theinsidestoriesTHE LIGHT

To write is already to chooseE D I T O R I A L S T A F F

ERWIN D. FUENTESEditor-in-ChiefJEZZA MEH N. MAGHAMILAssociate EditorSHANY LOU A. GAMASManaging EditorRHODORA JOY C. LUMANOGNews EditorBAYANI N. ESCOTONFeature EditorRYAN M. ABENOJASports EditorDONALD P. BABIANODEVCOM EditorKATRINA G. RECABOFilipino EditorRALF A. TABANYAGCartoon EditorLLOVER C. YAPLayout EditorROBIN C. LABRA Circulation ManagerGRETCHEN I. JUITPhotojournalistTITO L. RUBILLOSNORIEL A. NEBRESArtistsHERDIN GRAY I. CUTABJUNARD P. DUTERTELOUIE BRYAN M. LAPATFELIX REY R. LARGOKHIF MUAMAR M. MIRANDAStaff WritersMS. DONNA G. MAGALLANESAdviser

The Light is the Official Student Publication of the University of South-eastern Philippines with office located at the Organizational Building, USeP Avenue, Apokon, Tagum City. This publication is a proud member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and USeP-College Writers Guild.

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Collision of Sports Heroes

12

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Seal the Holeeditorial

Tainted credit is appallingly overpowering us. It enslaves not only the pride of this academia but also the greatest achievements the school had has been continually receiving for so long years. True, there is no way of shunning away from this almost edifice-demolishing plight that once and for all may trigger like nuclear weap-ons set to eradicate the entire human race. Once more, true, there is no point of shutting our eyes to the current unjustifiable scenarios. It does not make the university safe and sound. We need to pipe up. There are no other people who can scrape USeP’s ruined glory but only us, the sharp-witted USePians. By far, this tainted credit is transfiguring from once a shameful child to a wrecked old man; who turns us, as other sharp-tongued, bull-headed students say, “unrecognizable and unacceptable in the city.” Perhaps, they never see nor contemplate on how big is the difference between our quality education and their money-driven acquisition of high grades - one thing that causes us to be feverish and irate. Despite this humiliation, they can never nail us down. Hence, we should require ourselves to befit insusceptible.The main course is not yet served. Take this: student leaders become the hindrance of the students’ happiness. This is students’ shallow verdict. This number of mere students undisputedly says that student leaders become the hindrance to their once-a-day, study-free experience. On the part of the student leaders, is there a need to blame them? When in fact some of them seem all but out-and-out; force to run for office even if the conse-quences are uncertain. Why not ask them first then decide where is the point finger directed upon – to them or to their advisers? More than anything else, there is this spreading fact that some of these organizational heads turn out be busybodies. Why interfere and impose that your plan is far better and refuse the student officers’ planned activities? Don’t you know how many liters of sweat have been consumed just to come up with plans that would most likely benefit the specific departmental students? If you think that all your suggestions and impositions can promote more productive outputs through your changed program then you are definitely wrong. It only causes stress- not for you, but for the sleepless and lethargic student officers adjusting and preparing themselves for an-other problem to face with. Beyond doubt, we are obliged to move with what they have to dictate. If philosophy is not really gone, then where is our free will?

miscellanews

NetLab undergoes 2M faceliftTHE INTERNET AND COMPUTER LABORATORY SERVICES of

the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) will soon be improving after it underwent a major renovation and upgrade of major services worth two million pesos, a welcome development for USePians who, for a long time, have been suffering on the low and unsatisfactory internet connectivity.

Pegged on the primary concern on improving its services, the Internet Laboratory will be equipped with 56 brand-new computers and a faster internet connection that will benefit the students in boosting their academic researches.

As of this writing, the university is still trailing the paper works for the bidding of the aforementioned materials making the Internet Laboratory dysfunctional this semester and will be opening again next semester.

The Computer Laboratory was recommended by the Commission on Higher Education in the light of the offering of the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT), which will also mean additional computer units the students can use for academic use.

Further, these renovations were also anchored on the desire of the university to offer the aforementioned course in full, instead of offering the first two years here and the IT students shall proceed their 3rd and 4th years, respectively, in USEP’s Obrero Campus in Davao City.

“Let’s wait and see because what we’ve heard are only assurances and pure words…we want to see this to be realized since this will clearly benefit the students,” stressed Luigie Bago, erstwhile President of the Tagum Campus

Student Council (TCSC) and now heads the League of Class Mayors (LCM) in an exclusive interview with The Light.

He further said that while this means development on their administration’s part, both the Internet and Computer Laboratories should let students access the web superhighway on its full freedom and discretion, which includes access to images that are blocked due to a web protection program.

“If they’re boasting that the connection would now be fast, we should be given freedom to access what we want to access because failure to do so would also mean violation of our right to information and to the fact that we’re paying for internet lab fees during enrolment.”

On the other hand, though, some students find the services of the said laboratories to be satisfactory.

“Okay ra man s’ya kay compared sa una, hasta gyung hinaya pero karun, based on the last time I’ve used my account, paspas na man sya,” said Ellen Baquero, 3rd Year BEEd Student.

Meanwhile, both Bago and Baquero, along with the throngs of USePians, agreed that this should be carried out immediately so that students can avail and won’t be forced anymore to do their researches in commercial internet cafés outside the campus.

Despite student’s plight against low net connection

LOUIE BRYAN M. LAPAT

LGU Tagum earmarksUSeP stage rehab

USeP rakes gold in CHED tilt

SHANY LOU GAMAS

RHODORA JOY LUMANOG

SUPER LIKE. The newly-renovated Internet Labotatory will resume its usual operation in the second semester of school year 2010-2011. PHOTO BY GRETCHEN JUIT

Editor

campus beats

to theLetters

Facing the Past-Paced Trace

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Send us your thoughts on the latest issues happening in the campus. Send your letter online through our web-

site (www.thelighpub.tumblr.com) or via snail mail. Address it to MR. ERWIN

D. FUENTES, Editor-in-Chief, The Light Publication Office, USeP Avenue, Tagum City.

IN THE CHASE OF NEW HEROES of the country, all are eyeing to the youth. The adage is fire burning: hope of the fatherland. They are the generation who doesn’t know what quitting means or kneeling stands. Their blood is heroic and witty, patriotic. From this, experienced leaders are quite confident that the country is handed to its fresh protectors: the young leaders. However, when irony beats, it hits. News has its mouth to talk and mind to express. This is the prime reason why some concerned citizens are taking a stand against the aforementioned immortal line. Their stand: it is head counted. As one turns his television on or browse to the sections of newspaper, he is bombarded with ugly news which is not worthy of adoration and judgment. These are the news that stains the still tainted image of Philippines: hope-less and helpless – a wrecked ship submerging beneath the deep ocean. Nevertheless, for a newsmaker’s viewpoint, this is the reality of today. Authentic truth should never be scrutinized. Idealism is never part of everyday happenings. Hence what is laid whether good or bad is newsworthy, even if children are the headlines of the news. Recently, the hope of the fatherland becomes the pest of the society. This is a truth reflected by Ivan Padilla, the 23-year old youngest carnapper of the country who was killed during a shootout in Makati City last August 2 of this year. You may ask, where’s the hope of the fatherland now? A serious matter like this is not fitted to be laughed. There should be a methodical investigation on how a young man who was once full of hope and aspiration transformed as country’s top-performing carnap-per together with his Padilla carnapping syndicate, armed with pistol threatening his potential victims. It’s about time to replay the wronged youth’s tragic story and let science and psychol-ogy and spirituality eat the minds of authority and government. Once and for all, to clean what’s darkened and whitewashed. Justice is served for the victims. This is a single fact the dupes are holding on. Perhaps, others are still befogged by the impedi-ment of trick over truth. Unfortunately, those who are unaware of the heinous news are like judges of a bias contest. Tracing his childhood, he was a child ignored by parents. He was a son who at a young age of 12 became motherless; jailed for an illegal possession of drugs. His parents’ dark image be-comes his passport to an infamous designation as the notorious leader of Ivan Padilla Gang. An identity he brought below the ground. Perhaps, tragic death would never happen if it wasn’t for the negligence brought by the hype up of addiction. Drugs are not part of a happy family. There’s no love at it, only lust which apparently is transitory. Why trade family for drugs?Ivan can be a good source of latent inspiration. If only his par-ents reared him well, then there’s nothing to cry upon. Blame is absent in the hands of his parents. True, he is a possible candi-date in becoming a leader but perverted by wrong upbringing. On a major scale, there a number of potential serviceman that up to now have directed themselves to grow leaders of heinous

PenPOINTErwin D. Fuentes

REPRESSION, REPRESENTATION

Mahal na Editor: Maligayang bati po sa inyo at sa bumubuo ng inyong publikasy-on! Mayroon po akong napupuna na parang ginigipit ang ating mga karapatan ngayong bago na ang istr uktura ng ating kampus. Unang-una ang represention in plicy-making ay biglang nawala. Wala ng partisipasyon ang mga lider-estudyante natin sa bawat meeting at talakayan ng adminis-trasyon na kung saan nakakaapek-to sa kapakanan at interest natin. Pangalawa, ang Right To Organize among ourselves at Right to ad-

equate welfare ser-vices and academic facilities ay kulang at nalilimitahan. Naaawa ako sa ating mga ka-

pwa mag-aaral na sapilitang lalabas na la-mang upang

magpraktis, mag-meeting, mag-fellowship at iba pa dahil sa 7:00 pm permit cut-off. It is very tiring for us students. At panghuli, our Rights to Free-dom of Expression and Academic Freedom is being oppressed and repressed. Pinapakialaman ang bawat opinyon natin, sinusulatan ang mga sulat-pahayagan at mga programa na inorganisa ng mga estudyante ay pinipigilan. I think the institution did not assure or recognize the rights that we have as students in this university. Ano po bang mga aksyon na dapit nating gawin upang masulus-yunan natin ang mga problemang ito?Salamat at mabuhay ka! Gumagalang, LUIGIE BAGO LCM President

Dear Editor, Greetings! To what extent is the power of the adviser of an or-ganization? This question is based on the assumption that my friends found themselves off guard in protecting their rights. In fact they were accused of doing something which brought them to the Office of the Student Affairs. Aside from that, last Au-gust 18 of this year, morning, in public “gipaka-ulawan sila”. Unsatisfied of her move, that adviser made a com-plaint with regard to betrayal of trust addressed to my friends.

Upon hearing the news I was upset. Was there any PERMIT to conduct an activity that the adviser did not sign? The ac-cusation handed to the OSA by the Adviser for me is fallacious. Since the inventory upon the turn over, the number of that thing existing which move was lacking were indistinguishable. Did the assumption of missing truly ex-ist? If it was newly bought, was there any investigation prior to the complaint? Were there any belongings of that organization that would be brought out without the knowledge of the governing officer? Yours truly, DETECTIVE CONAN ‘08

ILLUMINATI IS A SECRET SOCIETY that controls the powerful leaders, fortunes of influential families, associations and other law firms in the world. Further, they had been fancying themselves to be “enlightened” and driven by their ultimate aim to bring about a Satanic New World Order. Every evil and unjust circumstance existing anywhere is of their control. Amidst secrecy and conspiracy, they institute hidden political agenda to abolish and infiltrate other organizations in order to hasten their arrival unknowingly throughout the world.

Bavaria, Germany is a place known where this society has been founded in the sixteenth to nineteenth century and later spread in Spain. It consists of some false mystics claimed to have direct intercourse with God. In addition, they held that a human soul can reach a degree of perfection to contemplate the essence of God and comprehend Holy

It Left me a

I hadn’t slept well for the whole night with those apocalypses she had just bare-naked in me during my interview with her. At first, I was hesitant of accepting the task when our EIC has assigned it to me because I cannot even watch the same situation in the movie, how much more of hearing a story from a real-living victim. I had thought I might just be over-acting things out if I won’t accept the assigned task. Anyway, the attempt has never done successfully; the bait obviously has been balked. “I really think it’s just in the movie but on June 9, for around 10:00 o’clock in the morning, in the solemnity of my journey through school, I have been horribly stricken of the scene I have made out with me as the protagonist. When I’m about to cross the threshold of our school and found him there, that very moment he had passed over me, I already knew he was opting to something. I never turned around because I’m trying to ignore the dread feeling that was starting to surmount my strength. I never had that feeling ever and I did not know why I’ve felt that way. Then, there, it has been justified. He was running, running and coming forth on me. He followed me…and…” “...and? What happened? Did he attack you? What does he do to you?” I continued asking her unmindful that the next thing is quite a flesh-quivering scene. I couldn’t believe my insensitiveness. Why such a

SHANY LOU GAMAS

impossible it is. Do you know that it’s so painful to keep on remembering those things? But I know I have to spill things out. I know many will ask about it and I have to answer them back. Maybe, in this way, even painful, I could help other girls to avoid that same horrible incident. I could warn them not to go through on that hidden little gate alone in its very solemn environment. The snakes of Satan may just crawl from elsewhere without interventions and will just bite you unaware of his existence. I wanted justice so nobody will be harmed anymore but I wonder why the administration had not done their promise. Can they afford of another victim’s squirm? How sad!”

As I have gone through my notes, I have wondered why there are people like him. Then, I have heard of another story. It’s about this man riding in a single motorcycle. It wouldn’t be that damn if he’s not sliding off his organ outside from his skimpy shorts. He tends to follow motorcycles that have girl passengers at the backseat. The question of the many, “Was the man in that hidden mini-gate the same man in the motorcycle? What could be his motives? Whatever his motives may be, there’s one thing that will make anyone of us stricken with horror - is the fact that his just so nearly scary. My nerves shivered. Whoa! Perverts! I closed my notes and prayed that no one might get that scar again.

CARS CTET STRUCTURE

“I WAS STUNNED. I could hardly move yet I know I have to thwart against my fears. I hadn’t really thought of fighting, I’m not just able to. What I’m trying to out stray in me is the valor of escaping even with my supple knees kissing the ground and with my spirit drowning in my tears. If I were dreaming with the worst nightmare ever, all I would want is to wake up and never to sleep again if I’ll just dream of the same thing.”

near at him reluctant that he might assault me again. I have gathered all my strength in doing that and in running barefooted away from him without turning back. What I have remembered was that, I have run like a cheetah, as fast as a thunderbolt but was gradually straying as my tears keep on falling. Yes! I have seen heaven! Finally, I have escaped!” My smile flashed so sweetly as I heard those words. It’s as if, her escape was the most wonderful thing had

happened that day – when she got out

from his h e l l - l i k e plan against

her. It deserved a fete. I was so happy for her but

there’s still one thing that bothered me at that moment. When I have interviewed her, it may be almost two months already had passed after that appalling incident. How did she recover? Is it still hurts to remember? “I will never forget that incident. It’s like a ghost that will keep on following my every dreams and my reality. Do you know that I have trauma now? I get to be scared every time I see guys around or near at me; even it’s my father, my brother or my boyfriend. It’s the scar! The scar that have tattooed in my wholeness and the scar that will never ever be removed by anyone or by anything unless time would go back and that did not happen to me at all. Impossible as it seems,

slipshod of me? I should have known it would be so hard for her to spill it again and again. Thank God, she continued… “…he attacked me, got a hard grip on me and touched me here and there. I never knew what to do. But I did, out of my fragile might, I did fight…I struggled against him. But I failed and fell off to the ground. As looked up, there he was, in his creepy bloodcurdling grin. It’s as if, he have succeeded looking at me on such mess and piteous

vista. I cried.

But I want cry out so much more. I was so beaten by the appall that surged throughout my senses. He was still there, standing in front of me, and somewhat thinking of something I had wished I will never know. Then, I had realized, I have to get up and stay away from him and there as fast as I could.” I want to applaud her for such courage and braveness but I hadn’t said a word. I have just thought that, what if it’s me there and not her, would I do of the same thing? What would be my action? How shall I fight back? I can’t really imagine myself. Thank God, it wasn’t me. But, so sad, it was her. “Despite my trembling knees and my painful fractured-legs, I have crept and have strived so hard to get my footwear

Scrupulous or Inglorious?

PromisesRhodora Joy C. Lumanog

“Etiquette is not just for the queen or the presi-dent. It is for everyone…” First impression last. As early as first quar-ter of the semester; stu-dents already made their selves known. The juniors emitted their blinding, true colors while the seniors un-bolted the fiend skeletons in the cupboard. The acts seen clearly manifested the mounting dilemma that the society is facing nowadays. With the different ac-tivities that took place in the university, lots of unexpected things had happened. Things that no one would ever wish to occur or even thought to turn out. What had happened was so disgusting. Students were like gangster in a rumble. They weren’t listening to any-one; they just keep on shout-ing and complaining. Proper etiquette was gone. Are hardheadedness, rowdiness and sharp-tongued manner already replaced the values of being mannerly and gentle? Are we raising a nation of no moral values and decency? A school is not like a

house where one can freely do whatever he/she wants. It is not an arena to exhibit one’s outrageousness and wildness. There are rules and regula-tions set to abide and follow. There are also people to be re-spected and obeyed. Most im-portantly every student has a part to do – a duty to perform.It should not also be forgotten that a school is built to mold and sharpened the young and matured minds. Bridge the gap between the people from all walks of like. And most im-portantly, establish character and moral formation. Change is not too early or even too late because an individual who has proper eti-quette has a respect for him-self/herself as well as to those around. And for sure nobody wants to be undesired and de-spised. Etiquette is not just for the queen or the president. It is for everyone, whether you are a commoner or a rich kid. Etiquette is accessible to eve-ryone. This is just a reminder to everyone; not to demoralize anyone or someone but to in-still that learning the basics is the best thing anyone could do.

USePIANS CONSTANTLY ASK, “Is USeP an ideal univer-sity?” It is just a natural act of every student questioning the status of their university because it plays an important role on what they will become soon. To answer this question, we need to consider many aspects. These are the location, tuition fee, facility, quality of education, teachers’ skills and university’s management.

CAMPUS PORTAL CAMPUS PORTAL

Considering the location of USeP, it is located in Apokon, one of the most developing barangays in Tagum City. The Davao del Norte Regional Hospital, the DepEd division office, BFAD, DOST Provincial Office, Energy Park, Tagum Trade School and the modern City Hall of Tagum are also located in the said barangay. It is just beside the national highway going to some cities of Compostella Valley Province and Davao Oriental. Though not located in the heart of the city, it is commutable through riding tricycles and two routes of cabs (route 2 and going to maco). Tuition fee, that’s the rea-son why most of the students choose this university. It is af-fordable unlike others. Here your passport is not just your tuition fee but it includes your competitiveness in all aspects (intellectually, morally, spiritu-ally and physically). Facilities, we can’t deny, USeP-Tagum lacks facilities. That’s the fruit of its affordability. We don’t have advance facility such as up-to-date computers both hardware and software. Yes we have computers but the vintage ones with the old-est processors, drivers, oper-ating systems and programs are being utilized by the ad-ministration. We have internet connection that supposed to speed up our researches but slowed it down and some-times no connection at all. We pay two hundred ninety two pesos (Php 292.00) every sem for sluggish internet connec-tion and we are just given 20 hrs. of internet usage. If we use computers in internet cafes, our Php 292.00 is almost 30hrs. If we can’t use the internet we choose to use books in the li-brary. We have a library with few unarranged books with air

conditioners that are just dec-orations because they are of-ten used. We have a huge but unfinished gymnasium cov-ered with bird’s manure. The simple thing we don’t have is a sanitary comfort rooms that supposed to bring us com-fort however just added our discomforts. We lack labora-tory equipments, chemicals and laboratory itself. Most of all we are lacked ofuildings, classrooms, chairs, tables and other utilities such as lights and electric fans. Teachers’ skills, “there are no bad students, there are just bad teachers” this is what Jackie Chan said in one of his movies. Students’ achieve-ments do not just lie in their own hands, it also depends on the quality of teachings they get on their mentors. When the teacher tells them that this is right that must be right they have fear to oppose it because their teachers specifically in this institution that think that they are always right though they are not. There are also op-timistic they do not care what their critics will carp on them they just continue what they believe that can motivate and develop the students. Though they are being ridiculed be-cause they are not fluent in speaking English in their lec-tures still they are one of the proudest stocks of mentors in the world. Yes, they are not good speakers but listen to them, you can learn some-thing you cannot learn from those skillful tongues. Teachers have their own teachings styles. Some used martial laws and some used the democratic ways. Be on time, participate, listen, quite, study and they say stop laugh-ing, stop talking, eyes on your own paper, etc. The democrat-ic way, the students learn the

most when they are enjoying. We have our favorite teach-ers and we also have those we don’t like. Good students like those who come to class early and teach great. Awful students like those who often come to class, always late and just photocopy their lesson for the day. We should look up to those teachers who gave us head aches and not to hate them. These headaches of to-day are painkillers of tomor-row. University’s management - the head is useless without the working body. In contrary the working body is useless without a leading head. Good students, skillful teachers, ad-vanced facilities, affordable tuition fee are just waste with-out the proper management of the university’s administra-tion. Currently USeP- Tagum is in chaos in the sight of those watchful individuals. We are facing too many unsolved is-sues regarding the security, funds and new leaders. In ad-dition, we are also in the ad-aptation stage in the newly created colleges: the College of Agriculture and Related Sci-ences (CARS) and College of Teacher Education and Tech-nology (CTET). Quality of education, this is the most important aspect we shall consider. This is the collective term of all the as-pects I mentioned earlier. Lo-cation, tuition fee, facilities, university’s management and teachers’ skills are the roots of our basis in determining the quality of education.Now you should play your part, you are asked: Is USeP-Tagum an ideal university? Nobody can answer that question be-cause there is one aspect left to be considered - and that’s you. Your courage and dedi-cation is the main recipe of

making this university an ideal one. We cannot consider any university an ideal without crafted, successful and com-petitive students. There are universities with skillful men-tors, superior facility, public affordability (affordable to many), good leadership and with quality education but still they can’t be ideal without honored graduates. Yes, this university lacks many things but these must not lack dedicated students that bring its name to the peak of the ideal ones. This must not be, is USeP-Tagum an ideal university? This should be, Am I an ideal USePian?

USePians’ Challenge, ChallengedIdealsRyan M. Abenoja

PASTILAN

A QUESTION ON MORALITY

SHANY/FELIX

For 72 hours, the denizens of USeP-Tagum put aside their sundries, pens and books and metamorphosed into tenacious cagers, gutsy volleybelles, clever woodpushers and zealous tracksters and flaunted their dumbfounding maneuvers and stratagem in various sports, literary and musical tussles. In the final cessation, the superb sports heroes from the coalition of BSEd and BEEd forming Unit I, lorded over after hauling 1335 points giving them the championship laurel with a plethora of key victories in major scrimmages including volleyball (men), cheer dance, lawn tennis, chess (women), softball (men) and a large chunk of the non-sports skirmishes. Despite hacking out emphatic

conquests in multiple events like chess (men), poster and slogan making and sepak takraw (men), Unit III bannered by the alliance of BSAE and BSIT, got the short end of the stick and winded up as second placer over-all with 1245 points yet managed to leave an admirable remark for themselves with their gallant stand and fair play. Though having the least population, Unit II, the potent throng from BSF and BAT, exhibited valiant efforts and exemplary feats in the playing field which earned them thunderous cheers and praises after thrashing their foes in soccer, track and field and basketball (men) to salvage a decent third place finish tallying 1025 points, highlighted by their never-say-die attitude.

As if a presage of their over-all triumph, the future educators showed unmatched poise and composure to prevail in an epic men’s volleyball championship duel over the spikers from Unit III, spiced up by the spectators’ vehement huzzas and chants in every second of the match making it a Homeric finale for the intramurals. On the moral side, the said meet provided USePians with a much-needed break from their class lessons, strengthened the bond and camaraderie shared by this institution’s inhabitants with one another and revitalized the students as they race the wind and take to the sky. Overall, the September 15-17 friendly sports, literary and musical competition revealed the vast athletic prowess USePians possess and also a manifestation of the participants’ skills and talents making this collision of sports heroes an event to be instilled in everyone’s memoir.

In the midst of their scholastic plight, USePians took a three-day academic hiatus to emblazon their highly-anticipated Intramurals 2010 themed as “Engaging New Frontiers through Sports” which evinced countless demonstrations of sportsmanship and spectacles of athleticism among the mettlesome participants despite the stinging heat of the sun and the student’s noticeably inferior populace.