Tabloid: 2017 Issue

2 INQUIRY The Appraiser has been standing strong for its 11th year now, still giving CBEMians the latest news and relevant stories that will inform and capture the students’ attention regarding on what’s really happening not only inside the campus, but also about local and national issues. In this semester’s issue, we aim to let the students care and not be apathetic particularly on the issues happening in our country. Let’s not be ignorant about it. Our thoughts matter, we deserve to be heard. As the student publication, we have the power of the pen in our hands and to express our thoughts through words. We tried our best to write about articles that are timely and which students can relate to. We also brought out stories which showcase the talents and expertise of CBEMians. Our latest tabloid issue is done through the hard works of the Editorial Board and staff. We may not be experts in this but we assure you that we are giving genuine service by giving the truth, nothing but the truth. As vanguards of truth, we will continue on expressing the voice of the studentry. We are campus jour - nalists and we fight for what we believe is right. Let us serve you with authenticity and be encouraged to join in having freer campus journalism. Probe.Write.Express. Hazel Grace M. Sodsod Editor-in-Chief EDITOR’S NOTE Cover, Newspaper Layout, and Graphics Design by Charmane Joy Macasinag

EDITORIAL 3 Saan Ka Sasakay? Pangakong pagbabago ng Pangulo, saan nga ba patutungo? Hindi ito mada - li. Kailangang may magsimula at magkai - sa ang pangkalahatan para sa kaayusan at kaunlaran. Isa sa mga hakbang na ito ay ang pagbabawal at pagpapalit ng kinagis - nang dyip. Sabi nga sa isang kanta ng Asin “Hindi naman masama ang pag-unlad kung hindi makakasira ng kalikasan.” Kaya naman, maganda nga kung mga “E-Jeep” o dyip na pinatatakbo ng kuryente sa halip na mga lumang dyip na de gasolina ang ating makikita at masasakyan sa daan, walang usok o polusyon at mas komport - able. Lalo na’t talaga namang napakaganda ng bagong modelo ng dyip na isinusulong ngayon ng gobyerno pamalit sa dating uri nito na halos kalahating siglo ng nagha - hari sa kalsada. Panahon na para ikawala ang bansa sa problemang dulot ng kina - sanayan at isaayos ito gamit ang kaganda - han ng makabagong teknolohiya. Sa libo-libong bilang nito halos bi - hira ka na lamang makakakita ng buong kalsadang walang tumatakbong jeep, lalo na sa Maynila at iba pang mga naglalaki - hang siyudad, kahit dito mismo sa Legaz - pi. At dahil narin sa ito ang pangunahing sasakyang pampubliko, di maiiwasang makita ng karamihan sa atin ang mga ka - malian at problemang dulot nito; trapiko, polusyon sa hangin, mga aksidente at kung ano-ano pa. Sino nga ba naman sainyo ang hindi pa kahit minsan nakaranas na makasay sa isang sira-sirang dyip o kaya naman ay may drayber na masungit yung tipong walang disiplina sa kalsada, na bata’t matanda ka - hit nasa gitna nagpapababa? Minsan nga yung dyip naman talaga ang dahilan ng ating pagkahuli sa eskwela o trabaho kasi naman si manong drayber panay ang tam - bay sa tabi kakaasam makadami ng pasa - ASOsasyon Hindi tayo aso na pagtango at pagkumpas lang ng buntot ang tugon sa bawat utos ng amo natin, na pa - rang nakaprograma na ang lahat ng ating magiging reaksyon sa ano mang sitwasyon. Minsan, ang aso ay tumatahol para mapa - kinggan at maiparating na siya’y nakadarama at nasasaktan. Ang tatlong sangay ng gobyerno - ang Korte Suprema (Hudikatura), ang Kongreso (Lehislatibo) at ang Tanggapan ng Pangulo (Ehekutibo) na itinalaga ng ating estado ay may magkakaibang tungkulin, lahat para sa kapakanan at kaayusan ng lahat ng mama - mayan. Ang Korte Suprema bilang pinaka - mataas na hukuman ang siyang nag-iinterpret ng batas at tumutulong sa pag-aayos at pag - wawasto ng konstitusyon ng mga itinatalag - ang batas na ibinabase sa ating konstitusyon. Samantalang ang kongreso naman na binubuo ng senado at mababang kongreso o House of Representatives ang siya namang gumagawa ng mga batas upang panatilihin ang kaayusan at “checks and balances” ng gobyerno. Sila ang tagapagwasto ng mga itinatalagang batas tulad ng mga ordinansa o panukala ng pangulo at hero, ayon, ginawa ng terminal ang bawat kanto. Sa dami ng bilang nila, san - damakmal din ang usok na kanilang binubuga, kaya kahit umaga palang damit na bagong plantsa ay mabaho na, di pa nga nakakarating sa pupuntah - an damit ay madumi na. Kaya’t minsan mapapaisip ka, sapat lang na alisin na ang mga pas - away ng kalsada at palitan ng sasakyang may “dash cam” at sa loob ay may “wifi” pa, madaling sabihin diba? lalo na kung ang ikinabubuhay sa inyo ay hindi naman galing sa pawis at hirap ng pagdadrayb o pamamasada. Pero bakit nga ba natawag na “Anti-poor” ang programang ito ng gobyerno? hindi ito dahil sa madadagdag na singil pama - sahe ng makabagong dyip kun - di dahil sa mala-panggigipit na hakbang ng Pangulo sa mga drayber at operator ng mga lumang dyip. Ang “E-jeep” ay tinatayang magkakahalaga ng di baba sa P1.5 M, at ang lumang dyip naman ay babayaran sa may-ari ng P30,000 lamang. Ang solusyon ng pamahalaan ay ang pautangin ang mga ito ng kinakailangang halaga na baba - ng kongreso. Binabalanse din nito at sinisiguradong huwag magka - roon ng pang-aabuso sa kapang - yarihan ang sinuman sa pamaha - laan lalong-lalo na ang Pangulo. Ngunit may silbi nga ba ang pagkakahati ng kapangyarihan ng gobyerno sa tatlong sangay nito? Meron nga naman, pero paano kung ang mga taong nanunungku - lan sa mga sangay na ito ay mag - kaka-alyado o hawak sa leeg ng iisang tao – ang Pangulo. Na sa bawat sabihin at gustuhin niya ay tatango nalang ang mga ito at walang gagawin kahit hindi na tama mga ang hakbang na kanyang gustong tahakin. Kung dugo ang nagpapagalaw sa ating katawan, pera naman ang bumubuhay sa ating gobyerno, at ang perang ito o pondo ay nasa ilalim ng kapang - yarihan ng Pangulo, kung saan ito ilalaan at ibibigay na departamento o opisina, kabilang na ang pondo ng Korte Suprema at budget ng bawat mambabatas sa kongreso. At sa lingwahe ng politika, pera ang pinakamahalaga dahil na nga rin sa kadahilanang ito ang nagpapagalaw sa pamahalaan, kaya naman kung saan nito makakakuha ang isang pulitiko ay dun din siya aanib at makikisama. Kasabay ng pagkapanalo ng kasa - lukuyang presidente na si Rodrigo Duterte ay ang pagkapanalo ng tatlo pa niyang kaalyado mula sa PDP-La - ban. Ngunit hindi natigil sa tatlo ang pagdami ng kakampi ng pangulo sa gobyerno. Isang buwan makalipas ang yaran nila sa tinatayang halaga na P 800 araw-araw sa loob ng pitong taon. Dito sa Legazpi, ang halagang iyon ay hindi kayang kitain sa isang araw sapagka’t kumikita lamang ng di tataas sa limang daan ang mga drayber dahil narin sa gastos sa gasoline, pang-boundary at mga gastusin sa pamilya. Ang pagpapalit sa na - kasanayang sasakyang ito ay sim - bolo ng pangakong pagbabago ng Pangulo, kailangan ng bansang ito ng maayos at maaasahang sasakyan para makarating ito sa patutun - guhan nitong kaunlaran. Ngayon, saan ka sasakay? eleksyon, hindi lang dumoble o tru - miple kundi mayorya na ng Kapu - lungan ng Kinatawan ay sumapi at naging kaalyado na ng presidente. Ang pag-anib ng ilan ay katumbas ng pagtalaga sa kanya ng sigura - dong posisyon sa gobyerno at pan - gakong mga proyekto at pondo. Hindi naman talaga masama na piliin ng pangulo ang mga taong sa tingin niya ay makatutulong sa kanyang pamamalakad. Pero tila ang kapalit ng pagtatalaga sa po - sisyon nila ay ang pagtango at pa - giging sunud-sunuran sa anumang desisyong nais niya. Kaya naman, hindi nila magawa-gawang tutulan ang mga utos nito. Bilang patunay, mapapansin mo ang mga balita sa radyo, telebisyon at pahayagan pa - tungkol sa presidente hindi lang dahil siya ang pinakasikat na tao sa bansa kundi dahil sa mga hakbang nitong kinokondena ng marami. Ngunit sa kabila ng pagtutol ng maraming grupo sa mga desisyon at utos ng presidente, patuloy pa rin itong naipatutupad. Meron na bang ginusto ang pangulo na hindi niya nakuha? Wala ‘di ba? Kung meron man, malamang ito’y nasa proseso na. Ang tungkulin ng ibang sangay ng gobyerno ay hanggang sulat na lamang, walang pagsasakatuparan. Bilang isang demokratikong bansa, ang pagiging sunud-sunuran at pag - papabaya ng mga nakaposisyong ito sa kanilang tungkulin na timbangin at panatilihing balanse ang gobyerno ay isang malaking sampal sa atin. Sabi nga, kung walang oposisyon walang demokrasya. Ang pamamahala ay isang asosasyon ng mga miyembro. Hindi ito relasyon sa pagitan ng amo at aso.

4 NEWS Earlier this June, seven College of Business, Economics and Management (CBEM) professors of the 32 endorsed by Bicol University are qualified for the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) scholarship program for its transition plan on the K to 12 curriculum. This grant from CHED aims to provide schol- arship grants for a full-time study to faculty mem- bers or professors from Higher Education Insti- tutions. Dr. Helen Llenaresas, BU’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, stated that the program is an improvement for the university’s faculty profile and a human resource development in the university. Dr. Eddie S. See, Dean of the College, cited in a post, seven names of faculty members certified for the grant. These are: 1) Prof. Ilona Matias, on- going doctorate of the Economics department, 2) Prof. Elmer A. Lorenzana, new doctorate of the Entrepreneurship department, 3) Prof. Mary Ann B. Tonga, new doctorate of the Management de- partment, 4) Prof. Nolan G. Belaro, new doctor- ate of the Entrepreneurship department, 5) Prof. Evangeline D. Honrado, new doctorate of the BSBA department, 6) Prof. Julie Ann M. Lustan, new doctorate of the BS Entrepreuneurship de- partment and 7) Prof. Janet G. Poja, new doctor- ate of the BSBA department. The professors will take three to four years to finish their doctorate degree, depending on their chosen course or field of specialization. Also, in this note, the university was con- ferred with questions with respect to the teaching loads of the professors on study leave. Howev- er, Dr. Llenaresas, further assured that there are part-timers or contractual faculty members who will handle the class loads while they are on their leave. The substitute professors were Cheryl Ann Aranas, Ronnel Madraso, Joy Lawenko, Kristina Ballesteros and Mar Belgica. 7 CBEM Profs qualify for CHED’s scholarship grant by Janne Nicole P. Garcia Hufflepuff composing of BS Management, BS Social Work and BSBA Operations Management, conquered the rivalling clusters: Gryffindor, Slytherin and Ravenclaw during the 1st Daraga Campus Intramurals last August 22- 24,2017. With the over-all garnered points of 12,552, Hufflepuff made it to the top against Gryffindor who placed 2nd with 10,980 total points, Slytherin garnering 8,269.5 points bagged the 3rd place and Ravenclaw placing 4th with its 7,383 points. The over-all scores were accumulated from the two major divisions: the Sports Competition and Festival of Events. For the Sports Competition, Gryffindor got 6,387.5 points, Slytherin has earned 4,962.5 points, Hufflepuff who gathered 4, 547.5 points and Ravenclaw with 1,412.5 points while in the Festival of Events the clusters got the scores of 9,185, 6,614, 16,006, 11,941 respectively. This year’s intramurals is the combination of Bicol University College of Social Sciences (BUCSSP) and Philosophy and BU-College of Busi- ness, Economics and Management (BU-CBEM). All-IN FOR CLUSTERING Dr. Eddie S. See, Dean of BU-CBEM had explained the conduct of this year’s cluster intramurals during the opening ceremony of Daraga Campus Intramurals at Albay Sports Complex, August 22, 2017. Dr. See pointed out that the reason for this is mainly because of the K+ 12 Program, resulting for the two-year gap which prompted the implementation of clustering. This year, BU has executed such move because of the population cut due to the Junior and Se- nior High School Curriculum and also to defray the needed expenditures, lessening the burden of each student for the payment of intramural fees. “Well, we asked the College Student Councils (CSCs) if they wanted a clustering or not and they all agreed for a clustering since medyo short ang colleges sa budget and konti nalang ang population ng students and the purpose of clustering talaga is uniting the different colleges.” University Student Council (USC) Public Information Officer, Reyniel Belo stated. On the other hand, Dr. Gerard Lawenko, Dean of BU-CSSP, spoke that Daraga Campus is one family, building camaraderie and unity amid diversity of both colleges, during his message in the opening ceremony. INEVITABLE DISPUTES “So far the conflict during the 1st DC (Daraga Campus) Intramurals were the difference of CBEM and CSSP when it comes to culture as a whole and the abrupt implementation of CHED Memorandum Order No. 63.” CBEM CSC President, Roby Borja discussed. Hufflepuff claims 1st Daraga Campus Intrams’ Champ By: Danica Arganda To celebrate the 13th Foundation Day of Bicol University College of Business, Economics and Management (BUCBEM), a program was held last September 11, 2017 at BU Entrep Hall. Celebrating 13 years of educational excellence with its more define and higher level of competitiveness, CBEM continuously serve quality education that is not only locally competitive but also internationally. The program started with a mass participat- ed by students, professors and administrators. Dr. Liwayway M. Ables and Prof. Liza Alvarado both shared their messages to the success CBEM had achieved and the success CBEM will achieve together with the ever-supportive teaching staffs and administrators. There are also games organized that are actively participated by participants of each department in the college. The said activity was spearheaded by the CSC. After marking its first showing year, La Prima Del Filme, a short film competition is back with brand new set of short films. Now on its second year, this short film tilt spearheaded by the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) - Bicol University Chapter served as the highlight of the organization’s an- nual acquaintance party known as Acquainting Students on Corporate Assembly, Recreation and Sociability (ASCARS) held last July 14, 2017 at The Concourse Convention Center, Legazpi City. This time, the entry of BSA 5-B entitled “Balik Tanaw” bested the other seven entries for the Best Picture Award. This unscripted short film directed by Sean Patrick Vibar depicts the bittersweet moments of their five years stay in the BS Accountancy Program. “Like a lone soldier put in a battlefield unarmed, each of the interviewee entered the interrogation room sentient yet unaware of what will happen next. This raw idea just definitely added to the sincerity and candidness of the whole film,” Vibar replied when asked about the details of their unscripted movie. In addition to the Best Picture Award, “Balik Tanaw” also received five other distinctions namely Best Film Editing, Best Trailer, Most Watched Trailer, Best Lead Actor for Christian De Los Reyes and Best Lead Actress for Vanessa Caṅeta. Meanwhile, “Typecast” of BSMA 4 secured the Best Poster and Social Media Fan Favorite Awards, Ivan Geoff Sa-Ong of “Amal” bagged the Best Supporting Actor Award and Elaine Borlado of “8:18,” claimed the Best Supporting Actress Award. Other films include “Bachelor of Arts in Ac- countancy” of BSA 3-A, “Tayo” of BSA 3-B, “Seek- ing Signs” of BSMA 3, and “Cathartic” of BSA 5-A. For this year, all of the entries considered the theme “Hope.” After about three months of construction, the proposed student lounge is now finished and started its operation last June 2017. The constructed kiosk was the solution that the college addresses for the students to avoid staying on a vacant room and avoid disturbance to those who have classes. The built kiosk was proposed by Dr. Ed- die S. See, Dean of CBEM, a facility that serves as a student lounge, canteen and another place for the student to stay while waiting for their class. According to the students, the kiosk was an effective facility to stay while waiting for the next classes, but they added that the benches and tables are limited especially when they have a group review and meetings for subject matters. Meanwhile, these newly-built kiosk was located near the canteen and as originally proposed it includes benches and tables. The roof also protected the students from the heat of the sun and rainy seasons as well. Further, the allocated budget for that kiosk was costs 336,000 pesos which comes from the savings of the college and was agreed by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC). CBEM celebrates its 13th Foundation Day by Mary Mae Buenafe JPIA brings back short film fest Unscripted film bags Best Picture By: Arianne Kate Borromeo Student lounge now stand by Ailyn Moscoso BU places 5th in CPA Board anew by Ian Llaneta Bicol University (BU) once again proved that it is one of the best accountancy schools in the Philippines after ranking fifth on the recently announced results of the October 2017 Board Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants (BLECPA). This time, BU yields 53 new CPAs from the 68 takers attaining a passing rate of 77.94 percent. National passing rate is 30.45 percent. It can be noted that last year, BU also secured the fifth spot among the top performing schools with a rating of 84.93 percent. Before this recent milestone, BU has been constantly performing well in the CPA board exam for the past consecutive years. Actually, it has produced several top notchers since 1996 and even named as the second top performing school last 2011 and 2012, next to UP Diliman. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) conducted the 4-day CPA licensure exam in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Lucena, Tacloban and Tuguegarao last October 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2017. The oath taking of the 4,511 passers including the 53 from BU will take place in the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on November 27, 2017. continue to page 5 LAUNCHING OF LOUNGE. Bicol University College of Business, Economics and Management (BUCBEM) Dean Eddie S. See and Associate Dean Sonnie A. Ramos together with BU President Arnulfo Mascariṅas and Vice President for Academic Affairs Helen Llenaresas lead the ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly built student lounge last June 2017 after about three months of construction. (Photo by Dr. Eddie S. See, Dean) Photo by JPIA

NEWS 5 by Ruffa Linchoco and Joey Kristian Nuñez Next academic year, Bicol University College of Business, Economics and Management (BU-CBEM) will offer Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Management upon the go signal of the Commission on Higher Education. As there is no Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order which will form basis as the minimum requirements for the program Bachelor of Science in Management, it will be aligned with Business Administration Programs, converting it into Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Management. According to Ms. Helen M. Llenaresas, the Bicol University Vice President for Academic Affairs, BS Management Program will not be dissolved but renamed. “So it’s just actually a change of name, we have practically retained the major courses (of BSM Program)”. When BS Management will be aligned with Business Administration, the only difference is that, the course will be more specific, unlike before where it is considered a generalist course. Meanwhile, since BS Management is already on the Level 3 Accreditation, it is requested by the College to retain the Accreditation status of the Program and for it to be carried over in BSBA Major in Management program, for most of the courses are still present in renamed program. Those who are currently enrolled in BS Management will graduate under the BS Management Program. The incoming first year students are the one taking up the renamed program. What happened is that at first, the College of Business, Economics and Management presented for the BS Management revisions. But when it reaches the Clearing House, they were advised by the Clearing House members to adopt the BSBA major in Management for it is the one with the CHED Memorandum Order. As of now, what is already approved by the Board of Regents is the BSBA Major in Management. But the College is working out to retain the BS Management name of the Program. If the Commission on Higher Education will allow the College to retain the BS Management name but use the CHED Memorandum Order for the BSBA Major in Management, the College will again present the revisions to the Clearing House and Academic Council. “So hindi pa siya maayos, actually, hinihintay natin yung sasabihin ng CHED,” according to Ms. Llenaresas. But she made it clear that whatever happens, the Curriculum should be ready by next school year. VPAA: BS Mg’t is not dissolved but renamed The Commission on Higher Education has lifted the new order to ensure the safety of students especially in the conduct of off-campus activities. The memorandum comprises of stricter policies and guidelines to be observed and adhered by the Higher Education Institutions. Traditionally, most of events during Intramurals were conducted outside the campus however the execution of the new CHED memorandum caused the heads of the event to transfer the venues of the different activities within the university premises prior to the scheduled dates. According to Mr. Borja, the Mr. and Ms. BU Daraga Campus was able to push through at the Albay Astrodome because everything was already prepared and laid out, making it impossible to compromise with all the effort and expenses incurred. Meanwhile, Christian Lloyd Marcaida, CSSP CSC President, said that the problem of the college with regards to the intramurals, was the fund or monetary division, considering the population difference of both colleges. Mr. Marcaida further stated that they also encountered conflict with their Student Devel- opment Fund which was resolved when the two CSCs agreed to divide the expenses proportionately based on the total student’s population. With the conflict to the culture differences of the two colleges, Mr. Borja had explained that it by Ian Llaneta The Bicol University Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (BU JPIA) established its first yearly regional competition for Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) students last October 15, 2017 at the College of Engineering Gymnasium, BU East Campus. Dubbed as Regional ABM Annual Quiz Showdown (RABMAQS), this dual academic event composed of a seminar and an interschool competition gathered 94 students coming from 17 public and private senior high schools throughout the region. Participating schools include Bicol University, Casiguran Technical Vocational School, Daraga National High School, Divine Word College of Legazpi, Forbes Academy, Gallanosa National High School, Magallanes National High School, Marcial O. Raṅola Memorial School, Oas Polytechnic School, Pilar National Comprehensive High School, PLT Colleges of Guinobatan Inc., Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Pilar Inc. , St. Agnes Academy, Tabaco National High School, The Lewis College, Universidad de Sta. Isabel, University of was resolved through understanding cultural differences and setting aside the individual interests and focusing on the goal for championship. Furthermore, Mr. Marcaida pointed out “May mga student na hindi alam na may clustering kaya pag tinanong na Daraga Campus, CBEM agad ang nasasabi, it did break my heart kasi nawawalan kami ng identity during this intramural.” However, despite such, he mentioned that teamwork has reigned in the over-all conduct of this big event. A SUCCESS OR A FLOP? “Our intramural is successful; however, cluster- ing is not.” Mr. Marcaida replied when asked the query if the 1st Daraga Campus Intramurals a success. “For me, it was a success in a way that despite of the differences of the two colleges, the cluster intra- murals produced winning participants for the Sep- tember’s Festival and ultimately have shown that still Unity amidst Diversity.” Mr. Borja exclaimed. The Daraga Campus Intramural was composed of four competing clusters namely Cluster 1 as Slytherin comprising of AB Economics, BS Accountancy and AB Philosophy; Cluster 2 as Ravenclaw composing of BSBA Marketing Management, BSBA Financial Management and AB Sociology; Cluster 3 or the Hufflepuff with BS Management, AB Social Work and BSBA Operations Management and Cluster 4 or Gryffindor with BSBA Human Resource Development, BSBA Microfinance, AB Political Science and BA Peace Studies. women’s volleyball, football and sepak takraw and two 2nd runner ups in men’s badminton and women’s basketball category. Cluster Four’s contenders Joyce Ann N. Magpantay and Joshua P. Escober were con- ferred the night’s First runners-up for Mr. and Ms. BU ’17. While Maria Mikaela Ariate bagged 2nd runner-up. Ariate along with John Rae A. Mediaro got hold of 18 minor awards such as the King and Queen of Hearts, Best in Produc- tion Number (Male Category), People’s Choice Award (Female Category), Mr. and Ms. Photo- genic, Best in Swimwear (Female Category), Mr. and Ms. Light Fitness, Mr. and Ms. Pacific Mall (Female Category), Mr. Bicol Food Delights, Mr. and Ms. Drip Room Aesthetic, Mr. RCBC, Mr. and Ms. Smart, Face of Quadra (Male Cat- egory) and Best in Formal Attire (Male Catego- ry). However, Cluster 1 composing of the Col- lege of Education and IPESR garnered the 1st runner up in the overall ranking. Third on the list is Cluster 3 (CIT, IA, CENG) followed by Cluster 2 (CAL, CN, CS) and lastly, claiming the fifth rank is Cluster 7 (BUPC). continuation from page 15 (BUDC vanquishes) continuation from page 4 (Hupplepuff claims) BU JPIA establishes first region-wide ABM tilt Gathers 17 schools, 94 studes Nueva Caceres , and Zamora Memorial College. Participants competed in three different categories known as cups in Basic Finance, Basic Accounting and Business Math. Every student was entitled to join in maximum of two cups. A total of 39, 75, and 70 students battled for excellence in Basic Finance, Basic Accounting and Business Math respectively. By: Hazel Grace M. Sodsod Peer Counselors Organization (PCO) conducts guidance-related activities: International Friendship Day, Buddies over Bullies and Career On, Press Forward for the betterment and awareness of the students. International Friendship Day was conducted last July 24, 2017 wherein students wrote on the notes posted in front of the E-Hall. Meanwhile, Buddies over Bullies is Anti-Bullying Forum was done last September 6, 2017 at E-Hall which was participated by 6 students per organization wherein it seeks to provide awareness about the existing laws on bullying, promote values which will refrain the students from bullying, and generate allies who will promote a friendly and supportive community. Lastly, the University-Wide Employability Enhancement with JOBS180.COM with its theme, Career On, Press Forward which was organized by the Student Welfare Services Division (SWSD), formerly known as University Guidance Services Office (UGSO) last September 13, 2017 at BUCENG Gym was participated by all graduating students wherein they were taught on how to face the real world after graduation. PCO is an auxiliary organization of the guid- ance. If there are activities of the guidance either in college or university, they are the ones being tapped to. They are the bridge between the guid- ance and the students since it is easier to reach out for them and problems and issues are easily addressed within the college. “Honestly, maraming di nakakakilala sa PCO. They thought na non-existing ang org na yun and PCO conducts guidance-related activities It’s more than what you think some would say na bago lang daw yata kami or what. But No, matagal na ang PCO. Inalis lang ata since nawalan ng adviser or faculty in charge sa guidance. Then when Ms. Jelai Paz, guidance counselor ng CBEM and CSSP became the GC, binalik niya ulit. Silent org siya kung tutuusin. Kahit ako nga dati di ako aware,” said Mary Ann Sicad, BUCBEM PCO President said when asked about how students see their organization. “Pero ngayon since may bago na na faculty in charge, which is Sir Edgar Barrameda, and we do share the same goals for both guidance and PCO, kaya mas nagiging active kami. And isa pala sa mga goals namin is marecognize ng mga students ang PCO and of course ang guidance. Yung alam nila na nag eexist ang guidance for them and open anytime na may issue na kailangang maaddress,” she added. There were other activities conducted by the SWSC before wherein they organize and get students from CBEM who will participate in it. One of this is Developing Self-Esteem in which it is a seminar for students from unconventional families. EQUALLY COMPETITIVE. Several ABM (Accountancy, Business and Management) students from different senior high schools across the region simultaneously solve a problem from one of the three cups during the first Regional ABM Annual Quiz Showdown (RABMAQS) conducted by Bicol University Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (BU JPIA) last Oct. 15, 2017 at the College of Engineering Gymnasium, BU East Campus. (Photo by BU JPIA) STAND FOR A PURPOSE. Together with Dr. Eddie S. See, Peer Counselors Organization (PCO) stand for a purpose after holding “Buddies Over Bullies,” an anti-bullying forum held last Sept. 6, 2017 at the Entrepreneurhip Hall. (Photo by BU-CBEM Peer Counselors Club Facebook page) WINNING SMILES. Joshua Escober (fourth from left), Joyce Ann Magpantay (third from left), and Maria Mikaela Ariate (second from left) of Bicol University Daraga Campus (BUDC) wear their victory smiles after bagging the First Runner-Up for male category, First Runner-Up for female category and Second Runner-Up for female category respectively during the Search for Mister and Miss Bicol University 2017 last Sept. 20, 2017. (Photo by Aliza Osma)

6 BUSINESS To say it’s not hard to enter the business world would be an understatement. But these hardships were flipped over, crushed and moved out of the way as Bicol University CBEM students successfully established their businesses while still studying. In that white-midnight blue uniform are dreams starting to be realized in their own unique, amazing ways. Who would have thought that galaxy is just hundred steps away? Yes, and you wouldn’t already need a boyfriend promising to get the stars for you for Großer Biss Diner captured it all and provide it publicly in Daraga, Albay. Großer means big and Biss means bite, they are German words. The idea of this diner built by Entrepreneurship students is to provide food in ‘galactic’ servings for their target market is “barkadas” whose, nowadays, are always looking for something new. The diners’ place is actually a residence of one of the establisher, Khay Gomez. The lower part of their house was just renovated and for them, it is a great help for the money supposedly used for the rent expense would be saved already. Plus, the store will surely be monitored for Khay stays in it and is just a stone throw away. Facing the diner’s entrance is a wall with several constellations in it and the left side were creatively hanged pictures of their costumers which its top says, “the stars that complete our galaxy.” Carbonara, nachos, fries and several flavors of juices - all on large servings, were their best sellers. According to Khay in establishing a business, “Dapat you’re into it talaga, yung puso mo dapat nandun and you have to give your all.” Their diner can be visited from Mondays to Saturdays, 3:00 pm onwards on Mondays and 2:00 pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays and they close at 8:00 in the evening. According to them, the problems that they usually encounter are the bad weather and at the same time, the people who often complain for there is no signage along the road and stairs are needed to be climbed to get their diner. Conflicts are indeed inevitable that’s why patience and understanding according to Ms. Khay is really of importance. Groβer Biss is established by ten CBEM Entrepeneurship students: Christopher V. Hinlo, Peter B. MacamJun-jun C. Bajamundi, Jhonnil H. Exconde, Khay L. Gomez, Raven L. Sevilla, Jarelyn Agudo, Romelyn M. Magdaong, Kimberly Anne R. Magdaong and Louise Angela C. Avlueco A business you can’t see every day. You can’t touch it; you can’t reach it with you bare hands ‘cause it’s far, far away from you. Then how on earth will you manage it? Well, it’s proven simple by this next entrepreneur and did I already mention that he’s still a student? Yes, Ryan Joshua Quiñones is a student under the BSBA Major in Marketing Program. He owns the Supah Kid Clothing Shop. The name was adopted from Supah Shop; Supah Kid, for it’s a small version of Supah Shop. This business of him is located at their own Criminology College in Piot, Sorsogon. Actually, he started up crediting his capital. And since being a student in CBEM requires his presence here in Legazpi, he’s unable to see his business every day. Good thing is that he has the best business partner possible; his mother. He credited his starting capital with her and she manages his store while Ryan is in Legazpi. He also has this tenants that attend to his store who at the same time are scholars in their college. Ryan uploads photos of the clothes available with the shop’s social media accounts; Supah Kid Clothing Shop on facebook and supahkidclothingshop on Instagram. And whenever someone has orders, he communicates it with his mother for the reservation. And since his store is located inside a college, during events, he also accepts printing of shirts which he brings in Legazpi and just charge for an extra payment. “Dapat pala nagsimula ako ng mas maaga, ‘yung hindi pa ‘ko 18” Ryan said when asked about his realizations in establishing a business. Growing this fresh business of him, which started just October last year, as time passes he aims to branch out on other places, nationwide. He also plans to design personally his clothes for uniqueness and at the same time he’s aiming to be the youngest entrepreneur in Bicol Region. Successful Long-Distance Business Relationship it is. And others may say this word, “So near, yet so far” Nah, he just flipped it over. For with this business… it’s so far, yet, so near. The first ever Dog-friendly Café in Albay now stood at First Park Subdivision, Sagpon, Daraga, Albay. The names of the food they offer are mixed with Dog names and breeds, freedom to bring dogs and a cuddle from their resident dogs are enough reasons for their customers to keep coming back. These entrepreneurship students upon noticing that there is no Dog-friendly café in Albay, decided to establish the Dog’s Haven. Their customers can freely bring their dogs while indulging with their menu. Even their food’s names were mixed up with dog’s breed and the names of their resident dogs. Their best-sellers are Dalmatian Oreo and Corg kie. And yes, they have four (4) resident shitzus; Casey, Mucho, Sweetie and Wako, which mingle and can be cuddled by their customers with no additional payment. With their café opening from 11:00 a.m., to 9:00 p.m., this may seem to be complete; murals of dogs are all over the walls, sofa is on the side, magazines on the glass table, books on the shelf, air-conditioned, with comfort room and fire extinguisher, there’s really nothing else you’ll look for. And if anyone is worrying about the hand’s cleanliness, they provide sanitizers for their customers. In an interview with Yissa Lucena, she shared that in business, “Dapat unique, kaya research lang ng research.” Dog’s Haven is composed of nine CBEM Entrepreneurship students: Mark Angelo Alegre, Christine Aydalla, Elizabeth Bash, Febe Besin, Yissa Lucena, Jocelle Lustan, Rosemarie Maniago, Charlaine Mirabel and Ramon Nico Daet. They continue to strive for more as they aim to have a bigger space for their business and be a successful Dog-friendly Café in the whole Bicol Region. Discover, try and you’ll melt with their products. At the Airport Road, Cruzada, Legazpi City now stood a restaurant dragging their customers with their soft, yellowish, melting menu; Quezo Hut. With its welcoming wide space, incorporated with a chill, relaxing ambiance, soft melody humming on the background, with the oh-so-cheezy list of foods in their menu, anyone may really be hooked up. One of their best sellers is the Quezo Hut pizza special which is made personally, from its dough to its toppings and served fresh from the oven. Although the business location is quiet far from the usually crowded places of the city, this is just a perfect place for these entrepreneurship students for what they intend to have is a spacious, relaxing place away from what it seemed to be chaos. They started their business operation on July 16 of this year and intended to end it on the same date for their contract of the place they’re renting is one year. They accommodate people from Mondays to Saturdays, 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. And aside from the promotion on social media and them joining trade tares, they also organize open mics which compliment much with the restaurants ambiance. Although it may sound ambitious, the ultimate goal of their group is to provide good food here in Legazpi according to Mr. Vincent Mendoza during an interview. And for those aspiring to build their own business, “You just have to think innovatively,” Mauryn Mahusay shared. Quezo Hut is built by 12 CBEM Entrepreneurship students: Jan Mauryn B. Mahusay, Vincent Zachary O. Mendoza, Kryzzia Lyn A. Perez, Lea Mae Pujol, Marc Vincent Ll. Ante, Pearl Jenny O. Lorriega, Cristina Bianca D. Gubat, Jessa Celine B. Francisco, Kervin Kim B. Nacional, Jefferson S. Flores, Josaiah M. Nakpil and Shaira M. Sta. Ana. As trendy as the time may be, everyone seemed to cope up. Well, it is somehow needed though. And these trends are what this next entrepreneur grabbed in establishing her business. Satisfeet socks is an online store owned by a Marketing student, Charmaine Ala. The business just started November last year wherein people were so hooked up with Korean inspired socks. “Gusto ko lang kasi before mag order nun ng socks for my friend pero naisip ko why not I buy in bulk para maging business ko na rin,” Chai stated during an interview. What’s good with online business according to her is that orders can be made anytime. But transactions are usually at night for she is still a student. She started with a 4,000-peso capital and wants to pursue the business until there are still customers. This business of hers added much on her savings and helps her gain experience for she wants to venture in a larger business upon graduating. “When you have a business, you should be fully dedicated to it for it to succeed,” she shared as her great realization with her business. Welcome to the Business World Featuring BU-CBEM Students By: Ruffa Linchoco Großer Biss Diner Supah Kid Dog’s Haven Quezo Hut Satisfeet “With this, I’ve learned to stand alone,” a strong statement from Arnel Alamil Jr., the sole owner of Waffuru House of Soya Waffle. If other Entrepreneurship-established businesses are often ten to twelve (10-12) members, Arnel has to establish Waffuru solely for he is an irregular student. Since it’s hard for him to proceed to his classes and to attend in his business regularly all in the same time, he got to build his business inside CBEM for more convenience. He’s lucky enough for her sister, who’s also a CBEM student, operates the business when he’s in class or when he’s not round. What’s unique with his canteen is that his main product, waffle, is made of soya instead of flour. This also serves as his inspiration in naming his canteen; waffuru is a Japanese term for waffle. Being alone means you’re the only source of capital, no one would help you with the ideas and you have to strategize and run the business alone. However, what is good with this is that, “walang sisihan at walang kontratahan ‘pag solo ka,” Arnel stated. He is also grateful, for his family helps him in which the chairs and tables are from them. Though there are conflicts sometimes with other kiosks round, this does not hinder him for his ultimate goal is to prove that his feasibility study is really feasible. In establishing business or anything you want to pursue he said that “Dapat yun talaga yung gusto mo.” His canteen opens 12 hours every day, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Waffuru

DEV COMM 7 Mugmula nang simulang patakbuhin ang maingay na makina laban sa droga, madiinang nabulabog ang isang daang milyong Pilipino mula sa mahimbing nitong pagkakatulog. Mula nang magising, walang dudang naging saksi ang bawat isa sa malawakang giyera at kampanya. Kung kaya, sa yugtong ito kung saan bakas ang lumalalim na kamalayan at pakialam ng lahat, hayaan mong dalhin namin sa’yong bakuran ang tinatahing istorya. Kung saan, ang sinulid ay mula sa pulisya at ang ilang testimonya ang retasong mga tela. Habang patuloy na tumatakbo ang makina, habiin natin ang kwento sa likod ng mapulang kurtina. Matapos mabighani ang labing-anim na milyong botanteng Pilipino , walang sinayang na oras ang tropa ni Digong upang isakatuparan ang ipinangakong plano laban sa droga. Sa pangunguna ni Chief Ronald “Bato” De La Rosa sa Philippine National Police (PNP), isinilang ang kampanyang “Oplan Tokhang” na layuning kumatok sa bawat bahay at kumbinsihing sumuko ang mga kinikilalalang sangkot sa ipinagbabawal na gamot. Ito ay nagmula sa salitang Cebuano na “toktok” at “hangyo” na nangangahulugang “to knock and plead.” Buong bansa ay isinailalim sa operasyong ito kabilang na ang lugar na ginagalawan mo sa kasalukuyan. “Habang patuloy na tumatakbo ang makina, habiin natin ang kwento sa likod ng mapulang kurtina.” Droga sa Daraga Kilala bilang tahanan ng Bulkang Mayon sa probinsya, ang bayan ng Daraga kung saan namamalagi ang kolehiyo ay pinaninirahan ng 120,000 na katao at binubuo ng 54 na barangay. Ayon sa impormasyong aming nakalap mula sa Albay PPO, lima (Kilicao, Malabog, Anislag, Binitayan, Tagas) sa mga ito ay kumpirmadong apektado ng droga. Sa bilang na ito, dalawa (Binitayan, Tagas) na lamang ang nananatiling uncleared hanggang sa ngayon. Samantala, mula Hulyo 1, 2016 hanggang Oktubre 10, 2017, kusang sumuko ang 146 na nagtutulak ng droga at 1,704 na gumagamit nito. Umabot naman sa 25 ang naaresto na binubuo ng 24 na pushers at isang user. Tatlo naman ang naitalang namatay sa puspusang operasyon ng PNP sa bayan. Boses ng Pulisya Kamakailan lang, kasabay ng pagbaba ng satisfaction at trust rating ng pangulo sa ilang kilalang surveys, Ipinag-utos nito ang agarang pagbibigay daan sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) upang pamunuan ang operasyon na dating pinangungunahan ng PNP. Nananatiling aktibo pa rin silang ngunit limitado na lamang ang maaaring nitong gawing aksyon kumpara sa dati nitong kapangyarihan na sakop na ngayon ng PDEA. Ayon kay Police Chief Investigator Arthur Gomez ng Albay PPO, bagaman inalis na sa kanila ang kampanya, patuloy pa rin silang tumutulong sa information dissemination sa mga paaralan sa pamamagAng Pagpapatuloy ng Kwento Mula nang Isara Ni Ian Llaneta Limang dekada. Ganito na nga katagal ang basurahan sa may gilid ng kalsada sa barangay Peṅafrancia, sa bayan ng Daraga. Kung baga sa empleyado, nasa huling kabanata na ito ng kanyang serbisyo bago magretiro sa kinagisnang trabaho. Isang taon na ang nakakalipas matapos naming ilathala ang unang bahagi ng aming artikulo tungkol sa pagsasara ng dumpsite na limampung taon nang namamalagi sa barangay Peṅafrancia. Nagbabalik kami ngayon upang muling sundan ang aming kwentong nasimulan. Muli nating pasukin ang basurahang isinara noong Oktubre 19, 2016 at silipin ang kasalukuyang nagaganap sa loob at labas nito. Open Dumpsite Nabuhay bilang open dumpsite sa mahabang panahon, nakilala rin ang basurahan sa mabaho nitong amoy. Para lubos ng maunawaan ng lahat, inilarawan ni Ginoong Henry Jacob ng Municipal Environment and Natural Resources ang katangian ng isang open dumpsite. “Ang open dumpsite, first from the source is may ida-dump muna yan dyan -- mixed wastes. Dae kang sorting, dae kang whatever na segregation na pigagamit or daing specifications of wastes collected. Yan yung open. You throw any kinds of wastes and daing facilities sa laog, just the site sana.You dumped it without any classification of wastes.” Ito na marahil ang sanhi ng umaalingasaw nitong amoy noon na tumawid rin sa imahe ng buong barangay. Closed for Implementation of Safe Closure and Rehabilitation itan ng pakikipagdayalogo sa mga estudyante. Nilinaw nitong sa mga pagkakataong may operasyon ang PDEA, nandun pa rin sila upang magsilbing back up or security. Aniya, bagaman PDEA na ang “main actor” sa kasalukuyan, bukas pa rin sila sa pagtanggap ng mga nais sumuko. Sa kabilang dako, habang patuloy ang malulutong na usapin hinggil sa hindi makatarungang pagpatay umano ng mga pulis sa mga hinihinalang sangkot daw sa droga, minabuti naming kunin ang panig ng pinakamalapit na pulisya. “Para sa akin lang, lahat bigyan natin ng chance na mabuhay, magbago. We condole yung tinatawag na EJK (Extrajudicial Killings). Kaya lang, hindi natin alam kung sino yung mga pumapatay, On the part naman ng law enforcer, very specific naman ang utos ng pangulo natin na huwag tayong magpapa-una. Bubunot pa lang, barilin na natin. Yan nangyayari, pero as much as possible, kung hindi naman lumaban, dakpin natin. Ikulong kung pusher, i-rehab kung user,” paglalahad ni Police Chief Investigator Gomez. Sa huli, malaya nitong inihayag na “The war on drugs can’t be solved by the government alone lalo na ng PDEA. Dapat nandiyan din yung stakeholders, yung lahat ng sector ng society magtulungan sa drugs.” Nakatagong mga Kwento Salot mang ituring ng iilan, unti-unti silang bumabangon ngayon mula sa daluyong ng droga kahapon. Sila yung maaga nating ikinulong sa panghuhusga ngunit ngayo’y magtatanim ng pag-asa sa mga mambabasa. Isang maikling kwento ng pagbabago ang malayang inilahad sa amin ni PCI Gomez. “Meron niyang mayaman, galing sa abroad. Ang ganda ng bahay niya, may asawa siya, may isang anak din na babae. Eh, na-adik siya. Noong naadik siya, pinagbili niya na yung lahat ng gamit sa bahay. Iniwan na siya ng asawa. One time gusto niyang gumamit, wala na siyangibang makita. Nakita niya yung inidoro sa bahay nila. Gusto niya pang tiktikin yun at ipagbili makagamit lang. Mabuti nga at na-rehab siya at yung dating pagpasok niyang medyo payat pa siya, ngayon buma- lik na yung ganda ng katawan niya at nalaman kong bumalik na rin yung family.” Samantala, sa kagustuhang makarinig ng ilan pang testimonya, dinala ako ng aking mga paa sa barangay ng Malabog. Kung saan pinatuloy at pinagbigyan ako ng isang kagawad. Habang masayang nagtatalop ng kamote, ibinahagi niya sa akin ang ilang kwentong kanyang naingkwentro. Bilang bahagi ng komite sa peace and order ng barangay. Trabaho niya dating samahan ang mga pulis sa tuwing may kakatuking bahay ang mga ito. Siya rin madalas ang sumasama sa mga sumusuko upang asikasuhin ang ilang kaakibat na proseso. Dito niya lubusang nakilala ang ilang tinulungan niya. Nakwento niya ang isang dating user na matagal na raw na tumigil. Sa katunayan, ito raw ay dalawang beses nang nag-parehab kaya lubos ang pagtataka nito na nakasama pa rin siya sa watchlist ng pulisya. Pinuntahan at tinulungan siya ng barangay upang linisin ang kanyang pangalan. Medyo malungkot naman ang isa pa ni- yang naibahagi sa akin. Dahil sa droga, iniwan ng pamilya itong isa. Matapos sumuko sa mga pulis, hindi pa rin niya muling nasilayan ang lumisang pamilya. Nabanggit rin niya na dahil sa pagiging spoiled sa pamilya nung kabataan pa kaya nalulong sa droga ang isa pa niyang nakilala. Dala ng pag-aalala ng barangay, ”Binigyan yan muna ng awareness yung mga tao. Nag-inform kami sa public na kung sino yung mga gumagamit, involve sa droga mag-surrender na. Huwag nang hintayin na itokhang pa sila.”pahayag ng kagawad. Bilang paalala sa nasasakupan, nagsagawa rin ang konseho ng ilang hakbang upang maiparating sa bawat residente ang malawakang panawagan. Sa katunayan nagpadikit sila ng tinatayang 500 na poster at naglibot rin sa buong nasasakupan upang berbal na mag-anunsyo gamit ang malakas na megaphone.Sa ngayon, susunod na hakbang ang napipintong rehabilitasyon ng ilang mga sumuko. Maraming kwento ang nagkukubli sa likod ng mapulang kurtina. Minsan, kailangan lang nating lakas-loob na silipin sa bintana ang istoryang nahabi mula sa retasong mga tela. Upa- ng sa muling pagtakbo ng makina, ikaw naman ang magsilbing ma- nanahi ng masa. Sa Likod ng Mapulang Kurtina ni Ian Llaneta with reports from Hazel Grace Sodsod and Reben Baṅadera Taliwas sa inaakalang paglipat sa basurah- an, nilinaw ni G. Jacob na hindi “inilipat” ang wastong salitang maglalarawan sa ginawang hakbang sa dumpsite kundi “isinara”. Ang aksyong ito ay bilang pagsunod sa utos ng De- partment of Environment and Natural Resourc- es (DENR) na nakabase sa “Republic Act 9003 under Section 48” na nagbabawal sa anumang open dumpsite. Kung kaya bilang pagtugon sa tawag ng pangagailangan ng bayan, nag-isip ang lokal na gobyerno ng pagtatayuan ng maayos na basurahan sa katauhan ng Sanitary Landfill. Samantala, sa pamamagitan ng mga larawan mula sa kanilang mga ulat, inihayag niya ang malaking pagbabago sa dumpsite magmula nang huli naming itong binisita. “If you are going to compare the previous open dumpsite, it is already closed and under rehabilitation. Comparing, dae nang masyadong basura because nag-undergo na kita kan procedure to develop and rehabilitate the open dumpsite. In other words, we have already partially complied for the rehabilitation of dumpsite.” Sanitary Landfill Versus Temporary Residual Containment Area Habang patuloy na naghahanap ng pondong kailangan ang munisipyo ng Daraga upang tuluyang masimulan ang pagpapatayo ng Sanitary Landfill, pansamantalang bumili muna ang lokal na gobyerno ng 12.4 hectares na lote sa sitio Tubtubon, barangay San Ramon upang pagtayuan ng Temporary Residual Contain- ment Area. Ito ay nagsisilbing imbakan ng re- sidual wastes mula sa buong bayan. Ginawa ang hakbang na ito upang ganap na maisakatuparan ang pagpapasara sa dating basurahan. “Ang containment area kasi, dun mo muna iistore, icocontain yung residual wastes. Yung ibang biodegradable dapat meron ka ring composting nyan. However yung Sanitary Landfill, kumpleto na yun. May mga facilities ka doon which is required under the law. May shrider, may compactor ka na dun , may composting, and then meron ka na doon na composting area. Then may weighing area. Lahat ng facilities as prescribed.” pagkukumpara ni G. Jacob. Dagdag pa niya, sa buong rehiyon ng Bicol, tanging lungsod ng Legazpi pa lamang ang may Sanitary Landfill. Plano Samantala, bilang sunod na hakbang sa kasalukuyang nangyayaring rehabilitasyon, inihayag ni G. Jacob na sakaling ipagbili ng may-ari ang pribadong pag-aari, magiging buhay na Eco Park ang dating dumpsite ayon sa probisyon ng batas. Sa kasalukuyan, nasa proseso pa rin ng paghahanap ng pondo at lupa ang lokal na gobyerno para sa itatayong Sanitary Landfill. Subalit ibinunyag nitong may isang kumpanyang nag-aalok ng serbisyong maibibgay ng pagmamay-ari nitong landfill. Sakaling matuloy ito, kailangangan ng isang memorandum of agreement sa pagitan ng dalawang entity upang maisakatuparan na ang inaasam na pasilidad para sa bayan. Apektadong Residente Bago maitayo ang Temporary Residual Containment Area sa barangay ng San Ra- mon, nagkaroon muna ng public hearing sa barangay upang magpalabas ng Certifi- acte of Law Objection. Ayon kay G. Jacob, wala namang tumutol sa barangay kundi naki-usap lang ang mga reidente na siguraduhing hindi ito mangangamoy kagaya ng sa Peṅafrancia. Sa kabilang barangay, hindi biro ang naibibigay na hanap-buhay ng basurahan sa ilang residente ng Peṅafrancia. Umaabot sa P 700 hanggang P 900 ang naibibigay nito araw-araw sa mga mangangalakal ng basura. Pero ayon nga sa isang residente ito ang ikinabubuhay, “wala naman kaming magagawa.” Maghanap ng panibagong pagkakaki- taan na lang ang maaari nilang gawin sa ngayon. Kahit pa naman noon ay mahigpit na talaga ipinagbabawal ang pangangalakal sa dumpsite dala ng mga sakit na maari nilang makuha. Pero dahi ito ang “way to survive” nila, patuloy silang nakakapasok sa dating bukas na basurahan. Sa ayaw man natin o gusto, may mga susulpot talagang batas upang ibahin ang daloy ng ating nakasanayang buhay. Sa halip na tumakbo at magreklamo, halika at harapin na lang natin ang pagbabago.

8 FEATURE Sa pagpasok sa eskwela, araw-araw mo silang nakikita. Hindi malaman kung kahit simpleng ngiti o pagbati ay sapat na. Nagawa mo man lang ba silang batiin ng “Magandang araw po” o dinadaan-daanan mo nalang sila? Nakakalungkot mang isipin ngunit mas binibigyan talaga ng respeto at importansya ng karamihan ang mga taong nasa mas mataas na posisyon kesa sa kanila. Hindi man sila gaanong nabibigyan ng halaga ay walang sawa pa rin nila tayong pinagsisilbihan sa abot ng kanilang makakaya. Hindi mo man sila kilala sa pangalan, kilala mo naman sila bilang Non-Teaching Staff ng Bicol University College of Business, Economics, an Management (BUCBEM). Bilang isang mag-aaral ng CBEM, panahon naman na bigyan natin ng pansin ang ilang tao na naging parte ng ating buhay kolehiyo. Hindi mo man sila pansin ay naging daan sila patungo sa inyong pangarap. Isang paraan na rin ng pasasalamat ang pagbibigay halaga sa kung ano man ang nais nilang sabihin. Mapapaisip ka talaga, sa lahat ng ibinahagi nila. Ibang-iba ang pangarap ng ilan sa trabaho nila ngayon. Sila sana ay maging inspirasyon sainyo. Ikaw? Pagkalipas ba ng maraming taon, ginagawa mo na ang pangarap mong trabaho? Ayan na! Nasa entrada ka palang eh sasalubungin ka na ni Manong Guard. Inuusisa kung tama ba ang suot mo. Pantaas man o pambaba. Suot mo dapat ang I.D mo. Maram- ing bawal, marami ang hindi dapat. Bawal ang naka-sleeve- less, bawal ang naka-shorts, bawal ang naka-tsinelas, bawal ang hindi naka-uniporme ka- pag di naman dapat. Walang nakakaligtas maliban nalang kung may sulat mula sa itaas. Sila man ay kinaiinisan, hindi pa rin maitatanggi na kanilang trabaho ay ginagawa nila la- mang. Ating tanungin ang isa sa ating butihing gwardya na si Dennis Lositano. THE APPRAISER: Ano pa ba ang pangarap mo? DENNIS LOSITANO: Maging Brgy. Captain. THE APPRAISER: Ano ang istorya ng buhay mo? DENNIS LOSITANO: Bago maging guard, nagging driver ako ng truck. Nagtapos ako ng 2 year course sa TESDA Automotive. THE APPRAISER: Masaya ka ba sa trabaho mo? DENNIS LOSITANO: Oo naman. THE APPRAISER: Anong masasabi mo sa mga estudy- ante ng CBEM? DENNIS LOSITANO: Magaganda at pogi. Maga- galang din ang mga estudyante. Ngayon, puntahan naman natin ang huling taong ating tatanungin. Klinik? Grabe rito ang pila lalo na kapag kasagsagan ng Intrams at BU Week. Isa rin ito sa mga madalang puntahan ng mga estudyante kumbaga parang seasonal lang - kapag nagkasakit/masama ang pakiramdam o magpapa-medical certificate. Ang ating nars ay hindi lamang ang nagbi-BP satin kapag magpapamedical, pwede rin tayo sakanya magpa-konsulta. Sa ating klinik, pwede rin tayo mag-tsek ng ating bigat at tangkad. Mababait an gating nars, huwag tayong mahihiya sa kanila. Tanungin na natin si Ginang Teodora Onato, ang isa sa mga nars na matagal nang nanilbihan sa buong Daraga Campus. THE APPRAISER: Ano pa ba ang pangarap mo? TEODORA ONATO: Maging P.E. Teacher. Noong bata pa ako, mahilig akong magtiser-titseran. Gusto ko maging titser sapagkat sila ay desente, kagalang-galang at iniidolo. Sila ay modelo ng mga kabataan. THE APPRAISER: Ano ang istorya ng buhay mo? TEODORA ONATO: Ako ang bunso sa sampung magkakapatid. Pamilya kami ng mga doktor kaya nagnurse ako. Nag-aral ako ng half-sem noong first year col- lege sa Divine ng Liberal Arts tapos lumipat nag-nursing ako sa BU the following years. 14 na taon nakong nurse sa BU. Mula 2003, nurse nako sa BU Main at nalipat ako sa CBEM noong 2011. Bago ako maging nurse sa BU ay nagging distributor ako sa VISCARA Pharmaceuticals, Hospital Nurse sa GATA General Hospital, Company Nurse sa PHILTRANCO Bus Company, Mobile Nurse/ Primary Health Care Nurse ng Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) at under nito ay naging Nurse of Federation of Free Farmers ako. THE APPRAISER: Masaya ka ba sa trabaho mo? TEODORA ONATO: Masaya. Nakapag-adjust naman. Sa pagiging nurse ko nakapunta ako ng iba’t ibang lugar yun naman ang gusto ko. THE APPRAISER: Anong masasabi mo sa mga estudyante ng CBEM? TEODORA ONATO: Ang tatalino. Sobrang busy nila pumapasok lang ng clinic kapag nagpapa-medical. Puntahan naman natin ang isang lugar na napupuntahan lang kapag kailangan. Real talk, kadalasan sainyo ay pumapasok lamang ng library kapag magpapa-pirma lang ng library card, di ba? Kahit ako ay aminado rin diyan. Sa patuloy na pag-usbong ng teknolohiya ay napapabayaan na natin ang ating si- lid-aklatan na puno ng mga librong maka- katulong para sa ating karunungan. Puro na tayo kompyuter at internet. Ngunit sana kahit ganito na ang ating panahon ay wag natin kakalimutang magbasa pa rin ng libro. Hindi lamang taga-pirma ng library card ang ating librarian kundi nariyan rin siya upang tulungan tayong hanapin at pahiramin ng ating mga nais na libro. Ngayon ay tanungin naman natin si Ginang Gene Altavano, ang librarian ng Bicol University Daraga Campus. THE APPRAISER: Ano pa ba ang pangarap mo? GENE ALTAVANO: Mababaw lang naman ako na tao. Basta may work, basta may salary, okay na ako. THE APPRAISER: Ano ang istorya ng buhay mo? GENE ALTAVANO: Nagtapos ako ng BSED Major in Library Science at BSED Major in History/Social Studies sa BU. Nakapasa ako sa Civil Service, Rank 1 sa Library Science. Pinapunta ako ng National Library sa Manila para doon mag-work pero ditto nalang ako nag-stay. Ever since 1st Year College, student assistant na ako kaya napili ko na maging librarian. 27 years na akong librarian sa BU – 24 years sa BU Main at 3 years sa CBEM. Naging teacher rin ako bago maging librarian. THE APPRAISER: Masaya ka ba sa trabaho mo? GENE ALTAVANO: Okay lang naman. THE APPRAISER: Anong masasabi mo sa mga estudyante ng CBEM? GENE ALTAVANO: Mga magagalang at madali pakiusapan. Sa mga students, sana always use the library. Nakapasok ka na sa campus at ngayon naman ay hinahanap mo na ang room ninyo. Habang naglalakad ay maaaring makita mo sina ate at kuya na nagwawalis at naglilinis ng mga kalat at basura. Minsa’y nagkukumpuni rin ng mga nasisirang gamit at ilaw. Pina- panatili rin nila ang kalinisan ng ating mga palikuran na sa umaga ay malinis ngunit pagsapit ng hapon ay di halos di ka na makahinga dahi sa panhing naaamoy. Dagdagan pa natin ng mga basura na hindi man lang nakakaabot sa basurahan. Nakakalungkot isipin na sa maghapon na sila’y naglilinis upang maging maaliwas ang ating kampus ay heto ang mga ilang estudyante na panay tapon rito tapon roon. Hindi man lang inisip ang hirap at pagod na dinaranas ng ating mga dyanitor at dyanitres. Atin namang tanungin ay isa sa mga masisipag na tagalinis ng CBEM na si kuya Mark Domi- nic Morano. THE APPRAISER: Ano pa ba ang pangarap mo? MARK DOMINIC MORANO: Maging isang pilo- to sapagkat gusto ko makapagmaneho ng eroplano at makapunta ng iba’t-ibang lugar. THE APPRAISER: Ano ang istorya ng buhay mo? MARK DOMINIC MORANO: Nakapagtapos lang ako ng High School. Tumigil ako sa pag-aaral dahil inuna ko ang barkada sa pamilya. Sa ngayon, pansa- mantalang magja-janitor muna ako pero next year, ipagpapatuloy ko ang aking pagaaral. Magi-enroll ako sa TESDA. THE APPRAISER: Masaya ka ba sa trabaho mo? MARK DOMINIC MORANO: Minsan masaya, minsan malungkot. Hindi naman tatagal sa work kung hindi masaya. Kahit mahirap ang trabaho i-enjoy nalang para di mapagod. THE APPRAISER: Anong masasabi mo sa mga estudyante ng CBEM? MARK DOMINIC MORANO: Dusta bako man gabos su iba lang. Dai tatao maghanap basurahan. Kung san nakatukaw duman ang basura. Sana maghanap ng basurahan tapos sa bawat classroom may CR. Sana magkaroon ng disiplina sa sarili ang mga estudyante. photos by Aliza Osma

FEATURE 9 It’s been a year or two since these Peace Corps volunteer teacher helped the students here in Bicol University College of Business, Economics, and Management. Peace Corps is a US government agency that sends American volunteers to help develop nations to promote world peace and friendship. There are 3 areas in the Philippines where the agency focuses on and these are Education, Children Youth and Families, and Coastal Resource Management. Education is the area that she chose. To serve as an educational volunteer teacher at the tertiary level is her mission. This volunteacher is Ms. Whitney Campassi. THE APPRAISER: How was your experience in BUCBEM? MS. WHITNEY CAMPASSI: I have enjoyed volunteering with CBEM and having the opportunity to teach in entrepreneurship and management departments. THE APPRAISER: What can you say about the students in BU-CBEM? How about the Sa totoo lang, matagal nang panahon na gusto kong ipaalam ang kwento ng buhay ko. Kasing tagal na rin iyon ng kagustuhan kong magtapat ng totoong pagmamahal ko sa inyo. Medyo may ka-kornihan mang pakinggan ngunit hindi katanggi-tangging totoo. May katotohanang hindi niyo alam—kung gaano kadilim, o kaliwanag ang kwentong nais kong inyong mapagtanto. Mabuti pa nga kayo at inyong napaparating ang tinitibok ng inyong puso sa babaeng napupusuan niyo kahit laging nandyan ang mga barkada niyong walang humpay sa pagbibiro dahil sa ka-torpehan niyo. Ngunit ako? Wala ni isa mang taingang nakakarinig ng mga sinasambit kong katagang “mahal ko ito at mahal ko kayo.” Dahil sa tuwing sinasambit ko ito’y para akong humaharurot na sasakyan sa kalye sa labas lang ng entrada - maingay ngunit walang kahulugang ipinaparating. Kaya mas pinipili ko na lang na manahimik, tulad ng ambulansiyang walang nasasambit na anumang kataga at ang tanging naipararating ay nandito ako. Subalit sa patuloy na pananahimik ko, nararamdaman kong ang kulay ng buhay ko’y unti-unti na ring nabubura at napapalitan ng presensiyang walang kwenta. Sariwang-sariwa pa sa aking isipan ang maliligayang sandali ng buhay ko habang namamalagi sa tahanan kong ito na si CBEM, (palayaw ng kolehiyong kung saan ako nakatira.) Anong sarap ng buhay ko sa araw-araw na kabaitan ng mga estudyante at tinderang nagbibigay ng aking pananghalian! Ang aking tiyan ay napupuno ng iba’t-ibang putahe araw-araw—mga buto ng manok at baboy, tirang kanin, pansit, sarsa at kung minsan ay may sarsa pang maanghang-anghang! Kung sinusuwerte ka nga naman sa buVOLUNTEACHER professors? MS. WHITNEY CAMPASSI: The faculty, staff, and students have been supportive of projects I proposed and fun to work with. THE APPRAISER: Do you consider BU as a world class university? If yes, why? If not, what are the things to be improved in the university? MS. WHITNEY CAMPASSI: I still cannot answer this question because I do not know what constitutes a worldclass university because this is not a term readily used in the United States. THE APPRAISER: How did you cope up easily with the environment? MS. WHITNEY CAMPASSI: The culture and the climate is very different than Colorado but I have adjusted over the past 15 months. There are many aspects of Filipino culture I love and am happy to be a part of. THE APPRAISER: What is your main purpose of teaching here? MS. WHITNEY CAMPASSI: I am a volunteer with the US Peace Corps. They placed me at BU-CBEM because I have an expertise in marketing and management. I joined Peace Corps to have an opportunity to make a difference and share my knowledge to others. THE APPRAISER: What can you say about the relationship between US and the Philippines? MS. WHITNEY CAMPASSI: Based on my observations, the Filipino people are very respectful to Americans. But I do think Filipinos have somewhat of a false image of America and Americans because of Hollywood. THE APPRAISER: From a scale of 1-10, how would you rate BU-CBEM? MS. WHITNEY CAMPASSI: 9 Also, a workshop was conducted by Ms. Whitney Campassi for the 14 College-Based Organizations (CBO’s) of the college. It was called Project Design Management and was conducted last July 22 – 23, 2017 and August 9, 2017 at BU-CBEM. Project Design Management is a workshop that aims to create sustainable projects for the community one serves. The goal is to develop a project idea based on the “I hope to inspire the students and bring new insights into the classroom. I also hope to work with the community to create sustainable opportunities for success... ” by Julius Martin L. Atos and Hazel Grace Sodsod needs of a community. The steps of the project include assessing needs, developing goals and objectives, creating an action plan, and creating a monitoring and evaluation plan so that the project is well-thought out before implementation. Once implemented, it should be sustainable meaning the project continues for the community for many years. “My goal for leading the PDM for CBO’s was to help CBO officers develop a project that would be the legacy of their CBO. Every year, the members would implement the same project and grow the project outcomes based on the community needs. I believe that change and help comes from an ongoing outreach to the same community overtime,” Ms. Whitney Campassi said. “Oo, nagkulang naman talaga ako, ngunit hindi ko pa rin maiwasang hanapin ang sagot sa tanong na, nagbago na rin ba kayo?” hay, di ba? Hindi lahat ng tulad ko ay nakakaranas ng ganito kaya laking pasalamat ko. Wala man akong uniporme, hindi kailanman ako pinalabas ng guwardiya at kinuhanan ng ID (kunsabagay wala naman akong ID.) Pakiramdam ko tuloy, laging may special treatment pagdating sa akin. Malaya rin akong nakakapakinig sa kahit anong lecture na nais kong pakinggan. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko parin maintindihan ang accounting, marami-rami na rin akong seat-ins sa klase ng mga accountancy. Mababait ang mga estudyante at professors, hindi nila ako pinapaalis, wag lang din akong maingay, magalaw at makulit. Malaya rin akong nakakapaglakad sa koridors at hagdanan. Kung minsan nga, proctor pa ako pag may exam. Minsan, naiisip ko rin magpasuweldo dahil sa totoo lang, mas magaling pa ako magbantay sa gwardiya. Wag niyo na lang banggitin sa kanya na sinabi ko yun, ha? Pero, alam niyo ba ang paborito kong parte ng pagtira dito? ‘Yun yung kasama ko ang mga estudyanteng unti-unting humuhugot ng lakas at karunungan upang maging espada at pananggalang nila sa pagharap at pagtahak sa mga hindi pangkaraniwang hamon nila sa panibagong yugto ng kanilang mga buhay. Sila ang mga estudyanteng malayang nakikisabay at nakikisayaw sa ritmo ng buhay. Nasaksihan ko ang tagumpay ng bawat estudyanteng kasama kong nakipagbuno sa laban araw-araw. Mula sa pagkakaroon ng tahanan ko ng mahuhusay at matatalinong nakapasa sa mga pagsusulit kagaya ng CPA Board Exam hanggang sa pagkakaroon ng mga estudyanteng grumadweyt na Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, at Summa Cum Laude pa nga na silang bumabandera ng tatak Bueños. Nasilayan ko rin kung gaano kasaya ang mga papel na nakadikit sa mga dingding habang sinasambit ang katagang “world class university.” Tila ba parang musika ko itong pinakikinggan habang binubulong ng mga papel na iyon sa aking tainga. continue to page 14 Liham ng isang Walang Boses photo by Aliza Osma

Kailangan nang matapos ang delikadong ritwal na ito. Ang hazing ay dapat na ituring na krimen na nararapat lang na patawan ng mabigat na kaparusahan. Panahon na upang magising ang ilang abusadong fratmen na wala ni minsan itong naidulot na mabuti ni hindi nito nadagdagan ang kanilang pagkalalaki. Mas lalo lang nilang ikinakahon ang kanilang grupo sa masasakit na panghuhusga ng publiko. Samantala, napakaraming paraan upang masubukan ang sinseridad ng mga nagnanais pumasok sa isang samahan nang hindi gumagamit ng anumang klase ng karahasan. Mula sa simpleng community service, tree planting, feeding program, blood donation at iba pang mak- abuluhang bagay. Hindi lang nito naisasakatuparan ang nais na initi- ation rites kundi m a t u t u l u n g a n din nitong mag- ing mabuting tao ang mga bagong miyembro. Sa ganitong paraan, hindi na kailangan pang mauwi sa sakitan ang seremonyang maaari naman palang idaan sa serbisyo sa lipunan. Marahil, ngayon mo pa lang nalalaman na may umiiral na An- ti-Hazing Law sa likod ng hazing. Isang malaking kahihiyan na sa kabila ng edad ng batas , marami pa ring umingay na kaso na dapat nang napatahimik nito. Aminado naman ang marami lalo na ang gobyerno na hindi sapat ang pangil nito upang sindakin ang ilang mga mapanglamang na miyembro ng kapatiran. Wala itong nagawa upang isalba ang mga buhay na maagang natuldukan dahil sa hazing. Sa kasalukuyan, mas patatapangin ang umiiral na batas sa ilalim ng House Bill 3467 o ang Revised Anti-Hazing Law. Sa oras na mapirmahan ito, tuluyan nang ituturing na ganap na krimen ang hazing. Sana nga sa pamamagitan ng pag-amyendang ito, tuluyan nang matauhan ang lahat ng abusadong grupong patuloy na isinasabuhay ang maling tradisyon ng brotherhood. Sa halip na magdulot ng kamatayan, bakit hindi nito panindigan ang kahulugan at layunin ng isang totoong kapatiran. The Philippines is a country where the value for life and freedom is always at its heart. Its constitution even, is shaped with the mold of these values and democracy. However, in this current administration, the Filipinos witness a transition in values and judgment—mainly about the law and justice. Capital punishment or death pen- alty in the Philippines has a long, var- ied history and is currently suspended since 2006. Capital punishment was legal after the independence of the Philippines where the capital crimes Inaasam na kapatiran: Minsan abot-kamay, madalas buwis-buhay. Masakit ngunit ito’y isang katotohanang sumisigaw sa kasalukuyan. Taliwas sa inaasahang brotherhood, malagim ang nangyari sa isang first year law student ng University of Santo Tomas (UST) na si Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. Isa lang siya sa mga kabaataan na pikit matang tumaya, pikit matang nagtiwala sa isang pagkakataon para maturing at matawag na kapatid (brother) sa ilalim ng iisang paniniwala. Hindi man katanggap-tang- gap ngunit talagang hanggang sa ngayon ay nagaganap. Sa ngalan ng kapatiran, kadalasan buhay ang katapat. Sa panahon na- tin ngayon, hindi na bago ang mga frater- nities at sororities sa loob at labas ng mga pamantasan. Hindi na rin maikakaila ang masamang ima- heng matagal nang pilit binabato rito ng marami. Hindi na rin kasi sikreto ang ilang patagong pagdaraos ng hindi makata- rungang initiation rites katulad na lamang ng ipinagbabawal na hazing. Hazing na patuloy na nagmimitsa ng masamang imahe sa mga taong patuloy na hinahagap kung ano nga ba ang kagandahan ng isang sa- mahan. Hazing na patuloy na kumikitil ng buhay at sumisira sa magandang naidudulot ng isang kapatiran. Ngunit hindi lahat ng samahan ay nasa ganitong gawain. Marami pa rin sa kanila ang may matatag na paninindigan, mabuting layunin at magandang adhikain. Nakakalungkot lang na sa pagkakataong ito kung saan hindi pa nila gaanong nalilinis ang imaheng nadungisan, siya namang pag-usbong ng isang panibagong kaso. Ayon sa isang balita, ma- higit 30 na ang naitatalang casualties dahil sa hazing. Sa bilang na ito, 17 na fraternities ang naging sangkot at higit sa kalahati sa mga kawawang biktima ay mula sa mga public institutions tulad ng mga State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) at public high schools. Mas nakababahala na marami sa mga kasong ito ang nakatengga hanggang sa ngayon. Sa kasaysayan ng hazing sa bansa, Ilan sa mga pangalang bumandera sa mga pahina ng dyaryo ay sina Guillo Servan- do, 18, ng De La Salle - Col- lege of St. Benilde , John Mark Dugan, 19, marine cadet ng Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Marvin Reglos, 25 at Marc Andrei Marcos, 21 na kapwa mga law students ng San Beda University at Mel Honasan, 19, kapatid ni Sena- tor Gringo Honasan. Ilan lang sila sa mga buwis-buhay na tumaya sa tsansang matawag na “brother.” Sa kabila ng hindi masugpo-sugpong hazing sa bansa, maling ipagwalang-bahala at ituring na katanggap-tanggap sa lipunan ang pagdaan sa malulupit na hampas ng mga tubo at paddle. Kadalasan, sa mga pagkakataon nasa kasukdulan ng galit at problema ang ilang fratmen ginagawa lang nilang mistulang punching bags ang mga baguhang sumasalang dito. Minsan mapapa-isip ka na ng seremonyang ito ay ginagamit lamang ng kasalu- kuyang miyembro upang mak- abawi sa naranasang pagpap- ahirap sa kanila noong sila pa ang nasa ganoong katayuan. Bilang mga samahang pat- uloy na binibigyan ng lipunan ng pagkakataong patunayan ang kanilang sarili at muling makuha ang tiwala ng lahat, nararapat lang na protektahan ng mga fraternities ang kanil- ang integridad mula sa mga miyembro nitong may mga pansariling interes na manakit. Higit sa batas, sila mismo ang dapat maging ngipin na nag- babantay laban sa anumang hindi makatarungang galaw ng ilan nitong kasapi. “One moment, you’ll see them laughing with you and the next day, they’re gone. You’ll never really know if that smile would be his last.” In 2012, according to World Health Organization (WHO), 2,558 cases of Filipinos are committing suicide with an average of 7 cases daily and most of this is caused by depression. It is a proof that mental health is as crucial as physical health yet some people are being insensitive and ignorant about it. In Joey De Leon’s statement in Juan for All, All for Juan last October 5, 2017, he pointed out that depression is only made up by people. “Gawa-gawa lang ng mga tao ’yan. Gawa lang nila sa sarili nila,” said De Leon but Maine Mendoza instantly defended “Hindi biro yang depression. Hindi siya joke. Hindi kasi maraming nakakaranas ng ganyan lalo na sa mga k a b a t a a n . Kaya pag may naka- karanas ng ganun, kail- angan natin bigyan ng suporta.” De Leon didn’t stop there and contin- ued his insensitivity towards a serious issue. “Huwag niyo suportahan. Gawa gawa lang nila yun. Nagpapasosyal lang. pag mayaman, depression. Pag mahirap, wala, wala ng pagasa sa buhay mo,” De Leon added, not mind- ing that his words will make a rage not only from people who are suffering from mental illness but also from people who are advocates and supports people with mental health issues. Some of them are even famous Filipino celebrities like Alden Richards, Khalil Ramos, and Jake Ejercito. His statement garnered lots of comments and reactions that it made a huge outbreak in news and social media. Philippines is one of the countries who doesn’t give a lot of attention to mental health. But here comes the good news, last May 2, 2017, Senate Bill No. 1345 or Philippine Mental Health Act of 2017 sponsored by Sen- ator Risa Hontiveros was already approved by the senate with 19 affirmative votes and zero negative vote. The Senate bill seeks to inte- grate mental health services and programs in the public health system. It also mandates the government to provide basic mental health services at the community level and psychi- atric, psychosocial and neurologic services in all regional, provincial and tertiary hospitals. By this, people who are suffering from men- tal illness will be able to recover and not fight their demons alone. Having depression is not a joke. You may or may not know that you are suffering from it. It hits you like a rare disease which is hard to cure. You feel sad for no reason. You have panic attacks. You have emotional breakdowns. You feel worthless and miserable. You feel that everybody is tired of you and that no one cares. It’s hard to go on with your life, trying to be happy and show that fake smile when the reality is that you’re slowly dying inside. “It’s all in the mind and your perspective. You are creating it,” they would say. Honestly, the hardest battle to take is to fight with yourself – to fight the demons and voices inside your head and to remove the negativity in your thoughts. You may distract yourself to prevent the loneliness you are feeling but still when the clock ticks at 12 am, you feel the monsters creeping in. You become paranoid and anxious. You hurt yourself. You have thoughts of dying and that the world is better off without you. There are sleepless nights and there are excessive sleeping days. You may eat too much or not eat at all. You feel eter- nally tired even though you are doing nothing. Having depression affects not only the way of life but also, your physical health. How do we deal with people who have depression? Depressed people are sensitive. They are hard to decipher. You would never know what’s going on their minds. There are times that they don’t speak out their thoughts because of the feeling that people would not understand them. It is dangerous to keep your thoughts to oneself. If they open up to you, simply listen even if you could not really give the right advice for them. All they need is someone who will listen and understand what they are going through. Depression makes you feel alone. Life becomes complicated and there you are, left hanging on the edge of the cliff, trying to survive. Being a friend to people who tried to kill themselves, self-harmed and died because of suicide, I’ve learned to have patience, understanding and to just listen when everybody seems to abandon them. One moment you’ll see them laughing with you and the next day, they’re gone. You’ll never really know if that smile would be his last. It’s hard to lose people that you love because of suicide. You could not blame them why they did it. It’s the loneliness that haunts them. It’s sad how people care and say good things only when it’s too late but never really cared when that person is showing signs of depression. If you have seen the hit-series, 13 Reasons Why, it depicted about this issue and opened up the eyes and minds of people that depression really happens in real life. “Depression is hard to understand. But if it can kill Robin Williams, Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington, I’d say it’s pretty damn real,” George Shrouder, the vocalist of Youth in Revolt tweeted. A lot of people mourned for the loss of the vocalist of Linkin Park and a rock legend, Chester Bennington. We’ve known him from their hit-song anthems like In The End, Numb and What I’ve Done. It was a shock when news spread that he hanged himself and declared dead because of suicide. The songs of Linkin Park usually have deep lyrics tackling about life and depression. The hints were there. It was unexpected. After some days after the death of the legend, Chester’s wife, Talinda Bennington, posted a picture of his husband smiling together with his daughters with the caption: “This was days before my husband took his own life. Suicidal thoughts were there but you’d never know. #fuckdepression” Also, the carpool karaoke of Linkin Park together with the actor, Ken Jeong, popped out after Chester’s death which showed a happy Chester just singing along. Behind those smiles are the pain and suffering that he’s feeling inside. “But I know just what it feels like to have a voice in the back of my head, like a face that I hold inside, face that watches everytime I lie, face that laughs everytime I fall. But the face inside is hearing me right beneath my skin,” as what in his song says. We must care before it’s too late. In celebration of the mental health awareness week last October 1 – 7, 2017, there were frames in Facebook where you can change your profile picture with a semicolon sign. A semicolon indicates a pause in a sentence but does not end. Sometimes it seems like you may have stopped, but you choose to move on. You may have seen images of people tattoo- ing their wrists surfacing on the internet. It’s not just a trend, it’s a part of The Semicolon Project, a non-profit dedicated to supporting people dealing with depression, anxiety, selfharm, and other forms of mental illness. The project started on April 16, 2013 and is still ongoing with its founders Charlee Chandler and Matthew Wills which encouraged peo- ple to post pictures of semicolons drawn on their wrists to show support and solidarity for people who are suffering from mental illness. “Drawing a semicolon can act as a constant reminder and prevention strategy to help you come to your recovery, after all, you are the author of your life and you should not choose to end it,” as simple as the symbol may look to others, it means so much more than that. I hope that Filipinos stop the stigma and ignorance about mental health issues. With proper help and medication, people suffer- ing from it will be able to rise up and live life again. There’s no need to hide anymore, speak up, mental health is very important. Help and save a life. Barely Breathing BLOODerhood “ Pikit matang tumaya, pikit matang nagtiwala. Sa isang pagkakataon para maturing at matawag na kapatid (brother) sa iisang paniniwala.” “One moment, you’ll see them laughing with you and the next day, they’re gone. You’ll never really know if that smile would be his last.” 10 OPINION Illegal Justice were murder, rape and treason. There was a controversial and atrocious increased in use of this during the Marcos regime. Under his 20-year authoritarian rule in the country, drug trafficking was also strongly punishable and even by a firing squad aside from murder, rape ad treason. Countless people were summarily executed, tortured or simply disappeared for opposition to his rule. But af- ter the fall of Marcos, there was a moratorium in capital punish- ment form 1987 because of the newly drafted 1987 constitution which prohibits death penalty. However, it still allows the congress to reinstate it “hereafter” for “heinous crimes; making the Philippines the first Asian country to abolish capital punishment. Years after, when then presidential candi- date Fidel V. Ramos ran for election in 1992, there was an increase in crime rates that pose threat to the safe

Likas sa mga tao ang pagiging malikhain. Tayo ay mala-siyentista o imbentor sa pag- diskubre o pag-imbento lalo na ng mga hindi pangkaraniwang bagay na namamayani dito sa sandaigdigan. At dahil na rin sa impluwensi- ya nitong tinatawag nating “social media” ay nagiging rason ito upang makagawa tayo ng iba’t ibang bagay na iyon namang susubukan at yayakapin ng karamihan sa atin. Kabilang na rito ang pag-iimbento natin ng mga tinatawag na “millennial words” o “millennial lingo”, at “slang words”. Gamit na gamit ngayon lalo na ng mga “millennials” ang mga salitang gaya ng “werpa”, “petmalu”, at “lodi”. Kung baga sa isda, ang mga salitang ito ay halos pumipitik pa dahil sa kasariwaan. Ito ay mabentang-mabenta ngayon sa mga kabataan lalo na sa mga mahihilig gumamit ng nasabing social media. Ayon sa ulat ng CNN Philippines, ang “lodi” ay nagmula sa salitang “idol” na binaybay pabaliktad, ang “werpa” naman ay pabaliktad na pagpapantig ng salitang “power” at ang “petmalu” ay isa ring pabaliktad na pagpapantig ng salitang “malupit”. Sinasabi naman ng mga eksperto na ang istilo ng pag-iiba ng ganitong salita at paggamit sa pang-araw-araw na pakikipag-usap ay hindi na bago sa atin. Dagdag pa dito, na kahit noong panahon ng Katipunan ay ginagamit na ang mga salitang gaya ng mga nabanggit. Sapagkat, matatandaang ang ating magigiting na katipunero ay gumamit noon ng sagisag-panulat upang itago ang kanilang pagkakakilanlan. Gaya na lamang ng ating bayani na si Marcelo Del Pilar na gumamit ng sagisag-panulat na ‘Plaridel’ na mula sa kanyang apelyidong ‘Del Pilar’. Sa pamamagitan nito ay mas lalong yumayabong ang ating sariling wika. Ang pagkakabuo ng mga salitang ito ay magandang halimbawa ng produkto ng pagiging malikhain nating mga Pinoy. Ayon naman sa ulat ng ABN-CBN News, pinili ng mga eksperto sa wikang Filipino ang salitang “fotobam” bilang Filipino Word of the Year para sa taong 2016. Kasama rin nitong nominado ang mga salitang gaya ng foundling, bully, lumad, at tukod. Ang nanalong salita para sa nasabing parangal ay mungkahi ng propesor na si Xiao Chua. Ayon sa kanya, ang nasabing salita ay nanggaling sa pagtatalo patungkol sa Torre De Manila na tinawag na “Pambansang Photobomber” sa kadahilanang alegadong pagsira ng tanawin sa likurang bahagi ng mu- nomento ng ating pambansang bayani sa Lu- neta Park. Bukod pa sa mga ito, matatandaang pumatok din ang mga salitang tinatawag na “jejemon”. Sa kabilang banda naman, dahil na rin sa kina- hiligan ng maraming kabataan ang pagtangki- lik sa Korean drama at Kpop ay nauuso na rin sa karamihan ang paggamit ng mga banyagang salitang gaya ng annyeonghaseyo, oppa, sa- ranghae, jagiya, nuna, hyung, at kamsaheyo. Makabubuti na kung gagamit ng katulad nitong salitang dayuhan ay may sapat na kaalaman tayo sa kanilang kultura dahil, kung minsan ang mga salitang katulad nito ay nakadepende ang kahulugan at paraan ng paggamit sa kultura ng bansang pinagmulan. Kailangang alam din natin ang limitasyon sa paggamit ng lahat ng mga salitang nabanggit. Subalit, tanong ko lang, hindi ba’t kung may panahon tayo upang mag-Google sa mga salitang iyon ay higit pang kailangan ng bawat isa na maging aktibo sa pag-alam sa mga napapanahong isyung pulitikal at pang-ekonomiya? Alam niyo ba ang kaawa-awang kalagayan ng Marawi? Ang libu-libong bilang ng biktima ng kawalang katarungan? Ang patuloy na pagbaba ng halaga ng ating salapi? Hindi ka rin ba nag-aalala na dahil sa paulit-ulit mong paggamit ng ganoong mga salita ay matagpuan mo ang iyong sarili na gumagamit na rin ng salitang “YAAAAAS!” sa iyong pagsusulit? O kaya ay habang gumagawa ka ng iyong application letter at resume ay nalimutan mo na rin ang tamang pagbabaybay ng mga ito? O kaya nama’y habang may interbyu ka para sa isang trabaho ay bigla mong nabulalas ang, “LOL! My fam. Werpa!”? Hindi naman sukatan ang paggamit natin ng mga nabanggit na mga wika kung sino tayo. Hindi porke’t “in” tayo sa mga nauusong mga salitang iyon ay talo natin ang mga hindi. Hindi ito ang totoong laban ng ating buhay, kadalasang nasa labas iyon ng ating mga social media account kung saan ang totoong magulong mundo ay nasisilayan nating nasa ilalim ng sikat ng araw. Hindi kailangang igugol ang lahat ng dala- wampu’t apat na oras kada araw sa bagay na ito. Kailangan natin ngayon, lalo ng ating bansa ng maagap na mga kabataang may kamalayan sa lipunan hindi puro pansariling kapakanan ang iniisip lamang. Gumising tayo sa katotohanan at buhayin ang diwang makabansa. Makialam tayo sa mga bagay na mas nangangailangan ng pakialam at kaalaman. Tandaan na sa panahon nating ito, ligtas ang may alam! One of the elements of news is truthfulness, absence of such is a great insult to its sanctity, corrupting the dignity of its wholeness, prompting the secretion of a venom stealthily brainwashing the entire citizenry. And what do we call it now? Fake news. In this era where technology has everything to offer, information is just within reach. A click away and it enables you to a liberate access of a wide variety of sources excusing no one from ignorance. Freedom of expression has been very aggressive in all social media platforms generating the uprise of bloggers and vloggers, changing the game and challenging the whole environment of the mainstream media. The recent senate probe on fake news originated from the ententain- er-turned-blogger, a die hard supporter of the President and now the Presidential Commu- nications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson for posting in her famous Mocha Uson Blog the alleged offshore bank accounts of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. This prompted the senator to file administrative and criminal charges against Uson. Moreover, Senator Trillanes validated President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegations when he personally went to Singapore confirming those two bank accounts were just a mere hoax. If you have more than five million followers then you have an immense power to in- fluence. You sight a random reference from somewhere in the internet, do some in- tellectual comments without scrutinizing the facts and its adverse effect-because why not?, finally post it on your blog and the war in the com- ment section begins. I strongly believe that the problem with this kind of propaganda is to deceive the people. You create your own army of sympathizers to spread false information diverting the citizens’ mindset away from actuality. This is actually becoming a habit not only with Mocha Uson but with some other self-entitled bloggers. They utilize the social media as their voice in order to manipulate people’s thinking. Worse, this is the procurement of a dichotomy. Today, it’s quite difficult to determine which side speaks of impeccable truth. News travels in the speed of light. Every minute as you hit the refresh button, the freshest news will pop out. I presume that this is like a race competition among the press of whichever will publish first is declared the winner. This has become a standard they need to cope up with. It is inevitable to have their flaws as media practitioners. In frequent situations, they get to be victim- ized of false news and get to publish the wrong context of the news article compromising their accountability and mo- rale. However, public apology is highly accepted, right? Uson lamented that she was also a victim of fake news long before being appointed in the government position. I’m not totally against Mocha Uson considering the fact that we are all entitled to our own opinion. In this light, we should exercise professionalism and integrity in accordance with ethical journalism. Uson may reckon herself as a blogger but she should also be an advocate of balancing the facts from her own perception especially now that she’s the assistant secretary of PCOO. There are a lot of loopholes in our current administration, yet she chooses to report only the good-sided phase out of the numerous blunders the Philippines is having right now, why? I think it’s mainly for gratifying Pres. Duterte. Furthermore, Uson has been elbowing some huge news agencies to wit: Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer and ABS-CBN News emphasizing that the aforementioned are all “bayaran” (presstitutes) and “dilawan” (or yellow- a supporter of the previous administration under Former President Benigno Aquino III, also symbolizes opposition against Duterte’s rule). She’s been pinpointing that she only reports what the mainstream media don’t show to the public in a different manner and angle. Well, there’s a thick line separating the kind of media she’s practicing from mainstream media. It is futile to compare the two considering the nature and elements each possesses. They are two distinct worlds with a separate systemized standards and principles to conform. Uson keeps on barking these persons who keeps on inspecting and badmouthing every move of the President. Too blinded with her adora- tion to the current regime. The state of being close-minded makes her blog a haven of tox- ic arguments and yields tons of controversies. Most prob- ably, there are countless fake news sites circulating around the internet and I hope they are triggered with the recent senate hearing on such matter. I know that we are all vic- tims of this predicament. Maybe the main conflict here is not totally on the part of the perpetrators of fake news but also to the readers who have personal biases, choosing only a part which they believe the truth for them. In this rampant spread of misinformation, let us be more open-eyed and be keen in sorting the facts. Fi- nally, amid all these things, the truth will always speak for itself. “You create your own army of sympathizers to spread false information diverting the citizens’ mindset away from actuality.” Truth or Bluff “This is where truth can be manipulated just to slip into the grasp of the prison bars.” Usapang Petmalu OPINION 11 “Kailangan natin ngayon, lalo ng ating bansa ng maagap na mga kabataang may kamalayan sa lipunan hindi puro pansariling kapakanan ang iniisip lamang.” ty and well-being of the citizens and so he promised that he would support the re-introduction of the death penalty in the Philippines. The new law, drafted by Ramos, restored capital punishment by defining “heinous crimes” as everything from murder to stealing a car. Pretty “heinous”, right? Executions then resumed in 1999 during the start of regime of former president Joseph Estrada starting with Leo Echegaray who was sentenced by Ramos and was put to death by lethal injection. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was then a vocal opponent of death penalty and approved a moratorium, but later permitted executions and denied pardons. Such hypocrisy would have established such a wave in social media if only it was already a thing back then. Capital punishment was again suspended via Republic Act No. 9346, which was signed by Arroyo on June 24, 2006. The bill followed a vote held in Congress which overwhelmingly supports the ab- olition of the punishment. The penalties of life imprisonment and reclusion perpetua—detention of indefinite length for at least 30 years—replaced the death penalty. Following these events, in April of 2007, the death sentenc- es of 1,230 of death row inmates were converted to life imprisonment, in what amnesty International believes to be the largest ever commutation of death sentences. That was supposed to be the end of the history of death penalty in the Philippines--or at least, we hoped. However, the current administration seem to have a different business. And the transition of values and judgment of our Filipinos, seem to have a big part on that business. After all, they let President Rodrigo Roa Duterte win the 2016 elections. “Tapang at malasakit.” That was the punchline of Duterte’s campaign last year. Many was bought by this nationwide vision which is to eliminate crime in just three to six months. It was impossible, yet appealing. And little did most of the Filipinos know what of a means they have in mind. After Duterte was in office, there was an increase in the num- ber of people being shot and killed by policemen. And this incidents were always cause by drug-raid operations leading to a bloody encounter between a suspect and the police. This was due to the shootto-kill order of Duterte which undermines our right to life, liberty, property and due process. An example of this tirade is the famous case of Kian Delos Santos. A seventeen-year-old teen shot in the streets of his own neighborhood. The encounter did not even follow proper protocol and Kian was shot dead with a gun on his hands. The case was long-ago closed to the media in wether or not the gun was planted or even wether or not Kian was really involve in drug-trade. All the authorities have is the statement of those people who knew Kian and the autopsy report performed by the Philippine National Police and the Public Attorneys’ Office which were not a match. It was evident though that the encounter was suspicious and clearly an abuse of power and slip of judgement. These events brought by the current administration set the ideals held by many who supports the right to life and are against death penalty afire--students, teenagers, priests, the church, schools, victims of the atrocities of the Marcos’ regime and a lot of private individuals who never stay silent when it comes to issues of the country. As you saw in the previous rallies and outcry in social media of these people, their shout is “NEVER AGAIN.” Never again to atrocities, never again to losing lives without justice never gain to abuse of power. However, there are some who share the same ideals with the campaign of the government. They say, the Filipi- nos needed this change for empowerment of the righteous, for the welfare of the many. They say, if people will refrain from doing abominable things, then perhaps there will be no death due to capital punishment. First of all, there is no study saying that capital punsih- ment helps a nation or a government establish a crime-free society. The current administration is a proof that it does not. After all the extra judicial killings that took place in the country, did the Philippines reach zero crime rate in three to six months as promised by the Duterte administration? It did not. Second of all, why would there be a need for death penalty if our justice system works just fine? Some would argue that the reason why people especially, the rich are not afraid to get their hands dirty because they hold the law in their palms. They have more than enough money to buy the justice system, to manipulate court hearings, and even have freedom inside the prison cells. Just like how the rich drug lords and plunderers got their court hearings and trials for months while the poor drug dealers were shot dead without having them experience the fairness of justice. What is law here? Where is justice? The law and justice are words that are usually used together, but they mean different. The law are just a set of rules, of norms, that can be bought. This is where truth can be manipulated just to slip into the grasp of the prison bars. It is kind to the rich and cruel to the poor. It is not always fair. While justice? Justice means everyone gets to be treated fairly in a righteous way. The word “just” means to be morally right. It means you get what you really deserve, regardless of social status, standard of living, tax paid to the government, crimes committed, etcetera. It means everyone gets the same opportunities and chances. It does not manipulate the truth. The richness or poorness of someone weighs the same grams. It is always fair.

12 ENTERTAINMENT Mga Uri ng Estudyante (UPDATED VERSION + Horoscope // VERY 2017) Ayon kay Petmalu Lodi at Artemisiagold Hey! Hello. Mabuti naman at napansin mo ito. Gusto mo bang malaman kung ano ka bilang estudyante? Hmmm… may mga kakilala ka bang ganito? O isa ka sa mga natukoy dito? O siya, sige na at alamin (alalahanin) mo na kung sinu-sino ang mga kakilala mong natukoy dito. 1.La Luna Saranghe-ito yung mga bagong breed ng estudyante. Naku nakakaloka! Very 2017. Sila yung adik na adik sa kpop at kdramas. Lucky number 2. Lucky color pearl. *wink* May tatlong uri nito. Alin kaya sakanila ang mga kakilala mo? a)Type A - Sila ang tunay! Mas updated pa sila sa kasal, buhay, kanta, at mga drama ng oppa nila kesa sa mga ieexam. Tuluyan nang nakain ng sistema. Aral na aral na nila ang salitang Hangul kaya ok lang kahit walang subtitles ang pinapanuod nila! 안녕세요 . *insert finger heart emoji* b)Type B - Sila yung mga sapat lang. Hindi pa naman kinakain ng sistema. Marunong pa naman silang magtagalog. Nandoon palang sila sa puntong manunuod ng kdrama kasi nakakakilig ang mga oppa at konti lang kasi ang mga pinoy teleserye na worth it panuorin. *pero hindi lahat ah!* c)Type C - sila naman yung mga “Low key” Fan. Sila rin yung mga nanunuod ng kdramas o mga music videos at nakikinig ng ilang kpop music *DNA!* pero hanggang dun lang talaga sila. 2.‘Da Funny One - Sila ang mga class clown. Isa sila sa mga paborito ng klase. Sila yung palaging nagpapasaya at palaging bumubuhay ng mood ng lahat. For keeps ang mga yan. Wag ninyong aabusuhin! Di porket palatawa ay wala ng problema. Lucky number 8. Lucky color Bright yellow! 3.The Fragile - Sila naman yung punong puno ng hugot sa buhay. Parang ang dami ng pinagdaanan sa buhay! Pasan na pasan ang mundo kung makahugot. Minsan nakakabanas na yung mga linyahan nilang basta nalang maisingit sa kwento ninyong magbabarkada. Memasabi lang. Pero ang ilan naman talaga ay may dinadala. Mga fragile kaya pls lang handle them with care and love. Lucky number six *ehem*. Lucky color blue. *’cause they always feel that color* 4.The pabibo kid - Sila naman yung kalimitang kinaiinisan ng karamihan. Lucky number 10. Lucky color? Tanungin niyo nalang sila. May dalawang klase nito. a)The Petmalu Lodi - di naman talaga sila kinaiinisan ng todo. Sila lang talaga yung mga estudyanteng palaging na sabay sa uso. Super updated sa mga happenings masabi lang na IN at COOL! b)The Pabibo Supreme - Sila talaga yung bwisit. Palaging may say sa mga bagay-bagay. Ayaw patalo! Dapat palaging tama sa klase. Sarado ang tenga sa mga suhestyon ng iba. Makikipagaway yan kapag di ka sumangayon sa say niya. Palaging trigard! Kalimitan silang namamalagi sa mga social media. Hmmm… abang-abang nalang sa mga status nila. Meron rin namang mild lang. Yung tipong papansin lang talaga. 5.The Top Students - Sila yung mga maituturing mong “Sana makatabi ko” at “Ibebestfriend ko” people. Sila yung mga ayaw paawat sa taas ng mga achievements. Sila talaga yung may matatag na mission, vision, goals, and objectives in life. Masasabing mayroong 3 uri ng top students. The gifted, the dinadaan sa effort, at mga sipsip *ehem*. But nevertheless pareparehas pa rin sila ng gusto－good grades. Amen. Lucky number 1 ‘cause why not d ib a ? Lucky color gold. 6.The Wapakels - Sa tawag palang alam na. Sila yung maituturing na ordinary. But there is nothing wrong with being ordinary, right? Sila lang talaga yung tipo ng estudyante na makapasa lang ayos na. Wala silang pake sa kompetisyon. May ibang nais in life. Lucky number - . Lucky color black. 7.The Walwalista - Need to describe pa ba? Sa pangalan palang may maaalala ka na. Maraming klase nang walwalista pero isum- marize nalang natin sila into four. Lucky number 667*karaoke number*. Lucky color red nalang. a) The problematic - Para silang mga “the fragile” pero sila talaga yung may mga pinagdadaanan. Yung tipong tatawatawa sa unang tagay tapos maiiyak nalang bigla sa pang-lima. Wew! Kaya mo yan bes! b)Supremo - Sila naman yung nanaisin mong makasama sa walwalan. Yung tipong estudyante palang pero malaki ang ambag sa ses- sion. RK si manager! c)Pulutan lang ang nais - Sila yung mga good student and at the same time good friend. Hindi sila nainom pero sasamahan ka pa rin para damayan sa lungkot at saya. Ang gandang pakinggan diba? Pero hindi! Kadalasan sila lang talaga ang uubos ng pulutan ninyo! d)Kajoin - Sila naman yung mga wala namang ambag pero nakalusot pa rin. Karaniwang gawain? Maliban sa mag-cellphone ay sila rin yung palakanta sa karaoke. Entertainer nalang ang peg. 8.The Face Value - Their looks and reputation is as important as their whole being. *charot!* Sila lang talaga yung tipo ng estudyante na binibigyang importansya ang mga itsura nila. a)Oppa at Dyosa - Mga naturalesa ang ganda! Sila yung mga panglaban sa Mr. And Ms. (name of the pageant). Crush ng bayan rin ang datingan. Laman ng hagikgikan at chika. Nakakapagod rin makasama dito. Hays I can relate. *charot!* Lucky number 5. Lucky color? Kahit ano naman bagay sakanila. b)Effort - Sila yung mga dinadaan nalang sa effort ang ganda. *pero magaganda at pogi pa rin naman sila (sa mata ng Diyos, Char- ot!) Mabawi man lang sa effort diba? Ang karaniwang mantra nila in life? Kilay is life! Karamihan rin sakanila ay may pangmalakasang OOTD tuwing wash day! Mag-eefort sila ‘cause why not diba? Ang hirap ibuild-up ang self-confidence kaya wag kayong ano dyan! Go lang sa pag-effort. Lucky number eh 4 *pun intended*. Lucky color fuchsia. c)Reputation - Leaders, Class Officers, at mga Politi- cians. Mga estudyanteng nabubuhay sa kulay tuwing buwan ng enero hanggang marso. Sila talaga ay may pinag l a l ab an. Lucky number? Basta makalamang sa kalaban. Lucky color? Yellow, Green, at Blue. 9.The Talentados - Marami ang ganito pero ang ilan naman sakanila ay mahiyain. Sila yung mga pang tawag ng tanghalan ng klase. Mga singer, dancer, artist, athlete, photographer, writer, at kung ano pa man. Sila yung palaging panglaban sa intramurals at iba pang event. Sila rin yung palaging kinukuha para sa intermission number sa iba’t ibang klase ng event. Sila na talaga ang may talent! Lucky number 7. Lucky color white. 10.The Supplier - Teacher: Get 1 whole sheet of yellow paper. Now! Student: (name of the angel) pahingi naman oh. Pahiram na rin ng ballpen at notebook o kahit anong pwedeng gamitin na patungan. Salamat. Sila ang mga hulog ng langit sa mga estudy- anteng walang mama. Sila ang supplier ng klase kapag may biglaang quiz at activities ang prof. Its time to say thank you. Mag-ingat lang sa mga abusado. Lucky number 90 *leaves of paper* Lucky color? Yung kulay ng papel! 11.Si bff - Sila yung hindi lang kaklase kundi parang kapatid mo na rin. Karamay mo ka- pag may problema ka at dadamayan ka kapag kailangan mo ng kasama. Pareparehas kayo ng mga trip sa buhay. Kung wala sila, apat na taon kang mag-isa. Lucky number 9. Lucky color baby pink. 12.Estudyanteng Tunay - ang huli sa listahan. Halos lahat ng estudyante ay naging ganito. (maaari rin silang matawag na o.p.p.o students. Para malaman kung bakit, basahin ang gigil mo si aqou: grades vs. Evaluation ni petmalu lodi sa kasunod na artikulo) Lucky number 3*tres* Lucky color? Mas gugustuhin nilang maging invisible. a)Hokage - Sila ang pinakamatapang na estudyante na makikilala ninyo. Kahit may bantay eh go pa rin ng go! Palaging may paraan makakopya lang. Di rin mawawala ang mga kodigong nakatago sa kung saan man. Ang kanilang mantra? It’s better to cheat than to fail. Powerful! b)What is attendance? - A-absent o papasok ng late? Yan palagi ang choice nila. Yung time palagi ang magaadjust para sa kanila. Time who? Time can choke! Ang matindi pa eh kung sino pa ang malapit sila pa ang palaging late! Nakakaloka! c)The Palaasa - sila yung palaging nga-nga. Ang hilig umasa sa mga kagrupo! Ang masa- ma pa eh kung sino pa ang kaclose mo sila pa ang malakas ang loob na umasa. Muli po ito ay patnubay lamang. Nasa inyong mga kamay nakasalalay ang inyong tagumpay! KOMIKS Graphic Design by Charmane Joy

13 LAMPOON Hello mga ka-Lodi! *cringe* Naranasan niyo na bang masabihan ng ganyang linyah- an? Yung tipong yung oras niyo para matuto at mapagaralan yung “lesson for today” eh naging oras para sa “lemon day” or also known as “les- son na sermon day!”. *gigil na si prof* Ba’t gal- it si teacher? Ba’t parang kasalanan ko? Yung may nagawa lang na mali yung isa mong ka- klase pero buong klase na yung pinagalitan. Damay-damay na, ganun? Kasalanan ng isa, kasalanan ng lahat! Bongga! *gigil na rin si aqouh!* Well, kung tutuusin, di naman natin masisisi ang ilan sa ating mga butihing guro. *YES!* Maramirami pa naman sila. May mga guro naman talagang totoo sa kanilang ser- bisyo. Yung mga gurong ibinabahagi talaga ang kanilang kaalaman para masiguro na may natututunan ang kanilang mga estudyante. Yung mga gurong maituturing mong pangalawang magulang at sisiguraduhing matatapos ang nakalaang oras na may natutunan ang mga estudyante. Na maituturo nila ang mga bagay na kakailanganin ng mga estudyante para sa kanilang future work life. Ganern! Salamat po sainyo! *wink, wink* Pero, nakakalungkot man isipin at aminin eh di rin talaga maiiwasan na magkaroon ng gurong papasok lang sa klase para sa attendance at para makompleto ang bilang ng araw para sa sweldo. Haluh! *hello po sainyo* Wag ganun! *lol* May kilala ba kayong ganito? Tawagin nalang natin sila sa pangalang VIP Prof or also known as “Very Isahang Pasokan” Prof. Yung tipong bilang ninyong magkakaklase yung araw na pumapasok siya. *isang malaking PETMALU!* Kahit pumasok ka ng maaga ay di naman talaga magtuturo. Swerte nalang ninyo kung papasok siya at igugrupo kayo para kayu-kayo na ring magkakaklase ang mag-aral at magturo sa isa’t isa. Instant professor ka na bes! Congrats! Okay lang sana yung magpareport pero to the point na buong sem yung reporting at di man lang siya magturo eh ibang usapan na yun. *konting effort naman po* Meron pang isa! *nakakagigil!* Itago na rin natin sa pangalang ViVo Prof or also known as “Viri Voka na! Medyo Pavivo pa!”. *medyo lang para hindi masyadong direct to the point! Charot!* Sila yung mga di naman makikinig sa report ng estudyante, either tulog, nagsi-cellphone, o busy lang talaga pero ang daming tanong pagkatapos. *yung tipong parang inulit mo lang yung buong report mo dahil sa mga katanungan niya. *Gosh Gurl* Sila rin yung halos ubusin na ang buong oras sa pagku-kwento ng kabataan at mga travel stories nila. *Story of my life! MMK ang peg.* Yung kulang nalang eh hulaan ninyong magkakaklase ang title ng kwento niya at may chance pa kayong manalo ng Php 300 worth of load! Bongga!* Yang tataa? Kasabay po ba madam/ sir ang kwento niyo sa exam? Sabihin niyo lang para may notes naman kami kung saang local and international places kayo pumunta. Mabuti man lang kung may koneksyon yung bakasyon niyo sa lesson natin, di ba po? Ok rin naman po ang magshare *true this* pero po kung uubusin mo po yung lahat ng oras para sa kwento mo po eh sayang at nagaaksaya lang po tayo ng oras. *diba po?* Gustong gusto mo ng pagsabihan si teacher pero wala ka namang magagawa bilang estudyante kundi ang sumunod. *inhale* *exhale* Bakit nga ba ganun? Magagalit kaya sila kung sakaling magreklamo tayo? Nakakatakot magreklamo! OO! Dahil may tyan - s a n g maapek- tuhan pati ang grades mo. Diba! Diba!? NAKAKALOKA! Ilang taon ka na ring pumapasok at hindi maiiwasan na magkaroon ng ganyang klaseng guro. Mapapahiling ka nalang na sana ibang prof nalang ang magturo sainyo. *cries in tagalog* Kung pwede lang nga ay kunin bilang professor si Boy Abunda. Bakit kamo? Wala ka nang hahanapin pa! Sikat, matalino, maraming koneksyon na *artista* mga kilalang tao lalo na sa larangan ng business, at palaging updat- ed sa balita. *at chismis! Charot!*Pero kung si Boy Abunda ang propesor natin, ay sigurado, mapapadali ang exam nating mga estudyante. Idadaan ni Tito Boy sa fast talk! *insert tito boy’s voice* ahihihi True or False. Lights on or Lights off. Debit or Credit. Sex or Chocolates! *aay! Pwede both! Charot!* *ehem, kunwari seryoso ulit* Pero kung iisipin, kahit papaano naman ay may maganda itong epekto. *insert inspirational song* Think positive! Bes. Di man magturo ang guro ay di naman yun dahilan para tumigil tayong matuto. Dahil sa mga tulad nila ay mas natututo tayong maging independent. *Yes naman!* Mas natututukan at mas napagaaralan natin ang mga topic sa ating mga subjects. Dito rin masusubok ang teamwork at samahan nin- yong magkakaklase at magkakaibigan. Test of friendship kung baga. Magkakaalaman na kung sino ang tumutulong at kung sino ang mga umaasa. WERPA! *bes sana mabasa mo ito, charot!* Dito ko na rin isisingit ang ilan sa dahilan kung bakit nakakagigil naman ang ilan sa mga estudyante. *kala niyo ah!* Tawagin nalang natin sila *kayo* sa pangalang *insert your name or your kakilala’s name here, charot ulit!* O.p.p.o. students! *Taray! Kung ang mga prof may Vivo ang mga estudyante naman ay may pa-Oppo* O.p.p.o as is “Ogakun, Palaabsent(late), Palaasa, Oh Nga-nga!” *push* Ipagsama-sama na natin sa isang pangalan. *yung ibang types of student eh nasa ibang artikulo* Sila talaga yung mga maituturing na HUWARAN na estudyante. Huwaran as in HUWag tulARAN! Sila yung mga estudyante na parang di mahanap-hanap ang will nila to study. Pero yung will nila to make landi and walwal eh walang kasing katulad. *ohmay- ghad! I remember so many people!* Sila rin yung papatapos na yung klase eh sila papunta palang. *otw na ko bes!* Sila rin yung pag may group project or activity or report o kung ano pa man yan eh kung kailan patapos na saka magpaparamdam. *bes: musta report natin? Me: huh? Kagrupo ka pala namin.* KALO- KA! Tapos pag presentation na super pabibo na. Kulang nalang eh i-take ang lahat ng credit masabi lang na may naitulong siya. Meron pa! Nakagigil rin talaga yung mga makakagrupo mo na ang gagawin nalang eh pag-aralan ang topic nila tapos pag presentation na eh nganga! Yun nalang nga ang gagawin di pa maga- wa! Kung hindi nga-nga eh aabsent naman! *Jusko!* So ayun na nga magagalit si teacher kasi kulang yung report! *so g-r-r-rrrr* Nung linoko mo ko *nung sinabi mong tutulong ka pero di naman*, tiniis ko. Nung ginamit mo ko *nung natapos ko yung mga powerpoint presentation at ilang activities ng ako lang mag-isa ang nagasikaso dahil alam mong gagawin ko to no matter what*, hinayaan ko. Pero ang iwan mo ko sa ere ng walang pasabi? *magtext ka man lang a day before ng reporting day natin! Para prepared man lang ako.* yun ang di ko kakayanin! Ang dami na ngang PAASA sa mundo tapos dada- gdag ka pa! *True to Life Hugot! Charot!* Ayan! Ilan sa mga gawain ng mga nakak- agigil na prof at ng mga estudyante. May mga kanya-kanyang dahilan talaga. Pero simulat’ sapul eh may pambawi na noon pa man ang mga guro. Grades. Eh ang mga estudyante kaya? *hmmm* Kaya mapapaisip ka nalang, bilang estudyante, ano kaya ang pwede nating gawin para kahit papaano ay malaman nila ang ating hinaing? Ano kaya ang pwedeng gawin para di madamay sa nakakalungkot na imahe ang ilang naiiba at mabubuting mga guro? Ano kaya ang pinakamaingat at epektibong paraan para mabago ang kanilang pamamaraan? Ano nga ba!? *hmmm ok, wait. Heto na, my pamily* Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng karamihan na ino-obliga na ngayon ang mga estudyante na suriin (evaluate) ang kanilang mga guro. *Bes ito na yun* Sa katunayan nga ay may ilang nakahandang laptops *Payaman!* na maaaring gamitin ng mga estudyante para mabigyan nila ng karampatang grado ang kanilang mga guro. Maaari ring mag-ulat doon ng mga suhestyon ukol sa kung ano ang masasabi nila sa partikular na guro. Dahil na rin dito ay nagkaroon ng opportunidad ang mga estudyante na maiparamdam sa kanilang mga guro ang mga bagay na di nila masabi ng personal. *ehem* May maganda mang naidudulot ang kanilang pamamaraan *think positive lang talaga bes* ay hindi pa rin tama na ganun at ganun pa rin ang ginagawa nila. Karapa- tan nating matuto at obligasyon naman nil- ang magturo. PERO! Isang malaking PERO! HUWAG NATING KAKALIMUTAN NA GAMITIN ITO NG TAMA. As much as de- serve naman nating mga estudyante ang tapat at hindi tyamba o basta-bastang grade eh de- serve rin naman ng ating mga guro ang tapat at tamang ratings. *amen* Aminin man natin o hindi eh may malak- ing epekto talaga ang mga grado saatin bilang isang estudyante. *true* PERO *ulit*, aminin man o hindi ng mga guro eh may epekto rin naman sakanila ang evaluation ng mga es- tudyante. *diba?* Bes, matatapos mo na ang artikulong ito! Congrats! *pandagdag mo na ito sa iyong re- sume, charot!* In a serious note, ikaw man ay isang estudyante na piniling basahin ito*thank you bes. Share mo na sa mga beshies mo para matauhan* o ikaw man ay isang guro na may katrabahong ganito *o baka ikaw na yun mga madam/sir, aminin na natin*,sana ay maintin- dihan at makuha mo ang punto ng binabasa mo. Ito ay para sa lahat. Ito ay isang paalala na gawin mo ng tama ang kailangan mong gawin sa loob ng paaralan. Bilang isang estudyante, dapat kang mag-aral. Bilang isang guro, dapat kang magturo. Lagi nating tatandaan na huwag gawing personal ang isang bagay na dapat ay hin- di naman. *I believe na* Hindi nasusukat sa grado na bigay ng ibang tao ang talino ng isang tao. Pero bilang estudyante, ang grado ay importante para sa napiling propesyon at trabaho. Be reasonable, be responsible. *and I, Thank you!* -KaswaGigil mo si Aquo! Grades vs. Evaluation By Petmalu Lodi “Kayo ang gumagawa ng grades ninyo! Kami lang ang naglalagay at nagdidikta kung deserve niyo ba yung makukuha ninyo!”

14 LITERARY Mas lalo akong nagagalak sa tuwing nakikita ko ang bawat estudyante na handang patunayan ang pagiging world class nila. Mula sa pasusunog nila ng kilay sa kadiliman ng gabi hanggang sa pagbibigay ng buo nilang makakaya sa mga pagsusulit at talakayan sa tuwing sasapit na ang bukang-liwayway. Labis rin ang aking kasiyahan noong tinagurian si CBEM na “5-peat champion” dahil sa limang taong pagkapanalo laban sa iba pang kolehiyo sa unibersidad na ito, ang Bicol University, sa larangan ng isports. Ngunit ang mga alaalang kagaya noon ay unti-unti nang napalitan ng dilim. Unti-unti nang nauubos ang dating lakas at kaayusan ng itsura ko na katulad ng isang kandilang matagal nang nakatindig sa isang madilim na kwarto. Siguro nga’y tumatanda na talaga ako. Oo nga talaga. Dahil ngayo’y nadarama kong hindi na ganoon katindi ang pagmamahal ninyong mga estudyanteng dati-rati lamang ay laging nakalapit sa akin habang tinatawag ako sa iba’t ibang taguri. May ibang tinatawag ako sa pangalang Abhie at kung minsan nama’y Ignacio. Kaya kung minsan tuloy napapaisip ako kung ano nga ang totoo sa mga iyon. Pero ni minsa’y hindi ko pinakialaman kung anuman ang itawag niyo sa akin. Kahit ano, kahit nga Kolokoy o Kokey pa ay ayos lang dahil sa pamamagitan niyon ay nararamdaman ko kung gaano niyo pa ako kamahal at kahalaga sa bawat isa sa inyo. Subalit ngayon ay hindi ko maiwasang tanungin ang sarili ko kung bakit nadarama kong nanlalamig na ang turing niyo sa akin. Dahil ba sa itsura ko? Dahil ba sa madaming sugat sa katawan ko? O dahil sa amoy kong hindi niyo kayang tiisin? Oo, nagkulang naman talaga ako ngunit hindi ko pa rin maiwasang hanapin ang sagot sa tanong na, nagbago na rin ba kayo? Dahil hindi ko na ramdam yung dating saya at sigla sa buhay ko. Kaya naman minsan nasa isang sulok na lamang ako, tinitiis ang lamig ng hanging humahampas sa balahibo ko habang may bumubulong sa akin na kumatok sa inyong pintuan upang makisabay sa masigla niyong talakayan sa loob ng klasrum. Mas nananaig pa rin ang takot na bagkus ay makarinig ako ng maaanghang na pananalita kagaya ng salitang “Umalis ka nga dyan. Ang baho mo!”. Kasalan ko rin naman dahil tuluyan ko nang pinabayaan ang aking sarili. Aaminin kong tumatanda na talaga ako. Ang kalungkutang iyon ay nadaragdagan sa tuwing binabalewala niyo ang pag-aaruga sa aking tahanan at pangalawang tahanan niyo na rin kung ituring. Ngunit ayokong biguin kayo at si CBEM dahil sa binitawan kong salitang “kasama ko kayo at kasama niyo ako.” Ngunit hindi ko maiwasang mapahikbi kung minsan dahil tila ba nararamdaman ko minsa’y wala na akong silbi dito kagaya ng mga basurang itinatapon niyo lang sa aking tabi. Kagaya na rin ng pagpapabaya niyo sa mga klasrum na kung minsan ay iniiwang wala sa kaayusan ang mga upuan, bukas ang ilaw at bentilador at nakakalat ang mga balat ng kendi at papel na ginamit sa inyong pagsusulit. At ang palikuran na ring iniiwang hindi kaaya-aya ang itsura at amoy dahil sa kung minsang nakakalat na mga basurang dapat ay nasa tamang lalagyan. Ngunit hindi ko naman kayo laging masisisi sapagkat hindi naman ninyo kasalanan sa lahat ng pagkakataon kung nagkakaroon man ng mga pangyayaring iyon. Pasalamat pa rin naman ako sa mga katulad niyong bumuo ng mga batas hindi lamang upang maprotektahan ang karapatan namin kung di upang maiparating na rin sa amin sa ganoong pamamaraan ang pagmamahal at pag-aaruga sa mga katulad ko. Nariyan ang RA 8485 na mas kilala bilang Animal Welfare Act, ang unang batas na komprehensibong nagtatadhana sa tama at makataong pangangalaga ng mga mamamayan sa lahat ng hayop sa Pilipinas. Binuo ito ng Committee on Animal Welfare na siyang namumuno sa pagpapatupad ng batas. Sinasabi dito na dapat mabigyan ang lahat na hayop, maging mga kauri ko ng wastong pangangalaga, at maaaring maparusahan ang sinumang mapatunayang lumalabag dito. Salamat na rin sa mga bumubuo sa PAWS o Philippine Animal Welfare Society ito ay isang NGO na sumusulong sa aming mga karapatan. Batid ko rin ang magandang relasyon ninyo sa iba kong mga kapatid at kauri. Nariyan si kaibigang Hachiko ng Japan na tanyag hanggang sa ngayon nang dahil sa kakaibang kwentong kanyang ipinamalas na nagpapakita ng totoong pagmamahal niya sa kanyang amo na si Eizaburo. At nang dahil doon, mayroon na siyang sariling estatwa sa Shibuya Train Station sa Tokyo. Sa totoo lang, medyo nakakainggit isipin. Ngunit, wala naman siguro akong magagawa dahil tayo ay may sari-sariling kapalaran bilang mga nilalang ng Diyos. Patunay rin nito si Kabang na mula sa ating bansa na halos ibuwis ang sariling buhay para sa dalawang batang musmos. Dahil sa pagligtas nitong aking kaibigan ay natapyas ang kanyang nguso ngunit maswerte pa rin siya dahil simula sa una’y dama na niya ang pagmamahal ng itinuring niya nang sariling pamilya. Sabihin ko sa inyo, mapagmahal naman talaga kami. Hindi nga lang minsan niyo nakikita kung gaano katindi iyon sa kadahilanang iba ang paraan naming ng pagpapakita ng ganoong uri ng nadarama. Hindi ko maipaliwanag sa isang salita kung gaano kaaliwalas sa pakiramdam ang ganitong pagkakataon na maiparating ko ito at magkaroon kayo ng panahon upang mabatid ang kwentong ito. Ngunit mas liligaya ako kung mararamdaman ko ulit ang aruga at pagpapahalaga niyo sa akin at kay CBEM. Kahit hindi na ganoon katindi gaya ng dati basta’t umaasa pa rin akong hindi niyo ako bibiguin. Hindi ko pa rin binibitawan ang pangako kong kasama ko kayo sa lungkot at saya. Ngunit sa puntong ito’y hanggang dito na muna ang sulat ko. Hanggang sa muli. Mahal ko itong tahanan ko, at mahal ko rin kayo, mga kaibigan at sana ay ganoon pa rin ako sainyo. Nagmamahal, Ang inyong kaibigan continuation from page 9 (Liham ng Isang Walang Boses) Inilathala nina Ivy Glaiza A. Longabela at Judith Mae S. Lorena KAGAT NG LAGIM Ni Ivy Glaiza A. Longabela Sa kalagitnaan ng gabing may kadiliman At kabilugan ng pinakamapulang buwan Sa gabing ang alulong ng mga aso’y nilamon sa kawalan Isang kahindik-hindik na pangyayari ang labis mong kahihilakbutan. Dumanak doon ang lagim Tulad ng dugong sinipsip at bitukang kinain Tanging mga nanlilisik na mga mata ang naging saksi Biktima’y isang nilalang na walang kamaong kayang gumanti. Nangangatog na ang kalamnan Na tulad ng nawala sa katinuan Mga balahibo’y nasa iisang direksiyon Ang isip ay gulo na rin ng kakila-kilabot na pagkakataon. Hindi alam ang patutunguhan Pinagmamasdan ng kung anong kinatatakutan Aswang, bampira, tiyanak, tiktik, multo o engkanto? Wala nang pakialam basta nanginginig na rito. Mabalahibo na katulad ng sa aso Mga mata’y bagang namumula-mula Kuko’y kasing talim ng kanyang mga pangil Na akmang leeg niya ay walang laban na kakagatin. Humawak sa isang animo’y braso Nabigla sa nakitang ito’y isang pugot na ulo Katawa’y inuuod at naaagnas na Bituka at mga mata’y sa lupa, nangalaglag na. Napasigaw na lamang ng saklolo Ngunit huli na nang mapagtantong gubat na tila sementeryo. Kumaripas ng walang kasing bilis Hanggang sa masukal, sa hangganan ng dalisdis. Ubos na ang dugo nang ito ay tigilan At halos kulay ube na ang katawan Tangay sa kanyang paglayo Duguang bituka at tumitibok pang puso. Maya-maya’y nakahandusay na bangkay na iyo’y muling binalikan Wakwak ang dibdib at naninigas na ang katawan. At iyon ang insidenteng gumimbal sa baryo Sa istorya ng Lola Basyang kong makapanindig balahibo.

SPORTS 15 The BU Daraga Campus Pep Squad reclaimed the Group Stunt championship title and clinched 1st runner-up in the Pep Squad Competition held last September 18, 2017 at the jam-packed Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi City, Albay. The 28-man squad composed of students from different courses in CBEM and CSSP who showcased their cheerleading skills and proved superiority in executing their routines, pyramids and stunts. Jan Ray Esplana, the team captain, shared about their preparation, sacrifices and how they faced the challenges that led to another strong podium finish in the annual competition. CHALLENGES FACED The biggest challenge for the squad is the selection process and completing the members of the powerhouse team despite of the limited population of the students. “We tried our best na mag-recruit through information dissemination with the help of CBEM and CSSP College Student Council and other student organizations,” said Esplana. The conflict of schedules of the members was also an issue addressed that made it hard for the team to practice in full attendance. “We can’t execute our routine with incomplete members even though only one member is not around. We even sacrificed our academics just to give more time for practice,” he added. THE PREPARATION When asked about their preparations for this year’s competition, the group focused on body conditioning and endurance workout. The BU Daraga Campus Pep Squad did not have any theme for this year. They focused on cheerleading rather than cheer dance. The whole aspects of the performance were also upgraded compared to last year. The upgraded stunts also dominated their routines more than the dance itself. The University Student Council also conducted a Pep Squad Enhancement and Workshop last September 9, 2017 at the BU College of Engineering Gymnasium. Unluckily, the teams were already on the process of mastering their final routine, but they were still glad to experience such kind of training. VENUE We all knew that Pep Squad and Group Stunt Compe- tition is one of the most awaited events in the Bicol University Fes- tival of Events. Many students, not just from Bicol University, but also around the region, travel to sup- port their bets and enjoy the great atmosphere of the cheerleading competition. The Ibalong Cen- trum for Recreation also fits the event, having the capacity to ac- commodate huge amount of spectators. “The ICR is much safer for performers to perform with mats and not under the heat of the sun. The only negative thing is that we can’t hear the music properly because of the echo and the cheering and shouting of the students which is in close proximity with us,” Esplana said. BUILDING TEAM CHEMISTRY “Laban lang, No matter what happens!,” says Marjorie B. Tuan, the former National University Pep Squad Cheerleader, and the head coach of the BU Daraga Campus Pep Squad. The team began their training around mid of July. Team Captain Esplana, also described Pep Squad as not just a simple event or an activity. For him, it is an extraordinary type of bonding because it builds strong relationship between each of the members with the same interest while attaining the ultimate goal of the group. Also, good attitude, great social skills, and most of all, dedication, are the most relevant traits that a cheerleader must acquire. As the team captain of the group, Esplana observed proper discipline to his fellow cheerleaders. “I’m very strict in a way na kailangan magawa or ma-execute nila ng tama at maayos yung mga elements ng routine like jumps, tosses, stunts and pyramids. Sa punctuality naman, I gave punishments for late comers such as doing 100 push-ups, 10 minutes flanking. Also, eating chili pepper to those who constantly come late during trainings,” he said. They came to realize that time management is very important as a student athlete and as a business and social sciences students. SOLID SUPPORTERS The BU Daraga Campus Pep Squad expressed their full gratitude and appreciation to those who believed and supported them all throughout the journey. “We are very, very, very thankful to them (fans) for their time, support and motivation that they gave to us,” Esplana said. In addition to this, the team captain also shared his piece of advice to those students who want to try and explore cheerleading, “Be brave enough to face the challenges, keep doing what they love and believe in themselves. Also, do not be afraid to try something new,” he said. WHAT LIES AHEAD The BU Daraga Campus Pep Squad still remained humble and gained a lot of life’s lessons from the victory they achieved. “As a captain, I’ve learned that being a leader is a great responsibility yet a blessing and flexibility is the key in becoming a good leader. Also, being a leader is making the people you love hate you a little more each day,” Esplana said. The Bicol University Daraga Campus Pep Squad is set to compete in the National CheerBU Daraga Campus dominates Pep Squad and Group Stunt Competition by Mark Angelo A. Kallos Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao famously known as “Manny Pacquiao” is the first and only boxer to win eight division world titles in history of boxing. He was recognized by the Filipino people as “The People Champ” and “The Nation’s Fist” (Ang Pambansang Kamao). Manny is more than just a boxer, he is also an actor and accomplished singer with his first album titled “Laban Nating Lahat Ito”. Manny also joined the 2014 Philippine Basketball Association Draft being the 11th overall pick in the first round by the Kia basketball team where he played as Point Guard, at the same time, Head Coach of his own team. At the age of 35, Manny became the oldest rookie to be drafted in the PBA. He also served in the Philippine Army Reserve Force with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In the 2007 legislative elections, Pacquiao officially ran for a seat in the House of Representatives, but he was defeated by the incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio. Manny never surrendered his will to be a member of the legislative body, in 2010 he ran again for the position of congressman in the 1st district of Sarangani. Manny won by landslide victory over his foe and served for 2 consecutive terms as the congressman. The fighting congressman won a senate seat in the 2016 elections after garnering 16 million votes and placed 7th among the 12 new senators of the Republic of the Philippines. Indeed, Manny Pacquiao is the One Pacman! He brought honor and pride for the country and the Filipino people! As a citizen of this country, I would like to express my thoughts and realizations about Manny Pacquiao’s journey in life. We all know that there are some people who might not believe in the capacity of Manny as a senator and hates him for being a bible-quoting legislator but we should also learn to respect the kind of leadership that Manny has to offer. We must be thankful that we have a senator who is eager to learn and responsible in meeting the needs of the Filipinos. First, “If you want to achieve your goals in life, work for it.” We all know that Manny was a legendary boxer but the road to it was not that easy, he used boxing to help his family and earn for a living. At the young age of 14, Manny excelled in boxing so he trained hard and managed to fight against bigger opponents. Manny was passionate in boxing that is why he tallied a total of 59 wins among his 68 bouts in his whole career wherein, 38 of them were won by knock-outs. Second, “Always believe that every failure is a big lesson.” Pacquiao was never a boastful person, even in the ring he fights and finishes his opponent with respect and he always make sure that outside the ring he will remain as a good model of his own country. Manny’s failures in his boxing and political career never destroyed his personality, instead, he used it as a stepping stone in life. In other words, we must not let the failures go into our heart, and do not let our successes in life go into our mind. Stay humble! We all make mistakes in life. Third, “Learn to respect and appreciate one’s existence”. Pacquiao lost his fight against Jeff Horn via Unanimous decision in the Battle of Brisbane last July 2, 2017. Pacquiao underestimated his opponent and did not took his training seriously resulting to a surprise win by the Australian boxer, Jeff Horn who came as the “Dark Horse of the Main Event” in Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia. Almost everyone in the boxing community were shocked on the controversial outcome of the fight, but Pacquiao learned his lesson, to give his opponent respect and take every fight seriously not just because of the earnings he will receive or assumed result. Likewise, as supporters of our fellow Kababayan, we should also stop the hate and respect Pacquiao’s decision in life. We should understand that being a boxer is not easy and at the same time being a politician is a hard task. The question now is what will be Pacquiao’s plan for his career? Should Pacquiao stop fighting in the ring and start hanging his boxing gloves? Or start focusing on his people in the country and fulfilling his duties as a senator? The answer will only come from the One Pacman! Let us just wait and pray for the One Pacman’s guidance. One Pacman by Mark Angelo A. Kallos In the midst of nine firm clusters eagerly contending against each other, the Bicol Uni- versity Daraga Campus (BUDC) also known as the Cluster Four, mainly consisting of the Col- lege of Business, Economics and Management (CBEM) and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), has joint- ly made its way to the pinnacle when hailed as this year’s victor for the 48th BU September Fes- tival held during the aforesaid month. “On behalf of the College Student Councils and the 2,240 students of College of Business, Economics and Management and College of Social Sciences and Phi- losophy, we would like to extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to all the people who made this success possible and to the students of BU CBEM and BU CSSP for represent- ing and for the unwavering support and cheers for Daraga Campus, and to Almighty God, we lift all of this to You!”, Roby Role Borja, CBEM College of Student Coun- cil (CSC) President as he sincerely expresses his appreciation on each one’s efforts for the attainment of triumph. The festival highlighted the BU Olympics wherein the main BUDC vanquishes 8 clusters in BU fest 2017 by Janne Nicole P. Garcia and the satellite campuses were able bring out their re- spective wits, dis- cernment, ability and skills in every athletic and academ- ically inclined com- petitions and tour- naments. The event also showcased the splendor and mag- nificence of a Bueno through the annu- al Mr. and Ms. BU (MMBU) and most significantly, the celebration brought forward the quintes- sence of a scholastic individual by its en- gagement on social, athletic and scholarly equipped activities. The BUDC being named as the champion nailed the top place in the Pep and Cheerdance Competition and Chess Women. The cluster seized six golds, two silvers and four bronze medals in the swimming category. It also bagged five 1st runner ups in women’s badminton, men and continue to page 5 FANTASTIC FOUR. The working force of Cluster 4 or the Bicol University Daraga Campus (BUDC) celebrates after the awarding ceremony of the 48th September’s Festival of Bicol University (BU). The CBEM and CSSP team-up champs the first clustered festival. (Photo by Roby Roel Borja, CSC President) BLAZING LIKE A PHOENIX. Bicol University Daraga Campus (BUDC) Pep Squad performs death-defying stunts during the Group Stunt and Pep Squad Competitions last Sept. 18, 2017 at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation. The team reclaims the title in Group Stunt Competition and secures the First Runner-Up in the Pep Squad Tilt. (Photo by Aliza Osma)