106 years

Towards A Progressive Campus Press | vol. LXXXiI No. 17 | FRIDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2009

SU condemns Maguindanao Massacre

By Princess Dianne Kris S. Decierdo In contrast to the excitement and hype over the week-long Intramural Games, Sillimanians and other members of the media gathered together in one night to rally against the gruesome murders of over 60 people in Maguindanao. The Liturgy of Lamentation and Indignation, condemning the Maguindanao massacre, was held last November 27 at the Ravello Field beside the Silliman University (SU) Gymnasium. Those who attended the rally said prayers for the victims, sang hymns of peace, lit candles, and demanded justice for the people who were brutally killed, among them Silliman alumna Atty. Concepcion Jayme-Brizuela, and Eduardo and Cynthia Lechoncito, parents of a Medical Technology student in SU. According to SUs official statement read by SU President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, Sillimanians everywhere are encouraged to wear black ribbons as a sign of outrage over the massacre and for the failure of the government to guard the lives of the victims. They are also urged to participate in all legal activities condemning the said massacre. Malayang said: What took place in Maguindanao was an act of political desperation. It paints a gruesome picture of abject neglect of basic human rights and abuse of power. To the families of the victims, the killings were a deliberate attempt at advancing personal interests at the expense of their loved ones. To our friends in the media, it was a daring reinforcement of the impediment to the practice of journalism, one aimed at curtailing press freedom. To us as a Filipino nation, it is yet another reason to be outraged at how our collective sense of self is yet again assaulted and violated by political and government leaders who, for narrow self interests to hold on to power, willingly, routinely and wantonly betray public trust. Moreover, the official statement of the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE), read by College of Mass Communication Dean Dr. Rosario M. Baseleres, said the cowardly and bastardly atrocity of the massacre has no place in society. PACE calls on the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to act swiftly and decisively to bring the perpetrators of this crime to the bar of justice. PACE requests its members nationwide to organize public discussions and activities to show our disgust at such inhumane act perpetrated by forces that know no civility or propriety. PACE also urges its members in all higher education institutions to communicate to President Gloria MacapagalArroyo to demand a thorough and expeditious investigation and resolution of the crime. The massacre is also known as the single deadliest event for journalists in history. As a mass communication student, I also ask you all to be one with us in the field of media as we demand justice for more than 20 journalists killed in the massacre, said Zapphire Z. Zamudio, SU Student Government president, who represented the SU student body, said. Mr. Roy Bustillo of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), Mr. Ely Dejaresco of Dumaguete City Press Club and other members of Dumaguetes local media were also present during the rally. An indignation march, to be attended by various members of Dumaguetes local media and Sillimanians, will be held next week in time with the Human Rights Celebration. SU is inviting all students, faculty, staff and alumni to join in the march.

A CANDLE FOR CONNIE. Moses Joshua Atega, Silliman University (SU) Liaison Officer, lights a candle for the late Atty. Concepcion Connie Jayme Brizuela, a graduate of Creative Writing and Journalism from SU in 1975, Eduardo and Cynthia Lechoncito, parents of a Sillimanian taking up Medical Technology, and other victims of the Maguindanao massacre during the indignation rally last November 27 in SU. PHOTO BY Deil Jossaine C. Galenzoga

SUCN hailed champion again

By Emaleen Franz C. Maputi Silliman University College of Nursing (SUCN) topped all colleges and regained the title from last years champion and this years closest contender, the College of Business Administration in the 2009 Intramural Games. SUCN garnered a total of 330 points while CBA came close with 240. The School of Basic Education High School (SBE-HS) with a total of 200 points and the College of Engineering and Design (CED) with 170 points ranked 3rd and 4th runners-up, respectively. SUCN Association President and junior student Crystal Eunice T. Dela Cruz said that although almost all students think that they won because of the big number of nursing students, Our athletes also have less time to practice due to their hectic schedule. So I guess its just a fair game. She also added that they are all proud of their college. It had really been because of the unified efforts of the athletes, working committee, faculty and staff and the dean that led to our success.

SU LET passing rate soars at 91%

By April Rose A. Abines Ten out of 11 Silliman University graduates who took the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) passed the exam this year, according to Dr. Pablito dela Rama, dean of the College of Education. Dela Rama said this years 90.91 per cent passing average is a considerable improvement over last years 87.5 per cent. This years successful examinees are: Sherily Joy Credo, Amy Faburada, Mary Jane Garcia, Karen Paltingca and Kathleen Mabulay, in Bachelor of Elementary Education; and Kristine Busmion, Jena Ferolino, Jhan Carl Lagman, Joven Don Vincent Pasague and Ressa Angela Regalado, in Bachelor of Secondary Education. Dela Rama gave credit not only to the faculty of the College of Education but also others in the University and the community for Sillimans good harvest this year. He said: The college owes the ascending trend of our LET results to the different sectors of the university that have helped in and been part of our success. I thank our partners, the College of Arts and Sciences, in providing general education to the students, the College of Performing Arts, all members of the administration, the college faculty members, and the public and private schools that provided the students the total experience of the student-teacher practicum. The oath- taking ceremony for the newly licensed teachers will be held at the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu City on December 13.

SU, other schools represent Neg Or in Regional PRISAA

By April Joyce MdR. Aquino and Princess Dianne Kris S. Decierdo Silliman University (SU), together with four other schools in Dumaguete, are currently representing Negros Oriental in the Regional Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) games on December 3 to 5 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, SU is representing the province in the following events: Table Tennis Men, Lawn Tennis Men, Badminton Men and Women, Swimming Men and Women, Chess Men and Women, and Basketball Women. Other schools joining SU as Negros Orientals representative for the Regional PRISAA are Asian College of Science and Technology, Colegio de Santa Catalina de Alejandria, Saint Paul University Dumaguete and Foundation University. Negros Oriental ranked second in last years Regional PRISAA meet which was topped by the Cebu delegation. SUs players for Table Tennis Women also won in the citys PRISAA meet but will not be able to compete for the Regional because of academic duties. Furthermore, two players from the Table Tennis Men team will also be missing the Regional meet because of academic responsibilities. SU Athletic Director, Meriam M. Ramacho, said that the players from the respective participating events are practicing and working hard
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Sillimanians reap gold in archery competition

By Deil Jossaine C. Galenzoga Three Sillimanians swept three gold medals in the Manila Polo Club Inaugural Archery Tournament at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City last November 28 and 29. Karen Grace Yasi, a senior Mass Communication student who is just shooting for fun got the gold medal in the Adult Recurve Category, besting other participants from all over the country. Its sort of a comeback tournament for me, said Yasi, who hasnt been able to compete much

GO FOR THE GOLD. (left to right) Six-year-old gold medalist Crisha Mae Merto, Coach Crisaldo Merto, gold medalist Marie Crizabelle Merto, gold medalist Karen Grace Yasi, participant Garry Gonzales and fifth placer Apriele Janine de Castro are SUs representatives to the Manila Polo Club Inaugural Archery Tournament held last November 28 and 29. PHOTO FROM Karen Grace Yasi

recently because shes been busy with school. After graduation, Yasi said she will train for and join qualifying tournaments for Asian games. Meanwhile, high school sophomore Marie Crizabelle Merto bagged the gold medal in the Cadet Category for participants 14-years-old and below. She also joined the Adult Recurve Category where she won the bronze medal. The youngest and smallest participant, six-year-old Crisha Mae Merto, who, Yasi said, was called the darling of the crowd, won the gold medal in the Novice
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the weekly sillimanian 4 december 2009

An eye for an eye

imMORAL, who?
If we were to disqualify politicians on the basis of the 10 Commandments alone, no one will be left in office. Jason Doplito, 28, editor Jason Doplito is only one of the hundreds of members of our super generation who believe that the Commission on Elections (Comelec)s move to reject Ang Ladlads party-accreditation only reeks of discrimination and ignorance. The same decision, true enough, came off as a shock, especially that we have always believed that the Philippines is among those countries that are constantly fighting for the good kind of changethat which includes embracing a new and improved system of governance and leaders who are able and willing to step up to the challenge. But with the Comelecs rejection of Ang Ladlad, I find it more than alarming that we are already regressing this early. Just when were starting to invest hope in the 2010 elections, we find that already we are shunning out the possibility of electing representatives who may have the wits and smarts to better the political condition of this countryand on account of sexual orientation alone, too. And all for what? The mere accusation of an LGBT party list being immoral? Im sure Comelecs intent of not [exposing] the youth to an environment that does not conform to the teachings of our faith is fair enough. What bothers me is that this same principle is not applied to all political hopefuls nor used to screen out corrupt and self-serving officials. I sincerely believe that no existing faith in the Philippines would encourage discrimination and hate, much less graft and corruption. Clearly, this rejection is an attack to the members of our society who live on faith that understands the human struggle for love and acceptance. Maybe Comelec should stick to its mandate of ensuring clean and fair elections than giving us lectures on morality, yes? What is so threatening about accepting Ang Ladlad anyway? The way I see it, this move only attests to the fact taxesnot to mention some familiesare the overrepresented ones. Hasnt it ever occurred to Comelec that these peoples intentions of filling up public offices vary from that of Ang Ladlad as a party list? And dont even get me started on how public and private discrimination against homosexuals remain despite this so-called overrepresentation. At the end of it all, what comes across this generation is that the Comelecs ignorance and intolerance has yet again proven to be a greater threat to the youth and countrys future and democracy. How dare we campaign for people to exercise their rights this coming May 2010 elections when in fact, months before the said date, we are already hindering a group of people from exercising their right to act for the betterment of the society? All this pointing of fingers at Ang Ladlad marks the hypocrisy of those who pretend to care about this nation while dismissing the interests and capabilities of the people in it. At the same time, it also hinders the electorates, the people whose voices should matter more, from fully exercising their right to choose leaders and agencies which represent them as ordinary citizens of this country. I guess it is always best in all situations, even in this one, to make sure that before we point our fingers at anyonegay or not our fingernails are clean. In Comelecs case, however, it would take them a manicure.

sillimaniansspeak
Compiled by Marc Joseph C. Cabreros

Staying Away from Cigarettes

Mariekhan S. Edding

How do you think can the Intramurals be improved?

The judges [for dance sport] should have impressive credentials and not just P.E. teachers from [a] certain university or high school. John Paul L. de la Crus, BSN III They should have provided food kiosks at the gym and the field. Plus, they shouldnt schedule events on Sundays and holidays. The dance sport competition was very dragging. Kyle Justine C. Ejercito, BSN III Archery and frisbee should be included since a lot of Sillimanians are into frisbee and archery. Patrice Marie L. Anfone, BS Psychology III They should include frisbee in the intramurals. A new sport means new opportunities for other students to be involved. Yoradyl Zyra F. Matugas, BBA Mgt II The intramurals can be improved if everyone will participate instead of going home for a week-long vacation. Genalyn B. Viluan, BBA-MGT III ** Next issues question: How do you find Dumaguete now with Robinsons around? For your answers, just text the Circulation Manager (09267251639 for Globe and TM subscribers and 09089281921 for Smart and Talk n Text Subscribers) and indicate your full name (with middle initial), course and year.

that some of us (the ones in power, unfortunately) are not ready to taste true democracy by stepping out of what religion dictates. And whats even more sad is that some of us are willing to compromise a promising future to give way to the homophobic closed-mindedness of people who only half care, or not care at all, for this country. Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer also went as far as humoring us by saying that gays are already overrepresented in Congress. Funny, I always thought that thieves and politicians who cheat people off their

Editor-in-chief Deil Jossaine C. Galenzoga Associate Editor Mariekhan S. Edding Features Editor Emarrah Contessa A. Sarreal Business Manager Roanne Gel B. Tagaan Writing Pool April Rose A. Abines, April Joyce MdR. Aquino, Jeahan Virda B. De Barras, Princess Dianne Kris S. Decierdo, Gilbert Augustin J. Ganir, Karla Krystle W. Lezama, Emaleen Franz C. Maputi, Stephanie Denise H. Martin, Kathyrine E. Mercado, Mary Grace M. Nidoy Circulation Manager Marc Joseph C. Cabreros Office Manager Carlos Arsenio T. Garcia Layout Artist Maria Czarina M. Dollente Photographers Eliora Eunice C. Bernedo, EbonyArianne G. Lautner Cartoonist Julia Andrea C. Abrenica Adviser Ms. Celia E. Acedo

The Weekly Sillimanian is published every week by the students of Silliman University, with editorial and business addresses at 1/F Guy Hall, Silliman University, Hibbard Avenue, Dumaguete City 6200, Philippines. SU PO Box 24. Telephone number (35) 422-6002 local 243. www.weeklysillimanian.com theweeklysillimanian@yahoo.com Opinions expressed in the columns are those of the columnists and not of tWS or of Silliman University. Comments, questions, and suggestions are highly appreciated. All submitted manuscripts become the property of tWS. Manuscripts will be edited for brevity and clarity. Member: College Editors Guild of the Philippines

While the city celebrated the opening of Robinsons last November 23, in another part of the country, 57 Filipinos were brutally massacred because of power and greed. I cannot begin to explain the anger I felt over what I believe is one of the most atrocious mass murders our country has seen. Mangudadatu, a former political ally, finally stepped up to challenge the Ampatuans Maguindanaos ruling clan, by contesting the governorship of Maguindanao in the 2010 elections. Understanding the danger he was facing, he asked his wife, his sisters, two woman lawyers (one was a Sillimanian) and a number of women supporters and journalists to file his certificate of candidacy a decision borne out of the belief that even the Ampatuans were not exempt from their religion and culture. He had hoped they wouldnt harm the women. Little did he know that political ambition trumps any tradition any time. And so, 100 gunmen viciously took their lives and buried them. It is appalling to note that after this electoral violence was discovered, no one was arrested or detained, even when all arrows pointed to one direction. Kicking the Ampatuans out of the Lakas-Kampi party is not enough. The apology made by Energy Undersecretary Datu Ampatuan for his family members is not enough. Gloria Macapa-

gal-Arroyo expressing her grief over the victims is not enough. Innocent women and journalists were murdered. What they need, and certainly what they deserve, is justice. Nothing less. If you recall in the last presidential elections, it was Maguindanao that allegedly gave Gloria the 200,000 votes she needed against Fernando Poe, Jr. I refuse to think that it is because of Glorias ties with the Ampatuans that justice is delayed. But no

Injustice

La Reine
Anna Katrina G. Espino

matter how I view it, her indebtedness to the political family is the only logical explanation I could accept for the governments slow action. *** A few weeks ago, the Commission on Elections rejected the petition of Ladlad, a political party representing LGBTs (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders), to be included in the party-lists accredited to run for the next elections on the grounds of immorality. As a staunch supporter of not just gay rights but also human rights, I was offended by this unashamed act of discrimination.

There is nothing in the law that prohibits people from running on the grounds of homosexuality. And to equate it to immorality is beyond me. Just when I thought Filipinos have become more open-minded, I have this slapped on my face COMELEC telling gays they cannot be represented in the government because they promote immorality. We are not condemning the LGBT, but we cannot compromise the well-being of the greater number of our people, especially the youth, COMELEC. As if these gays are terrorists who pose a tangible threat to the society. Homosexuality is not a counterculture. Gays are and continue to be part of modern Filipino culture. COMELECs move to reject Ladlad is not only bigotry in every sense of the word, but an obvious violation of basic human rights. *** How can we say that we are a true democracy when the big men resort to violence to stop the opposition? When journalists who only seek to put out the truth are killed? When people who want to fight for their rights are shut down because of what they are? What we have is a system that blatantly allows the powerful to prey on the weak. And until these people are given the justice they deserve, I dont only mourn for them. I mourn for the future of this country.

he media cannot and will never be silenced. In an attempt to keep media practitioners from making noise, monsters who are our fellowmen brutalized over 20 members of the media, took their lives, killed them like animals, and in their graves buried the truth of injustice in Maguindanao. A total of over 60 people fell victim to the demons who perpetrated the massacre--the massacre that achieved what end but the horror that now envelopes our country and marks Filipinos as beasts hungry for power, who will do anything and everything to win, who respect no life, who fear no God and who look only for selfish gain. Those demons who murdered the innocent should be condemned! Justice shall be executed in haste--no, justice shall be executed now. But they must know that however horrifying the evil that loomed from their heavily-armed hands, the media, journalists, are not going to hide underneath their beds. Media men are not cowards who, unlike those criminals whose hearts are now shadowed with ghoulish dreams of the tears of the people they buried in bloodstained earth and whose breaths they cut short with their smoking ammunition and crimsoned knives, still need to wear the mask of fake strength to threaten. Yet despite their efforts, if efforts their acts can be called, their labor was in vain. The media remain brave. Scared, yes. Maybe. But the blast of the pen shall continue to strike their unfeeling hearts and they shall, eternally, be condemned by the truth that flows along with ink. They find out now that though they attempted to shush the media, to seal their mouths shut, their story is all over the newspapers. Television screens glare about the lives that were not supposed to be spent. They can do everything they think they can do, but the media cannot shut up. It is impossible. And though it is unfair, very at that, that reporting the truth now comes at so high a price--life--the truth will prevail. The truth, like smoke, will always, always, swirl gradually out in the open, where there are eyes that see. The cries of the dead still ring clear. It is not enough to put the perpetrators in jail.

editorial

the weekly sillimanian 4 december 2009

A Convenient Lie?
By Gilbert Augustin J. Ganir

twsfeatures 3

o you believe in global warming? That is a religious question. So is the second part: Are you a skeptic or a believer? Richard Lindzen, M.I.T. Professor When Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth came out, many people were shocked. With the opinions of many respected scientists and bucket-loads of statistics, the former US vice-president was successful in building up an intimidating case for environmentalism. The documentary-film showed countless images of black smog from industry and traffic, followed by pictures of tornadoes and storms, indicting the viewers of their crimes against the environment. Many now believe that An Inconvenient Truth and other similar films are behind the massive support that the green advocacy has as attested to by the numerous organizations worldwide. But there are those who would challenge the authenticity of Al Gores film- and environmentalism as a movement itself. Throughout human history, certain groups of people have been guilty of whipping up stories in order to convince people into acting or thinking in a particular manner. This is true with how Hitlers Nazi Party, with a state-

controlled media, demonized the Jewish culture in a systematically religious fashion, leading to the persecution and alleged massacre of up to six million Jews. Skeptics of environmentalism like Michael Crichton believe that green advocates employ a similar kind of propaganda movement and even going as far as branding environmentalism as one of the most powerful religions in the Western World. Against the popular opinion that it is influenced by Oriental religions such as Buddhism, environmentalism, according to Crichton, is a remapping of traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs. He said: There [was] an initial Eden, a paradise, a state of grace and unity with nature. Then there was a fall from grace into a state of pollutionand as a result of our actions there is a judgment day coming for us all. According to Crichton, the battle for the environment is not based on facts as Al Gore would have it, but on faith. It is whether you are going to be a believer and savior of the environment or to be a sinner and destroyer. We are all energy sinners, doomed to die, unless we seek salvation, which is now called sustainability. Sustainability is salvation in the church of the environment, he said. Another outspoken anti-environ-

mentalist is atmospheric scientist Fred Singer, who is among the group of scientists who assert that if indeed there are signs of climate change, they are mostly caused by natural cycles or changes in the suns activity, not human activity. He argues that An Inconvenient Truth is mostly an emotional presentation from a single politician. According to him, there had been no increase in global temperature since 1998. In fact, there had been an observed coolingnot warmingin the world for the past half-century. He claims that environmentalists have reversed the relationship between carbon-dioxide levels and global temperature. Ice core records from the past 650,000 years show that temperature increases have precedednot resulted fromincreases in carbon-dioxide by hundreds of years, suggesting that the warming of the oceans is an important source of the rise in atmospheric carbon-dioxide, he said. Singer says that because climate change is caused by solar activity, all schemes to control carbon emissions like cap-and-trade policies, alternative energy technologies, and the hydrogen economy are ultimately irrelevant, useless, and most crucially, expensive. It is an opinion shared by Nigel Law-

PHOTO FROM

son, the former Lord Chancellor to Margaret Thatcher, who explained the economics behind environmentalism in a lecture at the Centre of Policy Studies in London. Lawson said: [It] is profoundly hostile to capitalism and the market economy. There are already increasing callsfor the imposition of trade restrictions against those countries which fail to agree to curb their carbon dioxide emissions. Because of this, Lawson also says that environmentalism disables developing countries from strengthening their economies by forcing them to shift the use of resources from economic reform to environmental reform. Despite their objections, however, Crichton, Singer, and Lawson do not

say that acting responsibly with regards to the environment is inherently wrong. Their main concern is that because environmentalism is not as grounded on facts as popularly perceived, proponents of the green advocacy can and have taken the movement into the political arena. With claims supposedly backed up by scientific research, certain politicians are conveniently riding on environmentalism for their own agenda. Crichton says: If we allow science to become politicized, then we are lost. We will enter the Internet version of the dark ages, an era of shifting fears and wild prejudices, transmitted to people who dont know any better. Thats not a good future for the human race.

Remembering Toy Cars

By Gilbert Augustin J. Ganir and Stephanie Denise H. Martin

>> Fast Facts

From the latest development on the Maguindanao massacre to the implications of being careless on Facebook, heres your weekly scoop of news. Threats have been received by government prosecutors and judges with jurisdiction over the Maguindanao massacre. Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera also received a message to go slow on the members of the Ampatuan. President Macapagal-Arroyo personally filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) at the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) office in San Fernando, Pampanga last Tuesday. She finally decided to run for a seat in Congress next May. Health officials are reporting that the H1N1 swine flu is starting to wane although the virus continues to spread in Eastern Europe and Asia, as well as remote parts of the US. The virus has killed at least 6,700 people worldwide since April. Smokey Mountain, once a symbol of pervasive poverty, is now a treasure chest of luxuriousitems-to-be as tabs of aluminum cans turn into fashionable bags, glossy magazine pages and discarded toothpaste tubes become fashion accessories that are a hit at top-end London shops. A woman in Quebec complained that her insurance company cancelled her health benefits after discovering photos of her having fun on Facebook. She had been on paid sick leave after getting a diagnosis of depression but Manulife, the insurance company, stopped sending monthly checks, saying her Facebook photos illustrated that she was well and ready to return to work.
Source: The Philippine Daily Inquirer and TIME

t some point, college brings a kind of drearinessa kind of fatigued concession to the intellectual exercises that too many young minds are averse to. It shows in the coffee-and-vitamintablet diet, the forced bouts of insomnia, and the evident restlessness to class, which, if the teacher notices, we cannot even be bothered to worry about. There are just days when school is just terribly uncooldays that we had not imagined when we were still menacing toddlers. We were too ambitiously stupidor stupidly ambitiousto think about what we would have to go through to become doctors, engineers, or lawyersor nurses. We were kids then. We thought everything was easy. And now that we are proven to have been miserably wrong, there is a secret desire for a return to when our innocence was still intact. That desire is the mother-lode of symptoms for this mid-college crisis and all that we could wish for is to be a menace again; to be free from the academic jail-bars of quantum theory, Le Chateliers principle, metaphysics, and whatnot. We want to act stupid once more and not be judged for doing so, because we all know that there really is some kind of bliss in being ignorant, even if the grey-haired would deem such as shallow. We just want to go back to when dreams were the only force behind actualitybefore the reality of heavy books, frequent exams, countless papers, and emotional distractions stabbed our youthful idealism to near-death. Sometimes we just have to take a few steps back, regress a bit in order to progress, and just remember the younger years when inspiration was free and abundant. Remember when Bruce Wayne stirred us into becoming a rich bachelor (or bachelorette) by day and

forensic psychologist by night; when Clark Kent piqued your interest in investigative journalism and Pete Parker in photojournalism, so

PHOTO FROM http://sodivalicious.deviantart.com

that at the end of our reminiscing we might each be able to say, I dreamed of this when I was a kid and I knew of nothing else to become. And because of that, Id be willing to go into college hell and back. And if it works, perhaps we could finally laugh at ourselves in goodwill when we realize that all along, we really only wanted to become superheroes. And there is that peculiar thing: laughter. It is peculiar precisely because people think it a magical draught to cure some emotional ailment when in fact laughter only has its magic when taken as a preventative measure. It ought to be the norm, not the exception. And

it can only be so if we open ourselves to the simplicities of this world. There is a jealousy towards our five year old cousin who let out an enormous amount of giggles while watching his favorite cartoon on the Disney channel, or to the next door neighbors niece who cackled upon seeing the dog roll over. Children are not afraid to laugh freely, and although we may not be five-year-olds anymore, it doesnt mean that we should suppress what should be let out. Memories liberateand it is especially the ones from childhood that unshackle us from the somewhat mechanic adult society and back to the sense of sensibility that is unique of childhood experiences. And when you zoom out of life, there becomes the suspicion that all we had to know to live a good life, we already learnt in kindergarten. We knew of the competitive spirit when we

saw that our seatmate was given more stars; of friendship and protection in the buddysystem of walking hand-in-hand together during fieldtrips so that you and your partner wont get lost; or of the value of sharing when the klutzy classmate apparently forgot their food (or more accurately, when your teacher just forced you to share). And its quite difficult to deny that when we feel a calm elatedness at the sight of the little ones from Early Childhood doing just the things that we once did. Plus, we could also say to ourselves with a laughable confidence that we once were cute like them. But then we know that there is a progression in life, not so much about the things that we really have to learn but more on the scenarios and circumstances that we find ourselves in. College is just one of those scenarios. And if we accept that, perhaps well enjoy college and find the secret of it, which is to put on an old head, while keeping a childlike heart.

4 twsbackpage
the
thousand plus people were killed when a tsunami hit about a dozen countries in Southeast Asia and Africa in 2004.

the weekly sillimanian 4 december 2009

Decade Review. When the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2000, people held their breaths, expecting the massive Y2K computer meltdown. Turns out, it was just an isolated event. REALscore: The It never happened. Instead, it was just an alarm for the things to come. It may be too early to judge the 2000s as we are still weeks away from the end of 2009, but it never hurts to take a look.
(Compiled by: Emarrah Contessa A. Sarreal) source: TIME magazine is the number of people who lost their lives in the Maguindanao massacre last November 23, 2009. students were gunned down by a fellow student at Virginia Tech before killing himself in 2007. thousand is the number of people killed when an earthquake struck Iran in 2003. Islamic terrorists crashed hijacked jets into the World Trade Center in 2001.

A History of Neglect
By F. Jordan Carnice Batch 2008 With all the gloss and sheen this third world country is furnishing by means of trumpeting boxing world champions, broadcasting children singing at the top of their lungs in foreign talk shows, or riding on the laurels of a conferred selfless hero in a cable networkpeople in some parts of the Philippines have yet to free themselves from savagery. The massacre in Maguindanao last November 23 left a gaping hole of shame not only on the reputation of the country but also on the reputation of its people. As of today, the number of dead bodies has risen to 64, 20 of which are journalists. The rivalry between political clans Ampatuan and Mangudadatu has escalated to this incident, a clear account of lawless violence. It is said that several armed men closely connected to Andal Ampatuan, the massive political authority in the area, seized and attacked the supporters of the usual opponent. On their way to file the candidacy of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, people undertaking? I am not sure. Come to think of it, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declaring a state of emergency to that kind of crisis? Its like giving the arsonist a gallon of gasoline and a box of matchsticks. Her decisions are ill, if not plain inane. Its as if the scale of the incident is not enough to give her the knock on the head that firearms must be confiscated, especially those that are in the hands of undisciplined men. Sending army troops and police reinforcement is basically trouble masquerading as assistance. In the first place, before the mayhem, one man of Mangudadatu asked Chief Supt. Paisal Umpa, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police regional director, to provide an escort in the travel, but he was turned down. This man then sought the assistance of an Army commander in the province to do the same, but his was a futile effort. He was rebuffed. Overall, everyone is only left to ask: Are the people we deem to be trusted the best people to reinforce order, fix the order? What happened to the Kuratong Baleleng Case? To Bubby Dacers murder in 2000? W h at about the Department of Justices approval of transferring Francisco Juan Paco Larraaga to a penal facility in Spain to serve the remainder of his life sentence for the rape and murder of the Chiong sisters in Cebu in 1997? There are more cases in line, gathering dust in corners only God knows where.

DEL & DUDUNG

roundup
SU tops stat quiz
Silliman University (SU) Math Department freshman Galileo Gene Robin bested 24 other contenders in the 18th Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) Provincial Level held last November 6 in Saint Paul University, Dumaguete City. Alfie Calingacion, a freshman in BS in Medical Technology also from SU, was the first runner-up while Jhade Pino from Negros Oriental State University, won as second runner-up. Each winner received a trophy and cash prizes of Php 2,000, Php 1,500, and Php 1,000 for the champion, first and second runners-up, respectively. Robin said the competition gave him an opportunity to discover that statistics is a different field in math since it incorporates the use of scientific method in coming up with solutions to the problems given. The quiz allowed me to become more conscious about dealing with real life applications since it involves aspects of decision-making in everyday living, said Robin. The three provincial finalists had also competed during the regional competition in PSQ last November 13 at the University of Cebu. Robin made it to the Top 4 of the list. (By April Rose A. Abines)

posed of Terrrence Anton Callao and Joshua Ablong (oralists), Elizabeth Karla Aguilan (team manager), Ma. Zusabel Digaum, Ramon Antonio Ruperto (researchers), and Micah Stefan Dagaerag (researcher/alternate oralist), with Atty. Myrish Cadapan-Antonio as coach. Other teams included in the top four were Ateneo de Manila University, University of San Jose Recoletos and University of San Carlos. Callao was awarded Best Mooter of the year. SU ranked 3rd and 4th runnerup in the prosecution and defense memorials or written pleadings. Aguilan said this years moot problem centered on the crime against humanity of extermination and the war crime of unlawful confinement. The aforementioned competition is held annually to boost the familiarity of IHL and to strengthen the art of argumentation among law students. (By Emaleen Franz C. Maputi)

on empirically measuring student performance, which are called outcomes. OBE contrasts with traditional education, which primarily focuses on the resources that are available to the student, which are called inputs. During the seminar, faculty members were exposed to basic concepts of OBE and how to plan, teach and assess teaching modules using the same approach. According to Cabije, CED has already been using the OBE approach prior to the seminar. The said event, however, helped the CED faculty make adjustments in the current curriculum to conform to the standard format for the OBE model. (By Mariekhan S. Edding)
SU, other schools...from page 1

were slain. This information is not only appalling due to its brutal nature but it is shocking in the most concentrated sense of the word, especially in the history of Philippine journalism. Aside from the constant drone of corruption and greed shown in all forms of media, nothing in recent years has tainted the image of Filipinos more than this. It would certainly be of no surprise that the New York-based monitor Committee to Protect Journalists would soon move the position of our country from fourth place to the topon the list of deadliest countries for journalists, with Somalia, Iraq and Pakistan trailing behind. There may be countless reports by now trying to define the horror that happened, but considering our administrations deaf ears on the calls of stabilization on crime and its other siblings of delinquency, putting in another write-up in a university paper or even in a blog post just to get anyones attention on this matter is apt. In fact, it must be raised a notch higher with the means of circulating news weve got in this time and age. But in the end, with the regulations set by our purported democratic system, it is still in the hands of our administration to push the necessary procedure of protecting its people. Have we ever witnessed or felt such

Engg faculty attends PATE seminar

College of Engineering and Design (CED) Dean Dr. Tessie A. Cabije attended a series of seminars on various teaching and learning pedagogies hosted by the Philippine Association for Technological Education Inc. (PATE) last November 20 at the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City. Along with Cabije were Jaychris Y. Onia and Maria Lorena Tuballa, chairpersons of the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Departments, respectively. The said seminars aimed to promote the dissemination of the outcomesbased education (OBE) to engineering faculty of PATE member schools. It is in line with PATEs thrust of international mobility in professional engineering practice and continuing faculty development. OBE is a recurring education reform model which follows a student-centered learning philosophy that focuses

alongside their respective coaches and trainers. Ramacho also said that among the events that the city will be participating in, the delegates from Chess and Swimming have a bigger chance of getting into the Nationals. In the past, the school has always been able to send its Chess and Swimming teams to national events, Ramacho explained. The participating teams will be funded by PRISAA fees collected from their respective schools.
Sillimanians reap...from page 1

SU ranks third in natl moot court competition

Out of sixteen law schools in the country, the Silliman University (SU) College of Law Moot Court Team ranked third in the 2009 National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) last November 18 to 20 held at Philippine Christian University in Manila. SUs IHL Moot Court Team is comCall for submission of entries! Short fiction in English / Filipino Poetry in English / Filipino Nonfiction in English / Filipino (Theme must be centered around the Dumaguete City lifestyle.)
Email your works in attached .doc file, together with a short bionote (as cover page) stating your name, course, year level, and anything worth bragging off, at darkbluesouthernseas@gmail.com. Photographs, computer art images, and paintings can also be submitted in .png format. For queries, contact Mars (09267324092).

Category for participants aged 9 and below. She was the only girl among the top four winners in this category. A sophomore student from the College of Nursing, Apriele Janine de Castro, won the fifth place in the Adult Recurve Category. Garry Gonzales, a sophomore Physical Therapy student, also participated in the said tournament. It was his first time to join an archery tournament outside SU. The participants from Silliman, with Crisaldo Merto as coach of the Womens Team, are members of the Silliman University Dumaguete Archery Club (SUDAC).

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