MCU pioneers automated SC elections

What’s Inside
The official publication of the MCU student body
In search of truth and meaning
Volume 80 Issue No. 1
December 2009 – July 2010
The essence of OJT...............p.2
Acupuncture help................p.3
Reform on uniforms.............p.5
The power of prayer...........p.5
This new school year ..........p.6
More than the position.......p.7
Despite of...............................p.9
Twilight Saga........................p.10
Students’ Day opens
by Mary Jane Guba, Arts and Sciences
Students’ Day, the official
“free day” for students every
Friday was launched last June
25, 2010. The day will be
the open day for all college
students, allowing them to
get involved in various extracurricular activities such as
sports, creative arts, club
meetings,
entrepreneurship,
photography, chorale and
bands.
As part of the launching
of
the
project,
various
organizations opened their
booth at the FDT Courtyard
to recruit members for their
respective groups. Sports games
among different colleges were
also held at the Centennial
Gymnasium.
According to the Office
of Student’s Affairs (OSA), its
key objective is to “develop
the skills and talents of
students as well as enhance
the interpersonal relationship
among the colleges through
activities
designed
for
students”.
One of the specific
objectives of the project is to
provide students additional
support by allowing them to
generate income by involving
them
in
entrepreneurial
activities.
The Student’s day will
be observed every Friday from
2:30 P.M. up to 7:00 P.M.
Guidelines have been set
to facilitate and monitor the
activities.
Every student is invited
and encouraged to participate
and experience the changes
and developments designed by
the Administration, Office of
the Student Affairs and Student
Councils.
Student organizations recruit members at the Students’ Day opening
MCU pioneers automated SC elections
by Nierra Lou Sulit, Business Administration
Innovative. Fast. Credible.
These are the words to describe the new
system of voting for the next set of student
leaders. Through the help of the University
Student Council and Mrs. Lourdes F. Cruzat,
Dean of the Office of Student Affairs, MCU
held its first automated university wide student
council elections on March 4 and 5 at the FDT
Building for CCS, CBA, CAS, CPT, CNM and at
the PGT Building for CPh, CoDent, Opto, CMT
internet laboratory.
“To maximize the resources of the school,
to provide high-tech, cost and time efficient
way of coming up with a credible results,”
students headed by Imelda Banaag (AC 3-1) who
served as the COMELEC (Elections Committee)
which started distributing candidacy application
forms to all the colleges until the election proper.
Dean Nova, on the other hand, tapped his
faculty, Ms. Michelle Ramos for the supervision
of software development.
Prior to the Election Day a mock election
was conducted to test the effectiveness of the
new software. USC officers as well as student
council candidates were the first one to witness
and try the system and truly, a huge satisfaction
was seen in each and everyone's reaction, as
they got impressed with the technology.
On election day the USC officers, Mrs.
Cruzat, the COMELEC and IT and Computer
Science students helped usher the voters to
their designated voting precincts at the FDT and
PGT internet laboratory in what would be the
very first automated elections in MCU. More
positive feedback was heard coming from the
students who participated in voting their chosen
candidates. It was a testament that the institution
cannot be left behind as far as innovation is
concerned.
Turn to page 4
Students experience the First Automated Elections
for the Student Council
these were the objectives of Mrs. Cruzat when
she visualized the automated elections. With
that aim, she asked the support of Dr. Dennis
Sandoval, Dean of the College of Business
Administration and Mr. Avonn Nova, Dean of
the College of Computer Studies to come up
with the development of the mechanics and
software.
As early as February, Dean Sandoval The Election Board with the voters from different
provided Mrs. Cruzat the services of accounting colleges
MCU hosts 30th Nat’l Quiz Bee Elims
by Mary Jane A. Guba, Arts and Sciences
The Participants of the National Quiz Bee with their Coaches
Through the joint effort of
the OSA, USC, CENTRALINO
and Ms. Pettizou Tayag of the
National Quiz Bee, Manila
Central University was chosen
as the host venue of “The
30th National Quiz Bee
Eliminations” held last January
16, 2010. A total of 2,038
people including students,
parents and coaches from
schools in Caloocan, Malabon,
Navotas
and
Valenzuela
participated in the event.
The
eliminations
screened out 15 students
from
Caloocan
and
5
students each from Malabon,
Navotas
and
Valenzuela,
with the winners going to the
Divisions
Championships.
Simultaneously, MCU took
the opportunity to promote
the university through exhibits
presented by each college.
Mrs. Cruzat underscored
the benefits of these kinds
of activities, “Without using
(school) funds, we are able
to open our university to our
community schools.”
The exhibits’ primary
purpose is to help in promoting
the MCU courses.
“Malaki pala ang
school at maganda ang mga
rooms. Conducive to learning.
Maganda madaming puno,” a
parent said.
2
news
The essence of OJT
by Neirra Lou Sulit, Business Administration
OJT (0n-the-job-training) porting plus a little detachment its location. And just like an
is one requisite for graduation as if it were the first time they ordinary job applicant, you will
which must be gain during the were handling us where in fact, go to a typical process before
last year of a student tagged it has been three years now.
getting accepted – submission
with a classroom discussion
Thesis was expected to of resume, additional requireas its equivalent, usually for a be the most strenuous part as ments and interview.
required number of hours for seen by the previous graduating
In my case, I was lucky
completion, say 200 hours. students. As business majors, enough to be accepted to this
(Under MCU-CBA Curriculum) a feasibility business plan is one TV Network. But the his There must be some- a requirement and a realistic tory was not an easy journey.
thing remarkable in a fourth proto-type product, whether Since it seemed that time was
year student’s life that is diffi- currently existing or not must not on my side (it was already
cult to explain, or if someone be launched and put up for 2 weeks after the opening of
did, only one particular word sale. True enough, it was the classes), I need to accomplish
will transpire – cramming.
toughest part. But, it wasn’t the following requirements in
In my case as a Business the business plan alone just 2 days: Medical certificate,
Administration student, pro- that is taking its toll in our Certificate of GWA (General
fessors seem to have changed. physique. The entire Student Weighted Average) signed by
They were more serious and hu- Apprenticeship Program (SAP) the College Dean, Certificate of
morless as compared to when or more popularly known as Good Moral Character, Letter
they were during the previous OJT is also giving us the hassle. of endorsement / recommendayears. More robust activities,
First, you look for a comTurn to page 6
additional homeworks and re- pany and the convenience of
Cerebral Clash 2009
by Lois Marie Baltazar, Medical Technology
The Champions of the Cerebral Clash 2010 from the College of Arts and
Sciences
The contenders from
the different colleges – Arts
and
Sciences,
Pharmacy,
Dentistry, Medical Technology,
Optometry, Nursing, Physical
Therapy, and the High School
department proved their wits
as they competed in the 2nd
MCU-FDTMF
Intercollegiate
Cerebral Clash.
The
competition
happened
last
December
The MCU Psychology
students brought pride to
the school as they beat 17
10, 2009 at the Centennial
Gymnasium. The Medical
Student Council and Committee
on Student Affairs of the MCUFDTMF sponsored the event
that aimed to provide an avenue
for social and intellectual
interaction among the faculty
and students of the Manila
Central University.
The game proper was
composed of two rounds – Easy
and Difficult. The questions
covered among others, various
subjects in the medical field,
sports, literature and current
events. Though 5 colleges
paved their way to the difficult
round, only three brought home
the bacon.
For two years in a row the
College of Arts and Sciences
emerged as the champions
of the competition. The team
members were Hariet N. Alda,
Angelica O. Villa, Andrey
Christopher
Garcia,
Ms.
Jacquilyn Santos-Basa and Mr.
Joshua Daclan.
The second placers were
Karl Justine Gonda, Lolerida
Marquez, Jens Dale Lim, Mr.
Calvin Juan Matol IV and Ms.
Rhea Lorraine Bautista from
the College of Nursing while
the third placers were from the
College of Pharmacy composed
of Carlo de Gula, Vieno Cruz,
Pasion Sara, Mr. Manuel Balmas
and Mrs. Nimfa Gambalan.
The
victorious
groups received prizes and
all
participants
received
certificates.
MCU Psych majors triumph
by Mary Jane A. Guba, Arts and Sciences
Maynila last November 21,
2009.
The
competition
includes various contests
such as the Psych Duet
(singing competition), Opus
contest
(photography),
essay writing contest, Mr.
and Ms. Psych Icon and
Psych Quiz Bowl.
Elijah Zion Caña and
MCU Psychology Majors, Elijah
Pearl
Angelette Mariano,
Zion Caña and Pearl Angelette
3rd
year
Psychology
Mariano in their duet
students won as the Over-all
other schools in the first All- Champion for the Psych Duet
Psychology
Inter-Collegiate competition. Regine Carla Chua,
Championship held in the 4th year Psychology student,
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng grabbed the Ms. Photogenic
Award in the Mr. and Ms. Psych
Icon division. Jennyvale Tecson,
Kristine Mangyan and Carla
Jane Abacan, 4th year students
placed 5th in the Psych Quiz
Bowl.
The Psychology majors
contended with 17 other
universities including Centro
Escolar University, Adamson
University,
Far
Eastern
University, University of the
East, and Pamantasan ng
Lungsod ng Maynila.
“This is an opportunity to
let our school be known. When
we joined the contest, we aimed
not just for self-satisfaction but
December 2009–July 2010
The Pharos 2010-11
– a transition team
Dr. Aristotle T. Malabanan, President and Chief Operating
Officer of Manila Central University has approved the
composition of The Pharos editors and staff for school year 2010
to 2011 last May 4, 2010.
Dubbed as a “transition team”, the process of appointment
undergone by the group was different from that of the previous
years. Qualifications for every position have been modified
to suit the requirements and resolve the difficulties that were
annually experienced.
The official publication of the MCU student body was
restructured with operations and management, advisory and
training positions. The operations and management positions
are editor-in-chief, production manager, news editor, features
editor and literary editor that will be occupied by 3rd and
2nd year students. The advisory positions are associate editor,
associate news editor and production associate will be manned
by senior students while the training positions are staff writers,
layout artist and photographer by 2nd and 1st year students.
The Pharos 2010 – 2011 has proposed projects and plans
suited to achieve the Vision and Mission of the organization
and the school. Fresh and improved sections of the newspaper
are being introduced and wider connections to the different
departments and colleges are being established to cater more
the needs of its various stakeholders.
The editors and staff are currently recruiting staff writers.
Here is The Pharos 20110 –2011 editors and staff:
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Production Manager
Production Associate
Layout Artist / Photographer
News Editor
Associate News Editor
Features Editor
Literary Editor
Lois Marie A. Baltazar
(Medical Technology)
Angelo Iñigo (Nursing)
Reynalene Pascual (Nursing)
Nierra Sulit
(Business Administration)
Annabelle Estrella
(Arts and Sciences)
Mary Jane Guba
(Arts and Sciences)
Rizzi Miñoza (Arts and Sciences)
Luisito Batungbakal (Nursing)
Aisha Junaide (Dentistry)
Alay Parada 2010
by Aisha B. Junaide, Dentistry
Manila
Central
University College of Dentistry
participated in “Alay Parada”
in the 6th National Dental
Health Month last January 24
at Quirino Grandstand, Luneta
Park.
The MCU participation
was led college officials and
faculty members. The students
from different year levels wore
their college shirt to represent
the school in the said event.
Also for the pride of the school.
As the Psychological Society
President, I am so proud that
the members and officers’
talents were enhanced through
this competition,” Regine Carla
Chua said.
Crowned Ms. Photogenic, Regine
Carla Chua of the Psychology
Intercollegiate Championship
The theme for this year
was “Ngipin Alagaan, Pagkain
Pahalagahan.
Magandang
mong Ngiti, Yaman ng Bayan.”
Philippine Dental Association
President Dr. Marissa Brual
urged all PDA members from
NCR, Region 3, Region 4
chapters and Dental Schools
like UP Manila, UE, and CEU
to evoke the spirit of fun,
excitement and camaraderie.
The assembly time at
Quirino Grandstand was as
early as four o’clock in the
morning. The parade started
at 6:00 A.M. passing Roxas
Boulevard and then back
to Quirino Grandstand for
the street dancing and interdental school cheer dance
competition. The participants
showed off their colorful
costumes
and
presented
energetic
performances
to entertain the audience.
MCU joined the cheer dance
competition along with UP,
UE, AEC and De Ocampo.
Guest speakers gave
inspiring speeches to aspiring
dentists and an awarding
ceremony for the outstanding
participants and schools capped
of the event.
December 2009–July 2010
Acupuncture help ease patients with dental phobia
by Aisha B. Junaide, Dentistry
A new research involving
an ancient Chinese treatment
may provide a solution for
nervous people going to the
dentist. Patients with anxiety
problems
about
dentistry
were tested with acupuncture
treatment and researchers
found that using acupuncture
help significantly reduce their
anxiety levels.
According to researchers,
one in 20 people suffer from
odontophobia, a severe anxiety
about dentistry, and a third of all
people have moderate anxiety
when visiting the dentist.
In a March 29 issue of
Acupuncture in Medicine, a
report was published about
the use of acupuncture as a
calming solution. This was
done by placing the needles
in two strategic points on the
head. This induces relaxation
and reduces fear within the
patient.
Lead researcher Dr. Palle
Rosted, from the department
of oncology at Weston Park
Hospital in Sheffield, England
said, "We can offer patients a
safe, fast and cheap treatment
for their odontophobia,”
Other
treatments
regarding dental anxiety were
time-consuming or would have
side effects, Rosted continued.
"Moreover, in some patients,
the more traditional treatments
are not sufficient. By offering
acupuncture, the dentist has an
extra tool in his bag," he said.
Rosted’s group research
conducted the test on 20
patients suffering from dental
phobia for two to thirty years
with a moderate to severe cases
of anxiety. The patients’ anxiety
level was assessed by the Beck
Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
Five minutes before and
after the acupuncture treatment
their anxiety level was checked
using the BAI’s questionnaire.
The results showed all patients,
with an average age of 40, a
significant drop from an average
BAI score of 26.5 to 11.5 after
the treatment.
Before the test, only
six patients were able to take
dental procedures with a great
deal of effort between the
dentist and the patient. After
the acupuncture treatment all
20 patients managed to get
their dental procedures done.
"From a scientific point
of view, we demonstrated that
70 percent of patients had an
effect of the treatment," Rosted
said. "From a practical point of
view, and that is the important
thing, we demonstrated that it
was possible to carry out the
planned dental treatment in all
patients."
Rosted
said
that
acupuncture is not a miracle
treatment. “However, it has
some advantages over other
treatments.
The
treatment
is safe, fast and cheap. In
this study, the dentist could
commence the dental treatment
five minutes after insertion of
the five needles," Rosted said.
Dr. Marshall H. Sager,
a former president of the
American Academy of Medical
Acupuncture, was optimistic
about the results. "I believe the
results of this preliminary study
are wide-ranging and should
encompass investigation into
the use of acupuncture for all
preoperative anxiety," he said.
CBA opens Entrepreneur Fair
by Nierra Lou Sulit, Business Administration
In line with the MCU
Administration's
drive
to
become one of the leading
business schools in Metro
Manila, the College of Business
Administration (CBA) with its
theme "Walking Our Way to the
Extra Miles" launched its first
Entrepreneur Fair on February
24 at the Araneta Square Mall
in Caloocan City
A ribbon cutting ceremony
presided by Mr. Jesselu Misa,
University Registrar and Ms.
Mila Perez, Finance Director,
along with faculty and students
formally declared the fair open
to the public.
Fourth year CBA marketing
and management majors led by
Mark Rubio, event chairman,
provided eight kiosks and carts
for these innovative food and
non-food items that were sold
to the customers who wanted
to try new line of products.
These products were the output
of the project feasibility studies
or business plan, a course
requirement of the fourth year
students that were successfully
defended during the defense
week conducted prior to the fair.
For the food category,
the products are Bezo Burgers,
Tinape (plato wraps), Fruity
Brownies, Siomai licious, C3
(fried sandwich rolls) and Sisig
Stop. For non-food category,
Miracle Diswashing Paste and
Cana-Klenza Diswashing Liquid
completes the list.
The entire CBA community
was present and supported
the event. Furthermore, a big
number of people at the Araneta
Square mall purchased the said
products.
With proper marketing
strategy, patience and hard
work, the event was a huge
success as the eight groups
reached its target sales and profit
that showed that the market
acceptability of their products
were proven to be effective.
Dr. Dennis Sandoval,
Dean of CBA was very pleased
with the positive results of the
event and looks forward to
another successful Entrepreneur
Fair next year.
3
news
He added that there is
evidence that acupuncture
helps release endorphins that
acts as both painkillers and
sedatives. "These opiate-like
hormones, manufactured in
the body, contribute to natural
feelings of well-being and
modulate anxiety," he said.
According
to
the
research, acupuncture may
offer a simple and inexpensive
method of treating patients with
dental anxiety. However it also
stated that the present results
still need to be tested in a larger
randomized trial in order to
evaluate the real effectiveness
of the acupuncture treatment.
Sources: http://dentalproblems.
ygoy.com/updates/tooth-disorders/
what-is-odontophobia/
http://health.discovery.com/
news/healthscout/article.html?article
=637487&category=18&year=2010
http://www.medicinenet.
com/script/main/art.
asp?articlekey=114865
http://aim.bmj.
com/content/28/1/3.
abstract?sid=bce4cb3b-f172-408caf7d-28fd49640519
Research links obesity to cancer
by Luisito E. Batongbakal Jr., Nursing
A large Asia-Pacific
research study, published
last June 30 in The Lancet
Oncology, found that Asians
who are overweight or obese
are more likely to die from
cancer compared with people
of normal weight. The study
was conducted in China, Hong
Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South
Korea, Singapore, Thailand,
Australia and New Zealand
with 401,215 participants over
the span of four years.
Compared to people of
normal weight, those who were
obese were 21 percent more
likely to die from cancer while
those who were overweight
had a 6 percent higher chance,
the study found.
Obese participants were
particularly vulnerable to
cancers of the colon, rectum,
breast, ovary, cervix, prostate,
and leukemia, the researchers
found. "Overweight and obese
individuals in populations
across the Asia-Pacific region
have a significantly increased
risk of mortality from cancer,"
the
researchers
quoted.
Obesity is a leading cause of
cancer in western countries
but this research discovered
that Asia is also under the same
epidemic.
"New strategies are
urgently needed to tackle the
obesity epidemic in Asia to
prevent further increases in the
cancer burden in this region,"
said the group, which was
led by Christine Parr at the
University of Oslo in Norway.
There has been a rapid
increase in obesity in many
Asian countries in the last few
decades, fueled by growing
affluence and people moving
from the countryside to cities,
where they have become
sedentary and are eating fattier
foods.
Source: http://link.
reuters.com/fuw94m
Social Science Dep’t holds diorama exhibit
by Mary Jane Guba, Arts and Sciences
natural environment and
man-made resources. It
also prepares students for
the future challenges with
a more comprehensive
knowledge of Asia,” Mr.
Fulgencio said.
The
criteria
for
judging for the diorama
entries
are
creativity
Medical Technology Sophomores 40%, relevance 30% and
with the CAS professors in the Food uniqueness 30%. Prof.
Ronald Go, Prof. Rosilinda
Festival
Radovan, and Mr. Joey Fulo
The
Social
Science
were the judges.
Department held “Proudly
The Hanging Garden
Asian” last February 24 to 26
of Babylon by N4-18B got
at the FDT Hall. The event
first place. The Landmarks in
featured the different landmarks
Asia by N4-13 B, First Mass
in Asia through a diorama
in the Philippines by N4-9B,
exhibit and the presentation
Landmarks of early civilization
of the material culture of the
by N4-13A and Maria Cristina
Philippines. With the theme
Falls by N4- 8 B placed first,
“Pride of Asia to Global
second, third and fourth
Civilization”, the event aimed
runner-up respectively.
to appreciate Asian heritage,
The 10 entry special
history, geography and culture.
award winners were judged by
The diorama entries of
Dean Eva Javier of CAS, Prof.
the graduating classes of the
Ramoso, foreign and Filipino
College of Nursing (Batch
students and representatives
2010) were displayed along
from the College of Nursing,
the FDT corridor. The Dental
Office of the Student Affairs,
Hygiene 11 and Medical
The Pharos, Natural Science
Technology
21
students
Department, CAS Student
presented the Filipino culture
Council, CENTRALINO and
through preparing Filipino
selected MCU employees.
food and delicacies. Mr. Paul
B. Fulgencio, coordinator of
the HIS 5 exhibit with the
faculty members of the Social
Sciences Department, Mr.
Jose Pedrena, Mr. Eugene
Alayon, Mr. Joseph Sydney
Valdez, Ms. Analyn Quitalig,
Ms. Salome Lewis, Mrs.
Marivi Roxas and Social
Science Chairperson Prof.
Rosa Ramoso, organized the
event.
The Social Science Exhibit
“The event aimed to
Spectators
inculcate student appreciation
of Asian heritage and cite the
importance of protecting the
Special award winners
were as follows:
• Dean Eva Javier’s Choice
and Students’ Choice- N4
18 B – Hanging Garden
of Babylon
• Dean Lina Salarda’s
Choice- N4- 13 A –
Landmarks
of
early
civilization
• CENTRALINO’s ChoiceN4- 4 A – Landmarks in
Asia
• CAS Student Council’s
Choice- N4-9 A Derawar
Fort
• The Pharos’ ChoiceN4-9 B – First Mass in
the Philippines
• Social
Science
Department’s
ChoiceN4-16 B- Burj Al Arab
• Employees’
ChoiceN4-8 B – Maria Cristina
Falls
• Office of the Student
Affairs’ Choice- N4-13 B
– Landmarks in Asia
• Natural
Science
Department’s
ChoiceN4- 16 A – Maria Cristina
Falls
• Foreign Students’ ChoiceN4-18 A – Chocolate
Hills and Persepolis Hills
4
editorial
December 2009–July 2010
With our unending campaign to promote responsible journalism, we The Pharos still
and will always live up to our goal of being the eye, ears and voice of the student
body and bridge to the administration and other stakeholders so that we may achieve
unity and productivity.
Reform on uniforms
Man is a machine of desire,
discontentment and hope. For these three
thoughts, there springs a word – expectation.
Even before a child is born, we deal with
it. And as we mature, the more we are being
pressured by it externally and most especially
interpersonally.
Yet expectations are healthy. It gives us
a guide on what others look forward to from
us and vice versa. It gives us a direction, an
impression and a standard that by the end of
the day we can verify if was fulfilled.
Even our university has its own sets of
expectations. Some accomplished, some
may have fallen short, some still in the
process of achieving and some are yet to
be distinguished. Yet it never stopped on
accommodating the stakeholders’ demands
and making things possible to feed the needs
of students.
As a matter of fact, this new school year in
Manila Central University is a moment to wait
for. Several historic and worthy changes are to
be experienced by everybody.
First on the list is the much-awaited
opening of the Learning Resource Center that
will cater to a lot of services both academically
and socially. Besides, it will be home to the
different student-aligned service offices and
other organizations. It will also be a cool spot
for food tripping and hanging out. It gives
a different dimension to learning with its
incredible architecture and design.
Another is the so-called free day or the
Students’ Day that happens every Friday. It is
designed for students to have a time for their
extracurricular activities. Several activities
such as Sports, Photography Seminars, Club
Recruitments, MCU Band and Chorale Audition
and Entrepreneurial Events are in store for
every student.
Other things to be anticipated are the
accreditation of different colleges, more
developed school policies, a university-wide
contest which the OSA and USC will reveal
soon and of course, a new and improved The
Pharos.
So, if our Alma Mater has withstood the
challenges of 105 years of challenges, like
manner we, her children must endure. A
brand new school year has just started and
despite the expectations, let’s go hand-in-hand
together…we dare, we survive, we conquer!
A new school year
has started and with that,
amended school policies are
being
implemented,
new
memorandums are observed,
some reformed curriculum
are practiced and innovative
activities are applied. One
of the major changes that the
university will undergo is
the Free Day Friday wherein
students are given the chance
to explore non-academic or
extracurricular activities like
sports, chorale, photography,
band, debate, and theatre.
This day also allows the
college students to wear their
college shirts. But the idea of
a non-uniform day has brought
about some confusion on
policies on school uniforms. It
was clear to us that ONLY the
college shirts and P.E. uniform,
jeans and closed shoes are
allowed as a substitute for the
regular uniform.
However, if a student
comes to school in this attire
other than Friday, even if he or
she does not have classes, he
or she is not allowed to enter
the school premises. Based
on experience, one Saturday
morning on our way to the
community with 2 professors,
my classmates who wore the
MCU Olympics shirt, jeans
and sneakers were restrained
by the guard. Manong said that
the attire is only allowed on
Fridays. Does this mean that
wearing college shirts are now
only limited to Fridays and
therefore, even without classes
students are required to be in
uniform?
As a matter of fact,
students who have transactions
inside the school are being held
back by the guards to enter
due to “improper uniform”.
The resulting sequence must
be something like first, either
they get an entrance slip
which accounts for a demerit /
violation, second, they will just
choose not to enter and spend
their time at the malls and other
entertainment places instead of
finishing their business inside
the campus, and third, have a
detour to the MCU Hospital
hoping not to be caught by the
other guards. With this, rather
than allow the students do their
task, they are driven away from
school and prodded to cheat
and disregard responsibility.
Another issue is the
different versions of daily
uniforms. According to the
handbook, the skirt of the
girls should be 2 inches
below the knee but a lot
of girls nowadays seems to
change the word ‘below’ to
‘above’. Some even have tight
fitting clothes that make their
undergarments seen. On the
other hand, a lot of boys still
sport ‘baston’ slacks and others
lousy uniform. Some foreign
students have their own style
wearing long sleeve shirts,
¾’s sleeves and jeans instead
of the regulated pants and any
kind of shoes. Some women
even put on too much make-up
that is obviously for personal
enhancement only. A lot of
students still have no MCU
patches on their uniforms and
variety of ID laces are being
displayed.
In all these, the sad
fact is we have seen students
wearing improper uniform,
yet we haven’t seen or heard
anyone reprimanded. And if
one does an incorrect act and
was not warned, chances are
MCU pioneers automated SC elections
IT students shine
Dean Avonn Nova of
CCS has given his faculty
Ms. Michelle Ramos the
full responsibility to set the
objectives of the development
for the election software to be
used. As a software engineering
subject professor, software
programming is a requirement
to pass the IT and CS course.
"I am the one responsible
in coordinating milestones
and taught to engineer, accept
or reject deliverable software
created by my students,” Ms.
Ramos said.
he’ll just do it again. For those
following the rules, they feel
inequality and unfair judgment
encouraging them to follow
the wrong example of others.
Could the people responsible
for policy enforcement have
gone lax? Or are the students
who disobey rules on uniforms
have become too much to
handle already?
We should all go back
to the basics of discipline.
The SA1 Classes is a perfect
field for teachers to reiterate
and reimpose the importance
of wearing the prescribed
uniforms. The officials should
be more accountable on
giving warnings and penalties
to disobedient students both
foreign and local.
We may also review and
revise some of the rules such
as the wearing college shirts
so that students would not be
confused on the policies. We
heard that a Committee on
Uniforms will be established.
Hopefully, this will settle the
concerns especially among
students.
On the students’ part, we
are governed by the school’s
rules and regulations, thus we
must obey. We already know
what is proper as written in
the handbook, so let us not
break it. Do not be influenced
by noncompliant people. Be
respectful when our attention
is called and do not fabricate
lies and excuses.
Let us be honest to
admit
our
shortcomings
and be more meticulous in
performing our duties and
what is expected of us. The
implementation and success
of policies does not depend
on a group or committee but
rather on everyone. School
uniforms should not be a
major issue compared to the
other challenges we face. This
simple policy, if we cannot
follow then how much more
the bigger ones? Uniforms
speak for who we are and our
school, it is a reflection of the
kind of students bred by the
institution. It is one of the ways
we can be distinguished from
others and with that, let us be
known for the good and the
proper.
from p.1
To succeed in this
challenge, Ms. Ramos divided
the 3rd year IT and CS students
into four teams which were
the Analysis team for customer
requirements, Design team for
technical design in IT and CS
perspective, Implementation
team for converting the
requirements and design into
an executable program, and
the Testing team for ensuring
that requirements are being
met by doing different kinds
of testing. She assigned one
project manager, CS major
Carlo Ysmael de Guzman to
be the lead programmer of the
whole team.
Conceptualization,
development and application
of the software took three
months. Starting as early as
October of last year and was
finished this January. CS and
IT students put their best foot
forward and spent sleepless
nights in order to come up
with a unique student council
elections, one which can attest
to the excellent strategy and
superb effort MCU students are
capable of.
December 2009–July 2010
The power of prayer
“Prayer is our hotline to
Heaven,” Christian magazine
author Keith Philips wrote.
He said that without a
second thought we pick up
the telephone and talk with
someone thousands of miles
away, or send a letter via e-mail
to someone on the other side of
the world, which we’re confident
they’ll receive in a matter of
minutes. Connecting with God
through prayer is indeed as
simple, as real, as practical, and
even more reliable than picking
up the phone and calling your
best friend. It’s true that you
will never hear a busy signal
or get an answering machine,
and there are no long-distance
charges when you call to God.
While
reading
the
Christian author’s words I
realized that many people
think that the idea of prayer is
a ritual. Some think that they’re
not holy or righteous enough to
speak with God in prayer. Some
think that God is too big to be
concerned about them. Some
feel unworthy or guilty and
ashamed about the things they
have done. Some are even afraid
of Him. If only they understood
how differently God sees it!
I believe that God’s idea of
prayer is not a ritual, but a loving
and
lively
communication
between the best of friends.
He wants us to call to Him.
And we will see that His eyes
and His ears are always on us.
God is just one prayer away
from us. True! And He wants
us to always keep in touch with
Him. Praying wouldn’t cost us
anything except for the little
time we can spend for it. Prayer
is powerful. As we speak to
God, he hears us.
I can never forget the
story that a friend of mine
shared to me. It’s about how
God demonstrated his awesome
power over their family. Some
time ago, a tumor was found on
her sister’s breast. Their family
was so shocked to know that
it was cancerous. They were
so upset and worried about
it. They never expected that it
would happen to one them.
Lessons from a Jejemon
“mUzta nA pOw u.
jEjEm0n aQ, kAy0w?”
We witnessed history
unfold as P-Noy (President
Noynoy
Aquino)
finally
responded to the nation's call
for change during his inaugural
address. But none of the yellow
confetti and sweet promises
will eradicate the controversial
existence
and
ubiquitous
influence of the so-called
Jejemonism, a rising subculture
with its own mind-twisting
language which almost robbed
P-Noy's popularity through the
mass media.
As defined by Urban
Dictionary, Jejemons are those
who have managed to subvert
the English / Tagalog language to
the point of incomprehensibility
and online lynch squads; take
the italicized statement above
as an example. And like other
non-conformists,
jejemons'
rise to fame has been receiving
criticism from language purists
called
jejebusters
(jejemon
haters) almost consistently.
Most of us hate them
because we view a jejemon as
a potential threat to our already
dilapidated educational system.
Moreover, social networking
sites like Facebook has become
a breeding ground as well for
groups who bluntly condemn
jejemons like, “!f yUh t!yP3
Lyk3 DihS Don’t talk to me!” (a
Facebook group with a staggering
824,267 fans).
On the other hand, if we
really want to understand both
sides of the story, this jejemon
phenomenon really deserves
a spotlight for an impartial
analysis. Criticisms are no good
to reveal what's behind the weird
combination of numbers and
letters unique of the jejemons.
On my own vantage point,
jejemonism is an issue worthy of
contemplation because believe it
or not, jejemons bring with them
a number of valuable lessons and
eye-opening realities, not just
nuisances to our society.
Although the jejemon
vocabulary is a bit off, I have
observed that they demonstrate
both respect and creativity.
As you can notice, unlike any
other distorted languages, e.g.,
gay lingo, the word "po", as in
"mUzta Na pOw? "(kamusta
na po?) or "Okie lNg f0e" (ok
lang po), was retained in their
vocabulary, a sign of respect that
Turn to page 10
5
opinion
Their hearts almost burned from
pain. My friend cried and asked
for God’s healing touch for
her sister. Her sister was then
scheduled for an operation.
At night before the day of the
operation, her sister read a short
passage from the bible. After
a few moments of spending
time with the Lord’s message,
her sister suddenly fell asleep
with the bible left at her chest.
When morning came, they were
surprised to see that a kind of
fluid had just flowed out of the
breast of her sister. When they
went to the same doctor who
diagnosed the breast cancer and
learned that what was thought
to be a cancerous tumor was
only a boil.
It was so amazing how
God quickly answered their
prayer. I was really amazed
when I heard this story told by
my friend. I have seen how
much powerful one prayer is.
The Lord truly listens to
our hearts’ prayer. Prayer is
simply communicating with
God. We just have to tell Him
what’s on our mind and be
wholehearted and specific. We
should claim His promises and
thank Him for answering our
prayer. Sometimes some of our
prayers are unanswered. But we
shouldn’t be disheartened. It
may have something to do with
our faith or the Lord may have
something better than what we
are asking for. But what I want
to share is that there is power in
prayer. Let’s talk to God just like
how we are talking to our closest
friend. Once we have told Him
our heart’s desire, let us be
confident that He listened and
let us give Him our total trust.
God never fails those who love
Him. Let us not hesitate to pray
and cast our cares upon Him for
there is power in prayer. Let us
always bear in our minds that “a
prayerful Christian is a powerful
Christian.”
A new chapter
Just as the inauguration
of our 15th President signals a
new chapter for the county, this
school year our University also
takes a step forward towards the
direction of a new beginning.
We have that new batch
of elected government officials
armed and ready to serve, and
just like on the national level
our university has a new batch
of student council leaders. Both
will be spearheading various
projects in the course of their
tenure and will make an effort
to make a difference. Let’s see
if they can come through and
deliver.
The similarities don’t
end there though. Both the
Philippines and Manila Central
University have had very
successful automated elections
employed which resulted in
increased efficiency. And now
that our leaders are seated it
doesn’t mean that we will just
take a passive role in clamouring
for the changes we desire. More
than ever our leaders need our
support and participation.
This school year the
Office of Student Affairs had
a first in launching a program
to make Fridays of every week
a “free day” of sorts to be used
for extracurricular activities of
the different organizations and
colleges. It aims to provide
students a break from the
toils of their studies and a
venue to express their talents
and participate in interesting
activities. This is a great idea, as
it will help students to grow not
just in the academic part but in
other aspects as well.
On
the
matter
of
improvements, if we talk about a
new beginning it usually results
from a problem that has been
resolved or will be resolved in
due time. And just as there are
a lot of developments in our
university I feel that there are
these issues that have been left
behind or merely overlooked.
Here are some of the things that
I hope will merit a response in
the near future.
1. It’s that HEAT. I know we
are used to our country
sometimes being hotter
than hell but it doesn’t
have to be the same inside
our rooms. How can
students be expected to
learn properly if they are
not comfortable? I know
that my fellow students
and also our professors
can attest to that. I hope
that all the classrooms
within our university will
become air-conditioned,
not just in the PGT building
and not just for selected
courses of our school.
2. When it rains it pours.
Flooding is a staple in
the area surrounding our
university especially after
a strong downpour but
I wish that the inside of
our campus would be
Turn to page 9
A new leadership in our midst
A new leadership has
come both to the country and
to the campus. After the yellow
ribbons reigned in the previous
election, the country is now set
to new hope and expectations
for the six years of the newly
elected president, President
Noynoy Aquino. You may or
may not have been his supporter
during the elections, but we all
have to cooperate and unite
with this new leader as we
move forward for our country.
Refraining from using the
“wang-wang”, plans of limiting
the release of pork barrel and the
review of midnight appointees
– these are but few of the issues
“PNOY” is facing and will be
solving in his presidency. For
some, these may be trivial
matters but let us be sure that
we keep our eyes on guard not
only to our president but also to
the entire new government.
On the other hand, a
new leadership is also guiding
and pushing our university to
achieve its mission. It is through
the bright mind and innovative
leadership of Dr. Aristotle
T.
Malabanan,
appointed
as the fourth president of
MCU. Simultaneous with the
country’s innovation in the
election process, MCU has also
modernized its way of voting,
experienced during the previous
local councils’ election. MCU
students experienced casting
down their votes with the use
of the latest technology.
And on June 25, 2010, the
Students’ Day was launched,
allowing every college students
to participate in enjoyable but
meaningful
extra-curricular
activities during Fridays.
This year also, the stateof-the art structure designed
for students, the FDT Learning
Resource Center will be
opened. From the beginning
of his leadership, he has
maintained his goal of striving
for excellence for students in
the field of academics and nonacademics and in bringing a
balanced and enjoyable life in
the campus.
Surely, there are many
years yet to look forward to
in the leadership of these two
men. While we are keeping
our minds keen and sharp in
all the things that will happen,
both positive and negative,
let us also give our best effort
in working with them for the
benefit of the campus and the
whole country.
6
features
This new school year
by Angelo M. Iñigo, Nursing
In an interview with The Pharos, Dr. Aristotle T. Malabanan gives us an insight on what to expect this school year, the plans of the administration, and explains to
us his philosophy on education and on being the President of Manila Central University.
The Learning Resource Center
It has been under construction for
quite some time now but finally, this
school year will witness the launching
of a new building in our university –
the Learning Resource Center. The fivestory building will house the library,
offices of the administration and
multifunctional rooms. Most especially
students will now be free from the
heat of the old gymnasium as the LRC
will be the new location of the school
cafeteria.
“We understand that for quite some
time now we do not have nice places to
have lunch or merienda, so the other
thing in that building is that we will have
a new cafeteria, an open cafeteria for
students. It would be not as hot as the old
one,” says Dr. Malabanan.
“In fact napasok na ako diyan (sa
Old Gym), sobrang init pala talaga,” Dr.
Malabanan said.
“I didn’t realize it and I’m sorry. In
the past I failed to notice, so I apologize
for that. So we are having a muchimproved canteen this time. May alfresco
pa that will serve coffee,” he adds.
The building will also boast of
a Vertical Auditorium that will be the
centerpiece of the structure. “I asked the
designers of the building to come up
with something unique in the Learning
Resource Center. So they made a study
and came up with the vertical auditorium.
They claim that it is the first of its kind
in Asia (and) maybe the world in fact
because of its design,” he says.
The concept behind the Vertical
Auditorium is that it will be the venue for
invited graduates of MCU to give a talk
to students and share their thoughts on
topics such as success. “Sila ang magiging
example to inspire the students,” says
Dr. Malabanan. “It is for the students to
feel that those are successful graduates
of MCU and you as graduates could be
successful as well.”
One thing that plagues us students
is how hard it is to get a reservation on our
audio-visual rooms and the other facilities
of the school. With the construction of the
LRC there are questions whether students
will be allowed to get a reservation
and use the Vertical Auditorium. Dr
Malabanan has this to say on the matter,
“Of course. But we don’t have the
guidelines yet for the vertical auditorium
because it is reserved for speakers.
We would like to veer away from the
usual, “Ang hirap naman magpa-reserve
ang hirap naman makakuha diyan eh.
The essence of OJT from p.6
tion signed by Dean, and some other
things more.
I was assigned under Travel of
the Supply and Asset Management
Department. I keep track of the pertinent
documents associated with the flight
schedule and destination of every artists,
talents and employees who travel within
and outside the country. Knowing
the artists’ talent fees is a babble plus.
Moreover, occasional errands from one
department to another, from Newsroom
to the big bosses’ office were an
additional task given as well.
Below are some of the graduating
students’ practices regarding their own
experience as Student Trainees:
Hindi naman ginagamit.We would like
to make the facilities more accessible
to the students. I don’t think papagawa
kami tapos ila-lock lang. Sayang naman
ginastos namen.”
Many have said that the LRC
building has taken a long time to complete
but everything has its reasons. One of
the things that took the longest to finish
was the library because of the extensive
involvement of the librarians, deans, and
students. “Everytime may kakausapin
kami, mababago ‘yong plano. Sabi nila
ang tagal na. Sabi ko it’s okay as long as
“Kasi kung hindi ka accredited
kaduda-duda, bakit wala kang accredition
tapos ang mahal-mahal ng binabayad. So
it’s really to assure the students that they
are getting their money’s worth. Kaya
talaga ako gusto ko lahat ng programs
natin accredited,” he adds.
One of the philosophies that
guide him in running our university is
that learning should not happen only
in the classroom and that it should
be experiential and related to what is
happening outside the campus. That’s
why he collaborates with Mrs. Lourdes
The Pharos Staff discussing the new school year plans of Dr. Malabanan
it will be functional kaysa ‘young magdesign tayo ‘pag nagawa na, hindi naman
magagamit. So kaya nagtagal ‘yan, we
took everything into consideration to
make sure the needs of the people are
built into the design of the building,” he
clarifies.
The LRC building will also be
the new location of The Pharos and
University Student Council office.
On Education
This school year the administration
continues the push for quality education
as three programs undergo accreditation
and the university prepares for IQUAME
(Institutional
Quality
Assurance
Through Monitoring and Evaluation), an
institutional accreditation conducted by
CHED. “It really is my conviction to have
all our programs accredited. To assure
the students and their parents that they
are getting quality education,” he says.
“Our day will comprise of
arranging signature cards in alphabetical
order inside the vault. We also assist
clients regarding their concerns, from
monthly payments of housing loans to
car loan inquiries.” Miracle Joy Rivero
and Jayson de Luna (Philippine National
Bank)
“I greet the walk-in clients
upon their entry. They usually ask
questions regarding Globe’s promos
and services like signal reception
difficulties and I must have prepared
answers for those.” Timothy Ortega
(Globe Telecom)
“My duty is in the cashier. My
supervisor lets me check the purchases’
Cruzat, Dean of the Office of Student
Affairs in coming up with programs to
complement the knowledge a student
gets inside the classroom with social
skills to get them ready for the real world.
“When you go into activities ‘di
ba you learn to talk with each other, you
learn how to organize, you learn how to
fight for your ideas, and you learn to work
with each other. That’s the essence of the
real world – dealing with other people.
‘pag ‘yan nalamapasan ninyo lahat ‘yan
‘yong hirap ng pakikitungo sa mga tao,
‘yong marunong kang mag-convince dito
sa mga kasamahan mo handa ka na,” he
explains.
The Ideal School
The concept of being the ideal
school maybe a little too farfetched as
no school is perfect. But Dr. Malabanan
describes what a good school should
be like: it should be a place where the
inventories and I also receive some
incoming deliveries.” Roselle Buenaluz
(711)
“My job constitutes of sorting
Supplies Issuance Slip based on its
invoice number, filing documents.
Sometimes I also encode asset files.” Leo
Mesa (GMA Network Inc.)
“Encoding Docket files (documents
of the company’s tax records), and
afterwards I shall arrange it by district.
From time to time I was also asked for
some additional manpower help by
transmitting Docket files from one officer
to another.” Antonio Santiago (Bureau of
Internal Revenue)
students are happy and a place that
will bring about success in a student’s
life in the future. “If your success is a
consequence of your being a graduate
of a particular course and you are happy
with what you are doing that I think in a
sense is already a success for us,” he said.
Molding a person into a wellrounded individual is also one of the
important things a good school should
do. “You are not a one-dimension person.
You are a person of different dimensions.
Hindi lang ‘yong profession mo ang alam
mo but marami kang skills. ‘yong hindi
lang ‘yong nurse kayo pero editor pa
kayo ng company newsletter ninyo,” he
explains.
Our university may not be perfect
but it has that one thing that makes it
special. One thing that other schools just
talk about – it is all about being part of a
family.
“There have been students who
have transferred to another school and
came back and there are also teachers
who left for another university and came
back. In fact all of them are saying na sa
MCU daw its like you are part of a family.
No school has a perfect system but the
important thing is that the people are
caring, nurturing and are always there
to help the students. Importante kase
‘yon ‘pagka nasa eskwelahan ka parang
you’re almost in a second home kaya
‘pag ‘andito sila dapat inaalagaan mo,”
Dr. Malabanan said.
The Prospect
In closing the interview, Dr.
Malabanan shares with us his expectations
for the university and more importantly
for the students.
“In terms of academics, I would
want improvement in the board
performance of all the colleges. And
since we have a new activity that we do
on Fridays (Students’ Day) I hope that by
the end of the year we have been able to
come up with very productive activities
for the students, to give you a more
balanced student life that will hopefully
help in your academics.”
“Simple lang ang expectations
namin for you and that is to be successful
after you graduate and of course to be
proud of being a graduate of MCU. I
think that’s the only expectation I want
from our students – to be proud that they
are students of MCU.
“I ask that from all of you. And
we will do our part in ensuring that will
happen.”
“I distribute the flights’ price lists
for our walk-in inquiries, informing customers of the current rate of PAL and
Cebu Pacific airfares. In addition, I print
the flight tickets which are either scheduled for pick-up, or for reservations.”
Arvin Alabe (VIP Travel Agency)
These students exercised proper
work
decorum
and
maintained
professionalism especially during their
duty. Not just as part of the company
policy but because SAP as a whole will
serve as a training ground for future
employment. Equally important, they
represent and carry the name of MCU
as an imagery of the quality of students
it produces.
July – September 2008
features
7
More than the position, it’s servant-leadership
Last March 2010 the whole university was witness to the technological progress in the voting process of the school as we experienced Automated Elections. It was a historic event. Nevertheless, the importance of the event still relies on who were the elected officials and how they will
govern their colleges.
Let’s hear from our Student Council Presidents from the different
Colleges and Departments regarding their views when asked what
the university can expect from them and how they can help uplift the
MCU spirit.
I promise to be an ambassador of change, a
change that will develop camaraderie among the
graduate school students. The leadership I will
give will exude my personality that is ‘someone
that price virtue, equality and principle more than
victory and sacrifice more than success.’
CYRILL SANTOS CONSUELO, BSN, RN,
MAN, PHD EDUC ADMIN (UNITS) President,
Graduate School
I will improve the communication line
between the students and the administration by
working hand in hand with the officials to ensure
that our concerns are addressed and the school’s
mission is fulfilled. I will create more interactive
activities to promote camaraderie among the
student body. Lastly, I can contribute in uplifting
MCU’s spirit by showing the Filipino medical
community that the medical students of MCU are
as competitive and hardworking compared to the students of other medical
schools.
MIKE ESTRADA, President, College of Medicine
I consider the best thing I can offer the college
and the university is none other than myself. I will
give whatever I can without expecting anything
in return and I will think of the common good.
And together with the student council and other
organizations under the college, we are to make
that dream happen – the vision of uniting the
medical technology students to the other colleges,
to the administration and most especially to the
Filipino community. Having witnessed that we
can go beyond our limitations, we impose development, improvement and
continuity of the excellence we have manifested over the years that we may
be a pride of our university.
LOIS MARIE A. BALTAZAR, President, College of Medical
Technology
I assure that every aspect of the projects
planned will imbue the Mission, Vision and
Institutional Philosophy of the college and the
school. I will be a servant leader and with the
Council, we will nourish the abilities and skills
of the nursing students, thus, when they graduate,
they will be well-equipped with the right character,
knowledge and skills to face the challenges of the
outside world. I will make it a point to hear the
voices of the students and attend to their necessities.
NIKO ANJO D. CABALLERO, President, College of Nursing and
Midwifery
Action, commitment and solidarity: these
three basic principles would be the means for
The administration can expect my full
the Council to live up to its aim of eradicating
dedication to serve my college and the school.
the seeming culture of apathy by developing not
The Council will aim for excellence in every
just academically conscious but also socially
activity and decision that we do and make the
active students. We will organize studentlonged change happen as we are guided by the
oriented activities that are in-line with the
mission to ignite and develop the inner strength
school’s Mission and Vision and will contribute
lying among every pharmacy student. With
in developing one’s personality. Through our
the proposed projects perfectly suited to fit the
leadership and the students’ cooperation everything will be at reach.
key factors (creative arts, outreach, sports and
ANDREY GARCIA, President, College of Arts and Sciences
academics), we stay committed to make our college united.
ROMMEL CANTON, President, College of Pharmacy
I will be a servant leader and create
programs and activities of excellence for the
I will encourage students to participate
students and the college. The college will be
actively while enjoying the planned programs
a mirror of team effort and synergism among
of the Council. Also I will give my one hundred
the officials, students and officers.
percent support, effort and perseverance to uplift
TIMOTHY JOHN ORTEGA, President,
the name of our college.
College of Business Administration
PETER
RAYMOND
BAJAMUNDI,
President, College of Physical Therapy
I will lead by
example. Through this I
I will show my
am being a role model and my fellow students can
willingness and service to my colleagues and
learn from me. I will focus on observing the rules
aim for the betterment of the department. Despite
and regulations and monitor whether the students
my flaws, I will exert my fullest efforts and be
are conforming to these.
responsible and concerned with every element of
LUDWIG VAN CHRISTIAN S. CENON,
the student body. I will use optimism in leading
President, College of Computer Studies
for I believe it will be very essential especially
in nourishing the spirit to reach the goals of
I will plan and support activities of my
happiness, peace and unity.
college that I believe will benefit the students
MA. NOELLE U. CONCEPCION, President, High School Department
such as orientations, acquaintance party and a
proposed review program for graduates taking
The students can expect from the Council activities and programs that
the board examinations. I will manifest my
conforms to the college’s objectives and MCU’s Mission and Vision. I will
appreciation, love and patriotism to our school
lead by example and employ and render the best of my time and talents to
by promoting it in my simplest ways.
serve the student body. So with cooperation and harmony from the Council,
TREENA MARIS D. CHERN, President,
I challenge Optometry students: let’s get excited, break the barriers and
College of Dentistry
build bridges.
JEZREELE DOMINGO, President, College of Optometry
8
literary
IF ONLY
LOVE'S PATHOLOGY
by Dulce Amor Aspiras
Faculty, College of Nursing
by Kathrine Loren Tawat, Nursing
Do you ever think about me?
Do you ever waste your tears for me?
Is it my name that you’re callin?
Or is that someone for you the one worth lovin’?
Love is a disease of the human anatomy
Which is transferable with no etiology
Hastens everything even physiology
And once frustrated results to allergy
Do you ever still bear these moments?
When only the two of us can tell?
Or you just forget the secrets
Only to you I can breath
Initial symptom reveal anorexia
This lack of appetite may lead to insomnia
If you won't be careful, may lead to pneumonia
And in great delirium, you might reach coma
Sometimes I’m too tired to cry
Sometimes I don’t want to think nor try
‘Coz maybe I’m just wastin’ my time
To someone not appreciating my time
Love is like cancer in its metastasis
Active as the white cells in phagocytosis
And just like in osteoporosis
Too much of it may lead to kyphosis
Just then someone was trying to get my attention
Making me his princess in a world of imagination
Although he knew that I have someone in my heart
He kept on tryin’ just to win my heart
On love's declaration, some acquire aphonia
Due to hypertension, a feeling of dyspnea
With the palpitation of the myocardia
The diastolic sound---lub, dub.. tachycardia
Just then I realized you are the “one”
That can never be replaced in this heart of mine
Although you’ve hurt me so many times
I’ll never release you out of my mind
Love has no treatment
nor can we discover any medicament
But in love’s addiction, a kiss is emollient
And a tranquilizer to heal disappointments
Also realizing that we’re not meant to be
Maybe someone was destined for us to see
But I’m hoping somehow that I’ll see you and me in front
of the star
Promising will be together - till death do us part… “
White Rose
by Rowena A. Penaflor
by Kathrine Loren Tawat, Nursing
My early life is like a white rose
Whose small buds wants to grow
Searching for sun for her to shine
Wanting for rains for her to glow
In the valley, I sat to think
There I saw my sadness start to sink
There’s a rare feeling I can’t explain
Maybe its somethin’ from which I can’t refrain…
Just like a child wondering why
Searching for adventures that never come
Filled his life with such happy times
That he may use as times go by.
Things flashed in my mind
Memories of past has gazed
Suddenly, I saw you and me
Holdin’ hands together and sharing dreams…
My love for you is like a white rose
Whose every petal offers joy
Gives peace in mind through its color
Comfort my soul in every sorrow
I close my eyes not to think
But the beat of my heart and the
Murmur of the rain
Sayin’ that it’s you I’m craving for again…
Your love to me is all I had
Teach me the real meaning of life
I see how the view of love wonders
And our love is all my strength and guide.
My love for you is like a white rose
Whose beauty in mind remain in the heart
Remember the days that it was to start
Like my love for you, forever’s not enough.
It’s been a long time I’m not with you
The one that’s making me blue
‘Coz you made me feel invisible
When I’m offering my care for you..
One moment flashed again
October 5 around seven pm
You held my hand and lead the way
To heaven where we could be “again”
I wished it was a dream
Where my hand was held by my prince
Dancing together under the star
In the galaxy so very far
I recalled some moments again
Then I found your sweetest game
Making sure, not losin’ contact
Feelings were told through letters you act
I know deep through letters
Expressing your love is better
‘Coz nobody can ever see you
The real you but ME..
December 2009–July 2010
BEWILDERED EMPATHY
by Aisha B. Junaide, Dentistry
I never want to admit it.
What is really inside of me?
Solitude, animosity, melancholy, wistful
and nuisance
It was easier to lie.
To hide the hurt and emptiness
To smile instead to cry,
I didn’t want to admit the fact,
My life is full of pain
That I longed enough to stop my bleeding
heart
And maybe smile again
‘Cause I feel oh-so-forgotten
So betrayed and so alone
Without a trace of forgiveness,
And no soul to call my own
my happiness has melted
Into tears and other things
It’s hard for me to hide this fact.
That my wishes have no home
And return to anguish
Bow my head and cry alone.
by Ludibelle R. Aranjuez, Nursing
Hindi ako makapaniwala
Wari’y nabigla
Sinapit ng pagkakaibigan
Nawasak ng biglaan
Malupit ang sinapit
Biglang bitiw sa pagkapit
Dahil lamang sa isang bagay
Naging mitsa ng ating away
Hindi ka man lang nakinig
Kahit kaunti sa aking panig
Mas dininig ang kanyang tinig
Dahil puso mo’y siya ang pintig
Hindi ko alam ang aking gagawin
Kung paano sarili’y sayo lilinawin
Ako ang siyang biktima’t inosente
Ngunit bakit siya’y iyong kinunsinte
Mahirap paniwalaan
Ngunit ito’y hubad na katotohanan
Pagkakaibigang inalagaan
Walang pasubaling pinabayaan
Ngayon nagkita tayo
Magkatabi at nakatayo
Ngunit ano ito?!
Sa isa’t-isa’y estranghero?!
Pagkapoot ang kinalabasan
Sa luha man ito’y iyong tumbasan
Kailanma’y hindi mapapantayan
Paghihirap ng tulad kong isang totoong kaibigan
December 2009–July 2010
little
Lives
by Reynalene Pascual, Nursing
Despite of...
“No one is perfect.” A
quote mostly believed and uttered by every human living on
earth. In reality, it’s true. Nothing perfect exists on our world.
Every individual has their own
weaknesses, disabilities, struggles and imbalances, which
mostly affects their confidence
and will to reach out for their
goals. Yet, few of the population
really prove that no imperfections are hindrance to success
and their common denominator
is the word, DETERMINATION.
Despite immature decisions and
wrong actions…
New generation, new line
of thinking and more liberalized
society is present. Desires and
pleasure of people are more prioritized. Because of that, many
youth commit mistakes. One of
them is a 16-year old student
who I will call “M”. She is now a
freshman student that has greater
responsibilities than ordinary
learners. She had resided with
her boyfriend, 6 years older than
her, when she’s 14, a year after
she gave birth to their first born.
Now, at 16, she takes it with
courage and direction. Her loaded schedule really amazes me. A
hardworking student for Monday
to Saturday morning, a cashier
at a family owned grocery in the
afternoon, a service crew at a cafeteria every weekend and a fulltime mom every day.
Q How do you survive this
loaded schedule of yours?
M: Simple lang po, kailangan
mo ng reason para magawa
ang responsibilidad mo at siyempre, determinasyon para
sa magiging future ng baby
ko.
Q: Do you regret what you’ve
done in the past?
M: No, actually no. I think dahil
sa mga nangyari kaya I became a better individual. Mas
naging matino po ako after I
had my baby.
Q: Your message.
M: Be strong at continue to overcome the weakness na meron
kayo, trust yourself because
nothing is impossible kapag
determinado.
Q: What is the key to achieve
your goals?
M: Determination po at time
management.
Despite being the apple of many
naughty eyes….
Here comes the cheerful
and friendly lady of the seniors,
Rowena. She is a 19-year old student you’ll see loitering around
FDT Building with her AVON
brochures. She used to be a
young retailer. Behind her smiling face and earsplitting laugh,
struggles with her colleagues
occur. People always bully her
because of her skin complexion
yet she deals with them politely.
She just smiles at them and lets
them realize that she is special
in her own way. Despite the bullies, personal conflicts and adjustment to her new board mates,
she proves that she can stand on
her own. She inspires others with
her positive views in life.
Q: How do you overcome being
bullied by your colleagues?
R: Sanay na ako ng inaasar ng
mga tao, biro lang naman
nila ‘yon, not offending pero
A NEW CHAPTER from p.5
3.
4.
spared. The area between
the B.A building and
old gymnasium is one
vulnerable to such floods.
Payment blues. The long
line during payment of our
tuition has been almost a
myth especially during the
eve of term examinations.
Some say the lines almost
reached the Centennial
Gym at one time! Kidding
aside I know that the good
people at the cashier
department can work
something out to make
things easier for everyone.
Wishy Washy. I always
notice that not all of the
faucets in our comfort
rooms have running water
when turned on. Most
obviously though is that
at one time a particular
faucet has water then the
next day it doesn’t and you
have to try the others for
running water. Sometimes
all of them don’t function
at all. It’s beginning to look
like conspicuously hidden
social experiment. I might
be on to something.
I know that there is a lot
to be desired of our university
and with all that said we should
not fail to notice the things that
make our school great. Just this
year our university’s College
of Nursing merited a 4th place
in the nationwide ranking of
nursing schools. Not to mention
the countless topnotchers and
overachievers that our university
has produced over the years.
The one thing we can do
as students is to be proactive
in supporting the various
programs of our university. No
program will ever be successful
without the involvement of
its constituents. Through our
participation we can elect
positive changes that will in turn
benefit us in the end.
It is the same for our
country. The times herald the
beginning of a new chapter.
Will you be part of it?
9
features
isa lang ang lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko. Kailangan ko
maka-adapt, maging sociable
at pakisamahan sila ng buong
paggalang.
Q What is one saying that best
describes your attitude towards reaching your goals?
R: Never give up and be affected by people who pull you
down. Try and try until you
succeed.
Q: What do you think are the secrets of being successful?
R: Determination at pagiging
positive sa buhay.
Q: What are things you want to
happen a years from now?
R: To share kung ano ang meron
ako at to discover pa ang mga
potentials ko. To have a better future
Q: Message to all who undergo
the same situation as you?
R: Walang mawawala sa iyo
kapag pinapansin ka ng mga
taong nakapaligid sa iyo. Ibig
sabihin noon special ka at
meron isang bagay sa iyo na
wala sa kanila. Stay focused
at let other people see what
you’ve got.
Despite age and obligations……
Being a student, a single
mom and a gorgeous lady is difficult yet Racquel from the College
of Nursing portrays all these justly. At her early 30’s, she sustains
her three lovable children in their
schooling. She is pursuing her
studies for the benefit and future
of her children and to prove some
people that age is not a hindrance
to achieve a good education.
Her classmates, friends and colleagues admire her for her practical, fair and fruitful advice about
life, her determination and time
management to portray every
role, and how she handles every
situation. She inspires those who
are ashamed.
Q: What motivates you to pursue your education?
R: My children. They are my life
at I want them to be proud of
me even if I committed mistakes in the past. I want them
to look forward to a better
and brighter tomorrow,
Q: Why dis you choose nursing
as your course and profession?
R: Sa tingin ko,, being a nurse is
like being a mother. You care
for patients. You give your
time, effort and patience. An
opportunity to have income
to sustain a family.
Q: Do you feel awkward being with classmates who are
younger?
R: Sort of. Iba kasi ‘yong generation ngayon eh. Pero so
far mababait at understanding naman sila. It takes two
to tango naman ‘ diba? Both
sides adjust.
Q: Message to all who undergo
the same situation as you?
R: Study hard and do not waste
every chance you get.
Determination makes imperfections not a hindrance but a
reason to take a step forward. Remember, each one of us commits
mistakes, have wrong deeds and
desires. Let’s reflect and see the
half empty glass as half-filled. Be
determined to reach and receive
rewards. Sand, learn and redirect
yourself each time you fall.
by Andrey Christopher Garcia
Arts and Sciences President,
University Student Council
Leadership
Leadership is a concept that I would most likely
compare with a morsel of tough meat. One meditates and
meditates on it yet one cannot get to the bottom of it. In the
end, it leaves the old noodle severely tired and weary. Just
like that piece of meat that one should not choose but would
just not yield leaving with a jaw most strained.
Many sorts of things have been said about leadership,
some have been heard time and time again, however, I shall
not go through these complicated, grippe bits of it. I offer only
a single, humble perspective about leadership that I have
observed through the course of my years. There has been
talk about how one; to be a great leader should become a
servant first. And though that is quite right, I have a different
idea that I would want to share.
For me, a leader in order to be great should be able to
earn the loyalty and obedience of his or her people. These
two things are not necessarily the same thing. The former is
freely given, while the latter is too often forced. One should
decide which of these one wants and expects from those
one is governing. The course of one’s actions and the way
that one leads will be greatly affected and guided by this
decision.
If one desires his or her people to obey him or her, one
must implement rules and regulations strictly and punish
delinquents in an unforgiving manner. This will make people
obey alright, mainly out of fear. They will obey, all because
they know and greatly fear the consequences if they do not.
A very well known and sort of a cliché of an example of this
is the reign of the Marcos’ and the Martial Law that former
Pres. Marcos enforced during the seventies, not a toe out of
line! People followed signs and rules, even went as far as to
understand them. And these are the same filthy, apathetic,
ignorant Filipinos today, whom do not care whether they
spit or defecate in the middle of the streets. But Martial Law
transformed them into smart, clean, obedient Filipino robots
that did wonders for our economy then. The whole of the
Philippines’ 7,107 islands were in order. Only a miracle could
achieve that today. Or, maybe another Martial Law.
The only problem with this approach is that it does not
guarantee loyalty. And just like what happened in the 80’s,
people became restless and eventually, revolted, marking
Philippine history with the EDSA revolution.
Meanwhile, one can acquire loyalty most surely using
bribery. I am not suggesting that this is the best way or that
one should do this, I am merely stating that this is the method
that can literally buy loyalty the quickest. However, this is a
very slippery kind of loyalty because where loyalty is for the
highest bidder; there can be no trust and stability. The tables
could turn any minute. Also, people can be nasty sometimes,
when they get what they are promised they can easily and
suddenly forget the loyalty they promised their masters.
Now, the best way to go is to want and expect both
loyalty and obedience. And work equally hard to get these
two things. It is all about balance and equity; equity which
means the combination of kindness and justice.
It is still true that one should be strict in enforcing the
rules, however a good leader knows how and when to show
generosity to his or her subordinates. It is like defending
them but setting certain boundaries at the same time. This
way they will know that one sincerely cares about their
welfare and not just one’s gains. Thus, they will reciprocate
this care and start to obey and become loyal. It also does not
hurt to remember to be fair yet firm. Consider a situation that
truly is an exception to the rule and permit the occasional
bending, not necessarily breaking, of some of one’s rules.
Like I mentioned earlier, it is all about balance. And with the
combination of loyalty and obedience, leader and people will
finally be able to work together to achieve their set goals and
aim for the better of the whole community.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the
Centralian community for putting their trust in me. Rest
assured that I would do my best to do my duty; in return I
will be expecting the full cooperation of the students so that
together we would be able to achieve greater heights.
10
features
Immune from the World Cup fever
by Angelo M. Iñigo, Nursing
It’s summing up to be an
exciting year for football. As
the 19th FIFA World Cup was
launched, almost a billion people
in the world shifted its view
towards the continent of Africa.
Not the Philippines.
In a predominantly over
zealous basketball society who
cares about football?
If you’re like most people
in our country one thing that
immediately comes to mind when
the word “sports” is uttered is
basketball, or boxing, but basically
just basketball. And if you’re like
every other Filipino your most
favourite sporting events to watch
probably alternates between the
PBA, NBA and Manny Pacquiao
beating the crap out of someone.
The game of football is
fast becoming more and more
popular with each passing year
and it is a game that Filipinos can
clearly have a shot in excelling in.
Football, compared to basketball,
is not a tall man’s game and it
is one where skill and agility
triumphs. Why then hasn’t the
Philippines gotten hooked on the
phenomena?
One explanation is US
colonialism.
Basketball
was
one of our foreign colonizer’s
favourite past time and we soon
followed the trend. Monkey see
monkey do. Another explanation
is the way basketball is made for
TV consumption that boosted its
popularity here in our country.
Unlike
football,
basketball
is divided into four quarters
with plenty of time to insert
advertisements between the half
time breaks and the timeouts.
Philippine companies aiming to
target consumers created their
own basketball teams after the
name of their products, hence the
proliferation of names like San
Miguel Beermen, Talk n’ Text,
Toyota etc.
In the past the Philippines
has a rich culture of football.
During the early 1900s Paulino
Alcantara was the first Asian to play
for a European Club A squad and
still holds the record for scoring
the most goals against Barcelona.
The Philippines was also crowned
the Far Eastern Games football
champion in 1913 and continued
to dominate the region up to 1958.
In 1991 the Philippines reached
the semifinals at the Southeast
Asian Games but since then the
interest in the sport has dwindled.
But this 2010 the football
scene is showing signs of glimmer.
Drumming up the heat
here in our very own country
is the launching of the first ever
Castrol World Cup Pilipinas. The
tournament launched on May
29 and organized by the Sunken
Garden United Football Club
was participated in by Portugal,
Ivory Coast, Sudan, South Africa,
Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain,
Great Britain, India and Brazil.
The Philippine team, composed
of soldiers from different units
in the military, bested the other
teams on the competition and
went on to bring home the bacon
with six wins and zero loses.
Interest among the youth is
also picking up on football. The
Hyundai sponsored 2010 Next
Generation-Manila Cup Football
Festival to be held at the East field
of the Manila Polo Club will be
attended by over 900 kids, aged
6 to 16, and representing 60
different club teams. The future of
soccer definitely is in good hands
with these children.
Though the World Cup
fever is barely felt here in our
country we definitely should not
overlook the sport that is football.
Let us put aside basketball for a
moment and take a hard look at
ourselves and realize that Filipinos
could definitely do well with this
spot. No matter what age you
are in it is not too late to play the
game. Football is just around the
corner as the next big thing to hit
the country.
LESSONS FROM A JEJEMON from p.5
is a trademark of the Filipino
and jejemon culture as well.
In addition to that, building a
diverse vocabulary by including
numerical characters and some
rarely used alphabets (q,z,x)
is a strong indication of their
creativity. And by saying that,
it also strengthens the fact that
jejemons are not silly people
promoting
pure
stupidity.
Apparently, they should know
the right spelling first of words
before they can change it to
their own language, which takes
creativity and a good level of
education.
Jejemons are also living
examples of people who are living
within the bounds of democracy.
Freedom of expression is what
they uphold, showing people
that they can be whatever they
want as long as it doesn't hurt
the majority of the population.
It's better to do that than use
democracy to destroy democracy
itself like what the rebels do. And
with freedom comes the power
to change, which is particularly
appropriate to language, a
medium for subgroups like
jejemons to express themselves
and is always subject to change
to cater to their distinct needs.
Change is the only constant
thing in this world; tolerance and
respect for each other is the key
towards peace, not resistance
and harsh prejudice.
Jejemons
also
have
their own ways of expressing
themselves aside from their
creative vocabulary. Their fashion
statement, albeit awkward or
inappropriate most of the time,
consists of colorful clothes, eyecatching accessories, and the allfamous jejecap. Although it hurts
the eyes of every fashion expert,
we can never doubt the fact that
this group of people know how
to stand out, be different, and
bring an impact to our society.
P-Noy, together with his
iconic parents, also has brought
the same intensity of influence to
the Filipino people by bringing
the symbolic "yellow ribbon"
and "eyeglasses" to a higher level
of importance, which eventually
found their way to T-Shirts,
mugs, accessories, car stickers
and everything under the sun,
much to the satisfaction of stores
selling these merchandise.
December 2009–July 2010
Gaga over the Twilight Saga
by Olivia A. Estampador, Nursing
Stephenie Meyer spun a tale of two beings
from two different worlds and created between
them a world that would defy all rules.
I remember the first time I read Twilight, I
was so hooked I finished the book in one sitting.
After the excitement of the first book, I couldn’t
wait to lay my hands on “New Moon”. And like
an addict on heroin, I hungrily read each word, ‘til
the words became phrases and the pages became
chapters. Soon, I found myself sitting in the dining
room, holding the third book of the Twilight Saga,
“Eclipse”. It’s been an hour and I still hadn’t finished
my dinner. No surprise there. The very same thing
would happen a week later as I victoriously held
in my hands “Breaking Dawn”, the last book of
Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga.
Addictive and engaging - that’s what
many of us, who have read the Twilight Saga
definitely agrees on. No offense to those who
have watched the two films, “Twilight” and “New
Moon”, but they definitely missed out on some
heart-pounding, passionate and moving moments
between Bella and Edward. For those who haven’t
and who were not quite convinced by “Twilight”
and “New Moon”, still remain doubtful. For them,
it’s all mushy, sweet and sickeningly romantic.
So let me enlighten you a bit.
The Twilight Saga is a love story of two most
unlikely beings to ever fall in love with each other.
Edward, the dazzling, handsome and mysterious
century-old vampire found himself attracted to
an ordinary-looking, clumsy Bella. Bella Swan
in her simplicity still managed to stand out in a
crowd, mainly because of two things: her blood is
especially delicious to Edward, the kind of blood
vampires only seldom come across and her mind,
unlike others, is impenetrable to Edward, who
can read anyone’s mind without difficulty. It is,
therefore, most incredible for Edward to fall madly
in love with Bella. And so, as the stars are likely to
fall from the skies, the hunter fell in love with the
prey and the prey fell in love with the hunter.
“It doesn’t matter to me what you are,”
Bella’s unequivocal declaration made all the
difference because Edward, in all his perfection
and immortality, believes himself damned for
all eternity. Without a soul, he sees himself as a
monster. Bella Swan, in a sense, was his salvation.
Because of her, he was able to resurrect a human part
of himself – the fraction that loves unconditionally,
forsaking even the most basic need, food. The first
book, “Twilight” delves on how Edward and Bella
fell in love with each other, in such detail that the
movie wasn’t able to portray.
“New Moon”, on the other hand, poignantly
shows the grieving process of a loved lost. Like me,
many readers ached as we flipped the pages of empty
chapters. Yes, they were empty, because that’s what
exactly Bella felt with Edward gone. Empty inside.
Her sorrow was so believable and heartbreaking
that the reader could not help but shed tears. Here,
Jacob Black enters and becomes a significant person
However, like the jejemons
who manifest their principles
both in words and actions,
patriotism should go beyond
wearing T-Shirts imprinted with
the Philippine map. We are
all responsible to prove to the
whole world that it's never too
late to make a big change. Let’s
move forward propelled by sheer
nationalism and determination
to achieve progress. And that big
move should start now.
According to Dean Rolando
Tolentino of the University of
the Philippines – College of
Mass Communication, the rise
of the jejemons is a symptom of
the partitioning of society into
sub-classes. For linguist Alex
Maximo, the phenomenon is
linked to hegemony, who has
power, who doesn’t, and how
the conflicts that arise from the
concomitant societal stresses
in Bella’s recovery.
He saved Bella
from the pit
of misery she
was living in
and because of
it, became more
t h a n
just a
friend for Bella. We can’t fault Bella on falling (a
little) in love with Jacob. After all, he was the one
who jumped off the cliff to save her from the dark
depths of the sea. But even that couldn’t stop Bella
from choosing Edward over Jacob.
“Eclipse” brings the love triangle upfront,
with both men doing everything they can to win
Bella’s love. Its cover, a broken ribbon, represents
a choice between Edward and Jacob and a choice
between mortality and immortality. At the end of
this book, it was Jacob Black who was very much
broken. One could not help but dislike Bella, even
a bit, for breaking Jacob’s heart.
“Breaking Dawn”, the concluding book of
the Twilight Saga, is full of suspense, and at times,
even bordering to horror. This book isn’t focused
on Bella and Edward’s love story anymore. Here,
their love would just be a catalyst to multiple events
that shall shake the world of vampires.
Mysteries will be uncovered…. Finally, we’ll
know why Edward couldn’t read Bella’s mind. And
at last, Bella’s wish to be turned into a vampire
shall come true…but to what expense? How? The
answer is too revealing to write in this review. For
your sake, I’d zip my big mouth and leave you up
to finding it yourself.
Stephenie Meyer’s books are truly riveting
and engaging, so it’s definitely not surprising why
many are going gaga over the Twilight saga. So,
you. Yes, you. If you still haven’t read it, then
you’d better make sure that you do! Because the
movie, believe me, is just the tip of the iceberg….
If you went crazy over the movie, just imagine how
crazy you’ll get when you get inside the minds of
the characters you only see on the big screen. Just
make sure that when you do, you’re in the comfort
of your own home, or else, you’d risk looking like
a loony fool, giggling and laughing as you leaf
through pages of the beloved Twilight saga.
are expressed. These findings
just indicate that the growing
number of jejemons, which
mostly came from lower socioeconomic status, is a way for
them to express their feelings,
establish a unique identity,
and demonstrate how the clash
between them, the "jologs" and
the "sosyal" (middle- to upperclass jejebusters) becomes a
complete representation of
how wide the gap is between
the two social classes in the
Philippines – a reality that the
current president should take
into consideration.
There are positive aspects
of jejemonism that I admire but
it doesn't necessarily mean that
I'm a true-blue jejemon and
that I promote their principles.
I personally hate the way
they clog the internet and the
texting world with seemingly
nonsense messages but we
always have to remember that
what's really important is the
message behind their distorted
language and the hidden
lessons that they can impart.
This is whom they are and
robbing them of their freedom to
express is tantamount to human
rights violation. It would be better
if the Department of Education
will focus more on developing
strategies on how to alleviate
the ongoing deterioration of
Philippine education due to
inadequate facilities and teachers
than waste their time eliminating
the fast-growing jejemons who
continuously evolve with time.
We are all entitled to our own
opinions but at the end of the
day, respect for each other's
differences will prevail. This is
the real essence of freedom.
aNowh? aY0wZ p0w bAh?
“Lipstick”
by Luisito E. Batongbakal Jr., Nursing
The bright red car stopped
in front of a tall telecom company
building in Makati. I stepped out and
saw a magnificent figure. The glass
facade of the skyscraper illuminates
as it reflects the captivating rays of
the sun. I’m wearing formal attire
and holding a petite briefcase, the
ones I thought I could never have.
“At last!” I said to myself in ecstasy.
I was in a cloud nine when, upon
entering the building, I realized
that I will finally work in decency.
To my great frustration, I’m almost
at the height of celebration when
I suddenly heard a very familiar
voice.....
“Wake up!” said the voice.
My vision became blurred, then
very blurred, then almost black.
“Hey, wake up!” she said once
again. It caused vibrations in my
eardrums that I suddenly woke up
and realized that I was just dreaming
once again. I hesitantly half-opened
my eyes and saw my mother eating
on the table, one leg raised on the
other chair. Our house has a very
small space that’s why our bed,
kitchen, dining table, and sofa are
all packed in one room, without
any compartments at all.
“Nay, you should have not
shouted at me that loud.” I said as
I made my way to the sink to wash
my face.
“How can I not shout? It’s
almost 6:00 pm and you’re still
sleeping! Remember, Cielo, you
have to earn more money. Our
landlord’s getting mad!” shouted
my mother, emphasizing the
“money” thing. I turned into a
blank face.
Nanay Minda rose from her
seat after eating her meal. “I already
prepared your dress. Just take it out
of the closet. When you leave, just
turn off the lights and close the
door. I’m going to play cards with
Aling Iska and Mang Domeng.” she
said, leaving me behind. Gambling
has been part of my mother’s
routine. She is almost 50 years old,
but seems growing backwards.
Nanay used to sell fish but finally
gave up and has indulged herself
in tong-its instead since then. I
have seen in her eyes hopelessness
and anger. She’s very enraged to
life, in general, and to my father,
in particular. “If only your father
hadn’t left me after I gave birth
to you, this would have never
happened to us!” is my mother’s
usual complaint and a reality that
has made me who I am right now.
I almost forgot the time while
I’m contemplating on these things.
I’m afraid my manager will get mad
at me if I’ll come late. Clad in a
red Venus-cut with black stiletto
shoes, I started to wear colourful
combinations of mascara, eye
shadow, a little bit of foundation,
and of course, the final touch - - my
lipstick.
My lipstick, it’s the bane of
my existence and a metaphor of
my life. They said it’s free to dream
so I always build castles in the air,
fantasizing, albeit temporary like
the lipstick, motivates me to work
harder. Mine is a typical story of
a girl who dreams of a better life
with my mother. But fate has been
cruel to us. My family is a broken
one: my father abandoned us and
my mother is not the ideal mother
figure. Living in the cruel slums of
Bulacan and without any college
diploma at hand, I was forced to
work in a local nightclub, with my
mother as the major catalyst. If I
could just win a lottery or marry a
D.O.M., life will be a lot easier for
us. But the pangs of reality keeps
on haunting us relentlessly like a
hungry leopard. It’s a good thing
that Ramon came to my life. It has
been two months since we first met
in Symphony. A rich, divorced man
in his early fifties, he has become
a frequent customer and always
requests for my company almost
every night. We shared all our
experiences to each other and from
there our relationship flourished
until he finally fell in the snare I had
prepared for him.
“So what are your plans?” he
asked one night.
“Don’t have any. Nanay
will never bring me back to school
again. I’m doomed,” I said, arousing
sympathy.
“How about your father?”
“Oh...He’s in the U.S. right
now with his new family. He
doesn’t care about us anymore so
what can I ask from him?”
“Do you want me to help
you? I can be a great provider if you
want...”
My ears started to hear the
words I’ve been waiting for Ramon
to say. This is a great opportunity,
I said to myself. Mr. Ramon has
enough to take us out from this
poverty-induced nightmare.
“Love, are you serious about
this?” I asked when we were finally
inside his car, three months after
we first met.
“Of course! Don’t worry
about me. I love and accept you
as who you are not as what you
are,” he said in a serious tone while
holding my hands. I saw his eyes
burning with so much passion and
sincerity.
“So, are you ready to meet
my mother?” I asked him bluntly.
“Sure! Why not? Tomorrow
morning, let’s meet in front of Liz’s
Cafe and we will go straight to your
house afterwards. Ok?”
“Oh yes! I’m pretty sure my
mother will be very glad to meet
you.”
“I hope you’re right....”
“I’m pretty sure about that.
So, let’s meet tomorrow.”
“Yes, tomorrow morning...”
“Goodbye, dear.”
We then kissed each other
before I left his car a meter away
from our house. That night, I told
my mother about everything while
we’re both in bed, staring at the
wall.
“How old is he? Is he rich?
Can we lend some from him? Tell
me! What?”, asked my mother
without a single pause.
“Nay, he’s a well-to-do
businessman and almost in his
fifties. Do you think it’s alright?”
Without further ado, my
mother replied. “As long as he
can provide, It’s definitely alright.
Anyway, it’s the money we need,
not his age.”
“Nay, what if karma strikes
us?” I asked
“Stop it. You’re just making
things complicated for you.”
shouted my mother with apparent
irritation.
11
features
“Alright. He’s going to meet
you tomorrow. Don’t prepare
anything to eat. He’s in charge.”
“That’s great. Tomorrow’s
going to be the ‘day of liberation’.”
Those are the last words
that came out from my mother’s
mouth that night. Perhaps she’s
right, tomorrow’s the ‘day of
liberation’ and sooner or later, my
fantasies of a good life will never
be as temporary as a lipstick again.
Change is inevitable. Change is
unavoidable. Change is tomorrow.
The following day, I woke
up seeing my mother glowing with
gladness while preparing our cheap
breakfast. “Well, I just don’t want
you to appear so pale in front of
him. Come, let’s eat.” I responded
with a smile, glad that Mr. Ramon
has made an impact.
It’s nearly 10:00 AM when
Ramon and I met at the Cafe. We
had a nice chat for 30 minutes
before going straight to our house.
I’m surprised when I found
no one in the house when we
came. Although surprised, I asked
Ramon to come inside and wait for
my mother, who, I supposed, just
bought something outside.
“You know, Nanay is so
excited to meet you so I’m sure
she’ll like you so much,” I said
while preparing something to drink.
“What do you want? Water or
juice?” I asked, but got no response.
I turned to him who’s sitting on our
rugged sofa to ask what’s wrong.
But his eyes were glued to a picture
displayed beside him. He seems so
shocked at what he is seeing and I
also saw his hands trembling on top
of his knees.
“Who is this woman in this
picture?” he asked, pointing to the
picture.
“That’s my mother.” I replied,
still perplexed about his mysterious
behaviour towards the picture.
In a moment, the wooden
door opened and the figure of
my mother came in. Her eyes
seem so excited to see the ‘day of
liberation’s main star’.
Oh mother, there you are! I
want you to meet Mr. Ramon.”
My mother turned her eyes
from me to the man sitting in the
sofa. Her smile suddenly vanished
and was replaced by an emotion far
from being describable.
“Nay, Ramon, you can
talk to each other...I’ll just go to
the C.R. Excuse me for a while.” I
said, heading to the bathroom to
retouch.
I knew something was
wrong, but I just pretended that
everything’s alright to comfort
myself. I’m curious about the
eyes of my mother ----- somewhat
burning with doubt and anger,
and to Ramon’s ----- conspicuously
shocked and frightened about the
unknown. I checked my bag for my
lipstick and started to apply some
on my drying lips. To my great fear,
I overheard the shout...the cries.....
the begging for forgiveness. I’m so
confused and worried about what’s
happening that I lost grip of my
lipstick. It fell directly on the floor
and was broken into pieces. In an
instant, my lipstick was gone.
MCU MANIA
by Mary Jane Guba, Arts and Sciences
ACROSS
2 MCU is recognized by CHED as the country's top_____ performing
nursing school
4 The oldest building in MCU named after the MCU founder
7 FDT Learning Resource_________
8 A kind of structure where The Pharos got its name
DOWN
1 The english translation for the third word in MCU motto, in
scientia solidaritas
3 The surname of the newly appointed Dean of the College of
Dentistry
5 The official publication of MCU and MCU-FDTMF
6 MCU icon
Answers
1. Solidarity, 2. Four, 3. McKenzie, 4. FDT, 5. The Pulse, 6. Minerva,
7. Center, 8. Lighthouse
December 2009–July 2010
FYM
(Feed Your Mind)
by Neirra Lou Sulit, Business Administration
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
George Washington refused to shake hands with anyone
during his entire two terms as president. Instead, he bowed, in
the belief that a handshake was beneath presidential dignity.
Ripley received more mail than any other individual in history
– more than 3,500 letters per day, over one million per year.
During a Ripley's contest, he received more than 2.5 million
letters in just two weeks.
Fear of Kissing is Philemaphobia or Philematophobia. (Guess
no single human has this phobia)
Fish or fishes?? Though often used interchangeably, these
words actually mean different things. Fish is used either as
singular noun or to describe a group of specimens from a
single species. Fishes describes a group containing more than
one species.
The 1912 Olympics were the last games that gave out gold
medals made entirely of gold.
In the early days of film making, the people who worked on the
sets were called movies. The films were called motion pictures.
There are more mobile phones in UK than there are people.
On average women speak 7,000 words per day, whereas men
speak just over 2,000.
The sport with the most number of officials with relation to
players is tennis. There are 13 officials for two players.
12
features
December 2009–July 2010
The Pharos Editors and Staff
The PHAROS - Official Publication of
Manila Central University Student Body,
is in need of:
The Pharos is published primarily
for the students of Manila Central University.
writers,
artists and
photographers
The Pharos
Manila Central University, EDSA Caloocan City
Telephone No.: 364-10-71 up to 78
E-mail: mcu_thepulse@yahoo.com
Website: www.mcu.edu.ph
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
Visit the Office of Student Affairs at
Centennial Gym or visit the office of
Communication Service Group for more
information.
Vol. 80 Issue No. 1 December–July 2010
Editor-in-Chief:
Lois Marie A. Baltazar (Medical Technology)
Associate Editor:
Angelo Iñigo (Nursing)
Production Manager:
Reynalene Pascual (Nursing)
Production Associate:
Neirra Sulit (Business Administration)
Layout Artist/Photographer:Annabelle Estrella (Arts and Sciences)
News Editor:
Mary Jane Guba (Arts and Sciences)
Associate News Editor:
Rizzi Ann Minoza (Arts and Sciences)
Features Editor:
Luisito Batongbakal Jr. (Nursing)
Literary Editor:
Aisha Junaide (Dentistry)
Contributors:
Kathrine Loren Tawat (Nursing)
Dulce Amor Aspiras (Nursing)
Ludibelle Aranjuez (Nursing)
Rowena Peñaflor, Olivia Estampador
With advice from
Communication Service Office
Office of Student Affair
Please send your write-ups, comments and suggestion to The Pharos