news

Budget cut
VOLUME XXXVIII Issue 2 November 2010 - April 2011
Member: College Editors Guild of the Philippines
editorial
OFWs’ plight
State Universities and In the wake of
Colleges (SUCs) including Bicol catastrophes and nation wars,
University (BU) will experience the lives of our Overseas Filipino
total removal of Congressional Workers are put at stake. It’s high
Insertions (CI) in its annual fund time that the national government
as approved in the 2011 budget takes action.
allocation for Education last EDITORIAL| page 8 ►
December 6, 2010.
BUDGET CUT | page 6 ►

Class ‘11 marks 41st grad By Ira Jacob with reports from Reynard Magtoto

FIELD OF BLUE. Clad in blue commencement gowns, BU Class 2011 filled up the usually
green university grounds. PHOTO BY BOYBI LICUP

Despite the forecasts of

impending rains and the
unfinished reconstruction of the commencement stage,
a total of 3,211 students from the nine college units of
Bicol University (BU) and Graduate School claimed their
baccalaureate and masters degrees during the university’s 41st
Commencement Exercises last March 30.
The university pushed through with its
second year of conducting the mass graduation at the open
BU commencement grounds for students taking up their
courses in the Main and Daraga campuses. The satellite
campuses held their respective graduation rites on their own
college units.
Described as the most special class by BU
President Fay Lea Patria Lauraya because during her first
year as BU President they were then freshmen, Class 2011
became the first set of graduates to pass the newly constructed
four pillars in the university’s façade after recently gaining its
International Organization for Standards (ISO) Certification.
Their diplomas will bear the ISO Certification giving
them the credit of hailing from an institution that upholds
excellence in the provision of education, particularly on
quality management.
“Their diplomas and the name of the Bicol
University with ISO certification is now recognized in 169
countries all over the world so I just hope that they will have
the confidence to walk side by side with anyone. What is
most important is that they have a heart for the four pillars
of the Bicol University (scholarship, leadership, character and
service) and that is the value that they will carry where ever
they may go.” Lauraya said in an interview.
She depicted Class 2011 as the pioneer graduates
of an internationally recognized state university and college
(SUC), the first in the country as such.
Representative Juan Edgardo Angara of the lone
District of Aurora and a member of the BU Board of Regents,
served as the commencement speaker centering on the theme
‘Educating for Peace and International Understanding’.
Angara emphasized the importance of higher
education. He mentioned that out of 100 students who enter
the public school system, only 23 percent goes to college and
only 12 percent manages to graduate because most of them
quit from studying due to poverty.
“I don’t want you to say na taga-probinsya lang ako
GRADUATES | page 2 ►

TRO denied
Lauraya reappointed as president
BY SARAH MORAN and MICHAEL ANGELO GALLEGO

The reappointment of BU
President Fay Lea Patria Lauraya
is now sealed with finality as the temporary
restraining order (TRO) filed against the
Board of Regents (BOR) by a BU professor
had been denied by the Regional Trial
Court (RTC) on March 7, the same day when
Lauraya took her oath of rededication.
During the Thanksgiving and
Rededication to Service held at the Albay
Cathedral that day, Lauraya expressed her
commendation to the BU community and
the BU BOR for entrusting her with a new
mandate to continue leading the university
for the next four years. The event, according
to her was the first in the academic tradition
of the university. After the holy sacrament,
a grandiose dinner was served at the
Casa Blanca Hotel as continuation of the
celebration.
Petition to hold reappointment
6 of Republic Act 8292, also called as the
Higher Education Modernization Act of
1997, as it is ‘mandatory to assemble a search
committee’. However, the Board, according
to him, disregarded to create one.
He also said that the BOR’s using of
CHED’s memorandum Circular No. 4, Series
of 1997 was displaced as Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR), such as that,
cannot amend or superimpose a Republic
Act.
In a two-page court ruling,
Presiding Judge Maria Theresa Loquillano
ruled that the court cannot determine, as of HOLY VOW. Rev. Florante Afavle blesses Pres. Lauraya as the latter swears for a second term.
press time, as to how Belgica be prejudiced PHOTO BY EARL EPSON RICAMUNDA
if Lauraya be allowed to take her oath as the
BU President. In spite of this, Belgica said it
didn’t dampen him a bit. First in the country
BU now ISO certified
In an interview, he stated that it
was only a part of the legal dispute brewing
between him and the Board. The alleged
grave abuse of discretion of the BOR was his BY SHEENA FERRER with reports from JOVIC YEE

On February 23, Professor Ricardo
Belgica of the College of Business, Economics,
and Management (CBEM), filed a civil case in
which he claimed that the BOR did not follow
the due process of reappointing Lauraya. On
the order released by the RTC Branch 10, it
was stated that the petitioner alleged that
respondent, BOR, in their Resolution no.
48, Series of 2010 decided to forego with
the requirement of constituting a search
committee that will screen nominees for
the position of a university president.
Meanwhile, the case is set for hearing for the
issuance of preliminary injunction on April
12.
Belgica pointed out that the ‘law is
very clear’ and the BOR had violated Section
grounds for filing the civil case, he said.
Although he admitted that he
cannot be prejudiced or damaged in any
way if Lauraya continued and finish her
term, he said that it was purely based on
the issue that the governing board abused
its powers of discretion that he chose to act.
He also made it clear that he does not hold
hold personal resentment against Lauraya.
According to him, what he did was only a
‘respectful reminder to the Board not to toy
with the law.’
In a letter addressed to Chairperson
Patricia Licuanan, Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) with a copy furnished
to the Office of the President, he wrote the
BOR Chairperson, Nenalyn Defensor that
After
su r p a ssi n g
s t r i n g e n t
accreditations and audits, Bicol University
now boasts as the first state university
and college (SUC) in the country to be
conferred as International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) Certified.
Effective January this year,
ISO, the world’s largest developer and
publisher of International Standards,
granted the university an ISO Certification
in Quality Management thus making BU
an internationally-recognized academic
institution in 169 countries. This means
that all 13 college units of the university,
including its research and auditing facilities
met the standards of the organization in
terms of improved, safe and well-managed
systems, machines, devices and products.
According to Joseph Bartolata,
Planning and Management Officer (PMO),
this is President Fay Lauraya’s strategy
to concretize her vision of bringing the
university at par with other international
organizations.
“This certification will be of great
help to our students for they will graduate
from a university which is ISO certified and
have given them a satisfaction that only a
premier university can give,” Bartolata said.
Bartolata further elaborated
that the ISO certification will confer a
continuous process in which an improved
system will be observed in accordance with

LAURAYA | page 3 ► ISO | page 3 ►

2 news news 3
◄page 1 | LAURAYA Regulations (IRR) for Republic Act RA 8292 embodied in of Catanduanes State Colleges, chairperson PASUC V and;
what he did was not a new initiative at all. According to
CHED Memorandum Order No.3, series of 2001. Father Joel Tabora, S.J of Ateneo de Naga University, private

14 alumni ace in board exams

◄page 1 | GRADUATES
By Amabelle Loremia at mahirap lang ako. You are a product of
your opportunities and you must use these
Belgica, Lauraya herself questioned the action of the BOR in
In the Resolution No.48, series of 2010, it was stated sector representative.
1999 when then President Lylia Corporal-Sena sought for a
that the President did signify in a form of writing her intention An amount of P50,000 from internally
reappointment but has reached the mandatory retirement
to seek reappointment for another term during the 92nd generated income of BU was unanimously agreed to be
age,70.
regular Meeting held on August 16,2010 at Quezon City. allocated by the GB to provide funding for the activities of
Belgica claims that what she did 12 years ago is the
Section 28, Rule VII of the IRR provided that in case the evaluation committee and its secretariat. The amount
same as his present actions ‘on the same grounds, but in
the incumbent SUC President is eligible and qualified per also covered the payment of honoraria, supplies cost and
different settings’ and only this time, Lauraya is the one on

Fourteen g r a du -
ates of
Bicol University (BU) led its 675 passers
in various Licensure Examinations from
May to November 2010.
John Francis Manila Pili notched
the 4th place in the November Licensure
Examinations for Civil Engineers with
a passing rate of 94.90 percent. Thirty
others also passed the exam marking a
47 percent passing rate.
Andrei Nico Laguna of the Col-
lege of Business, Economics, and Man-
agement (CBEM) clinched the fifth place
in the October 2010 Board Examination
for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
with an astounding 94.71 passing rate.
He and the 49 passers of the univer-
sity enabled BU to be recognized as
the third top performing school in the
country with an 85.96 national passing
percentage.
Meanwhile, Daryl Gamez from
the College of Engineering (CEng)
grabbed the fourth place in the Septem-
ber Mechanical Engineering Licensure
Examination. Gomez landed on the spot
with a 91.7 over-all passing percentage.
He joined BU’s 52 registered mechani-
cal engineers (RMEs) in an 88.14 over-all
passing percentage, making the univer-
sity the fourth top performing school in
the country.
Similarly, Miguel Dominique
Martinez from the College of Education
(CE) secured the eighth place on the Li-
censure Examination for Teachers (LET)
held September. He attained an 83.88
passing percentage along with the 94
new teachers from the Bachelor of Sci-
ence in Elementary Education (BEEd)
and 141 additional teachers from the
Rojas admitted that the recent LET pass-
ing rate was significantly lower than the
previous year.
“We are hoping for the
President’s approval of proposed ac-
tions like refresher courses. Meanwhile,
we encourage our graduates to attend
regular classes to refresh their minds.
We are expecting for the progress of
our LET percentage for the next board
on September with the graduates of the
new curriculum,” Rojas affirmed.
Twenty graduates from
the College of Science (CS), on the oth-
er hand, passed the September 2010
Chemistry Licensure Examination with
a national passing rate of 44.44 percent.
Professor Samuel Bo-
biles, chairman of the Chemistry depart-
ment, said that to increase the passing
rate of their board passers, diagnostic
examination per year level, in-house
reviews, stringent policy in accepting
new Chemistry students and proposed
retention will be implemented.
Moreover, the College
of Nursing (CN) of Polangui Campus
(PC) also hailed its tenth placer in the
Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE)
last July. Clinton Rabadon led the 33
newly-registered nurses (RNs) of the
extension campus with a 78.57 passing
percentage.
The Main Campus, al-
though was unable to secure a place in
the top ten, however, still emerged as
the top performing school in the region.
As lifted from the list
of passers released by the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC), the Main
Campus had 15 successful examinees
included in the top twenty. Out of the
The College of Agriculture and
Forestry (CAF) in Guinobatan, likewise,
produced another board placer in the
June 2010 Agriculture Engineering Li-
censure Examination. John Eduardo
Brenches took the fourth place with
an 81.25 passing percentage. With four
passers, the university claimed a 29 per-
cent national passing percentage.
The College of Social Sciences
and Philosophy (CSSP) also generated
73 new social workers last June 2010.
With a passing rate of 94 percent, the
university remained as the top Perform-
ing School for Social Workers.
In the Architecture Licensure
Examination held in June this year, 22
architecture students passed with a
passing rate of 40 percent.
Adrianne Basa, a 3rd year nurs-
ing student, ranked fourth in the May
2010 licensure examinations for mid-
wives. Basa led 43 other midwifery pass-
ers giving the College of Nursing (CN) a
100 percent passing rate.
Five electrical engineers and
14 registered master electricians also
reaped a 17 and 65 percent passing
rates respectively.
Rojoe Amante and Jocelyn
Ludovice both finished in the Board Ex-
amination for Master Electricians with
an average of 88 percent. Furthermore,
Allan Lomerio ranked seventh with
84 percent. Joseph Ryan Macalimbag,
Daimel Conan Mayor and Leo Mark Na-
varrete tied on the eighth place with
83.5 percent and Mike Jerome Guardian
ranked tenth with his average of 82 per-
cent.
Likewise, CBEM produced 10
new Certified Public Accountants (CPA’s)
opportunities.” Angara said. He challenged
the graduates to become the generation
that will help the Bicol University, the Bicol
region and the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Angara said he was
pleased with BU’s commencement rites
which made use of the Gabaldon Building
as stage background plus the four symbolic
pillars at the new façade. He added that it
was the best so far in the nine others that he
had attended.
Mervin Bueno, a graduate of
Bachelor of Science in Education, Major
in Mathematics and Maria Daisy Lleno,
a graduate of Bachelor of Science in
Information Technology and is the outgoing
university student council (USC) chairperson
were this year’s recipients of the University
Outstanding Graduate and Presidential
Leadership Awards respectively.
Unfavorable setting
Having an open space such as the BU
Commencement Grounds as the venue for
the graduation ceremonies posted discomfort
to the attendees when it occasionally rained
throughout the program. According to the
graduates, they were instructed not to bring
and use their umbrellas even if it rained.
Eleanny Jaron, a graduate of
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, acclaimed
the idea of holding the graduation rites in the
Commencement Grounds but she wished
there was a better location and that the area
was covered.
Eric Marmol, a graduate of Master
in Physics, pointed out that the occasional
downpour did cause some inconvenience
though he added that the ceremony was
serene.
Some students also reacted on the
policy that only the parents of those graduates
with honors were given the privilege to
standards set by the Governing Board (GB) for reappointment, reproduction, travel expenses, and other necessary incidental
the receiving end.
a search may not be conducted and the collegial body may expenses.
In defense of the administration, Professor Ismael
prescribe the terms and conditions under which discretion
Dineros, BU Union of Faculty Association president, questions
may be exercised such as but not limited to an evaluation of Handling the crisis
Belgica regarding his credibility considering the latter is not
the performance of the incumbent . Asked about her reaction regarding
a lawyer. Furthermore, he pointed out that when Belgica
The GB then has unanimously agreed not to create controversies that arose regarding her reappointment,
interpreted the law, he overlooked the reason as to why IRR
a search committee but instead subject the performance of Lauraya said that she is not in any way threatened because
is created in the first place. He added that IRR is ‘only defining
the incumbent president to an evaluation to be submitted to of the support being tendered by the university faculty . To
the specific purposes’ of RA 8292. He further explains that
the Board Chairperson on or before September 15, 2010. cope with the pressure, she mentioned open mindedness
the Congress, which enacted the law, cannot implement RA
It is stated on R.A. 8292 or Higher Modernization act and strong faith in the Lord.
8292 directly; therefore, it is directed to the line agency, in
of 1997 that for an SUC president to be reappointed, he must Meanwhile, for her second term, Lauraya
this case, CHED, to implement it.
not be beyond the age of retirement, 70, and his performance envisions herself to be able to push the university towards
“Even the CHED main office [in Manila] uses this IRR
has been unanimously rated as outstanding and upon international recognition and be able to produce competitive
of 1997”, he stressed.
unanimous recommendation by the search committee. graduates.
“We hold no grudges against Belgica’s actions. It’s
The GB has unanimously agreed to create an Outgoing USC chairperson Daisy Lleno
his right. But the Board and Dr. Lauraya, also has one. Bottom-
Evaluation Committee composed of the CHED Region V said that Lauraya’s reappointment was a unanimous decision.
line here, the equality of rights must be observed,” he said.
Regional Director as Chairman together with the Philippine She added that she consulted several UBOs and received
In a separate interview, Dineros describes Lauraya
Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Region mostly positive feedbacks.
as a ‘very good listener’ and is ‘open to suggestions from
V Chairperson, a private sector representative, as members However, Incoming student regent Ruther
anyone.’
to be assisted by a secretariat composed of two personnel Flores said that the President’s reappointment is up to now
coming from CHED Regional Office V. controversial but, with the guidelines and provisions in RA
What went before
8292, the BOR’s decision cannot be contested.
On March 9, 2007, Lauraya was appointed as SUC
The evaluators “I support her admin. I have to pay respect
President IV of BU under BOR Resolution No.003, series of
The body that composed the Evaluation Committee to the decision of the BOR and previous regent Lleno. I expect
2007 for a first term of four years ending on March 8, 2011.
for Lauraya’s eligibility for a second term were Director a more progressive plan and mind setting that will meet ISO
Her expiration of term is in compliance with the provisions
Dominador Peralta, CHED V; Dr. Asuncion Asetre, president standards,“ he added.
of Section 22, Rule VII of the Implementing Rules and
TOAST FOR THE FUTURE. Reappointed Pres. Lauraya is joined by BU faculty and other friends
PHOTO BY EARL EPSON RICAMUNDA

Bachelor of Science in Secondary Edu-
cation (BSEEd).
The departments got a national
passing percentage of 37.3 and 41.35
respectively. However, CE Dean Obdulia
129 students who took the licensure
examination, 115 passed, giving the
department an 89.15 national passing
percentage.
EVENT’S HIGHLIGHT. Minutes before the 41st commencement exercises begins, the new univer-
sity gate was formally opened by a ribbon cutting ceremony. PHOTO BY EARL EPSON RICAMUNDA
in the CPA Board Exams last May with a
passing rate of 55.56 percent. (with re-
ports from Bryan Anthony Liwag and
Mark Evan Aniel)
accompany their child on the stage.
“It’s unfair. This is a special day for
us and our parents and without our parents,
◄page 1 | ISO
we’re nothing. With or without honors, our the university’s Quality Policy, particularly on
the fields of instruction, research, production
parents must be with us,” Cris Magayanes,
a graduate of Bachelor of Communication and extension.
Two stage visits passed
Arts Major in Speech and Theatre Arts
The BU College of Education (CE)
commented.
and the Research and Development Center
Dante Maravillas, a broadcaster (RDC) became the first units to be evaluated
of DZGB and father to a Food Technology by the organization in terms of instruction,
graduate complained that after all of their research and extension. Their passing the
sacrifices they were not given the chance to evaluation enabled the immersion of the
join their child on stage when receiving the entire university to the stage two of the ISO
diploma. audit on November.
In contrast, Margie Buban, also a When asked about their
graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, preparation on the said auditing, CE Dean
believed that the policy was fine. She cited Dr. Obdulia Rojas said that seeking for divine
that the ceremonies would be disorganized if providence is their first key to success and
all parents would accompany their child to the collaborative efforts of the staff made it
the stage. Buban added that the policy gave more worth it all.
distinction to the honors and she even jester “Being tagged as the Center of
Excellence paved our way to be the only
that everyone should strive to be Cum Laude
college to be set on fire with the ISO
so that their parents could join them on the
accreditor. Good thing we have all the
stage. paper-trail and documents they need and
The Gabaldon Building of the BU abrupt answers to their queries regarding
High School Department became the milieu our system,” Rojas remarked. She shared
to the commencement exercises in lieu that based on the positive response of the
of the unfinished Commencement Stage. accreditor, it made them feel assured of the
The celebration culminated with a grand status that BU has in terms of the stage two
fireworks display. audits.
Meanwhile, RDC Staff Erwin E.
Torres said that they have a manual of
operation summarized in a work instruction
just like what the management told them.
“We are glad that this ISO audit
was finally realized here in our university
because we really need external auditors
to inject new ideas for implementation and
for their perspectives for our improvement,”
Torres disclosed. He also added that the only
minor non-conformance of RDC is on their
referred journals which are not updated.
According to him the only journal
they have in the office was published way
back in 2008 about Enhancing Fishery
Productivity contributed by a researcher
from BU Tabaco Campus, RDC, and a BU
faculty who is externally funded.
Series of accreditations beforehand
Aside from ISO, the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED) and the
Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges
and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP)
also sent a group of accreditors to inspect
the quality of the degree programs offered
in the university.
“AACCUP and CHED accreditation
center on the degree programs offered in
the university and services delivered every
after two or three years,” Helen Llenaresas,
vice-president for academic affairs, said
when asked how the three agencies differ
from one other.
On the 19th of November, CHED
accreditors verified the standing of CE as a
Center of Excellence.
According to Dean Rojas,
the accreditors said that BUCE is excellent
in instruction. However, excellence is
not reflected on the performance of the
graduates and the passers, since only 41.25
percent of the total number of graduates
passed the recent LET exam despite the 75
percent passing rate given by CHED.
Meanwhile, AACCUP
already gave the result of the final list of
BU Programs evaluated, particularly, their
accreditation status. As of press time, the
university has three programs which are
Level III Re- accredited, seven are qualified for
Level III status, one is Level II Re-accredited
and 20 programs are Level I Accredited. Ten
programs, likewise, are on the Candidate
status.
Students’ scrutiny
It is stated in the BU
Quality Policy that the university will strive
for excellence by meeting the highest level
of clientele satisfaction. However, there are
some students who were not aware of the
ISO audit and even what is stated on the
quality policy.
“I don’t know the
meaning of ISO. I was just told that there will
be visitors in the college so we were asked
to wear our school uniform,” a first year CE
student who refused to be named said.
Some also observed the
inconsistencies in the policies implemented
by the administration. At the peak of the
AACCUP accreditation at the College of Arts
and Letters (CAL), students who were not
in uniform were not allowed to enter the
Multi-purpose building. However, several
weeks after the accreditation, the guards
again became lax in checking the students
entering the college.
Some students from the different
colleges expressed their sentiment that it
was alright if the college administration
implements certain policies as long as they
are strict and consistent with it.
Conversely, there are also students
who see the positive side of the accreditation
happening in the university.
“As far as I know, ISO-certified
organizations are known in the international
scene so there’s no point in telling that this
auditing can bring no good to the university
especially to the graduating students.” Jesus
Conrado Monreal, a fifth year Chemical
Engineering student and a former University
Student Council officer, affirmed.
He added that after his graduation,
there might be a bigger opportunity waiting
for him outside the portals of BU because of
its additional asset, the ISO Certification.
Also, an AB Journalism student in
CAL who requested anonymity said that the
administration should realistically improve
the quality of teaching and the facilities in
the college now that the university holds the
ISO Certification.

FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
4 news
BU to offer BS Meteorology
Bicol
U n ive r si t y Geophysical, Astronomical Ser-
(BU) eyes itself vices Administration (PAGASA) for
to be one of the four pioneering the technical aspects, Alyansa ng
schools in the country to integrate mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at
BS Meteorology in their curricu- Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan
lum.
The university will join
Central Luzon State University,
(AGHAM) Party List for funding
and the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) for schol-
Mariano Marcos State University arship.
and Visayas State University in “We bridged the gap as a
conducting an experimental im- premier state university. Only the
plementation of BS Meteorology University of the Philippines (UP)
for three years. It is the consor- offers Masteral Degree in Meteo-
tium of the four schools to experi- rology,” Dr. Helen M. Llenaresas,
ment with the course in partner- BU vice president for academic af-
ship with Philippine Atmospheric, fairs remarked.
Studes seal Bicol culture in a book
W hat started to be only a homeroom require-
ment had blossomed into a collection of
rawit-dawit (Bicol poems) and other compositions
written in the native language, called KALAPAK-
APA.
The works of some students from Bicol
University College of Business, Economics and
Management (BUCBEM) and Divine Word Col-
lege of Legazpi (DWCL) taking up literature sub-
jects with Professor Eduardo Uy were compiled to
produce a book showcasing poems and other forms
of literature that will reflect the Bicolano culture.
Uy, who is also a graduate of Bicol Uni-
BU launches pili book
“A significant milestone achieved through the
years,” was how BU President Fay Lauraya
described the book entitled, PILI, Bicol’s Pride in a
Nutshell, during its book launching ceremony held
at the BU Amphitheater on December 14.
According to Rodrigo Aguilar, provincial
director of Department of Trade and Industry, it
is the first book written about the subject, and is
therefore considered as BU’s gift to the Bicolanos.
“The story about pili is not perfect and I
am thankful to BU because products sell easily if
the people know the story behind the product,” he
added.
Dr. Edgar Madrid, regional technical di-
rector for Research and Regulations of Department
of Agriculture, said that the book does not only
contain figures but it also contained an outline
BU champs SCUAA anew
Garnering 237 med-
als, this
year’s host school Bicol University (BU) was again hailed
champion, from the 5-day State Colleges and Universi-
ties Athletic Association (SCUAA) Meet 2010 held last
November 8-12.
With 134 gold, 61 silver and 42 bronze med-
als, BU swelled the gap from Central Bicol State Uni-
versity of Agriculture (CBSUA) which earned 45 golds,
46 silver and 30 bronze medals being the 1st runner-up,
while Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) settled as
the 2nd runner-up as they produced 14 gold, 40 silver
and 40 bronze medals.
Other state universities and colleges that par-
ticipated were the Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC),
Camarines Sur Polytechnic College (CSPC), Dr. Emilio
B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture
and Technology ( DEBESMSCAT), Partido State Col-
lege (PSU) and Sorsogon State College (SSC).
“Being the host of the SCUAA 2010 was one
FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
By REYNARD MAGTOTO
According to BU Presi-
dent Fay Lauraya, the four univer-
sities were strategically selected
because of their vulnerability to
typhoons and the presence of
PAGASA satellite locations in their
areas.
“We’re just very
happy that BU was identified as
one of the schools that will pi-
lot the course,” Lauraya said. She
avowed that DOST already iden-
tified the scholarship mechanism
and AGHAM already allocated
some money from their budget.
Lauraya said that the cur-
versity said that the activity started as part of the
requirements that his classes need to comply with.
“At first, I did my compositions just to
comply with Mr. Uy’s requirements. But as time
went, the essence of my being a Bicolano, finally
seemed to come into me. I enjoyed expressing my
views in our dialect,” Jessa Marie Conda, a Market-
ing Management student said.
KALAPAKAPA was launched on March
26 at the College of Arts and Letters Amphitheater.
Four hundred copies were printed and some were
given to private offices. course,” Director Dalida said.
Mark Harris Lim
about the different practices in pili industry.
Dr. Estela B. Orolfo, chairperson of the
Bicol PILI Board said that some of the data needs
update and verification. She verified the oldest pili
tree, the profile of the pili farmers, and the pili vari-
eties. Despite that, she still promoted the book and
said that the book is “worthy of praise, beautiful
and sturdy it is hardy and would be useful for a
long time if used properly.”
Thirty one copies of the book were given
to the stakeholders of the university and Lauraya
promised that it would not be the last book launch-
ing and she presented the books that are waiting for
completion.
Alyssa Joselle Bañares
of the edges for the victory. The players were familiar
with the environment and facilities that were used. In-
centives and scholarships also inspired the athletes and
coaches to strive even harder for the win,” Mary Lou
Borja, BU sports director said.
According to Jose Antonio Dasmariñas, CB-
SUA sports director, BU has always been the team to
beat.
In their defense for landing third place, Noli
Dipasupil, CNSC sports director said that their “athletes
only had 15 days of training” and they suffered from a
“limited budget.”
“BU deserved to win. Their athletes have been
the previous champions, so we knew BU was the school
to beat,” Dolce Atian, vice president for academic affairs
of Camarines Sur Polytechnic College said.
This season’s theme was, “SCUAA 2010:
Strengthening regional solidarity through sports.”
Amabelle Loremia
riculum meets the international
standard of the world meteoro-
logical organization.
According to
Landrico Dalida Jr., PAGASA-Le-
gazpi regional director, Albay Gov-
ernor Joey Salceda, in cooperation
with Agham party list Representa-
tive Angelo Palmones, proposed
BS Meteorology to be offered in
BU.
Director Dalida Jr. said
that the proposal is on hold since
there is still no replacement for
the former PAGASA Administra-
tor and the proposal’s proponent,
Prisco Nilo. He added that the sub-
mission of curriculum recommen-
dation to the CHED takes a long
process and they need to undergo
workshops regarding meteorol-
ogy.
Llenaresas affirmed that
BU and other concerned agencies
need to undergo workshops on
meteorology in order to manage
the course. In fact, “they attended
a national workshop on meteorol-
ogy last October 13 in preparation
for the program offering,” she said.
Strengthened curriculum
“It will be a four year
Amelia Dorosan, dean
of the College of Science (CS)
said that the first two years of the
course will be offered in BU for the
General Education (GE) and Foun-
dation Program while its last two
years will be spent at the PAGASA
Main Office in Quezon City for the
core subjects.
Llenaresas expounded
that BU cannot offer the 3rd and
4th year because of insufficient fa-
cilities and only PAGASA has them.
BU will send 10 students through
the help of DOST.
The curriculum will con-
sist of 53 units in GE, same as the
GE of BU. It will also have foun-
dation courses which includes
mathematics with 21 units, math-
ematical modeling with four units,
three physics with four units each,
chemistry with three units, earth
and land, calculus, strong algebra
and trigonometry.
Dorosan explained that
the foundation courses were
based from the CHED Memoran-
dum circular in Physics and Math-
ematics since BU does not have a
strong math or physics program.
Then, the foundation courses
were based on the draft of core
courses in meteorology given by
PAGASA.
“The BS Meteorology tu-
ition fee will be almost the same
with other existing programs in
BU but it will be free for the stu-
dents because it will be covered
by DOST scholarship,” she added.
At press time, PAGASA
affirmed its preparedness to man-
age 40 students who will pursue
BS Meteorology. There will be ten
qualified students in each four in-
stitutions. Llenaresas said that the
students will be given allowances
and their free board and lodging
expenses are being worked out.
Mode of qualification
Only 10 students can
qualify to pursue BS Meteorology.
They must be DOST scholars as a
prerequisite, Dorosan confirmed.
She explained that these
students will be the present sec-
ond year students and DOST
scholars from BUCENG who will
pass the month-long bridge pro-
gram which will be held this sum-
mer once approved. The student
qualifiers will be automatically 3rd
year BS Meteorology students.
Lauraya said that there
will be no first year students be-
cause they want to fast-track the
completion of the degree.
“If we have first year stu-
dents as our pioneer group, it will
take four years before we have the
first batch of graduates. But if the
present 2nd year students that
will become 3rd year next year will
be preferred, we will have BS Me-
teorology graduates in two years’
time,” she added.
Lauraya said that if a stu-
dent fails, he will have to take an-
other degree program of his inter-
est but BU has to make sure that
the student is properly prepared
for the new course.
Development plan and the de-
mand
“BS Meteorology will be
managed by the College of Sci-
ence (CS) since GE subjects are not
only taken in CENG but also in CS,”
Dorosan said. The course is an off-
shoot of BU’s development plan
that can still be revised depending
on the need, she added.
Lauraya expressed her
vision that in three years time,
BU can then independently offer
the course and accept freshmen.
Since the curriculum is based on
international standards, gradu-
ates of the course can be em-
ployed not only in the Philippines
but also abroad.
“BU is one of the aggres-
sive schools that advocate climate
change adaptation, disaster pre-
paredness and emergency in the
community along with the vision
of building a resilient community,”
she appraised.
Lauraya added that ev-
ery year, the Philippines is visited
by 22 typhoons and the country
needs the expertise of the fore-
casters so as to be prepared and
ensure zero casualty during times
of disasters.
Agustin Serrano Jr., DOST
science research specialist II, said
that not all their employees are
meteorologist. They undergo
trainings to become weather
forecasters. Dalida, on the other
hand, shared that 70 percent of
the agency’s employees is sub-
professional and only 30 percent
is professional.
Llenaresas said that bet-
ter offers for weather forecasters
abroad cause brain drain in the
country.
news 5
USC restores
Sandigan
In their efforts to uplift interactions
with the students, the Bicol University- University Student
Council (BU-USC) restored Sandigan, the council’s official publi-
cation.
Maria Daisy Lleno, outgoing USC chairperson,
said that the council’s publication that halted operations for some
years aims to inform the students about the accomplishments and
projects of the organization and the different college student coun-
cils (CSCs) plus their monetary use and planned projects.
Lleno said it was mandated by the Constitution
and by-laws of the USC to release an issue of Sandigan every year.
She stated that the publication is not a tie-up with the official pub-
lication of the university and other college publications.
“The USC public information officer (PIO) be-
SERIOUS BUSINESS. Incoming student regent Ruther Flores is all-ears to a co-stu-
dentleader during the USC/CSC cum planning seminar. PHOTO FROM BUDYONG
comes the editor-inchief of the paper. Research and Publication
Committee acts as USC’s standing committee and member of the
Editorial Staff,” Lleno remarked.
Lleno, however, shared that the council allotted P
Student leaders brace for next AY 50, 000 for the second issue of Sandigan this year. Since the first is-
sue is an accomplishment report of the previous term, she said that
BY IRA JACOB the council targets to release a separate issue under her term.
To
boost their program planning skills imperative to avoid debts. He cited that funds are Sandigan was institutionalized during the ratifica-
tion of the constitution and bylaws of the USC on the term of
and enhance their leadership capabilites as essential to the success and maintenance of any or-
they assume into office for the next academic year, ganization. former Chairperson Benigno Austero.
the Office of the Student Services (OSS) initiated a Flores presented the Council’s Work and “We get our fund from the CSC fee collected to
cum planning seminar for the new student leaders Financial Plan (WAF) during the seminar. He stated each students and the Student Development Fund (SDF) provided
of Bicol University (BU) last April 6 and 7. that they have 28 major activities envisioned for the by the university,” Lleno cited. She further added that only 15%
One hundred thirty student leaders from upcoming academic year with some minor activi- of the CSC fee collected during the enrolment period goes to their
the different colleges and satellite campuses par- ties which are not yet included in that figure. How-
coffers.
ticipated in the two-day event wherein they were ever, it still needs to be presented to the Board of
inducted into office. A forum was also conducted to Regents (BOR) for them to appropriate its funds and
Bryan Anthony Liwag
tackle the issues and concerns faced by the student to determine the programs and activities that the
council officers, be it in the university student coun- council would be able to pursue.
cil (USC) or college student council (CSC) posts. Under his term, Flores mentioned that the
Albay Governor Joey Salceda graced the
seminar and talked about the proper allocation of
Council’s programs and projects would revolve on
giving recognition to deserving people from the BU LIST OF APPROVED RESO-
LUTIONS DURING THE BU
budget. According to him, allocating the budget community, strengthening the ties of the university
‘shows what your priorities are when it comes to and the local government particularly on achieving
your constituents’. the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), pro-
PARLIAMENT HELD LAST
Salceda tackled the environmental issues moting transparency and rigid consultations and
and how the province would take part to address it, granting of incentives and or rewards to students
JANUARY 21-23, 2011
adding that the student leaders would play a vital who win in various competitions.
role in achieving this endeavor. He accentuated his plans to hold consulta-
Meanwhile, Prof. Glenn Narvaez, Office of tion meetings and general assemblies with the CSC
the Student Services (OSS) dean, said that this year’s
activity is “more comprehensive” compared to the
officers before meeting with the Board of Regents
so he could present the resolutions and ideas con- THE following
which were approved during
are
the 22 resolutions
FICE OF THE STUDENT SERVIC-
ES, BICOL UNIVERSITY.
• A RESOLUTION URG-
previous induction and cum planning activities. ferred by the studentry and to present a resolution
Aside from BU President Fay Lauraya and Narvaez to the BU President mandating all student publi- the 2nd BU Parliament held at ING THE BU ADMINISTRATION
Betlehem Retreat House, Baca- TO EXTEND THE COVERED
himself, Kabataan Party List Representative Ray- cations to also present their WAFs like the student
cay, Albay on January 23. CATWALK FROM THE BU HIGH
mond Palatino; Monena Rodriguez, chief admin- councils.
SCHOOL TO THE BU MULTIPUR-
istration finance and Dr. BB Benjamin D. Nebres III, “This will stop the publication from becom-
University scholarship and Grant-in-Aid officer also ing a marginalized and ignored sector of the uni- • A RESOLUTION URGING POSE BUILDING.
served as speakers for the aforementioned event. versity, it will also be a way for councils to assist the THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRA- • A RESOLUTION URGING
The speakers encouraged the student lead-
ers to engage not only in campus issues but to soci-
publications,” Flores said. TION TO SET THE PROPER AT-
TIRE FOR WASH DAYS.
THE BODY IN CHARGE OF THE
YEARBOOK TO RECOMMEND
etal issues as well. Challenge to the leaders • A RESOLUTION MAN- VISIONARIO TO BE THE BODY
Maria Daisy Lleno, outgoing USC chairper- Kabataan Party list Palatino challenged the DATING THE UNIVERSITARIAN THAT WILL HANDLE AND TAKE
son, spoke about the importance of planning in the students of BU to advocate for the positive long-
AND ALL COLLEGE PUBLICA- CHARGE OF THE YEARBOOK
council. She emphasized the importance of plan- term effect of education not only in the society but TIONS TO INCLUDE IN THEIR PROJECTS OF EACH COLLEGE
ning to the success of the student council as poor in the country as a whole. PUBLICATION ISSUES FOR SEC- OF BICOL UNIVERSITY.
planning may lead to the poor implementation of “I challenge you that after you graduate OND SEMESTER A.Y 2010-2011 • A RESOLUTION URG-
programs. you have to return something to the community ALL THE RESOLUTIONS THAT ING THE PUBLIC RELATIONS
because your education is being subsidized by the WERE APPROVED DURING THE COMMITTEE OF THE UNIVER-
Proper allocation of funds government,” Palatino remarked. 2ND BICOL UNIVERSITY PARLIA- SITY STUDENT COUNCIL TO IM-
President Lauraya echoed the importance He entailed that when there was an im- MENT. PROVE ITS COMMUNICATION
of the university’s budget stating that her foremost pending budget cut on the State Colleges and Uni- • A RESOLUTION RE- MODE AND STRATEGY.
agendum is to put in place a rationalized allocation versity, the professors and students were able to or- QUESTING THE DEPARTMENT • A RESOLUTION URGING
of funds. ganize a protest against it. “First time in the history
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THE BU ADMINISTRATION TO
“[We should] maximize the utilization of [of the Philippines] that the professors and students (DOST) REGION V TO ENSURE PUT UP MORE LIGHT POSTS IN
funds so that we can use it the best way possible,” united for one cause and that is to stop the budget
TIMELY RELEASE OF SCHOLAR- BICOL UNIVERSITY MAIN CAM-
she added. cut,” he said.
SHIP PRIVILEDGES OF THE DOST PUS.
Ruther Flores, incoming USC Chairperson,
SCHOLARS THROUGH THE OF-
stressed that the proper allocation of budget is
RESOLUTIONS | page 6 ►
FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
6 news news 7
TRIBUTE
No congressional insertions in SUCs budget Media studes remember
Studes fear TF hike By Reynard Magtoto
Maguindanao slay
State Universities and Col-
leges (SUCs) including Bicol
University (BU) will experience total removal of Con-
and the university’s budget will not suffer much since CI
is not part of the regular university budget.
Meanwhile, BU President Fay Lauraya
Lauraya said.
Perete stated that the university’s MOOE will
manifest an increase of P3.148M. However, she asserted
By Michael Angelo Gallego

A
gressional Insertions (CI) in its annual fund as approved said that the absence of CI will not seriously affect the that they will get from the income of the university if year after the most regarding the worst political-
in the 2011 budget allocation for Education last Decem- university’s budget. She explained that CIs are only ad- the MOOE fund will not be enough. She explained that gruesome election- driven carnage in the Philip-
ber 6, 2010. ditional to BU’s coffers. She has made a pronouncement there will be zero capital outlay in 2011 because instead
related violence in the coun- pine history.
Bella V. Regaspi, officer-in-charge (OIC), De- of not increasing the tuition fee in BU comes next aca- of giving the income of the university to the govern-
try, November 23, students ‘They were
partment of Budget and Management Division A, said demic year. ment, the university will use its income.
from the Print and Broadcast just doing their job!’ Ed Ca-
that it was the Aquino administration’s decision to re- Lauraya explained that the budget of Lauraya elaborated that the enrolment
Media Department of Bicol sulla, a local journalist, ex-
move all CIs from SUCs. the university is dependent upon enrolment. The in- and tuition of the students are estimated annually and
University (BU) marched and pressed and added that as
As quoted from President Aquino’s statement re- come of the university is derived from the tuition fee once multiplied; it will be the internal operating bud-
cried for justice for the 58 news men they (journalists)
garding the cut, “The government is gradually reducing which is one-fourth of the budget, income in rentals and get. The fund for the scholars such as the barangay and
slain lives, 34 of whom were are technically neutral while
the subsidy to SUCs to push them toward becoming self production which is P6M. academic scholars and other internally – funded schol-
journalists. they are ‘covering the news.’
sufficient and financially independent, given their ability However, she also disclosed that the arships will be deducted since they are not paying the
tuition fees.
Clad in black and M e a n w h i l e ,
to raise their income and to utilize it for their programs promised P100M support of Albay 1st District Rep. Ed-
According to Lauraya, the subsidy for white shirts with black rib- Ruth Mercado, Journalism
and projects.” cel Lagman for the construction of the College of Medi-
each student was reduced to P 13, 000 from the previous bons tied around their arms, professor and columnist of
Liliosa Perete, supervising administrative of- cine, and the budget for IT center proposed by Senator
P 15, 000 in 2010. She added that the at least P5, 000 the students rallied inside Freeman, said that in the
ficer of the BU Financial Management Services Divi- Edgardo Angara were not released due to the removal of
sion presented a record which showed that BU will lose the insertions. She further stated that her administration paid every semester by a BU student is relatively far from the BU Main Campus with 23rd day of November, what
88.073M in its 2011 budget due to the removal of CI. ‘will propose for the reconsideration of the said projects’. a typical student’s education cost of P34, 000. their condemnation against must be commemorated
From the 2010 budget allocation of P496.763M, the In two years time however, Lauraya admitted the the atrocity of the killing. was not the massacre itself
university will only have P408.690M (without any CI). Possible increase possibility of tuition hike in BU but she said that the They roamed around the but the ‘massacre of journal-
Perete said that if analyzed, there is indeed no budget cut Since SUCs’ maintenance and other decision has to pass through parental consultations. She campus shouting “Huwag ism ethics’. The commemora-
operating expenses elaborated that she is engaging in enterprises as alterna- kalililimutan, hustisya ipagla- tion must uphold journalism
(MOOE) will be tive source of funding. ban! Huwag magpapatinag, credibility and integrity, she
limited because “When I started as President, our an- tayong mamamahayag!” stated.
of the insufficient nual IGP income was P2.9M, but after 3 ½ years in Professor Anacito M e r c a d o
fund, the youth Dematera, head of the Print vouched for an important

Cris Hugo
service, it has increased to P6M,” she cited.
sector led by the Privatizing SUCs and Broadcast Media De- lesson learned from the trag-
Kabataan Party List Due to the decline of the budget, priva- partment and correspon- edy. She warned student
fears hike in tuition tizing their institution as reflected from the Education dent of Philippine Star, said journalists to never go with
and other related Policies Governing SUC Privatization Long Term High- in his opening remarks that convoys, especially political
fees. This will also er Education Development Plan for 2001 – 2010 be- the university is not alone ones because those who do

1986-2006
be the first time comes one of SUCs resorts for coping. It aims to semi – in commemorating the Ma- ‘just make themselves a tar-
that SUCs will lack corporate the SUCs, generate 20 percent funds on SUCs guindanao massacre. He get’.
Ako’y nagmatyag sa maling pamamalakad
funds for their pur- through IGPs, impose tuition fee increase to 70 percent avowed that the commemo- ‘Joining the
chase of facilities, and collaborate with private educational institutions by ration was true nationwide. bullet is a violation of Jour-
Nagsulat, tumuligsa laban sa mga huwad
building of class- 60 percent. ‘Along with 600,000 nalism ethics,’ she said. She
rooms and other in- Some SUCs under this case are Mapua journalists worldwide, we elaborated that what hap-
Ngunit gobyerno’y marumi, hustisya’y mailap
frastructures. Institute of Technology owned by Alfonso Yuchengco, are not forgetting what hap- pened to the slain journal-
“If so, the and University of the East owned by Lucio Tan. As of pened to our colleagues ists maybe attributed to the
Dumanak ang dugo ng pusong naghirap!
university will have the press time, the SUC Eulogio Amang Rodriguez In- exactly a year ago today,’ he truth that, ‘we like being fed
to resort to getting stitute of Science and Technology (EARIST), is having a shared. and getting paid.’
the budget from the negotiation with Koreans for privatization.
ADVOCACY MARCH. An activist painted his body to denounce the slash on Education In a short program af- The Bicol Or-

SUCs, activists denounce

budget during the budget cut rally in Legazpi City last December 14. PHOTO BY BOYBI LICUP students’ tuition,”
ter the students’ rally held at ganization for Neo-Journal-
BU student lounge, several ists (BONJour) organized the

◄page 5 | RESOLUTIONS
• A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE
BARANGAY OFFICIALS OF EM’S BARRIO,
LEGAZPI CITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE
CITY GOVERNMENT OF LEGAZPI TO PUT
UP MORE STREET LIGHTS AND IMPROVE
• A RESOLUTION URGING THE BI-
COL UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION TO
INCLUDE THE PAYMENT OF THE COLLEGE
STUDENT FEE IN THE ENROLLMENT PRO-
CESS.
• A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE
BICOL UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION TO
DENTS OF BICOL UNIVERSITY IN PART-
NERSHIP WITH THE BICOL UNIVERSITY
WINNING FILIPINO YOUTH (BU-WIFY).
• A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE
UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL (USC),
UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE BASED OR-
GANIZATIONS TO ADAPT THE BANTAY
budget cut
STUDENT COUNCIL TO INTENSIFY THE invited media practitioners said event.
IMPLEMENTATION OF WASTE SEGREGA- spoke about their realiza-
TION. By Reynard Magtoto tions and denouncements
• RESOLUTION URGING THE BU
ADMINISTRATION TO INCREASE THE
SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS OF THE COLLEGE
STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS AND UNI-
Displaying their

against the cut in education budget, the College Edi-

BARANGAY VISIBILITY IN THE AREA.
• A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE
BARANGAY OFFICIALS OF SAGPON, DA-
RAGA, ALBAY WITH THE WITH THE SUP-
PORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF DA-
RAGA TO PUT UP MORE STREET LIGHTS
AND IMPROVE BARANGAY VISIBILITY IN
THE AREA.
• A RESOLUTION ABOLISHING THE
ID VALIDATION FEE AND INSURANCE
FORM FROM FEES COLLECTED BY COL-
LEGE STUDENT COUNCILS OF BICOL UNI-
VERSITY.
• A RESOLUTION URGING THE BI-
COL UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION TO
INCLUDE THE PRESIDENT OF THE COL-
LEGE STUDENT COUNCILS IN THE BUD-
GET PREPARATION AND BE GIVEN COPIES
OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLEGES.
ASSIGN A PERMANENT CASHIER IN GU-
BAT CAMPUS.
• A RESOLUTION URGING THE BI-
COL UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINCY TO REC-
OGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILIES
OF NAZARETH YOUTH MOVEMENT AS
THE FACILITATORS OF CHURCH ACTIVI-
TIES OF BICOL UNIVERSITY.
• A RESOLUTION URGING THE
UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE PEER COUN-
SELORS ORGANIZATION TO IMPLEMENT
100% FREE ADVOCACY TO PROMOTE A
HOLY, HEALTHY AND FREE YOUTH LIFE-
STYLE.
• A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE
UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL (USC),
UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE BASED OR-
GANIZATIONS TO CONDUCT MORAL
AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE STU-
KALINIGAN ADVOCACY BEING THE UNI-
FORM PROGRAM ON ENVIRONMENTAL
CLEANLINESS AND CAMPUS BEAUTIFICA-
TION.
• A RESOLUTION URGING ALL
COLLEGE STUDENT COUNCILS OF BICOL
UNIVERSITY TO CREATE STUDENTS WEL-
FARE FUND.
• A RESOLUTION REQUESTING
BU ADMINISTRATION TO SPECIFY THE
AMOUNT ALLOCATED FOR THE STUDENT
DEVELOPMENT FUND (SDF) AND TO RE-
QUIRE THE SIGNATURE OF THE CSC PRES-
IDENT IN THE DISBURSEMENT OF SDF IN
THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLEGES.
• A RESOLUTION URGING THE AD-
MINISTRATION, THE NATIONAL SERVICE
TRAINING PROGRAM, THE UNIVERSITY
STUDENT COUNCIL AND THE COLLEGE
VERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL.
The above resolutions were ap-
proved by the student body during the
2nd BU parliament, which was attended
by College Student Council presidents, as
well as representatives from the 13 col-
leges. However, they will still seek the ap-
proval of the university administration.
“I would like to categorically say
that the president has always been sup-
portive of the students’ actions particu-
larly if they will bring out the best of the
students. If these resolutions are doable,
then I will support them,” President Lau-
raya remarked.
Patricia Miguel with reports from Gio-
van Ballatan
firm
o p p osi t io n
tors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Bicol Chapter, in
partnership with 34 student, civic organizations, and
student publications, initiated the Kilos Laban Sa Bud-
get Cut Rally last December 14.
About 200 youth advocates from all over the
region marched from BU Daraga Campus to the Main
Campus, in front of Camp Simeon Ola, and afterwards
at the downtown Legazpi as their form of denouncing
the P1.1 B cut on state universities and colleges’ (SUCs)
budget in the country.
“BU will experience an P88.81 M budget cut or
18.82 percent of the total percentage of its fund. We
should fight for the next generation of youth who will
enter college,” Ruther Flores, CEGP Bicol Chapter dep-
uty secretary-general and incoming BU USC Chairper-
son said.
According to an Anakbayan Party list represen-
tative who spoke in anonymity, there will be a bud-
get increase for the military officials since the allotted
amount for the Department of National Defense (DND)
will increase from 96.2 to 104.7 billion. The fund of AFP
will experience a growth of almost 10B.
“The President only allotted 6 pesos for each
Filipino for education and 1 peso for health. This
amount is too small, compared to 26-peso bullets used
in wars. Does this mean that PNOY prioritizes guns and
bullets over books and education? This rally will be the
voice of SUC’s in the region,” Francis Perdon, CEGP Vice
President for Luzon and Editor in Chief of The Pillars of
Ateneo De Naga University, stressed.
The SAMASA Party List in BU-Tabaco Campus,
meanwhile, perceived that the budget cut would lead
to the commercialization of education.
“Aside from the additional burden to our par-
ents, there will be tuition fee increase, which will cause
a number of unfortunate youth not to enter college,”
SAMASA convicted.
Various student organizations and publications
in BU joined the movement including The Bicol Univer-
sitarian, The Mentor, Budyong, Scientia, and some col-
lege student councils.
Meanwhile, colleagues from other student
publications and organizations from across the coun-
try have also expressed their disgust towards the gov-
ernment’s move on education budget slash.
Trina Federis, CEGP national president
lamented that the government should prioritize edu-
cation. She said that greater fund is allotted for military
services which give the students less opportunity to
have quality education.
“At the University of the Philippines-
Baguio (UPB), the sudden 300 percent tuition fee hike
caused many students not to be enrolled,” Alexandra
Dioso, UPB Dutcrop Graphics Editor said.
Meanwhile, Jeo Angelo Elamparo, writer of UP
Manila’s Manila Collegian said that the budget cut is a
form of state abandonment.
Flores expressed his hopes for the
government to hear what the students have to say. Af-
ter days of planning and campaigning for Kilos Laban
Sa Budget Cut, he said that this is worth it because or-
ganizations and publications from different provinces
in the region became united to make a stand against
the issue. However, he did not expect the vandals com-
mitted by other advocates.

FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
8 opinions
Editorial
Flightless bird
of Filipi-
Thousandsnos leave
the country every year to work as
nurses, engineers, domestic helpers,
and countless more professions in
almost anywhere in the world de-
spite the numerous risks they face.
Recent headliners – the Libyan civil
war, the earthquakes in Japan and
New Zealand (with the former re-
sulting to a tsunami and radiation
poisoning), and the recent death
sentences to three “drug couriers” in
China – seem to have little to no ef-
fect to the 10 million overseas work-
ers, and millions more in the country
hoping to find greener pastures en-
joyed by their kababayans.
Low wage rates and a rela-
tively high standard of living are the
usual suspects in this exodus which
dates back to the Marcos era, when
the former president and dictator
encouraged the “export of labor”
and the creation of the Labor Export
Policy in 1974. It has evolved to an
industry and has become an inte-
gral contributor to the Philippine
economy, raking in billions of pesos
of remittances every year.
While we cannot argue that
working abroad pays so much more
than in the Philippines, the risks they
face are different, if not, larger con-
sidering various factors like religion,
Sarah Brillantes Moran
daybreak
inklings
Making the ephemeral last
“The broken clock is a comfort. It helps me sleep
tonight. Maybe it can stop tomorrow from steal-
ing all my time.”
As I type (with a smirk) this first line
from Lifehouse’s hit “Broken”, I can already
imagine the disgusted faces of my Unibe col-
leagues when they get to read this column. I
pardon them in advance because lately, I’ve
been guilty of torturing them with my repeated
rendition of this song (especially this line) in-
side the office. One liner, they tease me. Oh
well, that’s something they’d learn their way
when they get their turn of being stolen of
time.
It’s good that four years in college had
been long enough to change my perspectives
FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
culture, and policy. What makes it
even worse is that these migrant
workers feel neglected by the gov-
ernment.
The government has been
criticized for its lack of efforts in
OFW assistance – Filipinos have not
recovered from the much publicized
Flor Contemplacion case, which led
to her execution in Singapore in
1995. Sixteen years later, overseas
workers are still being executed de-
spite the calls to abolish death pen-
alty.
The bottom-line is that there
aren’t enough jobs for everyone,
and a large percentage of those em-
ployed are underemployed, or that
their jobs do not fit their specializa-
tions. Plus, we must rid of our em-
ployment mentality and consider
self-employment and provide jobs.
But what the government does is
encourage students to take “OFW
courses” like nursing and engineer-
ing just to work abroad, eventually.
Now that there is an oversupply,
they all of a sudden put a morato-
rium on these courses.
The youth may be the hope
of the motherland, but with improp-
er guidance and miseducation, all
hope will end in vain.
about certain things in life. Too bad however,
four years had been short enough making me
wish I’d stay still. Upon handing down the pen
as I finish answering my last final exam as a
college student, an instant nostalgia struck me
reminding why I held that pen and why I came
in the Bicol University in the first place- a place
I once never intended to be in. Every time I
silently recap the events how I landed on this
spot that I love as my second home now, I am
again reminded how I was amazed (and I still
am) to realize how God had perfectly planned
my life. His Divine Intervention taught me the
lessons of mine and others’ actions, He dawned
on me the acceptance of flaws of being human.
He amazed me by the diversity of his creations
so I learned to appreciate individual differenc-
es. He directed me to the ultimate realization
of the purpose of my existence.
Too bad four years had passed just
like the gust of wind. Looking back now, I
could only mutter that at least, I spent it not to
be wasted (though most of the time I did look
wasted) but to maximize the ephemeral stint
He entrusted to me to ponder, learn, enjoy,
grieve, laugh, love, and appreciate life.
I had my four seasons of it.
The scorching reminder of being in
between childhood and adulthood still haunts
me. The clashing priorities, the boiling confu-
sions, the burning desire of self discovery, the
dying flame of innocence, the flickering clair-
voyance in my reveries. Despite the flare of
young fantasies, I’ve always wanted to remain
guarded, grounded. I was a coward. So fortu-
nate of me to have met people in college who
taught me that as long as I have good inten-
tions towards fulfilling my yearnings, I must
never be afraid. Conviction is not something
we earn from winning hot arguments; neither
is bravery gained from blood shed. A name is
made stalwart by always doing good, just good.
Proving to be the best is not something we
must die for; just by doing good, bringing out
the best in oneself comes out naturally. Noth-
ing good goes to waste, someone I look up to
used to tell me. Summer.
For someone like me who has to learn
things the hard way, frustrations and disap-
pointments are no longer new. At times, one
would think of being stripped off his privileges,
denied of his rights, and taken for granted for
his humble deeds. I’ve had a lot of share of
those. At some points in my being involved in
the university publication, I saw the remaining
debris of hope falling off the sturdy foundation
I once knew. Just when faith has convinced me
that things are going to be alright because I
only wanted the best for the majority, fate has
messed up with me. People come, people go.
Even those who I draw my resilient spirit from
had their exodus. Just like the leaves falling off
from an old tree, I held no more to remain-
ing vigilant. I wished to be one of those falling
leaves. Autumn.
Stagnation comes to those gifted with
intelligence but chose to be unproductive. A
know-it-all but does not move to react, in-
fluence or at least initiate change is far more
a failure than someone who knows little but
augments his feebleness and struggles to defy
the filthy status quo knowing that he somehow
can correct the wrong. In college, I met a lot
of people brimming with potentials, skills, and
resources to do what it takes to improve not
only himself as a person, student, or citizen of
the country; but also a group, if not all of the
people he is with and the society they live in.
But they chose to be passive. They let apathy
swallow them whole. They succumbed to ego-
centric hibernation, just like a corrupt official
warm on his bed of public coffers on a chilly
evening while the underprivileged laid their icy
flesh on shabby mats along the streets. Too bad,
a lot of people do look up to them. Winter.
I’ve had series of attempts of just
trashing my then so strong faith on the things
I wanted to do and on doing them to glorify
God. I’m glad I did not surrender to tempta-
tion. One of my former editors left me with
this very inspiring verse from the bible, “If God
is with us, who can be against us?” During mo-
ments of hopelessness and desolation, we find
comfort in the presence of a few who let us not
forget the beauty of sunshine. No matter how
impossible it may be, the shedding of light in
our shadows by these people drives us to an
oasis of purpose of celebrating the surprises of
unpredictable daily occurrences and enduring
the people and events we see as evil forces that
hinder us from achieving our goals. College
taught me the game of survival. It has brought
out the best and worst in me. I got to know real
and reel people. I witnessed inspiring struggles
of painstaking persons. I’ve been disgusted
by hideous strategies of some just to make it
through. I sympathized with friends who lost a
loved one; I congratulated girlfriends who have
already welcomed a new life to theirs. I saw a
lot of things, a lot of beautiful things. Even the
grimiest events sprouted beautiful results. Of
course, it depends on how we perceive things.
Life is hard indeed but we can still spare some
time to pause and smell the flowers. Spring.
My graduation day had officially
marked the end of my stay in the academe. The
completion of this print issue culminated my
days with the publication that brought me sun-
shines and storms in the last four years. This
final column is dedicated to the people I’ve
worked with. To the oldies, your efforts were
not wasted. To my Unibe batchmates, we’re
one of the oldies now! It had been a well-spent
four years. To the ones who will be left, may
you live up to the publication’s unwavering
mantra, “Fairness, Accuracy, and Genuine
Student Service.” Padayon, my comrades!
Four years. Five years – or
more – to some. Such a
long time to stay in a classroom, but such a
short time to make memories.
The thought of graduat-
ing still gives me mixed emotions. Should
I rejoice over finally making it through? Or
should I sulk at the possibility that I’ll be
missing the people I’ve held close to my
heart? Do grant me pardon if this column
gets a bit emotional.
Looking back, my four
years in Bicol University has been well-spent.
Moments like dancing in the rain during
Hataw, late-night practices for the Speech
Choir, playing tag by the “grassland”, gos-
siping about prince charming while eating
mami at Centree, and so much more.
Then there are those mo-
ments when you exchange nasty looks with
the security guards because you’re not wear-
ing the appropriate uniform. And there’s the
heartbreaker when prince charming finally
comes out of the closet, which, by the way,
is hard to move on from.
But now, enough of the
reminiscing. I would like to acknowledge
certain people who made my stay better. My
mentors and seniors would probably under-
stand if I thank the little people I don’t get to
TAMAR CASIPLE ANTONIO
ICU
Vintage point
Something
in
our system bothers me so much. The thought of
it gives me the unyielding shudders and reserva-
tions that I chose to be mum about it and hope
that a black hole will just snatch me from my
exodus. In just a snap of my thumb, all the cha-
otic occurrences in this world will go along with
it, including the distorted philosophies of our
leaders, the crap justice system of our country,
the fancy clothes of Lady Gaga, my vacillating
pimples and my procrastinations.
It is something I know already exists
but I am just too afraid as a scardy-cat, or maybe,
am just too vigilant that I forget to stay low and
be on-guard with my actions. It is something
that tries to eat us inch by inch but we are just
too confident with ourselves that we can knock
it off and pretend that we are the lords of our
beliefs. We convince ourselves that it will just
disappear if we become simply ignorant about
its existence. However, luckily for that thing, the
tHE bICOL uNIVERSITARIAN EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF AY 2010-2011
Editor in Chief SARAH MORAN, Associate Editor JYREVI MAE FERNANDEZ, Managing Editor TAMAR ANTONIO, Senior Editor AR-
LENE JOY DERILO, Online Content Editor NICO ARBOLEDA, Graphics Editor MIKHAIL DE LEOZ CHAVEZ, Writers GERARD FRAN-
CIS OGAD, ALYSSA JOSELLE BAÑARES, AMABELLE LOREMIA, SHEENA FERRER, JOVIC MAURICE YEE, REYNARD MAGTOTO,
MICHAEL ANGELO GALLEGO, PATRICIA MIGUEL, Cartoonists RAUL DIAZ JR, LOU XAVIER LAURAYA, NICK MANGAMPO JR,
ARVILL VILLAMOR, Photojournalist FRANCIS JERARD LICUP, Layout Artists GIOVAN BALLATAN, MIKHAIL DE LEOZ CHAVEZ,
Public Relations Staff MARK EVAN ANIEL, VEVIE VIA GALEMBA, IVY CASCANTE, JESSA MAE JARILLA Technical Adviser PROF. FE-
LIPE JOSE PERALTA Office at 2nd floor, Multipurpose Bldg., BUCAL, Legazpi City unibe.online@gmail.com facebook: bicol universitarian
FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
opinions 9
see everyday.
Fresh from a strict Dominican high
school, I had this mini-theory that state JYREVI MAE ABAINZA FERNANDEZ
rated
universities were a bit loose in implement-
ing policies. But then I met CSB4’s legend-
ary Lady Guard, and it made me change my
mind in an instant. Despite being infamous
to some, I commend her for giving us a les-
son or two on discipline and consistency
in implementing rules. There’s never a day
Patay Gutom
when she’s not checking you from head to
toe.
In line with discipline, I gained re-
spect to our sanitary engineers, a.k.a. jani-
tors, who would always let us borrow clean-
Moving on
ing paraphernalia when we have to remove
the cobwebs in hard-to-reach areas in the
office. Hey, the environmentalist in me was
awakened when they taught me waste seg-
regation, ending my confusion between Re- that her dangling earrings, skirt and high So before this column runs out of
cyclable and Non-biodegradable (yes, this is heels might outshine you in your uniform space, I’d like to leave a little thought. Stay-
too embarrassing to admit). while you buy her lumpia. ing at school is not always about gaining
There would be times when I think And who could possibly forget our that degree. Half of it is about the people we
life is going a bit too slow and a bit too dull beloved Morning Good? With his slightly meet, the memories and the unforgettable
for someone as hyper as me. And when I’m incomprehensible jokes and incontrollable lessons about life we’ve learned with them.
troubled by that thought, I rush to the “ener- cursing, he taught me bravery and keeping With this, I move on to the real world. But I’ll
gy-filled” (insert sarcasm here) stores to grab calm. And to the not-yet-as-famous James always remember BU, not just as an institu-
a meal, and then I’ll instantly realize that I’m Bang, he taught me that you can always be tion, but as my second home.
still my life’s rockstar. But not all are like that. a child at heart, and that the whole world is
Some can awaken the kikay in you, afraid your playground.
our judgment that we are mostly responsible for along with it, including their limbs and that
it. Does it even ring a bell to us students who bothersome thing in our system.
did not even paid a parcel of our time when we Before we knew it, a sigh in a gust of
evaded the national or even the local elections? wind would then be appropriate. Who knows it
To sulk against it is not even an acceptable ges- may not yet be too late to secretly sniff on it?
ture. ***
see
We may not know it but we have seen Hinay-hinay lang. Ang lahat ng bagay
this bothersome thing in its topsy-turvy. I bet ay may tamang oras, may tamang lugar at may
almost everyone had dine with it and even slept tamang formula. Hindi dahil nararamdaman
with it. How it resurrected from the giant boul- mong ‘this is it’ na at ang lahat ng kasamahan
ders of suppression by feeding on the weeds left mo ay sumasang-ayon sayo, magpapakaepal ka
by our perverted leaders are all embedded on the na at magpapadalos-dalos sa mga desisyon mo.
chapters of our history. Pardon me for being too Malay mo sadyang tahimik lang ‘yang mga kasa-
melodramatic at this time. When we entered mahan mo o di nama’y takot lang talaga silang
its dungeons, we started to live a misguided life madapuan ng mga kamay mong tila pinagtibay
that is patterned according to the principle of na ng napakaraming bakal. Ikaw naman kasi,
‘we cannot do something about this because we para kang si Hulk kung magalit. Scary.
might just get killed’. We are walking blinded Hinay-hinay lang. Hindi naman
and clueless on the path that awaits us. Some masamang mangarap at lalong wala namang
world does not revolve that way. It continues to
are already mutilated and are just waiting for nagbabawal sayo na mangarap. ‘Yan lang naman
hide beneath our being plainly hardheaded and
their time of departure to come. We follow a ang patunay na may disposisyon ka rin sa buhay
it lives and consumes us without being noticed.
very stringent and strange routine that no one at may kagustuhan ka ring umunlad. Nagiging
The very frustrating part is we have been with
dares to defy and we sail our boats with a very mali lang naman ang mangarap kung nakaka-
this bothersome thing for quite an eon of time.
resistant current. We know that something is limutan mo nang alalahanin ang mga taong
Little that we know that
wrong but we just chose to live with it, very un- naging kasa-kasama mo sa tila Mount Everest
something has stayed in the deepest roots of our
responsive and yet very submissive. Our feudal mong pangangarap. Nasa tuktok ka na nga pero
soils that no matter how we try to erode it (even
lords must have been too daunting that we re- magagawa mo pa kayang bumaba?
with nature’s intervention), its implantation is
strained ourselves with our volition. Apathetic. Hinay-hinay lang, one step at a time.
just too strong that our hands surrender from
Defenseless. To weep in misery and implore for Baka sa sobrang pagmamadali mong makaalis sa
the bruises and toils of attempting to remove it.
Divine Intervention is not even encouraged. napakalugmok mong buhay, nakalimutan mo
It is just like the culture of corruption thriving
We might just find ourselves downtrodden and nang magsuot ng damit at manuklay ng mala-
in our country. The trees of corruption have rap-
helpless, left with no alternative but to bite a Rizal mong buhok. Hindi porke’t magaling ka,
idly grown like the baobabs of the Little Prince’s
slice of bread that was once gobbled by those sigurado nang bull’s eye ang tagumpay mo. Sub-
planet, out of our very forgiving attitude. How
silver-mouthed species when they were just baby ukan mo naman kasing makiramdam. Minsan
many times have we become dumbfounded af-
crocodiles. Gory and unsightly. kung sino pa ‘yung nilalampaso mo, siya pa ang
ter knowing that our president, the most nota-
It will not take long before we lose our magiging dahilan ng paglalampaso mo.
ble among them is the fourteenth, triumphantly
senses. The mere thought of it will give us the Alalahanin mo, hindi ka si Superman.
embezzled our national coffers without being
unyielding shudders and reservations that we Bunga ka lang ng isang pinagtagpi-tagping pag-
condemned or even jailed? We blame it to our
chose to defy it and hope that a black hole will kakataon.
highly payable legal courts and to our very slow
snatch those feudal lords from our exodus and
prosecution process but it does not even reach
all those chaotic occurrences will be dragged
10 opinions views 11
ARLENE JOY PADILLA DERILO FINANCIAL REPORT
ACADEMIC YEAR 2010-2011
STUDENTS’
scarecrow

CASH INFLOW
Pub Fee Collection (1st Semester)
Pub Fee Collection (2nd Semester)
P 21 7391.96
P 198 625.50 LOUNGE
HUWAD NA HUWARAN
USC Subsidy P 50,000.00
TOTAL P 466 017.46

CASH OUTFLOW
Annual Screening for Writers and Artists P 1 500.00
Computer Set P 10 565.00
First Sem Release P 80 000.00
Office Equipment and Supplies P 6 015.75 Isang magulong kapaligiran ang sumalubong sa kan- pantalon at tinakpan niyon ang mga nauna na

DON’T READ
I was scratching my thighs with
my right hand as I carefully landed my left on the
side of the bed. I felt like I have to scratch every nook
and cranny of my body as rashes were increasing in
a mass. But I tried to restrain myself from scratching
even though it ached not to. I wanted to curse, as my
flu fluctuated hourly, as I felt like nauseated always,
as the nurse came in often to inject antibiotic on the
dextrose fixed in my left hand, as I ate the banal
food serving, as I felt sick of walking in the com-
fort room with my free arm extending the dextrose
upward, as I could not conceive what disease was
it until pronounced dengue and worse of all as I
constantly imagined what the entire Unibe staff were
doing during the workshop. I did not bother to text
so I would not itch to ask what they were doing in
which I could not help them, even myself though.
Few days before I was confined were
the eve of editorial board exam. The words still
rang in my head as I heard my mother trailed off
that we waited about an hour and a half for an-
other vehicle to fetch us up.
It was such a mishap that I could only
curse fate. I arrived home at 11pm. Sarah and I
exchanged messages around 3am; I was already
complaining that I might not finish it. My hopes
were turning into dust already but she had that
oozing confidence that we could make it. Having
been enlivened, I vacuumed my hopes for Unibe.
I reconsidered the thought of quitting; it was not
my mind that was worn off actually, it was my
body starting to fall off that deadened my hopes
a bit. If she did no better in encouraging me, I
would have chosen to retire in bed instead. I tried
to stay in the office until late afternoon that day
then left for Sorsogon immediately. I was having
a light headache already until the following two
weeks were history. If I needed to be unlucky,
I had it, real tough. But in politics, if you want
to handle a position, you need to be lucky, real
tough.
Rayterista 2.5 (University Journalism Workshop) P 7 100.00
LIYAB (Regional Press Conference) P 1 500.00 ya pagpasok na pagpasok niya pa lamang sa kanilang silid- niyang sagot. Noon lang siya tinantanan ng
Lunduyan (CEGP Press Conference) P 17 000.00 aralan. Hindi na bago ang ganoong scenario. Karaniwang kaklase.
Wall news (3 issues) P 5 500.00
RAYTERISTA 3 P 190 200.00
tanawin na iyon kapag may hinihintay silang pagsusulit. Lumipas ang ilang minuto. Pag-
HARAPAN (University-wide Debate Forum) P 5 636.25 Matapos pagmasdan nang maigi ang magu- angat niya ng tingin, binitawan niya na ang
Election Coverage P 1 245.75 gulong mga kamag-aral, dumiretso na siya sa kanyang hawak-hawak na bolpen. Wala ang guro.
Overnight Press Works P 3 870.50
upuan at tahimik na naupo. Sinipat niya ang oras sa kan- Kaya pala may naririnig na siyang mumunt-
Operational Expenses
Second Sem Release
EdBoard Exam
P 7 425.00
P 120 000.00
P 2 700.00
yang relos. Labinlimang minuto pa. Dumating na rin ang
katabi niya sa upuan at makisali sa gulo ng buong klase.
ing bulungan na papalakas at kalampag ng
kanina’y ininda niya lang. Nagkasalubong
Turn-over Ceremony P 922.00
Unti-unting kumapal ang tensiyon sa buong ang mga kilay niya nang mapagmasdang
TOTAL P 461 180.25 paligid habang patuloy niyang sinusubaybayan ang pa- maigi ang ayos ng silid-aralan nila. Nawala
glakad ng kamay ng relos. Ngunit mukhang siya lamang sa tamang lugar ang mga upuan, nasira ang
CASH INFLOW P 466 017.46 ang may kamalayan sa paggalaw ng oras. Sapagkat ang sitting arrangement at may nagkalat
lahat ay abala sa pagbuklat ng kani-kanilang kwaderno at nang mga gamit sa sahig.
CASH OUTFLOW P 461 180.25 subsob ang mga mukha sa mga pahina niyon. Binalingan niya ang katabi
Nawili siyang panoorin ang mga ito. Kaunti lang at tinanaong kung nasaan ang guro.
ang nanatiling nakaupo sa sariling upuan. May mga lu- Hindi ito sumagot. Inulit niya ang
Remaining Balance P 4 837.21
mipat pa para magpaturo sa tinaguriang pinakamahusay tanong at napilitan itong sumagot
sa kanilang klase. May palakad-lakad sa labas habang nang pabalang. Lumabas daw ang guro
PREPARED BY
kinakausap ang sarili. May kumakausap sa hangin. May nila dahil ipinatawag ng college dean.
TAMAR C.ANTONIO nakikinig sa musika. May kumakanta. May nakatingala sa Tumangu-tango siya. Kaya pala, pabu-
Managing Editor kisame. May nakatulala sa dingding. May nakatunghay sa long niyang sagot. Tumaas lang ang
bintana. May nakaabang sa pintuan. May nagkukwentu- kilay nito at tinalikuran na siya upang
han. May nagdedebate. May nag-aalmusal pa lamang. At humarap sa kaibigan nitong nakaupo
may nagpatuloy ng naudlot na tulog at himbing na himb- sa unahan ng upuan nito.
NICO PAYGANE ARBOLEDA ing. Nagpasya na lang siyang

her warn, “if your body wears off, I’d let you quit
from schooling and Unibe...” Because I’m too old
a man, I presumed, I was confident enough to
drum up a reason so she would not put the blame
on something I was really in to. [Oh, sometimes
absolute
Even if I am sickly, it does not falter my Agad niyang kinunan ng litrato gamit ang kan- panoorin ang sari-saring palabas sa
drive to do great things. Just like if you are blind, yang cellphone ang kanyang kaklaseng tulog at mabilis kanyang paligid. Magkakadikit na ang
it does not curb you from singing or dancing. If niyang itinago nang maalimpungatan ito. Pasimple siyang mga upuan na parang may pasugalan. May yukung- pel. Nag-atubili siyang maglakad paunahan. Nilingon niya
the Philippines economy is skidding, it does not tumingin sa relos nang sa wakas ay sumulpot ang maliit yuko na animo’y nagdarasal---sinundan niya ang tingin muna ang kanyang katabi, pasimpleng tiningnan ang pa-
mean you would work abroad. If Japan faced ca- na imahe ng kanilang guro sa may pintuan. nito at isang nakabukas na kwaderno ang nakita niyang

I dreamed not to be pampered anymore. It ham-
pered me from doing things my own.]
If young could relate to it and so does
PNOY. Perhaps on the fact that he’s too old a man
to piece out the puzzle yet too frail to decide. Bet
his male disposition died out. A man that only
have guts but physically restrained would strug-
insanity
pel nito at hinuli ang tingin nito.
tastrophe, (maybe because they kill and eat dol-
Agad na nagkagulo ang lahat. Nagliparan ang nakapatong sa sapatos nito sa ilalim ng mesa. May mga “Undefined ang sagot sa number 18,” aniya sa
phins) it may soon rise again. If BU only shrugged
budget cut issue, it did not mean lumps of stock
mga aklat at mga kwaderno sa ere patungo sa naghi- malabubuyog na nagbubulungan. May animo’y nagpa- mababang tinig.
fund in the admin, did it? Maybe budget would hintay na sahig. Nagpaunahan ang mga kamag-aral niya pakumpisal sa isang sulok. Nagkakandahabaan na rin ang Walang nakarinig sa sinabi niya maliban sa kan-
not be a hard nut to crack. If a writer dies, it does pabalik sa kani-kanilang lugar. Nagkatulakan pa at may mga leeg at naglalakihan na ang mga mata ng mga nito. yang kausap. Tahimik lang itong tumingala sa kanya at
not mean his previous works too, would be dead muntik nang sumubsob sa sahig ang mukha dahil sa labis Lumipad ang tingin niya sa ere nang may bina- marahang tumango. “Salamat.”
at once. na pagmamadali. May pasimpleng nag-unat-unat ng mga tong papel patungo sa kabilang bahagi ng silid. Nagpuyos “Goodluck.”

The united states of oil producers

gle. It will appear just like a poor land animal
dropped in the pond, say a kitten plunged in the
pond. Poor kitten, the duck would only yodel a
laugh. It’s how you learn things the hard way. And
excuses such as I am not able, would be as expedi-
ent as shifting to another course.
In the sphere of Journalism, it’s a pre-
condition to learn things your own way, the hard-
est way. I tried to take the editorial board exam
always but I usually ran out of reasons of pre-
paredness. First, I have not taken up the Budyong
editorial board exam when I was an incoming
sophomore since my family bereaved of my aun-
tie’s lost. Then when another year passed and I
wished to take the editorial board exam of Un-
ibe, that very day, my phone was crashed which
spoiled my day so much that I withdrew from
taking the exam. I arrived at blaming fate then
the fate cursed me-If the will were strong, you will
just shun negative reasons. Because I was slaved
of my emotional weakness, I fell off short. In a
publication, reasons are trashed. Only few good
men survive under pressure, I induced myself.
Feeling relieved with the thought, I
tried to change the course of event the last year.
Let me narrate it. The supposed one-day Unibe
editorial board exam turned out two days. We
all were not through yet with the articles the first
day, then the power went off late that afternoon.
Great, I decided to go home in Sorsogon around
seven; when I was in the van the power resumed.
Very great, indeed! Along the way the van had
a mechanical trouble that the passengers had to
transfer another van, had I thought better, I hesi-
tated to go home. Very fortunate, we are truly,
I could say that the wildest stage of life
ever is college. It earned me a life in considering
the welfare of the majority, covering the under-
dogs, having a touch of both sides of the coin,
and being in between. Now, I only cough at the
idea of beating the deadline because oftentimes
midway beating it, you will drop dead.
I learned a lot, a whole lot- lessons that
I did not find even by thumbing piles of books.
I despised drinkers but I downed liquor thrice.
From that I learned that I love to ramble, and that
my fingertips itched after getting drunk. Rubbish!
But rubbish sometimes makes sense.
When I thought things over regarding
quitting Unibe, I just imagined walking at the
corridor with an ill feeling of passing by the old
office. I said to myself, if I quit midway, I will
never enter the office again and I would forever
hate boredom.
They say that there are only two types
of people on earth: the practical and sentimental.
Most writers fell on the latter. Let me steal this op-
portunity to thank those whose hearts moved me,
whose ideologies inspired me, whose arms aided
me, whose personality awed me. To you who are
sparing time to read this, and each of the Unibe,
Budyong and other pub print issues- warmest
thanks. We write because we want you to know
what we have just learned. Also, because we think
you ought to know the things that concerned us
both.
After all, it is because we love what we’re
doing that we do best at it.
After declaring Libya a no-fly zone by the Unit-
ed Nations, the western coalition of the Unit-
ed States, United Kingdom, and France set out
an all-out attack on Col. Muammar al-Gadhafi
(one of more than a hundred spellings) and
his allies, just like what they did to Saddam
Hussein in Iraq ten years ago.
Libya, an oil-rich nation in North Af-
rica, is one of the many oil exporters in the re-
gion and in the Middle East that is held under
authoritarian rule, whose leaders date back
from the early 1900’s when westerners discov-
ered oil in those areas.
The deposed Shah of Iran’s father,
Reza Shah Pahlavi, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein,
Saudi Arabia’s Abdul Aziz ibn-Saud, and even
Hugo Chavez of Venezuela are believed to be
put into power by western powers, notably
the United States and United Kingdom despite
the leaders’ apparent hatred toward them.
In the award winning French film
“Persepolis,” Pahlavi wanted to make Iran a
republic just like Turkey but the British per-
suaded him to be Shah, or king in exchange
for their oil. It is believed that there are more
of these arrangements – absolute power in ex-
change of oil or other resources, which usually
end up as a one-sided deal.
In the relatively short but opulent
history of the United States, the country has
been infamous for making huge profits dur-
ing war time – as long as the war isn’t fought
on US territory. World War II alone raked in so
much into the US economy that they have
very much recovered from the Great Depres-
sion of the 1930’s. Since then, they have been
waging wars outside their boundaries (Korea,
Vietnam, the Cold War, and more) and cashing
in gazillions of dollars in revenue.
The most recent of these wars is their
“war on terror” against Iraq and Afghanistan,
however, has cost them so much rather than
earn profit, and many are speculating that a
new “moneymaking ploy” in the works – with
the oil-rich Arab Nation as the gold mine.
This theory of the United States
seeking control of the oil-rich Middle East has
been around for some time, and it became
more apparent after declaring the much criti-
cized “war on terror.” The theory has become
so popular that a modified version of the video
game Civilization IV included a victory condi-
tion of the “American Empire” – to control ten
oil sources. Obviously, most of the oil sources
are situated in the Middle East, and only three
are found in the American continent. Fans of
the game called that region the “Arab States
of America.”
Whether all of these are proven true
or not, we must always keep our eyes open.
Who knows, maybe a sleeping giant might
pull an upset against them.
braso at nagpunas ng laway as gilid ng mga labi sabay ku-
sot sa namumulang mga mata. At may mga tahimik lang
na inayos ang pagkakaupo, inayos ang suot na salamin at
magiliw na bumati sa guro.
Nakangiting bumati rin ito sa kanya.
Nakasunod ang kanilang mga mata sa bawat
galaw nito. Sabay-sabay nilang pinigilan ang paghinga ng
malalim nang bumukas ang bibig nito upang magsalita.
At kung ang pagtibok ng puso ay maari ring pigilan, ga-
noon din sana ang ginawa nila.
“Kumuha kayo ng isang papel at isulat ninyo sa
pinakataas ng kaliwang bahagi ang inyong bilang sa klase.
Huwag nang isusulat ang inyong pangalan,” utos nito sa
matinis na tinig na muntik nang ikabasag ng mga salamin
sa mga bintana.
Nagtungo ito sa harap ng mesa, binuksan nito
ang bag at may dinukot na isang maliit na kwaderno. Ina-
take na naman sila ng kaba. May mga matang nagkasalu-
bong at tahimik na nag-uusap.
Marahan niyang tinapik-tapik ang hawak na bol-
pen sa gilid ng kanyang mesa. Lumingon nang nakakunot
ang katabi niyang babae kaya’t itinigil niya iyon.
Nag-umpisang magsulat ang guro sa pisara.
Maya-maya pa’y napuno na iyon ng mga mathematical
problems at pakiramdam niya ay umikot ang kanyang
paningin. Napahawak siya sa mesa. Ipinikit niya ang mga
mata at huminga nang malalim. Binulungan niya ang sarili
at nagsimulang sumagot.
Sa gawing kaliwa niya ay nakamasid sa kanya
ang kaklase niyang babae na nakakunot pa rin ang noo.
Nakasunod ang mga mata nito sa bawat galaw ng kamay
niya. Dinukot niya ang panyo mula sa bulsa ng kanyang
ang damdamin niya. Subalit nawala ang pansin niya roon
nang may ipinaabot sa kanya ang isa pang kamag-aral.
May nakatiklop na papel sa kamay nito ngunit hindi roon
dumako ang tingin niya kundi sa palad nito na nagsilbing
scratch paper. Nagkasalubong ang kanilang mga mata at
napakamot lamang ito, sabay ngiti nang matipid na pa-
rang nahihiya. Bumawi siya ng tingin at sinunod ang ini-
hingi nitong pabor.
Nang mapagod ang kanyang mga mata sa ka-
mamasid ay pinili niya na lamang na mangalumbaba at
ipinikit ang mga mata. Sa loob ng maglilima pang minuto
ay ganoon lamang ang ayos niya.
Napadilat lamang siya nang dahil sa mabibilis na
yabag, nagkalampagang mga upuan at sa sigaw ng isa
pang kamag-aral, “Dumating na si madam!”
Hinubad niya ang suot na salamin at pinunasan
muna iyonat muling isinuot. Kinuha niya ang panyo at
doon humikab. Inaantok na rin siya sa tagal ng oras. Tahi-
mik na ang buong paligid kaya’t rinig na rinig ang ingay
ng takong ng kanilang guro pagpasok nito.
Sumilay ang ngiti sa mga labi nito nang makita
ang ayos nila. Lahat ay nasa tamang lugar----nasa sahig
ang mga bag, nakahanay ang mga upuan at tahimik ang
buong klase. Umiling-iling siya. Napalingon muli ang kan-
yang katabi at muli siyang tinaasan ng kilay.
Sinuklian niya ito nang isang matipid na ngiti. Bi-
gla itong pinamulahan at nag-iwas ng tingin.
“Maaari nang lumabas ang tapos na,” anunsiyo
ng guro pagkatapos maupo sa upuan nito sa unahan ng
silid.
Agad niyang niligpit ang bolpen sa loob ng bag,
sinukbit iyon at tumayo. Dinampot niya ang kanyang pa-
At iniwan niya na ito. Pigil ang pagngiting na-
glakad siya palapit sa guro. Ibinigay niya rito ang kanyang
papel, nagpaalam at walang likod-lingong lumabas sa
pintuan.
Hindi pa nga siya nakakalayo sa kanilang silid
nang may biglang tumapik sa likod niya. Nakangiting nal-
ingunan niya ang isang kasamahan sa soccer team nila.
“’Tol, ‘musta ang Mr. University?” tanong nito sa
kanaya nang may halong panunukso.
Tawa lang ang isinagot niya rito at nagpatuloy
sa paglakad. Tinahak niya na ang direksiyon ng hagdan
pababa. Nang mag-isa na lamang siya sa unang palapag
ay tumunog ang cellphone niya. Ngumisi siya nang ma-
basa kung sino ang tumatawag.
“Nakuha mo ba lahat ng ibinigay ko kagabi?” ang
tanong mula sa kabilang linya.
Tumawa siya. “Mukhang aakyat na naman si Papa
sa stage.”
BY AUBREY MAE ESTERNON
‘Aubrey was a former Bachelor of Nuring student. She be-
longs to the Bicol University Class of 2011.’
This space is open to all students of Bicol University. Please
send your contributions to unibe.online@gmail.com. Cho-
sen contribution may be edited for clarity and space. Pub-
lished contribution becomes a property of the publication.
Background photo by Boybi Licup

FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
12 features
Aboard the bus and
with overflowing joy
within her, she silently contemplated on the idea,
“God loves me very much. He died for my sins, and
even my sins in the future are already forgiven. ”
Caren Joy Reyes, a fourth year BS Ac-
countancy student admitted that growing up was
not at all smooth sailing. She had battling confu-
sions inside her head and shared that she did not
know her purpose in life until she found God and
realized His purpose for her.
Caren Joy is only one among the many
students of Bicol University (BU) who now had
their ‘great adventure’ began when they got af-
filiated to a university-based organization(UBO)
which is also an interdenominational Christian
organization committed to promote evangelism
and discipleship of Jesus Christ to the students
of all nations, the Campus Crusade for Christ
(CCC).
Long-time crusade
The ministry started in 1951 when
Dr. Bill Bright founded CCC at the University
of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). It has grown
now into a worldwide mission organiza-
tion spanning over 196 countries around the
world.
CCC began in the Philippines in
1965 when Bright came to the country with
16 overseas staff to conduct training in evan-
gelism and discipleship. It was recognized as a
campus organization at the University of the Phil-
ippines, Diliman in 1967.
Now, CCC is known as a student-led
Christian movement that focuses not only in
steeling leadership but also in strengthening re-
lationship with God. Hence, the members of the
movement are called disciples. CCC mission is to
near people’s hearts to
Christ.
I n
1 9 9 5 ,
CCC
became
a “I encountered the thirst and hunger
cartoon by nick mangampo
UBO in BU which aimed to build well-rounded
student leaders through the love of Christ. Just
last year, the movement had already at least 160
student members but since most of them were
graduating students that time, the number was
reduced this year. Nonetheless, the movement
continues to struggle to reach out to more BU
students to join the fellowship.
As of last November, the movement
has accumulated 83 students who are active mem-
bers, including some graduates of the university
who are still actively attending various seminars
and trainings on discipleship.
The organization survived through the
financial aid a staff from Manila Chapter offered
before however, the funding was eventually cut.
In lieu, the members decided to fish money from
their own pockets to sustain the org’s spiritual and
leadership activities. But CCC denies collection
as compulsory; the org conducts ‘racing support’.
They who have received God
“It’s not a commitment to anyone, but
commitment to God,” Edsel Toledo, a sopho-
Featured Organization: Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC)
Great Leap of Faith
By Patricia Miguel and Alyssa Joselle Bañares
more student from the
College of Business, Economics and Management
(CBEM) shared. Edsel said he was once a very
adventurous kid and was always amazed by the
story of creation. He knew that he ‘knew’ God
but that ended there.
Having been part of the organization,
he said that he did not only learn to know God,
he also experienced God.
Meanwhile, Frances Grace Jetomo, an
English major shared that there was a point that
she could not appreciate life because she did not
know the purpose of her existence.
for God. I was inspired by the book “The Purpose
Driven Life. In my intimacy with god, I learned
to obey him. In obedience, there is blessing,” she
recounted.
“I learned my purpose. I was even
happier when I found out that
t h e
FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
meaning of my name (Frances Grace) was free
gift,” she said.
Another member who once considered
himself as ‘Scientologist’ because he used to be-
lieve in Science alone and he wanted to find rea-
sons in every action or situation he is into, is now
a devoted follower of God. “As I recall my old
self, parang gusto kong batukan yung dating ako!”
Marben Ramos, a fifth year Electrical Engineering
student and one of the student staff admitted.
He said that he had a life that was al-
ready programmed and he was looking for some-
thing that he could not decipher what. Originally
from the College of Education, he shifted course
and by that time, his classmates recruited him to
attend the CCC lectures and activities.
“When I shifted, it was more than just
shifting a course, it was shifting of life,” he said
upon realizing that indeed, God has perfect plans
for him.
“My involvement in BU-CCC is an an-
swered prayer for me,” Joseph Bornilla, a 3rd year
Electrical Engineering said. He actively partici-
pates in BU-CCC without his parents’ approval.
According to him, he joined CCC because when
he was in his second year in high school, he was
inspired of the missionaries who visited their
place and conducted sessions about God. But his
parents forbade him in attending the sessions.
Since he has the passion in spreading the word of
God, he affiliated in BUCCC.
“We are not promoting any religion”
Despite Born Again Christian domi-
nating other religions in the group, the CCC
shrugs off allegations that they are promoting a
religion. According to Joseph Bornilla, a discipler,
when someone joins CCC, no member will ask
him about his religion because religion is not the
bottom-line of the movement. He defended that
members who chose to convert were not com-
pelled.
In most cases, there are members who
entered CCC as Roman Catholic and after sev-
eral sessions opted to convert their religion into
Born Again Christian. But CCC said they hold
no credit from it. Meanwhile, others decided to
quit for various reasons and barriers. .
“I was pressured. They are setting our
(members) priorities that I found quite offensive.
Yes, they are right that God must be on top, fam-
ily, studies, and career but they keep on remind-
ing us always every meeting of these as if in the
first place, we do not know all of it. I understand
that they constantly remind us so we shall not
go astray. But Heaven, it seemed like they are
the ones planning for what we shall do with our
lives,” Lars*, a former member divulged.
She added that although CCC (old
members) does not prohibit them in submitting
to romantic relationships, it is but then discour-
aged.
“That is too unfair, especially if you
want to be committed to God and manage your
personal life at the same time. They always think
that setting five priorities is next to impossible
because you can’t manage it all at the same time.
They usually say that there must be only four:
God, family, studies and career and nothing
more,” she bursted out.
“They said that they only want to teach
those who want to move or share, we understand
that it’s the core objective of the movement oth-
erwise their efforts will be futile. The movement
has to grow so you need to recruit people by shar-
ing the word of God. But we are having a hard
time finding time to fit fellowship, sharing, meet-
ings and other stuff with the growing demands in
school,” Lyn* explained.
“There came a point that i seldom at-
tend meetings and fellowship especially when I
cannot seem to fit it in my sched. When you are
with them it’s like everything is planned that you
seem not to feel the thrill of life anymore because
it’s fixed. Everything falls down to good things
like you got no right to be wrong. But despite
everything, I enjoyed being with the group and
I can say I changed for the better. I learned to
appreciate simple things that I never noticed be-
fore,” Lars* said.
Bond of culture, bond of faith
As 2012 draws nearer, the ties of re-
ligious-known countries gets even tighter. On
July 15 of last year, Korea Campus Crusade for
Christ (KCCC) in partnership with Bicol Univer-
sity Campus Crusade for Christ (BUCCC) built
movement drawn by the passion to continue ef-
fecting change in the university and beyond.
Twenty nine student leaders with 13
staff members of KCCC flew to BU to share
God’s faith and devotion through building move-
ments. In 2009,
a first batch of
40 student lead-
ers and 13 staff
members have al-
ready visited BU.
T h e
first visit earned
good feedbacks so the KCCC chose BUCCC
again as their partner for the second time, Cip
Opeña, BUCCC coordinator said.
As a gesture of gratitude, the Koreans
in their typical Korean attires ministered the stu-
dents through Korean dances, mimes and Chris-
tian testimonies during the Phil-Kor friendship
nights.
They introduced their culture and
the four spiritual laws. The following days, they
roamed along with the BUCCC coordinators and
staff members in three different campuses – the
BU main campus, east campus and daraga cam-
pus. From there, they started conversing with stu-
dents and sharing the gospel of Jesus. They used
the one-to-one conversation about God to reach
out to the students.
Right now, managing the activities are
harder since the organization currently doesn’t
have professional staff. They only have six student
staff.
“We expected that hardship long be-
fore we went here. But we communicated by
hearts since we are all Christians.” Jan Woosung,
one of the Korean student leaders said.
I would like to acknowledge the hospi-
tality of the Bicol University students who never
let us feel that we are of different race. They pa-
tiently conversed with my team even though we
are not that good in speaking the English lan-
guage and we are looking forward in going back
in your university,” Timothy Eo, KCCC campus
coordinator said.
When people hear religion or any word
of its kind, two things commonly pop into their
mind. That may be the topic bores the hell out of
them or otherwise. Some people deemed preach-
ing a yawn. They act way different to those whose
hearts were touched or changed. Religious people
believe to some extent that all-powerful God be-
stows upon them oh-lovely-boons of life that they
do not mind learning and relearning things others
may refuse to entertain.
Even if people have different views and
opinions about faith, religion, and God, the fact
still remains that indeed, we all want to find out
our purpose as living beings. People may resort to
different religions or spiritual organizations, but
at the end of the day, it’s still important to remem-
ber that the faith must not be on the religion or
organization, but with the Lord.
*Not their real names. They spoke in the
name of anonymity.
Siglo
na ang bini-
lang na taon ng
hindi pa rin magibang Centree mala-
pit sa BU soccer field, giniba na ang
commencement stage na kawangis
ng Sydney Opera House, nananatil-
ing hilaw pa rin ang punong gurang.
Naging saksi siya ng mga buhay na
naging laman na ng usap-usapan.
Hulaan mo nga kung
sino itong mahilig tumalon sa ba-
wat kumpol ng mga estudyan-
teng naguusap, nagkakantahan,
at naglalaro. Minsan, para lamang
magbigay ng pansamantalang aliw.
Pero teka, hindi naman imahe ng
isang nagbebenta ng aliw ang nais
ipakahulugan. Kako, kung narinig
mo na ang huni ng toko, ang sipol
sa babaeng seksi at mataba, ng bali-
baliktad na salita o pangungusap na
tanging gifted lamang ang makaka-
gawa?
Natatandaan mo pa ba
ang taong nakasando at nakashorts
na minsan mo’y tinatakasan? Iyong
minsan nakasumbrero nga pero
sa harap naman ang likuran? Iyon
bang bigla na lang sumingit sa usa-
pan niyong magkakaibigan para
tapunan kayo ng paulit-ulit niyang
jokes? Eh, ‘yung nagmumura sa tu-
wing sinasabihan ng, “Tighahanap
ka na ni mama mo”?
Naging tampunan nga ng
biruan, ngunit aakalain mo bang
minsa’y naging miyembro siya ng
isang banda dito sa BU, ang Combo?
Kaya pala hindi na rin nakapagtata-
ka kung bakit naliligayahan ang iba
sa tuwing madalas niyang kantahin
ang, Bed of Roses. Tick tack!
Tara, pasukin natin ang
baliktad na mundo ni Rogelio Con-
cepcion Jr. na kilala sa tawag na
‘Morning Good’. Naging tawag ito
sa kanya dahil na rin sa madalas ni-
tong pagbati ng “Morning good!” sa
mga estudyanteng nakikita nito sa
umaga. Sa First Park Subdivision na-
katira ang sikat na si Morning Good,
hindi naman kalayuan sa BU, medyo
nasa sulok nga lang ng Daraga. Si-
nadya ng THE BICOL UNIVERSI-
TARIAN na alamin ang pribadong
buhay ni Morning Good na sumasa-
lamin ng kanyang pangarap at un-
ang babaeng minahal maging ang
hinuha ng mga nakakasalamuha
nito.
Hindi matukoy ang tala-
gang ugat ng pagkabaliw ni Morn-
ing Good, may nagsasabing dahilan
ng pagkasakit nito ng malubha ang
nakaapekto sa kanyang pag-iisip,
mayroon ding nagsabing dahil sa
may nailagay na kung ano sa kan-
yang inumin noong minsa’y hu-
marap ito sa inuman. Gayunpaman,
hindi man ito naging tanyag sa
larangan ng edukasyon, sikat na-
man ito sa bawat estudyanteng na-
babahaginan ng pansamantalang
aliw.
“Gusto ko simpleng bu-
hay. Hindi mayaman, hindi mahirap.
Pinangarap ko ring maging piloto!”
tumawa siya nang sumagot ba-
kas ang naibaon nang katinuan sa
mundo. Dagdag niya pa, “Masaya
dito sa BU, friendly ang mga tao
kaya sa field ko gusting maglagi kasi
B talaga ang BU, Beautiful.”
Inilihim na pagmamahal
May isang babaeng ini-
big ni Morning Good nang tapat at
buong puso. Isang babaeng naging
sentro ng buhay niya noong nasa
kolehiyo pa ito. Isang babaeng ayon
sa kanya ay “simple and understand-
ing” kaya inibig niya nang husto.
Nakilala niya si Janet
noong siya ay nagaaral sa BUSAT
na ngayo’y Bicol University College
of Industrial Technology (BU-CIT)
na sa kursong Automotive Welding.
Cosmetology naman ang kinukuha
noon ni Janet.
Mayroon ding babaeng si-
nasabing minahal si Morning Good.
Si Monica na Food Technology stu-
dent noon at naging kaklase ng
dalawa sa isang subject. Dinidedma
lang daw ito ni Morning Good sa-
pagkat parating may kasamang
lalaki itong si Monica. Isa lang talag-
ang babae ang iniirog niya ng mga
panahong iyon- si Janet.
“Searching. I’m looking
for love! Bakit hindi ko niligawan si
Janet? You know why? I’m shy!,” ani
Morning Good sabay ngiti.
Ngunit kasabay ng
pagdaan ng araw noong nasa kole-
hiyo sila ang umiikling oras at pana-
hon para sa kanila ni Janet. Naka-
gradweyt sila na hindi man lamang
nasabi ni Rogelio ang kanyang lihim
na pagmamahal sa babae.
Inamin niyang bigo siya
kay Janet. Kailanma’y hindi niya
nasabi sa babae ang kanyang itina-
tagong pagmamahal. Pagkatapos
ng dalawang taong kurso na iyon,
hindi na raw niya nakita si Janet.
Isang araw dinapuan
si Morning Good ng typhoid,
maraming gamut ang pinainom sa
kanya na sinasabing nakaapekto
sa pag-iisip nito. Nang gumaling
siya noon mula sa kanyang malub-
hang pagkakasakit at nagsimulang
maglakad-lakad sa BU,bumulaga
sa kanya si Janet. Noon din niya na-
lamang may trabaho at pamilya na
ito.
“Hanggang ngayon
nagngingitian lang kami. Pero kung
wala pa sana siya ngayong asawa,
hindi na ako mahihiya. Liligawan
ko siya! Ngunit huli na ang lahat. I
wanna lay you down on the Bed of
Roses,” dama at bakas ang paghihi-
nayang sa mukha nito.
Only love
Nabanggit ni Morning
Good na si Janet ay nagtatrabaho
bilang isang guro sa mga bata ngay-
on. Hindi man niya naibigay ang
buong pangalan ni Janet, hinalug-
hog ng THE BICOL UNIVERSITARIAN
ang BU para hanapin itong maliit
at magandang si Janet na base sa
deskripsyon ni Morning Good.
“Nagkakilala kami ni Ro-
gelio noong kaklase ko siya sa isa
kong subject. Net ang tawag niya
sa akin. Simpleng estudyante lang
noon si Rogelio. May mga barkada
rin siya. Hindi ko malilimutan yung
panahong nagsine kami kasama
ang buong barkada. Totoong ma-
sayang kasama si Rogelio. Hindi na-
man siya noon tahimik at hindi na-
man madaldal. Isang simpleng lalaki
na may simpleng buhay kolehiyo.
Matapos kaming makagraduate,
wala na akong narinig pa tungkol
kay Rogelio. Isang balita na lamang
ang nalaman ko na nagkasakit pala
FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
siya ng typhoid. Dinalaw nga siya
ng iba naming kaklase noon. Nabi-
gla na lamang ako, isang araw ng
papasok ako sa aking trabaho,
nakita ko si Rogelio. Nang pagka-
kataon lang na iyon ko nalamang
Morning Good na pala ang tawag
sakanya ng mga tao. Noon kasi
hindi naman siya mahilig magba-
liktad ng mga salita,” mahabang
salaysay ni Janet na minabuting
itago ang kanyang apelyido.
“Kailanma’y hindi ko
alam na minahal pala ako ni Ro-
gelio,” ayon pa sa kanya.
Tahimik na ang bu-
hay nito kasama ang kanyang
pamilya, samantalang patuloy
namang nagsasabog ng aliw si
Morning Good sa mga BUeños.
Isang pagmamahal na
nabuo na dapat lamang na ibaon
na sa kahapon.
Ayon sa eksperto
“Mahirap mag-label ng
psychological disorder. If we are
referring to a disorganized thought
base sa mga deskripsyon kay
Morning Good, it might fall down
to schizophrenia- the emotion of
the person is limited. Pero sabi
ko nga kanina mahirap talaga
maglabel. Posibleng crucial fac-
tors din ang dahilan kung bakit
nagkaganito si Morning Good-
pwedeng genetic, inherited, may
traumatic experience o nagkasakit
siya ng malubha noon. Pero sa lahat
na nagkakaroon ng mental disorder
ang pinagu-ugatan talaga niyan ay
mababang resiliency o hindi na kay-
ang tumayo mula sa pagkalugmok,”
ayon sa isang psychology professor
sa BUCSSP na hindi ipinapabanggit
ang kanyang pangalan.
Naikwento pa nito na na-
kikita niya ang katauhan ni Morning
Good kay Zoro nang UP Diliman. Si
Zoro ay naglilibot libot rin sa na-
sabing unibersidad at nagnanais
makipag kaibigan sa lahat. Siya ay
nakakapa at mayroong maskarang
itim na animo’y zoro talaga. Ayon sa
iba, siya noon ay isang matalinong
estudyante na hindi nakapagtapos.
“Sa sobra sigurong taas ng expec-
tation niya sakanyang sarili siya ay
nabaliw,” pagtatapos nito.
“Normality is subjective.
Hindi porke hindi ginagawa ng
iba ang mga ginagawa ni Morn-
ing Good abnormal na siya. Hindi
ibig sabihin na iba ang isang tao
ay masama na siya o mali. Lahat
naman ng tao ay nagangailangan
ng respeto. Pareho ni Zoro, ma-
sasabi kong icon din si Morning
Good ng BU. Hindi maiiwasan na
may maiilang sakanya. Ngunit kung
mayroong isang taong natutuwa
kapag kinakausap siya ni Morning
Good- that’s enough to justify his
existence”, mahabang paliwanag
ng psychologist.
Buhay na salaysay
Marami na rin ang nata-
kot, nagulat at natuwa sa lulubog
lilitaw na si Morning Good. Minsan
nga ay inakala na itong patay dahil
hindi na nagpapakita. Iyon pala ay
namalagi muna ng bahay.
Ayon kay Antonette
Brondial, AB Journalism, sa una ay
natakot siya kay Morning Good.
Baliktad na mundo ni
Morning Good
Mark Harris Lim at Arlene Joy Derilo
Nakasando lamang daw ito ng lu-
mapit sakanya kaya tumili siya na
ikinagulat naman ni Morning Good
kaya napatakbo din ito. ‘Di kalau-
nan, ikinatuwa niya nang minsan
sinubukan uli nitong makilahok
sa usapan nilang magkaibigan at
tinanong ang kanyang pangalan.
Pagkatapos mabilis nitong binalik-
tad ang lahat ng kanyang sinabi na
ikinamangha ng dalaga. Ettenotna
adnag! Pag-uulit pa nito.
Ayon naman sa isang
nakaibigan ni Morning Good na si
Sarah Jane Belarmino, BS Manage-
ment student ikinagagalit daw ni
Morning Good ang “amo amo na
sana” dahil ayon dito hindi naman
daw paulit-ulit ang mga ginagawa
nito. Dagdag pa niya ikinapipikon
din ni Morning Good kapag tina-
tawag itong praning.
“Nakakalungkot isiping
may mga taong patuloy pa rin sa
panga-asar sakanya kahit wala na-
man itong ginagawang masama.
Nais lamang niyang makipag-
kaibigan. Nakakaawa ang mga
taong patuloy na nangungutya
kay Morning Good. Sinasalamin la-
mang nito ang kanilang pagkatao.
Kanya-kanyang trip yan oo, pero
isipin natin na tao rin si Morning
Good, napipikon at nasasaktan,”
madamdaming pahayag ni Anne
Jeannette Pamplona ng Bachelor in
Elementary Education.
Online si Morning Good
Hindi na nakapag-
tatakang marami na ngang naka-
kakilala kay Rogelio, biruin mong
kahit sa internet, nakaabot na rin
ang kanyang tanyag na binyag.
Maging sa facebook, um-
abot na ng mahigit 6,000 likes ang
fan page nitong si Morning Good.
Sa You Tube, maaaring mapanood
ang tatlong videos ni Morning
features 13
cartoon by nick mangampo JR
Good na Bicol University’s Morning
Good, Morning Good Tells a Joke at
Morning Good. Ang mga videong
ito sa you tube at fan page ni Morn-
ing Good ang nagsisilbing tulay
para sa dating mga estudyante ng
BU upang balik tanawin ang ma-
sasayang alaala nila noong sila ay
nasa kolehiyo pa.
“A very talented man who
can reverse a word, he can make dif-
ferent sound and perfect singer of
BED of ROSES!” komento pa ni iori-
jho (screen name) sa You tube Video
ni Morning Good na Bicol Universi-
ty’s Morning Good.
Nakakabighani ang mga
kwentong minsan lang marinig o
kaya mabasa lalo na kung tinatal-
akay nito ang mga bagay na tingin
ng iba ay ordinaryo lamang. Bigla
na lang gigisingin ka ng ‘yong diwa
na ang kababawan pala sa unang
tingin ay bakas lamang ng kalali-
man ng kahapon. Baliw na kung
baliw, sa’yo naman ako nabaliw. Sa
tingin mo kanino at saan ka ba min-
san nabaliw?
Kinukutya mo man si
Morning Good, marahil dahil hindi
mo matanggap na minsan sa buhay
mo, naging isa ka ring baliw. Marahil
hindi iyong tipong nakikita mo sa
daan na kumakain ng sarili niyang
ibinawas, hindi rin iyong nagsa-
salita kahit walang kausap, hindi rin
iyong nananakit ng walang dahilan
kundi ikaw ‘yong tipong nabaliw sa
pagkakaalipin ng sariling kahinaan.
Minsan. Kung kailan
hindi mo inasahan. Baliktad man
ang mundo sa mga taong sa tingin
mong pinagkaitan ng kasaganaan
ng buhay, mapalad silang hindi nila
problema ang bagay na sa ngayon
ay pinoproblema mo. Bakit buhay
pa ang Centree? Siguro marami pa
rin ang dapat maliliman ng puno at
masaksihan.
14 features
Gone are the days
when young boys
would groom up themselves just like
their favorite Justice League charac-
ter and run around the yard like su-
per heroes with fake capes around
their shoulders. Similarly, little girls
mimicking voices of grown-up ladies
and exchanging gossips while they
dress up their dolls may now be only
pigments of history. Exaggeration
set aside, kids nowadays are seldom
seen playing with the conventional
toys thatkids before had nor not so
often do we see them now spending
time on activities that kids before
engage on. Today, most kids have
found pleasure in a new game, a
novel trend, a fresh fashion.
It seems that the young
ones and even the young once
have something in common now
in terms of likes. With the modern
trend that enables them to express
cartoonS by LOU XAVIER LAURAYA
FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
themselves through character im-
personation, they too, discovered
another persona that resides with-
in them.
Today, fans of this
trend experience not enough plea-
sure in just dressing up their icon’s
way but they have now newfound
glory in joining fashion shows and
competitions exhibiting their as-
tounding portrayal.
The local version
Due to the craze wave of
character impersonation or Cos-
tume Play (Cosplay), even local
youngsters, students, and the Com-
puter Science majors in Bicol Uni-
versity have patronized the trend.
Meanwhile, these Com-Sci fellows
are now on their second year of or-
ganizing a Cosplay event, not only
in the university but for all cosplay
fans in the region.
IMPERSONATA
Bringing virtual fantasies to life
By Alyssa Joselle Bañares
Geared with their attractive
and whimsical costumes, approxi-
mately 200 participants from all
over the region convened in the Al-
bay Astrodome last February 24 for
Impersonata 2011, a local version
of Cosplay
As spearheaded by the Bicol
University College of Science (CS),
said performance art featured the
portrayal of different characters
from manga, anime, tokasat su,
comic books, graphic novels, video
games, hentai amd fantasy mov-
ies.
“I’m very proud na CS ang
nag-umpisa nun,” Paolo Angelo
Oscurro, a 1st year Computer Sci-
ence student said. The Computer
Science Society decided to widen
the scope of Impersonata wherein,
other students from other schools
would have the opportunity to join
the Cosplay.
Jamaica Rodrigueza, a fresh-
man taking up Bachelor of Science
in Business Management (BSBM)
won the first place in individual cat-
egory portraying the role of Witch-
blade. Second in rank was Paolo
Melzor Revelo from Informatics-
Legazpi.
“My goal was not to be the
best. My true aim was to be part of
the event and just enjoy it with the
others. Humbly speaking, winning
the 2nd place wasn’t the one that
surprised me the most; rather it was
the people’s loud cheer and appre-
ciation that shocked me. Really, it
was overwhelming. I gained a lot
of friends and got acquainted with
a lot of people. I guess that was the
real prize for joining Impersonata,”
Revelo commented.
On the spot light
Costume play or simply Co-
splay is a performance art in which
the Cosplayers are reliving different
characters from the television or
other forms of media. Clad in col-
orful and personality-specific suits,
they are imitating the mannerisms
and body language of the charac-
ters they represent. The genders
are also switched, wherein women
play the male roles and vice versa.
Professor Deborah
Monge from the College of Social
Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) at-
tributes the rapid increase in the
number of Cosplayers to the easy
access to multimedia and enter-
tainment.
“Ever since, media
has a great influence especially to
the youth. Cosplay is a trend and
being in or not does matters. The
youth always have the sense of be-
longingness and this is a factor why
Cosplay is being more conspicu-
ous,” Monge affirmed.
Cosplay is now get-
ting the spot light since the num-
ber of cosplayers is increasing rap-
idly. “When something you see in
television comes to life, it’s some-
thing ‘wow’,”she added.
Now on its second
year, Impersonata claimed an in-
crease in its audience and number
of participating cosplayers. From
its previous pageant of costume
players in 2010, the performance
art now also includes individual
and group category of imitation.
Media has become
patently influential in promoting
virtual fantasies in which the youth
are hooked up. In fact, media made
impersonation the easy way to in-
stant stardom. Since the youth are
so into idolatry, it pays a lot to mim-
ic famous personalities.
Now, the cameras
all focused on you...
Enter the world of fan-
tasy and empower your self in reality.”
Just ‘N D’ Kutitob Republic
Pamumukadkad
Ni Justine Jane Kutitob
Halos isang taon na pala
akong estudyante dito sa Beyubs. Ngunit,
sa mga oras na ito, tila ‘di pa rin ako maka-
paniwala na pag-aari ko ang isang column
dito sa Unibě. Siguro, it really runs in the
Kutitob family.
Sa loob ng halos isang taon kong
pag-aaral dito sa Beyubs, nasaksiahan ko
ang napakaraming bagay na totoong dito
ko lamang makikita at mararanasan. Doon
muna tayo sa mga ‘bad’ experiences ko,
para na rin mabaon ko na sa limot. Isang
linggo bago matapos ang first semester,
laking tuwa ko dahil, sa wakas, makakuwi
na din ako sa lupang sinilangan at proud na
naka-survive ako sa unang sem sa Beyubs.
Pero sandaling nawala ang moment of joy
ko nang maranasan ko ang kalunos-lunos
na sitwasyon during clearance sigining.
Super crowded ang hallway at tila
isang wet market ang campus. Sayang lang
ang Victoria’s Secret Love Spell ko dahil sari-
sari na ang amoy ng mga tao. Pero ok lang,
siguro ganito talaga sa isang state U. Pero
parang di ko mapigilan ang mabadtrip da-
hil karamihan sa mga pipirma sa clearance
namin ay absent. Narinig ko pa sa ibang
estudyante na ilang araw na din sila na bu-
malik sa school para lang sa clearance.
Lalo pang kumulo ang dugo ko
nang hindi pumirma ang CSC treasurer dahil
daw kelangan muna nila makita ang resibo
dahil wala daw silang record. Hindi ba re-
sponsibilidad nila na itago ang duplicate
ng mga resibo, at gumawa rin ng mas-
terlist ng lahat ng nagbayad, just in
case may mga makawala ng resi-
bo? Ang nangyayari tuloy, mag-
babayad ulit. At dahil freshman
pa lang ako, walang pa akong
karapatang magreklamo.
Yan ang batas. Pero ang
bottomline, ginawa na
natin ang tungkuling
makapagbayad kaya
dapat gawin din
nila ang
are
kanilang responsibildad.
Sa sobrang inis, nagpasya
ako na umuwi na lamang sa board-
ing house. Habang palabas, may na-
kita akong clearance ng isang Oscar
Johnson R. Atayde sa hallway. Isa si-
yang first year student mula sa Daraga
campus. Siguro kung ako ang nasa sit-
wasyon niya, hindi ako makakatu-
log sa kaiisip kung nasaan ang
clearance ko, kaya naisipan
kong ibigay ito kay guard.
Paglapit ko kay guard, binuk-
lat nya ang log book at nakita na may
naghahanap nga sa clearance na iyon.
Mabuti na lang ay nag-iwan siya ng con-
tact number. At dahil good girl nga ako,
ako na mismo ang nag-text sa kanyang
nahanap na ang clearance niya at kunin
na lang kay guard.
Akalain mong nag-inarte itong si Mr.
Atayde? Sabihan
ba naman akong
i-meet siya sa Da-
raga Campus da-
hil may exam siya
hanggang 5pm?
Ngunit dahil nga
isa akong mabait
naman ako.
na bata, pumunta
Feeling ko ay makikipag-eyeball
ako dahil hindi ko naman alam ang itsura
niya, sinabi niya lang na magkita kami sa
canteen, at kulay pula ang damit niya. Ma-
ya-maya pa’y nagtilian ang mga babae sa
katabing mesa nang may lalaking paparat-
ing. Cute siya, kaso medyo nagkulang nga
lang sa height.
Nang umupo siya sa harap ko, na-
realize ko na siya na pala si Mr. Oscar John-
son R. Atayde, na nagpakilalang OJ. Hindi ko
na pinansin ang masasamang tingin ng mga
babae at agad ko nang inabot ang clear-
ance niya nang makauwi na ‘ko. Kaso si OJ
na mismo may sabi na ililibre niya raw muna
ako ng snacks dahil sa abala. Papakipot pa
ba ako? Eh sobra na nga ang gutom ko. At
iyon na ang huling masayang pangyayari sa
aking first sem.
Kahit sem break na ay patuloy pa
rin ang pagtetext ni OJ. At mula roon ay ma-
dalas na rin kaming magsama tuwing free
time. Sa katunayan nga ay magkasama pa
kaming nanood ng iba’t ibang palaro noong
SCUAA na ginanap dito sa Beyubs.
Nakakabilib nga ang mga athletes
natin at palaging over-all champion. Pero
nakwento sa akin ni Kuya Justin na ‘di daw
lubos na suporta ang nakukuha ng mga
athletes dahil sa mga luma at ang ilan ay
kulang-kulang na facilities.
Isang linggo pa
lang mula
FAIRNESS • ACCURACY • GENUINE STUDENT SERVICE
entertainment 15
COMICS
nang nagsimula ang formal classes ng
second sem, napag-usapan namin ni OJ
na pumuntang mall pagkatapos ng klase.
Naisip kong isuot ang pinakamagandang
by ARVIlL VILLAMOR
pink dress ko para na rin mag-pacute kay
OJ. Nang papasok na ako, hinarang ako ni
guard. May accreditation daw para sa ISO
at kelangnan naka-unform kahit wash day.
Medyo uminit na naman ang
dugo ko. Isang malaking kalokohan na
porke may accreditation, required na la-
hat mag-uniform. Aba, dapat consistent
sila. Uulitin ko, C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-T. Walang
pinipiling petsa, walang pinipiling estudy-
ante. Meron akong alam na isang college
dito sa Beyubs na ganoon, kaya saludo ako
sa college na iyon, kahit kelangang laging
complete uniform.
Pero minsan naiisip ko, hindi na-
man nadadaan sa uniporme ang natututu-
nan namin. Nasa kalidad ng mga guro at
pasilidad yan.
Nagpatuloy ang normal kong
buhay estudyante sa Beyubs nitong sec-
ond sem. Araw araw masigla akong puma-
pasok, dahil na rin siguro may inspirasyon
ako, si OJ. At hindi tulad ni Mr. T Square,
sure na ako na straight si OJ. At sa paglipas
ng mga araw, lingo at buwan, unti unti ay
nararamdaman kong true blue BUeño na
ako.
Nitong mga huling buwan dito
sa Beyubs, tila ang dami daming nang-
yari na talagang nakakagulat. Una, ‘di ko
maintindihan kung bakit nakapasa ang
BU sa ISO accreditation. Talo pa natin
ang UP at ibang bigating universities sa
bansa. Sabi nila, dapat maging proud ako
na ISO-accredited ang BU pero sabi ko
naman, ayokong lokohin ang sarili ko sa
isang bagay na tila pinagpipilitan lang at
hindi repleksyon ng
reali-
dad sa
Beyubs.
Pan-
galawa ay ang
re-appointment ng ating uni-
versity president for another term of office.
Astig kung iisipin, maipagpapatuloy pa
nya ang mga magagandang adhikain na
nais nyang ipatupad sa Beyubs. Pero mara-
mi lang ang nagtataka kung ano ba ang
naging proseso ng re-appoinment nya.
At pangatalo, nito lang ay na-
saksihan ng buong mundo kung paano
niyanig ng napakalakas ng lindol ang ilang
bahagi ng bansang Japan na nagdulot
din ng tsunami. Kasabay pa nito ang kali-
kaliwang kaguluhan at pag-aalsa sa ilang
bansa sa middle east. Nakakaloka ang mga
pangyayaring ito. Di ko carry, pero for me,
one thing is for sure: kelangan lagi tayong
handa and that we need to have faith in
God.
Tunay ngang ang bilis lang lumi-
pas ng panahon. Parang kelan lang e nasa
cloud 9 pa ako dahil di ako makapaniwala
na college girl na ako, at certified member
na ako ng UNIBE family. Sa mga ate at kuya
ko dito sa Beyubs na gagagraduate, con-
grats and good luck. At sa mga andito pa
sa Beyubs next academic year, see you at
maraming taon pa tayong pagsasamahan
at pagkekwentuahn dito sa column ko.
cartoon by LOU XAVIER LAURAYA
by raul daiz jr and ARVIlL VILLAMOR

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