The Crusader 357

Redefining CSG’s Status Quo Bacal and Petalcurin on change and student-empowerment By Katrina G. Mordeno

>p. 2

Pamela Grace G. Lico

Kristine Joyce N. Vega

Inside:

Illustration by Marie Gil B. Migullas. Design by Joshua Mario A. Bacal

T

his year’s campus elections proved to be more explosive than the debacle of the incumbent Central Student Government (CSG) officers. All the events preceding and following the actual casting of ballots encompassed not just the strengths, but also the fallibilities of the future leaders of Xavier University’s student body. Earlier into the political hype, the Election Committee (ELECOM) created a buzz that just cannot sustain the students’ excitement, and have only created unnecessary delay. The electronic elections proved to be too wistful to a fault. In the hopes of making for a more efficient voting system, they have forgotten to consider the importance of planning for damage control. Preventive measures are deemed futile as hindsight. Voter turn-out, to say the least, was still dismal. Less than half of the student population showed up for what has become an ‘election week’. Interestingly enough, however, is the abundance of intrigues and controversies that hound those who vied for office and which persisted well into the announcement official election results. Neil Vincent Bacal and Richel Petalcurin, the next CSG President and Vice President, respectively, have veered away from that grimy limelight. Whether that is an asset or a liability, still remains to be seen. For now, however, their silence is pregnant with newfound sensibilities. Continued on p. 8

>p. 4

>p. 12

The

Electi

THE

2

Crusader Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

xper mental

on

By Kamya G. Mordeno

S

ince the time the Central Student Government (CSG) has been established here in Xavier University, we have been having the most traditional way of voting by written ballot. For this year’s “Botar Atenista” though, the CSG’s Election Committee (ELECOM) has decided to innovate and turn to a more efficient way of voting: an electronic election. Laying out the Plans Seeing the need that elections should be more convenient, ELECOM has tried to make a new voting system that is more innovative and practical. As early as the summer of 2008, ELECOM has already conceptualized the idea of an electronic voting system because they have seen that their previous system was very tasking, tiring and time-consuming. It demanded a lot of labor. The new system has had advantages that were deemed to not only hasten the casting of votes and the election turn-out but will also allow for easier elections in the years to follow. The ELECOM has invested P 8,000 for their program to be installed, a program that will not only automatically tally the results but that which can also be modified for a survey or poll.

Behind it all Considering the amount ELECOM has paid for the realization of this electronic election, it gets one to wonder whether their investment paid off, even though the electronic election wasn’t a total success. Though they wanted to hasten this year’s election, the effects were reversed. Instead of making the election process faster and more efficient than the usual manual election, the process started with the electronic voting which somehow became much more of a hassle, not only for the ELECOM but also to voters. Knowing that this experiment was going to be risky, the ELECOM took it nonetheless. The

setbacks did not stop the ELECOM from aspiring a more innovative way of voting. As Dagbay said, they’ve already crossed the line of change. With this it is clear that they wanted to finish what they have started regardless of the errors which were bound to happen. For them, the flaws would only be a learning experience that would somehow help them improve next year’s electronic election. They hope that with the collaboration of Engr. Gerardo Doroja of the Computing and Information Services Office (CISO) next year’s electronic election will be more successful. They have planned that for next year before they start the election proper, a mock election would be held. *** The ELECOM’s goal to have a more efficient system of voting seems to be ambiguous and too ambitious for now, but this doesn’t pull their hopes down. Even if there were numerous setbacks they would still take the risk for another electronic election next year. But considering that this experimental election wasn’t very successful, would another electronic election be worth the risk? C

Photos by Joyce N. Vega. Design by Jennifer Grace V. Aranaydo

Execution gone wrong After devoting ten months of planning for this new voting scheme to be as thorough as possible, the ELECOM considered probable precautions to prevent some malfunctions from occurring. Precautions like; providing a printout in case of a network malfunction and using a Local Area Network (LAN) to keep its access limited. But then, their efforts to make this election as thorough as possible became futile when a malfunction in the network occurred. Complaints were heard around and about the University regarding the new election system. Errors had occurred from its enabling process to its printing, but the failure was already bound to be inevitable considering that this election was experimental, as ELECOM Head, Stacey Kitz J. Dagbay said. This system was proposed supposedly, to make things more efficient. However, this year’s election scheme became more complicated. The setback for this year’s election was not only consumed a lot of time but compromised the results for the electronic election as well.

The ballots for the all colleges were considered null and void with the exception of the following colleges: School of Business and Management, College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. After the electronic ballots were nullified, the election period was then extended from February 5-6 to February 10-11. The extension seemed almost impractical but was very crucial. The ELECOM was left with no choice but to continue the election regardless which system they were to use. There was no proper communication which occurred between the students and the ELECOM which brought confusion to the voters that resulted to a lesser number of voters. As one of the students said, “kapoy na balik vote, wala gani ko kablo na back to basic ang election.”

The

Crusader

3

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

In times of constant change and varying needs, do we compromise the norms to follow the standards?

Straightening the Path: XU faculty’s vertical articulation By Ara Celeste H. Imperio, James Alexis P. Asiñero, and TJ Ray A. Raagas “vertically” aligned to his major discipline. “In the academe, this means that the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees must all be in the same field,” said Ms. Natalie Igot, an Educational Supervisor of CHED. The standard of vertical articulation is part of the CHED Policies and Standards Guidelines (PSGs) which serves as the basis of evaluating all Philippine Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs). It was set up as a standard so as to ensure a superior educational and administrative quality in the Philippines. According to the provision of the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) no. 36 series of 1998, “if possible, there should be vertical articulation between the undergraduate and the graduate levels of a discipline.”

Defining Vertical Articulation Vertical articulation of faculty roughly means that supposedly, the most qualified person to hold a position would be someone whose degrees are

*** Vertical articulation is a standard that must be followed to ensure the faculty quality, with regards to expertise and knowledge. If Xavier University is going to get the elusive deregulated status, there is a need for a strong faculty line-up – teachers who possess thorough knowledge and understanding in their respective fields of expertise.C

Illustration by Nick Jordan L. Beja. Design by Jennifer Grace V. Aranaydo

T

eacher quality and the strength of school leadership are recognized as the greatest school-based determinants of quality education. Quality teaching has a measurable impact on student outcomes. Equally, those administering the faculty rationally have a great impact upon those they supervise. However, the technical definition of quality education has changed. Now, the standards that determine the quality of schools have been developed and are strictly imposed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), especially with the so-called “vertical articulation” of faculty that has hindered Xavier University’s pursuit of renewing its autonomy status.

The Autonomy Account Back in 2001, Xavier University was granted the autonomy or deregulated status by CHED. This meant that the University was not under the direct surveillance of CHED and may maintain or enhance their curricula. The University reapplied for autonomy after the expiration of its autonomy status five years later. Unfortunately, autonomy can no longer be granted because the University was not able to comply with the new PSGs being implemented in 2004. “The criteria were reviewed by the National Technical Panel of CHED,” said Igot. Each criterion has been developed and improved, giving way to higher standards. After a thorough audit of the University, it has been found that a number of instructors were underqualified in their respective positions because they either do not have a master’s degree or a doctoral degree that matches their baccalaureate degree. “The basic criterion is the compliance of the school to the CHED Policy Standards and Guidelines or the non-violation of any standard. If they are not able to follow this, the school will not be evaluated further with other criteria,” said Igot. “To get the autonomy status, the University must have complied with all the PSG,” she added.

Solutions Underway Currently, there are several units that are already vertically articulated such as the School of Education (SOE) and School of Business and Management (SBM). However, the remaining academic units still need much improvement, as far as faculty compliance is concerned. Appropriate transfers of several faculty members have been made, mostly from the different departments of the SOE and the SAS (School of Arts and Sciences). Other masters and doctoral studies that this University has offered have been housed under the Graduate School primarily because the faculty of the college where it is supposedly belonging has not fully complied yet with the standard of vertical articulation. To cope with the new prerequisites of the autonomy status, faculty development has been made the priority program of Xavier University. “The University is spending so much for faculty development. We are getting doctors from other places to teach here. We are also sending our teachers to other universities in the Philippines and abroad,” said Dr. Alfonso Hortelano, XU Academic Vice President. According to the data gathered from the Office of the Academic Vice President, there are already 159 teachers who are currently holding a master’s degree in the university and 103 others who are currently pursuing their masters’ studies. There are 43 instructors with a doctoral degree (PhD) and 13 more who are finishing their doctoral studies. “It takes time…many teachers are going out and it takes time for them to finish their doctoral degrees,” said Hortelano, “but in spite of all these things, we are getting the results that we wanted.”

The

Crusader

4

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

By Maria Sozina L. Alamban

I

magine: for approximately seventeen years of sitting in all sorts of classrooms, you’ve tried your best to absorb every bit of knowledge you could get. Every now and then, you were being tested on how well you kept in mind the vast information you have extracted from teachers’ lectures and the bulk of texts you were required to memorize. You survived all those late night study sessions and major exams. Now that you have your diploma in hand, you’re ready to step out of the university gates, to get a “feel” of the real world —to live and to work like the rest. Then again, you might be thinking that you should take a vacation and worry about looking for a job later. Just like Gamar Damlani, a graduate of AB Philosophy, who found different ways to celebrate his freedom from the halls of Xavier University. For him, it meant more gimmick, sleep and play time. After college, he never considered managing his time well. He usually starts his everyday routine by waking up at 10 or 11 o’clock in the morning. And for the rest of the day? Well, he just does everything he wanted as he pleases. “It seemed like every day was a Sunday and every night was a Sabado night,” Gamar admits. It took him two months to realize that he wasted so much of his time bumming around. “During those days [of being a student], even though I was always busy, I would still prefer it than the kind of life I have right now. At least, I had something to look forward to everyday,” says Gamar, nostalgic about his college years. Ideally, every student's purpose of going to school is to find a good job in the future

with a hope that it could compensate for his needs. As in the case of Leo Mar Carpentero, a 4th Year Development Communication student, he gets so eager about graduating, getting a job and eventually earning his own money. More and more students are into that outlook of immediate employment after graduation. Cradling Statistic Waves There are three demand-and-supply factors that affect the quick hold on jobs for fresh graduates. One is the growth in the number of jobs requiring graduate level education. Graduates in fields with a more professional focus, such as medical sciences and engineering, had bigger rates of fast employment. In relation to this, the recent issue involving the Japanese-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), an agreement between the Philippines and Japan on employment and free trade, is concerned with the specific qualifications needed for Filipino caregivers in order to work in Japan. The requirements include a four-year college degree and a formal (Japanese) language course for six months and training for three years. However, Filipino caregivers insist in changing the requirements to include vocational graduates of care giving and not only those with a fouryear college degree. This issue clearly depicts the manifestation of the trend of immediate employment. Second is the number of new graduates coming in the market. In the Philippines, there are approximately 900,000 graduates this year. Considering that only 500,000 jobs are open for them,

as confirmed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's economic managers, no graduate is really assured in landing on an appropriate job. Lastly, the ability of new graduates to make connections with the job openings is considered. However, the type of jobs that a graduate can get during job openings is very dependent on his proximity with the company responsible, choice of institution of learning, gender and race. Last year, over 33.7 million were registered as employed - all categorized as either full-time or part-time workers. This placed the employment rate at 92.6 per cent. If we look back to the statistics in January 2007, 7.8 per cent were stamped as unemployed and 21.5 per cent were underemployed. It is enough for us to see that there is a slight development with the employment of Filipinos when in 2008, the estimated number of unemployed decreased to 7.4 per cent and the underemployed down to 18.9 per cent. But because of the sudden worldwide economic delay which played around the end of 2008, World Bank senior economist Eric Le Borgne expects the Philippines to have higher unemployment and underemployment rates in 2009. And due to the ‘high uncertainty’ Mr. Le Borgne referred to the situation of our country this year, he could not give the possible estimation on the increase of the unemployment and underemployment rate. “Employment prospects are tightening, unemployment and underemployment could rise significantly and the strong flow of remittances will likely be more challenging to sustain,” Le Borgne explained.

The

Crusader

5

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

Design by Mein Gene A. Amolo

Strolling down the aisle of jobs Le Borgne's statement on employment rates is an indication that the national government must strengthen and establish enough projects to beat the global slowdown. As shown in the Official Government Site for Philippine Jobs, the top ten Job vacancies are waiting to be filled with, respectively, domestic helpers (1550), costumer service assistants (1500), call center agents (1004), professional nurses (500), delivery drivers (241), medical representatives (180), store supervisors (177), cashiers (129), optometrists (126), and safety engineers (120). All these numbers of vacancies inform

you that there are still numerous open slots. The latest XU JOB FAIR ’09 made XU students apprehend with the recent offered jobs within and outside of Cagayan de Oro City. When asked on how she went about her preparations for the job fair, April Jhim dela Cruz, a classmate of Carpentero, said, “to be sure, nagbuhat ko’g fifteen ka resumè. Grabe gyud kaayo ‘to ka gasto nga adlaw. Pero, seven ra ka companies gyud akong gi apply-an.” *** In between 2007 and 2008, the unemployment rate marked a 0.4 per cent difference. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate leveled down to around 2.6 per cent. As

projected by the World Bank in the East Asia Update, the Philippines grew by 4.3 per cent in 2008 and will grow 3 percent in 2009 basing on its current economic structure. However, it is not really the economic rates that have been in duel for years but the graduates' initiative to find the appropriate job for them. The resilience of the ratings may be a guide that Filipinos, especially the graduates, more often than not, choose to sleep in between chances.C Sources: The Official Government Site for Philippine Jobs (http://www.phil-job.net) RP unemployment, poverty higher in 2009–WB by Cai U. Ordinario (http:// businessmirror.com.ph/) EMPLOYMENT RATE ESTIMATED AT 92.6 PERCENT IN JANUARY 2008 (http://www.census.gov.ph/) JPEPA bad deal for Filipino caregivers, says migrant group by By Jerome Aning (http://globalnation.nquirer.net) Employment experiences of Graduates by Percy Moleke Only 500,000 jobs available for .9M grads by Christian V. Esguerra (Feb. 3 issue, PDI)

The

Crusader

6 | Opinion

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

Editorial

The

Crusader

Publishers Students of Xavier University Editorial Board Cyril Jonas M. Planilla Editor-in-Chief Katrina G. Mordeno Associate Editor Hyacinth J. Tagupa News Editor Ryan Louie G. Madrid Features Editor Xyla Mercedita E. Gualberto Sports Editor Joshua Mario A. Bacal Art Editor Krista Grace B. Surdilla Associate News Editor Gregorio R. Alenton III Associate Features Editor TJ Ray A. Raagas Associate Sports Editor Marie Gil B. Migullas Associate Art Editor Administrative Laarni Mae E. Betonio Administrative Officer Rondell Chaz C. Mabunga Office Manager Earlbert S. Abecia Finance Officer Jommy Jane M. Molina Junior Finance Officer Ernst Niall B. Malifer Computer Systems Specialist News Maria Sozina L. Alamban Mycah Therese A. Deguilmo Bianca Nathalie Y. Llamis Kamya G. Mordeno Shola Mae Rose G. Zamayla Features James Alexis P. Asiñero Hasheen Honey Kim S. Culango Ara Celeste H. Imperio Pamela Grace G. Lico Christian Santiago R. Yap Sports Rey Anthony A. Cuenca

A

Small-scale Democracy

democratic government – as quoted from Abraham Lincoln – is a government of the people, for the people, by the people. Ideally, the right to suffrage is inalienable for the realization of the collective hopes and dreams of the people. In a democracy, this is supposed to be less than just an ideal, and more than just a mere platform for a half-meant zeal for service. There are more than a comfortable number of instances where this right to suffrage has been exploited, and trampled upon. As there are many who advocate democracy, there are also those who blaspheme the spirit of the free world. Those in power, unfortunately, are often at greater risks to fall into the latter category. And that they desire to keep that power for themselves makes circumstances at worse odds with the supposed democracy they are serving. The assurance of political continuations, by affinity or consanguinity, is now seldom a rarity. Such is the case that jeopardized the election results in one of the college councils in the governing body close to home – Xavier University’s Central Student Government. It would be good to point out the obvious: this mess is political in nature. But beyond that shrewd observation amidst the fiasco that is this year’s Botar Atenista, what may be more important to consider are the answers to seemingly mind-boggling questions. Is this mess created out of dismissible speculation, or does it merit due process? Why does such matter surface only when the elections are over and done with? And lastly, among all the parties involved, and concerned, who should take the blame? In the more direct and simple manner of putting it: should we just let the votes speak for itself ? Regardless of the intrigue, or controversy, hounding the soon-to-be political incumbents of CSG, what has transpired during the last month has only proven that the ballots are the people – not necessarily that which is right, or wrong. The practice of the right to suffrage might have spoken for democracy, but not for its ideal. Those who have recently won over the majority must have been convincing enough to have us believe that they will uphold what suffrage alone cannot accomplish.C

Art Shamson T. Abantas Kristian Oliver S. Adem Mein Gene A. Amolo Jennifer Grace V. Aranaydo Nick Jordan L. Beja Josan Astrid A. Dometita Stephanie R. Go Feliciano Legara IV Vernon Tony V. Medrano Marco Antonio O. Paculan Karen Mae N. Pagaduan Kevin Tyron M. Soriano Kristine Joyce N. Vega Moderator Ms. Ann Catherine Ticao-Acenas

For contributions, comments, or suggestions, send to: The Crusader Publication StC 302 Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) 9000 Cagayan de Oro Contact No: 857 Email: [email protected] Website: www.thecrusaderpublication.com

Circulation: 6,500 copies The Crusader Publication is now accepting applicants for Editorial Board positions for AY 2009-2010:

Editor-in-Chief | Associate Editor | Features Editors | News Editors | Sports Editors | Art Editors General Qualifications: • Must be a bona fide student of Xavier University • Must have a QPI of at least 2.5 • Must not be a highranking officer of another organization. • Must have had at least 1 year experience working for any official student publication. For inquiries and specific requirements, please contact the Editor-in-Chief, 09277906706.

The

Crusader Opinion |

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

7

The Microcosm

So?

Hyacinth J. Tagupa

I

f there is one word to describe the recentlyconcluded campus elections in Xavier University, it is probably ‘unpredictable’. That may sound exciting, but in all seriousness, it isn’t exactly a good trip. First, the student-body had to get prepped up for the first-ever electronic elections in XU, and for the first few days of its implementation, most of us held our breath. Like any other first, this one came wrapped in

controversy and doubt. Undoubtedly, the question in our minds was, will this scheme effectively and efficiently work for us? And undoubtedly, we found out the answer a few days after we electronically voted – that is, when we had to go back to the voting precincts to do it all over again manually because our electronic votes came out ‘invalid’. As if the electronic elections weren’t controversial enough, this year’s student-politicians had some surprises up their sleeves. The spicy Q&A during “Meet the Press” heated up the race, and the ‘declining’ of a presidential candidate from his candidacy fueled the talks. Right now, we can look back to the whole thing, see the big picture, notice the little details. We can play that episode in our minds all over again like it’s a piece of sitcom on DVD. But it wasn’t supposed to be a messy comedy (or drama, for that matter). After all, it was an exercise of our democracy – something that ought to have been taken seriously. Unfortunately, it did turn out messy, and it’s the messiness, not the seriousness, of our own campus politics that reminds us of our country’s politics. It really is true: our school is a microcosm of our nation. We are the miniature model, the smaller version. What happens on-campus is played out big-time ‘out there’. In school, we are taught the essentials, and we pick out one or two to bring into whichever field we

will soon find ourselves in. It is in this institution that our values and principles are set firm, and our future is planned out right before our almost-oblivious visions. Many, if not all, significant things start out in school. The nation practically starts out in school. Considering this, the national headlines shouldn’t be much of a surprise. The political bickering and governance crises we hear in the news are all too familiar and similar to what is happening in our campus. If we think about it, that is because all those big-time players out there – the mayors, the senators, even the president – most probably began as student-voters, student representatives, or student-government officers. In short, they began like us: students. It’s only a matter of time before we become like them, too; before the things we do in school now become the real newsmakers that can make or break the country – so we better rehearse our parts well. That means we have to do what we can do the right way. If we can run for an office in a student organization , we have to do it with our guts and principles intact. If we can vote, we have to vote with honesty and rationality. Learning from our mistakes and cleaning up our acts as early as now is needed if we want to build our future on a better slate. The things we do now can change everything, and one day, we’ll wake up realizing that it’s our turn to run the nation. And when that time comes, we better be ready.C

Juicy Perversions

Cogito ergo doleo

Gregorio R. Alenton III

W

hat do religions, political structures, and academic institutions all have in common? Besides lavishly providing society with a sense of order and belongingness (being reduced into mere forces of conformity by most people) these ageold constructs of society almost always have their own perverts running against social convention. Society has always been in constant interplay of mores and deviations. Just like calamansi juice, society is a concoction of the liquid normalcy and some colloidal rinds floating among the average. Perverts are these

floating chunks of deviance in the freshly squeezed lemonade of social reality laid out by institutions. It is considered as perversion to attempt altering social conventions into more subjective idealisms. “Pervert” then, to be clear, is passé from the sex driven maniacs we all know and loath. Churches, with their conventions and dogmas on morality, are most often than not, attacked by the subversive minority, causing the birth of a whole spectrum of religious sects, cults, and atheists. Political structures, as with our intentionally democratic government, are in constant assailment of radical reform embodied by forces condemned as insurgencies. Academic institutions almost harbor the very same politics of the nation in a smaller scale. To note, universities have their own share of radicalisms coming from student-activist groups with administrative reform as their battle cry. It is also interesting enough to point out that such studentactivist groups turn out to be the individuals rallying on the streets taunting the government for national reform a few years later. For these people, perversion came early on, and social deviance seems to be a career. Perverts are everywhere; we just call them by various names. As long as there are social structures imposing conventions which are intentionally made to hold society together, there will always be those who veer away from standards. Perversion of one’s religion makes a blasphemer or an atheist. Advocacy of the destruction of the government or any other political structure makes an activist.

The social constructs of religion and politics are essential for the sophisticated congregation we know as society. Social reform is imperative whenever such constructs become flawed. That is exactly why revisions of Catholic doctrines and Constitutional ratifications were brought about. Social conventions do change to suit the needs of the times. Deducing the perversions of social constructs, with its inconvenient unconventionality, sums up to the subjectivity of intents. Some people fall out of love for their religion out of the contention that institutionalized belief does not suffice their need for spirituality or it negates that need altogether. Compensation comes in either enlistment to other sects or atheism. People vote for individuals who turn out to be deviant from the ideals of leadership. As result of disappointment, the people lose faith in their governments and ultimately, some take it to the streets or resort to bloodshed. Perversion of social structures, in a sense, is a mere defense mechanism for the utter disappointments in conventions. People naturally respect governments and religions, they just react when such organizations’ action is no longer deemed fit, and some react by fighting the system with romantic fervor. Perverts of society, just like the rinds in calamansi juice peacefully settle at the bottom when society is calm and stable. Inconsistencies and injustice aggravates the society and the rinds will be all over the place. C

The

Crusader

8

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

Redefining CSG’s Status Quo

Photo by Kristine Joyce N. Vega

We started this election with a number of companions, supporters and people participating. And now, we ended up with only a few number of people which the majority is the winners of this election. Let me leave you with a challenge, a challenge to us all elected leaders to work as one community, working as one amidst diversity. We can make a difference, we can create change so long as we will start it within ourselves but we will not stop there, as one community we will empower other students to make a difference and to create change. May our dear God Bless us all! — Neil Vincent Bacal BS Business Management 4 CSG President SY 2009-2010

— Richel Petalcurin BS Secondary Education 3 CSG Vice President SY 2009-2010

Here are the figures from the final ELECOM poll release categorized by college. Ayob

Bacal

Cañeda

Musni

Olamit

Petalcurin

Med

23

5

14

27

35

29

CIT

69

152

19

10

93

151

Eng’g

94

221

56

56

169

242

Law

6

12

2

15

13

21

Aggies

103

84

24

20

135

95

Artscies

206

218

95

111

247

342

SBM

150

494

130

237

403

549

Educ

126

195

33

25

290

94

Nursing

131

307

121

121

268

374

Photos by Vernon Tony Medrano, Karen Mae Pagaduan, Kristine Joyce N. Vega

By the Numbers

Photo by Kevin Tyron M. Soriano

It is indeed an answered prayer to have been given the privilege to represent the entire Xavier University studentry. With that, I’d like to thank the people who have brought me in the position and have trusted my capacity to give a faith-based service. Thank you! Being the newly elected CSG Vice President, I commit myself to give what is just and toil towards Magis. Aiming for excellent governance is not just about what I can do as a leader but what the student who loves the government can do to elevate it. Now, I am confident that with your help, together, we can move the Blue Movement. To end, the victory is less of myself but more of Him who sent me. Be all Glory due to Him.

Illustration and design by Joshua Mario A. Bacal.

Continued from p. 1

The

Crusader News |

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

9

KKP-SIO heads relief operations for flood victims By Maria Sozina L. Alamban

bitaw sa atop ang tubig. Nitung-tung na lang gud ang uban sa atop. Gi-rescue dayun mi adtung mga sundalo nga nagsakay ug speed boat.” All the other flood victims lined up to get their share of relief goods. “Nalipay kaayo mi nga daghan ang gatabang sa amo,” Alibio added. The relief operation started when calamity struck in Cagayan de Oro on January 3. As of February 3, the cash donations have totaled to Php 469, 759.64 -- only cash on-hand and checks withdrawn from XU account. Php 430, 913.93 was spent for relief goods. The operation also included medical missions and feeding programs. The XU disaster relief operation is heading onto a new level -- the rehabilitation assistance. With the remaining amount left in the XU account for the operation, KKP-SIO now plans to raise more to add to these for support of families washed out in their areas. These will then be used to help rebuild their new homes.C

Photo by Kristine Joyce N. Vega

Seventy volunteers assembled at the Xavier University (XU) gym for a disaster relief operation on January 17, as the rain continually showered. The operation was led by the Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana-Social Involvement Office (KKPSIO) with the cooperation of various concerned individuals from more than ten organizations in and out of the University. With the 615 family packs of relief goods and 16 sacks of rice, three six-by-six trucks brought the volunteers to the evacuation centers near affected areas in Amoros, Molugan and El Salvador, Misamis Oriental; Bolao, Iponan, Bulua; Canitoan and Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro. They distributed the supplies to 703 families affected by the flood in the said areas. When asked about her experience, Mrs. Gingging Alibio, a 41 year-old flood victim currently residing in one of Iponan’s evacuation centers, narrated “Taas kaayo, taga-ulo na [ang baha]. Ang uban gani, lapas na sa ulo kay nag sangko na

Relief goods are being distributed to affected families.

CDO-ASSET hosts global youth gathering

Photo by Hyacinth J. Tagupa

Participants from all over the country and across the globe gathered in Cagayan de Oro for the first International Youth Convention (IYC) held January 30-February 2. The Cagayan de Oro Alliance of Students Supporting the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (CDO-ASSET) hosted the event with the aim of overcoming cultural and religious diversity among the youth towards helping achieve the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for year 2015.

A symbolic releasing of balloons at McArthur Park opened the convention. The first evening also marked the International Youth Day Exhibition and formally introduced the participants to the IYC. The 18 official participants came from schools in the Philippines, as well as from Hungary and Cameroon. The main events of the IYC 2009 were the plenary sessions that took place in the Lim Ket Kai Atrium on January 31. The assemblies, led by key speakers, were: “Interfaith Dialogue: A

Students from all over CdeO pack the Lim Ket Kai atrium during the IYC

Peaceful World” by Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ; “Cultural Diversification: Practices and Ethics” by Atty. Enrique dela Cruz, Jr.; and “Strengthening Millennium Development Goals 2015: Youth Perspective” by Atty. Marfred Pranada. Together with the official participants, students from various schools in Cagayan de Oro attended the said sessions. Cultural and social activities, such as the International Cultural Night and the Paint-aHouse at the Gawad Kalinga Xavier Village in Opol, were also in the list of activities. A symbolic event, marked with a bonfire at the Opol beach, then concluded the convention. IYC 2009 Chair Rupert Jason Musni expressed his satisfaction with the event. “It’s fulfilling,” he said. “Young as we are, we are already contributing towards achieving the MDG 2015.” Musni also confirmed that there are plans for the next IYC. The goals of the first IYC were in line with the United Nations’ advocacy for the eight MDGs, which are to be achieved by 2015. The MDGs include the eradication of extreme poverty, the achievement of universal primary education, the preservation of the natural environment, gender equality, and the establishment of global partnerships.C

Design by Josan Astrid A. Dometita

By Hyacinth J. Tagupa

The

Crusader

10 | News

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

IT enthusiasts convene for 2nd Mindanao-wide QITC

Photo from http://qitc2009.multiply.com

By Kamya G. Mordeno

Engr. Elpidio Paras speaks to IT enthusiasts during the QITC.

As it is geared towards unitifying Information Technology (IT) enthusiasts, the second Mindanao-wide Quantum and Information Technology Convention (QITC) was held on January 23-25 at The Marco Hotel, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City. With the theme “Enriching Mindanao

IT Enthusiast for Global Competence”, the event did not only give IT enthusiasts further knowledge about their field but it also promoted IT in Mindanao, as well as E-commerce, Smart Technology, Current and Emerging Web Technology, and 3D Technology. The highlight of the 3-day affair was the IT

convention which had more than 170 participants, including professionals in the various IT fields and students from the various IT schools in Mindanao. Guest speakers included Engr. Elpidio Paras, President of Parasat Cable TV; Mr. Ronald Ramos, IT Specialist from Smart Communications, Inc.; Ms. Stephanie Caragos, CEO of Syntactics Inc.; Ms. Yolynne Medina, IRC Channel Consultant and Online Networking Staff of the International Open Source Network; and Mr. Lawrence Kwek, Junior User Interface Designer of Behringer Holdings Pte. Prior to the convention, competitions were held: The Microsoft Paint Competition for the grade school and the Photoshop Competition and Quiz Show for the High school students. These served as venues for the youth to enhance their skills in IT. The event was made lively with singing, dancing, and games. The second day of the convention ended with a social gathering for the participants . In spite of the registration fee ranging from Php 2,900 – 3,700, the President of Xavier Computer Enthusiasts’ League (XCEL), Ms. Blondie Lynn Rondez, assured that it was a nonprofitable event.C

Entrepreneurship and sustainable development mingle in MBMYC

Photo courtesy of the Ateneo Camera Club

By Bianca Nathalie Y. Llamis

Oro City on February 6-8. In the first plenary entitled “Ignite,” entrepreneurship advocates Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Christopher Tio, and James Fantone shared their experiences and insights to encourage the delegates to venture into entrepreneurship. In the second plenary, “Respond,” Jeffrey Tarayao of Globe Telecom’s Corporate Social Responsiblity Department, Rafael Ortega of the Philippine One of the speakers shares his message to the MBMYC participants Center for Entrepreneurship - GO Negosyo, Ermin Stan Pimentel of Kristohanong With the theme “Igniting the Youth Katilingban sa Pagpakabana - Social Involvement to be Socially Responsible Entrepreneurs Office, and Heidi Grace Mendoza, a faculty for Sustainable Development,” the 5th of the College of Agriculture, expounded on Mindanao Business and Management Youth social responsibility and its role in business. In Congress (MBMYC) convened in Marco “Sustainable Development”, the third plenary, Hotel, Alwana Business Park, Cagayan de speakers Benedicto Aguilar, Mercedes Pelaez

Mejia of SLERS, Inc., Lanao del Norte Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, and Dean Roel Ravanera of the College of Agriculture answered the delegates’ queries on the sustainability of an entrepreneur’s venture. The 235 delegates chose among five areas of change -- human resource development, youth entrepreneurship, financial literacy, social youth entrepreneurship, and information and communications technology -- during the breakout sessions. They were asked to identify the main problems within their chosen areas, and to make an analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and generate business concepts that will best solve these problems. On the last day, each group presented their business concepts. “Having attended the congress, these delegates are challenged to initiate these solutions in the hopes of building a stronger Mindanao, a greater nation,” stated Arthur Daniel P. Mejia, Chairman of this year’s MBMYC.”C

The

Crusader News | 11

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

Indie films take spotlight in Cinemagis By Mycah Therese A. Deguilmo

Photo by Kristine Joyce N.Vega

included “City of Samaritans”, “Window of Dreams” and “Kasing-Kasing Amang.” “Window of Dreams” was given the Best Sound Scoring while “Kasing-Kasing Amang” bagged Best Art Direction and Best Short Film. Best Male Performer went to Phlong Flores for “Kasing-Kasing Amang” and its counterpart, Best Female Performer, to “Ukit’s” Frenchlyn Duran. Tzaddi Esguerra for “Kiss the Rain” and Shaun Alejandrae Yap Uy for “Kasing-Kasing Amang” won Best Director awards for Student and Senior categories. There were also special citation entries: “Tanya”, and the animated film “Reach”. Victoria D. Belarmino, member of the NCCA Cinema Committee and Miguel Rapatan, head of the NCCA Cinema Committee were in charge of choosing winners for each category. The Cinemagis Short Film Festival not only aimed to promote the talents and capabilities of independent film-makers in Northern Mindanao but it also sent its proceeds to the victims of Bagyong Auring. Admittance into the movies was not in the form of tickets but school supplies, canned goods, and noodles.C

Xavier Science Foundation and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) together with Xavier University Culture and Arts Office and SM City CDO successfully staged Cinemagis, the Northern Mindanao digital shortfilm festival on Jan 19 and from 21 to 23 at SM Cinemas 1 and 2. The screening of entries was the highlight of the whole event, apart from the workshop, launch and presentation of nominees. When the eight entries were shown on the big screen, the spectators erupted in applause. The Launching and Presentation of Nominees as well as a Workshop on The Independent Film Process were held at the XU Little Theatre prior to the movie screening. Both events were held on January 19 and 21 respectively. These two events drew a large crowd of film educators, independent film makers, and other film enthusiasts. Entries for student category included “Switch”, “Ukit”, and “Kiss the Rain.” Kiss the Rain grabbed three awards, Best in Cinematography, Best in Editing, and Best in Short Film, in the said category. Official entries for Senior Category

Mr. Hobart Savior, director of XU-CAO, annouces the nominees for the Cinemagis Awards

KKP-SIO, Balaod Mindanaw, Inc. conduct concert forum By Shola Mae Rose Zamayla

The young and the old danced and sang along the music of the Apo Hiking Society, at the XU Gymnasium on February 2. The concert titled “75 nAPO Kami!” was conducted for the benefit of CDO flood victims, Xavier de Kibangay High School in Lantapan Bukidnon, CSG Student Loan Services Program and the Tukod BalayXavier Village.C

Design by Josan Astrid A. Dometita

Photo by Karen N. Pagaduan

February 13---the Research and Social Outreach Department (RSO) of Xavier University launched the first Green Renewable Independent Power Producer (GRIPP) electronic jeepney in Cagayan de Oro. Environmentalists present were given the initial free ride around the campus on the electronic jeepney. C

Photo coutesy of Mr. Mike Baños of Goldstar Daily

The second Talipapa Student Bazaar, a joint project of the XU Central Student Government and the Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana-Student Volunteer Center (KKP-SVC), was held February 4-7 and February 9-11 at the XU canteen and SC dry pond respectively. Proceeds of the student bazaar were to go to XU’s Gawad Kalinga project, the Tukod Balay.C

NSTP Coordinator Jinkee Gonzales said that Education, Health, Environment, Good Governance and Shelter are the five impact cores of the program. “Pero ang pinaka-impact area jud karon kay ang Land. We’ve cooperated with Balaod Mindanaw since we believe in the same issues. We also want to emphasize kung unsa jud ang ginabuhat sa mga NSTP students sa ilang mga area work.” Chosen groups of NSTP students also presented their share on the five impact cores of the program. The funds collected from the concert forum will go to Balaod Mindanaw, Inc. and to the construction of a one-unit house in Oro Habitat worth Php 50, 000.C

Bayang Barrios’ animated vocal performance with strong themes of relevant social issues affecting Mindanao. Messages of empowerment were delivered by Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin SJ, Xavier University President; Atty. Arlene J. Bag-ao, Executive Trustee of Balaod Mindanaw; Mr. Ermin B. Stan Pimentel, Director of KKP-SIO; and Risa HontiverosBaraquel, Akbayan Partylist Representative. Rep. Baraquel stressed the need for us to take back genuine justice. The Sumilao farmers also took part in the program. Some expressed their gratitude towards the students for the help in their struggles, especially in land reform. Photo courtesy of the Central Student Governent

Little News by Krista Grace B. Surdilla

A concert forum entitled “Telling Their Stories, Singing Their Songs” was staged in Xavier University (XU) Gymnasium on January 31. The event was organized by Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana-Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO) Research and Social Outreach (RSO), in cooperation with BALAOD Mindanaw, Incorporated. Songs from bands True Friends Club and Grupong Laya, marked the beginning of the program. A video presentation, composed of photos of Balaod Mindanaw and KKP-SIO’s impact areas on National Service Training Program (NSTP) was then presented. The highlight of the concert forum was

The

Crusader

12

T

hree floods in the span of two weeks have left its mark on the Kagay-anons. Now, at every beginning of a heavy downpour, Cagayan de Oro collectively holds its breath, only sighing in relief once the rain passes by without much fanfare. What was once a city confident of its protection from the wrath of nature has now become a city trying to get past its shock from the damage of the high waters that invaded its homes.

Design by Feliciano T. Legara IV. Photos by Pamela Grace G. Lico

Shielded No More On any other rain-drenched island, the floods would not have probably come as such a shock. That this island was Cagayan de Oro City, however, puts a twist into the story. It is a known fact that the city is shielded from storms by the surrounding mountains of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. It was not a storm, however, that submerged majority of the city, but a

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

cloudburst (“buhawi”, in local terminology) occurring in Bukidnon, causing the rivers connected to CdeO and other places in Misamis Oriental, to rise and overflow. As a result, 5,500 families in Cagayan de Oro alone were reportedly displaced. Just a week after the first flash flood, another one ravaged the city. January 11 saw a resurgence of the strong river currents and rising waters as incessant rains poured over the city, as well as on some barangays and municipalities of Misamis Oriental. The second flood displaced over 7,600 families, and extensive damage to private property. In what was considered a continuation to the January 11 calamity, the third flood and heavy rains came on January 13, beginning in the afternoon until the next morning. All classes in primary, secondary, and tertiary levels were cancelled by order of the Department of Education (DepEd),

as some students were unable to get out of their homes, and some schools themselves were flooded. Landslides from the January 11 rainfall were also made worse, causing heavy traffic in some areas as trees and rocks block roads. It is clear to see that Cagayan de Oro is no longer the shielded, storm-free city it used to be. Now we ask, will we ever fully recover—or will we continue holding our breaths at every strong downpour? The Morning After To that question, the citizens—those affected by the floods, in particular—look to the city government for answers. In response, army trucks were deployed to carry evacuees out of the water’s reach, barangay halls and public school classrooms were opened to accommodate the homeless, and City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula set in motion the long-

The

Crusader

13

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

dormant City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) to facilitate the relief operations of the government. Citizens and non-government organizations also took it upon themselves to donate food, clothing, sleeping materials, and other necessities both for short-term use and for long-term revitalization. All in all, it was a fast mobilization of aid from the government, NGOs, and ordinary Kagay-anons, especially considering the fact that the city has not seen such damage from the weather since the 1960s. Building an Ark However, with the ongoing rains and unpredictable weather conditions, Kagayanons are hoping for not just a fast relief operation, but a permanent end to the flash floods. If what we have witnessed was the result of a mere ‘tail-end of the cold front’, it is not hard to imagine what would happen should a storm hit.

So far, Mayor Jaraula has ordered the suspension of all mining activities in the city. “It has become imperative in the pursuit of general welfare to declare all mining operations, with or without permits within the territorial jurisdiction of Cagayan de Oro City, immediately suspended,” declared Jaraula. “The floods caused by the abusive and irregular mining operations resulted to the destruction of agricultural areas, farm-to-market road networks, claimed and endanger several lives, and extensive damage to properties.” He encourages both the citizens and government agencies to make tree-planting one of their projects. He also turned over full control of the city’s remaining watersheds to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Jaraula has also vowed that his latest projects, the Paseo del Rio and the Golden Mile Boulevard, will be redesigned to include flood prevention in its construction.

d r o w s i r Ku By Ozbax

*** Whether or not these promises reassure the Kagay-anons, remains to be seen. Will more trees be our equivalent of Noah’s famed Ark? Will stronger buildings help? Unfortunately, the viability of those promises would need a strong river current and heavy downpours, to be truly tested. Until then, we continue holding our breaths.C Source: http://www.cagayandeorocity.info/ http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/ http://www.gmanews.tv/ http://www.kagay-an.com/ http://www.cbcpnews.com/ http://www.sunstar.com.ph http://cagayandeoro.gov.ph/ The Mindanao Current Business Mirror

ACROSS 1. Winner of 2009 NBA All-Star Game 3. Cagayan de Oro: “Dakbayan sa Bulawanong ________” 5. Publishers of The Crusader Publication 10. Dean of the XU Graduate School 12. The Crusader Publication Associate Editor 08-09 14. PDI’s ‘Filipino of the Year’ 15. $2.3-billion project, designed to generate 621 megawatts of electricity, scrapped by the Aquino administration in 1986. 18. First Filipino to win a Grand Slam tournament at the 2009 Australian Open tennis championships. 22. Pikit mata/ kong iaalay/ ang buwan at araw 23. Introduced as the fourth judge on American Idol. 26. A revolutionary doctrine that advocates destruction of the social system for its own sake. 27. Corona _______: A white matter sheet that continues caudally as the internal capsule and rostrally as the centrum semiovale. 28. Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 81st Academy Awards 29. R&B artist under investigation for domestic violence charges. 30. Variety show held in celebration of Devcom Week DOWN 2. First Mayor of “Cagayan de Oro” 1948–1953 4. Normand ______, alter-ego of Nick Mitchell, American Idol Season 8 contestant. 6. “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” 7. Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song this year.

8. Cagayan de Oro Sangguniang Kabataan President (2007-2010) 9. Eng’g students’ Valentines Day celebration 11. “Just dance”, “Poker face”, “Love Game” 13. “BE all that you can BE.” 16. Will deliver Commencement Address to 2009 XU graduates. 17. Appointed 67th United States Secretary of State 19. “I think it’s my destiny to love the many.” 20. XU Student Bazaar 21. Veni, vidi, ____: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” 24. A miniature version of a larger object or entity. 25. There’s only two types of people in the world... Prizes will be given to the first 3 who can submit a complete and correct Kurisword.

Winners of last issue’s Kurisword 1st - Saud, Noraisah (BS AC-2) 2nd - Paitan, Krizza (BS Bio-3) 3rd - Portacion, Deeby (AB Philo-3) Congratulations! Claim your prizes at The Crusader Publication office, StC 302.

Answers to last issue’s Kurisword

The

Crusader

14

Vol. 35 No. 7 | Feb. 2009

Illustration by Feliciano T. Legara IV.

Kuris-Kuris