WVSU allocates P30M for students’ tablets for remote learning scheme
he FORU T M
By KEVEN RIZZO C. SITJAR & CLINT M. BELLOSILLO
Integrity. Reliability. Commitment.
Integrity. Reliability. Commitment.
Vol. LXXXI
No. 1
The Official University Student Newspaper of the West Visayas State University, La Paz, Iloilo City
May 2020 - November 2020
West Visayas State University (WVSU) allocated P30 million to procure educational tablets for its undergraduate students in the Main Campus amid the shift to
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DOH set to accredit WVSU Hospital COVID-19 testing lab By ELLA HYACINTH R. GOLEZ
COVID-19 ONSLAUGHT. Temperature checks and disinfection stations are among the preventive measures implemented by the University following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic on March 11. MARIE ANDREA PEFIANCO
‘TOO MUCH ACAD PRESSURE’ WVSU admin heeds students’ call for wellness break By RICHARD D. OLANO JR.
The whole West Visayas State University (WVSU) system has declared a week-long “wellness break” for all academic levels on November 16-21 in response to students’ concerns on academic pressure and mental health caused by the remote learning scheme. University President Joselito F. Villaruz released Memorandum No. 20-233, November 9, declaring the said dates as a “time for self-care”. “The time will be used to pause from the daily instructional grind, and instead, use it to provide
feedback for students’ outputs,” the memorandum read. The memorandum was signed as the University’s response to the first WVSU Virtual Town Hall Meeting where students and faculty members expressed the challenges that they encountered with the current learning modality.
The Department of Health (DOH) is set to accredit the West Visayas State University Medical Center’s (WVSUMC) own molecular laboratory for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing in September. According to University President Joselito F. Villaruz, this is in response to the “society’s call” for more COVID-19 tests conducted in the Western Visayas region. “We are actually starting the civil works and the renovation of the laboratory. Before the end of September, we can open our laboratory,” Villaruz told The Forum. The Board of Regents approved a budget of around P52 million for the
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‘Too much academic pressure’ During the town hall meeting, Alex*, a student from WVSU Janiuay Campus, became emotional as he expressed his sentiments on the anxiety and frustration felt by his fellow
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EDITORIAL
FEATURE
MORE THAN JUST BOOKS
THE COUNTRY’S WAITING GAME
SAILING SURGE OF OPTIMISM
Nursing student skips online class to assist in his pregnant neighbor’s delivery
Why waiting for a COVID - 19 vaccine is a gamble
A glimpse of Iloilo’s implementation of BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19
NEWS FEATURE
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PAGE 5 Forum-Dimensions
@forumdimensions
@forumdimensions
320-08-70 loc. 1610
PAGE 9 INTEGRITYRELIABILITYCOMMITMENT
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The Forum
May 2020-November 2020
NEWS
VPAA issues ‘gentle reminders’ on remote learning By JULIE ANNE L. COLLADO & RICHARD D. OLANO JR.
Following the issues raised during the first University Virtual Town Hall Meeting with the students, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine V. Dequilla issued an advisory on remote learning Friday, October 30. In the memorandum addressed to the faculty members through the deans and campus administrators, Dequilla gave “gentle reminders” under the current learning modality.
MOTHERLY ADVICE. As remote learning modality and academic pressure take a toll on Taga-Wests’ mental health, the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) issued a memorandum to serve as “gentle reminders” for the University’s teaching force. NICOLE ANNE A. MOSCOSO
The VPAA has underscored that there is “an apparent need to rethink and reconsider” traditional classroom practices since these may not be
applicable with the current setting. Dequilla has also pointed out that there is a “glaring gap” between those students who
WVSU reaps 3-star rating at QS university rankings
By KEVEN RIZZO C. SITJAR
West Visayas State University obtains 3-star rating from the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2020 World University Rankings for Asia, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Julian Prospero E. De Vera
III announced Wednesday, November 25. QS is a global higher education think-tank and compiler of the world’s university rankings. The University is among the 14 higher education institutions
TOWARDS INTERNATIONALIZATION. The University is among the 14 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country that sought for the preliminary Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2020 World University Rankings for Asia evaluation this year. MARIE ANDREA PEFIANCO
(HEIs) in the country that sought for the preliminary QS evaluation this year. Of the 14 HEIs, 7 were included in the QS 2020 ranking. These are Ateneo De Davao University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Adamson University, Central Luzon State University, Central Mindanao University, Central Philippine University, and Xavier University. With the University’s current rating, CHED expects that it will “soon join the QS Asian rankings,” De Vera said.
CICT develops app for virtual campus tour
By NICOLE ANNE A. MOSCOSO
Volunteers from the U n i v e r s i t y ’s College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT) designed and developed a campus tour application. With the WVSU Campus Tour application, taga-West students, especially incoming freshmen, can still have access to the University premises amid the pandemic. “It aims to mitigate the effect of the pandemic for students
who want to get more familiar with the University,” CICT said on its Facebook page. The application is now available for public testing and can be downloaded on Google Play. This innovation of developing a virtual tour is due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which forced the University to shift to remote learning for the first semester.
Screenshot: WVSU CAMPUS TOUR APPLICATION
have access to digital resources and those who have none at all, which leads to frustration and stress to the latter’s end. “Limitation on access and connectivity should never be taken against the learner,” she said. Dequilla also said that bombarding students with too much workload will reverse their intention and efforts to help them learn and grow. “Learning is a mental emotion as well. The mind works more efficiently when the learner is properly disposed and motivated,” Dequilla added.
West set to open 2nd state-run College of Dental Medicine in PH By CLINT M. BELLOSILLO
In response to the country’s call for more dental professionals, President Joselito F. Villaruz said the University will offer a dental studies program in the next academic year. “In 2021-2022, the University will definitely open the second state-run College of Dental Medicine in the country,” Dr. Villaruz said in his President’s Report 2020 uploaded on YouTube, October 18. The University targets to select 40 deserving freshmen for this program and will also sit down with the College of Arts and Sciences to discuss the proposals to open more programs in the natural sciences and health professional courses. Dr. Villaruz promises to revisit and review the program offerings of the University, which will respond and help achieve the institution’s goals.
NEWS
The Forum
May 2020-November 2020
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WVSU student councils, pubs decry ABS-CBN shutdown order By ERIC D. MORGUIA JR. & JOHN LYOD PACHEJO
Several student councils and publications in the West Visayas State University (WVSU) condemned the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) cease and desist order against media giant ABS-CBN, which forced the network to go off-air on May 5. Taga-West student organizations joined the call to defend press freedom and expressed sympathy to over 11,000 employees of the network whose jobs were affected by the shutdown amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. “The fall of our fragile contested democracy has been
made apparent as press freedom has been tampered by the administration,” WVSU Student Council said in a statement. “Ang naturang desisyon ng NTC ay… hindi lamang isang usapin tungkol sa prangkisa ng kompanya bagkus isang pang-aalispusta sa ating karapatan bilang mga Pilipino na makakalap ng impormasyon at magbahagi ng ating mga hinaing at opinyon,” College of Communication’s The Mediator said. ABS-CBN stopped all of its television and radio operations a day after the expiry of its 25-year legislative franchise.
WVSU virtual library assistants launched By ELLA HYACINTH R. GOLEZ
As an answer to the call for “new normal,” the whole West Visayas State University (WVSU) System libraries transitioned their services online and introduced their respective virtual assistants. WVSU Main Campus introduced GRACIANO or the General Reference Access & Information Assistance
Courtesy: WVSU LIBRARY FACEBOOK
via Networks Online on its Facebook page, August 24. After its successful launch, GRACIANO presented the six new members of the chat service “family” in WVSU community, September 11. They are Clora, College of Medicine; Digital New Normal Services (DINNS), Calinog Campus; Janiuay Campus Interactive Library Assistant (JACILA); Gina, Himamaylan Campus; Pia, Pototan Campus; and Lia, Lambunao Campus. These virtual library assistants aim to respond to the information and research needs of students and faculty even if the learning method in the Academic Year 2020-2021 goes remote.
EARLY DAYS OF A PANDEMIC. Taga-West students walk shoulder-to-shoulder along the University Bench wearing face masks following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic on March 11. JOHN GLEN L. TEORIMA
Two-week scheme in second sem eyed if situation ‘favorable’ By CLINT M. BELLOSILLO
West Visayas State University (WVSU) may only shift to a twoweek scheme under the blended learning method if the situation in the second semester becomes “favorable,” President Joselito F. Villaruz said. Dr. Villaruz made the announcement during the virtual meeting with the WVSU stakeholders via Zoom Tuesday, July 14. “Should the conditions become favorable, blended learning will be adopted by the University in the second semester, AY (Academic Year) 2020-2021,” Villaruz added. Blended learning method is a combination of face-toface and distance learning modes. In the two-week scheme, students will be divided into Group A and Group B. In the first two weeks, the
first group will have faceto-face learning, while the second group is on online learning. In the next two weeks, the two groups will have an exchange of the two learning modalities. Villaruz mentioned a study of a faculty member about the type of intervention the WVSU should adapt based on the presence of one infected student who comes to class for example. “Results came out that two-week intervals between two groups would be the best option for the University to adapt because the rate of multiplication or infection would be lower,” he said. With the possible implementation of blended learning in the second semester, the University continues to become “fluid” throughout the situation, Villaruz said.
WVSU moves class opening to September 14, cites delay factors By RICHARD D. OLANO JR.
The West Visayas State University moved its class opening for the first semester of the Academic Year 20202021 from September 7 to September 14. Memorandum No. 20-187 released Friday, September
4, cited the factors that have triggered the postponement. These factors include the bureaucratic procedure of procuring tablets, the projected delay in the uploading of learning materials, and the setbacks
encountered in the full online enrollment system that was heightened by the power interruption experienced by the University. In August, the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs has extended
the enrollment period until September 4 due to “a very low turnout of students enrolling.” The University utilized the remote learning method for the first semester which includes asynchronous and synchronous classes.
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NEWS
The Forum
May 2020-November 2020
WVSU opens College of Law despite COVID-19 delays By RICHARD D. OLANO JR. & ERIC D. MORGUIA JR.
READY FOR TRIAL. Fully equipped for the first run of the University’s Juris Doctor Program, the Quezon Hall houses the 30-seater moot court of the College of Law. RICHARD D. OLANO JR.
Breeding ground for rebels?
WVSU slams alumnus’ ‘baseless allegation’ By ZYNNIE ROSE C. ZARAGOSA
The University refuted its alumnus Jeffrey ‘Ka-Eric’ Celiz’s “baseless allegation” and “sweeping statements” implying that it is a breeding ground for recruitment by rebel groups. Celiz, who was the ForumDimensions editor in chief in 1993, claimed to be a former rebel and now as a whistleblower of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the government body criticized for redtagging legitimate organizations and personalities. He said that he became a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and recruited members from other student organizations in the University. However, the University, in an official statement released
November 13, stressed that “there are no reports or incidents of infiltration or recruitment by communist groups in any campuses.” This “irresponsible statement” has “caused unwarranted alarm and apprehension among the students and other stakeholders,” it added. In an interview with RMN Iloilo on October 30, Celiz also mentioned Forum-Dimensions without providing proper context. “Ang una nga recruitment namon sa sulod mismo sang student publication, sa ForumDimensions.” The Publication, in an official statement, also maintained its position that it is not and will never be involved or affiliated with any recruitment activities by the CPP-NPA.
COM sustains 100% pass rate in March, Sept. PLE By JOHN LYOD B. PACHEJO
The West Visayas State University College of Medicine (WVSU-COM) once again garnered a 100% passing rate in the March and September 2020 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE). Released on October 2, results revealed that all seven taga-West examinees namely: Elaine June L. Fiel; Vann Anthony C. Fuentes; Jessa Maria T. Genesila; Erika Jiline M. Jamandre; Fritz Herns
L. Jumawan; Rodel Gil D. Peradillo; and Reeva Laurie P. Pueblo, who are all first takers, passed this year’s PLE. In the March 2019 PLE, the University also scored a perfect passing rate with two of its graduates landed on the top spots. The Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation is again this year’s top-performing school with a 97.96 percent passing rate.
Despite the delays caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the University pushed through with the opening of its College of Law for the Academic Year 20202021. WVSU President Joselito F. Villaruz said that the University already received a go-signal from the Legal Education Board (LEB), the regulating government agency of legal education in the country. In September 29, the University received the notice of approval from the agency. Last April, the LEB was supposed to conduct its final inspection and award to the WVSU the authority to open
the law program but failed to do so because of the coronavirus pandemic. Before receiving the green light to operate a law school, the University complied with the three LEB-identified “minor” physical non-compliances: presence of the moot court, provision of airconditioning units in classrooms, and improvement of stairs in Quezon Hall. Among the applicants, only 25 were admitted. The tuition fee will be at a minimum “because WVSU is a state university”, Villaruz said. WVSU is the first state-funded higher education institution to offer the Juris Doctor program in Western Visayas.
Screenshot: VINCENTIMENTS FACEBOOK
Education dean gives her take on controversial short film ‘antagonizing’ teachers By ERIC D. MORGUIA JR.
While the arguments raised by Darryl Yap’s controversial short film are realistic and acknowledged, it could have taken a positive angle towards educators, College of Education (COE) dean Dr. Maria Asuncion Christine V. Dequilla said. Released on Friday, August 7, the VinCentiments’ short film entitled “Online Class” featured a student who encountered distractions in delivering her report about Dr. Jose Rizal’s last words before his death. The film received criticisms on social media for “antagonizing” teachers who, as pointed out by the main
character, are insensitive to their struggles and needs during this pandemic. “Gaka-hurt ang mga teachers especially those who are really preparing and doing extra effort to make things work,” Dr. Dequilla told The Forum in a phone interview. The COE dean said that she can attest to the hard work rendered by the teachers both in the basic and higher education institutions since the pandemic started. The viral short film is the last episode in a trilogy, which previously featured the perspective of parents and teachers on online learning.
NEWS Taga-West students dominate TV broadcasting competition
By RICHARD D. OLANO JR.
A Taga-West-dominated broadcasting team, representing the Municipality of Pototan, bagged the first place in the TV Broadcasting Contest organized by the Panlalawigang Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan (PPSK) of Iloilo. Among the members of Iwag Sentral are four students from the University, namely Reymar Jerson Espinosa, Kate Bayogos, Ivan Dave Ronco,
France Banguiran, alongside Cel Soliguen from the Central Philippine University. Meanwhile, Cabatuan’s News Republic and Santa Barbara’s Kahilwayan were awarded as second and third placers respectively in the said competition. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the PPSK of Iloilo continued its programs in celebration of the International Youth Day 2020.
The Forum
May 2020-November 2020
5
NEWS BRIEFS Husband, wife WVSU profs test positive for COVID-19 By ERIC D. MORGUIA JR
A husband and wife, who are both West Visayas State University (WVSU) professors, contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. According to a Facebook post by WVSU alumna Zarlina Baterbonia Cuello, the husband is “comorbid,” “immuno-compromised,”
and “unstable” and shares the same hospital room with his wife. Their son, meanwhile, is “under isolation.” The husband is a retired Physical Science professor, while his wife is a Mathematics professor at the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, sources told The Forum.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, WVSU launches online appointment system By ELLA HYACINTH R. GOLEZ
As a change in systems operation due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the University launched the “Ticketon,” an online ticketing system, to cater to school transactions. “It is the directive of the Administrative Office
Screenshot: SK ILOILO PROVINCE FACEBOOK
in response to the demand of the current situation. The MIS (Management Information System) recommended an online transaction ticket queue management system,” MIS director Louie F. Cervantes told The Forum.
NEWS feature
More than just books and theories: Nursing student skips online class to assist in his pregnant neighbor’s delivery By JOHN GLEN L. TEORIMA
Ivan Matthew Superio is a third-year student nurse who lives in Santa Barbara, Iloilo. Since the University has shifted to remote learning because of the pandemic, he, too, has learned to adapt to the new mode of learning; attending online classes and sending his requirements online. On the morning of October 15, he encountered an unlikely circumstance which forced him to skip his ongoing online class. While attending his class for Community Health Nursing, his neighbor’s water broke, and she began having labor pains. Knowing that he was a student nurse, their helper called him and asked for help.
ASSESSING THE SITUATION Realizing the urgency of the situation, Ivan took the initiative to assist in the situation and prepared his materials; sterilizing his forceps and scissors that he also used for his duties in the delivery room from the previous semester, and went to the patient’s house. IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION When he arrived at the scene, still in his “pambahay” clothes, the baby was already expelled from the mother’s womb while still attached to the umbilical cord. They then proceeded to do necessary procedures on the umbilical cord and deliver the placenta. Moments later, the personnel from Santa
Barbara’s Municipal Rural Health Unit arrived and interviewed Ivan and Nurse Dixie about the situation before assisting the mother and neonate to the RHU for their postpartum care. A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE When asked about his experience, Ivan said that it “made me realize how much I’ve learned for the past few years. Despite the circumstances and lack of preparation, we managed to successfully provide care for the mother before the responders arrived at their home.” “Given the chance to witness the beauty of childbirth once
SUPERIO
again made me realize that there is more to nursing than just books and theories,” he said. “For me, the real essence of nursing is the warm feeling of comfort and completeness you feel after seeing the smiles on the patients’ faces as they say “thank you”,” he added.
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The Forum
May 2020-November 2020
OPINION
The Country’s Waiting Game
P
atience is a virtue.
This adage portrays the response of the Philippine government in the search for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. They are seeking 50 million vaccine shots by next year from 17 potential developers and manufacturers from several nations. If there is no vaccine, cases will continue to rise. This situates vaccines to have the sole vital role of decreasing COVID-19 cases, but there is no assurance that it will be available and accessible by 2021. In the report of Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., the country is considering three to four However, this remains unlikely vaccines to be used for the second for now because in reality, the quarter of next year, especially Department of Health (DOH) in areas that are at high risk. The expressed that it lacks Php 10 said vaccines billion of are being the Php 12.1 “The Philippine developed by billion needed government holds AstraZeneca to inoculate an from the COVID-19 vaccination initial priority U n i t e d population as its only lifeline.” Kingdom, of 20 million Sinovac from Filipinos. China, and Pfizer from the United As they are preoccupied States. with this future endeavor, the It seems that President Rodrigo Philippines is currently 20th in Duterte greatly relies on the future the world in having the highest vaccination to end the surge of number of COVID-19 cases based COVID-19 in the country. He on the report by Johns Hopkins emphasized that the government University Coronavirus Resource will shoulder the cost for the Center in October while being 1st country’s 113 million population. in Southeast Asia despite having
EDITORIAL
200 days of community quarantine. In mid-August, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to improve their respective COVID-19 responses instead of waiting and hoping for a vaccine. Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO Western Pacific Director has emphasized that once a vaccine becomes available, the “production capacity will not really meet the demand [of] the entire world.” Despite this reminder, the Philippine government still holds the vaccination as its only lifeline. Up to now, the country has heavily relied on militaristic lockdowns and community quarantines. Limited researches have also been conducted on how to effectively confront the invisible
enemy. As the government waits for a vaccine to be available, hundreds -- if not thousands -- of Filipinos continue to contract the virus and struggle each day. Waiting for the said vaccine is a gamble. Without any comprehensive framework of solving the COVID-19 problem, it is deemed that the country will face more cases in the future unless the country diverges itself from the waiting game they currently play with the vaccine at the end of the line. With the number of cases that refuse to de-escalate day-by-day, is waiting for the vaccine the only option the country has even when its effectiveness and efficiency is in question? Definitely not.
OPINION
The Forum
May 2020-November 2020
7
My College Life in Red
RITSO
Keven Rizzo C. Sitjar
“Getting red-tagged is now an academic and working hazard.”
R
ed exudes power.” That’s probably one of the few words my professor mentioned that will always ring a bell in my head: the color of power. Power is what makes people achieve what they want, utilizing any means. In my case, back in 2019, I had the power
I
to pursue my preferred field of study; to explore and widen my horizons. However, it never occurred to me how power and its color would also be used against me—not until now. Right before stepping into college, there was always that implanted conception towards students in my course being exhibitionists, too critical, and mostly opposed to authorities that eventually led into a rebellious image. My parents were worried that I would be deemed as such. As it turns out, they were right. The moment I officially enrolled in the program, my life was now encircled with red-tagging. In the Philippines, red-tagging refers to the malicious blacklisting of individuals or organizations opposed to the incumbent government administration.
However, the nature and basis of our studies involve analyzing government processes which means we conceive the formal institution to both sides: appreciating the pros and critiquing the cons. We do not dwell alone on the contributions but also object to the blunders that affect many. Despite how we aspire to create a better understanding of the government system and distribution of power, some merely emphasize our complaints and ignore our real intentions. We are labeled and reckoned to be unacceptable in a governmentruled state. Not only particular students like us, but also activists and even groups who raise their concerns and suggest a better resolution for society, are tagged and silenced due to their contradicting points of view. Even media today are facing the same problem, and as a student
journalist, this doubles my role in why I am red-tagged. I’m taking a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and it does make me understand why there are political actors that will always try to limit our voice for speaking out and educating the public about the institutions that govern us. Embracing the democracy that we have, it is just that we choose to condemn baseless, malicious blacklisting and to continue exercising our rights. Red-tagging speculations alone are not credible. It leads to more conflict due to the lack of proof and the distrust that comes with it. Therefore, it even furthers the gap between the masses and the government. For me, getting red-tagged is now considered an academic and working hazard that I have to live with, yet this does not signify that getting tagged should be tolerated.
Battling Monsters: Dilemmas and Fear
have been away from my hometown since I started college and I’m grateful that I never experienced intense homesickness. However, there are thoughts in my head taking a toll on me which I fight every day. It’s like sadness and despair that eat you up, slowly enveloping you, like how little children snuggle and hide into a blanket as if it can make them invisible from monsters. But sometimes, it is frightening to know that the monster is within us or it could be us. It took the pandemic for me to realize how deep I have fell down into the rabbit hole
to the extent that I am torn on what to prioritize: physical needs and mental health. In order to reassure myself, I had to work for a month, resort to online selling and accept commissions in hopes of meeting my expenses. The past eight months had been rough. Whenever I find myself caught up in a situation where I had to struggle so much to meet my necessities, I break down for a day or two — or until I feel like I’ve cried enough. I had been in the shadows for too long that everyone thinks I’m still the same person they know. The truth is, I’m losing weight and loosing track of my academics and organization duties. I carry a heavy weight on my chest from overthinking
and crying which keeps me awake until the sun rises. The last, the least and the lost are the ones who need love and compassion the most. However, they are left out and they struggle in terms of keeping themselves together when faced with the dilemma and fear of being dismissed if they open up about mental health issues. In the reality we are in, it is still a taboo with accompanying stigma. In times when your personal struggles do not equate to others’ definition of struggle, remember that your feelings are valid. There is no small or big fight because we have different ways of coping. Your wounds might not yet be healed and your scars might reopen, triggering
SASSY WRITES Reesa T. Azarraga
“Prioritize your mental health because no one will if you won’t.” your inescapable unwanted thoughts but remember that its okay for you to feel what you feel and to seek professional help if necessary. You are bigger than the monsters within you and yourself. It’s time to prioritize your mental health because no one will if you won’t.
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OPINION
The Forum
May 2020-November 2020
Show it to the Universe
KWEEN B Clint M. Bellosillo
“Pageants serve as a platform for women to do philanthropic work and promote an advocacy”
T
he Filipinos’ obsession with beauty pageants is culturally entrenched. Pageantry is a multi-million peso lucrative industry that attracts hordes of sponsors.
Too
However, feminists say that the country’s fixation with pageants have negative implications to women because they set unrealistic standards of beauty. Through the course of pageant history, the Philippine queens have won the crown four times in Miss Universe, six times in Miss International and once in Miss World. It has bee=-n embedded in our culture that locally, there are pageants for children, LGBT communities, and senior citizens. Pageants serve as a platform for women to do philanthropic work and promote an advocacy. Take for example Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray who advocates for free and accessible education in impoverished areas and Miss World 2013 Megan Young who spearheads free operation for
much... (from page 1)
students under the current setup. He said that students from their campus were “pressured” by the professors. His reason in asking for an academic break was “too much” pressure experienced by them which causes their mental health to deteriorate. In his closing remarks during the virtual meeting, Villaruz assured the students that “the administration acknowledges the fact that [the students] are [their] clients” and they should be taken care of.
DOH set... (from page 1) procurement of the molecular laboratory, Villaruz said. “We have already ordered our equipment and the machines to be used for the molecular laboratory,” he added. Among the equipment bought for the said testing center are two reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines, bio-safety cabinets, testing kits, and ribonucleic acid (RNA) extractor.
No synchronous and asynchronous classes will be held within the period of wellness break. Faculty members were also advised to utilize the given break to prepare learning materials and make necessary adjustments to their succeeding lessons. Remote learning will resume on November 23. WVSU is set to end its first semester for the Academic Year 2020-2021 in the first week of February. The student’s name was not included for anonymity.
Villaruz also said that the laboratory will not solely test COVID-19 but also other infectious diseases or agents in the future. “That is why we are looking at our return of investment―we will be investing a lot of money on this, but it will not only be catering to COVID testing but to other tests as well,” Villaruz added.
patients with cleft lip and cleft palate. It also gave our fashion designers a much-needed boost. Many foreign contestants have tapped Mak Tumang after his gown was used by Catriona Gray at Miss Universe 2018. On the other hand, there are still backlash against beauty pageants. In fact, a town in Argentina has banned beauty pageants because they believe it to be sexist and encourages an obsession with physical beauty leading to illnesses like bulimia and anorexia. In United States, critics have slammed its existence in the 21st century for the criteria that contestants should never have been married or pregnant. Furthermore, Feminist Nikki Luna reiterates that pageants give the idea that women must be beautiful to
earn status and power and that there’s nothing empowering about pageants when beauty is defined only in standards that are structured by a patriarchal society such as thinness and youthfulness. Nevertheless, pageantry is well rewarded in the country. A beauty queen creates ripples of impacts through rallying initiatives and establishing charity works. She becomes a beacon of hope and a person that people look up to. It is clear that pageantry is not disappearing anywhere and anytime soon. It will continue to serve as a source of entertainment and inspiration to many Filipinos and I believe it is something to celebrate. What we can take away from it is to learn embrace our uniqueness, calibrate our potential and bravely show it to the universe.
WVSU allocates... (from page 1) remote learning modality in the first semester of the Academic Year 2020-2021. The coronavirus pandemic prompted the University to utilize distance learning and provide gadgets for the students. The procurement funds came from audio-visual and laboratory fees, and budget for travels, office equipment, small value infrastructure projects, and other school facilities. “We have realigned our budget to address this need to procure tablets for the students and this has been approved by the Board [of Regents],” WVSU President Joselito F. Villaruz said during the virtual meeting with stakeholders. According to the University Student Council’s Facebook post on July 8, the Board of Regents (BOR), during its 223rd meeting on July 3, approved the said budget. The University purchased an estimated number of 5,000 educational tablets. The brand and
model of the tablets is Lenovo M7 ordered from Singapore. Meanwhile, students from the graduate school, external campuses, College of Medicine, and Integrated Laboratory School were provided with learning resource packets in the form of printed modules and flash drives. The tablets contained syllabi, course policies, instructions, e-books, and other learning materials to ensure students could still learn despite the lack of connectivity. The learning materials were distributed to the students since October and are still being distributed across the Western Visayas region as of writing. Meanwhile, all charges and payments were be shouldered by the University amid the change of learning platform. “There will be no collection [of fees] from students,” Villaruz said.
Sailing surge of optimism
FEATURE
Words by CLINT M. BELLOSILLO Illustration by KELLY P. RONVEAUX
chapter, and every future erased before my eyes. One can’t deny how traumatic and devastating 2020 is. The country has already 410,718 confirmed COVID-19 cases after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,148 additional cases on November 17. And everything that happened paved way for the implementation “BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19”, headed by the DOH, on behalf of the Interagency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Disease (IATFEID) and in coordination with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
I witnessed everything, lives being wasted, dreams being crushed, every book deprived of a good last chapter, and every future erased before my eyes.
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hat have you contributed?” A question I keep on asking myself. Swiftly, legions of tragic memories came rushing into my head, triggering my sanity like a multitude of bullets that can’t be ceased.
I was brought to that melancholic day again. I can see COVID-19 patients situated in undesirable facilities and overcrowded hospitals. I witnessed everything, lives being wasted, dreams being crushed, every book deprived of a good last
It aims to influence the Filipino people to take an active role in the fight against our common enemy - COVID-19 (the COntraVIDa). It encourages the public to regularly adopt the minimum health standards as a behavioral lifestyle as we course through the new normal. The acronym “BIDA” stands for the following: B stands for bawal ang walang mask or not wearing of a mask is prohibited; I stands for i-sanitize ang mga kamay,
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iwas hawak sa mga bagay or always wash or sanitize and avoid touching things; D means dumistansya ng isang metro or maintain a distance of at least one meter; and A stands for alamin ang totoong impormasyon or know the correct information and updates about the pandemic. As part of the BIDA campaign, DOH released a habit-forming checklist that summarizes and simplifies the minimum public health standards. Our government, led by Mayor Jerry Treñas, is doing its duty of protecting its people. Take the established Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-095 or Face Mask Ordinance as an example. It includes the mandatory wearing of face shields or eye protectors to include googles, visor-type face shields, and eyeglasses in public places, commercial establishments, and other areas where three or more people are gathered within proximity of one another.
The so-called Wakanda, however, was not built in a day. Slowly and surely, the city has begun to reinvigorate its economy. The so-called Wakanda, however, was not built in a day. Neither can it be credited to only one person. This sailing surge of optimism by the government alone couldn’t save us. Change starts within you. Now, what will you do?
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May 2020 - November 2020 May 2020-November 2020
FEATURE
BATTLE OF FEAR, FAITH, AND FRONTLINERS T Words by KEVEN RIZZO C. SITJAR
he unseen enemy that plagues the land continues to thrive and people at the forefront of the global health war also remain on guard and active for the protection of the public. CHALLENGED COURAGE Donning full protective gear, it’s been routine for nurses at West Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) to continuously check for vital signs even with COVIDpositive patients. For Stiffy Matutina, it’s always the same situation; continuing to provide for her patients that put her life at risk. Yet, the fear inside her seemed so little compared to her desire to care, help, and serve because of her unshaken faith. Nevertheless, her bravery was tested; Three days before her last day of duty, she underwent a swab test. “Kun mag-positive ako, baton ko na,” she said.
Photo credit: STIFFY T. MATUTINA
Days of agonizing wait was over. It was a breath of fresh air when the results showed the word “negative”. She was spared from the deadly virus. UNRECOGNIZED SACRIFICES It’s a different case, however, when a frontliner is challenged not
by the virus but by the continuous complaints of the public for implementing mandates. It’s the harsh reality that Rolando Talamillo faces for doing his job. “[Problema gid ang] mga tawo nga indi kaintindi kay sa tuod-tuod lang kung makapatay ang buyayaw, napatay ron kami tungod sa rako nga buyayaw
nga naagyan namon sa border,” Rolando said. He is on call 24/7 as the leader of Tubungan Responder Emergency Action Team (TREAT) in Tubungan, Iloilo. Every day, he has border duty, ensuring that no outsider infiltrates the town since its security lies in the hands of his team. Aside from the harsh treatment for their work, his job comes with the price of being distant from his wife and his three daughters. Leaving them and heading towards absolute uncertainty is a great pain he has to endure each day for the sake of serving the public. COMMITMENT ON SERVICE The genuine pledge and care for others is the thing that holds people like Stiffy and Rolando to stay at the forefront of the global problem everyone is facing. These are also the silver lining in our current undertaking.
Across the rough road of virtual learning Philippines’ rising suicide cases related to online class
Words by ELLA HYACINTH R. GOLEZ
I
f only things could have turned out differently, students could have been igniting their curiosity in an actual classroom setting. In reality, however, worse already came to worst - suicide toll in the country rises, anchored to the pressure from the new normal in education.
Photo credit: JOHN GLEN L. TEORIMA
ACADEMIC FREEZE, PLEASE! As soon as the country adopted the remote learning mode, a lot of mixed reactions were garnered by the Department of Education (DepEd) from Filipinos and the internet. However, the outcries have not been granted because the education sector saw it as “populist position that is not
popular” based on their previous interview with Manila Bulletin. Another issue that challenges the call for an academic freeze is the rising number of suicide cases in the country, connected to the negative effects of online classes to teachers and students. According to the Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), a filipino youth-led organization, it had monitored 20 deaths of students directly associated to the distance learning. Within the total sum, 19 students were from Grade six until 3rd year college. 17 of them were suicide cases and the remaining two deaths were due to electrocution and vehicular accident respectively. HELP IS HERE It is truly undeniable that the pandemic has taken a toll on each one of us. Fortunately, for the TagaWest community, the University Guidance office opened its doors
24/7 for them to render online counseling services. According to University Guidance Counselor Geraldine Joy Espinosa, they created Facebook groups for students to reach them easily whenever they need assistance and soon, they will also launch their Guidance Hotline to accommodate more concerns. If ever a case is beyond their expertise, they assure that a referral to a licensed mental health specialist will be extended. “Students or anybody for that matter, should be made aware of the value of life, their potentials to overcome the challenges they encounter, “ Espinosa added. We now live in the reality where studying in the time of a pandemic may be considered as a threat to the well-being of students. A harsh truth that makes us realize that sometimes, our ways of making our dreams come true is sold at a price equated to the value of life.
FEATURE
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Refuse to glorify resiliency The dire romantization of resiliency in the Philippines
Words by ELLA HYACINTH R. GOLEZ
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Illustration by KELLY P. RONVEAUX
those who are barely getting by, the ones who have it the hardest, and worst - the ones who were not able to recover at all.
n November 8, 2013, the Philippines experienced the catastrophic distraught of Super Typhoon Yolanda, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in history, which left more than 7,000 people dead or missing. But two days after its 7th anniversary, nature then again lashed out its wrath in the country with typhoon Ulysses, leaving thousands of our countrymen homeless and in dread. FILIPINOS AND RESILIENCE Following any ill-fated event like a storm, we Filipinos are the kind of people who transcend beyond our misfortune with humility and patience, possessing the ability to put the rubble of their lives back together after any deranged circumstance. However, until when are we still going to glorify self-transcendence while some continue to live in favor of their privileges, failing to see reality through the eyes of
the disempowered because others’ misfortunes do not exactly concern them as they are not exactly involved in it?
Now that we are at the helm of global health and environmental crises, those whom we call “resilient” are
BEYOND WHAT WE ONLY SEE Through the years, we have seen how Filipinos’ resiliency has become over-exploited and romanticized by many and has been taken advantage of by the people in power. Resiliency should not be a reminder that ”there is more to life than suffering”, but a wakeup call for the government to strive hard and shape up to provide a community full of opportunities for everyone and become accountable for their misplaced priorities and policies in the past because Filipinos are not sacrificial lambs. We, Filipinos, are more than our stories of struggles and resiliency. We should be the reminder and the face of accountability. We deserve better.
Paging through the pandemic: How an online platform resurrected the joy of reading books
Words by JULIE ANNE L.COLLADO
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hen the call to stay home to flatten the curve resonated, everyone seemed to have all the time in the world especially for the things they wished they have done in the past – reading, to name one. EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING Our lives came to a screeching halt when COVID-19 began to surface. The pandemic has wreaked havoc to our well-being especially because we are locked down in our homes, confronted with fear and anxiety. But as the saying goes, “every cloud has a silver lining.” This dilemma introduced us to uncharted territories – to virtual places we never visited before, and to things we never imagined we can do.
“The pandemic can be stressful but reading is cathartic,” Lorraine Landoy Mamaril, a third- year college student of West Visayas State University, taking up Bachelor of Science in Education, shared in an interview, highlighting the role of an online platform that became a tool for swapping books that helped her discover new stories which became her escape from the daily stressors of pandemic life.
BOOK HAUL MADE EASY Books4Books, an online community for book trading and bartering, was established by Michael Caesar Tubal, Allyn Canja, and Marvin Monfort on May 18, 2020 – during the height of the pandemic and early stage of the lockdown period here in Iloilo City. It is a Facebook Group exclusive only for Ilonggo bibliophiles.
Lorraine had been a member of the group since May and her first book swap took place last June 14 in Book Latte, the official drop-off point of Books4Books located in Festive Walk Parade. She swapped her book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, for Glass Sword by Victorias Aveyard. To her, it was Books4Books that provided the restorative cure from the battle of disconnection from people during the pandemic by igniting her passion for reading.
There are a lot of people like Lorraine who wanted to be comforted by seeking refuge in this virtual book stop. And in the end, this virtual group didn’t only welcome its refugees but teaches them that nothing beats the joy of reading books, whether it is a torn one or newly printed, the joy trancsends beyond the lonely facades and sits quietly beyond all things –during these trying times, especially on these trying times. Photo courtesy: Books4Books Facebook Page
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mother MOTHERtongue TONGUE
Pagpaumpaw sa Nagatagumatayon Tikang sa pagtipig kag pagpasangkad kang mga lenggwahe sa Pilipinas Mga tinaga nanday MARIA KAYLA T. TINGZON kag ZYNNIE ROSE C. ZARAGOSA
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agkuon kita nga mga lenggwahe sa Pilipinas, una gid nga masulod sa pinsar ta amo ang Binisaya kang Cebu, Hiligaynon, Tagalog kag Filipino. Ang namanan kang kadam-an wara pa diyan natunga kay may 185 kita tanan ka mga lenggwahe sa bilog nga pungsod apang masubo panumdumon nga ang 28 kananda diyan ron sa italital, 11 ang nagahimumugto, kag wara ron bati-a sa tulad ang darwa. Para malikawan ang amatamat nga pagdura kang orihinal nga dinalan kag lenggwahe kang mga nanarisari nga grupo sa Pilipinas, nagdangup ang Asi Studies
Center for Culture and the Arts (ASCCA) sa isa ka grupo ka mga linguists kag computer scientists halin sa University of the Philippines (UP). Ang paghulag kang mga Asi ang nagta-o ka ideya kag motibasyon sa computer science professor nga si Mario Carreon kag sa ana imaw nga si Mantha Sadural, isa ka estudyante nga nagabuol master’s degree sa Linguistics agud matigayon ang isa ka community and mobile phone-based dictionary nga ginahingalangdan Project Marayom nga sa yuron, wise words sa Ingles. Ang inspirasyon sa likod kang proyekto gin-angut sa kontemporaryo nga pang
ginawi kon sa diin bisan ano nga tiyempo ukon sa diin ka man, amo ang mabukad sa oras nga kinahanglanon. Bisan pa nga may mga online ron nga diksyonaryo kang nagkalain-lain nga rehiyonal nga lenggwahe sa internet, ginatuyo ka pagtikang nga dya nga ipabatyag sa mga tawo nga sanda gid ang nagapanagiya kang anda tagsa ka mga nga lenggwahe. Para mangin parte kang online nga komunidad nga dya kag maka-ambit man kang serbisyo nga ginadul-ong kang diksyonaryo, anda gid ginalantaw nga dapat ang kabahin isa ka native speaker kang lenggwahe nga ana nga i-amot. Magaras ang proseso kang pagpaningkahoy kang proyekto kay antes ipalapnag sa duro nga tawo, ang mga tinaga busisi-on gid kag isa-isa nga ginatun-an kang mga
linguist kag institusyon kon husto ang paggamit para mapanigurado ang kredibilidad kag kalidad. Sa tulad, ang mga lenggwahe nga nalakip sa diksyunaryo amo ang Asi, Cebuano kang Southern Leyte, Kinaray-a kag Hiligaynon. Gina-amatamat ron man ka tipon ang mga tinaga para sa Akeanon kag Waray. Ginatuyo gid nga matapos sanda sa una nga kwarter kang madason nga tuig para mapakilala ang mga lunsay matahum nga mga lenggwahe, indi lang sa Pilipinas, kundi pati ron sa bilog nga kalibutan.
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Naghalin ka : Mantha Sadural, Project Manager
PAG-ULIKID SANG MGA BAHANDI KA NEGROS KAG PANAY Mga tinaga nanday GERLYN JOY P. ROJO kag REYNOLD L. SUMIDO JR.
Ang aton matahum nga kalibutan mas ginpaanyag pa gid sang nanari-sari nga mga butang sa aton palibot ─ halin sa mga tanom nga naghatag duag kag preska nga hangin asta sa mga kasapatan nga benepisyo ang bugay sa mga tawo. Masubo
Naghalin kanday: John Rey Callado kag Renee Galang, National Museum of the Philippines
man kay tawo man mismo ang nangin rason sang amat-amat nga pagkadula sining mga dunang manggad. Suno kay John Rey C. Callado, Researcher II sang National Museum of the Philippines, madamo nga mga kasapatan kag mga tanom nga sa isla sang Panay kag Negros lamang makita, sila ini and ginatawag nga endemic species sang lugar. Sa tion sang Pleistocene, nangin konektado ang Panay kag Negros—rason kon ngaa pareho ang mga species nga nagapuyo sa lugar nga kon pagatawgon nga NegrosPanay Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex (PAIC). Kabahin sa mga endemic species sa Negros-Panay PAIC ang duha ka species sang Rafflesia (Raflessia lobata kag Rafflessia speciosa) nga kilala bilang dako nga bulak nga may maantong nga baho. Luwas
diri, tatlo ka bag-o nga species sang Begonia ang makit-an sa kabukiran sang Antique. Sa mga sapat, ang Visayan Spotted Dear (Rusa alfredi), prayoridad sang proteksyon sa rehiyon, ang makita sa kabukiran sang Antique kag Aklan. May ara man isa ka klasi sang paka (Platymantis insulatus) kag sang tuko (Gekko gigante) nga makit-an lamang sa Isla Higantes sa Carles, Iloilo. Sa linyada sang mga endemic nga kapispisan, may duha ka klasi sang hornbill: ang Visayan Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides panini) kag Writhed-billed hornbill (Aceros waldeni); kag Negros bleeding-heart pigeon (Gallicolumba keayi). Luwas sa mga endemic species nga namitlang, yara man ang Visayan Worty Pig (Sus cebifrons), Panay Bush-tailed Cloud Rat (Crateromys heaneyi), kag Visayan
Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori). Sa tion nga madula ining aton mga dunang manggad, wala na sang pwede mabaylo nga kapareho gid sa ila sa bugos ng kalibutan. Sa subong, 8% nalang ang nabilin nga original forest covers sa Panay kag 3% sa Negros. Samtang naga-gamay ang ila ilistaran bangud sa halit nga buhat sang tawo parehos sang pagkaingin, naganubo man ang ila numero. Rason nga gintukod ang mga protected areas kag iban nga tikang agud mapalayo sila sa pagka-ubos. Nagaplano man ang National Museum Western Visayas nga magbukas sang gallery nga nagapakita sang mga nasambit nga species agud mag-engganyo sang mga tawo nga ulikdan ang mga panublion nga manggad sang mga ulihing tubo.
LATHALAIN
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Pelikula sa Gitna ng Pandemya Ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng pagpepelikula at sining ng pagkukuwento sa Plipinas Mula kay: Richard D. Olano Jr., Agimat Website, Eraserheads Fandom Website, Media Weaver IMDB Website & Wikipedia
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a mahigit 100 taon, nai-angkla na sa buhay ng mga Pilipino ang panonood ng mga pelikulang nagpamangha sa bawat emosyong pantao. Mula sa klasikong “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” na tumatalakay sa iba’t-ibang isyung panlipunan hanggang sa mga pelikulang sinasalamin ang pananampalataya sa Diyos at pagmamahal sa kapwa gaya ng mga obramaestrang “Himala” na patunay lamang sa naguumapaw na kakayahan ng mga Pilipinong humabi at tumirintas ng mga dekalibreng sining sa larangan ng sinematograpiya.
Ngunit sa gitna ng pandemiyang ating kinakaharap, na halos nililimitahan ang pagsasagawa ng mga ganitong obra, kumusta na kaya ang industriya ng pelikula? ALIW NA HATID SA GITNA NG PANDEMYA Sa kasalukuyan sa Pilipinas, nagkakaroon na ng online screenings ang iba’t-ibang mga pelikula na una nang ipinalabas sa sinehan, at ngayon, maaari nang mapanuod ng libre o ng may bayad, na siya namang napupunta sa mga kasapi ng produksyon, sapagkat isa rin ang hanapbuhay nila sa mga naapektuhan nitong pandemiya
Tungo sa Pagkilala at Pagtanggap Daan upang punan ang nakababahalang kakulangan ng mga naratibong LGBTQ at Mitolohiyang Pilipino Mga salita nina ERIC D. MORGUIA JR. at REYNOLD L. SUMIDO JR. Iginuhit ni KELLY P. RONVEAUX
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atid ng isang manunulat na popular sa Pilipinas ang mga kuwento ng mga diyos at diyosang Griyego, subalit hindi sapat ang kaalaman ng mga mamamayan nito tungkol sa mitolohiyang katutubo. Kaniya ring napagtantong halos walang mga naratibo ang tumatalakay sa mga lesbian, gays, bisexual, transgender at queer (LGBTQ) sa mga aklat na mayroon tayo, kung kaya’t sa kaniyang pananaw, mayroong “nakababahalang kakulangan”. Subalit sa kabila ng mga kakulangan, magagawa itong mapunan. Ito ang pinatunayan ni Adlao (sagisag-panulat lamang at hindi tunay na pangalan), isang
mag-aaral sa pamantasang ito, sa pagkatha ng kaniyang tatlong nobela. Ang kaniyang akdang “Mitolohiya: Filipino Deities and Where to Find Them” ay isang nobela tampok ang mga diyos at diyosa sa mitolohiyang Pilipino. Kabilang din ang kwentong “Takipsilim” sa kaniyang mga likha na siya namang nagsasalaysay sa mga karanasan na may kaugnayan sa pagkakaibigan, pag-ibig, at salamangka. Samantala, “Ang Ikatlong Buhay ni Eva Villanueva” ay isa namang “coming-of-age” na kuwento ng apat na teenager na tumatalakay sa pagkakaibigan, sekswalidad, at aktibismo.
Mga salita nina JONAR B. DORADO at ELLA HYACINTH R. GOLEZ
BIYAS NG SINING, HINDI PASISIIL Naging abot-kamay man ang panonood ng mga pelikula, hindi naman maipagkakaila na apektado talaga produksyong pampelikula dahil sa pagsasara ng mga sinehan buhat nang magkaroon ng pandemya. Nabawasan ang paglikha nga mga mainstream movies at maging ng mga independent films na sa kakaunting budget lang umaasa. Ramdam din ito ng sumisibol na Ilonggong direktor at manunulat ng malayang pelikula na si Richard Olano Jr. “Sa tingin ko, pangmatagalan ang epekto ng pandemiyang
ito sa mga film fest kasi marami nang naging virtual. Makapagbigay man ito ng aliw sa mga kabahayan, mas nagiging talamak ang piracy,” pahayag ni Olano. Kasabay ng mga pagbabagong ito, ilan sa mga bagay na sumusubok sa tatag ng mga taong nasa industriya ay kung paano panatilihing umaalab ang kanilang malikhaing pag-iisip. Para kay Direk Olano, lumalago pa rin ang pelikulang lokal sa kabila ng dagok na ating kinakaharap. Bagama’t patuloy na binabayo ng mga pagsubok ang daigdig, babalik tayo sa dati at muling magpupunyagi ang pelikulang Pilipino.
‘PANTAY NA PAGKILALA, HINDI ESPESYAL NA KATEGORYA’ Sa panayam ng The Forum kay Adlao, aniya, nais niyang magbigay ng inspirasyon upang lumikha pa ng mas maraming naratibong queer, kung saan walang sekswalisasyon, walang pagtataksil at kamatayan; bagkus ang mga queer ay nakapamumuhay nang normal tulad ng lahat. Ayon sa kaniya, salin mula sa wikang Ingles, “Wala kaming pinagkaiba sa mga taong heterosexual at cis-gendered. Kami rin ay karapat-dapat na magkaroon ng patas na representasyon at hindi kailangang ilagay sa isang espesyal na kategorya.” Katulad ng kaniyang sagisagpanulat na hango sa pangalan ng diyos
ng araw ng mga Bisaya, sa pamamagitan ng mga akdang ito, nais rin niyang magbigayliwanag sa mga mambabasa upang mas lalong kilalanin, pahalagahan, at ipagpunyagi ang kulturang Pilipino at ang naratibo ng ating mga kapatid na kasapi ng LGBTQ community tungo sa pantay na pagkilala at pagtanggap sa lipunan.
SPORTS
WVSU VS falls short on Int’l Esport qualiFIers
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Words by CLINT M. BELLOSILLO & KEVEN RIZZO C. SITJAR
nfortunately, this time, the best was not good enough. Thus, West Visayas State University (WVSU) VS Esports failed the mission of becoming the country’s representative for the PVP Esports Campus Championship after desperate attempts to secure its mark in a series of battle against 60 teams during the qualifying rounds of AcadArena Qualifier for National Campus Open: Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB), October 10-24. As rookies of the said tourney, WVSU VS passed the early stages of the qualifiers by clinching victories against Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) LG Alpha in the Alliance Qualifier; University off Mindanao Midnight Chaos in the Open 1 qualifiers; University
of San Agustin Golden Eagles; and University of Santo Tomas (UST) Greekgods in the Open 2 qualifiers. However, they faced elimination after facing LG Alpha on a rematch. “We were sad because we really wanted to represent our school in the National League but we fell short,” said Arjay Santie Magcalas, team captain of WVSU VS. It was a learning experience for the team said Magcalas, to improve their performance for future competitive gaming events after playing against notable universities in this field. “We realized that even we are strong players as individuals, we didn’t have enough time to practice and sync together, teamwork is the most important thing in order to win games, we fell short, but we will come back
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STRIDES, HURDLES, AND SUCCESS. Renan Herrera, SEA Games gold medalist from Guimaras shares his life as an athlete in one of the episodes of Guimaras’ Players’ Center Sports Academy initiated by Dr. Gabayoyo. PLAYERS’ SPORTS CENTER ACADEMY FACEBOOK PAGE
stronger,” he added. After observing the strategies of strong opponents that VS have encountered, the team is looking forward to engage in practice in widening their hero pool, improving drafting strategies and adjusting to the changing meta of MLBB. The members of VS formed by the WVSU Esports Organization are Arjay Santie Magcala; team captain and Tank, Mark Vincent Atinon; Mage, John Benedict Santerva and Zymon L. Loquiano; Offlanes, Jaycee Dela Mar; Core, Jesreel C Colacion; 6th man of the team, and Michael Jayson Remolio; Manager.
EYES ON THE PRIZE. Amidst pandemic, WVSU VS illuminated perseverance and determination during the Acad Arena Qualifier for their quest towards the national championships. ARJAY SANTILE MAGCALAS
Univ sports director institutes ‘sports for a cause’ amid pandemic Words by JONAR B. DORADO & REESA T. AZARRAGA
o pandemic could stop the spirit of sportsmanship! With the aim to help aspiring athletes in achieving their full potentials amid the pandemic, Dr. Richard Gabayoyo, University Sports Director of West Visayas State University (WVSU) initiated a sports talk show program in the Province of Guimaras last September. This recreational activity was pioneered by Gabayoyo as part of his social responsibilities to sports heroes and talents of Guimaras and to inspire athletes, coaches and technical officials to get back to sports which is in line with the Players’ Center Sports Academy’s program established in October 2019 Due to the rising number of suicide cases in the said province, Gabayoyo was urged to organize talk shows to motivate the athletes and coaches in the region
and help cope with depression by staying active. “Actually during lockdown, players’ center sports academy has distributed face masks to the motorbanca Porters, crews, tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers and market vendors in the province. We have also distributed rice allowance to the members of Guimaras Taekwondo Union and initiated the street volleyball tournament as a fund raising activity for the crews and porters of motorbanca who have suffered a lot from the stoppage of motorbanca operations from Guimaras to Iloilo,” Gabayoyo stated. Meanwhile, due to the deferral of the University events this academic year including the Hinampang, the University is planning for sports activities which will be held online to follow minimum health protocols imposed by the government.
“Regarding the sports activities in West, almost every week we are attending coaching and officiating webinars through our linkages to national sports associations and we have plans to have an online sports competition among the students of WVSU,” shared Gabayoyo.
A BOW OF VICTORY. A Team Guimaras player bows his head as Sports Director Dr. Richard J. Gabayoyo confers him the gold medal award for the 2019 SM National Basketball Training Center as part of his Players’ Sports Center Academy. PLAYERS’ SPORTS CENTER ACADEMY FACEBOOK PAGE