo.inquirer.

roundup having subjects like immersion. They will be charged for that,”Tagle explained.

Meanwhile, Tagle said the administration along with the SU Student Government (SUSG) will conduct another review of the costs next year to see if there is a need to adjust other fees.

“For the tuition, it’s an upward adjustment at this time. For the fees, it depends…So that the effect is zero

effect, you will have increase in one and decrease on the other. But there may be a requirement to increase some fees, depending on the review,”Tagle said.

With the increase of the tuition fee, Tagle said budgets for colleges may also increase depending on the number of enrollees and available resources.

Target enrolment While Tagle is sure the 10 percent increase in tuition can sustain the improvement of learning facilities and instruction, she said they still have to meet the target number of enrollees.

from page 1 SUSG... of Trustees. We gave [CHED] the information about it. In the same notice we sent to CHED, we told them we will do the consultation in February,” Tagle explained.

“If I remember correctly, we only had meetings concerning the SUFA issue back in July, and the student issues this month. Although a probable tuition hike would always be mentioned from time to time during those meetings. But we didn’t have a separate meeting solely focused on tuition hike consultation.

Maybe the admin had it with the previous SUSG administration,” said Ladero.

In Article III Section 7.2.1 of the

memorandum, a certification of the conducted consultation including objections made by involved parties and a list of officers of the student government are part of the list of six duly notarized documents that must be submitted to CHED before the commission’s approval.

Meanwhile, Tagle said CHED treats the tuition hike not as an increase, but as an adjustment since it doesn’t affect all students.

Tagle added they followed CHED’s protocol for tuition fee adjustment by sending them the notice..( by Chrisse Martha Gillesania and Jameela I. Mendoza)tws

SU...

from page 1

Award-winning... from page 1 Casocot said.

However, he said most people believe that what makes erotica stand apart is its “insistence on beauty” of the physical and emotional aspect of sex.

“If you have beauty in your literary piece, then that is erotica, not exactly pornography,” he added.

Psychologist Leon Seltzer, said Casocot, further defined the line between erotica and pornography when Seltzer said pornography’s aim is to gain profit from immediate arousal.

Casocot co-authored “Don’t Tell

SU makes comeback, wins “PICESiklaban 2017”

AFTER GIVING UP the championship last year, Silliman University Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (SU-PICE) stole the championship from archrival Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) chapter in this year’s PICESiklaban last Jan. 27-28.

“PICESiklaban” is the annual meeting between SU and NORSU Civil engineering students where they compete in sports and pageantry contests.

PICE-SU garnered 563 points, winning against PICE-NORSU with 451 points.

SU dominated men’s football, women’s basketball, table tennis, badminton and chess competitions;

PEOPLE..

from page 1

reaches 2 degrees (Celsius) higher, it will become irreversible.

“It would be like in a car nga closed ang window nga nagkainit then magkainit,” Calumpong added.

Carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gasses, she explained, are small particles that form a very thin film around the Earth just like a glass. So when the sunrays hit the Earth, heat—a long wave radiation—bounces back from the film and all the heat goes back to the Earth.

When returned to Earth, all the heat will be absorbed by the ocean causing its temperature to increase.

Anyone,” a collection of erotic short If the temperature of the ocean is alstories about gay and lesbian lives tered, its circulation also changes so does the wind patterns, she said. published last 2017, with Shakira Sison.

Calumpong said the ocean One of the challenges in writing drives the wind patterns that cause erotica, he added, is balancing “titillating prose and the need to propel a good typhoons.

“For example, if you go 30 destory.” grees North of the Equator, kanang While the stories in the book are hangin going north brings moisture. sexually explicit, Casocot said: “The best of literary smut are ultimately tales about If it goes back from the 30 degrees, it loving and about desiring, about being brings all that moisture and didto na human, about connecting and about niya ibundak dapit sa Equator that is losing. Most of all, these are testaments to why we are called Tropical Rainforest.

Mao ng 30 degrees above the equator, beautiful heartbreak.” tws naa didto mga desert kay wala naman silay ulan,” she explained.

However, due to temperature change in the ocean that causes change in wind patterns, the presprovides “Resilience Grants” that are ence of ocean-caused phenomena awarded to projects that seek relevant, such as typhoons becomes unprescience-based and demand-driven so- dictable, stronger and more extreme, lutions to help build climate disaster Calumpong added. resiliency.

“We are working very hard to reThe SU project, headed by adjunct duce the temperature of the Earth,” professor at Institute of Environmental she said. and Marine Sciences, Dr. Jorge EmOne way to reduce Earth’s rismanuel, aims to develop tools to un- ing temperature is to reduce the use derstanding resiliency and vulnerability of fossil fuels, said Calumpong, who of riverside communities. was awarded by the province as OutAlong with SU, De La Salle University also received a resilience grant worth P3 million during the ceremony.

However, as of press time, Emmanuel did not disclose the details of the SU projects funded by the said grant. (Chrisse Martha B. Gillesania)tws A STUDY BY University of Oxford says that a characteristic of “cyber troops” in the Philippines is using fake accounts to spread propaganda and also in both the men and women’s for President Duterte during the 2016 election and even now that volleyball and softball competitions.

They also won in the Frisbee he is in power.

Philippines is one of the 28 competition, eGames such as CS GO and DOTA 2 and in large barge making countries in the world that uses “cyber troops” to manipulate and egg-drop contests.

They also bagged the top price for public opinion identified in the PICE Got Talent, while fifth year SU study entitled “Troops, Trolls students Pj Credo and Livra Maine and Troublemakers: A Global Banquerigo were hailed Mr. & Ms. Inventory of Organized Social Media Manipulation.”

PICESiklaban 2018.

This study defines cyber “Silliman University won because all of us, worked together and troops as “government, military or prepared for the best, we [got] the best political party teams committed of the best players, participants, and to manipulating public opinion contestants. Basically, teamwork is over social media.”

Others on the list are the strength,” said Jethro Lemosnero, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Australia, PICE-SU president. (by Joevic B. Bahrain, Brazil, China, the Czech Baclayanto)tws

SU receives P1.8M for climate resiliency study

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY (SU) received P1.8 million grant from the Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc. (OML Center) to fund an interdisciplinary project on climate resiliency of riverside communities.

The awarding of the grant was held during the fifth anniversary of OML Center late last year in Makati City.

The OML Center, established in 2012, is a foundation which aims to support the generation of sciencebased solutions to climate-related risks and disasters worldwide.

In line with this, the OML Center

The target number of students for June is 2,000 for incoming freshmen in college and 2,000 for incoming students in SHS. However, if the targets will not be met, Tagle said there will be more pressure from the university’s outside sources like incomes from commercial buildings, donations, and grants.

As of press time, SU is awaiting approval from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the tuition fee hike.tws

standing NegOrense 2017 in the Field of Science and Environment.

“We should really look for alternative sources [of energy] such as wind, solar that do not use fossil fuels.”

“A lot of governments are still not heeding the warning of the scientists that, indeed, we should really do something fast.

“People are now realizing, with the presence of more cyclones in the US and in Europe and even in the Philippines, that the pattern has changed,” Calumpong added.

“So I think we should heed the science of the environment.”

Asked whether the Earth will heal from all the destruction it faces today, Calumpong responded: “The planet lives on but whether humanity will live on with the way we are abusing the planet, I really do not know. But I hope so.”

Calumpong, an expert in marine botany who earned her Ph.D. from University of California Berkeley, is one of 25 scientists tapped by the United Nations to study the state of the world’s oceans and prepare the first World Ocean Report in 2015.

The UN has adopted the Report and

provides for the continuing monitoring of the oceans.

As marine biologist, Calumpong urged the people to “treat the ocean like family.”

“You protect your member of the family; you have to protect the ocean.”

Calumpong explained that the ocean is dependent on what the people do.

“If there is no people, then the ocean can have its natural evolutionary cycle. But because we are doing something to the ocean, we are actually hastening the changes.”

So the changes in the ocean that happen every 30 million years before are now happening every 30 years, Calumpong added.

“People should know that the ocean and the people are all living together in this planet.

“There is a limit as to what the ocean can give. We take for granted the air we breathe, the ocean and the water.

“But they are actually reacting to what we do.”

“The ocean gives you food, oxygen and water. But generosity of the ocean is not infinite.”tws

PH among 28 countries that use “cyber troops” to manipulate public opinion- study Ray Chen S. Bahinting Editor-in- Chief Republic, Ecuador, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Mexico, North Korea, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

The study also cites other traits said to be found in the Philippines: Both “positive” and “negative” social media interactions are used. “Positive” interactions are those that “reinforce or support the government ’s position or political ideology” while “negative” interactions involve “verbal abuse, harassment and so‐called ‘trolling’ against social media users who express criticism of the government.”

“Individual targeting,” which it says is more often “a persistent aspect of the internet ecosystem that is used to silence political dissent online” and is “one of the most dangerous forms of cyber troop activity, as individuals often receive real‐life threats and suffer reputational damage.”

Some cyber troops in the Philippines are volunteers; some are paid. Private contractors have been hired, with Nic Gabunada— Duterte’s social media campaign manager-- being identified. The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino‐ Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) was also identified as a political party that has made use of cyber troops.

Gabunada said that Duterte’s P10 million social media campaign, however, was “organic and volunteer-driven.” tws