SINGKO: ALAB

The

Stentorian

ABOUT THE COVER

EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF 2019-2020

KARL JOSH GUILLERMO Editor in Chief LEINAHTAN JOHN MARTINEZ Associate Editor JUAN AGUSTIN JR. Managing Editor JESLIEMAE ALVAREZ Assoc. Managing Editor ROSER LAXAMANA Sports Editor LEOPOLDO S. BALTAZAR JR. News Editor CARL JOSEPH GONZALES Features Editor YENA BARBETTE CABALU Literary Editor GIFT PAULENE LOVE GOMEZ Layout Editor JHONA MAE DELA CRUZ Senior Photojournalist SHIRINE PEARL SARRANQUIN CRISTINA MAE AGUSTIN MARIA ELAINE PASCUA JASMIN TAMARES CRYSTAL JOY SAMODIO JOHANN FEL RIGOR KYLA NICHOLE GARCIA GENERE JAMES NOOL CHARLES DARWIN DAQUIGAN REISTER VINUYA CRIZHIA GONZALES EDRICH JERON FERNANDO MARY ROSE ARELLANO Correspondents IAN AGLIAM LENARD BUGARIN VINCE CARLO PAYUMO Cartoonists RENZ ANTHONY SALCEDO Graphic Artist GERALD CHRISTIAN E. PUGAT Layout Artist STEPHEN LAURENCE GUILLERMO ANDREW GABRIEL VILLEGAS Photojournalists ENGR. LEONIDES TATU Adviser

At times, you find yourself high-spirited. You began at the good starting point and it is as if everything--your passion, your career, and your dreams are all falling into the right place. It doesn’t really matter what’s up ahead, all you know is that you have that fire ignited to get through.

The next time, you will find yourself burning out rather than burning bright as if a candle capped within a glass jar, put out by pressure. You lost motivation to keep pressing on and no longer talk about the revolutionary idea you’ve been so excited about just few years ago.

The fire might have been extinguished, for you have been lighting up the candle at both ends unnoticed, but a single match stick can light it all up again. It only takes a few ounce of courage to start blazing and brave the threatening blow of wind. It’s better, than regretting putting your passion on the back burner.

Make your spirit be rekindled. Start the fire, and make it alive. No one’s gonna do it for you.

Huwag matatakot at patuloy na Mag-ALAB!

Graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo

SINGKO All rights reserved 2021

editors’ note

Over the years of staying as a journalist. I have learned many different things, from technical writing, exercising good camaraderie, and serving my college. Being part of The Stentorian, I developed so many skills that I can take and use in the real world.

The role of a student journalist is vital and challenging. It is imperative to know that journos are the voice of every student to express and extract the things they want to tell the administration.

Meanwhile, becoming one is challenging because of the criticisms you will face and problems you will encounter. One example was the time that The Stentorian is gradually falling apart and entrant for shutdown. But our heart ignites for writing and speaks for change, which made us decide to stand and fight for the publication. One time I told them “Hindi ko ‘to susukuan. Ipaglalaban ko ang publikasyon natin. Dahil naniniwala ako sa mga kakayahan ninyo. Naniniwala ako may future ang [The] Stentorian sa mga kamay ninyo.”

The fire burning in us will keep us flamed in our goals to achieve what we want to attain as a team and a family. The enthusiasm to write, apprise and serve the students with transparency is the thing we are still fighting.

Now, the official college student publication of College of Engineering and Technology- The Stentorian pompously introduce their official magazine issue, SINGKO, with its theme “ALAB,” denoting the fire within every engineering student that will substantiate their willpower and hard work.

This year’s SINGKO will lead you to different facets of fortitude and fighting spirit. These will also enthuse students to work hard for their aspiration and desires. Therefore, to all the students out there, you will become successful someday, just keep the fire in you and keep the vibe within you.

Karl Josh M. Guillermo Editor in Chief

I wasn’t confident in taking this role as features editor when the opportunity presented itself. I was just a 3rd year student at the time and I hardly knew anything about writing. But thanks to the support of my seniors, I gave it a shot. My seniors guided me on what to do. Gave me tips and inspired me to keep on going. But during the past few years, thoughts of leaving the publication started to enter my mind. I’d always say I would quit but seeing the faces of the staff, their smiles and laughter, I just couldn’t go through with it. There has been a lot of ups and downs, but not one day do I regret being a part of this publication. Now, I’m one of the seniors. The tips and tricks my seniors taught me, I pass it on to the new bloods and since it is supposedly my last year in this college, it aches me just to think about saying goodbye.

As students, we must always persevere. Persevere to learn.

Persevere to pass. Persevere to graduate. Never should we think of giving up no matter how grim the situation might seem to be. In every form of darkness, there will always be this light that will guide us. A flame to light the way. We just have to keep fighting; keep following the light.

SINGKO, the official magazine issue of The Stentorian with the theme “ALAB” that signifies the fire inside of every engineering student and that proves their perseverance and tenacity. SINGKO will lead you to different aspect of will power and determination.

This will inspire students to continue working hard for the dreams and goals they have set. Therefore, to all the students out there who are in a dark place right now and is on the verge of quitting, keep fighting and soon you’ll see your dreams turn into reality. Keep the fire burning and keep on fighting!

Carl Joseph Gonzales Features Editor

06 16 40 42 52 58 EDITORIAL AND OPINION

Online class should not be an online struggle Brawl of a student journo The successor Life Is a Game Without a Reset Button Late Night Walks Journalists’ Insides

FEATURES

Ulat ng Mamang Bumbero The Fire Will Be Gone Forever?

Exquisiteness Clothed in Mischief Pandemic History Repeats Itself New Leader is Out

LITERARY You are not A helpless moth But why Are you enticed and intrigued By the flame When the world shuts its eyes

DEVCOM

TARLAC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: SPEAKS TO REBUILD Tagaktak ng Takatak: Otso Pesos na Pantawid Gutom

NEWS

Vaccines reach regions across country, follows priority list despite delays, rapid case surge PUV Modernization Application ends, Consolidation extends one year PRC dismisses licensure exams, lists new schedule following DOH recommendations

SPORTS Sportsmanship Devastation Mga larong nagiging Abo Sharks Hidden Torchbearer A Man of Sports The Unsung Gold, Now Among the Stars

EDITORIAL 6 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

ONLINE CLASS SHOULD NOT BE AN ONLINE STRUGGLE. Learning is both a colossal opportunity and responsibility for the students who aspire to finish their education. And upon implementing new set of regulations as the result of the pandemic where students were mandated to bring the education in their respective homes, financial struggles intensified and scarred some students’ mental health being. However, even in the loudest shriek and whopping of learners begging for academic break just to temporary ease the workload and pressure, some ears just remain to be closed.

Just recently, Tarlac State UniversitySupreme Student Council (TSU-SSC) announced that they have requested a Mental Health Break for the students from March 29 to April 3, 2021 right after the midterm examination just to provide ease for the students who drastically indulge themselves in accomplishing numerous requirements and preparing for their examinations. However, there was not an official statement prior to the result of the request and classes have still been conducted from March 29 to 31. This scenario is not new to the students since the previous proposal of the TSU-SSC dated in November 2020, was also rejected by the TSU Administration.

This concerns other students, that the organization who is supposed to be the students’ voice is repeatedly being rejected by the administration conversely showing that the school executives is drowning and dismissing the students’ call. This demand for academic break shows that students are still having difficulties in adjusting to the new mode of learning, which in fact, is overwhelming and exhausting. The university’s statement about being ready for the flexible learning is not really firm and we were just forcing it out to look like we’re ready and prepared for this adjustment even if we’re not.

Cartoon by Ian Agliam

Pivoting the fully online course learning left the students dumbfounded to the new environment and had been forced to commit to more responsibilities. Students are being tethered to their computer for almost 8 hours a day listening, trying their best to learn, and expected to pick up the pace of learning even with their own varying capacity. Even with the unjust opportunities to the privileged and underprivileged, the transition of e-learning is so fast that everyone is having difficulties--students who failed to pass their quizzes, professors who were not able to attend online classes.

And yet, we cannot fully understand why they are still insisting that we are ready and there is no problem with this new mode of learning.

Some, are not just privileged enough to continue their education in these circumstances causing the others to scream academic freeze to stand that no students should be left behind.

However, on the statement of Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari, TSU President released by The Work dated back in August 2020, she stated “Kung ayaw nilang mag-aral, ’wag silang mag-enroll, magdrop muna,” and that they want to reach out and help all of the students, but they don’t have a one solution for many problems.

After releasing that statement, students voiced out their opinions on twitter with the hashtag #TSUCanDoBetter. This result for calls for academic freeze instead, as a solution to the inconveniences and mental overload of students - preventing mentally exhausted students who would end up taking their lives.

There are varying circumstances where students are experiencing struggles in their online classes. Technical problems such as slow internet connection and slow device problems are just a mere grain to the reality of brawls that the students are experiencing right now--a valid reason to shout for justice and leniency.

Fact, no one is expecting that the education will have an alteration to the system because of health crisis, no one is entitled to take the fall on why students are struggling in their education right now, but everyone is entitled to make the university to be a better place for the learners.

Students are struggling enough to learn and have a better education. If we choose to hinder this and become another force of struggle for them to deal with, there should not be an existing justification, but just pure work of unscrupulous person.

BRAWL OF A STUDENT JOURNO MARX THE RHYTHM

POWER TO WRITE: This is one of the skills and ability of a campus journalists that can be able to use as a weapon to confidently disseminate information to all the students and can be a voice to a deafen administration.

P

ress Freedom is very timely to discuss nowadays, because of different attacks of the government to all the media institutions, who published or cast out something against them. Wherein the government was manifested by that, which led them to shut down these media institutions who allegedly disobeying the law.

In 2019, there is a controversy against one of the founders and incumbent chief executive officer of Rappler, Maria Ressa, who were arrested for cyber libel.

Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a case against her for publishing an article in 2012, which she clarified that it was all clearly defamatory, which means they’re indicting a false statement that can injure her reputation. This kind of action means so much to journalism, wherein, they’re using their power and authority to hide their paltry feat.

Furthermore, there is a relevance pertaining to campus journalism, that everyone can exploit. Freedom of campus press is much hidden. Campus publications have no voice to put out the mistakes of the school and must prevail the good image of their institution, which made the publications’ a puppet to trail everything and agreed to whatever they want. Campus journalism is such a cruel to propagate the verity.

According to the Republic Act No. 7079 or an act providing for the development and promoting of campus journalism and for their purposes, section 2. It is the declared policy of the State to uphold and protect the freedom of the press even at the campus level and promote the development and growth of campus you the realism as a means of strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth. In furtherance of the policy, the State shall undertake various programs and projects aimed at improving the journalistic skills of the students concerned and promoting responsible and free journalism.

How can a student journalist practice journalism, if we let censorship continue to prosper to every campus press and in the field of promoting transparency and as a bearer of truth?

In an interview with a student in a public high school here in Tarlac City. They shared their own personal insights about how journalism works to their institution.

“Nagsusulat po kami sa Kung Ano ang gusto

ipalagay ng adviser namin, Hindi po Talaga namin ma-flex and gusto naming ibalita”, this is evidence that they’ve been controlled by the administration, and she added “One time po may isinusulat akong issue sa isa sa mga teacher dito, kaso pinaalis at pinapalitan [adviser] dahil sa masisira daw ‘yung image ng school.” Practicing this kind of culture to any campus journalists is an indication that soon we are no longer see the truth but injustice right for the student and for the people.

Censorship is the only thing they can use to easily dwell the image of campuses. From there, the main principles of truthfulness, accuracy, and fairness are seemingly out of the phrase. Meanwhile, newsworthy information and its subsequent dissemination to the public might cause harm to everyone and we are expecting to exist and continues to stand-in for fake news, not just only in our campuses but also to the whole humane society.

Campus Press has depreciated their democratic rights by their school administration and face hurdle to release issues that deserve to be read by the students. They also suppressed campus publications that are very active in providing authentic information and who probably set frank information for the administration. They squash the news and mold it to a piece of nothing and kept mum for the sake of the institution.

As an Editor-in-Chief of my college publication. It was a wretched work for me to practice information and acquire this kind of outline for my co-student journalist.

Because we are not able to address matters with full legal nut. We are not also into growth but rather we tend to grow in another way around. We can be like a bamboo tree. That no matter how high it is, they always know how to bend from where they all started.

Let us stop to cover things for our own good and we must foresee a new beginning to come and positively take comments and issues to improve us and let us stop censorship to openly see the truth for the sake of everyone. Censorship is not a way to make things good. Campus Press is not our enemy for our battling world, but rather our own way of navigating proper service to everyone. Stop the protest and the unwisely suppressing publications and provide a peaceful understanding and truthfulness to everyone.

KARL JOSH GUILLERMO EDITOR IN CHIEF

“Student Journalist must be heard!

Transparency and truthfulness is for a deafen mind.

Stop suppression!

Stop censorship!”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 7

THE SUCCESSOR VERUM RES

LEADERSHIP: Ang pagkakamali ng nakaraan ng isang lider ng bansa ay pagbukas ng makabagong kabanata ngayon sa Pilipinas at pagmulat sa mga pares ng mata ng henerasyon natin ngayon.

S LEINAHTAN JOHN MARTINEZ ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“hindi lamang ito laban ko, laban ito ng mga Pilipino na itama ang pagkakamali na nagawa na noon.”

8 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

imula pa noon, hindi na bago satin ang kasaysayan at natural lamang bilang mag-aaral, pinag-aaralan ang ekonomiya at pangyayari sa ating bansa at naging basehan to ng pananaw at pagkumapara sa kasalukuyang pangyayari. Hindi ko maipaliwanag kung saan ako mag uumpisa, pero sa pulitika na hawak natin ngayon ay binuksan ang makabagong kabanata.

Kagindal-gindal ang mga nangyayari sa panahon natin sa kasalukuyang administrasyon sa pamumuno ni President Duterte. Marami ang hindi natuwa sa kanyang pamamalakad dahil hindi lamang ang nasa taas ang napipi, kundi apektado din ang maliliit na mamamayan na pilit sinusupil sa kanyang termino. Subalit, lingid sa kaalaman natin, paano ba ka-apektakdo ang isang indibidwal na mamamayan?

Sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos nagmula ang salitang martial law na unti-unti na tayong nilalamon sa panahon natin ngayon dahil sa pamamalakad na tagilid at hindi makatao sa ating paningin bilang isang individual na mamamayan. Nagsimula din ang paggigipit sa mga manunulat upang isiwalat ang mga katotohanan na ipinahahatid ay serbisyong totoo lamang na naging dahilan ng pagpapahinto, pagtatakip, at pag-control sa mga manunulat. Nais lamang ba na ipahiwatig ng terminong ito ang mga magagandang naihatid sa atin, o pilit natin tatakpan ang mga mata at nakagapos ang mga kamay na kontrolado ng administrasyong Marcos?

Isa din ang pagiging puppet mula sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Jose P. Laurel na naging sunud-sunuran sa mga nais gawin sa atin ng banyaga na naging dahilan upang makontrol ang termino nito at itali tayo sa pamamalakad na gusto nila.

Makikita natin sa administrasyong Duterte, na hindi lamang mga yamang mineral ang pinagkukunan natin ng hanap buhay ang inangkin ng banyaga na naging kabayaran sa pagpapa-unlad ng ating ekonomiya sa bansa. Maging sa mga susunod pang panahon at maging ang Gobyerno natin ay ginigilitan ang kanilang leeg at unti-unting nauubos sa posisyon na hawak nila at samantalahin ang kahinaan ng mga Pulitiko na nasilaw sa kayamanan at ibenta ang ating soberanya.

Ganitong uri na ba ang nanaisin natin sa pamamalakad ng terminong ito sa ating bansa, na ang legasiya ay pinagpapatuloy lamang ng nangunguna ngayon at pilit

ibinababalik ang masasakit na pinagdaanan ng mga Pilipino sa kamay ng banyaga na naging sanhi ng ating paghihimagsik kung saan maraming tao at bayani ang magaalay ng kanilang buhay para makalaya sa mapaglarong kamay ng banyaga.

Tumaas ang bilihin natin sa mga iba’tibang sulok ng bansa, ngunit ang sahod ng isang nasa mababang uri ng mamamayan ay nadagdagan lamang ng kaunti na sapat sa pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan upang matustusan ang buhay. Malaki man ang naging tulong ng tax free ngayon, ngunit paano ang kaakibat ng malaking pagbabago sa mga mamamayan na nakakaranas nito na nasa ibaba ng lipunan.

Maging ang Kontra droga ay naging madugo sa bansa at probinsya na syang naging laman ng mga balita sa telebisyon at diyaryo dahil ito ay daan upang ang mga inosenteng mamamayan ay madamay at mahigit kumulang 10,000 ang napaslang sa war on drugs.

Ang mga nasa mababang uri ng estado ng buhay ay lalong bumabaon dahil sa mga bagong napatupad na proyekto sa administrasyong ito na naging sanhi ng pagkahirap ng mamamayan. Mas lalong lumulubha ang administrasyong sa pinapakita nila, dahil apektado ang mga inonsente at makataong pamumuhay ng isang mamamayan. Maging ang teritoryo na sinakop sa Philippine Sea kung saan ang mga mangingisda ay limitado na ang naging galaw at tanging pinagkukunan ng pangkabuhayan ng mga tao. Ano ang nagiging hakbang ng mga administrasyon dito?

Maraming tumatakbo sa isipan ko, na hindi man lang ako naging apektado sa kalagayan ng bansa. Hindi makita ng dalawang mata ko ang kamalian na kinakaharap natin ngayon, dahil hindi lamang ito laban ko, laban ito ng mga Pilipino na itama ang pagkakamali na nagawa na noon. Tapusin at putulin ang taling nagdudugtong dito.

Paano tayo lalaban kung wala ng boses dahil sa paghihikahos at pagod na sa mga tenga na ayaw pakinggan ang totoong realidad ng pulitiko na binulag ng mga salapi at karangyaan ngayon?

Kailan matatapos ang lahat ng kahirapan ngayon? O lugmok na tayo sa nakaraan at pinagpapatuloy na lamang ang mga pagkakamali ng mga dating pangulo ng bansa? Dahil isa lang ang naisigurado ko, mauulit at mauulit ang pagkakamali ng nakaraan na nagawa ng ating bansa.

LIFE IS A GAME WITHOUT A RESET BUTTON RESPO TO RESPO

REALITY: We only have one life. We only have one saved file. There’s no option to start a new game. We can’t just reset the game, start over from the beginning, and do things differently. The only option we have is to continue the game.

E

ver wondered why people play games? To others, it might just be a waste of time. Some might just play game to pass the time. Others, it is their passion. “It’s a waste of time.”

“You’ll never be successful if you just play video games.” “You should be more productive.”

I’ve heard it all. Sure if you play too much, you might end up cramming for an exam.

You might lose sleep. You might get addicted and lose focus on reality. There should always be a balance. But, if there is one thing games taught me, it’s to never give up.

Back when I was a child, my dad and I used to play games together. Whether we played together or we played against each other, it was one of our bonding moments.

Of course, I’d mostly lose the games played against him. He’d always tell me to practice and that we’ll play again. My dad was my rival. He played the game better than me and even though I kept losing, he always encouraged me to keep on practicing, to keep on playing, and to keep on getting better.

So I did. I’d practice until he got home from work and challenge him for a rematch, I kept losing. Until it came to a point where I almost won, but alas, he still got me. I cried at that point because it seemed like, no matter how hard I practiced, no matter how much time I put into it, I would never beat him. I put in more hours in playing than he did and yet he kept winning. I was devastated. He comforted me and asked “Ano lagi ko sinasabi sayo?” and I’d answered “To keep trying. To keep giving my best.” Then he added “And to learn” to which, I nodded. He then wiped my tears and my runny nose with my own shirt and we continued playing.

Of course, my older sister is also a playmate of mine. Competitive as she is, she could never really beat me unless I give her some form of advantage. She played games that I found boring and tedious such as Harvest Moon and other farming games. I see her playing with her folder of events just so she can say she completed the game 100%. A completionist. If she even misses one challenge or one event, she starts over from her last save point and if she can’t really do the challenge, she’d call me for help. The tenacity she has in completing everything is quite something.

Same with her studies. I’d see her writing on manila papers and tape them on the wall so she can easily memorize things that she needed. Tenacious in both video games and studies. That’s how her mind worked even up to now.

Fast forward to my very first year in college, I’ve played a lot more video games since then. I was scared to tell my dad that I got a failing grade in Algebra simply because he’s scary when he gets mad. So, with my knees and hands shaking, I told him the bad news.

At first, he was shocked and, from the look on his face, disappointed. He asked me why and I told him it was difficult. I had a hard time keeping up with the pace of the lessons. I thought he’d scream at me then send me to my room without dinner, but he didn’t. He just gave out a heavy sigh and said “Okay lang yan. Mahirap talaga ang kurso mo.” Then he asked me, “Ano lagi ko sinasabi sayo?” I paused for a bit to think and said “To keep trying. To keep giving my best. And to learn.” “Tama!” he exclaimed.

“Parang video game lang yan e ang college.

Diba pag naglalaro ka at may nakalaban ka na boss at natalo ka, susuko ka nalang ba?

Hindi diba? Lalabanan mo ulit. Susubukan mo ulit. O ngayon na nakalaban mo na siya, alam mo na kung paano siya umatake, yung pattern nya, Aalamin mo rin kung saan ka nagkamali para di mo na maulit diba? Kung natalo ka ulit, ulitin mo lang ulit. Uulitin mo ng uulitin hanggang sa manalo ka diba?” I nodded, taking in all of what he said, and he continued “Same lang din sa college. Yung boss, yun yung subjects mo. Pag bumagsak ka, ulitin mo lang. Retake mo. Wag ka susuko.

O alam mo na yung mga diniscuss sa subject so kapag diniscuss ulit, alam mo na. May idea ka na. Kung san ka nagkamali, matatama mo na. Ibigay mo lang yung best mo at sigurado papasa ka na nyan.” Again, I nodded, fully absorbing his analogy. He then stood up, gave me a pat on the back, and told me “Kaya mo yan. Wag ka lang susuko.”

Up to this day, I still use that analogy in everything I do. It is what has kept me going every time I fail a subject. Yes I have been in studying engineering longer than expected but I’m still here. In reality, we only have one life. We only have one save file.

There’s no option to start a new game. We can’t just reset the game, start over from the beginning, and do things differently.

The only option we have is to continue the game.

To wrap it up, I leave this message. Keep fighting, keep learning. Never give up and at some point, we will defeat the final boss and earn our sweet victory as we graduate with the degrees we’ve chosen and get the sweet reward, our diplomas.

CARL JOSEPH GONZALES FEATURES EDITOR

PEN NAME PEN NAME “In reality, we only

have one life. We only have one save file. There’s no option to start a new game. We can’t just reset the game, start over from the beginning, and do things differently.

The only option we have is to continue the game.”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 9

LATE NIGHT WALKS BEERS AND REGRET

CULTURE: A catcaller knows that his target isn’t going to turn around and say “thanks”. They don’t do it for that. Catcalling isn’t complementing, it’s basically a threat.

I YENA BARBETTE CABALU LITERARY EDITOR

“Catcalling shouldn’t be dismissed by saying “boys will always be boys” and “men are trash”, because masculinity doesn’t correspond to aggression.”

10 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

was young, innocent and artless when I realised that whistling can call the wind. According to my really vague recollection, my uncle would whistle while washing his motorcycle under the shade of a palm tree; my auntie also whistles as she hang wet clothes from her laundry; and my cousin, while resting on a “papag” our grandfather has made, whistles and pats his hands like there is a beat he’s following to. I was 9 or 10 years old back then, and I always wonder how magically their whistles can put a glow in their faces.

Maybe they whistle for them to enjoy a little bit of a breeze whilst working under the heat of the sun; maybe they whistle to simply have something to listen to, like a song; or maybe just to enjoy their spare time hoping that the tender breeze could help them feel the presence of someone by bringing them their fragrance.

Upto these days, I still call the wind whenever I need it. I whistle when I am under a scorching sun, when I am bored, even when I am alone and doing some school-related stuff. I call it, and I make it a company.

Though there are times that the stupid wind that comes to your whistles may be quite different from what purpose you set it into.

Because there are winds that can magically, though resentfully, sway you back to the old memories, dreams and people. Those winds might have been called upon a melodic whistle. A whistle with a rhythm.

Have you tried walking down the street to freshen up your mind? In the middle of that soul-searching or deep-thinking, have you ever experienced the evening breeze caressing your face and that thin aura that kisses your ear in the early moonlight? Well, that is a wind you probably subconciously called through a melodic whistle. Like a song converted to a shrill high-pitched sound. Only it has a rhythm.

The whistle I was thought about when I was 9 years old is a whistle that calls a wind for refreshment. As I grow up, I’ve learned about whistles that call a wind that can take you to the epiphany of life. Well, these whistles are made by sublime people.

Now, my 21 years old self have already been introduced to the third and most frightening kind of whistle. Heard about the winds that gives you chills like a whisper that calls after you in the night? How are they called upon? And who in this Earth blew a whistle that can call the sharpest breeze that cuts through the fog, and give chills to the bone?

In the basis of my experience, these kind of winds are called by people lacking of respect. People who aren’t disgusted by their own behavior because they think licking their lips and looking women up and down isn’t scary and dehumanizing. What are they called?

Catcallers.

“I bet you will be an Engineer!”, “It’s lunch time!”, “Your prof’s absent today!”, street harassers never say those words. In many cases they try to reinforce their dominance over their victim. They often try to humiliate them, and make them ashamed of their own bodies. Though, catcallers aren’t pure boys, and catcalling shouldn’t be dismissed by saying “boys will always be boys” and “men are trash”, because masculinity doesn’t correspond to aggression. But if no one ever noticed, the term masculinity is being misused, often abused by men and most of the time, misapplied in connection to their gender. Being masculine doesn’t mean having the power to give women lascivious, open-mouthed stares and calling them “beautiful” and “sexy” from open car windows or construction sites or from dark streets. Masculinity is a set of attributes, behaviors, characters, and roles associated with men. Although catcalling isn’t always done by masculinity-abusing men, the aftermath it can give to women or any of the victims, is the same. What’s scary is that many, if not all, women particularly teenage girls have at least one story like this. They think not engaging and ignoring is the safest way of dealing with such a displeasing attribute, behavior and character— where in fact, it can lead to danger because you don’t know what your opponent is capable of.

“I really wanna marry the guy who whistled at me from his car.” Said no woman ever.

So next time you whistle, make sure you are only calling the fresh air, just a breeze that can, and will always, make you close your eyes and dream. Never whistle to catcall. Because that whistle can destroy, by destroy I mean to cut into thinnest pieces, every woman’s self-esteem, self-love, and self-respect. Victims deserve to live a life without the annoyance of blatant sexual harassment. They are not holograms placed in your vicinity for your viewing pleasure. If you disagree with this, then you maybe are one of the people who are miscomprehending masculinity or one of those who feel powerful just because they are classified as men.

JOURNALISTS’ INSIDES APOCRYPHA7

AGENCY: The power to make a decision. It is seldom difficult to choose knowing being in this world full of predicament will only hurt you. This world is fragile, but who knows? Means do not determine the ends. It is a matter of handling your ability to choose from things that will keep you alive. Take a step and be courageous.

W

hen you enter an organization, conflict always arises at no particular time. Whether you like it or not, the incompatibility that appears will eventually kill something when you let it reign and do nothing about it. The same thing in a relationship, conflict can lead to mistrust. We always want to show in the faces of our college that we will give our strength and wit to make our publication stay amidst criticism. That is why even if we are being underestimated, the leadership which lies among the staff will never burn out. We sacrifice our time to serve as the voice of the students. But at such point in our races, one or two or more of us may certainly dwindle in our capabilities and will be put in a situation where we would want to go back to the realization of why we are still holding on.

I remember the old days, knowing television became my first friend. It was the first time that I was bewitched. Bearing into my solitude, the colors it brings are sunshine to my eyes and the sounds I heard are melody to my ears. It was my childhood that gave me happiness and appreciation in simple things. As I grew older, I was into reading and watching the news and that was the time I discovered my skills in writing. I joined campus journalism for extracurricular grade and at the same time, it became my passion. I continued these lit of skills, experiencing failures and hardships for several years. Journalism becomes part of my path and believes it will be part of my life. Not until I reach my lowest peak, I messaged my Editor-in-Chief, “Good day! I am going to quit.” He then replied “why?” and I decided to ignore it. He pleaded me to stay but I decided to refuse. I readied my resignation letter and was willing to throw things and give up the passion that I once had.

There are struggles inside the journalists’ bodies. We are writers, and at some point in an unfortunate moment, we do not know what to write. Our minds are being squeezed and when nothing comes out our hands become obsolete. We do not know where to get an inspiration to continuously work. We are engineering students and failure is always ready to welcome us in every subject. And that is the thing in my mind that I do not want to face. We are also sons and daughters of our parents and for me, failing means a failure to meet expectations. I walked towards the door of the Stentorian to hand down the letter that

I prepared and was being kept in my sling bag.

My editors were sitting on the couch ready to speak to me asking what the problem was. My tears fell. I told them that I can’t write an article, I get zeroes in my exams and doing errands as a managing editor conflicts my load schedule. I did tell these things because I was so depressed, don’t know what to prioritize and don’t know what to let go. I overthink things and always arrive home exhausted. I stuttered in my words because my emotions carried me away. My editors helped me calm my troubled mind and heart. They shared their experiences that I can relate to that moved me to stay and be better.

Every one of us in the publication has its responsibility. And doing this kind of responsibility is accountability to take care of. Not all can spend more time doing a college newspaper or article or be able to finish it or submit it in no time. The fire that I found here in this publication is the flame of support that there are people who can become your brace when you are on the verge of doom. Even if you feel like an ordinary student every ordinary day, they will tell you that you are special and talented. And it is such a regret to waste that kind of skill. Conflict is everywhere and it is a matter of how calm you will handle it while taking its helm.

Your steering wheel is the most important thing you must have while venturing your ship in the great ocean of calamities. Winston Churchill once said, “Never give up on something that you can’t go on a day without thinking about it”, and how should I? If ever you ask me how I feel, my answer will be it is very compelling.

In my one and a half year in the publication, the first job is to make things right. It is never wrong to choose whether to quit or to stay. But it will become wrong when you choose and you lose. You are battling the inside of you. Those insecurities that haunt you is you. Learn to accept what is really for you. Learn to grow because that is the best for you. And most importantly, you must know that you deserve better. We serve as a voice even though our hearts are broken, minds are bleeding and bodies are shaking.

We have our shortcomings and keeping it only to yourself will kill you inside. Every time we breathe is our chance to make our own possible decision between dilemmas that bother us. We are indeed a rare breed of writers, still giving the best story for our college.

JUAN AGUSTIN JR. MANAGING EDITOR

“You are battling the inside of you.

Those insecurities that haunt you is you.”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 11

BUILDING TOWER OF SELF ESTEEM MADE OF BLOCKS OF COMMENDS TIDAL LOCK

CRITICIZING: We all have that ability to interfere with another’s selfesteem and self worth which changes who they are and how they perceive the world around them. Whether we like it or not, we are hurting people without realising. So we often find ourselves finding fault and tearing down than lifting up and helping to heal.

W

JASMIN TAMARES CORRESPONDENT

“We become effective motivators when we make people portraits of beauty than merely painting a bleak picture of human degradation.”

12 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

hen was the last time you just sat down and observed the little things around you that you never seemed to notice before? When was the last time you just idly dreamt and appreciated your surroundings as if everything in its state is good? Can you recall?

Or what you remember are those countless times you complained to your Mom over her awful cooking skills, or when you cussed over your Facebook friend’s post of her selfie because you found it lame, or maybe that time when you yelled at your group member after messing up your group report. You should’ve been grateful, don’t you think?

We live in an era where rebuking people in the nicest way possible is outdated. People like that are just around all corners. It’s not new. We are surrounded by them and we are used to them. Sometimes, they’re just within our school grounds, sometimes, just under the same roof as ours and sometimes, within the circle of friends we belong to, but most of the time, it is us, and never noticed.

I was doing my routine one day — reading a daily-inspiration-book, when a short biography about a renowned photojournalist mentioned in the passage caught my attention. I was greatly impressed by the way he sees things and firmly stands for what he believes to be upright—it was David Doubilet, a multi-awarded photojournalist and a pioneering underwater photographer whose pictures of a discreet underwater world can turn even an ugly bug-eyed creature into a superb work of art.

While receiving a bunch of awards and honor for his works, he has also been criticized by environmentalists for not doing more rigid journalism. They want him to take pictures of dead fishes, dirty beaches and polluted oceans in order to show people the destruction they have caused the environment. Contrary to their judgement, Doubilet firmly believes that there is a better way to get people to care about the environment.

Instead of showing people our devastated planet which resulted from our carelessness, he shows the beauty that God has created.

Well, it is an actual scenario, where our planet is tearing down little by little and it is clearly obvious, that we, humans are at fault. Having the fame, David could easily influence people, and slap to their faces their

negligence but he never did for he never intended to point out the depravities the people made in the first place.

We always tend to criticize when we see our fellow fall into transgressions. As humans, who, in nature is good, eventually, became harsh. It became our nature to point out all the evil we see in someone which we believe is the best way to make them better in our viewpoint. Throwing harsh words, condemnations and such, on people who are the in wrong, are often degrading rather than creating in them a room of motivation to improve. Like Doubilet, we can always find a better way to make people correct their errors—recognize the good they have done.

A simple word of appreciation we give can make a great deal of impact in making people do good and may actually change their ways because they have been acknowledged. By doing so, we are planting in them a good seed, which in time will grow and bear good fruits. Criticizing, on the other hand is like plowing a seed of greedy tree which will grow and soon overpower them.

Once it grows, it will be rooted deep within their hearts and can never be plucked out again.

It is understood that there will always be times in our lives when it is expected of us to give criticism.

Sometimes we criticize because we intently want people to change their ways and do better but often unfortunately do not realize that it only motivates the criticized to finish the task to avoid criticism and not focus on doing better.

In some other cases, people criticize for unconstructive purposes. They strive not to make people improve but with the intention to raise their own self-respect at the expense of another. Criticism for these purposes is guaranteed to do more harm than good to the recipient.

Whatever the reason, whether it may be intended or not, criticism is ineffective and only creates resentment and defensiveness on the part of the person criticized.

Give compliments. As soon as a person displayed a desired behavior, be quick to recognize them. We become more effective motivators when we make people become portraits of beauty rather than merely painting a bleak picture of human degradation

YOU ARE NOT ALONE PEN AND PEN

Nakama (仲間): Bamboo o kawayan, isang damong matatag na nakatayo kahit pa sa gitna ng isang malakas na ulan, sasayaw sa ihip ng hangin na para bang wala lang. Ngunit hindi nag iisa ang kawayan sumayaw ito kasama ang iba pang kawayan, magkahawak ang bawat ugat at sama samang sumasayaw sa himig ng isang malakas na hangin sa tag-ulan man o sa tag-araw.

S

a panahon natin ngayon halos hindi na maubos ang mga problema, na sa bawat pag alis ng isa ay may susunod nanamang panibagong isa at kung minsan ay nagkakasabay sabay pa, ngunit wag na wag nating kakalimutan na sa bawat problema na darating satin ay hindi tayo nag iisa at laging may mga tao na handang tumulong sa atin sa oras nang ating pangangailangan.

Marami sa atin ang hindi palasabi ng mga sariling problema sa iba, ngunit mahilig naman makinig at dumamay sa tuwing may mahal tayong nahihirapan.

Marami sa atin ang mahilig sarilihin ang problema, na kahit ang bigat bigat na ay hindi parin kayang sabihin sa kaibigan o kapamilya. Marami sa atin ang iiyak nalang sa sulok at pagkalipas nang ilang minuto ay magpapangap na para bang walang nangyari, tatayo at ipagpapatuloy ang ginagawa. Sa ganitong mga panahon nasasabi natin sa sarili natin na ang tatag natin, ang lakas natin at ang tibay natin. Ngunit yun nga ba ang tunay na nangyayari? Tumatatag nga ba tayo o mas lalo lang nating kinukulong ang sarili natin dahil natatakot tayo?

Natatakot na kapag sinabi natin ang ating pinagdaraana sa iba ay baka hindi nila tayo maintindhan. Natatakot na hindi pag-intindi, bagkus panghuhusga pa ang ating makuha. Panghuhusga, na kaya natin dinaranas ang problemang ito ay dahil narin sa sarili nating disisyon o kagustohan. Panghuhusga na magiging batayan na nang iba upang suriin ang ating pagkatao at isiping hindi na iyon magbabago. Nagtatakot na baka kapag nalaman ng iba ay mas lalo lang tayong mag-isa at natatakot na mabago ang tingin ng satin ng iba.

Natatakot na isiping nag iinarte lang tayo at naghahanap nang taong papansin o kakausap satin. Lalayuan at hindi na papansinin, dahil nagsawa na sa patuloy nating pagsusumbong o pagsasabi ng mga hinahakit natin sa buhay. Natatakot na malaman ang totoo, na ang akala nating taong tutulong satin ay siya pang mawawala kapag kinakailangan natin.

Natatakot na maging dagdag isipin pa ng iba ang sarili nating problema. Natatakot na maipasa natin ang sariling lungkot sa mga taong nakapaligid satin. Natatakot na makitang malungkot ang mga taong minamahal natin at maalis ang ngiting lagi nating gustong makita sakanilang mga mukha. Natatakot na sa bandang huli ay maipasa lang natin sa balikat ng iba ang

problema at higit sa lahat, natatakot na kaawaan ng iba.

Ngunit sa likod ng mga negatibong dahilan na ito ay marami parin ang positibo.

Dahil sa likod ng ating pagkatakot na sabihin sa iba ang problemang dinadala natin. Dito natin mahahanap ang mga taong tunay na nagmamahal satin. Mga taong pilit tayong uunawain at hinding hindi tayo huhusgahan sa ating mga pagkakamali bagkus papayuhan tayo at ipapakita ang daan na nararapat nating tahakin. Mga taong hindi iisiping na nag-iinarte lang tayo, mga taong hindi magsasawang makinig sa mga problema natin sa buhay at hinding hindi tayo iiwan.

Mga taong pro-protekta sa mga ngiti natin at pupunas sa ating mga luha. Mga taong hindi ipararamdam satin na dagdag sa isipin lang tayo para sakila at tutulungan tayong lutasin ang ating problema, tutulungan tayo nang walang kahit anong hinihinging kapalit kundi ang ating pagtitiwala sakanilang hindi tayo bibitwan. Mga taong hindi tayo bubuhatin ngunit sasamahan tayong magbuhat sa mga bagay na kahit ang pinaka malalakas ay hindi kinakaya.

Ang hindi pag asa sa iba para solusyonan ang mga problema natin sa buhay ay isa na sa mga pinaka magandang katangian na puwede nating taglayin sa panahon ito.

Hindi rin natin mapipilit ang isang tao na magsabi sa ating ng kanyang mga pasanin sa buhay. Ngunit hindi rin natin maiwasan na may mga taong makakapansin sa mga problema ating dinadala. Hindi masama na sarilihin natin ang problema, maging matatag at maging matibay ngunit hindi rin masama ang sumandal paminsan minsan at wag kalimutan na may mga taong nandiyan parin satin. Mga taong handa tayong tulungan sa ano mang daguk ng buhay. Mga taong nalulungkot sa tuwing makikitang ang lungkot sa ating mukha, mga taong iniisip ang nararamdaman natin at mga taong hindi man natin laging makausap ay lagi namang handang kausapin tayo at makinig sa bawat hinaing atin.

Hindi masama ang matakot tayo sa mga posibilidad na mangyayari pagkatapos nating magsasabi ng problema sa iba dahil alam naman nating lahat, na sa panahon ngayon mahirap ang magsabi nang problema sa kung kani-kanino ngunit kapag nasabi naman natin ito sa mga tamang tao, magiging isa itong yaman na hihigit pa sa ginto at pera na hindi mawawala at mananatili sa ating habangbuhay.

ROSER LAXAMANA SPORTS EDITOR

“No one is born into this world to be alone” – Jaguar D. Saul (One Piece)

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 13

SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL: FAILURE IS NOT FATAL ALIAS BALAGTAS FAILURE: Many times, in our life, we make mistakes. But I think the burning desire to the success of an individual leads by and comes from his failures. By learning from bad experiences, human beings can achieve big things in life. And because of failing, sometimes, we think of ourselves as failures; the truth is we are just wounded and not a failure.

“W

LEOPOLDO S. BALTAZAR JR.

NEWS EDITOR

“Ironically, it is the struggle with our own failings that may bring the best of us.”

14 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

hen you take risks you learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.” This quote by Ellen DeGeneres opened my mind and widen the horizon of my understanding of how one’s life lives in the roller coaster-like world, full of ups and downs.

We speak about success all the time.

Yes, success says it all - that all painful hardworks paid-off gratefully. But, failure, as well, is very important. Failure may mean that we did not achieved what we desired to acquire. Yet, we build our strength in failure, conquering our fears, and use it as a stepping stone to the success we are longing for.

I still clearly remember when I was in my first year in the university and met senior students, spreading fear everywhere they went. They would say how difficult to pass engineering is, and how badly students fail the courses in each engineering programs.

Do not ever be imprisoned by our own minds. It is the prison without walls, nor barb wires, and without guards, nor corporeal barriers. But, deep inside, our mind is full of fears. Fear controls the choices we make, our actions, our lifestyles and practices, even our destinies and dreams. We are in fear of failing, therefore, we tend to regret of becoming successful.

I, myself, have failed more times than I’d like to admit. And I am not talking about small failures; I’m talking about the kind of failures that have shaken my world, completely altered the landscape of my life, and my well-being. I cannot say that I relish failing, but failure, through its life-altering lessons, makes us into a better person.

I know, many of you will agree with me, that failing hurts, so much. It is like, a knife, cutting deep, slicing its way to our inner skin. Yet, it is necessary. Failure is significant for us humans, and I like to discuss four of them.

First, failure allows us to see our existence in this world. It means that, to experience failure is to start seeing the fissures in the skin of life - and that is the moment when, failure turns out to be a blessing in disguise for us. When we go through something and can walk away with firsthand experience, it helps us to develop a deeper understanding for life.

Second, our capacity to fail is essential

to what we are. According to John Locke, when we were an infant, our mind is like a tabula rasa (blank sheet). When we were born, we know nothing. The capacity of us to learn is based on our experiences of living and failing. We need to foster and treasure this capacity. It is important to remain fundamentally imperfect, and incomplete creatures – that there will be always be a gap between what we are and what we can be.

Third, failing in life helps to be resilient.

In order for us to achieve great success in life, we must know resilience. For me, the more we think of becoming successful on the first try, or even our few tries, then we are next for a far more painful failures.

Lastly, we are designed to fail. No matter how we became successful in life, or how smart or intelligent we became, we all have the same end waiting for us; “natural failure”.

I remember Ingmar Bergman’s Antonius Block, the main character on the film “The Seventh Seal”. Block is a knight returning from wars and charged into a crisis of faith.

He is faced with a failure in the form of a man. He doesn’t beg for mercy. Yet, he just challenged him to the game of chess. He know himself that he cannot win the game.

But for him, victory is not important at all.

You play against your failures in life not to win, but to learn from it.

Bergman taught me a great lesson here – quite sometimes in our life, we will all end in failure, but that is not the most important thing. What really matters is how we fail, and what we gained in the process of failing. Block, for me, had experienced more than he did all in his life, and without that game of chess, he would have lived for nothing.

There are four ways, for me, to recover from a failure. First is to ignore the naysayers. Next is to know and accept that it is fine failing. Third is to retreat your goals. And lastly, is to reset your plans.

Once you understand what failure is, you will then open your heart to experience the importance of failing.

I have recalled in my Ethics class the term “cogito ergo sum” (Latin: “I think, therefore I am”) coined by the French philosopher René Descartes. If you think you will fail, then you will fail. If you think you will succeed, then you will find brighter ways and do everything as much as possible to achieve it.

OUR HUMANITY IS BEING STOLEN

BY THE THIEF WE ONCE RAISED CALCULO TECHNOLOGY: The best creation of the humankind. It paved the way of advancement in our lives and indeed integrated it. But it is also undeniable that as we cling more to it and get too attached, our humanity is becoming senseless; being controlled by the beast we once raised.

L

et us go back to the time where all things are too simple to handle. There are no complexities and everything was in the piece until something entered the frame and made the shift, Technology. It is undeniable that this thing was one of the outstanding creation of mankind. It makes your life easier, never knowing it also makes everything complex.

We all love technology because it was made to help us. It is the skills, methods, and processes used to achieve our goals. It indeed makes our life better than before.

Like everything comes in, processed and in just a glimpse, it comes out. It also gives you easier access to a lot of information because of the vast resources the internet can offer you. No need for books and libraries, just a quick type, a click and you got it!

It certainly makes communication simpler, accessible, convenient and at the same time, effortless. You’ll just use your phone and you can already reach out for your loved one from far away because technology breaks boundaries.

However, Carrie Snow nailed it when she said that technology is a queer thing.

It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other.

She was right and it is undeniable that the various forms of technology such as gadgets has consumed their users from kids to adults; it is evident that the growing technology is the one to control its creator this time.

It may make your hardest work in life light and easy but it is also obvious that it grabs every opportunity from you. Just imagine a drone aircraft flying without any pilot controlling it? This may sound weird but thanks to technology, it can now be possible.

While this may sound good for us, it is too obvious that technology is stealing our human ability, a pilot was meant to control an aircraft but because of this advantageous technology, sooner or later, they will be taken out of the picture. This may sound relaxing and stress-free, but it will make the human ability a big joke.

Not to mention this timeless chain messages. Any person which is too attached to it will definitely follow what is being said in the message without critically thinking about it. Because they are too afraid that it might happen. This is similar with the people receiving scam messages telling them that they won a lottery or won a

specific price such as a large amount of money that will never be theirs. In the end, they will fall into the trap of the scammers.

Moreover, I also remember those viral videos that creeps inside the internet who can control people and make them kill themselves; “Human, why do you let this fictitious ideas control you? I thought you were rational but why are you neglecting your ability to think?”

We are to attached to technology that we lost our grip in our identity in ourselves and in the society. Not to mention that even our relationship with other people is also being affected as online social networking increasingly replaces a real physical world.

As it was said in the article of Bryan Kramer, “Technology has become an electronic addiction for some, taking them out of the physical world as they cling to the features it offers.” If you will ask people nowadays on how’s their bond with their family, few would answer that it is good but the majority will definitely think “what is family bonding?” because they would rather spend the day with their gadgets inside their rooms than having a real bond with their peers and family even for a single day.

In fact, lack of bonding results to broken families, and one of the reasons for the lack of bond, is that people treat their gadgets as family more than their real family.

This is also one of the main reasons for the cases of suicidal incidents and those which are related to depression because they are lacking “real-world” relationships and are stocked inside the virtual world with no way to come out.

Yes technology made the great paradigm shift in our lives. It is evident that it made us think that there is nothing impossible. Who knows, after some time, we’ll thank technology for photographic memory, teleportation machine and other machines that promotes both advancement and of course, laziness, because of too much dependence to it.

Look, we are being too inlove with technology that we did not notice that it is already stealing our humanity from us gradually. Technology should make us more creative and productive not lazy, and futile. But as we fall deeper in its trap, we’re becoming the opposite of what we should be, we are being dehumanized! Little by little, we are being consumed by the fire we once lit. Wake up, Human! we should be the ones to control and not to be controlled.

RENZ ANTHONY SALCEDO CORRESPONDENT

“We once lit up the fire, now it’s burning us down.”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 15

Ulat ng

Mamang Bumbero Nina Karl Josh Guillermo at Juan Agustin Jr. Mga larawang kuha ni Karl Josh Guillermo

“A

nong gusto mo maging paglaki?”

Katanungan na kung saan madalas nating naririnig noong tayo’y mga bata pa. Ngunit madalas din nating naririnig na mga sagot ay doktor, nars, titser, sundalo, abogado at kung anu-ano pang propesyong madalas din nilang nakikita. Ito rin ang nagiging daan upang maging gabay sa ano nga bang ninanais nila sa kanilang paglaki.

Pero bakit walang nagnanais maging isang bumbero.

Hanggang sa makilala namin si Fire Police Officer 3 Abel Manaois, 33, may asawa at dalawang anak, isang Chief in Medical Services at Chief Intelligence in Investigation Unit sa Tarlac City Fire Station sa San Sebastian Village, Tarlac City. Si FPO3 Manaois ay labing isang taon nang nagsisilbi sa estasyon ng Tarlac noong ika-5 ng Marso nitong taon.

16 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 17

“Ginusto ko na ito dahil andito na tayo sa pinasukan natin” - Fire Police Officer 3 Abel Manaois

BUHAY BILANG BUMBERO Sa kabila ng mga unos na pinagdadaanan nila napakalaking responsibilidad ang kanilang kinahaharap.

Ngunit ayon kay FPO3 Manaois, bilang isang bumbero, masaya ito na mahirap, dahil buhay ang inililigtas nila dito, hindi lamang buhay ng tao, bagkus pati mga ari-arian natin kasama. Isa rin sa pinakamasayang parte rito ay ang makapagsilbi sa mga tao, pero mahirap din dahil sariling buhay na nila ang nakataya rito. Dagdag pa niya isa rin itong pribilehiyo, dahil hindi lahat tayo ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na magligtas ng ating kapwa.

PROSESO NG TRABAHO Ang pagsugod sa lugar kung saan tinutupok ng apoy ay sadyang nakababahala.

Pagkatunog pa lamang ng telepono ay kailangang alerto ang lahat sa estasyon. Makalipas ang dalawang minuto ay kailangang mayroon nang nakatakdang mga bumberong aangkas sa fire truck upang tahakin ang lugar kung saan may sunog. Ayon kay FPO3 Manaois, hinding hindi mawawala

ang kaba ng isang bumbero dahil hindi mo alam kung ano nga ba ang iyong madadatnan pagkarating sa lugar na iyon. Hindi rin sigurado kung mayroon nga bang taong na-trap o wala. Tanging dalangin na lamang ang isinasagawa ni FPO3 Manaois bilang paghingi ng gabay sa kanilang kaligtasan.

Dagdag pa niya, minsan talagang nakakabuwisit kapag nasa linya na tayo nang pagreresponde. Dahil dito sa siyudad, hinding hindi

mawawala ang bigat nang trapiko. Magkakahandahalo-halo talaga ang mararamdaman mo, pagpapaliwanag pa niya.

NARS NA NAGING BUMBERO “Mahirap ang trabaho sa kurso ko bilang nars, siyempre gusto mong may stable na trabaho” pagpapaliwanag ni FPO3 Manaois.

Tinahak niya ang pagiging bumbero bilang option niya sa buhay. Aniya, wala namang perpektong trabaho, ngunit sa paglipas ng panahon, itong pinasukan ko ay napamahal na rin akin. Ito siguro ang dahilan kung kaya’t tumagal si FPO3 Manaois nang isang dekada sa kanyang serbisyo bilang isang bumbero. Aniya, nasa proseso iyan, hindi naman agad agad ay magugustuhan mo ang isang bagay.

BOSES NG BUMBERO PARA SA IBA “Kapag may tumawag samin ay agarang tinatanong ng aming radio operator ang eksaktong lokasyon ng sunog at kinukuha ang numero ng caller. Upang nang sa gayon ay patuloy ang komunikasyon habang diretsahan namang sinusuyod ng fire truck ang lugar. Patuloy ring nakikipagchanneling ang radio operator sa mga bumbero para sa

18 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

mga karagdagang update ng bawat isa kung may kailangan nga bang iligtas o kailangan pa ng kasunod na fire truck para sa pagpatay ng apoy.”

Napakahalaga ng pakikipagkomunikasyon na isinasasagawa upang maging matagumpay ang pagresponde. Mensahe ni FPO3 Manaois sa mga kabataang nagnanais na maging bumbero balang araw ay wag silang mangamba dahil doble naman na ang sahod. “Balang araw ay sila rin ang magiging lider at maglilid sa kanilang henerasyon.”

Payo Ni FPO3 Manaois “Nawa’y maging responsible kayo sa inyong mga aksyon.”

KAPANYA TUNGO SA KALIGTASAN “Matuto ka, sunog iwasan na” isang kampanya mula sa Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), tulong sa ating lahat upang maging mas maingat at maalam pagdating sa mga hindi inaasahang pangyayari tulad ng sunog. Ang BFP ay nagbibigay paalala sa bawat mamamayan na maging maalam sa pagpuksa ng sunog. Dahil ayon sakanila “Ligtas ang may alam.” Pero minsan, dagdag pa nila, isinasawalang bahala natin ang mga paalalang kagaya nito, ‘yung simpleng pag-alis lamang ng mga saksakan ay hirap pa nating gawin. Kaya naman sa katagalan, dahil na rin sa ating kapabayaan at katamaran, mas lalo itong lumalala at tayo mismo ang gumagawa ng paraan ng ating ikapapahamak. Kaya naman, kasama ng BFP, inaanyayahan tayong maging mapanuri sa ating mga kagamitan at sa ating sinasakupan. Maging alerto tayo sa lahat ng bagay at maging maalam sa mga hindi inaasahang mga sakuna katulad ng sunog.

Kailangan natin maging ligtas at kalmado sa ganitong mga pagkakataon.

HUDYAT NG PAPALAPIT NA PAGPAPAALAM “Ginusto ko na ito dahil andito na tayo sa pinasukan natin,” binanggit ni FPO3 Manaois nang siya ay aming tanungin kung gusto nga ba niya talaga ang pagbubumbero.

Sinabi rin niya na, mas madalas pa sila sa estasyon kaysa sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan. Bagamat ganoon na lamang ang kanilang sitwasyon sa kanilang trabaho, naiintindihan naman daw sila ng kanilang pamilya at sinusuportahan sila rito. Ngunit sambit ni FPO3 Manaois, “sampung taon na ako sa serbisyo, sampung taon pa at magreretire na ako” dahil para sakanya, 20 taong paninilbihan sa bayan ay sapat na. Nais niya na sa nalalabing taon niya sa mundo ay mailagak niya ito kasama ang kanyang pamilya at makagawa pa ng masasayang alaala nang magkakasama.

Ang pagiging bumbero ay hindi madali.

Kinakailangan mong magkaroon ng lakas ng loob at pasensya. Gayun din magkaroon ng maunawain na pamilya. Dahil sa kabilang banda, ang bayan man ang siya mong inuna, ang pamilya parin ang huli mong babalikan.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 19

CONTENTS

FEATURE

The Fire Will Be Gone Forever?

by Juan Agustin Jr. Graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo

A

s my family lived in a no electricity-shanty, the lamp gave us light at night. The outside was full of a variety of plants and the rice field in my vision, hissing the summer breeze. When twilight came, they were coming out. Surely, my dusk to dawn will be magical. I watched them flinching like stars in the sky. But the glow they gave was a child’s fantasy.

Not until I reached this age, they were now nowhere to be found. Then suddenly a piece of news appears and says they are going extinct. So, I immediately browse the internet and find out that humans are to blame. I am talking about them, the tiny ones --- the fireflies.

20 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Fireflies (Alitaptap) are bioluminescent bugs and an indication of summer. They typically live in glades and bogs and sometimes on the edge of lakes or streams.

Not all are flashers. Some of them light up green, yellow and even orange. There are 2000+ species around the globe and around 200 of them in the United States are accounted for forgone. There are two primary reasons why they are disappearing: light pollution and advancement (like utilizing pesticides and weed executioners). Individuals start possessing lands and that is the issue. A few fireflies are territory explicit that when their environment is gone - species can be lost.

Grown-up fireflies get by for half a month and must mate during short lifetimes. They need darkness because they are nocturnal insects. Most males fly and emit unique flash patterns while females wait in trees, shrubs or grasses to spot an attractive male and flashback. Fireflies escape sync a couple of moments after a vehicle headlight passes. It intrudes on their glimmer designs. Exterior lights in the garden also interrupt their interaction. Firefly radiates 100% energy as light, unlike incandescent bulb that produces 10% energy as light and the rest heat. An excessive amount of light will execute them. They spend their larval form for a year living on the ground. The utilization of substances like pesticides and weed executioners can slaughter them and their prey like slugs and snails. Entomologist Christo-

pher Heckscher of Delaware State University said that certain firefly species common decades ago are now mysteriously absent going to be gone forever.

So what if we lose them forever? If fireflies disappear, we would be losing a lot more than fireflies. They can be an indicator

“As we watched them sparkling like stars in the sky, the gleam they gave was a child’s dream.”

by injecting found in a firefly’s tail into human cells to detect diseases like cancer and muscular dystrophy. They have enzymes like luciferin, known as heat resistant, and luciferase, a protein that makes fireflies glows. A group of a Swiss scientist took the protein from the insects and added a chemical tag so that when it attaches to another molecule like one on tumor cells, it will glow. We will be having cheaper diagnose using that protein designed to potentially cut out expensive read-out devices. Also, it is a highly accurate detection system because light could be seen with a naked eye. In terms of aerospace, electronics built with these chemicals have been fitted into spacecraft to detect life in outer space, as well as food spoilage and bacterial contamination on Earth. We could lose so much more.

They are slowly fading in this world. If that happens, our summer twilights will be dimmer and less mystic. There are sure things that we could do to stop the moment of their extinction. Limit the usage of synthetic substances on the ground. Turn off the outside lights in your garden. What’s more, abstain from gathering fireflies simply like in China’s parks which endangered them. At the point when you see one, simply catch discharge and watch them light away. Possibly a couple of us could recollect the enchantment they gave us when we were youthful. Also, perhaps of the quality of wetlands, as the wetlands a couple of us want to pass that enchantgo, so go the fireflies. The decline of lightning ment into the future - where fireflies could bugs is a cause for concern and reflects the unreservedly fly and make fire at us. Without global trend of increasing biodiversity loss. a doubt, our twilight will be going magical.

Additionally, the contribution of a firefly in As we watched them sparkling like stars in medicine is very important. They the sky, the gleam they gave was a child’s have a valuable diagnostic tool, dream.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 21

Exquisiteness Clothed in Mischief

By Jasmin Tamares Graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo

22 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

L

ava is often associated with color red and orange molten rock. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word lava. While it sounds unusual, would you believe that lava isn’t only limited to those two colors, and can actually produce blue flames? Yes, and it can in fact be found here on Earth and not anywhere on some distant planets.Volcanoes are the center of folklore and myth wherever they exist. These fiery mountains prone to unexpectedly erupting in cascades of lava and ash have frightened humans for centuries. However, there is one volcano that has a reputation that surpasses all others, Indonesia’s Kawah Ijen Volcano, otherwise known as the Blue Volcano. Instead of being feared, this volcano is being admired and gaining fame throughout the web because instead of the usual bright red to yellow color lava and black smoke, its underground activities result in bright blue flames rising into the air.

like any other volcanoes.

This blue glow, unusual for a volcano, isn’t of course the lava itself, the glow is actually the light from the combustion of sulfuric gases. Those gases emerge from cracks in the volcano at high pressure and temperature—up to 1,112°F (600°C).

When they come in contact with the air, they ignite, sending flames up to 16 feet (5 meters) high. Some of the gases condense into liquid sulfur, which continues to burn as it flows down the slopes, giving the feeling of lava flowing.

Miners walk up the verge of the mountain and then descend dangerous rocky paths towards the steep walls of the caldera. Then, using steel bars, they break sulfur from an outcrop, load their baskets, and make the return trip to the refinery.

Miners make one or two trips per day carrying up to 200 pounds of sulfur. The refinery pays them based upon the weight of sulfur that they deliver. The rate of pay amounts to a few dollars per trip. Other miners who are physically fit can make two trips per day.

The mountain contains a high concentration of pure sulfur. When sulfur burns, the color produced is violet, so the color that the volcano is producing is somewhere in between purple and blue.

In the case of Kawah Ijen, when the sulfur and the molten rock come into contact, and exposed to the oxygen present in air and sparked by lava, the sulfur burns readily, and its flames turn the lava an icy blue. There’s so much sulfur, that at times it flows down the rock face as it burns, making it seem as though blue lava is spilling down the mountainside. But because only the flames are blue, rather than the lava itself, unlike regular volcanoes whose bright red lava is visible in the day, Kawah Ijen’s blue burning flames can only be seen at night and is ordinary during the day just

The active Kawah Ijen Volcano is part of a complex of volcanoes in Banywang Regency, Java. This popular complex is situated within Ijen crater with stratovolcano Gunung Merapi as the highest point. The Ijen volcano complex is one of those among that contains the highest levels of sulfur in the world.

It takes a lot of sulfur in order to turn the flames of all of the lava coming out into blue glow, so it isn’t surprising that there are people who mine it. These miners extract sulfuric rock, formed after the blue flames have gone out and the sulfur gas has cooled and combined with the lava to form solidified rock. Often the temperature is low enough that the sulfur condenses, falls to the ground as a liquid, flows a short distance, and becomes solid. This produces a renewable deposit of mineral sulfur that local people mine and carry to a local sugar refinery that buys it.

Unfortunately, that type of living is pretty risky not just because of the temperature in the area combined with the gases mixed into the air from the sulfur burning. Another is that the crater of the volcano is a one-kilometer-wide caldera lake which illuminates turquoise-colored water as a result of its extreme acidity and a high concentration of dissolved metals. It is the world’s largest highly acidic lake with a measured pH as low as 0.5. The cause of its acidity is an inflow of hydrothermal waters charged with gases from a hot magma chamber below. Considering the toxic gases including the sulfur dioxide, miners work without a mask on and some of them uses wet clothes to cover their faces, because they have no money and opportunity to buy.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 23

Does history really repeat itself every 100 years? Lately, almost every conspiracy theories are about the 1720 Bubonic Plague, 1820 Cholera Outbreak, 1920 Spanish Flu, and the recent 2020 Novel Coronavirus.

Anyone will notice the dreadful pattern of these pandemics. It allures people to believe that every 100 years since 1720, a major event is bound to happen. It is alarming numerous netizens. Who will not be frightened after hearing this, right? Can you imagine going through the same sufferings of those who experienced these pandemics? Waking up and seeing thousands of people die around you? Of course, it is a no for majority of us.

It has been our nature as human beings to have our own say about things, we voice out our opinions and what we think is true even without doing actual research about it. Netizens are having their very own claims about these and conspiracy theorists are taking advantage of it to spread panic. Below, let us take a summary of these pandemics.

24 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

By Kyla Nichole Garcia Graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo

1720, Bubonic Plague It was supposed to be an ordinary day for the people of Marseilles but no one knows that this day would take almost half of their population. On the 25th of May in 1720, a ship from Sidon, Syria docked at the French Mediterranean port of Marseilles. It included men suffering from the Bubonic Plague. Authorities then ordered to quarantine the crew for fifteen days, but this order only took effect on June 14 and some of the men already disappeared. They did not expect that the plague would spread rapidly.

Doctors warned the government of a pandemic after they checked those who died in one of the poorest streets of Marseilles. It was only a few days later that the number of deaths exploded. There, people of power had decided to make a cordon but before they could even make it, approximately 10,000 citizens had escaped Marseilles. The plague then reached the city of Provence, a place that later suffered more than Marseilles. The authorities quarantined every infected person and physicians proposed to cleanse the air of dangerous miasmas by lighting a fire and setting off explosions. At that time an estimated 80,000 people were left in Marseilles and 49.1% died because of the plague, meanwhile, Provence recorded about 94,000 deaths. In total, almost

105,000 died of the Bubonic Plague. This plague was indeed one of the most unforgettable catastrophes.

1820, Cholera Outbreak The bacterium that causes cholera is also known as Vibrio Cholerae and is often transmitted through water supplies. When that bacterium enters the body, severe vomiting with drastic dehydration could lead to death. This disease had first existed in India as an endemic, especially in Bengal. It was actually 1817 when this pandemic peaked, starting from Calcutta to Bombay in the year 1818 and subsequently reached the countries of Thailand and the Philippines by 1820. This pandemic did not end there, it spread through Asia for another four years.

In general, this occurred from 1817-1824 and was also called the Asiatic Cholera.

Because India had just been colonized by Britain at that time, they believed that their gods were angry at them hence, the pandemic. The mortality rate was never known but it was certainly high that some estimated it as much as the mortality of the Black Death which was million.

1920, Spanish Flu Considered as one of the most horrendous pandemics ever happened in human

history was the Spanish Flu. It was named after Spain because it was the most affected area, although the pandemic actually started in the United States. Mark Humphries, a historian from Canada’s Memorial College, also stated that it originated in China. The need for men for World War I caused the shipment of Chinese laborers to Canada. This outbreak made it to the top place of deadliest pandemics in history, it took more lives than World War I itself. The flu infected 500 million people worldwide and killed 100 million which was almost 5% of the population at the time. This pandemic was caused by the flu that attacked the respiratory system of the person infected. People drowning off their own phlegm, fever, and fatigue are the typical symptoms of the flu. Victims died just within hours of being infected, their skin turning blue and lungs are with phlegm causing their suffocation.

2020, Novel Coronavirus The recent 2020 Novel Coronavirus has been causing extreme panic worldwide.

It started from Wuhan, China, on the 31st of December year of 2019. The virus was believed to come from an animal market in the city. This pandemic spread like wildfire, affecting 25 countries around the globe in the first half of 2020. Chinese authorities are known for keeping crucial information to the media and its own people, this has caused the virus to reach other countries as well. The number of infected people seems to increase day by day. The authorities already ordered the quarantine of Chinese people and restricted them from leaving the city. However, before they could even control the citizens, almost 10 million residents had fled. This was very

alarming knowing that one of the deadliest pandemic, the Spanish Flu, also originated from China. At present, almost 219 countries and territories are already affected by the COVID-19. In March 2021, citizens reminisced their time before lockdown in despair of the 12-month of quarantine.

In spite of having a vaccine available for infected countries, the huge demand for vaccines globally made it hard for third world country to avail immediately. The Philippines is among the last of the countries in Southeast Asia to start their vaccination drive.

“It’s over for humanity,” Alex Jones of Natural News said on his conspiracy website. He was talking about the Novel Coronavirus.

In today’s generation, it is very easy to mislead people because they will believe everything they see on social media. People do anything just to gain reactions from their viewers causing misinformation. The Spanish flu, for example, actually occurred during 1918 but due to misinformation, many believed it occurred in 1920. This only proves that everything we see on social media is not entirely true, they may be right in some parts,but the media never let people see the whole story behind it. A lot of sentiments about Chinese people coming here to the Philippines and spreading the virus are circulating online. This, made netizens conclude that Chinese people are making our country their evacuation center. It triggered the anger of Filipinos toward Chinese nationalities. This only worsens when DOH released news on the 1st day of February 2020, that the second Novel Coronavirus victim died. This was the very first death recorded outside China.

The news alarmed everyone, face masks were all out of stock. Netizens are spreading their opinions online, their words were

being dictated by the fear of this outbreak.

This was no wonder, since Filipinos are known for making health and safety their top priority.

All these pandemics every hundred years since 1720 seem to be associated with China. Everyone is aware that China is the most densely populated country around the globe. Theories are spreading that these pandemics were man-made, and it was created to lessen China’s population. Their way of decreasing population is indeed horrible in case its true. Netizens, especially those who were affected by these pandemics outside China are furious saying that if China wanted to control its population, it should have made sure that it would not affect other countries.

These pandemics were really something that we should be scared of. We should be aware of this to be prepared instead of panicking. As members of society, we need to understand that we are responsible for every action that we do and every word we say. We are accountable for our own doings and for the information we share, that is why doing research about issues before spreading them is very important. We will not panic if we are well-informed. We will not think the worst of every major event if we do an investigation about it; so, we must always check the facts first to prevent being moved by these conspiracy theories around the web. Be educated; do not panic.

FEATURE

NEW LEADER IS OUT

By Karl Josh M. Guillermo

26 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Many are called but few are chosen and one of our leaders became part of it. This is Patrick Kleo D. Lim, a 21-year-old BS Industrial Engineering student, who is a very passionate and dedicated student leader from the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers-National Student Chapter as the Vice President for Documentation.

Kleo was chosen as one of the five students from our university to represent Tarlac State University (TSU) and the Philippines to the invitation of National Taichung University of Education, last January 13-22, 2020 at Taichung, Taiwan.

The National Taichung University of Education invited students from different Universities in Asia and Europe, they taught them some of the cultures of Taiwan and, further, en-

couraged them to become an exchange student in the university.

“Sobrang proud, kasi one of the few ako na nakapunta doon sa event,” Kleo expressed as he became part of the international event. He was very eager because he was not just there to learn different things, but also made it his chance to share the TSU’s and the Filipino cultures.

Due to the eruption of Mt. Taal, the flight of the TSU representatives was delayed. This resulted in their inadvertent absence to the first three days of the event. They landed in Taiwan on January 16 and stayed until the 21st for the rest of the event. Kleo shared his disappointment as he was unable to witness the event’s opening ceremony, but the notion of learning so much from the event and share it to his co-students washed that feeling away.

“It’s an honor for me to represent our college and our university,” Kleo stated. Dean Galvez agreed, “Masaya dahil isa sa students natin ay nagrepresent ng TSU sa ibang bansa.”

For him, he can describe himself as a servant leader and if he can handle everything, he will help his co-student to grow. But, in his situation of being a student leader, it is not that easy, it takes a lot of sacrifices to make.

There was a time when Kleo wanted to stop as a student leader and look for other ventures outside the university for him to develop more as a person. One

factor that made him decide to leave is because “mahirap po kasi ‘yung sistema, na kahit ang daming ideas and plano para sa college, ‘di nama-materialize dahil kailangan ng budget na hindi naman napro-provide masyado ng admin.” He stated.

Kleo became the Interim Governor of CETSC and contributed so much to assisting students inside the pandemic situation. He also added that since he had the chance to serve his college and exploit his skills, Kleo decided to step out and tried to apply for the national organization, where he is right now and said, “I want to learn more from the Industrial Engineering community so that I can share these in our department at Tarlac State University.”

Her mother, Maria Theresa D. Lim expressed her overflowing joy to his achievements. She said that it is not easy to have that kind of opportunity in state universities.

There are a lot of competitors that are qualified to participate in that kind of international activity.

But, above all, he still stands and represents the university and the Philippines.

Kleo’s willpower made him an effective leader, and a great leader speaks for his people. He ended his statement with some advice to all aspiring leaders, “Bigay mo best mo sa lahat ng ginagawa mo, grab ka din ng grab ng opportunity para sa pag-grow mo din bilang isang leader.”

“It’s an honour for me to represent our college and our university.”

Photos Credit to Patrick Kleo Lim

Cold Flame of

ANTARTICA’S BLOOD FALLS

by Jasmin Tamares graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo

28 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Blood Falls:

Photo from asianetnews

Photo from Wikimedia

W

hen we hear the name Antarctica, most of us will usually picture out an allwhite-and-ice-covered land mass, and maybe some of us, penguins may come to appear in their imagination lurking around the place. But none of us ever imagined that a mysterious spot is also present in the continent. Ever heard about [the] Blood Falls?

Within Antarctica’s immense stretches of glittering white snow and ethereal blue glacier is the now-eminent Blood Falls, located at the northern boundary of Taylor Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Blood falls is an aptly named feature in Antarctica because rather than clear water, is a deep, rich, bloody red discharge of a 100-foot steam running down the side of the glacier.

Blood Falls was first discovered by an Australian Geologist, Griffith Taylor, who explored Antarctica in 1911 during the earliest Antarctic expeditions. At that time, when he and other scientists noticed that a river had stained the surrounding cliff of ice with a dark red color, they had attributed it to the presence of red algae staining the water, but its true nature turned out to be much more spectacular.

A study led by the researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks had shed light to the truth behind the mysterious origin of Blood Falls. According to their study, the deep red coloring is due to oxidized iron in brine saltwater, the same process that

gives iron a dark red color when it rusts. This subglacial brine has been picking up and scraping iron from the underlying bedrock, giving it its unique rusty color once it reaches the surface. When the brine saltwater, which carries iron is exposed to the air, the iron oxidizes and takes on a red coloring, which turns the water into a deep red color.

The falls became quickly known as Blood Falls, although it turned out to be neither blood nor algae.

Researchers used to believe that the Taylor Glacier was frozen solid from the surface to its bed. Aside from the fact that the Blood Falls is discharging red fluid, it’s almost impossible to believe that there is falls flowing from the glacier and stays liquid when it’s all covered with ice.

Another thing is that the falls couldn’t just appear out of nowhere. So, for a long time, it remained a mystery as to where all that brine is coming from, but not until recently. After more than a hundred years of discovery, scientists have finally figured out its source: an ancient, underground saltwater lake. It was formed a million years ago when the Taylor Glacier was extending across the icy continent and when the place is likely flooded by seawater. Now, the lake is trapped beneath countless layers of snow and ice.

“

Blood Falls was first discovered by an Australian Geologist, Griffith Taylor, who explored Antarctica in 1911 during the earliest Antarctic expeditions. techniques that have developed over time, scientists have been able to detect huge amounts of hypersaline liquid water at temperatures that are below freezing underneath the glacier. The large amount of salt in hypersaline water enable the water to remain in liquid form, even below zero degrees Celsius. Water that is supersaturated in salt freezes at a lower temperature compared to fresh water.

Another factor is the release of latent heat associated with water freezing.

It sounds contradicting, but water releases heat as it freezes. Remember in Physics, when a matter changes phase, it needs energy, and when energy is used, it produces heat and this low amount of heat contributes to warm the surrounding ice. Brine has lower freezing temperatures and, together with the heat, it helps the movement of the liquid. This explains why the liquid water can flow even through an extremely cold glacier. Taylor Glacier is now the coldest known glacier to have persistently flowing water, as stated by Glaciologist Erin Petit.

Interestingly, the Taylor Glacier is hiding a network of fissures which the iron rich brine, is injected through under high pressures due to the overlying glacier as it attempts to make it toward lower pressures along a path of pressurized channels until it reaches the top of Blood Falls and oozing its way to the outside world.

One would think it should be frozen since it is seated below a thick column of ice.

However, due to several factors, the water remains liquid. Because of some measuring THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 29

H

eroes and legends remain famous because their role and sacrifices for us, humans, are told to generations up until now. Little did we know that aside from them, there are heroes and legends that are still living in today’s generation. Our mother our first hero, she almost sacrifice her own life just to give birth. She taught us how to walk, help us stand when we fall, and support us in everything we do. A mom sacrifices everything because of love for her child and it breaks her heart if something bad happens to them.

This is an inspiring story of a mother from the College of Engineering and Technology who sacrificed a lot for the sake of her daughter. Lily is a commerce graduate living in Baguio with her family, composed of a hard working husband and lovely children. Because of her husband’s work, they went to Tarlac and started a new life. Everything is smooth sailing; they have wonderful and talented children. She have her youngest, her daughter who excel in almost everything, a natural gifted child when it comes to academics, good at dancing and a sporty type.

There is no one who can give the care a mother is able to give her child. The unconditional love she can offer is incomparable.

She risks her health just to make sure her daughter is in good condition. Everyday, she wakes up early to prepare the things her family needs and do the house chores. She sleeps late and repeats the same routine daily and she never gets tired doing it for her family.

Unlike any other story, her life is also never perfect as it seems. Her youngest was diagnosed of focal seizure, a brain disorder, and she gave up her work to look after her. Lily

30 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Graphics by Ian Agliam

spends her time going to school everyday instead of working just to make sure her daughter is safe and make sure she’s always at her side because of her special condition.

As any mother would do, the only thing in her mind is to know if her child is doing well. She waits outside the classroom for hours, even if it cost her of spending hours sleeping on the corridor floors, just to calm her mind and heart about her daughter’s condition.

Even though friends and people surround her daughter daily, the assurance was never there. She still thinks of what might happen when she is not there when her daughter’s disease attacked. Will her friends help her when she loses her consciousness?

What if something might happen if her daughter is alone and she had her attack?

What if someone might do something to her daughter? As a mother, she cannot help thinking what if’s.

The hardest part is when she cannot do anything but to watch her daughter lose her consciousness and have her seizure attack right her arms. They will wait for her to wake up and when her daughter gains back her consciousness after hours of sleeping, she sometimes cannot identify who her mom is or even her friend for years. But through the ups and downs, her mom does not lose her high hopes that one day it will all end and her daughter will go back to her jolly normal life.

They have consulted few doctors about her daughter’s condition. They gave prescriptions of medicine to drink daily. All she can do for her daughter is to express her love and care by treating her a little special because of her daughter’s condition. She prays good health for her daughter because it saddens her seeing her daughter restraining herself to eat foods she used to eat and do things she used to do.

“Mother knows best” is a famous line and indeed, she knows what’s best for her daughter. She guides her the entire day,

“

A red string does not always mean that it is the connection to someone that is destined for you.

look forward for her daughter’s bright future, be with her travelling to school, and wakes up early doing house chores. She multitasks to finish things, doing laundry at night before going to sleep and she does not care if it is a tiring work going to school. A mom has a strong heart and for the sake of her daughter, she will do anything.

Everything will all be worth it in time and that keeps her motivated and strong. The perseverance and hard work she is doing for her daughter truly reflects the endless burning love of a mother. Whenever her daughter gets irritated by noises or people fixes their attention to her, looking intently, as a mom, she will tell her daughter jokes to divert her daughter’s attention away from them and to keep her away from things that can trigger her daughter’s disease.

How she loved her daughter dearly that she never complained how hard her daily routine was.

She gets tired, her physical body gets tired everyday, but her heart never gave up. As a mom, she just wants what’s best for her child. It is her responsibility to be there for her, to protect her at all cost and that is what matters most for her as a mother.

All the sacrifices and hard work will be paid off when she can finally leave her daughter on her own where she won’t overthink on what might happen when she is alone or even when she’s with friends. She can be peaceful, heart and mind, in time because of her answered prayer and medication’s help. Nothing is more important for her than seeing her daughter being on her normal self and having the freedom to do things where she excelled.

A red string does not always mean that it is the connection to someone that is destined for you. We all have our own red string tied ever since and it is connected to our mom, a bond that can never be replaced. It is the attachment that will never be cut off.

The unconditional love given by your mother, the greatest gift you received.

Our mothers will do anything just for us. Spend their time preparing our meals, pampering us with all the love and care, take care of us when we get high fever. It does not bother them if they get tired at the end of the day. Everyone longs for a mother’s love but not everyone is lucky to have those. You are lucky enough if you are being treated special by your mom. Not every day we get the chance to express our love to them and not every day we get to be with her.

A mother’s love is a warm hug after an exhausting day. It is irreplaceable and cannot be compared, a soft touch to the heart and a tender hold to the hands. The love they give us is unconditional that the soft caring kisses on the cheeks feel like home.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 31

What Does

Plowing can

Harvest?

By Juan Agustin Jr.

U

ndeniably from his childhood, other children teased him because of his color, but he got accustomed to it. In his elementary days, a two-peso allowance meant short for a day, so his strategy is to earn it for tomorrow. At the age of ten, he started to help his father piling ricefield terraces, including taking care of farm animals. He fit twenty pesos a day during high school, and for his lunch, he was known for being a Longganisa man.

Sometime, he forced himself to borrow shoes from his classmates when his’ was broken.

In 2012, Mr. Madriaga continued to study at the University of Makati as a K-12 student. He also helped his aunt, who supplied for his tuition, in her carinderia

32 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

as his compensation for the kindness.

Money and opportunities are in the city, and for these reasons, he had doubts if going back to Tarlac was a good idea.

Spinning in his mind are thoughts like “Mapag-aaral kaya ako ng magulang ko?”, “Ano kaya ang dadatnan kong buhay sa probinsiya?”, and “May pag-asa pa kaya akong makatapos ng pag-aaral?” But, he took the risk and came back. The next thing he knew, he lost his firm financial support and hope for his dreams.

He did not reach the TSU-CAT on time in 2013, and because of that, he decided to take Automotive Servicing NC II at Citizen Polytechnic Institute (CPI). It was the time

Mr. Madriaga need to stretch his bones and do the hard work on their farm. At the same time, he also started to appreciate the importance of every Filipino farmer. It was too hard. Rain or shine, you need to scratch, move and work. “We knew nothing about other work, and this is the only job we knew, the decent one we knew. We haven’t finished anything yet, what good work opportunities can we get?” he stated as he gives voice to his fellow farmer.

After he finished his vocational in 2014, he took the TSU-CAT but failed to get his desired course Mechanical Engineering.

He received advice from his friend and decided to take up Mechatronics as his second option. “Ma, hindi ko nakuha ang Mechanical Engineering, pero feeling ko ito talaga gusto ni Lord sa buhay ko,” he told his mother. His Photo from Kenneth Carlo Madriaga parents helped him. They took the risk of supporting him in college and bore for “Bumagsak ako sa mga subject ko at his financial needs. All were tinago ko ‘yun ng matagal sa pamilya ko. Ang heavy, the tuition, miscellaneous, uniform, and allowance. During all the schooldays, he akala nila makapagtatapos ako ng maaga,” he added. But, things were already there, fitted his money for the transportation and so he confessed. He became an irregular lunch. Sometimes, Mr. Madriaga worked on the sidelines, such as project and student and got a messed schedule. The cows, which expected to sell that would assignment maker, only to have been a payment for his tuition, died. earn. He was ecstatic when Things became difficult, but his parents someone offered him a free never gave up on him. His father labored ride to San Isidro campus. in the field on the day. And at night, when there were events, his parents continued to work by selling boiled peanuts (nilagang mani).

In 2019, a big blow in Mr. Madriaga’s life occurred when his father got Tuberculosis (TB). This time was his fifth year, and his hope to finish college dwindled.

Maintenance for his father and his tuition were their financial hurdles. But, he still decided to take over the responsibility on their farm. After he was in school, he went home to feed the only farm animal they have. He handled his time very wisely, both in his education and responsibility as the next elderly male in their family. He continued doing this for seven months.

Fortunately, on the 24th of January 2020, he graduated with a smile on his face. All the sacrifices that he and his family had made are worth the wait.

Plowing cannot harvest anything, but it will make your land fertile by breaking up the soil, controlling the weeds, and burying crop residues.

It is necessary before cultivating our dreams to be bountiful. We will face failures. We will be broke, but we need to bounce back. We need to bury all those failures, and we need to learn from them because that matters. College is not a race and not an easy road for us. We will get to finish our goal on our own scheduled time. It is a test of patience, diligence, perseverance, and determination.

In our country, farming plays a significant role in contributing to the economy. Filipino farmers ensure that foods are on our table. But sadly, some printed materials depicted farmer families wearing ragged and pierced clothes—where children are naked. It is somewhat true that Filipino farmers are poor, but this is because they are disadvantaged by oppressors and opportunists. We do not know how they face such a situation in reality. Let us dissolve what we perceive regarding Filipino farmers. They have a decent occupation, and being a farmer does not mean inferiority. To salute them is to thank them.

“

We knew nothing about other work, and this is the only job we knew, the decent one we knew. We haven’t finished anything yet, what good work opportunities can we get?

- Kenneth Carlo Madriaga THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 33

Stairway to Success:

Passing through Daggered Steps

by Cristina Mae Agustin

W

e grew up being active in academics and to things we excel most. Through years of studying hard and pursuing to achieve our goals, certain numbers defined our intelligence. Grades become more important than learning and earning higher grades means higher opportunities.

In the year 1792, a tutor from England at Cambridge University, William Farish, came up with the idea of how to track the performance of

“

Making your way to success is a roller coaster ride. It has its ups and downs, a little bit bumpy along the way or it can be a rough ride but it is a worthy one.

34 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

his students and it is by the use of grades.

The method of teaching he invented which includes evaluation of students’ performance allowed him to develop students for a short period of time.

An “A” plus defines our performance in school. It indicates how intelligent a student is, but, as the progress in studying continues, we tend to be conscious of the digits that will define what we can achieve in the future. Grades today, define a person whether he or she is a disappointment or an achiever. It is way more important than gaining new information because of the standards in grading.

Professors try to develop the grading policies to maintain the creation of high quality, career oriented and globally competitive individuals. They have done some improvements to the grading system because they like to reduce or completely take off the pressure from the students in terms of learning, give them the idea of their strengths and weaknesses and make learning easier.

As technology advances and continue to innovate, the teaching guidelines should also improve. The education’s grading policies must be developed in order to make proper judgments to learners’ knowledge and capabilities. Their main goal is to help the students learn how to face the real world and allow them to be a vital citizen after they graduate.

The grading system that they have created sometimes lead to higher expectations to the performance of a student that pressures them to be more and do more. They put all their efforts in studying that contributes stress rather than motivation. The applied grading system is not an accurate representation of a student’s performance and cannot illustrate the knowledge they have gained throughout the semester or academic year. In exchange of good marks, we become conscious when it comes to quizzes and term exams.

Each and every student has the potential to be someone better. Having a fair and proper grading system helps students grow as they take their step towards their goals. The grading policies have been a huge help to maintain the fair

evaluation and collection of a student’s achievements for a specific period of time.

Few issues regarding unfair marks and grades given to students continue to pop up. Some teachers do not depend on the exact grading system implemented. Others only choose few individuals who excel and outsmart others. They will not bother to look at the records of other students for a precise and fair grade. Some only pick random students and give them an average passing grade. Instead of being eager to continue, some students are discouraged to carry on and change their first choice of course and career.

A high GPA (General Point Average) result specifies that you did a great job in studying. You did not fail as you grow and develop through years of studying and gaining knowledge imparted by the professionals. You are given the chance to surpass obstacles along the way and accomplish the grades you truly deserve.

The standards on the grading terms of the professionals suited your capacity as a student that you surpassed it.

The grading system encourages students to be highly motivated to study so that they will be an effective and efficient individuals that will contribute lots of things in the local community and internationally. It is created to have a proper judgment to each and every learner that will guide them towards the final step of studying and continuing it to the outside world.

Making your way to success is a roller coaster ride. It has its ups and downs, a little bit bumpy along the way or it can be a rough ride but it is a worthy one. A bit of delay won’t be a hindrance; it will make you more of a fighter, a pursuer of goals. You are more than what you think you can be.

Grades can never dictate what lies ahead of us and if grade is the main key to success, why did those who failed to gain sufficient knowledge became one of the inspirations of today’s generation?

THE FIRE

that never

BURNS OUT

by Carl Joseph Gonzales

“A

person’s character is not judged when they ride the wave of success, when everybody chants your name and wants to be your friend. No. Your character is put to the test when your back is against the wall.

Going into college, we all know that engineering is a hard course. But then again, what course is easy, right? Every course has its own difficulty that every student faces. So why did you take up engineering? Why did we take up Tech courses? Whatever the reason might be, it lit a fire within us.

As students, we all know that this will be an easy task. As some professors would say, “Normal lang bumagsak sa engineering.” Failure is common in the College of Engineering and Technology.

It is hard. We knew that from the beginning and yet we still chose to take it. But we have got to remember what brought us here; the reason we chose this course in the first place. Every so often we would see students heading towards the Dean’s Office asking our Dean to sign their shifting forms and it can be a sad sight to see. “Masyadong mahirap,” “Di ko na kaya,” “Wrong choice.”

This is what you’d usually hear from them.

So what keeps engineering students to continue taking engineering? To make their parents proud? Yes. To attain their dreams and goals? Yes. Because this is what they want? Yes. It is their passion. Their tenacity to finish what they started. The fire they lit from the get go is still burning ever so brightly.

You’d see irregular students who have been in the college for more than five years. There was even someone who finished engineering after twelve years. Engineering students are not quitters.

Whenever you feel down because of a failing grade, remember what got you here in the first place. Hold it tight and never let it go. Keep your chin up. Failure is just an obstacle. It is a message that tells you to push yourself harder and further. Never let failure demotivate you. Instead, use it as an inspiration to keep

“

Whenever you feel down because of a failing grade, remember what got you here in the first place.

you either stay down or get up and we should always choose to get up even during the hardest of times. Even when it just seems easier to stay down. Use all the strength you have in you, remember the reason you are doing this – the reason what you got here in the first place, use it to will yourself and keep moving forward.

Always remember. Keep fighting. Keep going. Never give up. Never surrender.

Keep the flame alive. Don’t focus on the bad stuff, let go of the past, and keep moving forward.

you going for failure is nothing more than another lesson.

Many people quit on the first sign of failure. One failing grade and they shift to a different course. If not the first, then the second or the third and so on. But then you’d see students who are still there after two failing grades, who took Calculus three times- both on Integral and Differential. Who, even after four tries, is still there seating next to you in your surveying class. The journey is never easy and yet here you are taking it. Why? Because this is what you want. You are tenacious enough to keep going – to keep moving forward.

The hard thing about failure is the disappointment. The disappointment is on you. It is your fault and yours alone. But failure gives you two options,

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 35

By Robert Andrew A. Payumo Graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo

F

rom the iconic brown leather Loius Vuitton to the white iconic bitten Apple and across to the colorful, dazzling, and aesthetic songs and music videos of KPOP, Filipinos love to purchase and invest in foreign items, because of its marvelous image visible to the society aperture. Although there are plenty of localized products that are quality-wise similar to those imported, we hunger for the iconic look, and our community is searching for it. BTS’s Dynamite and 34+35 by Ariana Grande are both bops, but why won’t we lend our ears and pay attention to Ez Mil’s Panalo?

Airing over the studios on the 26th of July 2020, Panalo, created by Ezekiel Miller, is a song summarized as a unity, mainly for Filipinos, including expressing solidarity

36 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

among ourselves. The said melody piece paved its way to the Filipino ears, especially when he had his presence on Wish USA Bus, where it accumulated 56 million views until the 5th of April, 2021. By its beats and chosen genre, no wonder it climbed through the Philippines. Panalo also showcased a Filipino Traditional Folk dance called Cariñosa. Miller uttered that it was his mother’s idea to utilize it in the song.

That is when his views skyrocketed, and people began to formulate different thoughts, opinions, and criticisms about the rap piece. To be particular, the line “…and nanalo na ako nu’ng mula pa na pinugutan si Lapu sa Mactan,” became controversial among Filipinos, particularly Cebuanos.

NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante said that hero Lapu Lapu was not beheaded and killed

in the Battle of Mactan. It also added that it greets many more music and melody pieces to come to inspire the youth. But, we must also be aware of the country’s history before concluding. Some netizens also said that he used inappropriate words or being too aggressive while executing the piece.

Like what was said by Miller, “wag na pagusapan ang mga negatibo,” let us adhere to what the song is meaning to say, notably for Filipinos. The lyrics of the music want us to be more patriotic and to embrace our ethnicity. With Ezekiel’s famous line “I ain’t tisoy, I’m Pinoy,” neither your skin color nor blood won’t define what race you are, but your heart and love for the country will conquer. The song took some pleasant responses from some of the netizens, saying that using the Cariñosa is a good move because it manifests the culture in the rhythm. It also shows that the quality of the song is fine, and not tolerating racism within us.

But what exactly does this song wants to portray? From the songs listed above,

they surely capture your eyes, and it has a good beat, but Miller’s Panalo reminds us of something that we all the time fail to do, patriotism. Why won’t we give a chance to support our locals and to embrace our traditions even more? Nowadays, even racism took charge for some ethnicities, but the song reminds us that even if you are white, black, brown, or whatever skin tone you have, we should be proud to love our country even more and its background. His multilingual rap even encourages us that even though we have different ethnicities in the country, we can be as one, if united, and can be seen beautiful across the globe.

Isn’t his song good despite having different languages?

Purchasing imported goods, investing in some international car brands, or listening to some culture’s music is not bad. But we must not forget to support our locals or to love our culture and traditions. Let us relate our country’s pride like a fire, it won’t start unless we won’t make a move, and the only thing that will make it stronger or die is us.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 37

38 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

In the

Trenches Text by Mary Rose Arellano

Irene is missing.

“Next,” he speaks under his breath. Reload, aim, fire. Everything is a hazy blur, but his stance, he keeps firm. He gathers himself together and cements the fact he saved lives. A civilian with a gun, he is a soldier. Then, he aims for another. The squadron of planes above the clouds long ago have fallen. Forty-eight hours and the barrage of fire have not let up; now, hope is the sound of a string of curses and a beating heart. Ten were killed and thirty-seven were wounded, fourteen were taken prisoners.

After the sovereign fails to preserve peace, war is born. This is defense, they said; and his head is swimming, but he knows the foe was provoked into igniting a spark, and others emptied their gallons of fuel to make it big. He breathed in deeply. Now, huge plumes of smoke rise into the sky. War has set the world aflame.

Irene orbits in and out of people’s lives.

The people around him flicker in and out of existence. Even in the infirmary, he keeps a gun close, treats it like an extension of himself. Somewhere in the room, someone is praying for death to come take him; and now, agony is the sound of a string of curses and a beating heart. Along the floor scattered the rifles, pieces of equipment, and ammunition limbers. He sits and lets his feet drag on the ground, wondering if the leaders see the people in the army as assets or human beings. His comrades will not rise with the sun tomorrow. Even so, they are left in the dark. If only humans are less selfish and more generous, conflicts will be avoided. He swallows the lump in his throat and bears the heavy in his chest. Joining the military, he will never regret; but being a pawn in a game of chess, he just might.

Irene is cut out of the picture.

The preparation for war is giving guns to people and asking if they want to shoot, and war itself is just violence cloaked in a flag of a nation. He thinks this, because it is difficult to think otherwise when he is crouching next to a heap of dead soldiers. The area reeks of gunpowder and death. He salutes as he met eyes with one he recognized. A soldier with a heart, he is a civilian. It is terrible to think that to claim territories and resource, blood is used for drawing dashed lines. But war has arrived at his doorstep, so he should not dampen his spirits. So, war is evil and salvation alike. It is the tool to unite countries, and on his shoulders lie duty. The nation needs the army. He steels himself and feels a little braver now. Soldiers only carry out military objectives. Perhaps the conflict is not worth the lives of many, and resorting to war is a defeat for parties involved, but it is necessary.

Photo from Google

Irene will come back soon.

Peace is present for two reasons: there is an exchange of open dialogue around one table, or there is lack of meaning to violence. When peace is lost, all is a downward spiral to chaos. Humans appear to be brutish and apathetic although they are everything but. Life is abandoned, thrown away in favor of claiming some prize. Leaders become strategists and civilians become fighters. The end suddenly justifies the means, if an economic slump, post-traumatic stress disorder, and pollution are anything to go by. But when the curtains of war which is literally called a theatre ends, the “king over all the children of pride” will be established. Then, the world will be able to breathe again. He carries on. Peace will come back soon. He fills in a trench, adamant of hammering an agreement for everyone to start over. There is a shouted command of a man with the same uniform as him. Where his gun is pointing, to the future. Reload, aim, fire. The horns of war begin blaring anew. *Irene, Greek word which means peace.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 39

A Helpless Moth REISTER VINUYA

You Are Not YENA BARBETTE CABALU

The day ends when the sun sleeps beneath the moon’s shadow.

The luster of its face subbed by the stars filling the darkness with gleams in the sky a flickering light, romanticizing the night.

“You are not enough.”

The night.

The night tries to disguise; to make the sea even more captivating, the sky even more breathtaking, and the darkness even more thrilling.

And maybe the reason why sometimes it’s depressing is because we always look outside our window with closed eyes, and disturbed mind not realizing that the night is not something we have to endure until dawn, until the sun wakes up it is a mysterious part of the day full of stars and a moon and silence, which never fades into oblivion and incessantly reminds you,

It does not start with going home, leaving all stresses outside the door and filling your stomach with food so that your soul wouldn’t wander and discover things that aren’t true.

Like how luminously blinding stars don’t twinkle and shine and flit to come and save and rescue you that they only appear to decorate the night and send you straight to your nightmares keep you thinking for several hours and some more until all these adornments don’t look astonishing anymore.

Maybe that is when the night actually starts.

It starts there.

When you already hear familiar voices like a whisper from the darkness surrounding your room like some chant trapped inside your head couldn’t sink in and forces you to gloom.

40 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

“You are not capable of this.”

“You are not worthy of my time.”

“You are not helping me anymore.”

“You are not alone.”

It wasn’t my birthday but I’m wearing a red shirt on the 24th of March. It’s quarter to eleven, prepping myself, ready to go home from a gasoline station where I worked in.

The clear, gloomy atmosphere welcomed me except the portion of it where a thin cream of air started to accumulate and expand. I quickly took a ride home, terrified, that it might be coming from where I resides.

I was more frightened then as I saw a fire truck following us. As I go along nearly to that place, I started to feel the warmth, witness the blazing scale of colors, gulp every strip of escaping smoke and hear screaming neighbors.

As I stepped out of the vehicle, I swiftly seek for my loved ones, none of them were out. In that sea of fiery chambers, I leap in the dark to save a life.

Mom? Dad? No one’s answering.

I already felt a scorch at my foot as I heard an ascending tone somewhat familiar to me, looking for me…

I was awakened by the tragedy.

And as I’m drowning in the sea of fire, I knew then that I can’t imagine myself working in the gasoline station ‘cause I really can’t, that I am the one begging for help, not them, that I can’t even scream as loudly as possible to be saved, can’t even save myself.

I’m mute.

Helpless.

Suffocated.

At that very moment, I already accepted it.

It is time to turn off the lights and give it to the night.

It was already quarter to one at the mournful morning of March 25. I was wearing a red shirt on my birthday. It’s just peculiar that it is also the day when I vanished just how the wood turned into the ashes on the place where my skin lives.

But Why

CRYSTEL JOY SAMODIO He’s fascinated by beautiful things And craves other’s soul Like a moth to a blaze he was hesitant Yet dying to fulfill his goal.

His eyes peered through her chest Fingers explored her body He said there’s nothing to worry As long as she wouldn’t confess.

For a long time he searched for her In his dirty little fantasies Doesn’t he have any fear?

Though it might only be fallacy.

But he himself believe He has nothing to lose For every piece of why She is his because.

When the World Shuts Its Eyes YENA BARBETTE CABALU

Lost in the dark Nothing but to crawl You can write letters Out of the ink of the nightfall.

Stuck in a chapter No ending punctuation You can dance over the pages Like a fairy intermission.

If the world shuts its eyes Would you impress anyone With all your fears disposed, And would you ever see Those limitations you fear Are all self-imposed?

By The Flame

Are You Enticed and Intrigued?

You woke up in your bed with exhausting thoughts inside your head questioning yourself everyday, “How it’s gonna be for today?”

Sun inflict pain in his eyes But refuses to turn his sight away it’s blinding yet mesmerizing how dazzling it may seem Deceives you by the light But heat dominates as it shines to the whole universe

Then you go on, doing what is needed to be done trying your best despite being drowned drowned by your very own scrutiny stacking up as if building its own community.

SHIRINE PEARL SARRANQUIN

you walk in a path unsure, await ‘til it takes you somewhere hoping you might find an “A” for your “Q’s” and it’s always okay curiosity kills the cat, a cliché, but may also turn into unending discoveries for the sake of your kind you don’t say “experience is the best teacher,” another cliche, because sometimes you can learn from watching someone who already gone through it

CRYSTEL JOY SAMODIO

Back then in your young world, those dreams that you want to hold, once your dose of reality became bold, they freezes because of the cold.

Even if it’s hard to start, Remember fire ignites with just a simple spark like a hope that is just beginning remember why you started and keep on going a flame that grows as you keep moving it’ll fire you taking you to where your success is waiting.

Now you woke up in your bed with yearning thoughts inside your head by the flame you have in your heart those doubts and worries are now apart saying to yourself everyday “It is going to be alright today.”

Cold that was carried by the breezes and gradually breaking you into pieces the passion that was once blazing why are you keeping it unburning?

graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 41

Dreams KARL JOSH GUILERMO Are dreams will still be dreams?

If destiny puts it out of time.

Will these dreams still turn into realities?

Even hopes are nowhere to be found.

Tons of plan was put into scratch, Million of ideas were frozen from dust, Dreams of a man can be seen in the trash, Crashed and break into parts.

Looking from far away, Is a tiny little chance of rights we claim.

Our voices will never be heard, Until someone takes lead

to speak.

Let us walk on the aisle, With flamed torches scattered all around, Then lift up to Him everything we desire, For He planned wondrous for us.

Forget the abuse and frightening Just learn to work hard for our dreams And little by little those fear becomes your strength, And shatter that silence for your dreams to be lit.

Way back home JASMIN TAMARES

What if we drive our cars home to nowhere And get lost in the middle of an empty street.

Let our feet wander on endless roads And dance with the early evening dew, Above the shadows of unlit lampposts; Does finding our way back even matter?

Rurok mula sa Usok JOLINA SUMAT “Ang nag-uusok ay madaling maubos.”

Pero hindi sya nakinig, patuloy nyang pinagliyab ang kanyang sarili. Hindi sya takot matupok.

Dahil mas nakakatakot ang makulong sa lamig, at hindi maranasang magbuga ng usok.

“Hindi ako naubos, mabilis ko lang narating ang tuktok.”

For the dying flames DARRIANE FE you must be tired from all the drama around you. your family, your life in general. i know how sweet it is to think of finally letting go. of finally putting your sword and shield down and just accept defeat. it is easier than continue fighting. but amidst all of the darkness that surrounds you, little sunshine, i wanna say that your ray of light is the sweetest thing for those who love you. amidst the darkness that keeps pressing on you, demanding for you to snuff out your blinding light, i wanna say there are still a lot of people who braves the darkness of night, just to reach your dawn and finally your sunrise. so keep the fight little warrior, keep the fire burning.

42 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Gift of being alone DARRIANE FE

She said “keep your guard up” and never forget that the Universe is always on the lookout for souls to kill and spirits to crush.

That’s why honey, never hand your fire to somebody For people leave, they always do---except you.

Ashes

Inferno KARL JOSH GUILERMO Silent. A word to describe, For a little boy, Who always sees the world as wildfire.

He always kept his inner-dragon, Confined from his heart.

He always skepticize his own fire, That never ignites from the very start.

This boy is dangerously out of control.

That made his heart burned by fear and anger.

He never lit-up the fire of love inside, And procrastinate the strong flame of thought about life.

I gazed into his heart, To stop the attack of heat live inside, Re-kindle the pure emotion of li’l boy, And pull him out the view of inferno.

JASMIN TAMARES Fascinated, we gazed at the art made by the dispersed flames of the fireworks, as they ornate the night sky with what seems like thousand tiny stars.

With your gaze still darted into the panorama, you asked, “why are beautiful things often drift away so quick, they burn?”

I turned to you, and I was more fascinated, but never quite caught what you said, for when your flares, gleams, and light came into view, my eyes got tangled at the art—more beautiful, more bright.

Turned out, the fireworks were dazzling even more, when watched as they glimmer in your eyes, after all.

graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo

Now it’s paving its way in down to our lungs to suffocate us; over and over. Why didn’t we realize—as we try to gasp for air, we’re inhaling the fumes?

I just recalled what you said that night, it’s starting to resound in my head, “why are beautiful things often drift away so quick, they burn?”

Darkness

ALDEN JOHN BONCALES

Flames upon thy hand Uncontrollably gone To thee gloom enwind

Isn’t this nostalgic? I wondered, what we had must have been so beautiful, like the fireworks, so swiftly, we drift and burn to ashes with them tonight.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 43

DEVCOM - INFRASTRUCTURE

TARLAC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL:

The History Speaks to Rebuild

By Karl Josh M. Guillermo, Mary Rose Arellano, and Edrich John Fernando Photo by Stephen Laurence M. Guillermo

T

he only way to remember the past is through history. This history helps us navigate our way in our daily lives. It gives us an idea about our roots and defines us in ways that we could never think of.

Looking back also makes us realize the important things that deserve preservation and commemoration; and in our personal histories, our Alma mater is a huge piece.

44 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

A Leap Back in Time Last September 2020, marked the 118th Founding Anniversary of the prosperous, oldest, and one of the top-notch existing public secondary high schools in the Philippines, the Tarlac National High School (TNHS). It was then known as “Tarlac Provincial High School” but according to the Batas Pambansa Blg. 636, it became “TNHS” and not “Tarlac High School” on June 24, 1983.

The teachers were known as the Thomasites who arrived in the Philippines on August 21, 1901, with goals of establishing a better public-school system, teach basic education, and train Filipino teachers to use English as a medium of teaching. The term “Thomasite” was derived

from the transport ship of the United States the “US Army Transport Thomas” which brought the educators from the shores of Manila. There is also Frank Russel White, who arrived months earlier from other Thomasites, who was appointed as the first teacher of Tarlac and became the founding principal of Tarlac Provincial High School. He also became the initial Division Superintendent then General Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction in the Philippines and his policies became the cornerstone of public education of the country.

The TNHS of the past stretches out to the Tarlac State University-Main Building of today. “Umabot pa nga ‘yang (TNHS) sa TSU, pati nga raw sa may Diwa,” Mr. Jonnel Isidro Z. Sicat, current Administration Officer IV of

TNHS said. But because of the continuous progress of Tarlac, the officials decided to have a college for the student which is now Tarlac State University. Together with this progress is the development of their curriculum which now offers different special interest programs for science and engineering, arts, foreign language, journalism, and sports. And with the implementation of Republic Act No. 10533 or the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013” which is also known as the K-12 Program, the abilities, and skills of students have become more focused and enhanced. Because of this development, TNHS has become one of the best public secondary high schools in Tarlac as the institution has been gaining achievements from different fields of education.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 45

Fruit of Blazing Perseverance Janella Marie Dayrit is Tarlac National High school 2015’s valedictorian and was an alumnus of TSU, College of Engineering and Technology (CET). In 2013, she represented the school to the National Pop Quiz and emerged champion. She is one of the many contributors to the high school’s achievements.

Dayrit enumerates TNHSian qualities that make TNHS one of the top schools: TNHSian knows how to be genuinely thankful for their teachers, there is a one-of-a-kind friendly competition, and their environment uplifts spirits.

One of the things her teachers said that stuck is, studying does not revolve around intelligence. It is how resilient and determined the students are to learn, about how they keep their passion burning.

“Isa ‘yon sa mga maipagmamalaki ng isang TNHSian student—hindi sumusuko sa kahit ano’ng ibagsak sa kanila ng mga teachers nila, kahit ano pa’ng challenges ang dumating sa kanila,” she added.

Dayrit, as an alumnus of TNHS and TSU, reminds us that whatever life throws at you, you have to catch it and make the most out of it. If needed, take a break, and see things in a better light. There might be a lot of hardships along the way and life could be a pain—but that is because life is energy, so, ride its wave. Janelle Marie Dayrit leaves a quote, “Whoever perseveres will be crowned.”

Raging Fire The memories from the past Gabaldon Building which is known as the Social Hall at TNHS still lingers among the teachers and staff. The earthly-scent of the woods which induces a feeling of warmth and

46 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Mr. Sicat said.

Another reason was the Social Hall will be under preservation because it is one of the oldest high school and it is a Gabaldon Building which, according to Republic Act No. 11194 or the “Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act,” shall be preserved, restored, and protected with the help of the government. If the Social Hall will be destroyed, TNHS will be getting financial assistance from the government.

But “para ma-preserve ng NHCP(National Historical Commission of the Philippines) ‘yon [Social Hall], dapat may marker, since wala pa namang marker, hindi pa. Once na meron na, hindi pa rin siya mabibigyan ng funds ng NHI (National Historical Institute) na NHCP (National Historical Commission of the Philippines) na ngayon, sa school pa rin galing,” Araling Panlipunan Headteacher VI, Mr. Joemar J. Bancifra explained. And “Gusto namin na malagyan siya ng marker para marecognized ang TNHS as the first public high school sa Pilipinas hindi lang para ma-preserved ang Social Hall, at totoo na one of the oldest siya pero hindi na siya Gabaldon Building kasi nasira na siya at inayos noong 1950’s pa, after World War 2,” he furthered.

According to the investigation of the intimacy, the pungency of old books and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire dust that strikes as soon as you step in the started because of faulty wiring and a hallway, the feeling of living on a vintage short circuit. This conclusion induces era because of its intricate architectural design—all was gone because of a fire that doubt to others, but it is the reasonable one. The fire started in Room 12 of the burnt most of the things that the building contained. “Ayaw ko ng alalahanin pa ‘yon”, Social Hall which was a regular classroom.

It happened during the semester’s break Mrs. Andrea Canlas, TNHS Teacher said.

There were so many speculations behind and when there were teachers’ seminars in other rooms. “Noong naglalakad ako at the fire incident that happened in 2015.

One of them was, as a TNHS student stated, napadaan ako sa room na iyon [12], may nakita akong uling sa ibaba, tapos mayro’n “Mayro’ng ginto’ng nakatago sa ilalim ng building.” This was because when they were ding nahuhulog na uling sa itaas. Bale, naisip rebuilding the Social Hall, students noticed ko sa itaas nag-start yung fire,” Mrs. Canlas, the first witness, stated. This was supported that the hole that they were digging was

by Mr. Sicat, saying, “Maraming bird’s nest so deep. It is also a common myth for old doon sa ceiling sabi ng ibang utility, kaya buildings since they were built during the American colonial era. This was unjustified siguro kumalat kaagad yung apoy.” The fire almost burnt the whole building with all and proven false because “wala naman silang nakuhang ginto do’n, pati nga tunnel the things it contained after an hour, but na sinasabi nila papuntang capitol, wala rin,” because “tinuro sa amin dati na spread the

building on it in place of the lost one.

Although there were lingering wishes that the building is recognized as a Gabaldon building, Bancifra said resolutely, “Kung para sa mga bata naman.”

Taking to the Skies

news kapag may nakita kang fire,” said Mrs. Canlas, some of their belongings along with the brand new televisions were saved by the utility personnel.

Scorch marks The effects of the fire are not to be taken lightly. When the building was burned down the ground, it took the school’s hi from before 1954 down with it. Several school records and other important documents were lost. Not only was the school scarred,

but the students were also affected. There were not enough rooms to accommodate the grade 11 and 12 students. This would be solved immediately if only the issues over the fire were quickly settled.

Furthermore, the TNHS officials could not evade the blame pointed at them. So, they made sure to be more vigilant today.

Phoenix from the Ashes

“Kung papipiliin ako kung sunrise o sunset, I’ll go for sunrise,” said Mr. Bancifra.

Life does not just stop in one moment.

Even though there was an extra empty space caused by the fire in the expanse of the campus, development should not stop.

So, the school decided to build another

The building will be replaced with a new one, it can either be a sports facility or a Senior high school building. “Puwede’ng maglagay ng hotel doon sa likod para sa mga athletes, swimming pool sa quadrangle,” Mr. Bancifra said. This will open opportunities for students under the special program for sports to continuously improve and bring triumph for TNHS. Another plan was “gagawan ng replica ‘yong facade ng Social Hall,” Mr. Bancifra furthered, all to memorialize the renowned Social Hall.

As we thrive for our dreams to be realized, many things tend to change primarily because of time. These changes are only etched onto history. With this, we relieve what was done and feels all the hard work and perseverance seep once again into our hearts. As aspiring civil engineers, infrastructures have contributed so much to our journey. A Pasig-type Building brings confidence to each TNHSian graduate.

This building also witnessed the ups and downs of the students and the struggles they faced. It witnessed the best memories served during high school. Its burning does not put an end to the TNHS’s success, rather it prepares us for another chapter— histories, and memories to make. Therefore, the new sunrise will come to everyone and will shine as it will never end.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 47

DEVCOM - PERSONA TAGAKTAK NG TAKATAK:

Otso Pesos na Pantawid Gutom Sa panunulat nina Juan Agustin Jr., Yena Barbette Cabalu, at Reister Vinuya Mga larawan ni Andrew Gabriel Villegas

48 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

A

ng pinakaabalang bahagi ng munisipalidad ng Tarlac City ay ang nanlilimahid at dinadagsang palengke na matatagpuan sa kahabaan ng Aquino Bridge. Samutsaring ingay ang nanumutawi sa bungad pa lamang ng pamilihang-bayan; mga tunog ng mga makina ng sasakyan na labas-masok sa bawat kanto, sabay-sabay na sigaw at alok ng mga tindero’t-tinderang nagbabakasakaling makapukaw sa atensyon ng mga mamimili, at walang-humpay na kwentuhan ng iba’t-ibang klase ng taong matatagpuan sa siksikang palengke. Ngunit higit sa lahat ng sari-saring

“

Wala akong magawa, ito ang hanapbuhay ko, dito ako kumikita — Mang Victo

ingay na nakatotorete’t nakapanliligalig ng katahimikan, isang katangitanging tunog ang nangingibabaw. Takatak!

Sa kabila ng ipinanukalang Smoking Ban sa iba’t-ibang siyudad sa bansa, kabilang na ang Tarlac, talamak pa rin ang pagbebenta ng mga peligrosong sigarilyo na sadyang naging parte na ng araw-araw na pamumuhay ng ilan sa ating mga kababayan.

Isa sa mga pursigido at walang takot na patuloy pa rin sa pagbebenta ng sigarilyo o takatak boy ay si Mang Victo, araw-araw na sinusuyod ang bawat sulok ng palengke at iba pang parte ng siyudad sa ilalim ng nakapapasong init ng araw hanggang mag-kulay kahel ang kalangitan at unti-unting maglabasan ang mga tala at buwan.

na dalawang magkasunod na taon ay umaalingawngaw ang kanyang takatak sa mga kalsada at ang kanyang mga panindang yosi ay gumigising sa diwa at nagpapababa sa kinain ng mga consumer. Bagamat maalinsangan, at madumi ang hanging nalalanghap dahil

sa usok ng mga sasakyan, ay pinagsusumikapan niyang maitawid ang araw sapagkat ang iilang piraso ng kendi at yosi na maibebenta niya ay maaari ding magtawid sa gutom ng kanyang pamilya, lalo na ang kanyang dalawang anak— tatlong taon, at limang taong gulang. Ang bawat matining at takaw-pansin na tunog na nililikha ng kapirasong tablang kinumpuni upang maging takatak ay madalas pagpaalala sa kanya sa mga karanasan niya sa Maynila bilang bagger sa isang grocery store. Ngunit itong tunog na ito ang siyang panghabang-buhay niyang hudyat na bagamat hindi pinalad na magkaroon ng mas maayos na buhay, hindi niya tinalikuran ang kanyang responsibilidad bilang isang ama.

Otso pesos ang isang uri ng yosing kanyang nilalako. Maliit na halaga, ngunit katumbas nito ay kinabukasan ng kanyang mga anak.

TAKATAK KADA TIKTAK “Hindi ko pinangarap ang trabahong ganito,” mariing

“KUYA, MAGKANO PO?” Ilang minuto pagsikat ng araw, gumigising na si Mang Victo upang gumayak at ihanda ang kanyang takatak at mga laman nitong samu’t-saring kendi at sigarilyo. Bitbit ang kanyang takatak, at bulsang puno ng baryang panukli, binabaybay ni Mang Victo ang kahabaan ng Aquino Bridge simula sa barangay ng San Vicente, paikot sa kalsada ng F. Tañedo at madalas, sa pamilihang bayan. Sa nakalipas THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 49

tanggi ni Mang Vikto. “Siyempre pag walang trabaho, eto,” dagdag pa niya.

Patunay na kahit bumaba ang rating ng unemployment o kawalan ng trabaho sa Pilipinas, isa pa rin si Mang Vikto sa 4.5 porsiyentong Pilipinong walang maayos na trabaho. Ngunit kahit ganoon na lamang ay patuloy paring sinisikap ni Mang Vikto na itaguyod ang kaniyang pamilya. Ang pangarap ni Mang Vikto sa kanyang mga anak ay ang mabigyan sila ng magandang buhay at makapagtapos sila ng pag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng kanyang paglalako ng kendi’t yosi.

Hindi maitatanggi na sa bawat oras na kanyang pamamalagi sa merkado ang katumbas ay mga salapi na galing sa kanyang mga mamimili. Tanging tiyaga lamang sa pagsuyod ng palengke at kahabaan ng kalye ang diskarte upang nang sa gayon ay mairaos ang araw na may pera pag-uwi sa kanilang bahay.

Ayon sa tala ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan (DOH) noong taong 2019, nakakabahala na 12 sa bawat 100 teenager na edad 13-15 ay naninigarilyo na at 16 milyong Pilipino edad 15 pataas ay naninigarilyo. Kung kaya’t inilunsad ang sin tax na siyang nakapaloob sa RA 10963 o mas kilala bilang Train Law, na layuning pataasin ang buwis ng sigarilyo upang hindi

50 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

makabili ang mga kabataan ng tingi-tingi sa tindahan. Ito naman ang kinatuwa ni Mang Vikto sapagkat mas mahal ang sigarilyo, mas mahal ang benta at mas malaki ang kita kumpara sa noon na mura pa ang mga sigarilyo.

Kabalikat ng pagkayod ni Mang Vikto sa pagtatakatak ay ang panganib sa kalusugan. Dagdag ng DOH, lampas 26

milyong katao sa Pilipinas ang nakalalanghap ng usok na galing sa sigarilyo at hindi lamang baga ang naaapektuhan nito, gayun na rin ang balat sa buong katawan at puso. Ang nakakalungkot dito ay pati ang mga taong hindi naninigarilyo ay nadadawit sa masamang epekto ng yosi sa kalusugan.

Ito ay ang tinatawag na “second-hand smoke” at pati na rin ang ”thirdhand smoke” na nagdudulot ng kanser ayon sa pag-aaral at panganib sa mga bata sapagkat ito ay labi ng kemikal sa lugar nang pinaghithitan na mahirap alisin.

Kahit ganun na lamang ang kinahinatnan ng kapalaran ng buhay ni Mang Vikto ay bitbit niya pa rin ang kanyang pangarap na kahit hindi malaki ang sahod ay basta permanente ang trabahong kanyang makukuha. Hindi niya alam kung anong mangyayari sa kanya sa susunod pang mga taon ngunit kung dumating man ang araw na ang pintuan niya patungo sa pagtatakatak ay magsara, hahanap na lamang ito ng trabaho.

TALAK SA SMOKING BAN Halo-halong reaksyon ang nagsulputan

nang ipatupad ni Pangulong Duterte ang Executive Order No. 26 o ang pagbabawal sa paninigarilyo sa mga pampublikong lugar. Sa unang araw pa lamang, di na mabilang ang mga nahuling naninigarilyo maski ang mga nagtitinda nito at ang katwiran nila’y di umano nila alam na bawal na ang nasabing gawain.

Gaya na lamang ni Mang Victo na lingid pa rin sa kanyang kaalaman ang sakop ng batas na ito na halos dalawang taon na ang bisa sa buong kapuluan. “Bawal yung mga naninigarilyo, pero kami wala man, kaming nagbebenta hindi bawal.” Isang rason na kanyang pinanghahawakan kung kaya’t patuloy pa rin siya sa pagbebenta ng yosi kung saan man siya dalhin ng kanyang mga paa.

Nakasaad din sa kautusan ang pagbabawal sa mga menor-de-edad na manigarilyo at magtinda nito. Gayundin ang pagbebenta sa mga lugar na kadalasang dinarayo ng mga menor-de-edad. May kaukulang multa o parusa naman sa sinumang mahuhuling maninigarilyo at mananagot din ang may ari ng anumang establisimyento o gusali kapag may nahuli sa kanilang lalabag sa batas.

Karagdagan, naglalayon ang batas na ito

na bigyang prayoridad ang kalusugan ng publiko saan mang sulok ng bansa. Ayon kasi sa World Health Organization (WHO), ang paninigarilyo ay isa sa mga maituturing na may pinakamatitinding bantang pangkalusugan sa mundo na ikinamamatay ng mahigit limang milyong katao kada taon.

Dagdag pa rito ang patunay na ang “secondhand smoke” ay mas matindi ang epekto sa mga nakalalanghap nito.

Samantala, nang tanunin si Mang Victo kung payag o tutol nga ba siya sa umiiral na smoking ban, mapapansin ang pag-aalinlangan nito. “Siyempre hindi natin mapigilan, pero dapat tutol talaga,” sagot nito. “Wala akong magawa, ito ang hanapbuhay ko, dito ako kumikita,” dagdag pa niya.

Inihayag din niya ang epekto ng ordinansa sa kanyang kinikita sa paglalako ng mga yosi. Aniya, kulang at kung minsa’y sapat naman, bunsod na rin siguro ng takot ng iba na sumugal pa rin sa pagbili ng pinagbabawal na produkto sa kabila nga ng umiiral na batas.

TATAK NG SOLUSYON Sa lipunang talamak ang banta sa kalusugan ng bawat tao, nawa’y maging responsible ang lahat para sa sarili at kapakanan ng kapwa, dahil ang bawat upos ng sigarilyo, ay maaring buhay ang kapalit. Sandamakmak na ang mga batas at ordinansang nagbabawal manigariyo sa pampublikong lugar subalit hindi naipatupad.

Nawa’y di magningas-kugon ang lupon ng mga taong responsible sa pagpapatupad ng nasabing batas, dahil kung magpasahanggang ngayon, ay naglipana pa rin ang nagbebenta at gumagamit nito, ang batas kontra sa paninigarilyo sa mga lugar na publiko, ay nagiging inutil lamang na batas na sumasanay sa mamamayang lumabag nang walang pakundangan.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 51

NEWS Vaccines reach regions across country, follows priority list despite delays, rapid case surge By

Photo from voanews

By Kyla Garcia ESTABLISHING NEW chapter in the Philippines’ response against pandemic, the administration began their vaccination program by administering their first shots

of China’s Sinovac the next day upon its arrival, February 28, 2021.

The vaccines arrived days after the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disclosed the report on February 22 that an emergency use authorization will be issued for

CoronaVac alongside AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

However, the initial target by the authorities that was expected to land in mid-February was delayed because of huge demands globally and in paperwork impeded vaccines from the COVAX Facility.

Regardless of being the last to get approval from the FDA, Sinovac arrived earliest paving the way for the Philippines to finally start their vaccinations after the setbacks of primary anticipated vaccines.

As of March 30, there have been five batches of coronavirus vaccine delivered in the Philippines where three of them are from the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech.

The first and second batch of Sinovac combined generates a total of 1,000,000 doses donated by China, following another million doses procured by the government in hopes to speed up the vaccination campaign which aims to immunize at least 50 million Filipinos by the end of 2021.

Furthermore, the two other batches were from COVAX Facility wherein the Philippines was among the first Southeast Asian Country to receive from them which consist of collectedly 525,600 doses of AstraZeneca.

COVID-19 vaccine was | to p. 57 commenced by

PUV Modernization Application ends, Consolidation extends one year

By Genere James Nool DESPITE PANDEMIC, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) put thousand of drivers and operators in vain, by still pursuing their March 31, 2021 compliance application deadline for their Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) introduced on June 19, 2017.

Among thousands of

drivers and operators in the country, only 2,589 PUV units including jeepneys, UV express units, minibuses, and buses, have complied with the modernization program as of yearend 2020.

Meanwhile, LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra cleared off in Senate that this deadline does not mean immediate termination of those unconsolidated operators but has to ply alternative routes and still given one year to consolidate.

Furthermore, Bayanihan to

52 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

recover as One Act and Bayanihan 2 states that no PUVs can be phased out while the pandemic is ongoing, protecting an estimated 100,000 public utility drivers nationwide.

However, in spite of deadline extensions and exemptions due to Bayanihan Act, the consolidation and modern-

ization of PUVs is still difficult for operators and drivers as operators confessed finding it hard to surrender old franchise due to logistical and | to p. 57

PRC dismisses licensure exams, lists new schedule following DOH recommendations

By Johann Fel Rigor PROFESSIONAL REGULATION Commission (PRC) has announced suspension of several licensure examinations for this year 2021 due to the prevailing health jeopardies and continued constraint in some part of the community under the declaration of President for a state of public health emergency throughout the entire country and Department of Health’s (DOH) recommendation to prohibit mass gatherings.

Some of the postponed 2021 board exams include: February Mechanical Engineers’; May Civil Engineers and Certified Public Accountants’; April Electronics Engineers, Registered Master Electrician and Registered Electrical Engineers’ licensure examination.

The original schedule of

these examinations was announced by the PRC on November 10, 2020, under Resolution No. 1283 Series of 2020 where approximately almost 400,000 confirmed positive cases were reported by the Department of Health (DOH) during that time.

According to the statement released by the PRC, the decision of the postponement is to ensure the health and safety of all examinees and examination personnel and with a consultation to some stakeholders.

On Resolution no. 1333 series of 2021, released by the PRC for the postponement of May 2021 Civil Engineers Licensure Examinations, it was stated that the Professional Regulatory Board of Civil Engineers gathered comments, recommendations, and propositions from various stakeholders.

Through these sanctions,

it was then deemed that the rescheduling of the examination is necessary for consideration of the safety of all examinees, extension of the state of the calamity of the country until September 12, 2021, and the hope that the vaccines may be readily available to the public few months before November 2021.

New set of schedule was then presented by the PRC to conduct the licensure examinations and was posted in their official website. However, few months before the new schedule licensure examination, DOH reported that the number of COVID-19 patients has increased and reached the ceiling of almost 600,000 cases nearly doubling the previous cases in November 2020 when the original schedule of licensure examination was announced.

Given the surge of cases, PRC has still managed to push through some licensure examinations for other fields and emphasize the directives of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Disease (IATF-MEID) to postpone the conduct of licensure examinations in areas under General Community Quarantine to avoid cross border transfer of examinees.

Physician Licensure Examination was one of the successful licensure examinations for the year 2021 and examinations that are inclined to medical field are being pushed through as more health worker are needed to battle in the fight of country to the pandemic.

New set of schedules are listed and can be viewed from the PRC official website.

TSU Purchased 4M ECE Lab Equipment New Electronics Engineering (ECE) equipment added to the laboratory to enhance ECE education of Tarlac State University - College of Engineering and Technology. (Photo

by Crizhia Gonzales)

By Crizhia Gonzales EVERY UNIVERSITY all around the globe have their luxurious laboratories to ensure the effective learning of their students.

With that, the department of Electronics Engineering (ECE) in Tarlac State University did not fail to adhere this vision as they showcase their prestigious

apparatuses for their learners.

Back in 2017, the university bought major equipment for the Electronics Engineering students. According to Engr. Don Louie Sanvictores, the overall cost of these machines hit 4 Million Pesos, including basic instruments such as oscillators, signal generators, power supplies, multimeters, etc.

These devices were mostly used by the 4th Year and graduating ECE students as these allows them to see the direct relationship of the theories through actual application, which were only written in books.

As of this time, there is an Analog Telecommunication Trainer which forms comprehensive program that enables

instructors to teach the principles of analog communications, both in theory and in practice, using a variety of training environments.

A Microwave Trainer, which is a basic trainer that enables students to learn and investigate the principles of microwave transmission systems such as those which are used in radars and communication links is also available.

There is also an Antenna Demonstration which demonstrates the polarization effects, radiation patterns, gain, directivity, and signal interference from environmental barriers for dipole, simulated antenna array, Quagi, and embedded patch antennas.

And lastly, a Transmission Line Trainer which help learners to gain knowledge in | to p. 55 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 53

TSU inaugurates Industry 4.0 among SUCs

By Angela Daine De Leon and Alden Boncales STIRRING UP its vision to be a premier university in Asia Pacific Region, Tarlac State University (TSU) topped off all the State Universities and Colleges, by being the first university in the Philippines to have Smart Factory Industry 4.0 Training Hub making the college a single step ahead in technological advancement.

Amounting 29.5M pesos, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Hub of the university includes Hydraulic and Pneumatic Instrumentation Module, Electrical Control Module and Mini Ice Plant Training System, along with the renovation of the room, tools, and equipment in the said laboratory.

The training hub will provide advancement in Mechatronics Technology through e-learning, with 30 tablets and 30 laptops supplied, with which will provide students prior knowledge about the machineries before use.

With accounts that will be issued to access the website learnamatrol.com, students could enroll in courses that are affiliated in the training hub, and answer quizzes, activities, and assignments.

According to Engr. Michael Tomas, the quizzes and activities require a hundred percent passing rate to get a certificate, which serves as verification that the students have acquired knowledge through e-learning.

Furthermore, Tomas added that the certificates will be given

by Amatronics, a US-based company which spearheaded the training hub and can also aid students regarding their job-related matters.

Owing to the Industry 4.0, the university allows the students to master the available machines as companies need technology-progressive engineers in the workplace.

Instructor Erwin L. Sibal,

stated that TSU did an improvement upon purchasing these laboratory machines and equipment which serves as a stepping-stone towards progress, fulfilling its aforementioned vision.

Sibal also explained that it will diminish the ignorance of the students when it comes to this technology and avoid culture shock and novelty through gaining experience from visual and analytical learning.

“Pagka-graduate nila, may mga machine kasi na ganoon.

Minsan hindi nila alam gamitin, so kung mayroon tayong ganito rito atleast pagka-graduate nila, may alam na sila. So atleast may training ka pag nagkatrabaho ka na,” Sibal added.

In an interview with Dr. Miriam S. Galvez, Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology (CET), the department’s enhancement in the field of engineering and technology has elevated, increasing the competence of the university, and boosting the ability, knowledge and skills of the college towards technology.

Galvez also mentioned that the training hub is open to all students, however, should have permission to the person in-charge of the laboratory, Instructor Erwin Sibal.

“Actually, iyong laboratory na iyon (is) not necessarily na i-schedule ka. Pwede kayo kahit nasa outside, kasi online iyon.

Kukuha lang kayo ng account kay Sir Sibal, tapos pwede na kayong mag-log diyan sa cellphone ninyo.” Galvez added.

Ms. Galvez also demands proper maintenance on the machines and equipment in the laboratory as they function in a well-managed environment.

Smart Factory Industry 4.0 is an advantage for the university’s achievement being the pioneer of this kind of laboratory, encompassing the need of the CET department to attain intellectual and actual application of the facilities, and produce highly skilled engineers.

54 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

The first Smart Factory Industry 4.0 Training Hub in the Phillipines at Tarlac State University -College of Engineering and Technology. (Photo by Karl Josh Guillermo)

PICE-TSUSC suspension allegation expounds, Student Association back in the game

By Johann Fel Rigor PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE of Civil Engineers- Tarlac State University Student Chapter was allegedly suspended and banned last academic year 2019-2020.

This suspicion was clarified as The Stentorian interviewed the former Acting- President, Mr. Ernesto Marimla, Jr. last February 8, 2020, saying that the organization was indeed barred.

“Na-suspend ang PICE dahil iyong mga ibang officers (organizational officers), hindi sumipot doon sa need ng Civil Engineering Department, na ni-require kami na umattendwhich is the accreditation ng civil engineering for Level 4 Phase 2. And (because of that), nagalit si ma’am (Engr.

Consolacion S. Lagman, PICETSUSC adviser).”

This statement was supported by Mr. Ghelver

James Gonzales, the current president of PICE- TSUSC and added that in his knowledge, there are discrepancies regarding the letters that are needed for the organization to conduct events and that other reasons why it is suspended, are only limited for him because he only held a low position last term.

On the account of Marimla, the organizational name was banned for usage for about 1 or 2 weeks after their suspension in October 21, 2019: nonetheless, was duly allowed to use in some event in the second semester of A.Y. 2019-2020.

Marimla was known to be the Board of Director for Socio-cultural and Community Development before taking the position as the acting president of the said organization.

When asked about Marimla’s appointment, he said, “Ako | to p.56

TSU-CETSC runs CET Week 2021, Maroon Sharks exhibit talents

By Jovielyn Gutierrez ENGINEERING AND Technology students showed-off their skills and creativity as CET-SC kickedoff Tiktok Making, Spoken Word Poetry and Poster Making Online Competition in line with CET Week 2021, themed DELTA: Conquering Changes, Divining the Future, last March 22-27, 2021.

With the Tiktok Making Competition’s theme “Tell me you’re an engineering/technology student without actually telling me you’re an engineering/technology student”, and Conquering Changes, Divining the Future for the Spoken Word Poetry and Poster Making Competition, participants sent their entries as CET Week officially opened its submission lines on March 22.

Joedel Castro of IECEP topped off among seven participants of Tiktok Content Creation with Li Anne Mercado from

IECEP getting 2nd place and IIEE Glen Jayson Tomas winning 3rd place.

In an online interview, 2nd placer Li Anne Mercado from IECEP stated that she was shocked at first as she was just informed that her name was listed the day before the CET Week.

“Noong una po, nag search talaga ako ng concept na gagawin kasi di po ako sanay sa mga ganoong content kaya naghanap-hanap ako. Sinukat ko po ang mga magagandang concept tapos nag merge ako para mas maganda ang kalalabasan” Mercado stated.

Li Anne’s added message regarding conquering changes is her being glad.

“I’m delighted because despite of what’s happening in the world, student such as CET students conquered changes by means of not losing hope amidst of this Pandemic. Let us all be

CNC machine advances CET students’ field work

The Official Logo of TSU Engineering and Technology Week 2021

broad-minded so no matter what happens we are steadfast” Mercado quoted.

Meanwhile, 5 contenders for the Spoken Word Poetry Competition battled which entries were posted on EnggTech Week’s Facebook page.

Kendrich Graham Lambino of IECEP brought home the bacon as he won first place, Ghelver James Gonzales of PICE for 2nd place and Rene Justin Salviejo of IECEP winning as the 3rd placer.

First place Lambino stated in an online interview, that his piece was a product of his imagination and concept of future.

“Noong nalaman ko na ang theme is about conquering changes, divining the future, nag pop-up kaagad sa isipan ko yung pagbabago sa technology

na dating iniisip lang natin na imposible, now it is possible.”

Lambino also added that their IECEP President, Alyssa Mercado, was the one who pushed him to join, as Mercado believed in his talent that made him capable to compete with other students.

On the other hand, Gonzales’ concept in his Spoken Word piece, was taken from his like of conspiracies and theories.

“Masyado kasi akong nababad sa mga konsepto na about sa future kaya naisip ko, bakit hindi sulatan ng future self ko yung old self niya? Kahit walang kasiguraduhan na ganoon talaga ang mangyayari.”

Meanwhile, on Poster Making Contest, Spoken Word Poetry 1st placer Kendrich | to p. 57 Lambino, also won

TSU Purchased 4M...

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machine (Photo by karl Josh Guillermo)

By Johann Fel Rigor COLLEGE OF Engineering and Technology had provided its students a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machine heightening the college’s teaching strategy and providing an endeavor for development and innovation for modernized and more convenient way of

learning.

CNC machine is a production machine that control, automate, and monitor the movements of a machine, which can be used to control a range of complex machinery, from grinders and lathes to mills and routers.

“Iyong ginawa kasi namin noong 3rd year (kami) ay wood | to p. 56 printing. Bale mag-

from p. 53 | measuring the characteristics of a line, the attenuation of a line, the Input Impedance of the Line, as well as study the Frequency characteristic of the line, Stationary Waves, Line under Pulsed condition, Signal Phase shift along the line, Fault localization within the line.

The said instruments are currently in EB room 111, which also serves as the laboratory of the ECE students.

According to Crystel Samodio, a graduatung 5th year ECE student, these apparatuses help her understand the theories

better through laboratory experiments and hands on applications.

“There are topics in communications that we don’t really understand especially if they are only presented through discussions. The use of these equipment is the only effective way to thoroughly absorb the topics”, Samodio added.

The world has known for some time now that technology changes how we work, play, and even think.

Having the opportunity to experience these early, help the students to prepare for a much more complex technologies in the future.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 55

GAD extends CET influence, holds Gender Perception, Mental Health Awareness Webinar

By Jovielyn Gutierrez IN LINE with celebration of this year’s CET Week, a Mental Health Awareness Webinar and Gender Sensitivity and Perception Seminar in collaboration with Tarlac State University- Gender and Development (TSU-GAD) had been commenced on March 27 and 29, 2021, via zoom.

Registered psychometricians Mr. Jeremiah Paul C. Silvestre, and Ms. Laarni T. Capinding, along with Prof. Jovy P. Tomas, from the College of Teacher Educattion, headed both webinars, as means of TSU-GAD’s goal to expand their impact about gender perception and mental health into CET students.

According to Silvestre, advocator of mental health, indigenous psychology, and human rights, the said Mental Health Awareness webinar aims to educate the students in coping up and understanding mental health with the online classes occurring this pandemic.

Silvestre presented basics of mental health emphasizing that experiencing mental health concerns are fine and usual for learners.

“Madalas na idea sa mental health concern is nakakahiyang pag-usapan, or may mga bad experience tayo before na nainvalidate yung concerns natin pero we would like to put into conversations that, it is okay if there is something wrong,” Jeremiah stated.

In addition, second speaker, Capinding, concentrated on the significance of self-care in managing the mental condition of the students teaching practical tips that could support in overcoming mental health issues, such as meditation and deep-breathing exercises.

“Oftentimes we view self-care activities as not being productive, but it’s important to shift this way of thinking by broadening what we think is productive,” Laarni stated.

Meanwhile, Prof. Jovy Tomas, being conferred as the resource speaker for the second webinar, aims for CET students’ awareness on gender sensitivity and identities which was attended by around 70 faculty members and student from the college.

Tomas challenged attendees to think possible mistreatment because of a person’s gender which the speaker then

CNC machine advances CET... from p. 53 | eencode ka muna sa software, then CNC machine na iyong bahalang mag-read noon para sa production”, Arold Abril, a mechanical engineering student explained.

According to the college dean, Engr. Miriam Galvez, students are eligible to access and use the actual machine aside from the lectures inside the classroom, with provision to the faculty in-charge.

CNC machine provides a hands-on and on-the-spot training in the field of work.

Engr. Adam Facun Rombaoa, one of the faculty in-charge in the machine discussed the advantage of having it in CET

stating, “Malaking advantage para sa ating mga students iyong pag-kakaroon natin ng CNC Machine dahil ayun nga, na mas naihahanda natin sila sa field then mas nagiging advance tayo compare sa ibang university. “ Meanwhile, Abril expressed his delight in using the machine as it gives him the opportunity to apply what he had learned in his lectures.

Furthermore, mechanical engineering students voiced out their hint of wanting more actual field work and more available equipment, to apply what they had learned and to be job ready.

56 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

discussed on fighting gender stereotypes and ending the cycle of discrimination against other genders.

The said webinars are

just the beginning of TSUGAD’s goal to expand their influence and expected to be collaborating with other colleges and organizations.

PICE-TSUSC suspension... from p. 56 | ang acting president kasi ako ‘yong pinag-kakatiwalaan ni ma’am Lagman.”

Marimla, Jr., also added that in his knowledge, the appointment in their organization should be based on the constitution and by-laws of the organization which is said to be by the hierarchy of positions.

However, this argument was cleared by Gonzales clarifying that the position for acting president, which Marimla won, was due to the election from the officers of the organization, adding that Ernesto was a better officer capable in handling the organization that time under their given circumstances.

Gonzales was also asked about how certain he is that no suspension will rise in his term and he emphasized that on his term, they will always choose to do right thing.

“Simple lang naman po ang buhay. Obey the rules and no problems will occur.”

Gonzales stated.

PICE-TSUSC organization for semester 2020-2021 is

indeed back in the game as Gonzaga confirms and shares the achievement of the organization for second semester of 2020-2021 academic year.

“Active naman po, nasungkit po namin yung First Runner Up sa overall (ranking) last College of Engineering and Technology Week,” Ghelver furthered.

In the end, Gonzales leaves a message to his katroPICE. “Laban lang! Sa mga magaganda ang takbo, ipagpatuloy nyo lamang iyan hanggang makamit nyo ang inaasam nating diploma. Para naman sa mga nadadapa at nahihirapan umusad, laban lang! Ayos lamang kahit maliliit na ang hakbang basta lahat ay puro paabante! Nandito lang kami para sa inyo #samasamatayo hanggang sa dulo!”

Suspension of PICE-TSUSC had been confirmed true, however, current PICE-TSUSC officers said that they are trying to rebuild and make the organization alive again.

Vaccines reach regions...

Photo from Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

from p. 52 | the vaccination of Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, director of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (PGH), with the first vaccine shot administered by nurse Charleuck Santos.

In contrary to the accomplishment of the inauguration of the first legally administrated jabs, the vaccination campaign was disturbed by the illegal vaccinations of Duterte’s former special envoy to China, Ramon Tulfo Jr., high-ranking government officials, and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) with Sinopharm, a drug that has not been approved by the FDA. With the rapid surge of cases, the highest single-day record was reported on Friday, April 2, by the Department of Health (DOH) with 15,302 confirmed new cases included the 3,709 cases backlogged due to system technical issues.

Accordingly, the government is continuously allocating the vaccines to fight against the soaring COVID-19 positivity rates distributing 1,468,200 out of 2,525,600 doses across the country ensuring that the priority list is given by the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), associates of health experts commending the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) was followed.

Meanwhile, to assure all the citizens of fairness in designating the vaccines, the arrangement below was provided assigning the prioritized group to receive the immunization.

A1: Frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and pub-

lic, health professionals and non-professionals like students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc.

A2: Senior citizens aged 60 years old and above.

A3: Persons with comorbidities not otherwise included in the preceding categories A4: Frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the IATF as essential during ECQ A5: Indigent populations not otherwise included in the preceding categories B1: Teachers, social workers B2: Other government workers B3: Other essential workers B4: Socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk other than senior citizens and indigent people B5: Overseas Filipino Workers B6: Another remaining workforce C: Rest of the Filipino population not otherwise included in the above groups The list was assessed based on giving priority to frontliners who are exposed to the virus and high-risk individuals, such as senior citizens and people with existing diseases like heart conditions and diabetes.

In line with the vaccination occurring amidst the increasing number of recent cases, the FDA warned both public and private sectors against counterfeited COVID-19 vaccines after the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) found 400 ampoules or 2,400 doses of fake vaccines in a warehouse in Gauteng, South Africa.

PUV Modernization Application... from p.52 | technical issues.

Further, land transport cooperatives call out modern jeepney’s cost at whopping 1-3 million pesos which they say impossible for drivers to afford even with special loan programs with Landbank and Development Bank of the Philippines.

Because of this, the Move as One Coalition urged the DOTr to raise equity subsidy for modern jeepney purchase to 500,000 from the current 160,000-peso cost per unitlessening the debt burden to PUV drivers who would consolidate to the Jeepney Modernization.

Meanwhile, the alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) despite support for modernization, was against the jeepney phaseout and fleet consolidation scheme, which requires small PUV operators to surrender their franchise.

“Once we consolidate, it would mean we agree with their proposal to adopt an investment scheme, which will only go to big corporations.

We already have our individual associations, so changing our units into modern ones won’t need surrendering our franchises or getting a bank loan—if their main goal is

really to modernize our units,” said ACTO president, Efren de Luna.

Conversely, transport officials of modernization program were scolded after delays in rollout of this program as one of its components is for local government units to submit local transport route plans (LPTRP).

Delgra reported only 611 out of 1575 LGU presented their LPTRP, leaving more than just half of areas in country without identified routes for PUVs. “If the DOTr does not conduct a rationalization study and just rely on the LGUs...and the LGU does not prepare its LPTRP, the applicant may be held hostage by the inaction or delay,” Senator Joel Villanueva said, pointing out the fouryear delay of this program.

PUVMP was rolled out nationwide for safe, secure, and convenient transport; and apparent stable, sufficient, and dignified livelihoods for drivers and operators.

Modernization consolidation extends until next year but complete phaseout of old PUVs is not yet clarified as protection of Bayanihan Act is still on effect, due to ongoing pandemic.

TSU-CETSC runs CET... from p. 55 | the said artistic event, saying that he is pressured as he joined two different categories.

“I experienced a hard time to conceptualize but noong natapos na ako, I feel relieved and happy na kaya ko naman pala gawin ito and I think that’s already an achievement, bonus na lang yung manalo.”

“Don’t hesitate to risk yourself sa isang bagay, maganda man o pangit ang kalabasan. The important thing is meron

kang natutunan. Kung hindi sa’yo mag-uumpisa ang pagbabago, kanino?”

Lambino’s message about conquering changes.

Rizelle Culala from IECEP was the second placer for the Poster Making and Mervin Rivera from PICE was the 3rd.

The CET week lasted March 28 with winners posted at the TSU Engineering and Technology Facebook page, along with 4th and 5th placers in every category.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 57

SPORTS EDITORIAL

Cartoon by Vince Payumo

S

SPORTSMANSHIP DEVASTATION

portsmanship is termed as ethical, proper, polite and fair conduct while participating in a game or any athletic events. It is also defined as a way of accepting defeat from your opponent with an open mind and heart. But the big issue here is, is it still existing for the present

players?

One of most controversial basketball events happened during the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers is the brawl between the Gilas Pilipinas and Australian Boomers. Due to the unethical behavior and lack of sportsmanship that the both parties showed during the game, some of their players were suspended and penalized.

Before the game or sports event starts, the players must cite the Oath of Sportsmanship. In this situation, what the players must fulfill is that they must enjoy and have fun while playing and at the same time, they must show the ethical actions during the game. What is the essence of citing the oath of sportsmanship if we don’t actually apply its meaning?

As the years goes by, the issues that most of the players have is not accepting defeat. Some of them are not well-mannered and short tempered because their opponent already had their advantage in the game. The worst thing that can happen is, even though the game is already done, the tension between the two parties still remain.

Just like what happened last October 30, 2019, where the game between Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves of NBA became so tense. Since the Sixers had already a doublelead early in the second half, Joel Embiid, center of 76ers began to let Karl-Anthony Towns, center of Timberwolves, to hear it.

After Embiid forced a turnover to Towns, and the Sixers started a Fastbreak in the opposite direction, the two already jumbled up and began shoving, and trying to give each other headlocks, until they crashed to the floor and caught the attention of everybody.

The two players were ejected because of the unethical act during the game.

At some point, the reason why the opponent became short tempered, is because the other side tried to elevate bad mood even more since they already had the lead in the game, which is

58 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

not right, because the quotation said “the ball is round,” and you can’t predict the ending of the game. Maybe in the next round your opponent can lead the game as well. So, the players must put into action the humility during and after the match to have a harmonious game in the end.

Another action of misconduct was the incident between Kelly Nabong of San Miguel Beermen and Chris Newsome of Meralco Bolts in 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup. At the last 7 minutes and 46 seconds remaining in the game, as Newsome used to jumpshot the ball, Nabong suddenly shove him and had a hard foul that cause some trouble to him. He was given a flagrant foul penalty and a technical foul with his actions that resulted him to be ejected in the game. The PBA fined Nabong a 30,000 pesos that served as a disciplinary action with his unnecessary behavior during the game.

Not only to the players themselves, but their supporters and fans as well. Most the fans are saying “luto,” or simply the scorer or the referee is in favor of the other side. Some of them post their side in social media about that.

With this actions, the sports society must punish the athletes with unethical behavior during the game and not following the essence of sportsmanship. The players who committed misconduct must be penalized for a week, and for those players who injured the other player, they must suspend him for a month or for worst, if this always happen, they need to terminate his or her contract for disciplinary action for them to reflect to there unethical behavior as a player.

In this case, the sports committee must encourage the players to be a role model in the name of sports.

As the sports society improve, the essence of sportsmanship extinct. The main reason of this issue is because it became all about winning the game and not accepting defeat. The mindset of most athlete these days is, if you lose in a game, you are already a failure. Which is not, because losing helps you to grow and become a better player and a better person. Not only for the players themselves, but of course for the fans as well.

MGA LARONG NAGIGING ABO ICE BEAR

Teknolohiya: Isang bagay na naging sanhi upang limutin ng mga bagong henerasyon ng kabataan ang mga kinagisnang laro ng karamihan na nakakabuti sa kalusugan at buhay ng lahat.

Napakabilis lumipas ng panahon. Dati-rati napakaraming mga bata ang makikita mo sa paligid na nagtatakbuhan, nagtatalunan at nagtatawanan. Ngunit sa paglipas ng taon ay unti-unti nang nagiging abo ang mga masasayang laro na ating kinagisnan at patuloy namang tinatalikuran ng mga makabagong henerasyon ng kabataan.

Kung ang mga kabataan noon ay may “social life” o pakikisalamuha sa mga ibang bata, ang bagong henerasyon naman ng mga kabataan ay may “virtual life” o pakikisalamuha sa pamamagitan ng makabagong teknolohiya na patuloy ang pag-usbong hanggang sa ngayon.

Ang mga laro na madalas laruin ng mga kabataan noon ay ang patintero, chinese garter, agawan base, tumbang preso, luksong baka, at marami pang iba. Dahil ang mga ito ay larong ginagamitan ng pisikal na lakas na siyang nagsisilbing ehersisyo nila.

Madalas mo silang makikita sa mga kalye o kanilang bakuran na nagtatakbuhan at habulan tuwing bakasyon o kaya naman tuwing Sabado at Linggo. Minsan naman sa mga paaralan lalo kapag oras na ng recess.

Isa pang dahilan na magandang naidulot ng mga larong ito ay ang pagtutulungan dahil sa pakikisalamuha sa mga ibang bata. Dahil dito nabubuo ang istratehiya at pagkakaisa ng bawat bata upang manalo laban sa kanilang katunggali.

Sa kabilang banda, ang mga makabagong kabataan ngayon hindi na gaanong naglalaro sa labas ng kanilang bahay. Dahil sa napakalaking impluwensiya ng makabagong teknolohiya. Kadalasan sa mga ito ay nasa loob lang ng kanilang bahay, nanood sa telebisyon at ang iba naman ay nakakulong lang sa kani-kanilang mga kwarto at mas pinipili na nilang gamitin sa paglalaro ang kanilang mga cellphone, laptop, PC (personal computer), at tablet. Samantalang ang iba naman ay abala sa paggamit ng “social media.”

Dahil sa mabilis at madaling paggamit sa teknolohiya, madaming kabataan ang nagkakasakit sa murang edad pa lamang. Ayon sa Paedriatic Ophthalmologist ng Philippine General Hospital na si Alvina Pauline Santiago, nagdudulot ang labis na paggamit ng gadgets ng samu’t saring karamdaman sa mata, kabilang ang pagkalabo ng mata o pagkaduling. Maaari ding magkaroon ng myopia o nearsightedness, na siyang dahilan ng pagkalabo ng kanilang paningin dulot umano ito ng pagbabad ng mata sa “blue light” na inilalabas ng mga screen ng cellphone at telebisyon.

“Puwede sanang walang effect ang gadget kung sandali mo lang gagamitin.

Kaya lang kung more than 2 hours, 3 hours mo siyang ginagamit, ‘yun ‘yung nagca-cause ng problema, so ‘yun ang nagca-cause ng pagiging myopic or nearsighted,” dagdag pa nito.

Maari itong magdulot ng stroke, high blood o heart attack at obesity dahil sa kakulangan ng mga “physical activities” dahil sila ay nakaupo na lamang maghapon at hindi na nagkakaroon ng sapat na ehersisyo. Maari ding mawalan ng sapat na tulog dahil sa sobrang pagka-engganyo o mas nakukuha ang atensiyon ng mga ito. Madami din sa mga ito ang walang kaibigan dahil mas nahihikayat sila sa makukulay na laro at mas pinipili nalang maghanap ng kaibigan sa Facebook.

Kung patuloy na tatangkilikin ng makabagong henerasyon ang malaking impluwensiya ng teknolohiya, patuloy ding lalaki ang bilang ng mga kabataang magkaroon ng mga nasabing karamdaman.

Hindi lamang kalusugan ang maaring maapektuhan nito, maaari ding maimpluwensiyan nito ang buhay natin. Sapagkat, mawawala ang oras natin sa pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa ating kapwa tao na siyang nakaakibat sa ating pagkatao. Dahil tuluyan nang naagaw ng kani-kanilang gadgets ang kanilang mga atensiyon na para dapat sa mga taong nakapalibot sa kanila.

“Bakit hahayaan natin ang ating mga sarili na magbabad sa makabagong teknolohiya kung kaakibat naman nito’y pagkasira ng buhay at kalusugan?”

Ganoon pa man, hindi parin huli ang lahat. Kaya parin nating baguhin ang maling sistemang patuloy tayong tinutupok na parang apoy. Ang kailangan lamang nating gawin ay ibaling ang karamihan ng ating oras sa mga pisikal na gawain na tiyak na nakakabuti sa ating kalusugan at iwasan hangga’t maaari ang mga teknolihiyang nang-aakit ng ating atensiyon.

Kung ako ang tatanungin, maraming masasayang ala-ala ang nawala sa mga makabagong kabataan dahil hindi nila naranasan ang mga laro ng mga kabataan noon. Dahil sa pagwalang bahala sa mga larong kinagisnan natin na patuloy nilalamon ng apoy ng teknolohiya. Ikaw ba, kung ikaw ay magkakaroon ng anak sa hinaharap, hahayaan mo ba siyang dumaloy sa agos ng teknolohiya, o ipapakilala sa kaniya ang mga nalilimutang laro na nagbigay ngiti at tuwa din sayo noong ikaw ay bata pa?

ELAINE PASCUA SPORTS EDITOR

PEN NAME “kung ikaw ay magkakaroon ng anak sa hinaharap hahayaan mo ba siyang dumaloy sa agos ng teknolohiya, o ipapakilala sa kaniya ang mga nalilimutang laro na nagbigay ngiti at tuwa din sayo noong ikaw ay bata pa?”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 59

SPORTS NEWS ECE Team B Alpha conquest the CODM: Battle Royale

By Carmelo Magno ECE sophomore Team B troop rule the roost over the nine raging teams in the CET week virtual sports fest, Call of Duty Mobile: Battle Royale Mode.

The winning squad astoundingly marked a total of 64 points topping the five games led by the team captain Isaiah Moen Nool (FV*Aya) that contributes an overwhelming 49 kills, followed by Jonathan Tinio (Than), Neil Marigmen (Fv*Dev), and Chel Raymundo (BlackSwift0019) that tallied 44, 14 and 5 slay, respectively, in nine frenetic matches.

On the two-day intense battle, the tournament was divided into 5 and 4 games each day, March 22 and 29, where Earl Runzel Kerr, event facilitator, oversees and regulates the rules that delimit players in utilizing certain weapons and vehicles such as war machines, purifier, annihilator, and tanks.

Meanwhile, EE Team B’s crew falls at the second spot with 26

points headed by Louis Joseph Cutamora(AzKirito), crippling 11 kills, and CE Team B squad tumbles in the third place with a 21 recorded put down led by Andrei Talavera (sTrain) who chips in 15 kills.

“Halos wala kaming preparation, kasi nasa iisang clan na kami dati, so ayun nakapag-adjust na kami and may teamwork. Nabuo kaming team dahil mag-classmates kami at pareho naming hilig ang CODM,” said

by Team captain Nool in a virtual interview when asked about how their team prepared and formed before the tournament.

Moreover, Nool stated that his haste instincts and mastery in aiming gained a massive advantage in the battlegrounds.

The MVP also revealed their tactics of rushing to the upgrade terminal and obtaining the crate box to create a wide plus for the squad.

“As the team captain, I always

rush play using ninja class while my teammates served as the frontline, support and visual employing traps, airborne and trickster class,” he added.

Nool strikes his mastery in AK-47 for mid-range and long shots as primary loadout as Shotgun BY15 for the secondary, suckling the enemies with heavy-pearl bullets.

The conquerors will take home the cash prize of 2,500 pesos and an E-certificate granted by CET-SC.

PICE bet Tangan reign supreme in CET week chess tourney

By Carmelo Magno CE representative, Clinton Tangan walk-all-over into the gold seat among ten competitors in the CET week virtual sportsfest: Chess Tournament 2021.

Tangan, a Junior CE challenger stunned the board strategy of 10 participants from ME, IE, ECE, and EE departments after marking an 8-1 record in a Swiss system type of matchup.

The tournament was organized by Mr. Harcee Sarmiento as the broadcaster and juror in the live streaming yesterday, March 27.

Clinton obtained his only defeat after losing time with a close 0.23 second gap from ME reigning champ Harry Lagrana who garnered 7-2 single and placed as second while his coleague Johnley Corpuz takes the third spot tallying a 6-3 score.

The champ showcases a

60 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

dazzling basic “e4” opening as attacking tactics giving the foes critical moves that takes him to a sweet victory.

Meanwhile, Lagrana can call a close race to Tangan in his 8th game but Amiel Trinidad gives him a heartbreaker that leaves his hope vanish.

“Actually po, last minute po ako nakasali, as in 1-hour nalang po bago mag simula yung tournament, nagulat po ako bigla nung sinabihan na sumali ako.

Na-enjoy ko po ang tournament kasi gustong gusto ko po sumali.”

Tangan said in an online inter-

view.

Moreover, Tangan also stated that he does not even know the proper technical terms in openings but he still managed to ascend in the competition.

“Hindi ko po talaga alam yung mga tawag sa openings talagang napapanood lang po talaga sa youtube noon, player din po ako ng chess nung highschool kaya po siguro may konting experience po,” he added.

The champion will receive an e-certificate arranged by CET-SC.

PSME reigns Radiants of CET Valorant tourney

By Genere James Nool and Juan Agustin Jr. Manifesting dominance in a team-based, tactical, first-person shooting game, the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers-Team B emerged victorious over the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers-Team A in the recently concluded Valorant tournament of the College of Engineering and Technology,

streamed March 29, through Facebook live.

Without mercy, PSME Valorant champs Carl Balmores, Joseph Guico, Jay Cachuela, Carl Balingit, James Romero, and Rafael Flores trampled over the PIIE-Team A, consisting of Russell Reyes, Lai Boribor, Earle Sytu, Patrick Mania, Ivy Arceo, and Harold Valete, with a 13-5 score on board, ranking PIIE second to victors.

The stage was set on the

Ascent Map, with PSME on the defender’s side at the first half of the game and already asserting supremacy even at the first round, with Balingit plummeting the attacking PIIE group’s health using Killjoy’s Nanoswarm at the entrance of A site.

PSME’s lead on the first rounds, successfully defending their sites is trying to be broken by the PIIE during rounds 8-10, achieving 6-4 scoreboard. However, the score is not enough as it is still in favor of the PSME. Despite the PIIE’s perseverance to win, the game ended quickly as soon as the roles had been switched with the attacking PSME along their two duelists, one sentinel, initiator, and smoker, displaying excellence in the use of their utilities.

At the latter of the match, Guico ranked first in the player scoreboard with 19-10-8 KillDeath-Assists and 99 economic

ratings, putting their top-fragger Flores at 3rd place with 21-8-2 KDA and 47 econ rating.

Meanwhile, PIIE’s “crackplayer” should also be given recognition, being second in player scoreboard with 17-17-4 KDA and 75 econ rating.

“Naging hindrance namin during championship is internet connection naming dalawa ni Balmores, kaya noong umpisang round medyo nahirapan at natalo, pero ayos lang dahil double elimination naman,” Balingit stated.

Throughout the competition, he added that their biggest challenge was PICE during semis-“sobrang solid.”

Having good communication and confidence in every game are their strategies to remain still until finals.

The PSME vs. PIIE concludes the CET Valorant Tournament with winners receiving awards and certificates.

PICE OKAY vanquish CET Week MLBB Tournament 2021

By Charles Darwin Daquigan Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers-TSU Chapter dominated the Mobile Legends Bang Bang tournament in line with the College of Engineering and Technology Week 2021 (CET Week) launched by the CET-TSU Student Council.

The game was separated into two team with winners and losers bracket which consist of six groups per team consisting five members each with a double elimination round.

The two highest-ranking team in each group competed in the semi-final with a best-ofthree basis of which two teams who will win will proceed to the final battle.

During the first elimination match under Team A, PICE OKAY seized PSME Dreadtac with their powerful coordination and mindset in winning while CE Balabag reigns against PSME Kabs in Team B.

Unfortunately, PICE OKAY lose their winning strike against the IECEP Adeve Esports in Game 3 which brought them to the losers bracket and competed with the Game 4 winner IIEE Tara Pachange-oil for Team A. PICE OKAY attained their teamwork to conquer two consecutive victory against the IIEE Tara Pachange-oil which placed them in semifinals and winning strike against IECEP Adeve Esports which brought them to Final battle for Team A. A very sharp and intense match between the finalist in the Championship battle made the viewers’ nervous as PICE OKAY made the tournament exhilarating and brought an uncontrollable hype as they execute the PSME Kabs with the winning skill of their chosen heroes.

It was an astonishing comeback for PICE OKAY as they clinch the gold seat using their winning heroes and clever skill

against the second placer PSME Kabs in the Championship.

The winning team who contributed to the victory are Clinton Tangan, Archie Coronel, Adrian Nico Wu, Juan Miguel Ladera and John Nicole Gaerlan.

It was not easy for PICE OKAY to win, in an online interview Tangan said, open communication is one of the strategies they used in conquering their opponent and having trust in your teammates.

“Simula nung napunta kami sa losers Bracket nagpractice kami ng Maigi,” Coronel added.

The team did not settle on

using only one hero and one role from the start of the Tournament. Tangan said, “Wala kaming permanenteng hero, kadalasan mga Meta hero ang aming pinipili.”

“Nagaadjust kami kung ano ang magandandang hero na gamitin sa laban,” Gaerlan furthered.

They also encounter problems with regards to internet connectivity, but it did not stop their passion to win in the said tournament.

Winners will receive cash prize which will be granted by the College of Engineering and Technology Student Council.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 61

By Roser Laxamana The utility workers are the men behind our clean building that keeps us away from harm caused by the unhygienic environment.

However, did you know that inside the Building of College of Engineering and Technology, there is this one man that have sweets in sports? We Inhinyero’s, often see him holding walis tambo and dustpan walking along the corridor of the Engineering Building. Teasing students that he knows of and making jokes are one of them characters that made him close to the students.

His jolly personality made us smile and forgot some of the problems in our academics, but behind all of this is an achiever in the art of sports was humbly residing. He is Francisco Hugo Gelbolingo also known as “Kuya Neg.” Starting Line Kuya Neg was born on April 20, 1981 at Tarlac City, the second son of Dorotea H. Gelbolingo and a son of a man even himself did not see in his entire life.

At the age of 7, he started his training in track and field together with his coach who is also his cousin, Joel Ehlyas. Joel is a track and field athlete in their Alma Mater at Tarlac West Elementary School. The encouragement from Joel to become also a track and field became the pillar of Kuya Neg’s career.

“Tumatakbo ako sa ilog na may mababaw na tubig – nanghihila ng gulong papaakyat ng bundok,” kuya

62 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Neg said as we talked about his training that Joel taught him.

The hard traning that his cousin taught him became the key of his ticket to win the 3rd and 4th place in 400m and 800m sprint, respectively in the Provincial Meet or Unit Meet in 1993 when he was 8 years old.

Through the help of continuous training, Kuya Neg brought home his first gold medal when he won the CLRRA (Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association) Meet and in Palarong Pambansa in both 400m and 800m sprint in 1994.

Earning a two gold medals in Palarong Pambansa for the second year of his career became his greatest achievement.

Stumbling of an athlete Winning the Palarong Pambansa brought Kuya Neg in a different horizon compared to his co-athletes in his school.

This made him overly confident and start to palter his training.

Moreover, when Palarong Pambansa 1995 kicked off, Kuya Neg failed to preserve his title in both 400 and 800-meter sprint.

“Over confidence. Dinadaya ko training ko, nanalo na ako – [kaya] tiwala na ako sa sarili ko na mananalo ako, kaso ‘yun natalo,” Kuya Neg stated when asked why he lost the gold in 1995 Palarong Pambansa.

Through the lesson learned from this experience, he started to bring back the old him who valued trainings and made his comeback by consistently winning the following Palarong Pambansa in both 400 and 800-meter sprint until he finished elementary.

Final Sprint After creating his own name in track and field, Kuya Neg continued to excel in high school. Joining the soccer team of Tarlac National High school (TNHS) and making his first appearance in 1998 Laguna Cup and was soon invited to join in the Alaska Cup that took place in the state of Alaska in USA. Before he graduated, he and his team gave their alma mater a gold medal in CLRAA and a bronze medal in Palarong Pambansa. In his 4 years in high school Kuya Neg achieved the record of an athlete who participated four times in both CLRAA and Palarong Pambansa.

When he entered college, Kuya Neg joined both soccer and track and field team from College of Business and Accountancy and represented their college in the annual TSU Intramurals. Despite being among freshmen, Kuya Neg was drafted in the TSU track and field team giving him a chance to represent the university at SCUAA III

Photos by Andrew Gabriel Villegas

(State Colleges and University Athletic Association Region 3).

With his eagerness to pursue in both his passion in track and field and soccer, Kuya Neg reached out the sport director of TSU to give him a chance to represent the TSU in SCUAA as a player to both sports.

Satisfying the expectation of the coaches and trainer, Kuya Neg went to his fruitful year after winning the championship in soccer and gold medal in 800m sprint in SCUAA. As he continued his journey in National level, Kuya Neg brought home a silver medal in 800m sprint.

Moreover, Kuya Neg’s career suddenly met its finish line, when he became a father in his 3rd year in college which made him drop out of school.

Kuya Neg as a Coach Kuya Neg started his coaching career at Don Bosco which led the team in winning the Sepak Takraw in year 2001 in Tarlac City Private Educational Association (TCPEA). In 2004-2006, he helped the Ecumenical Christian College (ECC) to win TCPEA in high school level. Wading his coaching career, Kuya Neg also handled the San Sebastian Catholic School sports team and led them to the overall champion in 2007 and 2008 TCPEA. Current League Until now, Kuya Neg continued to coach different private high schools in Tarlac. He also played the role as the coaching staff of TSU in SCUAA III in track and field and produced Ronan Abagat, an Athlete Achiever from CBA (College of Business and Accountancy).

Sharing all of his wisdom and experiences to the young athletes became his new passion.

Although Kuya Neg is now more into coaching, he never left the life as being an athlete. He represent the TSU in SCUFAR III (State College and University Faculty Association Region 3) in track and field winning the gold medal in 100m dash and badminton men singles in 2014-2017.

In addition, he and his team also won the 4x1 relay in 2017 and in the year 2018, he won the championship in men singles badminton, and took the 3rd place in 5 km run, before finally ending his SCUFAR journey.

Above all his achievements, Kuya Neg never stopped loving sports even when he already ended his playing career.

According to him, he will never stop helping young athletes.

“Kapag may disiplina ang tao, makukuha nito and gusto niya,” Kuya Neg said referring to all aspiring athletes while promising to do his best as he continue coaching.

“Kapag may disiplina ang tao makukuha nito and gusto niya .”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 63

64 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

A

legend was born, a man that became an inspiration to many Filipinos. Not only the Tarlaqueños will forever remember him, but his legacy will also remain to everyone because of his contributions to uplift life and improve a stronger National Development. He is the late Eduardo Murphy “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., a widely known business tycoon in the Philippines. He owns the San Miguel Corporation which is the largest food and beverage corporation, not just in the Philippines but also in the Southeast Asia. Danding is also a politician and served as a governor in Tarlac from December 1969 to September 1972.

The late ambassador Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco was the epitome of a true sports patron who didn’t mind devoting his effort, time, and even resources just to see development and progress of Philippine sports.

He laid the groundwork for the Northern Consolidated Corp. (NCC) basketball program, which was led by the late great coach Ron Jacobs and included the best amateur players in the country as well as three naturalized cagers.

The program saw the revival of Philippine basketball in international campaigns, with the country winning the 1982 Asian Youth championship at the Araneta Coliseum, the 1984 Asian Interclub championship, the 1985 Jones Cup, and the Southeast Asian Games, before culminating in a victorious campaign in the 1985 FIBA Asia championship, which was the country’s last time winning the biennial cage fest.

He advocates competition in sports and believed that a competitive spirit was the only way for one to be better, and eventually, hardwork for one to be the best.

ECJ loves all kinds of competitive sports and supported many. He enjoyed being an enabler, a tool to be used to bring out the best in individuals, teams, and organizations.”

But basketball was the closest to the Cojuangco patriarch’s heart. Aside from bankrolling the NCC team of legendary coach Ron Jacobs – the last Philippine men’s team to win the FIBA Asia Cup – he was also behind the success of the San Miguel team in the PBA, including its 1989 grand slam unit, and the De La Salle Green Archers squad in the UAAP that won both 2013 and 2016 championship.

As chief executive officer of San Miguel Corporation, Cojuangco saw how his three PBA teams San

Miguel, Barangay Ginebra, and Magnolia achieved tremendous success when he was the chief executive of San Mig Corp. In the PBA history, San Miguel has won the most championship in basketball owning 27 titles while Magnolia has won 14 and 12 titles for Ginebra.

In fact, the last ten PBA crowns were shared by the ten SMC squads. San Miguel Corp. won the first league grand slam outside of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers in 1989, and Cojuangco was the driving force behind their success.

In the field of sports, he became a longtime supporter of basketball and famously known as the godfather of the national team.

Cojuangco was among those who were honored posthumously by the country’s oldest media organization, and one of three recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award along with fellow sports pillars Jose A. Romasanta, the project director of the Gintong Alay program in the post-EDSA years, and former PBA commissioner and current Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios.

San Miguel Corp-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) remembered Danding Cojuangco’s contribution to Philippine sports by giving him a lifetime achievement award at the PSA Virtual Awards Night 2021.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 65

By Carmelo Magno Photos by Karl Josh Guillermo

O

ften the ones are unseen, only noticed when he whistles.

He who knows the rule… He does not play.

Obstacles in the way… Passion will always rule.

A native of Gerona, Tarlac, Barry Bartolome is an alumnus of the TSU-CET Industrial Engineering Department and currently a professional basketball referee for eight years.

Strides to officiate The 25-year-old Bartolome recalls when he was a kid, he is always found playing basketball—shooting, dribbling, and passing the ball around the court. These are the fundamentals he learned.

As his passion journey goes through, an unfortunate event occurs in his life. He obtained a severe injury from an accident that interrupted his dream. Barry cannot play any physical games anymore.

Nevertheless, in high school, he encountered his MAPEH teacher, Mr. Mark Ruba. With the help of passion and determination, Bartolome was influenced to officiate a game.

66 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Call of conscience Barry evokes one of the memorable games he officiated. The controversial Intertown Basketball tournament 2019 between Tarlac City and Municipality of Paniqui.

“Paniqui walked out from the court because of my call,” Barry narrated in an online interview. The game was at the peak of the heated moment. Bartolome’s ethicality dominates as he whistles an excellent and right call according to the book of rules.

“I don’t feel any guilt when someone criticized my call because I do not care who criticizes me and what they say. Because my focus is only on the game, and I depend on what I learned,” he added.

“Pasok sa kaliwang tainga, labas sa kanan,” Barry emphasized.

Greatness never ends

Timeout from the court

The steps to becoming a professional referee are not as easy as what they seem.

Barry starts to absorb rules and bookish terms in officiating a basketball game; he begins by watching tutorials on YouTube and reading officiating books way back in 2013.

As the killer pandemic attacks the world, basketball is also in lockdown. Basketball courts are locked up. Many players are affected and the officiating committee as well. Bartolome continues his passion by giving tips and advice about proper presiding of the game.

The man who almost gave up due to his injury, strives his passion. In the timespan of his relentless learning, he was officially declared as a professional referee.

Run, whistle and hand signals. Bartolome begins officiating in various intercollegiate and barangay basketball tournaments. The man finds his happiness once again. Smiles parade at his side. He was cheered by the crowd as if he is the star.

Currently, Barry is a proud member of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) as an official referee.

The man who challenges by fate, fights his passion for success.

Once again, Mr. Barry Bartolome, a professional referee with a dream.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 67

By Darriane Fe Graphics by Renz Anthony Salcedo 33. It was 33 summers ago when the bowling conquero r, A rolled the ball to snatch the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal. To her, it was an indescribable feeling. To the Philippines, it was history.

Arianne Cerdeña-Valdez, now a registered nurse in Los Angeles, reminisced her moment of glory, “it is hard to describe how I felt that time. It is indescribable.

During the interview, I did not even know what I was saying.”

Alas, the bowling competition during the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Games at the Royal Bowling Center was only a demonstration sport and is not part of the official medal tally of the Games. All the same, Cerdeña-Valdez’s victory is still unparalleled; and her spot on the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF), a place only for the most elite Filipino sports heroes, is anticipated.

68 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

Clash against the Japanese Cerdeña-Valdez’s path to victory was a tough one. During the championship, she must face the Japanese veteran and Asian Games champion Atsuko Asai.

She lost to Asai on the elimination round with a score of 197-180. Yet instead of cowering and accepting defeat, she squared her shoulders and fearlessly continued on to the concluding frames. She did not disappoint.

The momentous match ended when the bowling ace Cerdeña-Valdez rolled the ball and smashed all the pins for the seventh consecutive strikes, garnering a score of 249-211. She fell on her knees as the realization of victory swooped her in. Then, she raised both her fists to the sky and walked back triumphantly to her cheering coach and teammates.

“

Her victory lies in history now, unfortunately, so is the sport. “I don’t bowl anymore,” Cerdeña-Valdez said. She let go of the bowl and the pins after winning another gold with Liza del Rosario in the 2001 SEA Games.

“At that time I wanted to retire and prayed to God to give me a sign because I wanted to have a good ending to my career,” she said. The last victory was the sign she needed.

“...she squared her shoulders, and fearlessly continued on to the concluding frames. She did not disappoint.”

Nonetheless, her golden venture is worth noting and Arianne

Cerdeña-Valdez, a bowling hero, worth honoring.

Nonetheless, her golden venture is worth noting and Arianne Cerdeña-Valdez, a bowling hero, worth honoring.

On a new battlefield After marrying her husband, Raymond Valdez, who was a former classmate at the Centro Escolar University, she migrated to US where they had a daughter, who is a registered nurse, too.

There she battled cancer in ovary while vying for a nursing degree in the US. Her bowling days experience served her another purpose during these trying days. “When I was still an athlete, I always tried to be perfect, and that seemed impossible,” Cardeña-Valdez

said, who now overcame the ovarian cancer. “I encountered failures and it made me strive harder. I listened to my teachers and learned from them.”

Though Arianne Cardeña-Valdez do not compete in bowl arenas anymore, she remained a hero, but in a different field. She

is now battling the Covid-19 virus as a front liner together with her daughter. She was also thankful to God for they were spared during the surge of the virus in LA. She also revealed that she and her family just recently acquired Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

“I am truly proud and honored to be paid this great tribute.” Cardeña said, on being recognized as one of the honorees for Philippine Sports Hall of Fame. “This ranks second to my winning the gold in Seoul.”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 69

70 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

F

irst Blood… On the battlefield, we must be the strongest person we know, or else we die.

You have slain an enemy… We play more vital each time, make mistakes, learn from them. We are the hero in our virtual or real life, and sweet victory is what we all strive for.

Tarlaqueño pride Ralph Mico Sampang, also known as “Coco,” a member of the champion team Bren Esports won at the 2020 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M2 World Championship.

The 24-year-old professional player hailed from Matatalaib, Tarlac City, started his champion journey three years ago after he shifted from his accustomed game: Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) 1 & 2 Heroes of Newerth.

The journey to his professional career Coco freshly recalls his childhood in playing computer games early in Grade 4 as he also engaged in playing volleyball and chess.

The fame starts to arise

The 24-year-old pro competitor took his In-game name (Ign) “Coco” from his nickname “Co.” “My nickname is Co, it is too short, so I made it Coco,” he stated.

After a driven hard work to master the key points of the game, Coco was enlisted

by Bren Esports, a Southeast Asian professional Esports organization from the Philippines founded by AkosiDogie of Aether Main, as official player of their Mobile Legends official squad.

He was accompanied by one of the greatest players in the country: CJ “Ribo” Ribo, Angelo Kyle “Pheww” Arcangel, Allan “Lusty” Castromayor, David Charles “FlapTzy” Canon, and Ejhay “Ejhay” Sambrano.

“People had just contacted me to join their team or club.”

The ultimate dream is nearly happening

The boy with a dream started to fill the hero role of Marksman, Assassin, and Fighter. He whipped the enemies utilizing his main heroes; Claude, Wanwan, and Lancelot. As he join the team, he faced a big decision in his life. He left his family with no clues and follow his ultimate dream, to

The blood is thicker than water. In his early years, Mico did not receive provision from his family, especially his parents, just because they want a bright future for him without having an idea of the popularity of Esports in the country.

“At first, they do not agree with my playing career because they do not understand back then, because Esports was not well known, not like today,” Mico narrated in an online interview.

“I always follow what they want me to be, but as time goes by, I said to myself that I would follow what I want,” he added. go.

“To be a World Champion” is where his passion should

Mico kicks off his ML career when he played Mobile Legends in 2018 after shifting from DOTA 2; throughout his continuous grind in the game, he used to join various local tournaments.

become a World Champion, as he live in a boot camp with Bren Esports.

The squad is bonded by professional players with the supervision of pioneers. Coco developed his mastery in communication, teamwork, and map awareness skills. Also, he acquired the skill on executing different tactics in-game, selecting advantage heroes and building new meta lineups.

Bren Esports dominated the 2018 MLBB Southeast Asian Cup (MSC) held in Jakarta, Indonesia, after beating RRQ.02 and EVOS Esports ID. They also defeated Aerowolf Roxy, the champion of MPL-ID S1, and take home the prize pool of $100,000.

Following Coco’s first championship, he continued to improve his ability to contribute to the squad. With the fame of being a champion, the team is still dominating the biggest national tournaments in the Philippines. Bren Esports (formerly Aether Main) remain fierce as they clinched MPL crowns in season 1 and 6 bagging another $100,000.

The fruit of hard work

Coco admits that Mobile Legends changed his life. A car is the most expensive thing he bought from the prizes he received.

“It’s because all of my friends already have cars. I felt that it would be better if I

were the one who bought it instead of my parents,” he uttered.

After winning MPL and MSC, he made it possible to achieve his ambition—shoe collections also added to his investments.

“Sometimes at MPL, it feels good to style and dress properly.” With Coco’s continuous fame, he wants to build a house that he thought will be the most significant payback for his family.

The strike of pandemic

Due to the massive effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, Esports, as well was affected. But with the interest of numerous ML players across the country, Mobile Legends still dominated the Esports Arena. Coco established his Facebook page “CocoOfficial” with an overwhelming 800k followers.

Facebook is the platform where he made live of his ranked games giving tips and tactics in playing the game. He also earns income through the stars his viewers donated.

Coco is still part of the Bren Esports. Recently, they dominated the biggest Mobile Legends Tournament in the world after digging the Burmese Ghouls (Myanmar) in the Grand Finals of MLBB: M2 2021 that Coco’s team is striving their for. The superiority in the MPL Season 7 is still on process at the moment, with their standing of 4 points in Group A, they have the chance to reach the summit again.

His words of wisdom

Sampang always remains humble despite all his achievements, because, once in his life, he was just a simple boy who dreamed that one moment will come to change his life.

“Study well and obey your parents.

Those are the two rules to achieve your dreams, and if it is meant for you, it will be. If not, have faith in God’s plan. Do not be afraid to fail and to try. Continue to be inspired, to inspire,” Coco’s message to his fans and supporters.

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 71

I

n everything, there must be a tie that connects each dot. For the most part, things auspiciously occur with a companion. An upskill student when it comes to academics will be a cut above if he is potent. A well-trained mind comes with a well-fitted body. Sport does play a crucial role in a person. According to John Wooden, “Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”

A player who is excellent in a specific game enters a tight tunnel, walks in a road full of thorns, and takes a bath in a tub full of needles. They have their privilege to be called players not by choice but because of

the experiences they had pondered through their decisions. You cannot be a player with a snap. Deal with a lot of challenges—you should be tough. Salute to all the players who do the finest that they could, to be on top.

We cannot deny the coercion of leading the team towards the top. Having the word MVP plastered in their name gives them the keenness to be the champion. That is how you write your name, and that is you must relate your every game.

To be an ace in a game is the fruit of all the efforts of a player. All the shots are water with sweats. The discipline from within, from the foods they eat and the training that they need. Their clear vision of perfection and success gives them the eagerness to act and put all of these into a goal.

Being the champion is heart-filling. However, you can be the ace without having the title champion. With all the endeavors of these players, with all their sweats running down to their jerseys, they are already champions. To all the players of our college that do their utmost preeminent deserves loud applause.

A top player piggybacks a lot of pressure.

chess 1. How does it feel winning the game?

“Masarap sa pakiramdam kapag nanalo at masaya din dahil nakapag-laro ulit ng chess.”

2. When did you start playing chess?

“Three to four years old palang tinuran na ako ng mga moves. Bata pa lang kasi ako noon mahilig na talaga ako sa mga strategy at board game.”

ka lang at walang masyadong kaba, kasi sa face to face tournament is maraming tao rin na nanunood at nakakakaba, kasi kapag nagkaroon ng konting mali lang is parang nakakahiya ganun.”

5. What is your greatest achievement?

“Para sa akin ang greatest achievement ko is yung pagkakapanalo ko sa CET Games, kasi first time kong magchamp sa chess.”

6. How do you handle defeat?

3. Who taught you in playing chess?

“Si papa ko yung nag-turo sakin ng mga moves.”

“Kapag natatalo ako, ‘di ko na iniisip yun, yung iniisip ko is yung mga susunod na laro.”

7. What is your routine before playing?

4. Do you prefer chessboard over computer as a medium of the game?

“Computer, kasi nakikita mo lang na parang mag isa

72 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

“Practice lang talaga para mas lalong makapag-focus sa laro.”

1. How does it feel to be a best player?

“Hindi ko na iniisip na ako ang best player, kasi lima kami na gumagalaw sa isang laro, lahat naman kami ay ginawa namin ang best, kaya para sakin po is kaming lahat ang best player.”

2. What are the other sports or e-sports you play?

“Chess at Sepak tapos DOTA, CODM, at Valorant.”

3. When did you started playing this e-sport?

8. Thoughts about e-sports?

“Masaya ang mga online games o paglalaro ng online games, pero dapat nasa tamang oras o panahon din sa paglalaro.”

9. How do you manage your time in playing and studying as an Engineering student?

“Naglalaro lang ako kapag tapos ko na yung mga schoolworks ko. For fun lang po yung paglalaro ko ng ML.”

“Nag-start ako maglaro ng ML noong 2018.”

4. What is the struggle you faced e in playing as a team?

“Nagiging struggle lang naman ang isang laro kapag hindi nagkakaunawaan ang mga players as a team.”

5. How do you manage your team in playing?

“Kahit na crucial na ang laro, matuto parin tayo iangat ‘yung team natin, ‘yung sasabihin yung mali at hindi ‘yung sisisihin. Play as a team dahil di lang naman ako ang nasa loob ng game.”

6. What is your unforgettable defeat?

“Yung unforgettable defeat namin is yung pangalawang game sa tournament, sobrang dami naming mali na nagawa ,pero patuloy parin kaming umangat sa bracket hanggang makarating sa finals.”

7. How do you deal with lose streaks?

“Kapag lose streak naman nahihiga nalang ako para magpahinga para ‘di ko na maalala yung mga game na yun or tinitigil na yung paglalaro if sunod-sunod talaga ang pagkatalo.”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 73

1. How does it feel to be a best player?

“Sa totoo lang di ko kinoconsider yung sarili ko as a best player kasi team naman kaming naglaro eh.”

2. What are the other sports or e-sports you play?

“DOTA.” 3. When did you started playing this e-sport?

“Last year lang ako nagsimulang maglaro ng Valorant.”

4. What is the struggle you faced in playing as a team?

“Miscommunication, kasi mahirap talagang makipag-communicate lalo na at ‘di kami magkakasama.”

5. How do you manage your team in playing?

“Proper communication, kasi kapag maayos yung communication na meron kayo ng teammates mo magkakaroon talaga ng magandang resulta.”

6. How do you deal with lose streaks?

“Listen to music and play again.”

7. Thoughts about e-sports.

“I love it. It reduces my stress in life, forget things and specially, meet some strangers, then later they become my friends.”

8. How do you manage your time in playing and studying as an Engineering student?

“I give myself 2 hours in studying and 2 hours to play every day.”

74 THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO

1. How does it feel to be a best player?

11. Thoughts about e-sports?

“I feel like a true hero because I led my team to victory and I also could not be the best player without my best teammates.”

“E-sports for me are very helpful during this time of pandemic as it gives people joy and also the opportunity to be known and grow as a player.”

2. What are the other sports or e-sports you play?

“I play basketball as my physical sport, and for e-sports, I play Mobile Legends and League of Legends.”

3.When did you started playing this e-sport?

“As soon as the game CODM was launched, I’ve played it ever since. It was recommended by a friend of mine.”

12. How do you manage your time in playing and studying as an Engineering student?

“I prioritize my studies. I make sure that my time in playing does not overlap my studying schedule. I always finish my work before gaming, so I could play and win games with an ease of mind.”

4. What is the struggle you faced in playing as a team?

“Losing of communication in the game is what I fear the most since I stand as the leader of the team, and disagreements about our goal is also a struggle when playing as a team.”

5. How do you manage your team in playing?

“Every member has a role assigned. As the leader, I am the one who calls for positioning of the team within the map, one acts as the vision of the team and the rest are the hard-hitters of the game.”

6. What is your unforgettable defeat?

“It happened when we lose a tournament, we prepared for 3 whole weeks.

We lost teamwork because one of my teammates experienced a network connection problem.”

10.

How do you deal with lose streaks?

“I do not worry how the game might end, instead I focus on executing my game strategy because I know that it will lead me to victory.”

THE STENTORIAN | SINGKO 75

alab

SINGKO:

SINGKO

The Official Magazine of The Stentorian magsulat. mag-ulat. magmulat