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painting Virtus et scientia. A construction worker repaints the moldings of the Universitys front gate as preparation for the PAASCU visit.

VOl. 56 nO. 1

the Official student newspaper Of the uniVersitY Of san agustin

JulY - nOVeMBer 2010

PAASCU team revisits the University

VPAA finds research the most vital among PAASCU recommendations
By Jefferson Magbanua

in the effort to regain the autonomous status, the University of San Agustin underwent an accreditation survey of nine academic programs by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) on August 12-13, 2010.
the programs visited were: (for re-survey) Business Administration; (for interim survey) Arts and Sciences and Medical technology; (for preliminary survey) nursing, Engineering (Civil, \Mechanical, Computer), information technology, Computer Science, Accountancy and hotel and Restaurant Management. Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t f o r Academic Affairs (VPAA) Rev. Fr. Generous Gonesto, OSA, said that it was the first time in the history of PAASCU that a university was visited by 16 accreditors instead of the usual seven to nine making it more like an institutional accreditation. Gonesto added that the idea to have such a school-wide visit in just two days came from the academic senate, composed of the college deans and heads of various departments. the said visit would prepare the programs that had the preliminary visit, for a formal survey after one or two years, depending on the extent to which the University shall take action on the PAASCU recommendations drafted by the accreditors during the recent visit. the evaluators would determine the period of time they would give the University to implement the recommendations before a

formal visit could be made. Prior to the abovementioned PAASCU preliminary visit, the Commission on higher Education (ChED) and the Federation of the Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) conferred the Level iii status on the College of Education (CoEd) in December 2009. the University administration then applied for the Center of Development status for the CoEd and, after a thorough assessment by a team of ChED technical experts, it was also granted. the University also applied for the institutional Quality Assessment through Monitoring and Evaluation (iQUAME) but has not been visited by the evaluators because ChED has temporarily suspended the ongoing national programs and projects of the agency pending their review by a special task force appointed by the new

ChED Commissioner, Dr. Patricia Licuanan. When asked on which of the recommendations presented to PAASCU was the most important yet the most difficult to execute, Gonesto cited research. he said that CoEd couldnt be granted the Center of Excellence status because of the lack of faculty and student research works. Furthermore, Gonesto acknowledged that the University Center for Research and Publications (UCRP) has good researches but these are external [meaning commissioned works by outside entities/organizations]. in an attempt to solve the inadequacy of research papers of the faculty members, Gonesto has been ironing out a deloading scheme which is intended to reduce the teaching loads of some faculty members
paaSCu/page 3

CAS deans books acclaimed in natl awards

By donna isabelle fresnido

Tilipunan mulls developing new area

By Josh Von iron tondo

AnothER Augustinian author has been awarded for the wealth of his contributions to the development of Philippine literature. College of Arts and Sciences Dean isidoro Cruz was named the sole finalist and the only awardee for Literary Criticism in the 29th national Book Awards held on november 13, 2010 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Cruz book, Pungsod: Damming the Nation (Region/ Nation and the Global Order i n C o n t e m p o r a r y We s t Visayan Literature) has been acclaimed as one of the little steps towards the formation of a democratic and truly repres entative F ilipino national literature. to note, this is Cruzs second book award. he first won the same award in

2004 for his book, Cultural Fictions: Narratives on Philippine Popular Culture, Politics, and Literature. As co-author of the anthology, W h a t t h e Wa t e r S a i d : Alon Poems by the Alon Collective, he shared the award with the other writers in the Anthology category during the same year. Being a prolific poet, too, Cruz won several times the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Poetry and the Philippine Panorama Literary Awards. im just grateful for lifes big surprises for a late bloomer like me. hope is a real thing, not a myth, Cruz said. the national Book Awards is sponsored by the Manila Critics Circle, in cooperation with the national Book Development Board.

Of plastics and surViVal. Student volunteers from the College of Arts and Sciences pack the noodles and canned goods that are to be distributed to adopted families in Brgy. Ginomoy, Alimodian.

thE University of San Agustin Community Service Center (USA CSC), commonly referred to as tilipunan, is in the process of making arrangements to adopt Sitio Panos-on in Barangay Nabitasan, Leganes, iloilo, in the hope of developing a new community. this planned adoption is part of the program that has been successfully implemented for more than five years now in Brgy. Ginomoy, Alimodian, iloilo. Based on the Centers objectives and the PAASCU recommendations, the replication of the program in Sitio Panos-on means

pulling out of Brgy. Ginomoy because the residents and the community in general, have already been empowered with the necessary knowledge, skills and values that would help them attain self-sufficiency and sustainability. Mrs. Annie Pedregosa, program director of the tilipunan Community Development Program, said that Sitio Panoson has been chosen as the next tilipunan community site because it has poor sanitary and health conditions, the children are undernourished, and the people suffer from illnesses brought about by
Tilipunan/page 3

USA Pub goes online

By Kevin george Barrios

With more and more people communicating through social networking and blogging on the internet, the USA Publications has now upgraded its mode of expression and information dissemination by means of the web as well. the USA Publications official website was launched on May 2010, with the aim of providing the latest campus news and updates in the fastest way. the USA Publications is also developing a blog account under journ.ph, a

blogging platform by SMARt Communications and Wordpress. During the Philippine information Agency (PiA) Region Vi Journalism Seminar held on July 28-30, 2010 at the iloilo Grand hotel, the Pub journ.ph blog was awarded as one of the top three best entries. the Pub website (www. usa-publications.webs.com), blog account (www.usapublications.journ.ph) and the official Facebook page are open to all Augustinians.

tilipunan

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JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

Man nabbed for taking studes bag

By donna isabelle fresnido

MORAL lesson for aspiring thieves: dont return to the scene of the crime with your stolen goods. this is especially true in the case of Don Machado, the alleged suspect in the theft of BS it-2C student Kristine Louise Andrades backpack containing her laptop, charger, shoes, and wallet. Machado was nabbed by members of the barangay tanod of Aurora Subdivision while he was trying to escape with the bag that he had stolen. At that time, Andrade, the official photographer of the USA Publications, had been watching a game

between the University of iloilo (Ui) and West negros College (WnC) on october 11, 2010 at the University of San Agustin Gym and later taking post-game pictures of friends from Ui. When she returned to her courtside seat, she discovered that her blue Eastpack backpack had disappeared. When i realized it was gone and not just misplaced, i ran to Police Precinct 1 to file a blotter report, said Andrade. on october 18, Andrades classmate, Crystal Rodas, was watching a cheering contest at the University Gym when she spotted Andrades bag in the

hands of a man later identified as Machado. When the suspect noticed that Rodas was watching him, he hurried away. Rodas then texted Andrade and the two followed Machado when he entered the Penguin internet Caf in Aurora Subdivision. they blocked the exit, approached the suspect and tried to talk to him, but he shoved them aside and ran out. When he reached the entrance of Gateway boarding house, Machado dropped the bag and continued running. nearing Barrio inasal, he was apprehended by tanods and a roving police patrol. A

paris (extreme right) and other delegates in the international science conference By andre Karl faculin

San Ag team reaps awards in NSMC tilts

By Mary leslie eregia

thE University of San Agustin took part in the 21st national Statistics Month Celebration (nSMC) organized by the national Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office VI and the Commission on higher Education (ChEd) Regional Office VI. the University statistics team, composed of Ramuel Borja, Jr. (BSEd Math 4), AJ Gallenero (BSA 3), and Ray Adrian Macalalag (BSCE

2), placed third among 11 participating higher education institutions that competed in the 7 th Regional Statistical Analysis Contest. the top two winners were Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod (1 st Place) and Filamer Christian University (2nd Place). in this statistical analysis contest, the teams were given data in tabular form to be examined and analyzed, the results of which were reported in the form of graphs, tables,

and written narratives; then, they were asked to recommend a proposal in order to solve the problem they had dissected. the team members were coached by Prof. Rhodora Cartagena, the current chairperson of the Department of Mathematics and Physics, and Prof. Pilar Arguelles, former chairperson of the same department. Meanwhile, Katrina Ereeta (BSMLS 1) placed third in the Annual national

Statistics Quiz Bowl (Provincial Elimination) organized by the national Statistics office (nSo). As such, she will be one of the contestants to be sent by the province of iloilo to the regional eliminations. Ereeta, together with the other contestants, Fredrick Gio Cruz (B MLS 1) and Richard Laurence Gaboy (BS Phar 1), were trained by Prof. Razel Moradilla and Prof. Rhodora Cartagena.

Augustinian bet tops ABS-CBN gabfest

By febrielyn tumines

ladrido receives his award from the event organizers

PAtRiCK Daniel Ladrido, a BSBA-MA iii student and the vice-president of the USA Student Council, talked his way to the top against eight other contenders to bag the gold in the college championship of this years edition of the ABS-CBn inter-collegiate and inter-school (high school) Extemporaneous Speaking Contest held at Robinsons Place-Iloilo Fountain Area, on August 5, 2010. in his answer to the question, What is the

youths role in effecting change in the country?, Ladrido emphasized that, the youth should lead us to the right path, citing then presidentiable, and now president, P-noys television advertisement campaign, the wrong and the right path, as an analogy. Trailing Ladrido were the contestants from West Visayas State University and St. Paul University who grabbed the second and third places, respectively.

PROFESSOR Lerma Paris, a faculty member of the College of Pharmacy and Medical technology, was one of the plenary speakers at the 10th Science Council of Asia (SCA) Conference held on June 13-16, 2010 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Metro Manila. Paris spoke on the subtheme, Culture and Health, on the second day of the conference. in an interview with The Augustinian, Professor Paris said that she opted to present an original research paper instead of giving a lecture on reviews of various researches because she was intrigued by the condition of the individual subjects of her study. Entitled, Shane B1B2: Bananas Without Pajamas: A Story of Young Boys, her study reveals the lives of three young boys from Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo, iloilo City, whose 12 years of existence revolve around poverty, in which they became heavily infected and infested with multiple parasites. her presentation showed a comprehensive case analysis for the audience to understand better the factors and risk behaviors that are connected to the health status of these boys. Gathering renowned scientists across Asia and the world, the three-day conference, convened for the

first time in the Philippines, was hosted by the national Research Council of the Philippines (nCRP) and the Department of Science and technology (DoSt), with the theme, Meeting the Health Challenges in the Asia Pacic Region: Responding through an Integrated Approach in Science and Technology. After she spoke, the former president of the health Society of Korea showed interest in adopting the said barangay and conducting projects for health promotion, in collaboration with the University. Participants from UP Diliman and UP Los Baos asked for copies of her research as a resource for their environmental science subject. Recently, the City Environment and natural Resources office (CEnRo), in partnership with the University of San Agustin, started a study of the coastal area of Calaparan, employing the Augustinians expertise in parasitological examination and data from previous studies. Paris, a multi-awarded medical technologist and an advocate of Quality Life for All, is currently an assistant professor, Clinical instructor, and in-charge of the parasitology section of the USA Clinical Laboratory. She also teaches in the USA Graduate School.

AKBAYAN Rep holds forum on proposed bill Philo prof bags book award
By Kevin george Barrios By donna isabelle fresnido
andrade

AFTER her archipelagic campaign for a senate seat in the last national elections, former AKBAYAn Rep. Risa hontiveros journeyed around the country again, this time to visit schools to promote her latest advocacy, the proposed Senate Bill no. 1641, or the Magna Carta of the Students Rights. With the theme, Break the Chain, a forum was held at the USA Presidents Conference Room on July 30, 2010, during which hontiveros was engaged in a one-hour discussion with student participants headed by the officers and members of the USA Student Council and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP-iloilo), the

organizers of the event. Senate Bill No. 1641, first introduced by Sen. Manny Villar, aims to be a means of recognizing and protecting the rights and welfare of the Philippine studentry. in her talk, hontiveros stressed that the enactment of this proposed measure would have far- reaching significance considering that the future leaders of this nation would come from todays ranks of dynamic, progressive, and nationalistic students. the forum ended with the participants affixing their signatures on the document copy to indicate that they were amendable to the provisions of the proposed senate bill.

ladridO

hontiveros

PLATO and nietzsche, look out. theres a new philosopher on the block. Assistant Professor Rolando Medel, a faculty member of the USA humanities Department, won the Distinguished Author Award for his book, Mendelian Gems: My Scribbled Thoughts, during the annual convention of the Philosophical Association of Visayas and Mindanao (Phasviminda) at Siliman University, Dumaguete City, May 27-29, 2010. M e d e l s b o o k i s a compilation of [his] personal reections [on] all sorts of things in the universe. they were constructed as they came to [his] mind or immediately after

[he] had experienced something thought-provoking. the award was given by Siliman University and St. Paul University - Dumaguete. Medel was also elected vice-president for Visayas of the said association for a twoyear term. humanities Chair Abraham Pinuela attended the convention together with Medel. Both Pinuela and Medel will spearhead the preparations for the Universitys hosting o f n e x t y e a r s n a t i o n a l Phasviminda convention to be held at Punta Villa Resort, iloilo City on May 27-29, 2011. the convention will have the theme, Philosophy of the human Person.

paris

NEWS

crowd of bystanders gathered around him and proceeded to beat him up until he was taken to PP1 where Andrade promptly filed a charge of theft against him. Machado defended himself, saying that the bag had been sent by his wife from Japan. nevertheless, Andrade was able to identify certain marks inside the bag to prove that it was hers. As of this writing, Andrade was still coordinating with police authorities in locating her laptop. i found it funny since he came back to the exact scene of the crime, said Andrade.

CPMT faculty speaks at intl science confab

Admin implements changes in physical plant

andrade

NEWS

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

Bio faculty attends REEN 6 conference, AESTEP natl convention

Lectures on Storminduced Geological hazards in Western Visayas, disaster risk reduction management and risk management strategies were the highlights of the afternoon session of the first day, while oral presentations of scientific papers involving a wide-range of researches with environmental impacts occupied the second day. Latumbo also attended the 2010 AEStEP national Convention held on october 8-10 at Sampaguita Gardens Resort, new Washington, Aklan. the theme of the convention was Addressing G l o b a l Wa r m i n g i n Basic Education, for the participants to articulate environmental conservation and management to basic education curricula, be familiar with curricular innovations in Southeast Asia addressing climate change, and sustain advocacy efforts for natural resource conservation among elementary science teachers and educators. (Department of Biological Sciences)

in order to gain new insights on environmental education, Emily Catalua and nancy Latumbo, faculty members of the Department of Biological Sciences attended the Regional Environmental Education network 6 (REEn 6) 4 th Annual Scientific Conference held on July 8-9, 2010 at St. Paul University, iloilo City. the theme of the conference was Environmental Education towards a Sustainable Future.

PSD 2010 features rides

crOss OVer. The skywalk connecting the Gamboa and Alumni Halls was constructed to make the transfer between buildings easier. By donna isabelle fresnido By Mary leslie eregia

CRoSSinG over from Mendel to Gamboa halls without going down to the ground and going up the stairs again will not be a students idle wish anymore. Wi t h t h e h o p e o f making the transfer between buildings easier for both students and teachers, the administration had bridges, orskywalks,constructed during the last week of August 2010. They were finished in november 2010. Spanning Mendel hall, Blanco hall, the Alumni Building, and Gamboa hall, the bridges were the solutions to the problems with the Alumni Building namely: the narrow staircases and the inconvenient fire exits.

the bridging of buildings is just one of the changes implemented by the Administration in response to the reiterated PAASCU recommendation on the improvement of the physical plant. Several other projects were finished or started in the first semester. Among them was the installation of airconditioning units in the Administration building which houses the most number of offices on campus. Last summer saw the facelifting of Mendel hall that included the repainting of its facade, the renovation of some science laboratories, and the replacement of old or

broken window panes. the renovation of the auditorium started in 2006 but has not been completed yet because, according to VicePresident for Academic Affair, Rev. Fr. Generous Gonesto, oSA, the administration is still looking for the budget for upholstery, sound system and lights. Despite its unfinished condition, however, the auditorium has already been used for various literary, musical, cultural, and academic purposes. to r o u n d u p t h e improvements, the gymnasium has been repainted and the roofing of Lana Hall (new CPMt Bldg.) has been improved.

From fun ride to fear factor

By Mary leslie eregia

thE 2010 Patron Saints Day celebration would have ended well were it not for the accident that injured two Augustinian students on board the Fun Lands Golden Swan ride on August 28, 2010. the incident occurred at the University football field where the Fun Land was situated, just moments after the salo-salo celebrations and departmental activities ended. Apparently, the ride malfunctioned, causing the door of one seat to open and the occupants to fall to the ground. the students involved (names

withheld upon request), both from the College of nursing, were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital and were reported to have sustained moderate injuries. in an interview with The Augustinian, Dann Vincent Fuentes, Student Council Secretary General and one of the officers-in-charge of the Fun Land said he himself was surprised kay wala guid ko nag-expect nga may matabo nga (because i never expected something like that) untoward incident (to happen) samtang ari di ang (while the) rides

(are here) and to think that this happened only minutes before closing time. i mean, accidents do happen but pwede ta man na ya ma-prevent ang mga (we can prevent) instances nga pareho sadto (like that) if were just careful and vigilant enough, Fuentes commented. According to the ride operators, the Marielle Recreation Center & Rides, customers have insurance coverage for any harm or injury they may sustain from any damage, malfunction or untoward incident that their rides may cause.

With this years theme, St. Augustine: Advocate of Unity, Patron Saints Day (PSD) was celebrated with a series of activities intended to set the Augustinian spirit on fire for the entire duration of the annual event. Formally launching the Patron Saints Day 2010 celebration was the Sadsad sa San Ag in which every department had a group of student representatives rendering the official college cheers and yells during a parade around the campus. the office of the VicePresident for Student Affairs and the USA Student Council spearheaded the planning of the events that kicked off with the opening of Fun Land, a collection of rides that included the Golden Swan, Ferris Wheel, Lantern, and Kiddie Swan. Dann Vincent Fuentes, USASC Secretary General and one of the officers-in-charge of the Fun Land, said that the rides aimed to provide a festive ...paaSCu/page 1 in order to give way to a nineunit research load. i asked Dr. [Remedios] Somcio to make the guidelines, not only on the benefit of the takers but also on their responsibilities. however, this is not for all. We could ask those without loads or even those who have regular status to make research proposals so that we can have some output every semester as well as a time frame [for doing the research]. Maybe, we could also have two research papers per college, Gonesto stressed. the VPAA initially plans to start the deloading scheme in June 2011. Gonesto emphasized that the improvements the current administration has been doing were seen as necessary; and its not just the physical plant that is taken into account, but also the faculty, instruction, research, library, and other areas.

atmosphere to the celebration and to serve as a form of entertainment for both adults and children. That was the first time ever in the celebration of Patron Saints Day that rides had been included among the events. Aside from the machineoperated rides, horseback riding was also made available, sponsored by the Conservatory of Music. For an affordable fee, horseback-riding enthusiasts and first-time riders could
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go on a leisurely-paced ride around the football field. the schedule of activities during the celebration was wellpublicized with the opening of a paging booth located at the ground floor of the Alumni Building. Manned by some officers of the USASC, the booth served not only as a public address facility but also as a message relay system for those who wanted to express their more romantic sentiments.

cpMt freshmen showcase their strength and balance during the sadsad competitition on august 2010.

First lay dean passes away

By donna isabelle fresnido

aportadera

AFTER suffering from lingering illnesses, Dr. teresita Aportadera, former dean of the then-College of Liberal Arts (LA), passed away last October 3, 2010. She was 79. Aportadera had been dean of LA (now the College of Arts and Sciences) for 17 years, from 1979 to 1996. She was the first lay dean to assume the position. Under her term, the

College of Liberal Arts reached and maintained Level III accreditation status granted by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). in 1996, the University conferred upon Aportadera the title dean emeritus. As a loyal and staunch Augustinian supporter, she had been made an affiliate of the order of St. Augustine.

...Tilipunan/page 1 their poor environmental conditions. Moreover, it was recommended by parish priest, Fr. Ryan Teves. in its Rationale in Choosing the Proposed Community Site, the Community Service Center explained, tilipunan believes that a community is poor when it could not feed its children appropriately and properly. As of April 2009, records show that 20 children in Sitio Panos-on were undernourished. the Rationale added, not every household has a toilet. the residents share facilities with their relatives or neighbors or they simply dig holes [for their body wastes.]. on the other hand, Pedregosa made clear that it is not only the needs of the community that tilipunan considers in carrying out its

purpose. Parameters such as responsiveness of the community to USAs presence, security of Augustinians, and availability of University resources are also considered. the adoption of Sitio Panos-on, however, is yet to be discussed with the Mayor, Pedregosa revealed. if the plan gets his approval, tilipunan will use the same strategies as those used in Barangay Ginomoy, depending on the current situation and conditions. the tilipunan Community Development Program sets priority services for the needs of children and their families with the hope of developing the whole community, in line with the Augustinian Social Apostolate thrusts on Childrens Welfare and Poverty Alleviation.

Write NOW and be PUBLISHED! HOW? Literary works (poetry and short story) must be written in English, Filipino, Hiligaynon, Akeanon or Kinaray-a. Submit your contributions to the USA Publications o ff i c e . Yo u c a n a l s o e-mail your works to usa. publications@rocketmail. com.

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Irong-Irong5

SPECIAL REPORTS PAASCU: Visitation of the gods?

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JULY - nOVEMBER 2010 By donna isabelle fresnido, darlyn herradura and Josh Von iron tondo

itS always the same story: w h e n a PA A S C U v i s i t approaches, patches of carabao grass are dumped on bare earth to simulate a lush lawn, classroom walls tattooed with graffiti now appear pristine white, and comfort rooms now smell good because of the Albatross tablets that have mysteriously sprung up in corners. For some students and teachers alike, renovations on campus only come with the next Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) visit. Ti, subong lang pagPAASCU kami kabatyag tsakto nga electric fan sa classroom, says one female Artian. A Pharmacy major adds that she only experienced improvements
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when accreditation is nearing. Damo na new equipment sa Pharmacy Lab. Baskog. Another student exclaims, The benefit of the students and staff is only second. if we students did come first, then the renovations wouldve happened years ago, not right before the PAASCU. While the target beneficiaries remain convinced that the administration only launches renovations when PAASCU visits are approaching, Vice-President for Academic Affairs Rev. Fr. Generous Gonesto explained that the PAASCU criteria for judging the physical plant actually come from the students and teachers themselves. there are two committees for the improvement of the University: the analysis committee and the evaluation

Bridging the gap. A skybridge connecting the Alumni and Blanco Halls was one of the PAASCU recommendations for the Universitys physical plant.

committee. these are formed to cull out the strong and weak points of the school when it comes to several aspects, such as the physical plant. Selected teachers and students from different colleges compose the team. they assess the quality of drainage, water supply, classroom ventilation, and physical state of buildings, among others. the results are then forwarded to the PAASCU accreditation committee as a basis for what to look at when they finally visit. Obviously, one cannot expect all the accreditors to be fully familiar with the particular problems faced by the University. hence, the need to have recommendations from people who have actually experienced the toilets that refuse to ush and the electric fans that dont work. When asked whether renovations are timed to coincide with accreditation visits, Arch. Jocelyn Cham, the head of the University analysis committee on physical plant, answered, of course not. its for the students and for the school, not only for the PAASCU. She adds, [the physical changes] are recommended by the PAASCU because theres a need. that need comes from the students and teachers themselves, as seen in the data presented by the analysis and evaluation teams. So its a cycle. in a nutshell, its like this: we students have needs that are identified by the analysis and evaluation committees. the school sends a report to PAASCU. the accreditors look for the trouble spots, as identified in the report, which the University administration then tries to improve.

Of shining Metal Bars. Two maintenance workers hired by the University scrape the old paint off the grills of the main gate.

Apart from that, Gonesto clarified that changes in the physical plant are also based on the 10-year development plan created during former University President Rev. Fr. Manuel Vergaras term. he confessed that the current administration was not able to religiously follow the plan because there are other projects which need to be prioritized. Still, Gonesto remains confident that most of the points in the 10-year development plan were given attention. According to him, the frequency of accomplished plans mainly hinges on the availability of funds. twenty percent of the students tuition fee goes to repair, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities. Each time you vandalize a chair, peel the paint off a wall, and do other actions that deface University property, you are draining a portion of that 20 percent. Sometimes we are also to blame for the things that vex us. Also, Gonesto stressed in written correspondence with The Augustinian: We first have to be reminded that the present administration started their term in 2008 and renovations were made

in the University Library. In Academic Year 2009-2010, improvement of University facilities continued up to the current academic year. there were two PAASCU visits, in 2008 and 2010, respectively, and the term of the present administration will end in 2012. it is just fair to say that renovations, improvements, upgrading of facilities and the like were not done primarily because of PAASCU but because of the fact that the administration is mandated to do so to give what is due to the students and personnel in particular and to the University in general. A s o f n o w, r e c e n t renovations include the expansion and airconditioning of the library, airconditioning of the administration building, roofing of the walkways along Dolse Garcia building, and (although this may not be considered a physical renovation) the installation of wireless fidelity (or wi-fi) connection at the quadrangle, Sta. Monica (Alumni), Aguirre, and Mendel halls. Although most of these renovations coincided with the PAASCU visit, there were also other renovations, none

of which had anything to do with PAASCU. there was the bricking of the pathway along Dolse Garcia building, the addition of benches at Urdaneta hall and the quadrangle, as well as the widening of the parking space near the Cafeteria. An ongoing construction is the beautification of Blanco Park while the skybridges connecting the Gamboa, Sta. Monica, Blanco, and Mendel halls have been completed. Again, the PAASCU was not a major reason why these renovations took place. it just so happened that the recommendations, made by the analysis and evaluation committees, were forwarded to PAASCU. it is the accreditors job to ensure that these recommendations are acted upon thats why they check on us. however, it would be fair to note that the analysis and recommendation teams are not the only voices listened to; ChED recommendations are also considered. As Gonesto promised, With or without PAASCU, we will still move towards the improvement of facilities to ensure better learning conditions in the classrooms.

By andre Karl faculin

A number of people passing through the skywalk at ValeriaDelgado Street may appear unusual for some because that structure had been seldom used since its completion. Presently, however, the overpass is already serving its purpose since many pedestrians are passing through it. the primary reason is that they are terrified of shelling out fifty pesos which is the fine for violating the jaywalking ordinance. the administration of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of the City of iloilo has revived the ordinance on antijaywalking. Enacted in 1992, the city ordinance was reimposed on August 15, 2010. Prior to the implementation, an information drive was initiated by the members of Task Force Jaywalking.

Diverse reactions followed as an offshoot of the execution of the said ordinance. Some consider it as a notable improvement to the ow of pedestrian traffic in the City Proper district. others, however, say that the city government has not adequately oriented the public on this regulation. A few even oppose the harsh implementation because some pedestrian lanes are unmarked and the signage is so small or even scarce that they do not see it. Usually, we prefer to cross the street anywhere we want, be it at an intersection or a street corner, without regard for the oncoming vehicles or other pedestrians. Consequently, many accidents and misunderstanding happen right on the streets. this may

be the reason why the city government sternly executed the law. in effect, 350 individuals were arrested in the first week of its implementation. Crossing the street in the right way is not only for easing the traffic but also for ensuring the safety of the general public. When Mabilog assumed office as city chief executive, the city had only P40,000 left in the treasury. the extreme need to augment the resources of the city could also be one of the reasons for the strict imposition of the jaywalking ordinance. Fifty pesos, as well as the one-day imprisonment, may be quite a burden for violators, but if these are what it would take to create order on the streets and discipline among

alwaYs there. A skywalk , if available, would be the best way to go across a busy street though it will cause some straining in the legs.

us, ilonggos, then so be it. the large tarpaulins inked with the inscriptions, no Jaywalking, as well as the fences that hinder us from crossing are the reminders for us to obey the laws and

regulations of our city. it is such a joy seeing that people are finally helping the government take a step closer towards the fulfillment of the goals of our city. As law-

abiding citizens, we must heed not only this ordinance but also the laws of our nation. So, what will it be for you - to cross over and disregard the ordinance or not?

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com

Do not cross!

andrade

ilOilO citY health Office

SPECIAL REPORTS The Rise of a Winged Enemy

H-Fever Cases and Deaths 2010 Report, of the 1,741 cases recorded, 895 or 51.41 percent of the population affected are females. on the other hand, only 846 or 48.59 percent of the population afflicted are males. As stated by the Department of health (Doh), the dengue virus keeps on plaguing the country today because of the presence of the four different strains, plus the fact that the country is experiencing El nio and continuous rains which are also responsible for the upsurge of cases. though regarded as a life-threatening illness, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever. on the contrary, medical care by physicians and nurses, experienced with the effects and progression of the complicating hemorrhagic fever, can still save lives even decreasing mortality rates from more than 20 to less than 1 percent. Alarmed over the number of patients rushing to hospitals seeking dengue consultations, the government, particularly the Doh, encouraged people, especially the parents and guardians, to practice the D. E. n. G. U. E. strategy, in which D stands for Daily monitoring of patients status, E Encourage intake of oral uids like oresol, water, juices, etc, n note any dengue warning signs like persistent vomiting and bleeding, G Give paracetamol for fever and

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

How dengue has become the Philippines worst nightmare

By Mary leslie eregia and andre Karl faculin

the city goverments poster for awareness on dengue

BARELY weeks after the first automated election fever, the Philippines caught another fever in the form of dengue hemorrhagic fever that jeopardized the lives of many, whether man or woman, rich or poor, young or old. As of october 2010, dengue cases in iloilo City ballooned to 1,741, about 468.01 percent higher than the 372 recorded in 2009, according to the iloilo City Health Office. in an interview with Dr. Urminico Baronda, City health officer ii, dengue cases have increased because of the swelling number of breeding mosquitoes. if there is an increase in mosquito population, there will also be an increase in mosquito

attacks, Dr. Baronda said. Dengue hemorrhagic Fever, commonly known as dengue, is transmitted by the bite of a female Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses, usually types 1, 2, 3, and 4, and occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. it is a potentially lethal complication, predominant in urban and sub-urban areas. According to Dr. Baronda, dengue can occur almost everywhere. Damo ang breeding places sang mga lamok. Examples are water containers, tires, and so on and so forth. Basta places with stagnant water, he further added. now, considered as a major international public

health concern, dengue causes a severe u-like illness characterized by fever (lasting 2-7 days), severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle, joint and abdominal pains, rash, vomiting, nose bleeding and dark-colored stools. it is the leading cause of death among people n Asian countries. the incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades affecting mostly children. Siguro kay they are not always protected. they are the most exposed sa mga surroundings and the fact is, hina pa gid ila immune sysytem, Dr. Baronda explained with regards to why children are the common victims of the said disease. According to the Dengue

not aspirin, because aspirin induces bleeding, U Use mosquito nets and E early consultation is advised for any warning signs. Massive clean-up drives versus dengue were also conducted in Iloilo specifically the People Power Do Day Against Dengue which was led by Gov. Arthur Defensor and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog. Generally, vector control measures, implemented using environmental management and chemical methods, are believed to be the only methods of controlling or preventing dengue virus transmission. through community-based programs, proper waste disposal and improved water storage practices, which include covering water containers are among those considered to be effective measures in the mitigation of dengue. in school vicinities, the

4 S which stands for: Search and Destroy, Seek early consultation, Self-protection, and Say nO to indiscriminate fogging, are being practiced to destroy the mosquitoes breeding places and to ensure protection all-year round. As indicated by Dr. Baronda, the above-mentioned 4 S should be practiced not only during the rainy season but all throughout the year. 365 days guid dapat ang prevention and the masses should be aware of that. Kung i-practice ni nila ang 4 S, they will not only protect themselves but also develop self-discipline, Dr. Baronda informed. A famous adage goes, An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. We should not undervalue even the simplest colds for this might be the cause for death to come closer to our door steps. With vigilance, let us work hand in hand in thwarting dengue.

dr. urminico Baronda, Jr., city Health Ofcer 2 of the Department of health-region Vi.

Tick Tock Glitch

What time is it?
RUShinG your way towards the gates of the University, you look at your watch and see that you are on time. You continue to head towards your classroom at the Alumni Building. Looking at the digital clock with its red lights blinking every second, you stop. Yes, stop. You stop with astonishment as the clock tick-tocks with the wrong time. Why this glitch? Carmelo Soriano, Jr., president of the University of San Agustin Student Council (USASC) for AY 2010-2011, said that he first noticed that the clock started to malfunction back in December 2009. however, he has yet to diagnose the exact root of the problem. Abi namon una may nagatandog o may nagakuti sang control kay ang control ara man lang sa gwa. Ti basi bala student lang na siya nga wala ubra. (We thought at first someone was fiddling or tampering with the control because it is just on the outside.) Pero, (But) i think, sa pila namon nga balik-balik kay-o, sige gyapon iya malfunction (Despite the number of times weve fixed the clock, it still continues to malfunction.). i think may problema gid na siya (theres really something wrong with it) in terms of mechanical [functions], shared Soriano. Soriano added that he considered time synchronization as vital because basically all of us manage our schedules based on time. When the teachers start and end their classes and when the offices open and close all depend on time, according to Soriano. in an interview with The Augustinian, Christian Gregoire tioco, USASC
By andre Karl faculin

president for AY 2007-2008 revealed, Actually, the idea of having a University clock did not originate from our batch. We just adapted the idea; it was conceived during the term of Deken Chua, USASC president for AY 2005-2006. But wala (didnt) nag-push through ang iya (his) project even in the next year. So we thought of accomplishing such project. tioco stressed that in order for all Augustinians to have [synchronized] time, apparently because [everyone] s t i l l h a d d i ff e r e n t t i m e zones, the USASC decided to purchase the University clock. According to him, the Councils original project was to purchase either pieces of gym equipment or the University clock. Due to manpower constraints, they had to forego buying gym equipment and purchased the clock instead, sometime

between the second semester and the Summer of AY 20072008. Rey John Lorca, USASC business manager then, was assigned to procure the digital clock from VJ Semiconductors at SM City-Iloilo. Ms. Fely Caturas, secretary of the U S A Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t f o r Student Affairs, confirmed that the cost according to the financial statement submitted by the Council amounted to PhP27,000. these funds were obtained from the treasury of Chuas administration. Moreover, tioco revealed that the clock had not been installed immediately during his tenure because, Sang ginpurchase namon, (when we bought it), we [were] hoping nga (that) after a week or a month ma-install na siya (it would be installed) pero wala namaterialize (But it didnt materialize) and i dont know why. Ginpabay-an na lang na

kay siyempre (it was neglected because, of course,) ginturnover na ang leadership, (the leadership was turned over) added tioco. John Paul Petrola, USASC president for AY 2008-2009 and current nStP academic coordinator, opined, it was not installed immediately (during tiocos term) because it was purchased latein fact, near the end of tiocos [term], when asked why the clock was not used right away. Petrola added that looking for a strategic location was another factor that brought about installation problems, aside from the [limited] budget. he further asserted that during his presidency, the clock was working properly as it gave time according to the Universitys time. Petrola further said, one of the reasonswhy it was not repaired as soon as possible was perhaps the busy schedule of the council [officers] plus the [limited] budget...thats why, i told Carmelo, now that you have much budget you can have it [clock] repairedthat way, it would give us the right time for synchronization. on the other hand, tioco recommended that the USASC

may coordinate with the General Services Office. He also wished that the USASC must make sure that, if repaired, the clock would be calibrated daily. the clock was finally installed and inaugurated on June 24, 2009 during the term of noreen Mae orquinaza, the USASC president in AY 2009-2010. however, it again malfunctioned just a few months after the inauguration. For now, the simplest recourse resorted to by the current Student Council according to Soriano is to disable the digital clock since it [creates] disturbance and [elicits] annoyance. they are still seeking technical assistance to identify the cause of the malfunction and fix the problem. the USASC has been earnest in its resolve to have the clock repaired with urgency. in fact, Right now, we are looking for someone from outside [the University] nga makabulig sa amon (to help us) fix sang (the) [clock], Soriano stated. if not, the University would always have asynchronous time.

faculin

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

Editorial

thERE had been a major uproar in the Augustinian community brought about by a sex video involving an exstudent of the University. Wearing her A-line red and green plaid Augustinian skirt and white blouse, a certain tin-tin created such an exposure of herself that it created a massive wave of shame among the Augustinians, most especially the female students. The Augustinian received reports and feedback saying that some uniformed girls have been called One Five while they were walking in places where groups of men gathered. the number, 1500, pertains to the amount of money tin-tn told her sex mate she was worth for a romp in bed with him. not that many Augustinian female students have experienced being called such but the issue has become very alarming for it involves not only the reputation of our University as a Catholic educational institution, but also the respect that should be given to our female students. We in The Augustinian believe that the University has not failed in teaching us, students, the virtues of chastity, propriety, decency, and self-respect; that our female students are priceless and that no amount can ever be attached to them. tin-tin had her reason for committing such an indecent act but whatever that reason was, what she did should never be viewed as something that is representative of the entire female studentry of the University. We cannot, in any way, blame the entire institution for the fault of one person. As students of the University of San Agustin, we have had theology classes since we were freshmen in college and we have been constantly reminded that sex is the most sacred form of love the apex of every marriage. those who cannot control their urges and do not care about their personal reputation made the choice not to adhere to Catholic teachings and not to care about the reputation of the school. the participation of the exUniversity female student in a sex video was her personal choice. Whether or not she was conscious of the immorality of her act, we do not know. the thing is, what she did was hers and hers alone. But what can we do to regain our legitimacy as a Catholic school? For one, our teachers, even those who do not teach theology, must reinforce and intensify the teaching of the 10 Augustinian values in all their classes so that students could be reminded of what is expected of them as sons and daughters of God. Moreover, students have to be taught how to reect on their actions and behavior and the consequences or implications they bring upon the University. And, finally, for a perfect harmony of Virtus et Sciencia, a close collaboration between the school and the Augustinian parents should be established, particularly on matters involving students activities. this home-and-school collaboration could foster better supervision of students and parents clearer understanding of the inuence and dangers of media and peer pressure. Let us remember that all of us, Augustinians, have a name and a reputation as a 106-year-old Catholic school that speaks of the rich Catholic doctrine and Augustinian heritage that we have practiced and preserved. the challenge is to prove to everyone else that the sex video does not reect the degradation of our traditions. We must show others that we are one as Catholics and as Augustinians, so lets effect the movement now.

1500

OPINION

no more sirens. We will no longer hear sounds from the presidential vehicle, not even if it is protocol. this is one of the changes that President Benigno Simeon Aquino iii promised on his oath-taking, exemplifying that he is of the people and for the people. Aquino said that sirens are used only by those who love to display their position and power. i t s c o m f o r t i n g t o hear a president speak of a government that people usually have to endure, as if hes got no position in that same government. Perhaps, i have been overdosed with the stings of our stubborn democracy a nation of widespread corruption, poverty, and scandals that i have forgotten that a president is entrusted by the people to work only for them and not for his personal interest or anyone elses. Maybe you, too, feel this way but let us give ourselves a potion faith to repel the negativity so that we may put our trust back in our leaders.

though it wasnt a major thrust of the Aquino administration, the silence of the sirens signals a change that empowers us Filipinos to be the real sovereign of our land. in our University, Aquinos no siren initiative is also felt, in another form. our USA Student Council (USASC) sold ballers and t-shirts imprinted with the name of the University of San Agustin and the now famous tagline, Agustino Ako, at PhP40.00 and PhP150.00, respectively. these ballers and t-shirts symbolize our Student Councils efforts to make each of us, students, feel that we are as important as the other members of the Augustinian community. however, beyond the question of vitality is the fact that, as the primary clientele of the University, we, students, can effect dramatic changes in this venerable educational institution. Aside from this wearable drive, the USASC had another Agustino Ako spirit-building activity. this time, a concert

Of sirens and silence

PRODIGY

JEFFERSON MAGBANUA

with a USA alumnus, a true blue Augustinian, the worldclass singer, Jed Madela (aka John Edward tajanlangit), and the dean of the Conservatory of Music, Fr. Jonas Mejares, oSA. Even Madela himself was overwhelmed by the outpouring of Augustinian goodwill and spirit during the concert itself. theres no doubt the USASC has been doing a great job in inculcating the Augustinian charism in our mind and heart. But ive always wondered why student governments in our school (whether Universitywide or departmental) no longer take their stand on student-centered issues such as increased tuition and

miscellaneous fees, facilities improvement, protocol lapses, collection of additional fees, among others. is this because of fear of those who are fond of using sirens over us or is it simply because of lack of realization of what student governments should be? Whatever the case may be, thats up to our student governments to know and for us to find out. Student leaders are elected to represent the voice of the students, especially in schoolrelated matters. its saddening, though, that a multitude of students have lost their voices in times when theyre needed the most. Attribute this to a culture of indifference, passivity and smooth interpersonal relationships. Given this set-up, it isnt too late yet for our student leaders to repair the system and provide the means to empower the student body. i, for one, still believe in the abilities of our student leaders. transparency and re-orientation of goals are key solutions.

Moratorium
i was an atheist for more than five years. Such a blunt statement (or confession, if you want to be ironic) would no doubt elicit horrified gasps from this Catholic university. Raised as a Roman Catholic since childhood, i never really felt what it was like to believe in a higher Being. in high school, i completely shrugged off my religion and started anew as an atheist, although discreetly. Where God should have been, there was just a yawning black hole. it would have been different if i hated God, since love and hate are mere sides of the same coin. no, i did not hate him. in fact, it would be better if i felt anything at all, but i didnt. how can you love or hate someone who just didnt exist for you? For me, masses were just meaningless hours of incense and words that could not wake anything in me. the sign of the cross was like dialing a number INSERT LATIN PHRASE HERE cia.gov). in relation to this, ive met people who confess that they remain Catholics because they cant think of being anything else. My family has always been Catholic since i can remember, said one friend of mine with a shrug. Naandan ko na eh, said another. their answers remind me of something i learned in human Development, one of my major subjects. According to developmental psychologist James Marcia, there are four processes that adolescents go through in order to achieve identity. of the four, two strike me as worth mentioning. Identity foreclosure is the status in which the teen blindly accepts whatever identity and values were given to him/her in childhood by significant others. the other, identity moratorium, is the stage when the teen explores options in the hopes of finding something to commit to. For me, it is far better to be continuously searching for your identity instead of limiting yourself to one mask without trying on the other ones. the thing that differentiates foreclosure from moratorium is that there is an intensive analysis and exploration of the different ways of looking at oneself, or, as psychologist Erik Erikson will have it, an identity crisis. Without introspection, a commitment to a cause, belief, or way of life will just be shallow and lacking in meaning. Dont be afraid to doubt who you are and what you believe in if it means finding a truer identity. So yes, i returned to the faith but it doesnt mean that my own moratorium is coming to an end. i feel i am just halfway through. though ive given up going to masses a long time ago, i still try to talk to the Big Guy Up there. i dont think moratoriums last forever so by then, he would have phoned me back.

Editors-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors Senior Writers

Staff Writers

Photographer Staff Artist Circulation Ofcer Moderator

Jefferson Magbanua Donna Isabelle Fresnido Ray Adrian Macalalag Mary Leslie Eregia Josefa Maria Castro Josh Von Iron Tondo Andre Karl Faculin Genessa Buenafe James Marthy Esleyer Mia Rose Emboltura Lennon Ponta-oy Febrielyn Tumines Kevin George Barrios Jerson Elmido Darlyn Herradura Kristine Louise Andrade Nicole Fernan Caminian John Louie Esmaya Gladys Confesor

DONNA ISABELLE FRESNIDO

The Augustinian is the ofcial student newspaper of the University of San Agustin. It is published twice a year by the USA Publications with editorial ofce at the 2nd Floor, Alumni Hall, University of San Agustin, Gen. Luna St., 5000 Iloilo City. Comments, suggestions, and contributions may be sent to the Editorial Board through the E-mail address usa.publications@rocketmail.com.

that kept on ringing without anybody answering the other line, and prayers were like conversations between me and a blank wall. in a country where 86 percent of its citizens rated God as Very important in their lives and 99 percent believed in God (World Values Survey), these sentiments may seem like a speck. Still, i wonder whether the Filipino youth profess their faith because of deep personal understanding or because that was just something their parents had taught them from an early age. the Philippines is 80.9 percent Roman Catholic (www.

AS i munched on Clover cheese chips and sucked on the wine-y taste of the Mentos grape mix chewables while pondering on a possible topic for my column, the euphoria that i felt a few moments ago came to an abrupt end when i felt a sharp sting on my left arm. to my horror, i saw that i was under a mosquito attack. Without thinking any further, i immediately slapped the annoying winged insect with all the force i could muster. When i looked at my palm seconds later, i saw the squashed mosquito, lifeless and bloody, sticking on it. Killing my winged adversary, however, did not elicit a sense of triumph in me because many other people, especially children, could not have been able to defend themselves from the viciousness of this so-called bloodsucker. Many lives were lost and people are

Bites do Kill
PULCHRITUDINOUS

MARY LESLIE EREGIA

still suffering because of these winged insects. is there no hope at all for us to be free from these pesky creatures? A few months ago, the media bombarded us with scary news of the severity of dengue cases across the nation. Several towns and provinces were placed under a state of calamity due to the rising number of dengue victims. According to statistics, the number of victims affected by dengue this year increased to almost 300% compared to last years figures. Aside from the usual reports on killings and national crises that

greeted us in the mornings and lulled us to sleep at night, we also got heavy doses of bonechilling news that the country and P-noys administration had to face: the alarming rising tide of dengue hemorrhagic fever cases all over these Philippine islands. As the nation-wide battle continues against the onslaught of dengue, the present administration must take every possible action in containing the spread of the deadly disease that, with every ticking of the clock, claims a precious life, both young and old. if, indeed, the youth of today is the hope of tomorrow, how can the Philippines make progress if its last hope is dwindling in number because the necessary precautions in fighting the disease had not been taken earlier? isnt it distressing to see the decreasing number of students going to school every

OPINION

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

day and an increasing number packing the hospitals across the land? Dont we find it depressing to see that many of the youth today are lying on hospital beds instead of reading a book or taking down notes? With the crises that our country is facing nowadays, all we could do is to take extra precaution and prepare ourselves for the inevitable. this dengue outbreak calls for every one of us to work together for the immediate annihilation of the disease. if medical professionals cure the sick and the Church prays for the end to the epidemic, we, the youth, should also take part in the campaign by cleaning our surroundings and maintaining proper hygiene. these may be small steps yet they could yield positive results. it has now been proven that a single little bite really does kill.

face-lifting philippine education

FROM three to five years old, i started to cross the threshold of pre-school education. i eventually embarked on a journey towards elementary education. After six long years, i ascended to four years of high school education. ANDRE KARL FACULIN then, at age 19, i shall most likely have already finished my college education. By that time, i shall have pursued medicine or ended up as a professional medical laboratory scientist. the above scenario would become different if another change in the educational system would be implemented. President Benigno noynoy Aquino iii has included in his 10-point agenda the addition of two years to the current 10year formal education. tagged as K-12, it aims to transform the retrogressive educational system. Back in 2009, the Department of Education (DepEd) declared that there were 5.6 million out-of school children and that only 16% of college students actually graduate from college. on a global scale, Philippine education has been left behind. Among the 155 member nations of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UnESCo), only three countries continue to adapt the 10-year cycle of basic educationDjibouti, Angola and the Philippines. the same 12-year curriculum is crammed into a short 10-year cycle. this leads to a skimpy coverage of lessons causing little or poor learning. Moreover, most college graduates from the Philippines are downgraded by employers in foreign countries for the simple reason that they merely had 10 years of education in our country. in fact, some of our ASEAn neighbors like thailand do not recognize Philippine degrees as equal to those awarded by their educational institutions. the K-12 basic education curriculum is believed to help solve the appalling problems in our educational system. the new Education Secretary Armino Luistro stated that the 12-year curriculum will include seven years of elementary education (from the current six) and five years of high school education (from the current four). he further said that the plan includes incorporating practical skills in the curriculum to develop high school graduates and enable them to find employment even without a college diploma. the said project, however, comes with a high price tag - an estimated 100 billion pesos, according to Sec. Luistro. Primarily, the addition of two years will improve the quality of education. this is not a new proposal for, as a matter of fact, many nations in the world have already been implementing this educational scheme. As a product of a 10-year basic education program, i must contend that the present system is inadequate in truly providing students with the knowledge and skills needed for college. in order for us to be at par with other nations, we need this reform in the system. Also, the present curriculum is too academic in orientation thereby depriving the students of extra-curricular interests. Through this plan, the Filipino youth will be armed with holistic education thus, providing a long term solution to the education crisis. Secondly, this improvement will serve as an alternative to the tertiary level. K plus 12 will be an opportunity for specialized education which will focus on the arts, agriculture or vocational knowledge. Luistro pointed out that the plan will boost the labor force of the nation. Finally, it is a reality that a high school graduate from the current scheme is not even employable. So, why squander the 10 years of education on a student who could not be gainfully hired? include the idea that the age of employment is 18 years old. Moreover, as the nations educational system becomes globally comparable, foreign employment of Filipino graduates will be easier and quicker. The brand of our education will be radically changed. From a different perspective, however, the quality of education does not necessarily depend on the length of time spent in learning. Come to think of it, the government simply needs to address in a major way, the perennial problems that pockmark the Philippine education landscape, such as crowded classrooms, mediocre and incompetent teachers, insufficient textbooks and archaic facilities, among others, in order to effect a large-scale face-lift of the basic education system. VOX POPULI good use. The efficiency of the generators has been improved. So, a few minutes after a black out, energy is restored in the University. Laboratory classes resume. the heat in the classroom vanishes. As heavy in the pocket as it may seem, the energy fee that we have paid is not a bad thing after all. it allows us to attain what we are in this University for - access to excellent education.

unconscious habit
PiCtURE this out: the teacher asks a really difficult question in your class and you are the only one who answers correctly. All your classmates give you a certain stare, which makes you feel like melting on the spot. But when you give a wrong answer, they chuckle devilishly in their seats, im sure youre very familiar with that scene. Maria Venus Raj, the Philippine representative to the Miss Universe 2010 competition left an extremely unforgettable legacy. Rajs answer during the interview portion caused a major reaction, not only among her kababayans back home, but also on the entire world. She became the hottest trending topic on most social networking sites at that time for coining the term, major m a j o r. M o s t F i l i p i n o s were disappointed with her performance since it was undeniable that she couldve bagged the crown were it not for her major major mishap in the most crucial part of the pageant. But why do we seem to have forgotten the fact that Venus placed fifth out of more than 80 beauties who competed for the prestigious crown and was the only Asian to have made it to the top 15? Wasnt that enough reason to celebrate? the last time the Philippines landed among the finalists in the Miss Universe pageant was in 1999, when Miriam Quiambao placed first runner-up. the Philippines has two title holders in the history of the competition, namely, Gloria Diaz, who won in 1969, and Margarita Moran, who won in 1973. to be able to make it that far in the competition after so long should have been enough cause for rejoicing by all Filipinos. But that didnt seem to be the case. in an interview, Raj admitted that she got nervous during the pageants questionand-answer portion. Alam BEAUTY AND MADNESS lining. We have this habit of mocking people for their mistakes and squeezing every juicy bit of humor that we can get out of those lapses while intentionally overlooking peoples achievements because of our we couldnt care less attitude. Filipinos also have this inclination to make up excuses to mask their faults. Whenever they do something wrong or fail to meet the expectations of those around them, they tend to come up with abysmal cover-ups, hoping that the whitewashings will be plausible enough to mask their shortcomings. it is a feature of our culture that we cannot deny. its true what they say that whenever someone does something right, nobody seems to remember. however, when he does something wrong, nobody seems to forget. That is the average Filipinos way of thinking - an attitude that definitely needs to be changed.

JOSEFA MARIA CASTRO

mo kasi, pag nasa stage ka, may ganoon akong... ewan ko ba may ganoon akong sakit sa katawan ko na pag nasa stage na ako, hindi ko alam ang sinasabi ko, she laughingly said, but prior to this statement, she mentioned in another interview that she was completely contented with her answer and that she wouldnt have answered it any other way. Some criticized her for her inconsistency, doubting whether she was truly satisfied with her answer during the interview. the problem with us Filipinos is that, more often than not, we tend to magnify the dark side of every situation and fail to see the silver

good, not bad

nothinG comes without a reason. this academic year, the miscellaneous and laboratory fees have been increased with the addition of more expenditure items. thus, miscellaneous fees now range from three thousand pesos for old students, to four thousand pesos for the new students and transferees quite a sizeable amount. An additional expenditure is the energy fee of PhP500.00 which increased the total miscellaneous fees by about 20 percent. Since money is difficult to come by, parents and students have reacted negatively to the fee increase. Bad, they say. But let me put it this way: something bad could turn out to be good if taken from a different vantage point. heres how. UNSPOILED HYPOTHESIS the University are hampered. For example, the medical and dental clinics cannot provide quality service without the use of electricity-powered tools and equipment. the accounts section cannot print and issue assessments or receipts. the projectors and multimedia equipment we have reserved at the instructional media center become useless. the energy fee may be an additional fee that we have to pay but other facilities that we also pay for are not functional without electricity. that is why an alternative source of energy is needed to continue the learning process the electric generators. L a s t a c a d e m i c y e a r, the distribution of electrical power from the generators was limited to a few buildings within the campus; only those with highly important offices were energized. This discrepancy was due to the inability of the generators to provide for all the energy needs of the buildings and offices on campus. So last year, during power outages, most, if not all, laboratory classes were suspended (unofficially). M a n y o ff i c e s c o u l d n o longer offer good services to the students and faculty members alike. the budget for electrical troubleshooting during blackouts in the city was insufficient. A classroom ventilated just by the warm breeze is not a conducive place for studying. Laboratory activities disrupted by energy failure diminish the students learning experience. this year, we are still having black-outs but luckily, the energy fee has been put to

RAY ADRIAN MACALALAG

Electricity is essential in every educational institution, much more in a university such as ours. in classrooms, although we do not use electric fans in solving problems in calculus, we are cooled by these rotational devices. in laboratories, we use computers, apparatuses, and other devices that require the constant ow of electricity. When there is a black out, poof goes much of the learning we have gained from a lesson. Some services in

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

A Case of Terror Dilemma

The road taken by some who fear strict teachers
throughout until some o f m y classmates s t a r t e d chatting, whispering and giggling. Everyone in the room could tell the teacher was distracted by the whispers and giggles. if only i had the nose to smell misfortune so i could prepare for what she was about to say next Get one whole piece of paper. Lets have an essay on what i was discussing, shall we? In the first class meeting of the school year, an essay was the least that i had expected. i never even thought it was done. Eve and i locked eyes. She had an i-told-you-so smile. She was right and i had been sure this was the start of a great semester, ironically speaking. Unfortunately, my classmates and i were just a tiny fraction of the statistics on millions of students in the country who must endure stomach-souring professors who may or may not be brutally straightforward: a.k.a strict.
http://farm4.static.ickr.com

FEATURES

By genessa Buenafe

start their discussions, students are not going to appreciate them, maybe not even like them, but thats a risk theyre willing to take in order to extend to students the best possible learning. its a noticeable fact that, at a tender age, the youth exercise freedom too well, expect things to happen in their favor and eschew traditional ways of teaching. these are the reasons why teenagers take negatively tlong-established strategies of teaching. Back in the days the traditional teaching approaches are generally teacher-directed and follow cookbook steps of activities and demonstrations which take meticulous methods to expose students to learning. traditional university expectations and department philosophies, as well as the historical experiences by which faculty have traditionally learned to teach, have driven the continuation of the lecture-based model (Udovic, Morris, Dickman, Postlethwait and Wetherwax, 2002). We sometimes hear from our parents that in their high school to college years, their teachers were more rigorous when it came to lessons and exams. Since that was the past, teenagers would counter by saying, hey, that was so 80s. that style doesnt exist anymore. Yet, when faced with the same scenario in school, we find ourselves surprised. Our parents teachers teaching styles are not even close to extinction despite new breakthroughs in the teaching world. Worse, the only choice is to deal with it, even though doing it can cause a students emotions to go haywire. The side effect of a mentors bitter pill the classroom climate influenced by the teacher has a major impact on [students] motivation and attitude towards learning. Specifically, the factors that best facilitate student learning are considered to be the ones that are described as purposeful, task-oriented, relaxed, warm, supportive, and has a sense of

order and humor in an integrated sense and this separates an effective teacher from an ineffective one (Kumaravadivelu, 1992; Basow, 2000; Basow & Silberg, 1987; Best & Addison, 2000; Bousfield, 1940; Cravens, 1996; Feldman, 1986; Guerrero & Miller, 1998; Marsh & Roche, 1997; Radmacher & Martin, 2001). From the literature cited, can stern educationalists teach and inspire students to be motivated and be positive towards learning? or result in a withdrawal? Whatever the outcome, it all depends on how students take these stimuli of learning and utilize them to the maximum for their own benefit to gain knowledge. On evasion and going against it Based on reputable polling firms and worldwide forums, coping with teachers strictness is easier than escaping it. the only question is how? First, learn why educators are strict. Know their backgrounds and what they want. Reasonably strict teachers, in fact, care more about what their students learn than what their student think about them. Second, give them what they want. Follow the rules, pay attention, study for their over-thetop-quizzes and show them that you care about learning from them. It sounds very difficult and a pain in the head but getting into the habit of following rules, paying attention and studying could not only solve the problem with strict teachers but could also help you become responsible and mature, all the qualities that ensure success. Giving them what they want is just like helping yourself. that doesnt sound difficult at all, does it? So, instead of ranting and raving about the things that you hate about your terror professor, or strict instructor, or authoritarian teacher, think about where you will be ten years from now. That essay on your first day of class could be your winning ticket to success; and that strict teacher whom you hated so much could be the same one you will count among your blessings in life.

CARRYinG my books as if they were lifesavers, i headed to the laboratory, feeling nauseous from the smell of what seemed to be a jumbled mix of chemicals. At least, for a moment, thats what i thought. As a freshman coming from a place outside the city, i still hadnt gotten used to all the smells and sights on campus, much more the killer schedules and nosebleed-inducing lessons. the pressure i felt tightened when Eve (not her real name), my classmate since high school, came up to me and mumbled something about a professor who had a peculiar habit of making students suffer. okay, thats over reacting, but i told her any student could somehow survive a reasonably strict professors class and live to tell about it. Somebody entered the lab and the loud cacophony of voices suddenly turned into soft murmurs. that somebody turned out to be our teacher. She exuded a friendly aura, smiling at us, walking daintily on her high heels and ipping back her hair just like any regular female professor would. then she started discussing the requirements and the lessons to be taken up during the semester. She was very pleasant all

By donna isabelle fresnido

thEY say that necessity is the mother of invention, and methods of cheating are no exceptions. From the basic kodigo (cheat sheet) scribbled on a crumpled piece of paper, students have moved on to higher forms of cheating in order to thwart the teachers and escape the blood-red 5.0. Although we in The Augustinian do not condone cheating, we still find it amusing to detail the various modes of student-propagated cheating, both creative and downright obvious. We classify modes of cheating as 1) the transmission of information; 2) writing the kodigo; and 3) hiding the kodigo. Students, ang tamaan huwag magalit. teachers, be on the lookout for these devious tricks: 1) Transmission of information. Sharing is loving and one very concrete example of this is transmitting information. Without a doubt, the most common example is texting. Be it a Jurassic 3210 or the trendiest touchscreen phone, all cellphones are equal in this aspect. With texts that run from a simple SoS like nu ansr sa test 1 #5? to a lengthier Aug. values - love, interiority, humility, devotion to study and pursuit of wisdom, freedom, community, common good, humble and generous service, friendship and prayer, you have to thank all those networks for their unlimited promos for allowing you to send to many. Experts text with the phone carefully concealed at the side of the chair without needing to glance at their phones. Apart from texting, a more basic method is to leave your paper out in the open to share

Devious tricks
caMinian

unveiling the secret Scientific and psychological studies show that, in the first part of the academic year, teachers are very straightforward, in order to create boundaries so that their expectations as educator can be clearly presented. if those expectations are not met by the students, continuous strict teaching shall be imposed to give a clear message that he/she is in charge. Moreover, strict teachers know that before they

some blessings, or muttering answers to your cheatmate. Another interesting way of transmitting information is giving signs, whether through hand signals, body movements or sounds. Stretching your back means true and scratching your neck means false. one tap of the ballpen on your desk means letter A, two taps letter B and three taps letter C. Chirping like a bird means letter A while meowing like a cat means letter B alright, that was rather extreme but yes, those things do happen if youre desperate enough. 2) Writing the kodigo. in its most basic form, the kodigo is simply anything that contains the information needed to get a decent score (read: 75% and up). Basic forms include pieces of paper and your palms (although if they sweat a lot, then

good luck). But why limit yourself to those two options? other helpful surfaces to write on are armchairs (youd even find some past cheats that arent smudged or faded), handkerchiefs, your arm, or even your skirt or pants. in fact, the most ordinary things are usually the most useful kodigos. For those who want to be generous to the whole class, then the blackboard might do you good. Yes, you heard me right the blackboard. Write seemingly meaningless and innocent messages on it like announcements, but in such a way that the wording corresponds to familiar terms in class. 3) Hiding the kodigo. have you ever played that computer game where you have to search for something in a room full of junk? The third classification of cheating, hiding the kodigo, is just like that. the kodigo is not really

the focal point its how you hide it. Like in the previous classification, the most ordinary things are the most useful aids. Lets start with hiding places found on the body: the kodigo can be inserted in your shoes or socks, inside the sleeve of your shirt or jacket, your ID protector. For those hiding places you can grasp with your hand, theres the fan, the handkerchief (if you hate dirtying your hanky by using it as the kodigo itself), the calculator, and the ballpen, where your kodigo is a thin strip of paper wrapped around the inside of your pen. Lastly, there are the hiding places that are far away from you but can still give you a clear visual of the kodigo. Creativity is the key here. Wastebaskets can be utilized by storing crumpled pieces of trash that are, in fact, your reliable cheat sheets. the same could be done with a backpack: open it to let some books and notebooks peek out, then insert the kodigo somewhere in between the covers. Your kodigo can also be hidden in a transparent folder laid on the oor: step on it to reveal the written cheat then, once done, remove your foot and the writing disappears, leaving only the cover of the folder. the laptop can also be positioned behind a backpack and the virtual kodigo enlarged to help the visually-deficient cheater. if you want to take it further, a bluetooth mouse can be hidden and manipulated to open various virtual cheat sheets. the strategies enumerated above are just some of the countless variations of cheating. For students, these are lifesavers. For teachers, these are smokescreens that hide a students true learning. Either way, just remember that there are no cheaters if there are no lax proctors.

i wonder why i always get lost in those tantalizing eyes of yours, he says to her as he softly strums a guitar while she gazes back at him with ushed cheeks. The marble bench they were sitting on was splashed with moonlight as fireies twinkled in the background. this scene might strike you as romantic: Boy serenades Girl and whispers sweet words of love. Alas, things have changed and what used to be a perfect date for our elders is now seen as time consuming and baduy by our generation. today, seeing a boy and a girl go loveydovey even if they are not yet committed to each other is considered almost natural since doing it seems to be the trend today. As Filipinos, we always try to keep up with the current trends in society. We tend to imitate or be inuenced by our Western counterparts in every aspect, including courtship. During the early times, it was the norm for the male to initiate the courtship, but today, the females have become so aggressive that they go out of their way to court the guy themselves. indeed, todays methods of courting make our elders shake their heads in disbelief and disapproval, wondering if we have literally lost our minds.

9 FEATURES st Maria Clara dies in the 21 century

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

The death of traditional Filipino courtship

During the Spanish times, it was considered taboo for a man to just approach a lady on the street and ask for her address. if he was truly sincere, he should first ask the permission of the girls parents to visit her in their house since that was the gentlemanly thing to do. once permission was granted, only then could the suitor undergo paninilbihan, or servitude, to test his earnestness, Calagsing added. The typical Filipina was expected to play hard-to-get or be pakipot, since the process of courting Filipino ladies was a long and arduous one. no matter how much she liked the suitor, she had to show utmost restraint and disinterest because, during those times, girls were made to believe that the men would value them more if they (men) worked hard for something they really wanted that is, the girls acceptance. the guy, on the other hand, should be relaxed, not showing any sign of exhaustion, impatience or aggressiveness, until he could finally win the hand of the maiden he was courting. Any kind of physical contact between the lady and the guy was prohibited while they were still in the courting process because it was believed that the lady should preserve her chastity until after the wedding. Even an accidental intertwining of fingers was considered illicit during those early times. these restrictions, however, helped the lady gauge the sincerity, worthiness and capability of her suitor and future husband. the traditional long courtship showed the mans values such as respectfulness, politeness, courteousness, punctuality, gentleness, and sincerity. When formality is concerned, traditions do matter.

By Mary leslie eregia

Tradition does matter Courtship, they say, is the best part of a girls love life. this is why, in the early days, the courting process involved a lot of tasks given to a suitor, such as chopping firewood, fetching water, doing household chores, and, the ladies all-time favorite, doing the harana, in which the suitor expresses his feelings for the woman he is courting by singing romantic songs for her on moonlit nights, together with his friends, to the accompaniment of a banduria or a guitar. According to Mrs. Marjorie Calagsing, Guidance Counselor of the College of Engineering and Architecture, the Filipino way of courtship is probably among the most romantic in the world since it gives a very huge importance to the respect a suitor shows the lady he wants to court and her family as well.

Wooing the 20th century lady nineteenth-century Philippine courtship may be viewed by todays generation as conservative and repressive, one suitable for Maria Clara, the icon of 19th-century Filipinas. Such mode of courtship dictated that no trace of submission or affection be shown to the wooing bachelor. this repressed behavior, however, has long been abandoned by many Filipinas as the reality of the technological age has made

communication faster and easier. Mobile and online courting have made it possible for teenagers to encourage intimacy with members of the opposite sex through the frequency of texting and chatting online. Because of technology, it didnt take much time for the Filipinos to adopt the Western style of courtship. Sadly, as Filipinos continue to be more Westernized, they become less Philippinized. nowadays, the modern suitor seldom visits the house of the girl he is wooing; he simply resorts to having an eyeball, or meeting the girl formally for the first time, in restaurants, malls, or even bars. his courtship style no longer involves servitude in the girls house and usually lasts for a couple of weeks, even days, instead of the traditional one or two-year courtship. the guy is also more aggressive because of several other competitors vying for the ladys hand. With regard to parental consent, 20th-century parents seldom intervene in the choices of their children. they mostly act as guardians and advisers. Sometimes, because modern parents are too busy with their work, or are frequently absent from home, they dont even know

that their children are engaged in romantic relationships until a daughter gets pregnant, a son brings home a pregnant girlfriend, or a child runs away with a boyfriend or girlfriend. only when the family name and reputation are at stake do parents force their children to marry despite their young ages. on the other hand, the traditional parents, especially the fathers, chose the most suitable mates for their children, but only on their (fathers) own terms. thus, it is very alarming to note that teenagers have become more aggressive than ever, engaging in public displays of affection even if they are not in a romantic relationship, to the point of having premarital sex just because it is the in thing now, the adult thing to do, the way to belong and to be accepted. in the worst-case scenario, teenagers marry themselves off to persons they think they know from the on-line chats they have, or even barely know, and only let their parents know about the marriage when a baby comes into the picture. Wooing in the 20th century is not a piece of cake after all.

By donna isabelle fresnido and Josh Von iron tondo

caMinian

ShE didnt expect that a mere figure would be enough to render her speechless, but it did. Miss, tag-one-five ka man? grinned a boy her own age. He icked some cigarette ash from his white pants and leered on. A lot of things raced through her mind. Must she slap him? Would it be a good idea to ram the cigarette down his mouth? how about if she dug her knee into his groin? But before she could do all those things, the boy stood up, straightened his epaulettes, and crooned, Halong, miga. Sounds familiar? in one form or another, this incident has been endured by many Augustinian female students simply because they, too, wear the red-and-yellow plaid skirt that had been showcased in the sex video scandal that erupted a few months back. One-five refers to the payment asked for by the female student who wore the University uniform in the video. its alarming how the actions of one member, for better or for worse, can drag the whole group along with it. the stain spreads until none remains untouched and so the stereotype triumphs once again. A stereotype is a commonly held public belief about specific social groups

or types of individuals. it arises from an individuals inadequate experience with groups, patterns of communication with these groups, and inter-group conicts. Although inaccurate, stereotypes are still used by people because it conveniently organizes complex information into welldefined categories. Why think deeper when you can just confine things to four walls and a box? Stereotypes can either be good or bad, but the bottom line is, you really cant trust an inaccurate conclusion. Examples abound in our everyday lives. For the rest of the world, the Philippines is a third world country of potbellied cops who cant even protect one from trigger-happy madmen. Filipinas are only fit to be domestic helpers, if not Japayukis. this is where your money goes is just a Filipino in-joke and Slow down, men at work really means Slow men down at work. the far-reaching effects of stereotypes prevent the prejudiced person from appreciating the stereotyped groups. Victims of stereotyping may fall into what psychologists call selffulfilling prophecy or being what others expect a person to be. they may also be hindered in performance and suffer from low self-esteem.

Of course, agreeing to the self-fulfilling prophecy isnt the only option for victims. they can fight back by proving the prejudiced person wrong. As the Arabian proverb goes, A narrow mind and a wide mouth go together. if their oppressors still wouldnt believe them, then its not the victims loss. As for the stereotype of our women as good for only one-five, we entreat you, dear Augustinian ladies, to remember that you always have the option to fight back. Fight back not in the sense of going down to the level of those oppressors, but in ways that can shatter the stereotype and still allow you to hold your chin up. We Augustinians are not worth one-five. We are priceless.

caMinian

10

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

FILIPINO
http://www.nytimes.com

Walang Nakakahiya
KAGAYA ng sa may hiV, YUNG TAGALOG minarkahan na tayo ng madla. isang malaking problema ang hatid sa atin ng nagkalat na sex video kung saan lantarang ibinalandra ang uniporme ng ating JOSH VON IRON TONDO pamantasan. Dahil dito, marami sa mga babaeng estudyante ng San Agustin ang nakaranas na matanong ng Tag-one-ve ka man, miss? Dahil dito, nabaling sa atin ang mata ng madla; walang pakundangang nagtatanong na Sa Catholic school gaeskwela, amo na ang ginhimo? Dahil dito, sa tuwing nasasambit ang pangalan ng ating pamantasan, hindi na tipikal na estudyante ng San Agustin ang pumapasok sa isipan kung di isang estudyanteng nakauniporme habang nakikipagtalik at humihinging mabayaran ng PhP 1,500. nakakaasar isipin na dahil lang sa sex video na ito, hinusgahan tayo ng madla. hinusgahan tayo na tila ba ang kasalanan ng isa ay kasalanan ng lahat. hinusgahan tayo, lalo na ang mga babaeng estudyante ng ating Unibersidad, base sa isang pagkakamali ng isang tao lamang. At hindi ito nakakatuwa. Ganito rin halos ang nangyari sa hostage crisis na naganap noong ika-23 ng Agosto. Matapos ang lantarang pagpalpak ng ating kapulisan, isang pagkakamaling dapat sa kanila lang at sa mga taong responsable sa kanilang kapalpakan, hinusgahan din tayo ng buong mundo. hinusgahan tayo na para bang pulis ang lahat ng mga Pilipinopulis na sa pangongotong at police brutality lang magaling at walang kwenta sa mga sitwasyong kagaya ng sa hostage crisis. Sadyang hindi ito nakakatuwa dahil hindi naman natin kasalanan ang nangyari. hindi natin kasalanan ang pagpalpak ng ating kapulisan dahilan marahil sa kulang sila sa kaalaman at kagamitan dahil sa nabulsa na ng mga super hero ng bayan ang perang nakatalaga sa kanila. hindi natin kasalanan ang pagkakamali ng ilan sa atin pero tayong lahat ang napagdiskitahan. nakakairita. nakakaasar. Karapatan man ng mundo, lalo na ng mga kaanak ng mga namatay na banyaga, ang maghimutok sa nangyari, hindi ko nakikita ang karapatan nilang bastusin ang ating pagka-Pilipino. Kagaya ng pambabastos ng ilan sa mga babaeng estudyante ng San Agustin, nabastos rin ang ating bansa sa pamamagitan ng pag-hack ng hindi pa kilalang tao sa website ng Philippine Information Agency (PiA) at pagpaskil niya ng watawat ng tsina sa page nito, at pagkalat ng F--- You Philippine Government sa ilang Chinese blog spots. naiintindihan kong sigaw nila ay hustisya, pero hindi rin makatarungan ang ganitong pangyayari. hindi kailangang bastusin ang ating pagka-Pilipino para lang makamtan nila ang hustisya. Ang Augustinian student sex scandal at pagpalpak ng mga pulis sa hostage crisis ay ilan lamang sa mga kaganapan kung saan mapapansin ang likas na mapanghusgang katangian ng tao. Mapapansin rin dito kung gaano kabilis tayong mga Pilipino maghanap ng masisisi kumpara sa paghahanap ng solusyon. higit sa lahat, mapapansin kung paano naaapektuhan ang karamihan sa kamalian ng ilan. Gayun pa man, sa kabila ng kapalpakan at panghuhusga, hindi nakakahiya ang pagiging Pilipino. hindi nakakahiya dahil hindi naman nakakahawang sakit ang pagiging Pilipino at ang kamaliang naganap sa ating bansa. totoo mang pumalpak ang mga pulis natin, totoo mang hindi maganda ang sistema ng gobyerno sa ating bansa, hindi parin ito nangangahulugang wala na tayong magagawa. Pwede parin nating maisaayos ang kamaliang dulot ng ilan sa atin at ayusin ang bulok nating sistema. Ang kailangan lang nating gawin ay ang makialam. hanggang sa patuloy tayong nakikibaka, hindi nakakahiya ang pagiging Pilipino. Kagaya ng pagka-Pilipino, hindi rin nakakahiya ang pagiging Agustino. hindi nakakahiya dahil hindi naman kasalanan ang pagiging estudyante ng Unibersidad ng San Agustin. nangyari lang na uniporme ng ating Unibersidad ang nasa nasabing video. nangyari lang na estudyante ng San Agustin ang bida. Kung estudyante mula sa ibang paaralan ang nagkasala, sasapitin din nila ang dinaranas natin ngayon (marahil hindi nga lang kasing bigat ng sa atin dahil sa posibilidad na hindi sila nakakulong sa impresyong Catholic school). Magiging nakakahiya lang ang pagka-Agustino kung tutunganga lang tayo at sasakay sa panghuhusgang ginagawa sa atin. Magiging nakakahiya lang ito kung mananatiling bulag at pipi tayo at ang ating mga kaparian sa katotohanang hindi lang isa ang biktima sa nagkalat na sex video kung di tayong lahat din. Walang nakakahiya sa pagiging Pilipino at Agustino. Walang nakakahiya dahil hindi naman ito kapansanang pipigil sa kaya nating gawin. May magagawa pa tayo. huwag tayong huminto sa kung saan tayo hinusgahan.

Yob
nina Josefa Maria castro at Josh Von iron tondo

MAinit. Kating-kati na kayo ng tropa mong magyosi. Dahil sa anti-smoking in public ordinance ng Lungsod ng iloilo, napilitan kayong pumuwesto sa lugar na kahit malayo (at matao pa rin) ay pwedeng mag-yosi dahil sa nag-yoyosi ang public doontambayang public smoking area kumbaga. Sa kalagitnaan ng mga hirit, kakornihan at tawanan ninyo, may napansin kayong bumasag sa kadalasang hindi nasisirang moment ng tropa: Dalawang babae. naka-shorts. Sexy. Magkahawak kamay. naupo sila sa mesang di nalalayo sa kinauupuan ninyo. nagsindi ang isa ng yosi, humithit, at nilagay sa bibig ng kasama. Ang sweet. Sana magpasahan ng usok gamit bibig. Sana nga mag-shotgun. Sana mag hihirit ka pa sana pero binatukan ka ng katropa ninyong kikay. Yob yata ang mga yan eh, sabi niya. napatingin kayo sa kanya. Sobra ka naman, sabay na sabi mo at ng dalawa mo pang ka-tropa. Dahil ba sa sweet sila, tomboy na agad? depensa ng isa. inggit ka lang kasi di ka hot, kutya ng isa pa. Asa kayo, sabay batok ng kikay sa katropa ninyong kakasalita lang. I just know nasi-sense ng radar ko. Ang tagpong ito ay hindi na bago sa karamihan sa atin. Minsan, wala mang basehan, hindi natin naiiwasang humusga lalo na sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa homosekswalidad. Sa kalalakihan, hindi marahil ganoon kadalas ang makapansin o maka-sense ng pagkahomosekswal ng babae (maliban na lang kung sobrang halata na talaga kagaya sa kaso kung saan naka-boy-cut ang mga tibo). Pero sa kababaihan, ibang usapan ito. Sinubukan namin sa The Augustinian na pagtuunan ng pansin ang isyung ito at maghanap ng mga datos na makakapagbigay linaw sa atin tungkol sa buhay nila. Sa aming paghahanap ng kaliwanagan, nakilala namin sina Bangs at KM (hindi nila tunay na pangalan), kapwa mga estudyante ng ating pamantasan at hindi nagkakailang sila ay iba sa karamihan. Sa magkaibang panayam, inamin nilang sila ay tibo, at sinalaysay sa amin

ang kanilang kuwento. ang kuwento ni Bangs taliwas sa kinagawian o stereotyped na imahen ng isang tibo, iba si Bangs. hindi maiksi ang kanyang buhok, hindi siya naka-jersey, hindi siya mataba at lalong hindi siya mukhang lalaki. Kung tutuusin, mas babae pa nga siya tingnan kumpara sa ibang babae dito sa ating paaralan. Siya ay masayahin, makuwento, at masasabi nating maganda. hindi tipikal na tibo kumbaga. Ayon kay Bangs, hindi siya ipinanganak o lumaking tibo. nangyari lang na pinagaral siya sa exclusive school for girls at simulat sapul noong mag-high school siya, lagi na siyang may seatmate na tibo. Marahil dahil nga sa may hitsura, madalas siyang pinipilit ng mga naging seatmate na maging sila na lang, bagay na lagi naman niyang tinatanggihan. Bukod sa seatmate, napasok rin si Bangs sa silong ng mga kabarkadang karamihan ay tomboy. hindi pa naman daw siya tibo noong nakikipagbarkada siya sa kanila at sa katunayan, kahit anong pilit nila, ay umaayaw siya sa ideyang sumabay sa agos nila. noong mga panahong iyon, siya pa rin daw ang girl sa barkada. [Pero] pag-ulihi daw nagka-crush ako bala sa girl ([Pero] bandang huli nagka-crush ako sa babae), pagbabaliktanaw ni Bangs noong siya ay nasa ikatlong baitang ng high school, panahong sabi niya siya ay nasa identity crisis. nagulat pa nga raw siya sa sarili dahil naisip naman niyang lalaki ang kanyang gusto. Dalawang taong pinagisipan at itinago ni Bangs ang kanyang sitwasyon. natakot siya sa kung ano ang iisipin ng mga madre sa kanyang high school at kung ano ang sasabihin o gagawin sa kanya ng mga magulang. Sabi pa niya, hanggang crush lang daw siya noong siya ay nasa ikatlo at ika-apat na baitang at ni minsan hindi nagpahalatang siya ay tibo. Pagdating sa kolehiyo, doon na raw niya pinanindigan ang pagiging homosekswal. Mas okay daw sa kolehiyo kasi daw uso man (parang uso na rin). At sa kolehiyo na rin siya unang nagka-boyfriend. Sa tanang buhay ni

Bangs, hindi siya nagkaroon ng kasintahang lalaki. Madalas daw kasi siyang pagbawalan ng mga magulang, bagay na naiisip niyang tumulak din sa kanyang pagiging tibo. Biro pa nga niya, Sala man na nila kay sagad sila bawal sang high school kobawal nga mag-migo lalaki. Bawal gali mag-migo lalaki, ti pwede babayi (Kasalanan din nila iyon kasi lagi nila akong pinagbabawalan noong high schoolpinagbabawalang mag-boyfriend. Bawal pala mag-boyfriend ng lalaki, kaya babae na lang). Minsan daw ay nagkagusto rin si Bangs sa lalaki pero iba pa rin daw ang pakiramdam ng sa kapwa babae. Gayun pa man, nilinaw ni Bangs na hindi siya nagkakagusto sa babaeng-babae talaga o yung tinatawag nating straight. Yung mga tibo o yob lang daw ang natitipuhan niya. Malaking bagay raw ang environment sa pagiging tibo ni Bangs. hindi niya ginusto talaga ang maging tibo at ni hindi nga niya maalalang nagdesisyon siyang maging ganoon. Ang sabi niya ay nagising na lamang siya na babae na ang natitipuhan. Gayun pa man, hindi niya pinagkakailang masaya siya sa sarili. ang kuwento ni KM hindi halos nalalayo ang kuwento ni KM sa kuwento ni Bangs. Kagaya nito, hindi rin tipikal na tibo si KM. hindi rin siya ang tipong tibo sa unang tingin. Sa katunayan, meron din siyang angking ganda. Marunong siyang mag-ayos babae at marunong rin magdala kumbaga. Kagaya kay Bangs, nagsimula rin siyang maging tibo noong siya ay nasa high school. At kagaya kay Bangs, galing rin si KM sa paaralang exklusibo para sa mga babae. nagsimula raw ang lahat para kay KM noong siya ay ipinakilala ng pinsan sa mga kabarkada nitong tibo. Marahil dahil sa pinagbabawalan ding makipag-relasyon sa lalaki, naisip ni KM na mas madali ang maging tibo dahil ang pakikipagrelasyon sa kapwa babae ay hindi nakakatawag pansin o hinala sa mga tao. Ayon pa sa kanya, hindi rin daw ito alam ng kanyang mga magulang. Gayun pa man, naisip niyang may hinala sila dahil sa ngayon ay pinagbabawalan narin siyang sumabay sa mga kabarkadang

tibo. Kumpara sa naging reaksyon ng mga magulang, mas maluwag raw ang pagtanggap ng mga kaibigan niya sa kanya. Sa una raw ay medyo nagulat sila, pero agaran naman nila itong natanggap. Minsan na ring pumasok si KM sa pakikipagrelasyon sa kapwa babae. hindi niya pinakakailang naging masaya siya. Gayun pa man, hindi kagaya kay Bangs, natapos ang kanyang pakikipagrelasyon sa hindi kanais-nais na kaganapan. As the relationship grew longer, I felt controlled and choked. Everything was dictate;, the clothes, the people to hang out with, the places to go. ...She threatened me several times, telling me shell ruin my relationship with my family. There was this one time where she hit me because she refused to let me go (habang tumagal ang relasyon, nasakal ako. Lahat naka-dikta; ang damit, mga taong sasamahan, mga lugar na pupuntahan. ilang beses niya akong tinakot, sinabi na sisirain niya ang kaugnayan ko sa aking pamilya. Minsan sinaktan niya ako dahil ayaw niya akong hiwalayan) kuwento ni KM. Mabuti raw at nagawa niyang makatakas sa patibong na minsan siya ay nahulog. Mahirap man, pero natutuwa siyang ngayon na siya ay malaya. G ayun pa man, magpahanggang ngayon, natatakot pa rin siya sa kung ano ang gagawin ng nakarelasyong tibo. ang pagiging tibo sa malupit na lipunan Kung ikukumpara naman sa kalalakihan, malaki raw ang pinagkaiba nilang mga tibo lalo na sa pag-ibig. Ayon kay Bangs, hindi natin maipagkakailang mas naiintindihan nila ang mga babae dahil sa likas rin silang babae. Mas madali sa kanila ang tumanggap sa mga kumplikasyong hatid ng kababaihan. At ang mga tibo raw yung tipong luluhod talaga kung kailangan at gumagawa ng mga bagay na hindi halos magawa ng kalalakihanang magpaka-corny ng sobra. Gayun pa man, kailangan pa rin nilang magpakatotoo kahit sa pinakamaliit na paraan dahil nga sa ito nga ang tunay nilang sarilisila ay tibo ano man ang sabihin ng nakararami.

A Noticeable Performance for Unnoticed People

By febrielyn tumines

THE competition piecewas born out of the concept to advance into the minds of the people the lives of our modern-day heroes who have to leave home to fulll their desires to give a better life to their families. How they conduct their lives and their works [were] researched, [with] actual observations and interviews conducted, then transformed and interpreted into dance movements so that the piece will only portray the truth. these words, coming from Artistic Director Annie Divinagracia-Sartorio, the lady behind the award-winning productions of the USA Kawilihan Dance Company, aptly capture the process through which the dance group has conspired again with the spotlight to bring home the Ani ng Dangal award given by the national Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines at Malacaang Palace. the award recognizes the superb presentation of that jewel of a dance piece called The Construction Worker, the competition piece which expresses the pain, regrets, commitments and fears of construction workers struggling to realize their aspirations in every labor-induced droplet of sweat and in every tumultuous circumstance they find themselves in. Unlike any other school-based dance group, the Kawilihan pushes for an advocacy to present to the world the persons who are usually unnoticed by society in this case, the construction workers. it did not just portray the ironies in the life of this particular labor group, but also delved into the deepest chambers of the audiences heart. having totally immersed themselves in the characters they portrayed, the dancers showed in every sway of their hips, on every expression on their faces, in every contraction of their muscles, the fervor of their performance embedded in the impressive choreography, letting the audience feel and see the truths about the poverty that

ARTS and CULTURE

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

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Kawilihan usa dancers in action

cloaks the life of every construction worker. With extensive stomping of the feet, graceful sweeping of the hands, powerful hopping in the air, the dancers told the story, their faces calling for the need for affection. they were like Peter Pans and graceful ballerinas sailing, oating, and whirling in the air, lost in the ecstasy of breathtaking projection. Every dancer was a version of the small voice of each construction worker, sobbing the same bitter tastes of lifes failures; each seemed plagued with emotions, possessed and carried away by the spirit of passionate creativity, conveying the entire message and emotion behind the story. their powerful and soaring performance was indeed worthy of the honor and recognition given them. the Ani ng Dangal success of the Kawilihan is not all there is to the club. When asked about the future of the Kawilihan, Sartorio very clearly articulated what she wanted for the club, to explore more genres of dance forms and add to the repertoire of the Kawilihan, to train the members to become versatile and competitive, and to participate in national and international festivals and competitions, if the budget permits. Kawilihan will continue to put up dance productions that will tug at heart strings and touch peoples lives. Maybe next time around, it will not just be about making some unnoticed lives seen, but also about making big lives out of nothing. there will be a lot of experimentations, trials and errors; the members will always be challenged by demanding class and rehearsal schedules but all these will only propel them to reach greater heights of success, maximize their performance level, and develop the true terpsichorean soul. As long there are lives hungry for selfexpression and music waiting to be played, the Kawilihan will always be finding new ways to reach out to its audiences through the language that only dancers know.

Revelare: Point, Focus, Shoot Developing Images, Pixels

the club welcomes them. Even if they have zero technical skills in photography, the club will show them the ropes through in-house trainings. in fact, as pointed out by Mr. Soriano, roughly forty percent of the club members are complete amateurs. however, before long, these neophytes would acquire basic photography skills as they are given training and exposure (no pun intended) by other club members who have much better skills and more experiences in photography. the membership swelled from twenty to seventy due in part to the conduct of a membership campaign last year after a successful art exhibit cum launching at the Students Center. Since then, the club has had two other art exhibits of the members works one during Saint Augustines Day celebration and another during the University Christmas celebration. For faster and more convenient means of disseminating information to the members, the club has designated some members as college representatives. In order to establish itself firmly as a legitimate campus organization, the CAP strengthens its internal capability by providing skills-building and enhancement activities for its members and makes its presence felt by joining campus-based activities. Soriano concluded by saying that being a good photographer needs determination and eagerness in taking pictures that convey a message to the viewers. however, the true measure of a good photographer is the application of skills, techniques and values in capturing images, and not the equipment that he/she uses. So the next time we look at photographs, lets go beyond the obvious and dig deeper to what the image is trying to tell. it might be astonishing to realize that a single picture can be more of an eye-opener than a thousand words combined.

MedeZ

MedeZ

By genessa Buenafe

AS our eyes become accustomed to the dayby-day unfolding of the world, the number of images we perceive is limitless, though there are a lot more that we overlook as we rush through our daily routine. Leafing through pages of books in our classes or magazines in the library we may see diagrams, figurative representations, and pictures that sometimes seem to be insignificant to us. These images may or may not have important messages, but one thing is sure - if we dont take a minute to pause and look at them with our eyes wide open, then they would really mean nothing at all. With this need for awareness and focus, a fledgling organization is starting to gain popularity among students here on campus:

the USA Club of Augustinian Photographers (CAP). Carmelo Soriano, Jr., USA Student Council president and one of the co-founders of the Club of Augustinian Photographers told the Augustinian that CAP is an organization for all those who are passionate about photography and are willing to learn more skills in this field. We, members, are bound together by our passion for photography and a special friendship has developed among us. Formed in the second semester of 2009, with Vice-President for Student Affairs, Rev. Fr. Pederito Aparece, OSA as its co-founder and adviser, the club started with just 20 members but now, after only a year, it already counts seventy members. the CAP took inspiration from the student photographers need to document campus events

through which means they could contribute to the development of the University. in fact, one of its objectives is to let us, Augustinians, know that looking at images on the club members photographs taken from different points of view can significantly change the way we look at life. Such images make up not only the time capsule of memories but also the medium through which we can all become witnesses to what we used to be and what we can be in the future. thus, such a group of Augustinian photographers can effectively bring about change not just in individual persons but also in the greater community. one thing that makes this club unique is that it does not require new members to have their own cameras. As long as they have a passion for photography, for capturing memories and images to be shared by many,

pOseciOn

diVinagracia-sartOriO

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JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

Breakthrough in microbiology sees the unseen

By andre Karl faculin

SCI-TECH

Set-up of modied Baermann technique

Hookworm larva in its lariform stage

DoES your naked eye allow you to unravel the invisible? if it does, you may discover you are not alone. Parasites are living off your body. these living creatures populate the gastrointestinal tract, eventually causing diseases and infections. A winning research by a team of four Medical Laboratory Science students enlightens us with the perils of parasites in the lives of many. Serren Lor Gallinero, Ellen Mae Cerena, Diane Lorraine Lorea and Rachelle Ann Sayomac point out in their research

entitled, Parasite Larvae in Soil Samples from Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo, iloilo City, the presence of soil-transmitted organisms, specifically helminthes larvae in Zone 12 of the said barangay. iloilo province had an increase in the incidence of parasitism in 2008. Among the eight districts of iloilo City, Arevalo district had the highest reported cases, thus, the research was conducted there. over the years, Arevalo has been known to be home to different parasitic organisms. hence, the study aimed to find

out the occurrence of parasites in the site of research, Gallinero revealed in an interview with The Augustinian. During the teams ocular visit to the area, they discovered that the practice of defecating directly on the environment and the habit of walking around barefoot provided a high indicator of suspicion for the presence of soiltransmitted helminthiasis. As determined by the researchers, the data needed for the study were collected by gathering soil samples from five sites, identified through the purposive sampling technique. The five site areas were: around the barangay gym, along the barangay footwalk, at the peripheral coastal portion of the barangay, in residential areas and along the barangay riverbanks. According to Prof. Lerma Paris, R.M.t., M.S.P.h., one of two advisers of the scientific research team, together with Prof. Christine Villanueva, R.M.t., M.S.M.T., the group employed a modified Baermann technique for the experiment. Baermann technique is a procedure through which one can recover and separate parasitic larvae from the soil. Gallinero stated, noting the innovation of the laboratory method. the results of the study revealed that the soil samples from site 1, site 2, site 3 and site 4 were determined positive for parasite larvae. Seven soil samples from the aforementioned areas were verified upon microscopic examination, while eight out of fifteen showed negative findings. The larval species identified was the hookworm larva retrieved in its filariform stage. on the other hand, site 5 was found to have been

consistently negative. this is attributed to the continuous ow of water at the spot along the riverbank, Paris explained. Previous studies in epidemiology proved that hookworms are prevalent in Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia where these organisms are adaptive to tropical climates. Gallinero stressed that the lack of sanitation or poor personal hygiene, absence of a toilet and lack of footwear, in particular, are the major factors in parasite development and hookworm infection in the test site. We [hope] that, after this study, the residents would change their habits of defecation and walking barefoot; instead, they should maintain cleanliness in their community; the government should take action and conduct further study on the degree of soil contamination in other areas of iloilo. he further said that the Department of health (Doh) had been conducting de-worming activities yet parasitism was still rampant. Considering that soil plays an important role in the parasites development and transmission, health institutions should stress and focus their approaches on the prevention of parasitism through the improvement of sanitation. the scientific research was recognized as the Best oral Paper Presentation in the undergraduate category during the 17th Annual Convention and Regional Scientific Meeting of the Philippine Society for Microbiology, inc., Visayas Regional Chapter, on october 23-24, 2009 at the Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo, iloilo City. Presently, it is published in the May 2010 issue, Volume 5 of the Scientific Augustinian, the Science and technology Research Journal of the University of San Agustin.

The new edge in Pinoy mobile lifestyle

By ray adrian Macalalag

FRANCINE was excited when she brought her new phone to school. She thought of bragging about it to her friends because it was very much different from other [expensive] brands. When the phone rang, she did not hesitate to take the call. her cell phone is branded My|Phone. it is becoming popular among the Filipinos today because of its unsurpassed built-in features and sleek appearance that is worth its price. Truly pinoy by nature My|Phone has a unique operating system that offers pre-loaded features not found on any other brand. The cell phone matches the Filipino culture and helps promote it. From its physical appearance to its pre-loaded wallpapers and screen savers, My|Phone is a brand name really suited for Filipinos. Being maka-Diyos, you will find ease in saying prayers and novenas when you want, where you want because most phone units have built-in recordings of common prayers, the Angelus, and even the holy Rosary. Aside from prayers, recordings of Pinoy trivia, riddles, and jokes are also included.. the trivias are categorized into various interest topics such as Rizal, geography, people, amazing facts, and the like. there are also recordings of bugtong-bugtong (riddles or guessing games), famous movie lines, and original Pinoy Music (oPM) that you can listen to and boast about. if you are bored or sad, you can listen to preprogrammed jokes. the cell phone contains wallpapers promoting Pinoy life. Most units usually have the Philippine ag and map as preloaded wallpapers and screen savers. But newer units also offer pre-loaded wallpapers that feature

some scenic spots in the country. The short history My|Phone is the first Filipino mobile phone brand to introduce the dual Subscriber identity Module (SiM) card mobility in 2007. As a local brand, it endeavors to reach international standards. Amazingly, in a span of just three years, it has obtained significant sales figures. Solid Group incorporated, the company that manufactures My|Phone, started off about 50 years ago as an exclusive retailer of Sony products. Chairman Emeritus Elena Lim then steered the company through a highly competitive industry and made it into a large organization that it is today, a company that dreams of making a positive difference in every Filipinos life. Lims eldest son, David Lim, is now the president of this company. Continuing what his mother started three years ago, he upgraded the company by coming up with an innovation - the first active dual SIM mobile phone -the first of its kind in the country and, undoubtedly, the companys biggest achievement. Lim proudly refers to it as the first active dual SIM mobile phone ... an accomplishment for Filipinos, by Filipinos. in an online interview, Alanito Matubaran, Business Development officer of Special Channels of Mytel Mobility Solutions, inc. (exclusive distributor of My|Phone), revealed that the company sold an average of three thousand units per month when it started way back in September 2007. today, it is putting out about 33 thousand units per month. Since the rate of sold units is increasing

rapidly, we have estimated to sell 100 thousand units per month by 2011. Matubaran said. users react In the My|Phone official fan site community (http://www.myphone-ph.webs.com), you may read testimonies that can motivate you to get a unit as soon as possible. According to one user, he has used his My|Phone unit for almost two years. Unlike China phones that he emphasized to be sirain (easily damaged), his cell phone is still in one piece and is still currently in use. Another user said, it was the best phone. Because it has a dual SiM capability, she has no problem in maintaining her multiple network subscriptions. in addition, she never forgets to pray before starting and calling it a day since her My|Phone unit has recorded prayers that she always listens to and recites. however, since My|Phone is new to the industry, its units are not yet configured with general packet radio service (GPRS), the system responsible for connecting a cell phone to the internet. telecommunication companies that offer GPRS configurations to cellular phones are still in the process of making these [configurations] for My|Phone units. having been proven to be better than China phones, My|Phone is now being duplicated by other manufacturers in China, according to one testimony on the fan site. these genuine-

looking imitations claim to be the same as the original My|Phone. So the user who posted his testimony warns that consumers must be very careful in buying My|Phone units they might get imitations. The price While Francine was talking to her friend on the phone, her classmates noticed her new gizmo. they began guessing the price and the last [price] they quoted was three thousand pesos. Actually, it was much lower than that; it was just PhP 2,495.00. having different features from those in international brands, My|Phone might be considered expensive at first glance. Well, think again. With just two thousand pesos, you can have a brand new My|Phone unit. Compared to other brands with QWERtY keypad, My|Phone could actually give you savings of at least a thousand pesos. My|Phone is a strong emerging market player whose performance continues to inspire the Filipino and promote the Filipino culture. it offers high quality features at a much lower price than most foreign brands do. only time will tell how far this technological innovation can go but one thing is sure - we Filipinos are very proud about My|Phone. Who knows, you might surprise yourself by buying one soon. or perhaps, youre alreading using My|Phoneright now.

www.google.com

My|Phone

DiSAStERS take shape in a variety of forms and figures. Nevertheless, all disasters lead to a homogeneous endingdestruction. Regarded as a tragedy resulting from natural or man-made origins, a disaster may come in the form of a fire, an earthquake, a ood, an accident, a volcanic eruption or a bomb explosion. While there may be no sure way to prevent the occurrence of disasters, what is certain is the ability to control the risks, prepare for the ensuing crisis and respond to the consequences. the University of San Agustin was engulfed in ames on July 27, 2010 when it simulated an emergency fire situation at Blanco hall. the siren resonated across the University to signal the start of the fire drill. Students of the College of Engineering and Architecture who were occupying the said building rushed out as they evacuated to a safer place. Then, the fire fighters bravely extinguished the inferno ravaging the campus. the simulation was composed of two parts. The first, held in the morning, was the orientation on fire safety and drill conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the second, conducted in the afternoon, was the actual firefighting of the Fire Brigade organization. that undertaking was part of the program of activities of the Fire Brigade Organization (FBO)of the University under the Health and Safety Committee (hSC). Actually, [the one who] initiated [the] fire drill [was] Dr. Ma. Lina Navarro, chair [of the] hSC, [and] Fr. Nelson Zerda, OSA, Director of General Services and vice-chair [of the] hSC, Engr. Rizalde Monserate, the physical plant engineer, said in an interview

ENVIRONMENT Cushioning the Unpredictable

By andre Karl faculin

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

13

with The Augustinian. He explained that fire drills are performed quarterly or semi-annually in order to equip the students and the personnel with the knowledge of what to do during and after the fire. In addition, educating the Augustinians on how to respond to emergency situations such as a fire, is deemed necessary in order to prevent panic and minimize, if not eliminate. hazardous effects. Monserate further stated that the FBO is headed by the fire chief, the President or the Director of General Services and supported by the assistant fire chiefs, and the deans or the head of the HSC. The FBO is further specialized into other sub-units namely: logistics, evacuation, medical, security and traffic, search and rescue, and fire fighting. In addition, each college has its own fire brigade aside from the Universitywide organization. Monserate revealed that there is still much to improve with regard to our preparedness for disasters. in response, the Administration took the measure of constructing the so-called skywalk that connects Mendel hall, Blanco hall, St. Monica hall (Alumni Bldg.) and Aguirre hall, in order to ease the pathways in cases of emergencies. Dr. Ma. Lina J. Navarro, head of the HSC, shared that apart from fire drills, their group intended to carry out an earthquake drill which had not been done lately. Fire drills are practice drills in preparation for emergencies. Based on Republic Act 9514, otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines, institutions should conduct fire drills regularly, stated Ariel Sabale, Fire Officer I of the Bureau of Fire Protection Region VI. Furthermore, Sabale cited three main causes of fire, namely: 1) electrical overloading, 2) overheating and short circuit of electrical

equipment; and 3) LPG mishaps and smoking, which results in ares from burning cigarette butts. he also named three things as important for fire safety: alarm, fire escapes and fire extinguishers. When asked if the city was prepared for disasters, Mr. Joseph Paul nogra, Chief Operations Officer of the Office of Civil Defense (oCD) of the Department of national Defense Region VI, did affirm that the city was ready to face any disaster, be it a fire or typhoon, among others. Based on the recent data on disaster incidents issued by the Office of Civil Defense, a total of 126 disaster occurrences took place in Region Vi from January 1 to December 31, 2009, 119 of which were natural incidents while seven 7 were man-made. those natural incidents were mostly caused by typhoons, landslides, oods, tornadoes and lightning strikes that left damages to properties amounting to P 136.57M.

on the other hand, the 7 man-made disasters were comprised of 4 fire incidents, 2 maritime incidents and 1 aircraft incident that resulted in damage to properties estimated at. P39.14M. on the whole, records of disasters registered a total of 28 deaths and 37 injuries, 13,858 affected families, 75,529 affected individuals, 537 totally damaged houses, 293 partially damaged houses, and a total of P175.71M of compensation for damaged properties. With this picture, nogra recommended that, Students must be informed of disaster preparedness schemes [since they] are more aggressive, informed and curious [so that they have a] tendency to help in the dissemination of information and response as the situation arises. It goes without saying then that the Office of Civil Defense is committed to administer a comprehensive national defense and civil assistance program by providing the continuous development of measures to reduce the risk to communities and manage the consequences of disasters.

The Brownout and the Energy Crisis

By ray adrian Macalalag

YoU eat your lunch hurriedly. the clock ticks second by second. You only have five more minutes left before your class starts. the internet caf is a hundred meters away. You still have to wait in line - a long line actually. With less than a minute left before your class, its finally your turn to have your project printed. Suddenly, the electricity goes out. Frustrating, isnt it? Thats how it is here today in iloilo City. Brownouts are a very common phenomenon, especially in the afternoons. it goes without saying that there is an energy crisis in the city. Brownouts are usually triggered by several factors. if the demand of the consumers is bigger than the supply available, the electricity provider would cut down some connections so that it can accommodate the needs of other consumers. Another factor that causes brownouts is maintenance. the power supply is cut off when
andrade

worn out wires or other electrical system parts are repaired or replaced. this is done in order to serve the consumers better. We are greatly affected by these routine brownouts every afternoon. it would usually range from a few minutes to a few hours. Luckily, for schools that have generators, laboratory classes resume as if nothing has happened. But for schools without secondary sources of power, laboratory classes would be over. Aside from educational institutions, businesses are also affected by the brownouts. Whether directly or indirectly, the energy crisis can slowly ruin both small scale and large scale establishments. For example, a computer shop experiences a brownout. Since computers require electricity to provide service for their users, the computer shop will lose its customers. if a computer shop can afford to have a generator, it may keep its customers but

The coal-red power plant in Brgy. ingore, la paz

the computer units will be gradually damaged because the chips inside them will wear out more quickly due to improper shut down. however, for establishments selling batteries and battery-operated gadgets such as ashlights, the power crisis means more income for them because consumers are most likely going to use alternative sources of energy. in the same manner, micro-entrepreneurs will not be affected by brownouts because their businesses do not require the use of electricity. Even then, for the entrepreneurs personal needs, he might still need electricity, such as when he has to cool off with the use of the electric fan, or when he must store perishable foods in the refrigerator. if he cant meet these needs, he might not be as productive as he should be. According to Filipino scientist Benjamin Austria (2002) of the World Energy Council, the reasons for the energy crisis in the Philippines could be traced back to the development of the energy industry in the country. During the Marcos regime, the 620-megawatt Bataan nuclear Power Plant was constructed. it was supposed to meet the energy demands of the country especially in Northern Luzon and nCR. however, after the late President Ferdinand Marcos was ousted through the EDSA Revolution in 1986, the nuclear power plant was abandoned because it reportedly was not given the permit to operate for environmental and safety reasons, as well as for corruption charges that came in the wake of its construction. When the late President Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency, her administration drafted the Medium-term Energy Plan (19881992) that included projects that would expand the generating capacity of the power plants in

caMinian

the country. nevertheless, the projects failed because they could not meet the increasing electricity demand. this led to the energy crisis that went on for two years (1992-1994). in Northern Luzon, the daily brownouts lasted up to 12 hours a day and caused economic losses estimated by the World Bank at $600 million to $800 million a year, or about 1.5 percent of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). today, the energy crisis has made a comeback. With the increasing demand for electricity, brownouts are once again creating massive disturbances to the daily operations of educational institutions, commercial establishments, and residences. As consumers, we need to do our share in helping the energy sector and the government in overcoming this persistent problem. We can do simple acts of energy-saving measures such as unplugging our electrical appliances at home when they are not in use. Simply turning them off is not enough since they still consume power while plugged into the power outlets. Also, we must not leave our cellular phones and other gadgets unattended while they are charging. Aside from being fire risks, they still consume electricity when plugged though they are already fully-charged. And lastly, we must make use of the daylight. if the room we are in is already brightened by sunlight, we should turn the electric lights off. We can also use energy-efficient devices in our homes and businesses. Compact uorescent lamps (CFLs) are good to use because they do not only consume less power but they also produce brighter light. in buying electronic devices and electrical appliances, we must check how much energy it consumes. the lower the wattage, the more we save electricity. the time calls for moderation, restraint and vigilance. if possible, we must be less dependent on electricity and try to live green. When we cooperate and support each other, we can overcome this power crisis.

14

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

COMMUNITY
andrade andrade

Living in the Shadow of the Coal-red Power Plant

EVERY day, the same thing is faced by Rhodora Jacosalem difficulties in almost all aspects of life. Jacosalem, 43, has four children two live with her and the other two have gotten married and left home without a care about the family they left behind - their mother, father and two younger siblings. Rhodoras husband and her son earn the familys daily income by driving their two tricycles.the family earns at least PhP 300.00 and at most PhP 500.00 per day. Daily, they buy canned food or noodles and one gantang (approximately two kilos) of rice. they also need to buy water at PhP 2.00 per container (3 gallons) since the water from their deep well is salty and a bit foul-smelling at times. the family also sets aside what remains of the daily income and uses the accumulated amount to pay for the electric bill. Generally, the family can not have big savings for emergency needs, especially health problems. Rhodora is just one of the many people living near the coal-fired power plant in Barangay Ingore Zone VI, Lapaz. Life there, according to Rhodora, has been difficult even before the construction of the power plant. Barangay ingore Zone Vi is located at the eastern-most tip of Lapaz district. It usually takes a thirty-minute taxi ride to reach the place. There are actually two coal-fired power plants there one, started in April 2009, is still under construction, and the second is already operational. When we went there, people were curiously staring at us as if we were from another world. We were welcomed by a girl named Mylene, 14 years old. She was sitting on an old plastic bench while singing a lullaby to her two-month old baby. (thats right. At only 14 years of age, she already has a baby.) her former boyfriend, the father of her baby, had left her and has never communicated to her ever since. Since she was busy putting her baby to sleep, she simply accompanied us to a group of older residents who eventually facilitated our meeting with Rhodora. Since birth until her marriage, Rhodora had always lived at the site where the first coal-fired power plant is located. the land where their house stood was not even their property. Because their barangay zone was too far from the main roads of Lapaz, commuting was expensive. however, when the Uygongco family, the owner of the land where Rhodoras home used to stand, sold the lot to the Lopez family, the residents, including Rhodoras family, were advised to transfer to the relocation site much nearer by a few kilometers to the main road. However, the construction of the first coalfired plant of the Global Panay Power Plant Corporation began and it was completed and became operational on July 22, 1996. that changed everything. At nighttime, Rhodora said, the residents could really smell the smoke coming from the power plant. in the afternoon, if it is not windy, there are times when it is difficult to breathe. She even showed us the rashes on her arms and legs that she thought have been caused by the smoke they inhale every day. While talking to her, we did feel like gasping for air. it was not windy at that time, so we could really smell the smoke. According to some United States environmental organizations such as the Environmental integrity Project (EiP), Sierra Club, and Earthjustice Foundation, coal ash produced by coal-fired power plants contaminates ground water and the air with toxic elements such as arsenic and lead. Arsenic can trigger the development of cancer cells in the body while lead affects the nervous system. Coal ash contaminants are also identified as the common causes of serious respiratory problems such as asthma. John Spengler, professor of environmental health in the harvard University School of Public health, cited coal smoke as a killer fog in the foreword of his research study that deals

By ray adrian Macalalag

primarily with coal-fired power plants. Concerned about the medical conditions of the people living near the coal-fired power plant, the Global Panay Power Plant Corporation provides free medical check-up every three months for the citizens of Barangay ingore. there are also non-government organizations that conduct medical missions and donate medicines. When asked whether or not she and her family would move elsewhere if given the chance, Rhodora answered, with teary eyes and nearly smiling lips, Okay na lang ni nga diri kami magtener kay bisan paano at least may naistaran kami nga libre, kuryente lang nabayaran namon. Indi na kami ya maghalin di kay budlay man mag-adjust. [its okay for us to remain here because at least we have a free place to stay; we only pay for electricity. We dont want to leave anymore because it is hard to adjust.] Rhodoras living condition is hard, indeed. We, on the other hand, are much luckier. thus, as concerned citizens, we should look after them since they risk their lives living near such a hazardous place. the life of Rhodora and her family is just one of the many sad stories in Barangay ingore. Many more stories of poverty are yet to be told.

Ehemplo ng Nagtutulungang Pamilya

ni Jerson elmido
andrade

si Mang ernesto

nABAnGGit ng ating mahal na pangulong Benigno ninoy Aquino sa kanyang SonA na hindi niya kayang harapin ang pagsubok na pinapasan ng ating bansa ng nag-iisa. Dito sa Pamantasan ng San Agustin ay ganoon din. hindi natin maikakaila ang mga malalaking kontribusyon ng San Agustin bilang ating pangalawang tahanan. tayo bilang bahagi ng pamilyang ito, ibinabalik natin ang bigay na ipinagkaloob sa atin. Sa madaling salita, kailangan nating tulungan ang bawat isa para magsurbayb. Pero, gaano nga ba nakatulong ang San Agustin sa atin bilang miyembro ng pamilyang Agustino maliban sa larangan ng edukasyon? Kung tayoy magmamasid sa ating paligid, may mga tao tayong nakakasalamuha dito sa ating tahanan na malaki ang naging tulong ng San Agustin sa kanila. Miyembro rin sila ng ating pamilya at lingid sa ating kaalaman, isa sila sa may mga pinaka importanteng kontribusyon dito sa San Ag. Minsan hindi natin sila napapansin o ni wala tayong naririnig mula sa kanila.

ito ay sa kadahilanang parte ito ng kanilang trabaho. Sa tila tagpi-tagping bahay sa likod ng ating field, aming inabutan si Benigno Caceres na umuukit at gumagawa ng mga paa ng mesa. Limamput anim na taong gulang na si Mang Caceres. nagtatrabaho siya bilang karpentero dito sa San Ag.Labindalawang taon na siyang nagkukumpuni ng mga sirang kabinet, upuan at mesa sa ating mga silid aralan. Madali lng naman daw ang trabaho lalo na at merong University of San Agustin Maintainance Personnel Association (USAMPA) na nangangalaga ng mga karapatan at kapakanan ng mga tulad niya. Sino ba naman ang mag aakalang ang tulad ni Mang Benigno na karpentero lamang, sumusweldo ng PhP13,000 mahigit kada buwan. Si Ernesto tunggala naman, limamput limang taong gulang, karpentero rin dito sa atin. Ayon kay Mang Ernesto, sulit na rin daw ang pagtatrabaho dito sa San Agustin. Libre kasi sila sa mga serbisyo ng paaralan tulad ng clinical at dentistry services at kapag na-aksidente sila o na-ospital, sagot rin ang gastos. Kumpleto rin sila sa mga benepisyo ng gobyerno tulad ng SSS at Philhealth. Sa kanyang sampung taong pamamalagi dito ay nagawa niyang maitaguyod ang kanyang pamilya at napag-aral ang isa sa kanyang limang anak sa kolehiyo. Libre rin kasi ang pag-aaral dito sa atin kapag ang magulang na tulad ni Mang Ernesto ay empleyado ng San Agustin. hindi nga lang kabilang sa benepisyo ang mga laboratory fees pero para kay Mang Ernesto, malaking tulong na rin daw ito sa tulad niyang nagsusumikap. Si Evilina Pavi, labandera dito sa atin, una siyang nag atubiling makapanayam namin dahil sa dami ng kanyang trabaho ngunit sa huliy nakorner namin at nakunan ng pahayag. Sa labingpitong taon niyang paglalaba dito sa San Ag ay di pa rin kumukupas ang kanyang ngiti tulad ng tapat at malinis niyang pagserbisyo sa atin. Si Aling Evilina ang naglalaba at namamalantsa ng mga kurtina, kumot at damit ng mga pari pero huwag ismolin, dahil kung sa akala natiy madali lang ang ganitong trabaho ay maghunos dili tayo. Ayon kay Aling Evilina, pahirapan daw ang pag-apply bilang labandera dito sa San Agustin. Limang araw daw silang naglaba kasama ang

ibang mga aplikante bilang kuwalipikasyon at dahil magaling at malinis siyang magtrabaho, pasok siya sa posisyon. Sulit naman daw ang hirap dahil hindi lang sa may alawans sila na Php100 kada araw noong kuwalipikasyon ay tumatanggap pa siya ng PhP13,000 kada buwan bilang sahod at napagtapos pa niya sa kolehiyo ang lima niyang anak. isa sa mga ito, inhinyero na at ang isa, napagtapos pa niya bilang nars. Ani nga ni San Agustin, how good and how pleasant it is if our brothers live in unity. Para gumaan ang buhay, tayo ay nagkakaisa at nagtutulungan bilang mga persona sa iisang bubong. Pamilya ang tinitibok ng ating pusong Agustino at bawat pintig nito ay may mga kanya kanyang kuwento. Maging inspirasyon sana ang mga istorya ng ating mga kapatid na tulad nila Mang Ernesto, Mang Caceres at Aling Evilina na nagsusumikap para magtrabaho at maitaguyod ang kanilang pamilya. Bilang mga estudyante ng pamilyang ito, sana tayo ay maging responsable sa bawat galaw, salita at kilos natin. Kung nais nating makatulong sa ating pamilya, maging mabuti sana tayo sa bawat aspeto ng ating pagkatao hindi lamang sa loob ng ating pamamahay, kung hindi sa pagdating din ng araw na lilisan tayo at makikipagsapalaran sa buhay.

si aling evilina

TOURISM
patOO wheels? This jeepney isnt.
MagBanua

JULY - nOVEMBER 2010

15

Tatoo on Metal
How a fathers legacy gave birth to Patoo Wheels Motors
By genessa Buenafe

DoMinGo saw his father standing, wearing a face of confusion as he looked at the dismantled remnants of metal. Droplets of sweat trailed down his face and black gasoline stains covered his hands but that didnt keep him from wiping the sweat off his face. He was trying to figure out what to do with the metal scraps. My father is a mechanic, smiled Domingo. the thought had always been in his mind. how proud he and his brothers have been about their father and his creations. Masterpieces, he thought to himself. touching the fragmented parts of his fathers art work, he could just imagine how strong his fathers hands were as they nimbly worked over each intricate design on the exterior of the shiny silver metal. Awed by his fathers creativity, he almost didnt hear his brothers call him for a game of hide and seek. the sun was about to set and the long shadows it left made the perfect cover for those who would play the game. he looked back just in time to see his father smiling. it was a scene he could never forget. Years ago, he first fell in love with the works of his father, Casiano novisa, a mechanic, an artist, a father of six, whose fatherly image belied a passion for car designing. With his fathers genes in his system like gasoline in cars,

Oton: More

Domingo novisa took up where his father left off and has continued to give life to his fathers legacy through revolutionary master works in the field of motor car designing. And so Patoo Wheels Motors was born. the ilongo word pato, meaning duck, was the source of inspiration for the interior and exterior designs of the cars, particularly jeepneys. the word was eventually given a stylized spelling, thus the name Patoo. Just like a duck smoothly gliding through water, its feathers displaying an array of different hues of brown, black and white, and some with the unmistakable sheen of green and blue, the grace and colors of the ducks impressed Domingos father, Casiano, so much that he started designing jeepneys that reected those two qualities of the pato or duck. Such inspiration resulted in Patoo Wheels Motors, a name synonymous to sleek and trendy breakthrough designs of transport vehicles that are now smoothly wheeling and zipping by on the busy roads of iloilo. Patoo Wheels being their birthright, Domingo and his brother continue to give life to motor designs their father himself taught them how. More than the duck inspiration, however, Patoo Wheels has always been about family, Domingo said, about giving the family the

By febrielyn tumines and Jefferson Magbanua

than Just a Town

resources to keep it solid and standing so that it will endure despite the tough demands of the changing times. Just like his father, Domingos inspiration has been to keep the family legacy alive. Showing true Filipino values in giving importance to family, he aspires to continue designing cars that would symbolize the artistic capability of the ilonggos. the spark of innovation in car design came from the struggles of a simple mechanic, Casiano, who dreamed of not just fixing cars but creating them as well. Rather than just run-ofthe-mill creations, the cars must stand out from the rest of the honking, speeding masses of metal plying the roads. Each one must be a unique masterpiece that doesnt only run well but also look attractive. So Casiano used striking color combinations for the exterior design, redid the framework to make it ergo dynamic and polished the workmanship. Despite not having finished high school (he just made it to sophomore year), he had enough determination, patience and self-sacrifice to take his dreams to ight. And soar to success he did with Patoo Wheels Motors. Casiano has proven that lack of education is not a barrier to pursuing and attaining ones dreams; that success comes to those who work hard for it. With bold creativity and courageous effort, Casiano re-vitalized a dull industry and turned it into a thriving, exciting one. For transforming ordinary metal into functional, safe, and pleasing works of art, Casiano and Patoo Wheels Motors received numerous awards at different car shows in the country, proof that anything is possible in the hands of a hopeful dreamer; that everyone, whoever he may be, has the right to dream and to pursue that dream. in these last few years, Casiano has relegated most of the responsibilities of plant

operations to his sons, particularly Domingo who is now the proprietor. together with his two brothers, Domingo gets ideas and inspiration from car magazines from different countries such as the US. All materials used for making the cars are bought in iloilo, whether the orders are special or regular. At their work shop in trapiche, oton, the magical transformation of raw materials into an amazing artistic creation is done. It takes about three months to finish one jeepney. Every unit that comes out is stamped with Patoos own brand of quality workmanship and embellished with the owners preferences. For as long as I see passengers happily and safely riding on one of the products of Patoo Wheels Motors, i consider myself contented and happy. We (referring to his brothers and sisters) are all happy. Domingo stated. Who would have thought, a simple mechanic who finished o n l y 2 nd y e a r h i g h school could make a breakthrough in car designing? Casiano novisa has indeed imprinted an indelible tattoo on the metal design industry in iloilo. through his sons, his legacy lives on. through Patoo Wheels Motors, his masterpieces continue to rule the roads.

IF the bright city lights and acrid vehicle exhausts give you total asphyxia and splitting migraines, its time for you to have a little break. how about getting an eyeful of glistening morning dew, gazing up at the velvety night sky or simply watching the sun kiss the horizon at dusk, with the cool zephyrs whispering a promise of heaven while caressing the strands of your hair? You dont need to travel by air or water just to experience all these, because everythings right here in iloilo, particularly in a town called oton. All it takes is a 30-minute, two-jeepney ride trip from the city proper. Youre probably familiar with this town, from its famous nang Palangs pies to its Hall of Fame honor as a Very Friendly municipality. But, theres another thing the Ogtonganons are proud of their beaches. the town is nestled in the warm and gentle waters of its fine beaches and, when there are beaches, there are resorts. With the azure sky as a perfect backdrop, resorts have literally grown from the beaches of Oton and ourished to this day. For an affordable entrance fee, you can enter the resorts such as Riverside and Villa Rica, and rent any one of the cottages for the day or for an overnight stay. once in, youre transported into a different world devoid of blaring noises of traffic jams and painful eyesores of yovers, asphalt roads and traffic signs. Your frustrations, worries, and stresses disappear as lush tropical gardens, aquamarine seas, swaying palms, thatch-roofed huts, and powdery sands welcome you. the refreshing sights seem to be telling you, Life is too short and eeting; enjoy these scenes while you can. But if youre really desperate to clear your mind and start a renewed life, you can count on

the promise of heaven at nes n tats. they have a swimming pool that beckons you to abandon all your cares and dip into its blue depths; or if you want some really peaceful moments, alone or with friends, the wide and clean beachfront is an ideal place for strolling, every little grain of sand tickling your feet that have long been imprisoned by your high heels and sneakers; the beach is also the best excuse for wandering in blissful nothingness and cherishing the moment, away from the concrete and glass jungle of the city. Yet, if youre not contented with just swimming and wandering, you can hop over to Anhawan Beach Resort. After years of decay, literally and figuratively, it was rebuilt and renovated, and reopened five years ago. It has now reclaimed its popularity among the sunworshipping but privacy-loving set. this change in image was not accidental. Careful planning, meticulous attention to details, and hands-on management all came together to create the beautiful, sparkling gem that is Anhawan Beach Resort. Anhawan is not just a resort, it is also a subdivision. this unique concept was brought to life by the Anhawan Development Corporation which envisioned an easy-living type of residential area affording homeowners the tropical and laid-back lifestyle theyre looking for without having to travel far in order to achieve it because the natural setting already provides it. As a subdivision, Anhawan caters to those who have worked hard to attain success, and worked harder to keep it, as well as enjoy all the trappings that go with it. thus, residents do not only have much bigger, more beautiful, and better designed houses than what most people

have, but also get exclusive access to the beach itself. When not lazing on the shore or cavorting in the water, residents and guests can enjoy horseback-riding on the beach. if the suns too hot for comfort, parents and their children can splash around in the adult and kiddie swimming pools right in the subdivision. or they may just lounge and chill in one of the rustic but well-appointed cottages overlooking the placid blue sea; immerse themselves in the romantic ambiance with which the place is imbued, while gazing far into the distance where heaven and earth meet. the scenic and exotic beauty of the place is totally captivating and one cant help but be enamored by it. the sky at night is like a starry mantle billowing over the dreamy garden of the gods that is oton. the ogtonganons are very grateful about having such gifts from heaven. their treasure box of beach resorts beckons the weary soul and lures visitors to get away from the destructive noises of the city. the waters of the sea lapping the sandy shores of oton might not be as blue as the Mediterranean Sea, but they offer complete relaxation and the feeling of being home. We dont need to look elsewhere for beauty because our province has been endowed with plenty of naturally beautiful places. Sometimes we become farsighted in the sense that we only see beauty when we travel far from our own hometown; but the fact is, what we have always wanted has been in our backyard all along. thus, it is a big challenge for the local government of oton, to ensure that every ogtonganon will continue to

enjoy and share in the promise of advancement and fame that the beach resorts offer. the ogtonganons deserve it.

tuMines

fire in the hOle. A ery Golden Eagle attempts to lay-up for two in a heated ISSA championship basketball game against the University of iloilo-Phinma Wildcats held at the USA Gymnasium, September 2010. The Eagles eventually settled for second place.

USA hosts ISSA

By Josh Von iron tondo

The Soccer Fever

By darlyn herradura

BEinG a sports powerhouse with organizational and technical capability, the University of San Agustin hosted the 2010 iloilo Schools Sports Association (iSSA) meet in August 2010. Participated in by 22 member schools, this annual event showcased the skills and sportsmanship of the best athletes from the various secondary and tertiary schools in the city, in such games as basketball, volleyball, and chess. Commissioner noli

Eala, Executive Director of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), graced the opening program which was kicked off by a parade from the Sta. Monica Bldg. (Alumni Center) to the gym where the rest of the opening program activities were held. the sports events were played at different venues: the basketball games were played at the University gym, the volleyball games at the USABED Sambag gym, and the chess matches at the University

Library. Demosthenes toledo, University Asst. Sports Director, said that unlike last year, chess was accommodated this year since there was enough budget after a five-peso increase on the original five-peso ISSA fee had been imposed. this years iSSA Meet was spearheaded by the University President, Fr. Raul Marchan, oSA, along with our VicePresident for Academic Affairs and ISSA Board President Fr. Generous Gonesto, oSA.

Nursing bets sweep Intrams pageant awards

By Josefa Maria castro

frOM left: Ycoy, Ceballos, Alavata and Jereos

C L E A R LY p r o v i n g their departmental unity, cooperation, and support, the College of nursing swept this years Mr. and Ms. intramurals Pageant as their contestants, Roesian Ceballos and Leogene Alavata, both seniors, bagged

almost all of the major and special awards. Aside from garnering the title Ms. intramurals 2010, Ceballos also received the following minor awards: Ms. Avon, Ms. Personality, Ms. Sanicare, Ms. Face Value, Alta

Moda Glamorous Award, Best in Production number and Best in Playsuit. her fellow nursing contestant, Alavata, packed on the accolades as well when he was awarded the following: Mr. Personality, Mr. Face Value, Alta Moda Glamorous Award, Best in Production number, Best in interview and Best in Sports Wear. The first runners-up were BED contestant Kelly Binder who won Best in interview, and Kyle Alcala from the College of Pharmacy and Medical technology (PMt); second runners-up were CPMt and BED bets Stefan odessa and Zack Melgar, respectively; the third runners-up were CBAA beauty Sherem May indoc and CAS main man, Ralph Angelo Misola; and rounding up the set were fourth runnersup Eugi Chrisna Fuentes, the CEA belle, who was awarded Ms. Congeniality, and Jeinard Lerona of the CBAA. Neal Andrius Sevilla from the CEA won his fellow contestants over with his winning ways so that he was awarded the Mr. Congeniality title During the ceremonies,

CRoWDS in the Grandstand scream their lungs out, showing their overwhelming support for their college department. Rivalries form between departments. Football mania has spread in the University of San Agustin. the original root of the ruckus? the recently concluded Fdracion Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2010, the penultimate battle for the world football championship and the most watched sporting event in the world. held only once every four years, this huge event gathers in one venue, in a football-crazy country, 32 national football teams from all over the world for a month-long run-kickshoot-win-qualify series of matches that ends with the most thrilling one of all, the championship round, the winner of which claims bragging rights as the best football team in the world. the World Cup lasted for only a month, but it was enough to iname football fever in the University. thus, for the first time in years, the USA intramurals included football in its line-up of sports events which attracted a lot of avid spectators and supporters because it also had a female category, just like the other events. the different departments, namely: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of nursing, the College of Engineering and Architecture, the College of Business Administration and Accountancy, the College of Education, and the College last year s Mr. and Ms. intramurals, Syra Ann Ycoy of the CBAA and John Kevin Jereos of the Cn made their

of Pharmacy and Medical technology, all participated by forming and fielding their all-female football teams. the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) mens football team was proclaimed champion for having had a clean, undefeated slate. its womens football team also shared the championship limelight as it emerged on top of the heap, having had only one loss. Unknown to most students, a couple of years ago, the University of San Agustin had an official football team composed mostly of players from Barotac nuevo town which has been dubbed as the Football Capital of the Philippines. According to Rev. Fr. Generous Gonesto, OSA, the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), only three or four schools had official teams at that time. however, the University decided to focus on other activities that would have a greater impact on the school, and the football team was disbanded. Gonesto also cited the expensive gear needed and the decreasing grades of the players as the other reasons for disbanding the Universitys official football team. nevertheless, the Administration is open to the idea of having more football competitions within the school. the VPAA said that, perhaps, there would be another inter-departmental football competition during the University Week celebration. Ellaine Losaes, a player for the College of Arts and Sciences womens football team, said that the support of the department was a huge final walk and gave their turnover speeches. the contest, held at the USA gymnasium on August 26,

part of their victory. Just as the other departments did, CAS showed support for the team by having students attend games and pitch in for the snacks and jerseys of the players. She also said that the FIFA World Cup 2010 has encouraged more students to try out for their departments football team. Seeing on television popular players like Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentinas Lionel Messi, and the United Kingdoms David Beckham must have inspired the students to dream about making it to the team and scoring goals. Who wouldnt be inspired by those famous players anyway? Four years from now, FIFA World Cup 2014 will be held in Brazil, the first ever South American country to host this event. once again, players from all over the world will come together and face each other in sureto-excite matches, hungry for their chance to prove their worth to the world and to bring honor to their nations. As always, the world is eagerly waiting for the next FIFA World Cup, including the students of the University of San Agustin. was one of the highlights of the Patron Saints Day Celebration and one which Augustinians always look forward to.

andrade

andrade