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BAGONG KAISIPAN. Ibinahagi ni Dr. Guieb ang kaniyang mga pananaw at karanasan ukol sa panitikan sa Grado 11. Photo Credit: Alex Yangco

Upang mapalalim ang kaalaman sa panunuring pampanitikan, nagsagawa ng panayam sa kilalang manunulat na si Dr. Eli Guieb III ang mga mag-aaral ng Grado 11 sa Silid 111 ng University of the Philippines Integrated School 7-12 Building noong Nobyembre 14.

Inimbitahan ng kanilang mga guro na sina G. Carlo Pineda at Prop. Rowena Naquita si Dr. Guieb para mapagyaman ang kanilang karanasan sa biograpikal na pagtanaw, isang dulog sa panunuring pampanitikan na siyang paksa sa Filipino 11.

Open forum ang pormat ng panayam kung saan malayang nagtanong ang mga mag-aaral tungkol sa buhay ng panauhin bilang awtor at sa kaniyang mga akdang “Kasal” at “Bunso” na kanilang binasa sa klase.

Ayon kay Cedric Creer ng 11- Amado V. Hernandez, “Dahil po sa kaniyang talk, nalaman po namin ang ilang bahagi ng kaniyang buhay na ginamit namin upang suriin ang dalawa sa kaniyang mga akda. Dahil din po dito, nagkaroon po ako ng bagong pananaw kung paano ko titingnan o babasahin ang isang akda.”

Si Dr. Guieb ay nakapagkamit na ng ilang gantimpala sa pagsulat tulad sa prestihiyosong Palanca Awards for Literature. Bukod sa pagiging manunulat, filmmaker din siya at kasalukuyang propesor sa UP Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangmadla.//nina Marlyn Go at Alex Yangco

Abuse. Sexual harassment. Rape.

There are women in the Philippines who have experienced these inhumane acts from their fellow men. Yet to whom would they turn to if the law implementers themselves are also those who violate them?

Recently, news about women who accused Philippine National Police (PNP) officers of raping them circulated in the media. Others claimed further that they were forced to do lewd acts in exchange for the safety of their loved ones or themselves.

These claims were not unsubstantiated. The Center for Women's Resources (CWR) found that from January 2017 to July 2018, there were 8 cases of rape, 3 cases of act of lasciviousness, and 1 case of harassment which all involved police officers.

“The high number of state-perpetrated violence against women is very alarming. It only reflects how abusive the authorities have become under a regime that sends signal of impunity to its armed forces and blatantly disregards women’s human rights,” said CWR executive director Jojo Guan.

Although PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said that he is taking action on the situation by giving the involved policemen punishment they deserve, it is alarming indeed, especially since PO1 Edgardo Valencia, who was arrested for raping a 15-year-old daughter of an alleged drug suspect, claimed that such an event is nothing new in the operation of the PNP. Although there is insufficient evidence to support his claim, it has affected the views of the public towards the PNP and has also stained the reputation of all our policemen, even the innocent ones.

With more of these events, the lesser the amount of trust there is that we have for our policemen. The public will no longer see them as their protectors, but as their predators if such events would continue.

The policemen who were accused of these violations have humiliated not only themselves, but also their badges and troops along with the oath they took to serve and protect the nation. They have ignored the responsibility of a policeman which means that one should protect, respect and serve the people of your country. They are no different from convicted criminals who committed various crimes.

But as earlier said, there are still a few innocent policemen who are just caught up in this mess. Therefore, it is these policemen’s responsibility to restore the image of the PNP by doing their duties, following the law, and setting a good example to other fellow policemen and people. They should not stay silent once they witness their comrade commit a crime, and should immediately stop or arrest them.

The PNP is supposed be the role model of the nation when it comes to abiding by the law. They are the ones whom we are supposed to trust and believe in. It is imperative that they restore their dignity not only for their own sake but also for the sake of this crying nation.//by Marlyn Go

Photo Source: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/

Nakakapagod. Nakakabangag. Nakakapanghina.

Ilan lamang ito sa mga nararamdaman ng mga estudyante tuwing panahon ng “hell week” kung kailan sabay-sabay nang nagpaparamdam ang mga proyekto’t pagsusulit at kadalasan ay nagkakapareho rin ang iskedyul ng mga ito. Kaya naman hindi maiiwasan na mahirapan at matambakan ng mga gawain ang mga mag-aaral tulad ng mga pangkatang proyekto, paglikha ng bulul, paggawa ng music video, at marami pang iba.

Ngunit huwag mangamba! May paraan upang maiwasan ang pagdurusang ito at hindi mapabayaan ang mga kailangan mong ipasa.

Heto ang ilang tips sa paggawa ng malalaking proyekto sa paaralan:

1) Mag-umpisa nang maaga—mag-set ng mga mini-deadline.

‘Wag mo nang hayaang paabutin ng isa o dalawang araw na lang bago ang deadline bago ka magsimula. Hindi lang grado mo ang dehado riyan, pati na rin ang tulog mo para sa kinabukasan. Puyat ka na nga, mababa pa ang grades mo.

Kaya naman gawin mo na nang maaga ang bawat proyekto, dahil hindi ka lang magkakaroon ng sapat na oras para gawin ito, mas marami ka pang panahon para ayusin ito hanggang sa katanggap-tanggap na itong isumite.

2) Isulat LAHAT ng ideyang papasok sa utak.

Minsan ay bigla na lang may darating na isang ideya sa utak mo nang di inaaasahan. Puwede sa loob ng dyip habang bumibiyahe, sa loob ng klasrum habang nagkaklase, o sa canteen habang kumakain ka. Sa tuwing papasok ang mga ideyang ito, dapat na matandaan mo, malay mo magamit ito para sa proyekto. Kaya naman sa oras na nakaisip ka na ng ideya ay agad mo itong isulat sa kahit anong papel o kaya i-type sa iyong cell phone. Sa ganitong paraan, maaari mo itong mabalikan at magamit para sa iyong mga gawain.

3) “Call a friend!” ‘Wag puro ikaw lang.

Di ikaw si Superman, di ka invincible. Kung minsan ay kailangan mo rin ng kasama dahil, magpakatotoo na tayo, hindi lahat ng bagay ay kaya nating gawin nang mag-isa. Kaya’t sa oras na nahihirapan ka na, humingi ka na ng tulong. Puwedeng sa kaibigan, kapatid, o magulang.

Magpatulong lalong-lalo na kung ito’y gawaing panggrupo! Huwag mong hayaan na ikaw lamang ang gagawa ng halos lahat. Matutong magtira o hatiin ang trabaho nang pantay-pantay at laging makipag-ugnayan sa kanila upang maisagawa nang maayos ang proyekto.

4) Siguraduhing may “back-up” at iorganisa ang mga file.

Kung ang inyong proyekto ay ginagawa sa kompyuter, siguraduhin na maya’t maya i-save ang ginagawang file. Dahil madalas ay may mga gawain na nakakaligtaang i-save kaya kapag biglang nag-hang o namatay ang kompyuter agad silang mamomroblema.

Palagi ring siguraduhin na may back-up ito at i-save sa iba pang kompyuter upang hindi mawala. Maaaring i-upload ito sa Google Drive, ipadala ang file sa sarili gamit ang e-mail, o ilagay sa isang USB flash drive. Lagyan ito ng angkop na pangalan at iwasan ang pagpapangalan gamit lang ang pagpindot ng kung ano-anong letra sa keyboard tulad ng “hkjhljkh.avi” dahil maaaring malito ka lamang kung ano ang laman nito at mahirapan pa sa paghahanap. Para sa pagpapangalan, mas maganda kung gagawin na lamang na “IyongAsignatura_Proyekto.docx” upang madali mong matukoy ang file kung sakaling kailanganin mo ito muli.

5) “Huwag mahihiyang magtanong…”

Kung may mga tanong o agam-agam tungkol sa proyekto, bago pa man ito simulan ay magtanong na agad sa guro, lalo na kung hindi naging malinaw sa ’yo ang naiturong lesson at ito ang gagawan ng proyekto. Huwag din mahiyang magpakonsulta ng iyong ideya upang mas magabayan ka sa paggawa nito at masiguradong tama ang landas na iyong tinatahak.

Ilang gabay lamang ito na mula sa isang mag-aaral tungo sa kapwa mag-aaral upang matulungan na makagawa ng maayos na proyektong natugunan ng atensyon. Kahit ang pagsunod lamang sa karamihan ng mga ito ay siguradong makatutulong na sa mga gawain. Huwag lang kalimutan na kahit na maraming kailangang gawin at aralin tuwing hell week ay huwag magpapakain sa stress na nadudulot nito. Tamang paggamit ng oras, pagiging masipag at pagkalma lamang ang iyong kailangan upang makaraos at makapasa ng magandang proyekto! //nina Marlyn Go at Elane Madrilejo

Photo Credit: Marco Sulla

As students of the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS), we are bound by its Rules and Regulations on Student Conduct and Discipline. We must obey them, lest punishment befall us.

The homeroom advisers orientation held at the start of this academic year brought to light several issues with these rules.

For one, the rules are outdated. The current version of the Rules and Regulations on Student Conduct and Discipline had its last major revision 14 years ago, in 2004.

Rule 3b is clear evidence of this. It prohibits the use of ‘instruments or equipment not needed during class hours like cassette recorders, walkman, radio, etc.’ When was the last time you saw a cassette or walkman in use in this generation?

While this outdatedness does not necessarily invalidate the rules and regulations, it begs the question: what other artefacts of time have been overlooked? The answer to this question is significant as rules are a reflection of society in which they are enforced. What was inappropriate then may not be inappropriate now.

Take, for example, the haircut regulations. Boys are required to keep their hair above the eyebrows at the front, neatly cropped at the sides, and neatly tapered towards the hairline at the back. The hair must also not reach the back of the collar.

Girls, meanwhile, have the freedom to keep their hair at any length as long as it is brushed away from their face.

Why are these regulations in place? Most proponents would argue that it is for discipline and neatness. These reasons, of course, are balderdash.

Rules can and have been placed to instill discipline in people. In fact, the example of prescribed haircuts have precedent in such societies as martial law Philippines, and current dictatorship North Korea. Less sinisterly, armed forces such as the military also impose haircut regulations.

What these cases have in common is that the rules were placed in order to strengthen an already existing hierarchy, and to promote subservience and obedience.

‘But it’s not just to discipline students! It’s also to make sure they look neat and presentable!’ some may argue. Why then the distinction between males and females?

There is a pervasive belief that boys with long hair are unkempt and unclean, regardless of how combed or fixed their hair is. Why is this so, other than the fact that some people in the past believed it to be true? If hair can only be neat short, why are girls allowed to have long hair? It is, at the very least, discriminatory for this distinction to exist, as it is arbitrary and not rooted in fact.

Another issue brought up was that some rules were unclear or vague. This includes the definitions of terms and implementation guidelines. If teachers themselves are confused about what rules to implement and how to implement them, how much more will the students be able to obey them?

Take the prohibition against deadly weapons; deadly weapons are defined as ‘any physical object that may be used to inflict harm or injury to others, including but not limited to firearms, explosive, knives, bladed objects, blunt instruments, and others.’

It is clear why deadly weapons should be prohibited: they are meant to cause harm, and to cause harm only, which means their presence threatens the safety of people in the school. However, the way the rulebook defines ‘deadly weapons’ leaves the term so open to interpretation that a water jug or fork could be considered a deadly weapon.

While it can be easily argued that it is common sense what a deadly weapon is, this could be used to punish students unfairly. Besides that, undefined terms, such as PDA or public display of affection, will lead to subjective and possibly inconsistent implementation.

This acts against the welfare of students which the rules are supposed to protect.

What then is the solution to these issues on school rules? Review and revision.

Whomever, or whatever committee, is assigned to perform this review must be critical in their decisions. They must take into account not only their views, but also the students’ as well. They must ensure that rules are worded precisely so that there is no doubt in the implementation of aforementioned.

Of course, the rules themselves are not the only problem. Implementation also is. Students, for example, are told on for violations that are not even in the rules and regulations. Students with dyed hair, girls with undercuts or polished nails have been called out for rule violations, when in fact they have done nothing against the rules.

Rules are also inconsistently enforced, with some people freely walking about the school without reprimand, while some are told on, to the point where they feel harassed.

However, before we deal with these implementation issues, we must first fix the rules themselves. Students will be encouraged to follow them, and as an effect be instilled with the values of honour and excellence.

Rules are a foundation upon which a society is built. In order to make sure the school stands strong and proud, the foundation must be well-built.//by Craig Aquino and Marlyn Go

Photo credit: Marlyn Go at Vea Dacumos

Sa University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS), may namamalagi o naninirahang natatanging hayop na nag-iwan na ng espesyal na marka sa puso ng mga estudyante at mga guro: ang mga pusa.

Kahit saan ay mahahagilap mo sila: sa mga pasilyo ng unang palapag ng Academic Building, sa canteen, sa Practical Arts (PA) Pavilion, sa ramp area, at kung minsan ay sa loob din ng mga silid-aralan. Itinuring na nga silang alaga ng buong eskuwelahan at bahagi na ng buhay sa UPIS.

Kaya naman marami ang nalungkot nang kamakailan ay isa-isang hinuli ang mga pusa.

Umaksyon ang administrasyon ng UPIS upang tuluyan nang mawala ang mga pusa dahil sa mga konsern na natanggap nito mula sa mga magulang ng mga estudyanteng nakalmot o nakagat ng mga ito. Nagbigay ng request letter ang administrasyon ng UPIS noong ika-10 ng Agosto sa University of the Philippines Office of Community Relations (UP OCR) upang hingin ang kanilang tulong na hulihin ang mga pagala-galang pusa.

Ang mga tao ng OCR ay naglagay ng mga patibong upang mahuli ang mga ito. Pagkatapos, ang mga nahuli ay kanilang dinala sa kanilang compound sa loob ng UP kung saan nananatili ang mga pusa.

Tunay na nakadidismaya ang balitang ito dahil minahal na talaga ng mga estudyante’t guro ang mga pusang ito. Sa kabila nito, ang nangyari ay dahil sa kagustuhan ng administrasyon na protektahan ang mga mag-aaral sa mga panganib na maaaring maidulot ng pananatili nila sa eskuwelahan dahil ang mga pusa ay maaaring pagmulan ng rabies at iba pang mga klase ng impeksyon na makapagdudulot ng sakit. Mayroon ding mga estudyante na may allergies sa balahibo ng hayop na maaaring ma-trigger ng mga pusang ito. Kaya’t kung sila’y mananatili ay patuloy na may nakaambang panganib sa kalusugan ng mga mag-aaral, guro, at kawani.

Di talaga masasabing ligtas ang mga pusang itinuring na alaga ng UPIS. Di maiiwasang mangalmot o mangagat ang mga ito dahil sila pa rin ay itinuturing na mailap sa tao. Wala silang itinuturing na among susundin at irerespeto.

Oo, napalapit na sa atin ang mga pusang ito, tulad na lamang ni Snowbell, ang pusang naging alaga ng PA Department. Ngunit ang priyoridad ng eskuwelahan ay bigyan ng tamang edukasyon ang mga mag-aaral at maging ikalawang tahanan nila na mag-aalaga sa kanila habang sila’y naririto. At hangga’t ang mga bata ay nasa loob ng pamantasan ay sisikapin silang protektahan nito mula sa mga panganib sa labas.

Kaya’t dapat intindihin na ang ginawa ng administrasyon ay hindi para kunin ang nagdudulot ng kaligayahan sa mga tao sa loob ng eskuwelahan, kundi para masigurado ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa. //nina Francis Eloriaga at Marlyn Go

Photo Credits: Marco Sulla

Naging matunog ang pangalan ni Atty. Larry Gadon ngayon dahil sa bago niyang tagline na “Ang mga [tao/grupo] ay hindi mga bobo.” Nagmula ito sa pagkalat ng isang video niya kasama ang ilang estudyante at kaniyang sinasabi na “hindi sila mga bobo” sa isang event sa De La Salle University-Dasmariñas. Maraming kabataan ang natuwa rito na naging dahilan ng pagsikat ng isang “challenge” na ginaya rin sa ibang paaralan.

Ngunit ang kakatwang kataga na ito ay hindi nagsimula sa nakatutuwang bagay, kundi sa isang nakaiinsultong katagang galing mismo kay Atty. Gadon.

Bago ang masasayang video na ito, naunang naging viral ang isang clip kung saan tinawag niyang “bobo” at tinaasan ng kaniyang hinlalato ang mga tagasuporta ng noo’y punong mahistradong si Maria Lourdes Sereno. Nangyari ito habang sila ay nagrarali bilang pagtutol sa impeachment complaint kontra kay Sereno. Galit ang namuong emosyon sa mga tagasuporta ng dating chief justice sa inasal ni Atty. Gadon na nagbunsod ng paghahain nila ng disbarment case laban dito.

Ngunit hindi lamang ito ang naging kontrobersiya ng sikat na abogado sa ngayon.

Una na sa listahan ay ang pagiging bahagi niya ng legal team ng dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na sangkot isa iba’t ibang isyu ng katiwalian. Ngunit pagkatapos ng apat na taon, umalis siya sa grupo upang tumakbo bilang senador sa 2016 elections sa ilalim ng partidong Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) na kilalang may kaugnayan sa dating diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos na nagpahirap sa maraming mamamayan. Kinilala rin niya ang kaniyang sarili bilang isang “true-blooded Marcos loyalist.”

Noong 2016 elections naman, nang nakapanayam ng GMA News TV si Atty. Gadon, lumabas ang pahayag niya tungkol sa mga Muslim:

"Sampung beses akong luluhod [sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front para huwag nang manggulo], iiyak ako ng bato at dugo. Kapag labing-isang pagkakataon na at tumanggi pa rin sila, lulusubin ko sila doon at dadalhin ko ang buong sandatahang Pilipinas at papatayin ko silang lahat, susunugin ko ang bahay nila. Burahin ang lahi nila, kahit masunog ang kaluluwa ko sa impiyerno gagawin ko 'yan."

May iba pa siyang mga kontrobersiyal na pahayag tulad ng pagpapanukala na magsilbing special prosecutor si Pangulong Duterte sa impeachment trial ni Sereno na malinaw na magsasaalang-alang sa separation of powers at checks and balances ng magkakahiwalay na sangay ng pamahalaan.

Samu’t saring pambabatikos ang natanggap niya dahil sa kaniyang mga pahayag. Ito ang nagsilbing batayan upang magsampa ng disbarment case sina Atty. Algamar Latiph at Atty. Musa Malayang laban kay Atty. Gadon. Sa kasamaang palad, wala pa ring nangyayaring pag-usad sa mga kasong ito.

Hindi maikakaila na popular sa ngayon si Larry Gadon. Ngunit sa mga kumakalat na kakatwang video niya, tila nakalimutan na ng sambayanang Pilipino ang kaniyang mga isyung kinasangkutan. Nakalulungkot isipin na dahil lamang sa isang mababaw na bagay ay natabunan na ang mga malalang bagay na sinabi niya―tulad ng pagbabanta niya na uubusin niya ang lahi ng mga Muslim upang magkaroon ng katahimikan sa Mindanao, at ang panlalait at pagmumuwestra niya nang di-maganda sa kapwa lalo na’t isa siyang propesyonal na abogado.

Bakit ba ang bilis nating makalimutan ang pagkakamali ng isang tao sa pamamagitan lang ng pagsasabi niya ng mga bagay na sa tingin natin ay nakatutuwa kahit hindi naman dapat? Ganoon na ba tayo kadesperadong maging masaya kahit sa mga walang kuwenta at panandaliang bagay lamang? Hindi ba’t mas nakatutuwa kung magiging masaya sa isang bagay na alam ng mga tao ay tama at nakabubuti sa lahat?

Dapat ay maging mapanuri tayo sa ating mga nakikita at napapanood. Huwag lamang nakikiayon sa kung ano ang uso. Tingnan nang mabuti kung ano ba ang mga sanhi at magiging resulta ng mga aksiyon at lagi sanang isaisip at isabuhay ang tama.

Hindi dapat idolohin si Atty. Gadon at ang mga taong katulad niya na mas inuuna ang kagustuhang sumikat kaysa magsalita at kumilos nang tama at isaalang-alang ang kaakibat na responsibilidad ng kanilang posisyon. Dapat ay maging kritikal tayo sa mga ipinapahayag ng iba at maging responsable rin sa kung ano man ang ating sasabihin. Kung magkamali man dapat ay aminin, humingi ng tawad at tanggapin kung ano man ang kaparusahan nito. //nina Cedric Creer, Francis Eloriaga, at Marlyn Go

The canteen is one of the most important places in school. It is there that students can quench their thirst, alleviate their hunger, and meet their friends. Faculty and staff likewise can depend on the canteen for all their food and beverage needs. It is imperative then, that it has the best service and facilities so it can accommodate everyone in need of it.

This year, there have been several noticeable changes to the canteen, both in system and facilities.

One of the most noticeable are the fans now spread around the eating area. These were donated by Batch ‘69, and make the canteen space cooler and more breathable, and therefore a more comfortable place to eat in.

Besides that, there are now also CLAY GO or Clean As You Go signs, indicating that students should clean up after themselves when using canteen facilities. This not only teaches the students good manners and keeps the eating area clean, but it also removes the burden of cleaning on canteen staff so that they can serve students food and drink more efficiently.

Concerning waste, the canteen bins are now placed closer together and are clearly labelled for waste segregation. This placement, as compared to before, encourages better the then-existing but poorly implemented segregation policy.

And what’s better than segregated waste? No waste at all!

A new policy by the canteen also encourages students to be more eco-friendly and reduce the waste they generate by charging customers two pesos less for bringing their own containers. This policy not only helps the environment, but also people’s pockets.

There are also new resale products and there are also some that were brought back for better variety of food served for everyone. And because there is an issue of having no food left during lunch, the reservations are only up until 10 am so they could make more for the other students. This aims to serve everyone with adequate amount of food from morning ‘till lunch.

These are small changes, true, but they are already remarkable and deserve praise. They show that the canteen indeed listens to feedback, and that it cares for its customers’ comfort. Not only that, it went beyond what students asked for, and showed that it also cares for its greater social responsibility to the environment and society.

Perhaps some students still find that the canteen is still lacking in some respects. However, changing, even just little by little, is good enough for now. If customer remarks are listened to and always taken into account, and the canteen administration is proactive in their improvement of services, it’ll get us back to better than before.//by Craig Aquino and Marlyn Go

Photo Credit: Gail Clemente

A lot of us dread the moment when teachers say that we are to be formed into groups, especially when they are the ones to pick out our groupmates. However, we can’t escape this fate of ours as students, because group projects and activities happen in all our subjects.

All of us have experienced the different kinds of groups: the group consisting the smart people, the group made up of our friends, and the group with the people whom we always prayed to avoid.

And in every problematic grouping there will always be the freeloader who just sits back and relaxes while letting the leaders and others work on their own. The distribution of responsibility is the main drawback of all group works that go wrong. There are some group members who perform the majority of the work while others get a free ride to success. This is called the “Free-rider effect” that is very common among us, especially when we have that group mate who is notorious for doing the work all by him/herself or responsible and nice enough to finish the task given to the group.

Being assigned to these types of groups is truly frustrating, especially for some members. It is either they get no jobs at all or they would have to work more than the task assigned to them.

For those who are like this, they may not notice the effect of their actions on the group. The mindset of taking one for the team to make the output better should not be tolerated. Working alone wouldn't prove the purpose of having a group work and would make things harder for the group to achieve the goal together.

But sitting back and letting others do the tasks given to another person shouldn’t be allowed as well. There is a reason why these kinds of requirements exist. Group projects help the students develop skills that will allow them to tackle more complex problems than they can on their own. It also helps the development of socialization between co-workers that would increase camaraderie among them.

There might be problems within ourselves that may be the reason why this happens. This would be because we don’t know what to do, or we are too intimidated by our classmates, or we have priorities other than the assigned tasks. These problems would do no good to you or to the group.

First of all, it would be such a waste when the ideas that you could have contributed to the group would be left unsaid. Don’t be afraid to voice out opinions and ideas. If you don’t know what to do, to simply stare and gape at your work should not be your next option. Ask for help, ask anyone to guide you through your work to see if it’s correct. There is no shame in asking. However, don't just observe what they are doing. Instead, follow along and eventually, you will find yourself doing the same task with little or no help required.

And once a task is given to the group, concentrate on it and don't slack off. You may be working with the best people but it is a team effort, meaning, every single member must contribute to achieve the goal.

It’s called ‘group work’ because it is a collective effort of individuals that could harmonize as one team. This has been conducted to benefit the different aspects in the students’ lives especially their future when they would face harder challenges to achieve their goals with a different team.

Yes, it may be easier to let someone else do your job but being a free rider won’t benefit you in the future. You're just giving your members more opportunities to learn, therefore leaving you with none. But hoarding the whole task and letting the others do nothing wouldn't give you honor as well. You may be getting all the knowledge and learning experiences, but you would be missing out the most important lesson taught by doing group work: teamwork. //by Marlyn Go

Students who performed well during the school year were recognised last May 4, 2018 at the Parangal ceremony held at the newly-renovated University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) Auditorium.

The Parangal is an annual event, meant to celebrate meritorious students and their achievements. For those without awards, it may serve as an inspiration to work harder and do better. It can benefit everyone, whether they get to climb the stage or not.

It would be sad then, if students were robbed of the opportunity to participate.

And robbed they were.

Only the Grade 12 students and one section from each grade level from Grades 7-11 were allowed to attend the Parangal for the high school level this year.

Although the recently renovated auditorium had great new features, such as air conditioning, a large UPIS logo emblazoned on the stage-left wall, and better seats, it was unable to accomodate the whole 7-12 student body, parents and guests of awardees, and faculty members.

This was due to the fact that the auditorium as renovated couldn’t be filled to its supposed maximum capacity, as it wasn’t structurally stable enough to hold the mass of occupants. The Office of the Campus Architect recommended that the auditorium’s capacity not be pushed to its limits, as doing so would risk collapse and harm to those in attendance.

That wasn’t the only issue with the auditorium though. The renovations were not made for simple aesthetics. They were, first of all, because of problems stemming from how the auditorium was built: old and improperly elevated seats and a badly built stage prevented people from being able to properly watch whatever event was occurring.

The auditorium was also originally made to hold only 453 people. The auditorium was a late addition to the plans, and therefore failed to account for the two additional batches to be added by the K-12 program. Only Grades 7-10 were considered during the creation of the auditorium.

One would then wonder: will every batch ever get a chance to watch an event in the auditorium together? Most likely not.

The next best option for a school-wide event venue, according to Assistant Principal for Administration Prof. Portia Dimabuyu, would be the Gymnasium.

It is sad, to say the least.

The auditorium should be a place where students can enjoy school events together. It would be terrible to be excluded from it for any reason, even more so because of poor planning.

However, what can be done? Perhaps there are some architectural esoterica that could be used to save the auditorium? Unlikely. Seeing as the problems lie in the structure of the auditorium itself and how it was built, the only solution would be a complete overhaul or rebuild of the place.

We can’t honestly expect the school to do that. It would not only be expensive and difficult, but also disruptive to classes and the normal functioning of the school.

Someone should be held accountable for these issues, though, at least. These problems came from somewhere along the line when the school was being built.

A student population including Grades 7-12 was accounted for when the number of classrooms was being decided. Why not for the auditorium as well?

Even then, giving consideration to the late addition of the auditorium as an excuse for the aforementioned problem, why were the issues needing renovations to be rectified present? Because of those, the already too-small capacity of the auditorium was even more reduced.

That’s inexcusable, given that those factors, seat and stage elevation, should be main considerations when designing an auditorium, as they allow one to fully experience from their seat whatever’s going on on stage.

The audi, as it is familiarly called by students, was lacking from the start. We can’t blame the school administration for that. They’re just making do with what we already have.

The school trusted certain people to create an auditorium to serve UPIS, and those certain people broke that trust. Now, it’s the students getting the short end of the stick, being prevented from going to supposed school-wide events, and the administration too, being blamed by students for the unfortunate situation.

Why must we suffer for the mistakes of another, and receive no recompense?//by Craig Aquino, Marlyn Go, Storm Gatchalian and Yssa Luna

This year’s Vocal and Instrumental Music courses conducted their recitals at the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) Auditorium last May 15 and 18 respectively.

The recitals showcased the students’ musical abilities wherein they applied what they learned throughout their respective courses.

The Vocal Music class performed in groups with their own choice of songs. Some of them used instruments in their performances while some sang a cappella.

Instrumental Music students performed either individually or in small groups and they were also allowed to present their own choice of songs. Most of the performances were purely instrumental, but some performers added vocals to their exhibitions.

Both recitals had class performances in the beginning and at the end of the program. Professor Leujim Martinez led the Vocal Music class while Professor Sheila Pineda handled the Instrumental Music class.

“To be able to sing songs one last time with my batchmates sa bagong audi was great,” said Trisa Ocampo, a Vocal Music student. “It was fun, if you really like music you will enjoy the experience,” exclaimed Hillary Fajutagana about her Instrumental Music class experience.//by Marlyn Go and Alex Yangco

Photo Credit: Ezra Bustamante

Kamakailan ay inaprubahan ang House Bill 1022 na kung maisasabatas ay tatawaging National Writing System Act. Kinikilala nito ang pangangailangang itaguyod, protektahan, pangalagaan, at panatilihin ang baybayin bilang pambansang sistema ng pagsulat ng Pilipinas.

Kaugnay ng pangangailangang ito, oobligahin ng batas ang mga diyaryo at magasin na isulat ang kanilang pangalan sa baybayin at ang mga gumagawa ng lokal na pagkain na lagyan ng baybayin ang label ng kanilang mga produkto. Kakailanganin din ng mga Local Government Unit (LGU) na lagyan ng salin sa baybayin ang mga karatula ng mga kalsada at pampublikong gusali at pasilidad. Inaatasan din ng batas ang angkop na mga ahensya ng gobyerno na palaganapin ang kaalaman tungkol sa baybayin sa pamamagitan ng pamimigay ng mga babasahin tungkol dito sa mga paaralan at mga publiko’t pribadong ahensya’t opisina.

Ang pag-apruba sa House bill na ito ay di nangangahulugang papalitan na ang nakasanayang sistema ng pagsulat dito sa Pilipinas. Ang magiging tungkulin ng baybayin ay ang maging katuwang ng Latin scripts.

Ngunit ano nga ba ang baybayin?

Isa itong sistema ng pagsulat na nilikha at ginamit ng ating mga ninuno bago masakop ng mga Espanyol ang ating bansa. Sa kasalukuyan, kakaunti lamang ang nakakaalam kung paano ito gamitin at malaking bahagdan sa mga ito ay mga propesor o akademiko.

Hindi maikakaila na ito ay mahalagang bahagi ng kulturang Pilipino. Kung kaya’t kapuri-puri ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng gobyerno upang mas kilalanin ito. Ito’y makatutulong sa muling pagpapaalab ng ating pambansang pagkakakilanlan matapos ang ilang siglo ng pagiging sakop ng mga dayuhan. Bukod pa roon, maaari din itong maging daan para sa pagpapaigting ng pagpapahalaga sa ating kultura. Sa pagtataguyod nito sa ating henerasyon, mararamdaman natin na tayo ay may katangian bilang Pilipino na kaiba mula sa ibang lahi.

Ngunit kinakailangang masiguro ng gobyerno na masusunod ang hangarin ng bill kung ito man ay maisasabatas. Hindi ito isang dekorasyon lamang na ilalapat sa mga produktong Pilipino at institusyon ng gobyerno bagkus ay dapat umiral ang pagpapahalaga at pag-unawa sa konteksto at kasaysayan sa likod nito.

Bukod sa pagbibigay-kaalaman ukol sa paraan ng pagsulat ay dapat na maipakita at maipaunawa rin sa mga tao ang halaga ng baybayin sa atin bilang mga Pilipino. Dapat ay matutunang mabasa at maisulat ito ng lahat upang maipanumbalik ang tradisyon na ito sa ating mga sarili.

At hindi lang dapat ang baybayin ang pagtuunan ng pansin. Ang mga wika at kultura sa iba’t ibang lalawigan ng Pilipinas ay kailangang igalang at pangalagaan. Kilalanin, pahalagahan, at paunlarin dapat ang mga sistema ng pamumuhay at paniniwala ng iba’t ibang pangkat-etniko sa Pilipinas na pagkakakilanlan ng ating lahi at magbibigay-daan sa masagana at payapang lipunan.

Kailangang ibigay natin sa baybayin at sa lahat ng sistema ng pagsulat dito sa Pilipinas ang respeto’t puring nararapat sa mga ito.//nina Craig Aquino at Marlyn Go

Photo Credit: Gail Clemente

We were taught how we should treat other people, based on their age, gender, and roles and responsibilities in society. These are instilled in us by our parents during our early years, such as showing respect for someone by saying po and opo.

We were also taught respect and gratitude, some values we should always bring with us anywhere we go. These are later enriched as we grow older by socializing with others, and of course with the continuous guidance of our teachers and parents. And as we enter our first school, we were expected to bring these attitudes that our family and past teachers have taught us.

However, it seems like these aren’t really observed in the youth today.

The neglect of these values can be seen in the little things that we unconsciously do, especially in school — blocking teachers in the hallways who are hurriedly going to their classes because we were too busy talking to notice them, ignoring the staff as they pass by in the corridors, or not saying thank you to the ates and kuyas who clean the restrooms or serve us food in the canteen, or by not saying sorry to the other students — upper, lower or the same grade level that we bump into as we run around the school.

It is alarming that the current youth of our nation seems to neglect, or at least have forgotten the values that should be present and practiced all the time.

The youth today should be reminded of these two values: respect and gratitude.

Respect is a powerful term; it is not given to someone easily. But being respectful is an important trait in a person so that they would be able to interact properly. It's an unspoken way of communication which builds unshaken and strong relations among people. This is important to the current youth because with respect, the students would be able to have better relationships towards the people inside and even outside the school.

In addition, gratitude is also one of the values they should always have. It is expressed as a way of thankfulness, whether it is for a simple act of goodness, a kind phrase, or a gift. With gratitude, people acknowledge the blessings in their lives. It also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals, form bridges that establish relationships with the people around them.

Values are there because they make us human. Because of their universality, they bind us together as people despite our different beliefs, personalities, races and religions.

The reason why this is happening to the youth cannot be determined, yet whatever it may be, it is not an excuse for the inappropriate behavior they show. How can they progress to attain a future with harmony with others outside their community if they could not express these values inside the school premises?

The youth should start practicing these values to the teachers, faculty, staff and other batches in order to be ready for future interactions with people outside their community. They should start small by expressing these values in their actions as students when acknowledging others inside the school.

The hope of our country lies in the hands of our youth as said by our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Values exist as guide to having proper attitude towards other people. And for the youth to be able to lead our society, they should learn how to treat people accordingly.//by Francis Eloriaga, Marlyn Go, and Philip Jocano

Photo Credit: Ezra Bustamante

This academic year has marked the first time the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) has had Grade 12 students.

Despite the addition of these grade levels to the student body, it seems that there is no place for the Grade 11 to 12 students — also called Senior High School (SHS) students — in the Pamunuan ng Kamag-Aral (PKA), the student council of UPIS.

According to former Assistant Principal for Academic Programs (APAP) Prof. Zenaida P. Bojo, the exclusion of SHS students from PKA was for their own good. SHS students have a heavier workload than those in Junior High School (JHS), and membership in the student government would add undue stress. Their priorities and concerns, different from JHS students’, may also make it more difficult for them to participate in PKA.

The SHS students must focus mainly on their tracks in order to fulfill the purpose of the K-12 system: preparation for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship. PKA duties would only be a distraction from that.

The PKA, as the student council democratically elected by the student body, represents the students of UPIS. They are meant to be the voice of the students when they have an issue to bring up to the school administration or others. With the exclusion of the SHS students from PKA, how then would they be able to voice out their issues with the school? In what way can they reach out to the administration without representation?

The answer: track representatives.

Two representatives are chosen per track, and they have functions similar to class officers. They serve as mediators between the students of each track and the track advisers. Through the track advisers, they could, theoretically, represent SHS students to the administration.

Despite this ‘solution’, the heavier workload should be no excuse to exclude SHS students from the student council. Participation in it is voluntary, and therefore a burden accepted by whoever chooses to run. If an SHS student thinks they can handle the responsibility, why should they be disallowed from taking such?

It also makes it more difficult to voice out their opinions and needs to the school administration. Although it can be argued that the track representatives can represent them enough, being part of the student council may better their chances of being heard.

SHS students are excluded from certain school activities, events, and other agenda given to Grades 7-10 students. They are isolated from the lower batches because they have different priorities and things to focus on.

Despite this, they are still part of the student body of UPIS, and as such should have representation in the student council.//by Craig Aquino and Marlyn Go

Naisulat mo na ang kahuli-hulihang talata sa iyong formal theme at naidikit mo na rin ang natitirang detalye para sa iyong proyekto. Nabanggit mo na ang pangwakas na pangungusap sa iyong talumpati at natuldukan mo na rin ang huling salita sa markahang papel. Sa wakas, natapos na rin ang hell week.

Nairaos mo na ang mga araw ng pagpupuyat, pag-aalala, at pagkabahala at malaya ka nang muli mula sa mga nakakapagod na trabaho sa eskuwelahan.

Kaya naman oras na upang kumalma at hayaan ang iyong sarili na magpahinga nang matagal-tagal. Malaya ka na muling gawin ang kahit anong gusto mo upang mapasaya ang sarili bilang gantimpala sa katakot-takot na hirap na iyong dinanas. Pero kung wala ka pang ideya kung paano gagamitin ang iyong pansamantalang kalayaan mula sa reqs, narito ang ilang suhestiyon na maaring makatulong sa iyo.

Matulog ka na.
Ito ang pinakaunang bagay na ipinagkait sa iyo noong hell week, mainam lamang na ito ang pinakauna mong bawiin. Kaya naman hayaan mong bumagsak ang iyong mga talukap at pagpahingahin ang sarili. Malaking tulong daw ang pagtulog upang makabawas ng stress na iyong nakuha. Kailangan ng iyong katawan ang tulog na makabubuti pa sa iyong mental at pisikal na kalusugan.

Idaan mo sa kain!
Kainin mo na ang lahat ng ‘di mo nagawang kainin noong mga panahon na stressed ka. Mapa-ice cream, cake, float, fries, fishball, pancit canton o kung ano pa man. Makabubuting gantimpalaan mo na ang iyong sarili ng lahat ng gusto mo. Ngayon na ang oras upang i-spoil ang iyong sarili sapagkat pinaghirapan mo namang matapos ang lahat ng iyong gawain. Nararapat lang na magsaya at magpakabusog kung saan hindi lang ang pakiramdam mo ang sasaya, kundi pati ang iyong sikmura.

Linisin ang iyong bag.
Hindi man halata, ngunit nakatutulong ang paglilinis ng iyong mga gamit at pagsinop sa hindi na kailangan pang mga papel sa pagpapahinga. Hindi lang ito nakakagaan ng bag ngunit maging ng kalooban sapagkat para itong paalala na natapos at nalagpasan mo na ang mga gawaing humamon sa iyo. Ngunit kailangan mo rin munang siguraduhin na hindi na importante ang mga papel na iyong itatapon.

Catch-up Marathon
Halos lahat ng oras mo ay nailaan mo na sa iyong pag-aaral at paggawa ng mga requirements. Napag-iwanan ka na sa sinusubaybayan mong K-drama o series sa Netflix, tapos na ang paborito mong manga, comic, o manhwa at ‘di mo pa magawang basahin dahil sa kawalan mo ng oras para dito. Puwes, ito na ang nararapat na panahon upang makahabol at muling pagtuunan ng pansin ang iyong mga naisantabing interes. Habang wala pa masyadong gagawin o kailangan aralin ay mabuting libangin muna ang iyong sarili malayo sa mga bagay tungkol sa eskuwelahan at pasayahin ang kalooban kahit sandali lamang.

Magbunyi!
Gawin mo na ang lahat ng nais mong gawin upang ipagdiwang ang pagtatapos ng isang yugto sa akademikong taon. Maaari ka nang lumabas kasama ng iyong kapamilya, kaibigan, kaklase o kahit sinong nais mong makasama upang magsaya o gumala. Makapunta sa mga lugar na matagal mo nang gustong puntahan, o ‘di kaya’y balikan ang paborito mong kainan. Dapat lamang na magbunyi ka dahil sa wakas ay malaya ka na mula sa mga pasanin ng hell week.

Mahalagang makahanap ng paraan upang makapag-“unwind” at makapagpahinga matapos ang mahaba at nakakapagod na hell week. Ngunit dapat ding tandaan na hindi dapat tayo maging kampante at manatili sa ganitong kondisyon, dahil babalik din naman ang klase sa dati at kakailanganin muling magpokus sa pag-aaral. Ang mahalaga ay balansehin lamang ang tungkulin sa paaralan at pagsasaya upang hindi palaging ma-stress sa mga gawain.

Sa ngayon dapat lang na maglaan ng oras ang mga estudyante sa pagsasaya sapagkat deserve naman natin ito. Kaya’t huwag nang magsayang pa ng panahon at magsimula ka nang magpakasaya.//nina Marlyn Go at Elane Madrilejo

When we hear the term “Hari ng Kalsada”, we instantly know that it refers to the king of public transportation in the Philippines: the jeepney. These vehicles have been part of our public transportation system ever since the 1950s. They are a part of our history and our culture. However, it seems like the end of the road has come.

Last Monday, the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) held their 4th transport strike as in opposition to the jeepney modernization plan.

In 2016, the Duterte government affirmed that they were going to conduct a phase-out of jeepneys that have been running along our roads for more than 15 years. The old jeeps will be replaced by electric jeeps or e-jeeps as part of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. This program aims to ensure the safety of the passengers taking PUVs and lessen the environmental risks produced, such as excessive smoke from worn-out jeepneys. Two years were given to drivers and operators to comply.

However, despite the time given to buy their own e-jeeps, how can a simple tsuper, who earns a range of Php 500 to 2,000 per day, save up Php 1.4 million in two years?

Although the government has allocated Php 2.2 billion to help the affected jeepney drivers and operators with the expenses, this amount will be distributed to at least 28,000 jeepney operators, leaving them with only Php 80,000 each.

Apart from the drivers and operators, commuters who rely on jeepneys as their mode of transportation will also suffer.

Not every tsuper will be able to buy these new jeeps, leaving us with fewer options to choose from for our transportation needs. With the replacement of our jeeps, there will be a high chance of a fare increase. The commuters will then gain another burden because of the need to adjust their budget allocated for pamasahe.

Imagine the hardship of the commuters every day during the rush hours if the old jeepneys were banned. Overloaded jeeps and buses, and cramped trains are already common sights in our country. Sometimes, passengers are even stranded, or forced to walk to their destinations because of the lack of transportation available. If the modernization wipes out the jeepneys in our country, these hardships will double — even triple — because of the lack of vehicles available.

Besides these, there will not only be a loss of options for public transportation, but also a loss of an iconic Filipino cultural symbol.

The concept of jeepneys that we use today originated from the Second World War jeeps, which were originally used for military purposes. Models, later abandoned were remodeled by the Filipinos and converted into something more useful to them. That something later became one of the most popular modes of transportation in the Philippines.

Not only just a functional vehicle, jeepneys also show the creativity of Filipinos, usually having intricate designs on their bodies showing our rich heritage. They are sometimes personalized by its drivers to match their personality, family, and inspiration, and flaunt them on their jeepneys as work of art. Different representations of our culture can be seen in every corner of the country since they are reflected by the paintings on the sides of these vehicles.

Even though a lot of jeepneys running in our country are used more than a decade or two, it does not mean that they should be banned from being PUVs. Old jeepneys that are well-maintained and have their gears changed or upgraded every now and then should be exempted from the phase out. It is unfair for the operators to have their cars sent to the wrecking yards despite being roadworthy.

The kings of our roads may be old, but they have greatly contributed to our society in several aspects in our nation like public transportation, culture, and history. With the jeepney phase-out, a large part of the Filipino community will be affected. The Philippines will also lose one of its trademarks once the kings of its roads are kicked out of society. The phase-out should be reviewed once again in order to consider the effects on the drivers, operators, and commuters who will be affected.//by Marlyn Go and Geraldine Tingco

“Start na ba klase?”

Naging tanong mo na ba ito dati?

Bilang mga estudyante ng UPIS, mayroon tayong apat na mahiwagang araw upang maging mabuting mga mag-aaral at pumasok sa ating mga klase. Ngunit ang maagang pasok ay kinakailangan ng maagang gising. Huwag kang magsinungaling na hindi mo pa nararanasang mahuli sa klase o mapagsarhan ng pinto dahil ‘di mo naabutan ang 5-minute grace period ng titser mo.

‘Wag kang mag-alala, ramdam ka namin, kaibigan. Kaya narito ang aming mga payo para ‘di ka ma-haggard sa iyong 7 AM na klase.

Ayusin mo na ang mga gamit mo sa gabi pa lang.

Iempake mo na ang lahat ng requirements na ginawa mo at lahat ng materyales na pinapadala sa iyo ng mga guro mo. Para hindi ‘yung pagkagising mo ay magkukumahog ka na isalansan ang lahat ng iyon sa bag mo.

Mahirap nang makalimutan ang project na buong gabi mo pinaglamayan tapos huli ka pa sa klase.

I-set mo ang iyong alarm nang alas-kuwatro ng umaga.

Bago ka matulog, siguraduhin mo muna na ang iyong alarm ay hindi mo maaabot kapag nakahiga ka pero naririnig mo pa rin. Isang paraan ito upang mapilitan kang bumangon mula sa iyong kama kasi kakailanganin mong tumayo upang patayin ito.

Siyempre, naaayon din ang oras ng alarm kung saang lupalop ka ng Pilipinas naroroon. Halimbawa, kung nasa Rizal ka, eh ‘di syempre kailangan mo talagang gumising nang maaga. Alam naman nating mga Pilipino na napakatrapik sa Pilipinas, ‘yung tipong lahat yata ng mga sasakyan sa Luzon ay nasa kalsada kung nasaan ang sasakyan mo. Isa pa, lalo na ngayon na isinasagawa na ang jeepney phase out, kung commuter ka, mas lalo kang mahihirapang makaabot nang maaga sa eskuwela. Kung ako sa ’yo, mas magandang magdagdag ka na ng isang oras sa kadalasan mong travel time, para siguradong hindi mami-miss ang pagkanta ng Lupang Hinirang.

Ihanda ang iyong agahan gabi pa lang.

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

Ang pagkain ay ang pangunahing pinagmumulan ng enerhiya sa ating pang-araw-araw na gawain sa buhay. Kapag wala ito, manghihina ang ating katawan at mas lalo tayong aantukin.

Para makatipid sa oras, ihanda mo na sa gabi ang agahan at pananghalian mo. Mas madali kasing magpainit ng pagkain kaysa sa magluto pa sa umaga. Panigurado rin na hindi sunog na pagkain ang sasalubong sa iyo dahil mas mapagtutuunan ng pansin ang iyong niluluto kapag ginawa ito sa gabi pa lang.

Bilisan mong maligo at magpaganda/magpapogi.

Huwag ka nang mag-concert sa banyo. Oo na, maganda boses mo, at ikaw na ang susunod na Beyoncé o Regine Velasquez, pero hindi ito ang tamang oras para ipakita ang iyong talento. Tandaan mo, wala kang tagapakinig at may hinahabol ka pang oras.

Huwag mo nang subukang itsek ang Twitter o Messenger mo kung sumagot na ba ang crush mo sa ’yo kagabi. ‘Di sapat ang oras na inilaan sa ’yo para maghanda kung kikiligin ka pa.

At ang golden rule ng mga magulang para sa kanilang mga anak: HUWAG NA HUWAG ka nang magpuyat sa gabi.

Huwag mo nang lokohin ang sarili mong maaga kang matutulog ngayong gabi o sa mga susunod pang mga gabi. Sa dinami-rami ng reqs mo, malamang ay mas maikli pa sa tatlong oras ang tulog mo. Sanay ka na sa puyat.

Pero may point naman talaga ang mga magulang mo na para ‘di ka na huli sa klase ay dapat maaga kang matutulog.

Paano mo nga ba matatapos ang reqs mo kung matutulog ka nang maaga?

Ang mga nabanggit ay pawang mga mungkahi lamang upang magawa ang mga kailangan sa buhay. Maraming paraan para hindi ka mahuli sa iyong klase sa umaga. Ang lahat ng tao ay may iba’t ibang paraan ng kalakaran sa umaga, kaya ang mga payong ito ay iayon mo base sa kung ano ang gagana para sa iyo.//nina Nica Desierto at Marlyn Go

Photo Credit: Gail Clemente

The school is often called a second home. It is where new things are learned, friends are met, and schoolwork is finished. It has places for everyone to use, from classrooms for various learning sessions, to faculty rooms where teachers stay in, to the library that houses the information you need, and to bathrooms which are there when you have to do personal business.

The problem is that people, usually students, take these facilities for granted. They are left behind littered and in disarray.

For example, chairs are removed from classrooms and not returned to their original positions — instead of being in neat rows, they get scattered all over the place. Chewed bubble gum can be found stuck to the recesses of armchairs, along with bits and pieces of paper and plastic. Electric fans are also commandeered by various individuals, with the sole purpose of cooling themselves, disregarding the discomfort of others.

Vandalism, such as vulgar comments about various people, rude jokes, and messages aimed at faculty members or students can be found on the walls of bathroom cubicles. Toilets are not flushed after use, sometimes being left with various objects floating around in them. Cubicles are locked up for practical jokes, causing inconvenience for others.

Pieces of trash also litter the rooms, corridors, and field, even if there are trash bins nearby.

Numerous complaints can be heard from students, teachers, and custodians alike, oftentimes directed at the people who pay no respect to the facilities they use. However, these are ignored, and the school facilities keep on getting disrespected.

These actions show the lack of respect and gratitude of students. They leave the facilities without returning them to order. This is caused by the mindset that someone else will clean them up or fix them.

More than just showing a lack of respect, however, these actions are also rule violations with corresponding punishments. For example, Rule 4 of the School Rules and Regulations, concerning the care and protection of school property, includes sanctions for vandalism and littering. It states that the violators are to clean up and restore damaged school property, while serving a set amount of hours of school service, and in certain cases, in-school suspension.

However, despite penalties being laid out, they are not heavily enforced. Students who litter go off untouched. Sections which leave rooms cluttered can just go on to their next class without being sanctioned. Proper waste segregation is blatantly disregarded.

At home, we have been taught respect, cleanliness, and gratitude for people and our surroundings — cleaning up after we play, washing dishes after we eat, being careful with everything we touch whether or not it is ours, and respecting our surroundings no matter where we are. These values should be brought everywhere we go, and this means they should also be brought to school.

Even if there are janitors in school, we should not forget to still be responsible for the messes we make. It's not hard to flush the toilet, throw garbage properly, clean up the facilities used, or do other things to maintain the facilities’ cleanliness. These values should be practiced everyday by students to make staying in school as comfortable as possible.

The values learned and observed in our households should likewise be observed at school. A more disciplined people will encourage a better and healthier environment that all will benefit from. There will be fewer problems regarding the maintenance of facilities and the comfort of the users.

A home should be inviting, cozy, and livable. Let's make our school as such, not just for ourselves, but for future students who’ll hopefully love our school as much as we do.//by Storm Gatchalian, Marlyn Go and Philip Jocano

Photo Credit: Gail Clemente

The prices of goods fluctuate a lot, may it be because of dwindling demand or overflowing supply.

In recent days however, there has been a sudden and undeniably huge increase in prices of products like petroleum, minerals, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, jewelry, and sugar after the approval of Republic Act 10963, also known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (TRAIN).

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), “The goal of the first package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program or TRAIN is to create a more just, simple, and effective system of tax collection, as per the constitution, where the rich will have a bigger contribution and the poor will benefit more from the government’s programs and services”.

Specifically, the TRAIN Law aims to reduce the personal income tax. Those with an annual income of less than 250,000 pesos, which includes 83% of taxpayers in the Philippines, will have 0% tax rate. Those with an annual income of 250,000 to 8,000,000 pesos will have a lower income tax rate, with further reductions by 2023. However, there are things that won’t change from the previous tax law. Those whose annual income is over 8,000,0000 pesos, which includes 0.1% of taxpayers in the Philippines, will still have to pay the current tax rate.

The TRAIN Law also aims to shorten the list of products exempted from the Value Added Tax (VAT) down to basic necessities like raw food, education, and health. Small-business owners who own firms earning less than 3,000,000 pesos a year will not be required to pay the 12% VAT.

However, because of the law, items like oil, automobile products, petroleum, minerals, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, jewelry, and sugary items will also have an excise tax, therefore increasing their retail prices.

This will have a huge impact on taxpayers.

Consider a regular person buying a kilo of fish in the market. For that fish to be available, a vendor must order it from a supplier. As the order is placed, these products have to be transported to the market. With the implementation of the TRAIN law, there would be price hikes in every product and consumable good in the market. This will then force the dealers, vendors, and suppliers to increase the prices of their services to compensate for the increased cost of the maintenance of their assets, which will leave consumers having to pay more to get by.

With the increased prices of our favorite consumable goods and other products, there will be struggles to get used to the more expensive items and also with the enormous price hike gasoline stations had.

This will not only affect the citizens who are already earning money, but students as well.

The first thing students will notice is the gradual increase of Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) fares because of the oil, petroleum, and automobile excise tax. The automobile excise tax applies to automobile products which run on gasoline. This will cause PUVs to increase their service fee to compensate.

The prices of their favorite sweetened beverages will also increase due to the TRAIN law’s sweetened beverage excise tax. Students would no longer enjoy soothing drinks that are sulit from nearby food stalls in the university and fast food restaurants.

These taxes will leave people with higher prices to pay, and students with less allowance in their wallets.

Wenona Catubig, a student of the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS), shared her thoughts about the tax increases. “Maraming naging epekto yung pagtaas ng tax sa akin bilang estudyante. Nagmahal yung mga bilihin kaya kinailangan kong magtipid lalo na't nanatili yung amount ng allowance ko. Kinailangan ko rin i-budget yung pang-data ko lalo na't constantly kailangan ng internet for school,” she expressed.

(As a student, I was affected in several ways when the taxes went up. The prices of products increased. I had to be wiser with my money since my allowance didn't change. I also had to budget my data usage since I constantly need internet for school.)

With the larger amount of money that will be collected from the citizens, the government will be given additional revenue for further infrastructural projects and programs for the Philippines to expand and further increase its economic growth, yet it seems that this will be a rough ride. Prices will go up and there is nothing that can stop this. It is true that this law will be great for the long haul, but during the process, there are people who will be negatively affected, such as students and those living below the poverty line.

It would be advisable to review and revise the law after its supposed purpose has been fulfilled. Yes, there will be changes in the future, such as the reduction of income tax to those who earn less than 8,000,000 pesos annually by the year 2023. But it would be better to make the implementation of the excise tax with a condition that those who earn a lot less be exempted from it.

There must also be an improvement to the minimum wages of Filipinos in order to keep up with the TRAIN law. The Philippines is not yet ready to have increased prices on the products they consume in order to live, especially when it would cost them more than what they are earning in their own jobs and businesses.

The people of this nation will press on. Filipinos, especially the youth, are known to be very resilient. They have this great ability to rise from the ashes and smile at the aftermath of a calamity. They have faced many challenges, hindrances and inconveniences in the past. The negative effects of this law will not break their spirit.//by Marlyn Go and Cyrille Villanueva

Photo Credit: Ezra Bustamante

Human rights are inherent to all human beings, whatever nationality, gender, or color. Everyone is equally entitled to these, yet there are still some countries or states in the world that violate them.

This is why the United Nations (UN) created the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which comprises 47 elected states, with the Philippines as one of the founding states. It aims to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe as well as to address various situations of human rights violations.

The UNHRC gives recommendations on what appropriate actions the nations should take when there are problems regarding the codes and rules implemented by the council. These are sent to and should be addressed by the administration in member nations.

According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), the UNHRC has sent 257 recommendations to President Duterte ever since the beginning of his Administration, 154 of which were dismissed. Disregarding these suggestions alone threatens the Philippines’ place in the UNHRC, not to mention the fact that the President openly cussed at the European ambassadors for “interfering with our affairs.”

This is why around early October of this year, there was speculation reported by Rappler in an article that the Philippines was going to be kicked out of the UNHRC because of the alleged extrajudicial killings committed under the Duterte administration.

These extrajudicial killings violate basic human rights, leaving victims left and right. The victims usually end up with parts of their corpses wrapped up in packing tape and with signs conveying messages that they are drug dealers or pushers and that they should not be pitied, looked up to, or respected as human beings.

A noticeable portion of these killings were also reported to be caused by members of the police force. These have been accompanied with accounts on how the people they killed were legitimate drug dealers or pushers, and that they got what they deserved.

However, they have not yet been convicted for any of their alleged crimes, and as they are still human beings, having their rights ignored in exchange for a skewed sense of justice is flat out appalling. According to the constitution, all have the right to due process when accused of criminal acts (Article III: Bill of Rights, Section 1). Being subjected to these extrajudicial killings denies people of this right, as they have already been “...deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.”

It is clear from these issues why the UNHRC would consider removing the country from the council. The majority of actions under the Duterte administration have been controversial, to say the least, oftentimes resulting in the death of one innocent or another. Add to that his disregard of the various complaints about how he runs the drug war, as well as how he thinks that the killings are justified, and that gives a reason as to why the UNHRC wants the Philippines out.

However, one man’s actions do not reflect the disposition of the entire state. As such, this cannot be considered as a concrete reason for the Philippines to be stripped of its privilege as a member of the UNHRC.

People who actively denounce these brutal activities make it clear that they are not behind President Duterte.

They are those who seek to change the current situation concerning this issue and will not allow it to continue any further. It shows that, even though a sizable chunk within the government goes against the UNHRC, the Filipino people are still aware of and continue to support what is right not only for themselves but for the rest of their countrymen.

Yes, this whole ordeal stems from the actions of people who give no regard for the rights of others. The dismissal of the recommendations and the council itself would clearly result in the eventual absence of any sense of human rights in the country. Ignorance encourages the killings to continue. This will lead to a slow collapse of society brought about by vigilantes seeking to avenge their slain family or friend, violent outcries against an unjust government, and the continuous death of countless innocents.

But the current administration is still young and has yet to reach its full potential. It has plenty of room for improvement, and with the help of the UN to further encourage it to follow their recommendations, it will surely foster a nation that respects and upholds the rights of every citizen of the Philippines. //by Philip Jocano, Marlyn Go and Francis Eloriaga

Photo credit: Ezra Bustamante

College is a lot different from high school. The competition between students is at a higher level and with the added stress and pressure, it is not far-fetched for one to look for companionship. Others also look for the sense of belongingness in the new environment.

Joining an organization, fraternity, or sorority is one way to seek and find protection, support, and all the benefits that a fellowship can give to a neophyte. Joining such, however, involves going through an initiation process to prove that one is worthy to be allowed into the group. Many of these organizations, especially fraternities and sororities, use hazing as a test before one can become a member of the organization.

Hazing is not just a simple initiation rite. It involves violence, humiliation, and/or other dangerous activities which may cause great danger to the neophyte, or worse, death. Due to its dangers and the human rights violations it entails, this initiation rite must stop.

According to Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law, hazing is defined as any act forcing the neophyte to experience physical or psychological struggles from strenuous activities such as humiliation, violence, physical harm, and other suffering that is considered as initiation. Contrary to popular belief, hazing is not limited to physical abuse as initiates can be affected psychologically such as instances when senior members bully the neophytes by subjecting them to drudgery or humiliation. It causes depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome, low self-esteem, sleep problems and anxiety. It also affects how they form relationships and build trust among others. Thus, hazing receives a lot of criticism because it conflicts with the purpose of such organizations—that is to make friends and gain contacts, organize charities, and provide guidance to its members. Also, oftentimes, it does not conform to the rules of universities and the law.

From 2000 to 2014, there have been 37 deaths in the Philippines involving hazing. The numbers reported are just the tip of the iceberg of hazing incidences as former applicants pledge silence after becoming an official member of the organization. Most of these cases were dismissed due to the lack of witnesses and evidence.

The first recorded death caused by hazing was in 1954, before RA 8049 was ratified in 1995. The act only regulates and penalizes hazing. In Section 2, it states that “no hazing or initiation rights [...] should be allowed without prior notice to the school authorities or head of organization.” This clearly shows that the law still permits hazing as long as the schools are aware of its existence. The law also requires two representatives from the head of the school to oversee the initiation rites. Therefore, it does not ban hazing at all, but instead, it provides some sort of excuse for organizations to continue practicing it.

The most recent death case related to hazing is that of Horacio Castillo III, a neophyte of the Aegis Juris fraternity. His family is fighting for justice despite the silence that the members of the fraternity are giving in return. They are hoping that justice will be served through the law, yet the law itself seems to have a different approach towards finding justice that the victims long for. The law does not give much emphasis on the act of hazing as it is not viewed as a heavy crime. The law just aims to regulate it.

The law is not enough to protect the neophytes from becoming victims of hazing. The senate must re-examine the law and amend it. These rites should not be tolerated even if organizations insist that hazing is already part of their culture. Human rights should be valued more than this kind of tradition. Banning hazing is a matter of life and death for future generations. The deaths of the students should be an eye opener for all in realizing that hazing is an inhumane act that should be stopped. The organizations should develop a more reasonable initiation process for the neophytes. It should embed unity, peace, love and other values to aspiring members as these should be the foundations of comradeship.

Hazing is a crime, it is a clear example of abuse, and this is enough reason to stop it. Brothers are made to protect brothers, not neglect each other. //by Lm Gacad, Rachel Siringan and Marlyn Go

Sources:
● GMA News Online. (2017) Hazing deaths in PHL, 1954-present. GMA News Online. Retrieved on October 1, 2017 from https://www.google.com.ph/amp/www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/specialreports/626256/hazing-deaths-in-phl-1954-present/story%3Famp
● Nicolas and Deva Law Offices. (n.d.). Republic act no 8049: the anti-hazing law. Nicolas and Deva Law Offices. Retrieved on Ocotber 1, 2017 from http://ndvlaw.com/republic-act-no-8049-the-anti-hazing-law/
● Student Affairs. (n.d.) What is hazing?. Lehigh University. Retrieved on October 1, 2017 from https://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/content/what-hazing
● Jimenez, J. B. (September 29, 2017). Why neophytes still join fraternities and sororities? Philstar. Retrieved October 1, 2017 from http://www.philstar.com/freeman-opinion/2017/09/29/1743714/why-neophytes-still-join-fraternities-and-sororities
● Reformina, I. (September 25, 2017). Suspects in UST hazing death face criminal raps. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved on September 25, 2017 from http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/25/17/suspects-in-ust-hazing-death-face-criminal-raps
● Dean of Students. (2017). What is hazing?. Office of the Dean of Students. Michigan Union. Retrieved on September 25, 2017 from https://deanofstudents.umich.edu/article/what-hazing
● The LawPhil Project. (n.d.). Republic act no. 8049. Arellano Law Foundation. Retrieved on September 25, 2017 from http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1995/ra_8049_1995.html
● Murphy, S. H. & Skorton, D. J. (2013) Hazing is never ok: column. USA Today. Retrieved on September 25, 2017 from https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/08/19/hazing-death-cornell-column/2674585/
• Nix, R. (n.d.) What is the purpose of being in a sorority? Classroom. Retrieved on October 4, 2017 from http://classroom.synonym.com/purpose-being-sorority-10439.html
• LaRose, L. (2014) Beyond bullying: the long-term effects of hazing on young adults. Theravive. Retrieved on October 11, 2017 from https://www.theravive.com/today/post/beyond-bullying-the-long-term-effects-of-hazing-on-young-adults-0001766.aspx

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