EDMOND ALLEN HERNANDEZ
A(H1N1) hits San Beda
Getting down and dirty: Freshmen students got down to their knees and bellies during their integration.
by Maverhick Ace Nacional
I
NFLUENZA A(H1N1), COMMONLY known as Swine Flu, can spread from person-to-person, the same way seasonal viruses
spread. In March 2009, the virus infected the citizens of Mexico and people in other parts of the world that caused illness ranging
from mild to severe. A month later after the first virus was recorded, almost 2,000 victims were confirmed positive with the flu.
The increasing spread of the virus not only affected the populace but also the economy which further added to the current global
economic crisis. Restaurants, markets, malls, and schools were forced to close to prevent further infections.
The first confirmed case in the
Philippines was reported last May 18. Since
then, additional cases were reported almost
daily. Recently, universities and other
schools have suspended classes because
of reports that there were students that
showed symptoms of the virus.
San Beda College Alabang (SBCA)
conducted seminars about the flu and how
to prevent from getting it. Safety precautions
and check-ups were done to prevent the
virus from reaching the campus, but these
were not enough to stop the virus from
reaching the SBCA. After a high school
student was confirmed with the virus,
letters were circulated to notify the students
of an immediate suspension. Classes
were suspended from July 14 to July 6. As
implemented by the Department of Health
(DOH), hand sanitizers were placed on
every end of the hall for the precautionary
measures . Thermal scanners are still being
used before entering the building and
foot baths are placed on the entrances of
every building. Security guards, janitors/
janitresses are made to wear face masks to
avoid further infections of the virus.
The Department of Education said
that classes should no longer be suspended
if there had been any reported new cases.
Those who had been infected with the flu
should be quarantined in t heir homes and
never come to school until they are fully
recovered so the virus will not infect others.
Semestral breaks and Christmas breaks will
become shorter because of the required
total number of school days.
According
to
DOH
Secretary
Francisco
Duque
III,
although the virus cannot be stopped
anymore, safety reminders and safety
precautions are being done and are aimed
at slowing down the spread of the virus.
Proper hygiene and boosting of our immune
system are the best ways to prevent the virus.
SBCA gets a face lift
by Jose Miguel Limos
NEWS
Setbacks plague freshmen
integration
NEWS
Belen: Most energetic
batch of leaders
NEWS
p. 2
p. 3
Padua joins Asian-Pacific
Confab
p. 3
FEATURES
p. 6
Hear the New Bedans Roar
WITH THE PHILIPPINE Accrediting
Association of Schools, Colleges, and
Universities (PAASCU) visit and inspection
only months away, San Beda College
Alabang (SBCA) is now gearing up with
new facilities and upgrades.
SBCA started the facelift on
its campus grounds during the second
semester of the academic year 2008-2009.
The first changes that the students saw
were the tree-wells located on the perimeter
of the campus. The second change that
college students saw – particularly the male
population of CAS – was installment of the
waterless urinals in the St. Bede Hall.
The College of Arts and Sciences
(CAS) saw more upgrades at the onset of
this academic year. New arm desks now
occupy every classroom in St. Bede Hall.
Blackboards are replaced by whiteboards
and hand sanitizer dispensers are now
installed in every hallway of each floor of
the building. The college building now has
internet connection through the new Wifi
routers.
Changes sweep the campus
The old bookstore located at the
high school building was demolished to
pave way to the construction of a four-storey
building for law students. This building will
house both the law library and a new high
school library.
Art Solomon, Supervisor of
Buildings and Grounds, and Building
Custodian, said that the college building
(St. Bede Hall) is now too cramped because
of the surging population of CAS. He said
that the library located on the ground floor
couldn’t accommodate both students of
CAS and law.
SBCA also plans to construct a
new parking area, and acquire two units of
new vehicles for its athletes.
SEC organizes
Freshmen
Orientation
by James Seimon Abrenica
481 NEW STUDENTS and transferees
attended the 2-day freshmen orientation,
which was sponsored by the Student
Executive Council (S.E.C), last June 3 – 4.
The event was held at the Gym of San Beda
College Alabang (SBCA). The orientation
provides the freshmen and transferees an
overview on what they will encounter this
academic school year.
It was the first time in the
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) that the
college had obtained such active freshmen
and transferees. The S.E.C wanted the
newcomers to fully grasp what is expected
of them in their new Alma Mater.
The highlight of the orientation
was the talk of Prof. John C. Jacome, Prefect
of Students. Prof. Jacome welcomed all the
newcomers to SBCA and explained the
virtue of becoming a true Bedan. He also
discussed about the conducive learning
environment, which is in SBCA, and the
advantages of picking San Beda as their
choice to nourish their knowledge.
Prof. John C. Jacome talked
on how the students can have a safe and
secure environment for learning. Yearly,
he explains all about the school’s dos and
don’ts. He also emphasized the prescribed
wearing of the proper uniform for the
College department.
The freshmen orientation would
not be complete without some parlor
games, annual campus tour and a dance
presentation by the Bedanz, the official
dance troupe of SBCA and a demonstration
cheer from Bataleon de Rojo.
NEWS
The Bedan Herald
Volume 15 No. 2 June - July 2009
THE PUSH THAT STARTED THE ALTERCATION: Male IS students try to protect their classmates from outsiders.
Setbacks plague freshmen integration
by Abilene Eden Rovero
WITH THE START of a new academic year,
the College of Arts and Sciences hosted
this event for the same reasons last June
29 – July 10. A different task was scheduled
for each day that helps achieve the overall
aim of the whole activity. Every freshman
and transferee is expected to take part in
this activity and sanctions will be given to
violators. Day one was School Spirit Day
where in the participants were tasked to
design or wear a shirt that displays Bedan
Pride.
For day two, the participants
were tasked to play the Human Bingo. For
CINEMUH /
from P5
was enough to get you off your seat,
as well as tackling moral values and
psychological thriller thanks to the
newly reinvented “Joker.”
Another movie that got stuck
to my mind was Stanley Kubrick’s “A
Clockwork Orange.” It didn’t have
explosion or great special effects for
the fact that it was made in 1971. It
focused on the psychological and
moral issues surrounding the main
character. The movie brought me to
a world that was something I’ve never
seen before from films of the 21st
century. The movie was smart, scary,
disturbing and will leave a mark on
your minds. This just proves that you
don’t only need explosions and special
effects to have a great film.
There are loads of films out there that
are smart, funny and action packed.
Filled with great stories and interesting
plots, but apparently left to be seen
on film festivals knowing it’s no
competition to other big blockbuster
films of Hollywood.
We may not share the same
views to what a great film should be,
but we have to know that we are far
smarter to be easily convinced that all
we want from a film are explosions and
flashy special effects. Movies bring us
to different worlds, to teach us lessons,
to bring us messages, to make us feel
something, to either make us forget or
even remember.
Movies are not just fireworks
that we just watch because of how
beautiful it is. It’s so much more.
this particular task, they had to look for Psychology freshmen. The joint departments
personalities in the college and have them of Legal Management and Accountancy
stamp their card. Information about their were the third performers with a Mama Mia
names or what they are known for served as theme. Starting their performance with a
clues for the participants to decipher. Along short skit before the Communications and
with this, the participants also had to gather Media Studies department danced to the
15 signatures from the upperclassmen, 5 for tunes of the musical Footloose. The Business
each year level.
Management department performed after
Due to the confirmed case of a short intermission number given by the
A(H1N1) in the campus, the remaining Bedanz Dance Troupe. Their performance
activities were rescheduled to last July 6 – was inspired by the musical Grease. Last
7 and 10. Club Promotion day, which was to perform was last year’s champion, the
rescheduled to July 6 and 7, was the venue International Studies department, with
for co-curricular organizations to assign their Dream Girls themed performance.
different tasks to their course mates to help Mr. Alafriz of the board of judges
make them feel more welcomed. Scheduled was the one who presented the winners.
for the last day of the activity were two Landing in second place was the BM
events. First was the Acculturation Program department. “It was hard to break the tie,”
which took place in the SBCA Gym which said Mr. Alafriz as he shares the judges’
stated at 1:30 pm.
dilemma in choosing one champion. CMS
“Before one should be accepted, reclaimed their title as the champion of
first he should be tested”, Vice Dean Jose the Acculturation placing the Psychology
Vasquez quoted this rule of St. Benedict in department in first place.
explaining the need for the Integration in When asked about what helped
his Opening Remarks. Dom Clement Ma. settle the tie between the top two performers,
Roque, OSB, delivered an inspirational Mr. Alafriz shared that the performers’
message before the performance of each level of confidence served as the deciding
course. “Freshmen are formally introduced factor. “Medyo nahihiya pa kasi yung
and presented to the Bedan community ibang performers ng Psychology. Unlike
and culture” said Dom Roque as he also sa CMS where in 90% ng performers ang
explained the significance of the event.
confident, pare-pareho yung intensity nung
The event is also a competition for performance nila,” elaborated Mr. Alafriz.
the participants. Prof. John Jacome, Prefect After the presentation of winners, the new
of Activities, presented the judges to the students changed to more comfortable
performers and the spectators. The judges clothes for their Final task.
were Mr. Yuri Alafriz, Mr. Eliseo Obnamia, The freshmen and transferees were gathered
Mr. Albert Narona and Ms. Cynthia at the Gym to be briefed about the rules of
Manalo, Ms. Carolyn Valenton was the the Final Task. Unfortunately, the number
Master Tabulator for the event. Prof. Jacome of the materials to be used in the task was
also presented the criterion for judging, insufficient to the number of the actual
30% was allotted for the
Creativity for Judging,
30% for Relevance to
the Theme, Audience
Impact and Creativity
of Costumes had 15%
and Compliance to the
allotted time was 10%.
The freshmen
of
the
Information
Technology department
were the first ones
to perform with an
Enchanted
theme
presentation.
With
a Hair Spray themed
presentation,
the
FOOTLOOSE: CMS students strike their winning pose.
participants.
For this task, they will go through
several obstacle courses located around
the campus. There were five courses to go
through, there was the “Half Court Shot”,
the “Blind Obstacle Course”, which was
stopped as it distracts the ongoing classes.
In the course “Dodge Balloon”, tensions
escalated in this particular course as several
students were ticked off with how the task
was being managed.
The
participants
exercised
teamwork in the “Spider Works” course
as they have to help every member of their
group go through. The final obstacle course
was the “Blitzkreig” where in students have
to crawl through mud. The IS department
were pulled out and did not complete the
final task.
According to Bedan International
Studies Association (BISA) President Alec
Arenas, reasons for pulling out the IS group
from the task was that students were already
getting hurt, a stampede occurred and
that outsiders were already involved in the
activity. “It was fun” said Claire Pimentel
(I-BAIST) about the whole activity despite
being pulled out while in the middle of the
Final Task.
When asked whether he allowed
for IS to be pulled out, SEC President
Nicolas Ray Esquivel shared that he and Mr.
Arenas talked about it. He told Mr. Arenas
that, “If you want to pull out IS, its fine.”
Despite the setbacks faced by the
event, Prof. Jacome said that the event was a
success. “I think the objective of the activity
was well met. The rector, as well as the
whole CAS community, I think, enjoyed it
a lot” he ended.
AINNA FADUL
MAVERHICK ACE NACIONAL
2
NEWS
The
Bedan Herald
Volume 15 No. 2 June - July 2009
3
Corro goes to “Land of the Morning Calm“ Padua joins
Courtesy of PROF. CORRO
Originally, there were five
participants in the program but one of
them was denied of Korean Visa. The GSE
Program was one week delayed due to the
team’s appeal for the application of one of
its members.
Corro together with other delegates in
one of the Buddhist temples in Cheonan
City, SK
PROF. ROMMEL MILES Corro, College
of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Philo/Theo/
BLF Program Coordinator, represented
the Philippines in South Korea during the
Group Study Exchange (GSE) Program
sponsored by the Rotary Foundation from
May 5 to June 3.
Two non-rotarian participants also
joined Prof. Corro in representing Team
Philippines, namely Franco Villagonzalo,
Graphic art director of TBWA Advertising
Agency, and Robert Del Monte, Principal
of Marymount School. Dr. Paul Teves,
an Industrial Medical Practitioner and a
Rotary member, led the team.
‘Opted for United States’
During the Rotary interview, Prof.
Corro was asked to choose between S. Korea
and United States. “I opted for the United
States because all of my travel experience
was in Asia,” he explained.
After finding out that the Rotary
assigned him to S. Korea, he “did not feel
bad at all.” He said that he had been to a
lot of Asian countries who are proficient
in English. Korea has a small number of
English speaking individuals. “It was a
novelty and a challenge to be in an entirely
different Asian culture,” he said.
First days in SK
Prof. Corro, along with the team
had a hard time communicating to the
Koreans. “Whatever Korean phrases and
sentences that we learned before we left for
Korea, it was put into practice right away
and we have to learn fast,” he said.
“Old Koreans are not really
venturing into learning English unlike
Filipinos. Younger Korean generations are
the ones try to communicate in English.”
According to Prof. Corro, the team
did not see a lot of Filipinos. “We did not
stay in Seoul, [capital city of South Korea]
where you can see Filipinos once in a while.
Unlike in other Asian countries, wherever
you go, you will see Filipinos,” he explained.
“It’s probably due to the language barrier,”
he added.
Prof. Corro saw his first
“Kababayans,” a Filipino band, in a
restaurant after almost a week and a half
stay in South Korea. “When the band
learned that I am Filipino, they started to
sing their repertoire of Filipino songs,” he
said.
Team Malaysia in SK
Team Philippines was joined by
another GSE group, Team Malaysia, in
South Korea. Supposedly, the two teams
should be together on their first week, but
Team Philippines was delayed.
The two teams were together
during their stay in South Korea. “It is
a coming together of three cultures,”
Prof. Corro said. “It was a very enriching
experience because we should also learn the
Malaysian culture at the same time with the
Koreans,” he added.
According to Prof. Corro, Team
Philippines did not have a hard time
communicating with the delegates of
Malaysia. Most of the Malaysian participants
in the GSE studied in United Kingdom.
“They [Malaysians] were intrigued by the
Philippines because nobody among their
group has visited the country.”
CORRO / 7
Belen: Most energetic batch of leaders
by Lorenz Roi Morales
LORENZ ROI MORALES
WITH THE THEME “Becoming a Leader
of Influence,” delegates from different cocurricular and extra-curricular organizations
of San Beda College Alabang (SBCA) build
camaraderie at the leadership trainingworkshop in Development Academy of the
Philippines (DAP), Tagaytay City last May
22 to 23.
The DAP training-workshop is a
summer annual gathering of SBCA student
leaders sponsored by the Parent and Faculty
Council, Inc. (PFC). The event aims to train
the leadership skills of the new set of leaders
for the upcoming school year.
A total of 28 participants joined
the training-workshop including newlyelected officers of the Student Executive
Council (SEC).
Administrators who were present
were Mr. John Jacome, Prefect of Student
Affairs, Ms. Maria Adrianna Quioyo,
Asst. Prefect of Student Affairs, Mrs. Rory
Kiamco, PFC President, Mrs. Cynthia
Manalo, PFC P.R.O. and Mr. Joey Balasico,
Office of Student Affairs Assistant.
Stages of Influence
Bearing the year’s theme, the twoday training concentrated on the four stages
of influence - Model, Motivate, Mentor,
and Multiply - from the book “Becoming a
Person of Influence” by John Maxwell.
The two-day training was filled
with activities and hands-on exercises. Some
of the activities were the scavenger’s hunt,
listening dyads, and presentation of the
plans and activities for academic year 2009
– 2010 of the Council of Student Leaders
(CSL) in their co-curricular and extracurricular organizations.
Student leaders also had an
evening socials where they showcased their
talents through singing and dancing.
‘Most energetic batch of leaders’
Mr. Alvin Belen, youth educator
and life coach, was the facilitator of the
two-day workshop. Some of his credentials
include counseling and co-founder of
the training organization, REALworx
Leadership Education and Consultancy.
THE ACTIVE LOT: CSL and SEC members have fun with their professors in DAP.
During the trip to DAP, Mr. Belen
noticed the “intensity” of the energy level of
the participants. He admitted that at first,
he was worried on how he will handle the
delegates. “This is the most energetic batch
of leaders,” Mr. Belen said.
But then, as the training went on,
he commended that “all the participants
know how to channel their energy. They
know exactly how they will put themselves
in every situation. And that is a good trait
for being a leader.”
Moreover, Mr. Belen left the
leaders with a quote “Always believe in
yourself, know who you are, know what
you are good at, and know your dreams.”
And that the secret of becoming an effective
leader is “knowing oneself”.
A (H1N1)
Three of Department of Health’s
(DOH) doctors present in DAP volunteered
to have an open forum for the student
leaders of SBCA about the A (H1N1) virus,
also known as the Swine Flu virus, which
is now considered as a
pandemic.
Headed by Dr. Eric
Tayag,
DOH
Chief
Epidemiologist,
they
explained to the students
how the virus started in
Mexico, how it can spread
and be treated. Dr. Tayag
said that the virus can
be transmitted through
droplets (e.g. sneezing
and coughing).
Furthermore,
they
suggest
that
every
person who has traveled
abroad must quarantine
themselves at least for
10 days. “People must be
responsible enough to
avoid the spread of the
virus,” Dr. Tayag said.
Asian-Pacific
Confab
by Anne Lora Santos
PROFESSOR
SHIRLEY
PADUA,
Bachelor of Arts in Communication and
Media Studies (BACMS) Department
Chair was selected to join the 21st AsianPacific Children’s Convention (APPC) in
Fukuoka, Japan on July 9-20 as one of the
fourteen delegates from the Philippines.
The convention, which carries the
theme “We Are the Bridge: We connect
dreams around the world” is sponsored by
the Fukuoka City Government and will
be participated by 356 delegates from 57
Asian-Pacific countries and regions. The
annual event aims to generate appreciation
for a variety of cultures, to promote mutual
understanding throughout the AsianPacific region and to raise young people
with a global prospective.
In the duration of this convention,
Prof. Padua will be interacting with other
educators from Asia Pacific. Through
this interaction, educators from the
Asian-Pacific region and other Japanese
PADUA JOINS CONFAB / 5
CAS celebrates
mass in honour
of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus
by Crystal Eduardo
THE OFFICE OF the Student Affairs
(OSA) of San Beda College Alabang (SBCA)
held a Solemnity Mass for the Sacred Heart
of Jesus last June 19 at the College Chapel.
It was also the first Friday mass for the
opening of Academic Year 2009-2010.
The mass was celebrated by Fr.
Ollegario Commelaran together with Rev.
Dom Clement Ma. Roque, OSB and the
administrators and department heads of the
college. The Bedanz Dance Troupe started
the mass with an interpretative dance of
The Prayer. Students from the College of
Arts and Sciences (CAS) were required to
attend which discontinued regular classes.
The students along with the professors
were asked to offer wine, flowers and bread
during the celebration to signify respect to
the Sacred Heart.
At the end, prayers were offered
in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and
for the guidance of the incoming academic
year.
LORENZ ROI MORALES
by Lorenz Roi Morales
4
OPINION
THE HOUSE MAJORITY passed
the resolution to set up a constituent
assembly to open up the Constitution
to changes that endanger Philippine
sovereignty,
and
the
rights and
liberties,
granted to us in this country. The
possibility of “Gloria Forever” now
haunts a sleeping nation. The House
overstepped its bounds in a claim
to power, and to seize the present
decay of political institutions of this
nation.
The resolution was rammed
through, railroaded, and passed
without regard to objection and
without respect to the Constitution.
More than an agenda of “retaining
Gloria, it was a slap in the face to
the ideals that this nation stands
for: enshrined not only in the
Constitution, but in the values and
mores of Filipino society. It is a
disgrace to democracy, to prudence,
and to dialogue.
A derisive and deliberate
attempt to subvert the laws of the
land: the very Constitution that the,
members of the House, swore to
protect when they assumed office.
The Constitution is a
defining moment in history. It is
the height of creating a politics of
freedom, identity, and national
strength, created and ratified on
the basis that one’s country is not
designed and built on whims, but
that of foresight and the common
good. It sets a precedent for justice
and fairness, and is the building
block of democracy in free nations.
June 2, 2009 was a defining moment
in history. It is the height of a politics
of discomfiture, imprudence, and
insolence; the approval of a shameless
and ambiguously-worded resolution
that threatens the very existence
of this country’s democracy., One
that sets a precedent for injustice,
unfairness, and opens the doors for
corrupting, unchecked power. As if
The Bedan Herald
Volume 15 No. 2 June - July 2009
On CON-ASS
Editorial
they made a grip on the very throat
of this country’s democracy, and
choked it.
It
is
shameless
and
forgotten.
Shameless, that resolution
will be tested in the Courts, and
perhaps maybe even struck out of the
record one day. Forgotten, perhaps,
but it should stand - and it will stand
- as a testament to shame.
The perception of amending
the Constitution is not lost on
anyone, and it certainly is not lost
on the people of our country. Yet
without the benefit of prudent
dialogue and evaluation, the
knowledge
of
Constitutional
amendments - or Charter Change
- must be questioned. When the
passage of a resolution that endangers
democracy is made possible because
of the maneuvering of the majority,
the intentions and effects of moves
to amend the Constitution must be
questioned. If the integral document
of a nation is going to be altered by
people of questionable integrity,
Constitutional
amendments
and Charter Change are indeed
questionable.
In a free country, the citizens
should be open to a debate. Yet
their arguments and sides should
always be framed by what is truthful,
just, and fair. It is not sufficient
or adequate to railroad the passage
of this resolution if the rush and
haste cannot be justified. In a free
country, in a democracy, the will of
the majority will always be framed by
the will of the minority. There is a
right time and a right place for the
changes to take place knowing that
those who perpetuate these changes
are beyond doubt, beyond question,
and have the integrity needed to
challenge and amend a very integral
document.
The absence of integrity in
the House of Representatives came
to light on the 11th hour of June 2,
2009. The sworn protectors of the
Philippine Constitution - those who
swore upon that document when
they assumed office - are now those
who seek to subvert it and silence all
opposition. It was in railroading the
passage of an ill-willed resolution,
dismissing dissent, and playing
number games that the possibility
of having GMA as a leader of the
nation becomes a specter. More than
“Gloria Forever,” the railroading
and ramming through of HR 1109
is a clear indication that the public
interest is secondary to personal
political interests, or at the very least,
ill-defined ones.
Matanda, tanda,
tanders
T
AN-DER (TAN DER), n. a Bedan
student who is older and more mature
than his contemporaries or batchmates;
may be a transferee from one of the big
universities or colleges in the Metro Manila
area, or someone who’s taking a second
degree; Someone who has unconventional
wisdom.
The tanders are almost an extinct
lot. Seldom does one see a genuine tander
roaming the campus grounds nowadays.
Heck, almost no one in the demographic
of the freshmen and second year students
know who and what tanders are. Those
tanders who are still studying and present
in the institution are dwindling in number
because majority of their population
graduated two years ago. Even though San
Beda Alabang still has tanders, it may see its
last batch of the specimen graduate by 2011.
The tanders were different, they were levelheaded, and they took their own direction
in life. They exhibited swagger and an
infectious exuberance. They saw things in
a different perspective and passed on this
perspective amongst their peers. For this,
their younger contemporaries look up to
them as leaders, and for this, some of their
superiors branded them as rebels. Rebels
or not, the tanders were a different class of
students. They represented a profound sense
of character worthy of their institution’s
name.
It’s just some odd years ago
since the mass graduation of the tanders
happened. It’s just two years since Ian
Palma – a tander student leader – last edited
an article for The Bedan Herald, two years
since Margaux Monteiro – another tander
student leader – led the student population
to exercise their rights and obligations to
vote, and a year ago since Charles Bautista
and Ron Paguio fought for student welfare
in the institution (technically Ron Paguio
is not a tander, but he is considered one
because he thought and acted like one).
It just took some odd years for most of
the college community to forget how it
was when the tanders were thriving and
plentiful.
Those forgotten days happened
when San Beda Alabang was still struggling
TANDERS / 7
OPINION
The
Bedan Herald
Volume 15 No. 2 June - July 2009
5
Remembering the dead
E
LVIS PRESLEY. FRANCIS Magalona.
Michael Jackson.
Three legends in the name of
music - all have created a mark in the music
industry and all have left us with amazing
performances onstage. All are talented. All
are gifted. All are dead.
Elvis Presley, who died in 1977
because of heart failure, has made women
all over the world swoon with his powerful
vocals and smooth moves. Dubbed as the
King of Rock, Presley did not only satisfy
women with his amazing talent but have also
made men emulate him for his remarkable
style.
Francis Magalona, a Filipino
rapper who died early this year because of
cancer have inspired a lot of people and
have strengthen Filipino patriotism thru
his music and brand of clothing. Magalona
revived the term ‘cool’ in Filipino culture
even though he left a devastated youth
when he passed away in the young age of 40.
And recently, the King of Pop,
Michael Jackson, died at 50 because of an
alleged case of drug overdose. It was a big
surprise, an event nobody saw coming.
After a few years under the radar, his name
is once again a mainstay in mainstream
media.
Turn on the TV anytime of the
day and news channels won’t fail to give
you updates regarding Jackson’s death.
A whole lot of stations have dedicated a
whole day or week of tribute for the King
of Pop as to show their love for the world’s
greatest entertainer. Pages are printed with
his pictures, candles and flowers are offered
all over the world for his soul. His albums
are chart-toppers once again and his music
videos are on rotation as if we were back in
the 80’s and 90’s.
The same thing happened when
Elvis and Francis M died. They were talked
about, their history was dug up, they were
everywhere. People were bringing back the
dead in every way they could. They make
t-shirts, reprint posters and records, play
their videos and live performances and put
them on headline in every form of media
possible.
Why does it always end up this
way?
When people die, it’s the only
time we remember them. We remember
them in every possible and positive way
that we could. We remember their greatness
and leave all their mistakes behind. Have
you ever heard the news talk about MJ’s
molestation cases since he died? Have you
heard people talk about Elvis’ drug abuse
when he was reported dead? Of course you
haven’t, or Francis M’s encounter with
marijuana a few years back. Though hearing
it as a part of the person’s memory, it is still
blatantly forgotten. It is put out of sense
consider the fact that the person’s dead.
I remember talking to an
acquaintance from the music scene, Saab
Magalona, Francis M’s daughter in a gig
a few months after his father’s death - I
remember her telling us casually how
overwhelmed she is for getting all the
positive attention from her friends and
the media when her father passed away.
How grateful she is for all the tribute and
care the country have showed her and her
family though she wishes it doesn’t end that
soon. I’m not sure if that happened already
or if people still remember how great artist
Francis M was.
We do not remember people when
they’re dead, no matter whom they are. We
remember them when they’re alive. When
we have the chance to interact and show
them how thankful we are for having them
in this lifetime. We don’t wait for death
to arrive just to be grateful for a person’s
contribution in our lives.
I sometimes wonder if the music
industry is too small to put space for
remarkable people in the scene. Maybe it’s
not too late to pay tribute to Kanye West
for all his chart-topping tunes or an epic
concert for Guns n Roses for not letting
heavy metal die.
Penny for your Tots
“
ATE PAHINGI NAMAN po ng barya,
pangbili lang po ng pagkain.”
“Kuya pahingi naman po ng barya, pangbili
lang ng gamit sa eskwela.”
...
You’ve probably heard this line
from a kid while walking along the streets of
(insert city here) on your way somewhere or
you just got down from a car, a jeepney or
a tricycle. A kid or a number of kids would
suddenly flood you, repeating these lines,
with their hands stretched out, until you
finally cave in and give them you’re spare
change or until they see another person
they can “harass.”
You’ll find these kids everywhere.
Outside your favorite restaurant, your
favorite mall, by the parking lot of
an establishment, around terminals,
everywhere. I have a number of memorable
encounters with some of these kids on my
usual route home.
There was this kid, whose leg was
severely burnt, who was always lying on the
pavement near an overpass somewhere in
Las Piñas. As the people were walking by, he
suddenly grabbed a lady’s leg and held on
to her until she finally reached into her bag
and gave the boy some of her spare change.
Then there was another kid, who can also
be found somewhere in Las Piñas. I just
got down from the tricycle I was riding and
was just about to pay the driver when this
kid came out from nowhere. He kept on
following me and kept grabbing my bag.
As I was just about to cross the street, he
finally gave up and then I heard him shout,
“Madamot!”
I continued walking and I didn’t
pay attention to that kid and what he had
said. I immediately thought that he was
just up to no good. I didn’t bother to think
whether or not he really needed the money,
I just assumed that he would use it for
something bad. Then it got me to thinking,
what about the other kids who are doing
this, the ones who really need the money to
help out their families?
...
I just couldn’t wrap my head
around the idea of doing what they are
doing in that age, and I’m pretty sure that
they did not wish for that to happen to
them. I couldn’t understand how these
kids, would end up doing that. How many
of them in their family are doing that kind
of thing?
I couldn’t help but think about
what their parents are doing about this or
if they’re actually doing anything about it.
Are they doing everything they can to help
better their situation or are they just putting
the problems on their kids’ shoulders? Are
they just letting them do all the hard work,
begging strangers for change? Why are they
willing to sacrifice their kids lives, letting
them loose on the streets where strangers
can easily harm them or motorists can easily
run them over so that they don’t have to do
the hard work?
Is there anything we can do about
this? I mean here we are, studying in a
private institution, our parents spending
how much on our tuition every semester,
receiving a certain amount of money for
our allowance. What if we would always
give change or money to these kids? Will
that help better their situation? Will it help
lessen the kids begging strangers for change
on the streets?
I honestly doubt that. I know that
giving them money will only makes things
worse as we are tolerating them to continue
with what they are doing. Continue
depending on other people.
...
Maybe that kid was right. Maybe I
am “madamot” for not giving him anything.
Maybe I am “madamot” in a sense that I
didn’t do anything to help him. Maybe I
am “madamot” on his book for reasons I
cannot and do not understand. Whatever
his reasons were, for being there, around
that hour in the night, I will never know.
I really feel bad for these kids.
It’s really unfair that they have to engage
themselves in this kind of thing. It’s really
unfair that they were not given the chance
to truly enjoy their time as a kid. How can I
say this? Well because when I was or most of
us were around their age, we were allowed to
play.
We were given the chance to be
kids. We didn’t have to go to the streets
exposed to the heat of the sun, the smoke of
the cars passing by, and the sea of countless
strangers, wherein anyone could easily
take us or run us overs. Although some of
us hated it, we were in school. When we
were around these kids age we were inside
a classroom around the time these kids are
outside. When most of us were around
these kids age, we had toys on our hands,
books and crayons, some of us even had
handhelds, not quarters and coins we got
from someone we don’t even know.
PADUA JOINS CONFAB / from P3
participants will exchange information and
views on educational issues faced by the
countries. Aspiring to build young people
into a wholesome generation, participants
are expected to shed light on the educational
problems each country and region has
and find ways to improve the educational
environment. The interaction also gives an
opportunity for the participants to deepen
their understanding with each other and to
promote mutual relationship.
After the convention, Ms. Padua
will be staying for six days with a Japanese
host family for an immersion on the
Japanese culture.
“I am grateful for the opportunity
to share insightful experience on education,
culture and the arts with the different
delegates from the 57 Asian-Pacific
countries and the regions,” Padua said.
Cinemuh
T
HE SMELL OF hot popcorn in the air,
the unwavering smile on everyone’s
faces and the aura of enthusiasm all over
the place; yes, this is how I like it when I’m
going to the cinemas. Watching a movie
for me is like an escape from reality, an
hour and a half or so of fulfillment and
something to leave you to ponder for days,
or even weeks. Ahhhh, the simple pleasure
of a good film; a good film, something I oh
so crave for, and so hard to find. It’s just so
disappointing that movies today are just full
of pointless sex and violence and just leaves
you with nothing to think about. Here’s
an explosion, boom! Here’s some sex, ugh!
Then more explosions, booooom!! Then
Fin.
My friends and I decided to watch
Transformer: The Revenge of the Fallen.
For months we’ve been watching the trailer
again and again and again on YouTube,
and just made us more excited that every
day we were getting closer to its release.
When it finally hit the cinemas, we never
had second thoughts of watching it. “Yes!
Finally!” That’s all I was thinking in my
head when we were finally in Festival Mall
parking lot. Once we arrived in the cinemas,
the ticket booth was jam-packed with moviegoers who were all lined up to buy a ticket
for the movie. “Is it worth it?” This, my dear
readers was the question that was finally
answered after a grueling two hours and
twenty minutes of watching nothing more
than explosions, hot women and twin
Autobots who, apparently, are trying to act
like some sort of gangster. Was it worth it
you ask, for me and my friends it wasn’t.
Yes, we were served with great action which
was composed of amazing stunts, explosions
and transforming robots, but was there
anything good about the plot? None what
so ever. We were all on the edge of our seats
to find out how the story will progress, and
when the plot of the film was eventually
exposed, we were all like “Oh? Really?
That’s it?”
Transformers 2 is just one relevant
example of what I’m trying to convey. There
are loads of movies out there that is just
full of special effects and nothing much
on what the plot is. These movies, for me,
are “dumbing” down the standards of film
making.
I think the film industry is
underestimating the audiences’ intellectual
capabilities. So, in turn, they make films
so mind numbingly predictable and
focus more on making it full of action as
much as possible to compensate for that.
Compensation in films has been so rampant
in the cinemas lately. Bring enough big guns
and beautiful women to the big screen, and
you have a blockbuster hit.
I remember watching “The Dark
Knight” last year. It was both smart and
action packed without going over the top.
Mind you, the film was two hours and a half
long, and it felt a lot shorter. The balance
between smart writing and action/special
effects was just right. It showed action that
CINEMUH / 2
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Hear the
to slip away from its near death. The moral
of the story is that the young lion should
have oriented himself of the place. Like the
young lion, we the new blood of the school
needs to be oriented.
I walked along the wet road of my
new school, keeping sane and calm as much
as possible, trying to accept the fact that I
now belong to a new environment, a new
school and a new culture. The freshmen
arrived at San Beda College Alabang’s
covered court – they face new peers feeling
excited and worried at the same time.
Excited because the thought of a new school
means surviving, and worried because out
of all the excitement I feel, it bothers me
that I really don’t know the norms of my
new school. I don’t know how it is to be a
Bedan, I don’t know how I would survive the
school activities and load. In short, I didn’t
know ANYTHING about it. Sitting on the
bleachers, I reflected upon those things. At
the end of the day I was telling myself: that’s
why l’m here. I’m here to learn.
The orientation was an event held
for the purpose of aiding the freshmen
and giving them the much needed tips
for survival in this new environment. Its
aim was to introduce the new cubs to the
norms of the school. Deans and prefects
were introduced, rules were discussed
and a little tour was held. The Student
Executive Council and the Council of
Student Leaders were also introduced. The
event was really more about getting to know
and getting to understand what San Beda
College Alabang is - what it stands for, what
values and morals exist and what the school
really aims for its students.
Whatever they were doing, my
mind sought for a realization. What was
all this for? Why even bother having an
orientation? And then I noticed something
that answered all of my questions. I saw it
in their eyes. I saw how the upper classmen
were really passionate in welcoming us to
their school; how they wanted us to feel
comfortable in what will be our home for
the next four years, how they wanted to hear
the roar that they have shown us during the
orientation. It was indeed a breather to see
the support and care of our upper classmen.
The orientation welcomed the freshmen.
But the question is: will the orientation be
the spark that will make the freshmen roar?
“…right of suffrage does not start and end
during election, that’s the reason why if
you’re a voting member of our country
you have to participate in concerned
movements for things like social change. So
sometimes you can even join parliamentary
in the streets. These are actions prior to
the national election where your right
of suffrage is in order either in direct or
indirect participation.”
“By not voting, it means you are
making a stand and accepting that both are
incompetent and evil. You can still make a
stand BEFORE the election even starts by
endorsing competent and good leaders in
convincing them to run in either a small
locality or in a municipality. (So like you
won’t have to choose between the lesser of
the two evils)”answered Mr. Corro, when
asked about if one do not vote because of
the incompetency of the candidates.
“I would like to encourage all the students
who are registered to vote for 2010, because
it is our right to choose whoever the
politician or the president that we know
that is capable when it comes to the skills
of being a politician and president as well.”
Mr. Joel Ventura, guidance counselor, said.
– On encouraging students to register and
vote
“I think we have to rest our choice
when it comes to the political background
of those two candidates for presidency.
Let’s say the candidates for presidency are
evil, we have to rely about their political
backgrounds, their achievements, so let’s
say if they have so many achievements, when
it comes to public administration, why not
vote for them even if they are evil, since
they already have so many kinds of public
achievements.” answered Mr. Ventura
when asked about what if there are two
incompetent candidates.
We still have ten months to think
about who are going to elect. The school is
here to guide us. The next question is, are
we competent enough to take a stand and
make a decision?
clear that there are treatments for curing the
virus but no available vaccinations present at
the market. The talk ended by enumerating
the numerous public health advisory tips
pertaining on how you manage yourself
during the time of this virus outbreak.
Mr. Gonzales reminded the
students on what to do whenever there is
an emergency and what safety protocols are
to be followed when this happens. Students
were asked to participate in the “Duck,
Cover and Hold” procedure wherein they
kneel on their knees, face their chairs
and raise them above their heads to avoid
injuries. This is a procedure done when an
earthquake takes place.
Awarding of the certificates of
appreciation where given to the resource
speakers after their talk as presented by Prof.
Cynthia Manalo , PE and PEP Department
Head, Prof. Shirley Padua, Bachelor of Arts
in Communications and Media Studies
(BACMS) Department Head, and Prof.
John Jacome.
“The attendance of the students in
this year’s emergency preparedness seminar
Bedans
Roar
by Von Reinhart Gaa
I
T IS ABOUT ten months before the 2010
national elections. Vying public servants
are everywhere. We can see them in our
television screens, hear them on our radios,
and also, we meet them on our Facebook
and Twitter accounts.
As the grand daddy of elections
nears, what are the measures San Beda
College Alabang do to encourage its
students to register and vote?
“On August 28, we’ll be having
a forum (Bedan Chat) on Constituent
Assembly and the upcoming presidential
elections with Justice Adolf Escuna, one of
the Supreme Court Justices.” Ms. Adriana
Quioyo, Assistant Prefect of Student
Affairs, said. – On encouraging college
students to register and vote.
Many of us have questions about
right of suffrage. When Mr. Rommel
Corro, Head of Religious and Philosophy
department, asked about it, he is quoted
A
Y O U N G
L I O N
charts unfamiliar
territory, keeping
watch
on
his
environment
stumbles upon a
hyena. The lion
feeling the urge
for blood and
meat decides to
prey the hyena,
arrogant and cocky
as it may be, the
lion pounces but
misses. The chase
continues
until
the lion meets the
pride,
ferocious
and
awaiting
retribution
the
pride
violently
and
relentlessly
attacks the young
lion. Fortunately,
the lion manages
New
by Rowan Joseph Dimaculangan
The Bedan Herald
Volume 15 No. 2 June - July 2009
BUTCH ANGELO MORALDE
6
What is our stand?
CLUB WEEK /
from P7
Santos, assistant Human Resource Officer,
Ms. Cynthia Manalo, Program Coordinator
for Personality Enriching Program and
Physical Education (PEP/PE) and Ms.
Maria Adrianna H. Quioyo, Assistant
Prefect of Student Affairs.
“The clubs were able to get
new recruits, the members were able to
understand their organizations better, the
organizations were able to pass their videos,
they also were able to decorate their booths,
overall, it was a success,” Nicholas Ray
Esquivel, SEC President, said.
CAS participates in Emergency Preparedness Seminar
by Rowan Joshua Dimaculangan
improved” said Prof. Jacome. He also stated
that this seminar’s importance was to cater
the need of the CAS community, from
the administration to the students, to be
prepared in times of calamities.
DUCK, COVER, HOLD: Ms Manalo together with CAS students practice the
emergency drills during the emergency seminar.
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LORENZ ROI MORALES
THE OFFICE OF Student Affairs (OSA) of
San Beda College Alabang (SBCA) held an
Emergency Preparedness Campus Security
and Safety Measure seminar at the SBCA
covered courts last June 26. The event
aimed to inform students from the College
of Arts and Sciences (CAS) important
precautionary measures.
The seminar which started with
an invocation by Prof. Stephen Bueno was
officially opened by Prof. John Jacome,
CAS Prefect of Discipline.
Resource speakers from SBCA
were Dr. Analiza C. Tatad MD., DPPS, head
of the Health Services and Mr. William L.
Gonzales, head of General Services.
Dr. Tatad discussed Influenza and
stated its characteristics; the symptoms of
the Swine H1N1 virus and its difference
from the Human H1N1 virus. Making it
FEATURES
Benito
ng Plaza 'Sa
at
Chobenito
ng Bedista
M
G A
PAR! WHAT is
up?! Kamusta na
ang mga bago
nating repapips
na bininyagan
n u n g
integration?
M a s ay a
diba? Next
time kayo
naman
a n g
bibinyag sa dumarami nating mga parekoy!
Bakit ko nasabing dumarami? Kasi 1,404 na
tayong lahat! Bumobongga ang mahal nating
San Beda! At ngayon, alam kong init na init
na kayo sa mga pumuputok na sumbong,
mga sumbong sa akin ni Chobenito! Eto
na! Paputukin na
ang una nating chorva!
Badtrip
naman
talaga oh! Bakit ba may mga
kaibigan na haharap sa mukha mong
nakangiti sa’yo! Pero pag trabaho na ang
pinaguusapan, hindi mo maintindihan
kung namemersonal o talagang nagpapower tripping lang. ‘Yan tuloy, ang dapat
mga allied forces na inaakala nya, nasaan
na? Disappearing act na ba? Halos isang
terorista na bobombahin sa sama ng ugali!
Ay nako tsong kung sino ka man, baguhin
mo ugali mo! Makisama ka! Hindi porke’t
boss ka, bida ka! Ang pagiging boss, e
pagiging sensitibo sa mga nasasakupan mo!
Wag kang papansin! Okei? Ingat ka ha?
Paki-ayos lang po ang buhay natin!
Sa susunod na sumbong, toxic
environment at casino ba ang mahal nating
publications opis at pinagbabawalan ang
TANDERS / from P4
to escape the identity of being St. Benedict
College, when Fr. Anscar Chupungco was
still the Rector-President, and when Miss
J was still terrorizing the CAS students of
her Sociology class. Back in those days the
tanders ruled.
During those days, a rift between
the Bedans of Mendiola and that of
Alabang was still brewing. But despite the
misunderstanding of the two parties, the
tanders – of both Alabang and Mendiola
– saw past their differences and propagated
the union of the brotherhood of both
institutions. These tanders accepted the
other as members of the same pride.
They forged ties to formally consolidate
the alliance and unity of fellow Bedans,
regardless of location. The tanders started
‘Sang Bedista.
‘Sang Bedista was supposed to be
an annual event for both institutions, but
like the tanders of yesteryear, it was lost
and forgotten. The second issue of ‘Sang
Bedista never came to light. As the number
CORRO / from P3
of tanders dwindled because of graduation,
the ties that were forged between the
students of the two institutions slowly
diminished. It seems as if what the tanders
started ended with their graduation – like
it was only intended to serve their stay and
tenure in the institutions.
Today, only a few remember who
the tanders are, and what they did for San
Beda Alabang. Only a few notice Plaza ‘Sang
Bedista – the culmination of the forging of
ties with the Mendiola students. Only a few
bother to act and be a tander.
It’s sad to think that San
Beda Alabang is now experiencing detanderization. It’s sad because only a few
of the younger students of the college show
and exhibit the same drive the tanders
showed when it comes to student welfare
and nation building. It’s sad because no
matter how many roads the tanders paved,
no one wants to maintain and take the
same path the tanders took.
CAS holds Club Week
by Rowan Joseph Dimaculangan
THE COLLEGE OF Arts and Sciences
(CAS) students participated in the Club
Week last June 30 to July 7 at the MultiPurpose Hall (MPH). The event highlighted
nine co-curricular organizations, ten extracurricular organizations and the Official
Publication of San Beda College Alabang
(SBCA)
The club week’s supposed date was
from June 30 to July 2, due to the reported
case of Influenza A (H1N1) in SBCA,
classes were suspended from July 1 to July 3
thus prolonging the activity’s date to July 7.
The co-curricular organizations
which participated are Bedan Entrepreneurs
Society (BES), Bedan Information
Technology (BIT), Bedan International
Studies Asscociation (BISA), Bedan
Psychological Society (BPS), Beda .COMM
from the CMS Department, Junior Bedan
Law Circle (JBLC), Junior Bedan Marketing
Association(JBMA), Junior Philippine
Institute of Accountants (JPIA) and Junior
ilang mga minors na pumunta at pumasok
dito?! Ang natatandaan ko lang na sinabi ko
noong isang isyu ay walang printing services
ang publications, pero hindi ko sinabi na
bawal na’ng pumasok dito! Kung natatakot
kayo sa mga taong nandito, e hindi na nila
yun problema. Friendly ang mga tao sa pub,
Financial Executives (JFINEX).
The extra-curricular organizations
were Rotaract, Bedanz Dance Troupe, The
Order of Scarlet Thespians (OST), Eureka,
Peers Facilitators Circle (PEERS), Bataleon
de leon Rojo, Reverie and Rhythms and
Red Quill Writer’s Guild. Two new extracurricular organizations appeared at the
club week for the first time; SEUL and
Likhang Sining. The Bedan Herald also
participated as the Official Publication of
SBCA.
Aside from the officers and
members of each organization, the alumni
and the freshmen also participated in the
event. The booths were decorated and
videos from each organization were made
for the Student Executive Council (SEC)
which was awarded at the end of the event.
The evaluators for the booths and
videos were Sir Karl Yu, Guest, Sir Deck
CLUB WEEK / 6
Cities of Korea
As part of the program, Team
Philippines resided in their host city,
Cheonan City. The team moved from
one city to the another, basically districts
covered by the Rotary.
One of the cities they went to
was Boryeong, which is known for its
Mud Festival. Boryeong Mud Festival is an
annual festival. Koreans believe that mud is
rich in minerals and is used to manufacture
cosmetics. Another city they visited was
Taean which holds the annual flower
festival similar to the Panagbenga festival in
Baguio, Philippines.
Prof. Corro was able to visit the
entire educational system of Korea from
elementary to college. “I was able to see the
young generation who are really trying to
learn English,” he shared. He added that
“Korean students are always excited to meet
foreigners because they want to practice
their English.”
National mourning
The team was able to witness the
national mourning for the death of Former
South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun
last May 26. The team was in Seoul and was
supposed to observe the bilateral relations
between South Korea and Philippines but it
7
mukha lang nakakatakot dahil sa stress na
tina-tackle! Huwag nyong impluwensiyahan
ang mga minors ng mga hindi totoo! Isa pa
naman kayo, lalo na ikaw! Tinitingala ka pa
naman nila! Aysows!
At sa huli nating sumbong!
Bumobongga ‘to! Kung may plano kang
baguhin ang mundo! Huwag mong idamay
ang integration! Tama bang mamboso
ng papel? Hindi lang simpleng papel,
confidential na papel! Hayaan mong
i-announce muna sa world ang nanalo bago
ka makisali! Atat ka masyadow e! Malalaman
din naman nang lahat ang resulta! At
huwag mong sabihing batas ka! Ay nakow!
Subukan mong mahiya at umpisahan ang
pag-gawa ng trabaho mo ng MAAYOS bago
ka magpapansin. Power tripping ba ang
drama mohh?!
Oh siya mga friends! Tapos na
naman ang isa pang edisyon ng Benito
at Chobenito ng Plaza ‘Sang Bedista!
Maghahanap na naman si Chobenito
ng mga isusumbong! Lagi niyong
tatandaan! Kung walang ginagawang
mali, walang maisusumbong! Kung
walang maisusumbong, walang Benito
at Chobenito ng Plaza ‘Sang Bedista!
Hanggang sa susunod!
- Gusto mo bang maging susunod na Benito? Madali lang!
Isulat mo ang iyong mga hinaing, intriga, reaksyon, opinyon,
o suhestyon at ipadala sa thebedanherald_online@yahoo.
com.ph.
- Mangyari lamang na sana’y iwasan ang mga bulgar at
masasamang salita. Ang seksyong ito ng papel ay naglalayong
magbigay ng impormasyon sa paraang katawa-tawa at hindi
para pangalanan at siraan ang isang tao, grupo, o ideya.
was postponed due to the burial. Roh, who
was president from 2003 to 2008, committed
suicide because of an alleged bribery scandal
that tarnished his reputation. Prof. Corro
said that “it was a kind of reminiscent of
the old Ninoy Era because the loyalists were
wearing yellow shirts.”
‘Most meaningful experience’
Prof. Corro shared that his “most
meaningful experience” during his stay is
the team’s frequent visit to the museums.
“South Korea has a very colorful and
historical past,” he said.
“Some of the museums were built
for showing the atrocity of Japanese to
Koreans. That’s why Koreans, as young as
they are, are exposed to how Japanese treated
their forefathers. I saw their [Koreans] sense
of patriotism in their museums.”
‘Most shocking experience’
According to Prof. Corro, he was
able to taste all authentic Korean foods.
“I almost ate a live squid wrapped around
my chopsticks but I chose to put in a
shabushabu.”
Another experience that shocked
Prof. Corro was the development of
S. Korea. He said that “the country
develops industrially and agriculturally
simultaneously.”
THE BEST BOOTH FOR EXTRA-CURRICULAR CATEGORY: Peer Facilitators Circle
AINNA FADUL
The
Bedan Herald
Volume 15 No. 2 June - July 2009
Sp rts
The Bedan Herald
8
The Bedan Herald
Volume 15 No. 2 June - July 2009
Monster on Ice - Minas
by Anne Lora Santos
Courtesy of JOEL MINAS
Jose Wins Bronze
for Philippines
in AYG
position in the Student Executive Council
(SEC), have also conquered the ice skating
rink?
Minas shares how he started to fall
in love for this sport. “My mom used to take
me to the mall, she often drops me by the
day care center but there was this time that
it was fully occupied, so my mom decide to
leave me in the ice skating rink,” Minas
“I admit it’s an expensive sport but because
of the love and passion I have for it I
pursued it,” Minas confesses.
Being a student, athlete and as an
individual, Joel is able to balance and meet
the needs of his responsibilities. He also
establishes self-discipline in every aspect
of his life and it even makes him mentally
sound and physically fit.
He loves his sport that’s why he
excel, though often times he fail, he still rise
again. “Pain is temporary, Pride is forever,”
said by Minas’ former coach.
‘”The feeling of competing in a
program is the most priceless feeling I can
ever have,” Minas shares.
Lotuaco averts
defeat
by Abilene Eden Rovero
by Jose Miguel Limos
A BEDAN TOOK HOME the bronze medal
for bowling in the recently concluded Asian
Youth Games (AYG) in Singapore’s Orchid
Country Club. Garnering a total of 3507
pinfalls was Collins Jose (I-BSBME) for the
boys’ masters event.
According to an article written
by Mr. Abac Cordero for the Philippine
Star, Jose had the chance of landing in the
stepladder finals, needing two strikes in his
final two rolls. Unfortunately, he missed his
first roll, still he was able to rank seventh in
the singles event.
Playing since he was 10 years old,
Jose shared that his parents were the first
to introduce him to the sport. “Parang dun
ko natagpuan yung hobby ko na gusto ko
talagang mag-bowl,” said Jose when asked
about what got him interested in the game.
Allotting three hours of his time
every day, he trains six days a week at the
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to
master his craft, “Rest ko lang is Sunday,”
he said as he shares his training schedule.
His coaches include Mr. Nico Valderama,
Mr. Caloy de Leon, Mr. Gene Tonolete and
Mr. Amano Madoka.
Looking up to local bowlers
like Mr. Chester King and Mr. Paeng
Nepomuceno, Jose plans on continuing his
bowling career after finishing his studies,
“Yung pinaka-goal ko, yung maging World
Champion”
WHEN ANDRE LOTUACO, a graduating
Entrepreneurship student, heard the corner
of Anthony Laracochea shout to finish the
fight because his face was already bloody, he
decided to finish the fight himself.
The 8th event of Elorde’s Ultimate
Knockout Challenge (UKC) held last May
30 at the Elorde Grand Ballroom in Sucat,
Paranaque served as a turning point for
Lotuaco.
“I was surprised to see all the
participants’ level of competitiveness
improve,” Lotuaco said. “I’ve been
competing for two years, and I haven’t
seen that kind of competitiveness from the
participants until now.”
Feeling it out
For the first round of the fight
Lotuaco tried to feel out his opponent, “I
was trying to gauge which of my punches
would land, but I had a hard time doing
this because he kept on pressing forward
and kept being aggressive,” Lotuaco said.
“Anthony won the first round,”
Lotuaco added. “He landed more punches
and scored more points.”
Staying within range
At the opening minutes of the
second round, Lotuaco was still trying to
land his punches, “Laracochea was evasive
GASPING FOR AIR: Laracochea winces in pain as Lotuaco lands body shots.
and fast, it was frustrating,” Lotuaco said.
This feeling out stage went on
for most of the second round but during
the last 30 seconds of the round, Lotuaco
tried to land body shots to Laracochea, but
Laracochea countered with a right cross that
landed square on Lotuaco’s face.
“I was shocked. It was the first
time I got hit by a punch like that,” Lotuaco
said.
Despite being rocked by his
opponent’s punch, Lotuaco kept his cool
and stayed within his punching range, “I
didn’t want him to notice that I got rocked
by the punch, that’s why I stayed in range,”
Lotuaco said. “I won’t give up that easily,”
he added.
Last ten seconds
EDMOND ALLEN HERNANDEZ
ENTERTAINMENT
During the last ten seconds of the
second round, Lotuaco had the opportunity
to vindicate himself, “When I heard the
other corner shout ‘Duguan na, tapusin mo
na!’ I realized that I had to go all out.”
Lotuaco pressed forward and
threw a jab to the face and a body shot that
landed square on Laracochea. Laracochea
gasped for air as the body shot landed and
Lotuaco took advantage. He landed the
same combination as the bell rang for the
end of the second round.
“When I heard him gasp for air
after the body shot landed, I knew I could
finish him off,” Lotuaco said. “I just threw
the shots that were effective.”
Redemption
Lotuaco got his redemption
during the onset of the third round when
Laracochea had difficulty standing up, “My
corner told me to go all out on him as soon
as the round started,” Lotuaco said. “I was
ready to get it on but I saw that he wasn’t
trying to stand up from his corner.”
The referee then went to
Laracochea’s corner to see if he was still
fit to continue the bout. After talking to
Laracochea’s corner, the referee waved the
bout off and declared Lotuaco the winner.
“I still wanted to fight,” Lotuaco
said. “I wanted to knock him out for giving
me a hard time inside the ring, but then
again, a win is still a win.”
UKC is Elorde’s semi-annual
boxing event for amateur practitioners of
the sport. Each bout consists of three twominute rounds.
Lotuaco fought in the 170lbs
division and improves his record to 5-1.
* The Bedan Herald is now looking for writers, cartoonists, and layout artists. Interested parties may
visit us at our office at Rm. 83L. Look for Anne Lora Santos, HR Manager.
Courtesy of ANDRE LOTUACO
LIGHT, EASY AND GLAMOROUS;
these are some of the words associated in
ice skating. But it’s not as easy as it looks,
according to Joel Minas.
With his high profile in school,
who would have thought that this ‘High
Flying V’, who bagged the Best Male dancer
last cheering competition and also ran for a
said.
When his mom saw Joel’s
enthusiasm for the sport, she immediately
enrolled him in the Milo Clinic summer
sports program and “that’s it tuloy-tuloy na
yun, I was trained and now nag-cocompete
na ako here and abroad,” he added.
He competed last October in
Thailand and won gold besting countries
from Asia. Also last February, he won 2nd
place in a competition hosted by SM Mall of
Asia.
Joel and his team mates are not
supported by our government but they
received some aid from SM Super Malls.
Their training is free as well as team jackets.