The post For the love of God: Faith and the Filipino procession appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>DURING HOLY Week, the streets come alive.
In Barangay Sta. Elena, Marikina City, the normally bustling marketplace town slows down before dusk. People come out in droves to anticipate the local procession beneath the sun. A strong silence wails through the street, signaling the arrival of the carozzas. Solemnity fills the air as devotees and passersby alike gaze up at the intricately sculpted saints in their finery.
Meanwhile, in Baliwag City, Province of Bulacan, a buzz of anticipation surrounds the plaza of Saint Augustine Parish Church. The carozzas are lined up, ready for the six-hour procession that awaits. Large crowds stand by with candles in hand and excitement in their eyes.
The season of Lent is customarily viewed as a time of reflection and abstinence. But for Catholic Filipinos, the religious tradition often comes with grandeur. Wherever they are in the country, the festivities—marked by colorful swaths of fabric, beaded silks, and thoughtful floral arrangements—invite devotees to reevaluate such expressions of faith.
Communal commitment
In Marikina City, the procession of Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish (OLA) boasts over 80 carozzas, some of which have been participating for decades. One image is the Scourging at the Pillar, which first joined the procession in 1983. This image is under the care of Allan Perez and his siblings, whose late parents decided to acquire the image in 198o.
For this family, getting the carozza ready is a practiced art honed by their decades of experience. Those who are new to owning a carozza may start preparing days before the procession, but Perez and his family do so on the day of the procession itself.
Among the preparations, food takes as much precedence as the carozza. In Filipino fashion, the people who push the image and the mang-iilaw (candlelighters) who join them, are fed too.
On Holy Wednesday, preparations start between 7 AM to 8 AM, then end around 2 PM. The set-up done during this day lasts until Good Friday. By then, all that is left is to change the images’ garments and prepare food for the devotees joining them.
The experience of Perez contrasts the time-consuming preparation for the processions in Bulacan. In Baliwag, the carozza itself is given a check-up months before Holy Week. During these check-ups, its rusty edges are repainted, and the flat tires are replaced. The design also plays an important role when it comes to the clothes for the images, as these are created and ordered months before the ceremony.
Mrs. Monette Rodriguez-Salapantan has been participating in the Baliwag processions for 45 years. The Rodriguez family owns the image of Ang Pagsalubong ni Hesus sa Kanyang Ina (Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother). Their carozza is one out of the roughly estimated 120 carozzas that parade around Baliwag on the evening of Holy Wednesday and Good Friday.
As the eldest child, Salapantan takes it upon herself to manage all the necessary preparations despite residing in Quezon City. Before she heads to Baliwag, she makes sure to contact those in charge of the necessary materials and repairs to ensure that everything is set for the procession. By Holy Monday, the carozza and manpower are ready for the journey.
On Holy Wednesday and Good Friday, Salapantan leaves Quezon City after lunch, arrives in Baliwag a few hours before the procession begins, and heads to the church where their family’s carozza is stationed. With candles at hand, they take on the entire six-hour procession until midnight.
Faith that moves
For Perez, maintaining their carozza is a bonding experience. He sees this 40-year tradition as an opportunity to honor his parents and to spend time with family. His children and nephews are also already involved with simple tasks for preparation.
At the same time, part of their mission is to tell the story of Christ. “Actually, we’re quite motivated when it comes to the procession because we’re being part of that storytelling, especially to those who [don’t] know Christ,” he shares in a mix of English and Filipino.
Likewise, Salapantan sees the procession as an opportunity to retell the story of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus to the younger generation. As a parent, her goal was to teach her children about how processions are done, because there will come a time when her children, nieces, and nephews become the ones to take charge.
At an early age, her children would be assigned to minor roles like helping out with the flowers and distributing food. She believes that when taught early, the tradition starts to become a way of life rather than a struggle to get through.
When Salapantan was younger, her mother was the pillar she looked up to. “My mom has lifted everything up to Him. Everything depends on Him, so her faith has really moved me. I was not surprised, even a bit, when she wanted to have a carozza,” she expresses.
Thus, being surrounded by a religious family deepened her relationship with her faith—much like many families in Baliwag, she says. Every carozza that is passed down comes with the family’s faith and tradition embedded in it. Now, she walks with the procession without a bit of overwhelming exhaustion, steadfast in her belief that the Holy Week experience is incomplete without it.
To enlighten
As they parade their respective carozzas into the night, Perez and Salapantan have a shared sentiment: Less is more in light of this performance art.
“Masyadong bongga, masyadong extravagant, to the point na hindi na natin nakukuwento nang tama ‘yung istorya, kasi sasabihin ng tao, ‘Ay, ang ganda ng bulaklak, ang ganda ng damit.’ Hindi na nakikita ngayon ‘yung sakripisyo ni Kristo, ‘di ba?” Perez ponders.
(If it’s too extravagant, to the point that the storytelling is being told inaccurately,people will only say, ‘Oh, the flowers and clothes are beautiful.’ What about Christ’s sacrifice?)
Apart from maintaining the carozza, Perez used to participate in choir and help fix the altar, but he still feels that these were not enough. However, as he ages, he acknowledges that there comes a time to let the younger generations shine.
In a similar vein, Salapantan recalls that Holy Week processions in Bulacan used to be more extravagant when she was a child. Carozza owners would wear gowns and designer clothes as they walked the six-hour procession, and the carozza itself would have flashy features like moving statues. However, the current parish agreed to restrict these kinds of showmanship to make the event more centered around prayer, solemnity, and faith.
Upon reflection, processions become more than just images parading around a city. For Perez and Salapantan, the event is more about the story of Christ and the families who pour their hearts into their faith.
However, when the long walk is over and the carozzas are parked, the work does not stop. Instead of becoming a culmination of devotion, these processions can turn into stepping stones that pave the way for faith and love to flourish.
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]]>The post Irreplaceably human appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>Last September 2023, Global Media Arts (GMA) Network introduced Maia and Marco as the Philippines’ first-ever AI sportscasters. This ambitious project was revealed during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 Men’s Basketball opening ceremony, with the goal of enhancing the coverage of courtside reporters in the world of sports. Filipino netizens then expressed distaste and worry about the idea of AI sportscasters rolling out in the media. Such a development left an unsettling impression of what is to come for sports and its reporters.
With AI slowly finding its way to the world of sports reporting, these innovations spur a discussion on the future of the playing field. Will this be the start of an age where technology replaces the heart of sports, or will the fervor of journalism and passion for sports give rise to a force that is irreplaceably human?
In response to these prompts and how the status quo stands today, humanity is set to stand tall over technology. Humanity’s emotional delivery, passionate reportage, and building of athletes' careers are tenets that AI cannot hope to replicate in a hundred years.
Rubbing salt on wounds
Assessing the rationale of Maia and Marco’s purpose on the “cybercourt” may lead to a deeper understanding of how the status quo proves humanity’s edge over technology. According to GMA Network’s Senior Vice President and Head of Integrated News, Regional TV, and Synergy Oliver Victor Amoroso, Maia and Marco are merely presenters, and they can never replace their veteran broadcasters who serve as the lifeblood of the network.
Seemingly following suit with GMA Network’s statement, both Maia and Marco only gave a surface-level rundown of the week during the NCAA—basically doing recaps and not full-blown sports coverage. With Maia and Marco’s role in the NCAA, one can think AI’s microscopic roles in the media will not interfere with the heart of journalism. However, it sets a dangerous precedent for those who wish to follow in the footsteps of today’s sports journalists.
Given the already sensitive climate of workforce stability with the advent of AI, the release of AI-powered sportscasters stirs unnecessary fear in both aspiring and current sports reporters. Ever since AI took the world by storm, ResumeBuilder reported that 37% of business leaders say AI replaced workers in 2023, leading to mass layoffs.
Undoubtedly, AI has already found its way into every corner of society, being used in social institutions such as the workforce, business, and the academe. However, not all fields necessitate pure robotic intellect. Some fields require an instinctive passion for bringing stories to life and humanizing the complexity of sports by connecting with both the athletes and audiences. Thus, if there is one discipline that AI cannot penetrate, it is sports reportage.
Beauty in humanity
Humans are not robots. Instantaneous calculations and their innate rationality are what the latter specializes in to accomplish objective goals, forsaking subjectivity in the process. However, what is discarded like junk by robots is what humans find gold in sports reportage—emotional intelligence.
Looking at the performance of the Philippines’ pioneer AI sportscasters Maia and Marco, the AI-duo lacked the invigorating emotion that veterans like Gretchen Ho or Boom Gonzalez brings on the broadcast. This sentiment is what rising sportscaster and former basketball professional athlete Mikee Reyes voiced in a recent interview with The GUIDON Sports.
“Emotion, for a fact, is very important in sportscasting. That is what makes sports fun, relatable, and popular—all emotions put in one [game]. With journalism, you cannot take away passion. For AI, [can they be] passionate, will they be emotional as they speak?” said Reyes.
Top-class novel humanity is clearly displayed at the top sports leagues in the world, with their commentators conveying well-timed emotions to the audience—forging a stronger connection in comparison to AI.
Momentous building blocks
Aside from boosting people’s zeal in watching the games, sportscasting also prides itself on its ability to elevate athletes’ careers. Reyes is an advocate of this practice, stating that sports announcers’ emotional delivery can sell a player’s work—an irreplaceable feeling according to the social media personality.
“Pag sinisigaw niya pangalan mo, tatatak ka [with the audience]. Underrated sa career ng mga player ang commentators,” emphasized Reyes.
(When they’re shouting your name, you’ll make a mark on the audience. Commentators are really an underrated part of a player’s career.)
Once a player builds good rapport with a reporter, the athlete can benefit from this connection by focusing on their production on the court., These moments are some of the small things which can help give unbounded confidence to the players on the floor.
Setting aside all the differences between the various sports media companies, one important caveat remains: Everyone in the industry has this shared passion and love for the game. Every single fan exudes this deep affection for sports, which results in a natural and profound connection between the sportscaster and the audience.
Doubling down on Reyes’s notion of human passion, casting any sports match can evidently affect the viewing experience of the fans. In most NBA enthusiasts’ minds, Breen’s iconic “double bang” call on Stephen Curry’s long-range game-winner against the Oklahoma City Thunder is one of the most remarkable moments in sports history. Holding a special place in most football fanatics’ hearts is Peter Drury’s emotional “Aguerooo” commentary when Sergio Aguero’s late-game goal won Manchester City the tight 2012 Premier League title race. These iconic moments would not be labeled as such if not for these great sportscasters who have dedicated their lives to mastering the art of their craft.
Considering how the likes of Breen and Drury deliver their commentaries, human sports reporters’ fervor evidently goes full throttle. Apart from syncing their technical knowledge, the stories of all players on the court, and analyzing the game all in real-time, they are also required to give off the right emotion—a unique skill for those behind the microphones. Undoubtedly, this seemingly antithetical relationship devoids the robotic rigor of what is only found in the hearts of human sportscasters—a soul for the sport.
The sporting horizon
The transcendent connection between sports fans, the audience, and those in sports media is indeed still assured of its throne today—but for some, tomorrow is not certain. Fearing the future of sports media, Reyes said that despite all that he feels for the situation, he dreads the day that robots could eventually have the same way of thinking as them.
Nonetheless, it is unlikely that the imminent arrival of technological advancement will ever overtake humanity’s innate desire to adapt and overcome. The touch of humanness in reporting is paramount which AI’s pinpoint accuracy cannot compensate for in any way.
Reyes further emphasized that the human drive to achieve their ultimate dream and end goal in life can be the X-factor in this debate. “No AI can replace human sportscasters, especially passionate ones. Continue to dream about covering sports, and you may be the kid that will replace me in the future,” he stated.
Undoubtedly, desire is an invaluable treasure that only human beings are capable of. Not even a hundred years’ worth of AI advancement can hold a candle to the willpower that aspirations ignite, for human progress is an asset that moved nations, leaders, and thinkers to build societies that survived the test of time.
The humanity, emotions, and stories behind sports are only a fraction of how promising progress can be in the hands of the people. Thus, these feats are an irreplaceably human triumph that AI can never even hope to recreate.
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]]>The post 2024 Sanggu Elections conclude with 22.66% voter turnout, highest since the pandemic appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>In comparison to the previous year’s General Elections, which collected 1,334 votes or 14.08% of the student body, this year’s Sanggunian elections accumulated up to 22.66% of the Atenean undergraduate students. This year’s elections were conducted both onsite and online, as opposed to the previous year’s fully onsite setup.
Leading the student council for AY 2024–2025 is Lean “Lee” Rosendo (3 BS PSY) as the incoming Sanggunian President, garnering a total of 692 votes. Meanwhile, incumbent Sanggunian school representatives Emmanuel Frodo Uranza (3 BS PSY) and Crystelle Soriano (3 BS MGT) gained 560 and 258 votes respectively. Meanwhile, 539 members of the voter population chose to abstain.
On the other hand, Iver John Delos Santos (2 AB EC-H) won the Vice Presidential seat, accumulating 745 votes as opposed to Jo Mapalad’s (2 AB DS) 714 votes. For this position, 583 students abstained.
As for the school representatives, the sole candidates for the School of Social Sciences (SOSS) and the School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) successfully secured their positions. Namely, SOSS representative-elect Mari Macasaet (2 AB POS) garnered 425 out of 795 votes, while incoming SOSE representative Gian Marquez (2 BS ES) obtained 420 of 515 votes.
Amassing 265 out of 546 votes, John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) running representative RJ ‘Jaye’ Hubilla (2 BS LM) secured the seat for the next academic year. His opposing candidate Aoi Rika Lim (3 BS REnt) accumulated 164 votes, while 117 voters abstained.
Since there was no candidate for the School of Humanities representative, the position remains vacant. The COMELEC is currently discussing whether they will be holding a special election or motion for Course Representative Appointment.
For the upcoming school year, the 2024 Sanggunian General Elections have successfully elected representatives for 27 courses and levels.
All three SOH course representative aspirants successfully obtained their desired positions with 100% votes from their courses: Marielle Nadine E. Espejo (2 AB HUM), Vharon Gatchalian (2 AB PH), and Ame Manansala (4 BFA ID).
In JGSOM, 10 courses have secured their course representatives. The breakdown of the results is as follows:
Both accumulating 46 votes (38.33%), Francesca Cheng and Ashley Wu obtained two seats as 2 BS LM course representatives. Acquiring the third seat is Jairon Lee Mejia (2 BS LM) with a total of 25 votes (20.83%).
For the position of 2 BS MAC course representative, Caitlin Ngo successfully attained the position 16 (94.12%) out of 17 votes.
Meanwhile, 2 BS MGT course representative-elect Vonn Jhenzon S. Puga accumulated 19 (55.88%) out of 34 votes. Incoming 2 BS MGT-H representative Abigail Joy Co Ko Pio, on the other hand, amassed 57.14% votes or 8 out of 14 votes.
As for 3 BS CTM, a total of 21 votes (53.85%) were cast for candidate Zaidamin Haron, earning him the position of next year’s course representative.
Three out of four seats were successfully filled for 3 BS LM course representatives, with Mari Lim, Arabella Isidto, and Gabby Bernardo garnering 72 (40.91%), 57 (32.39%), and 45 (25.57%) votes respectively.
Securing the position for 3 BS MGT representative, Gab Nuñez stood at 24 (63.16%) out of 38 votes.
Meanwhile, 4 BS REnt representative-elect Onil Santos accumulated 8 (57.14%) out of 14 votes.
Two candidates were able to successfully garner 100% of the votes for their course levels: incoming 2 BS REnt representative Matthew Christian Galang and 3 BS MGT-H representative-elect Kylie Raine Cai.
As for the incoming SOSE course representatives, five aspirants obtained seats for the upcoming academic year. With 21 votes, incoming 4 BS LfSci representative Aaliyah Marie Acosta amassed 100% of the votes for her course level.
Representing 2 BS CpE for next year, candidate Elijah Duran acquired 13 (92.86%) out of 14 votes.
Meanwhile, 2 BS CH-MSE representative-elect Adrian Caminong garnered 88.89% of the votes or 16 out of 18 votes.
Sole aspirant Borgie Reyes (2 BS HS) earned his seat for his course with a total of 19 out of 24 votes (79.17%).
Railee Seantiel De Vera was hailed as 2 BS MIS course representative after garnering 11 votes out of 14 (78.57%).
For SOSS course representatives, four candidates attained 100% of their course level’s votes: Nikolai Russegger (2 AB HI), Giorgia Orda (2 AB MA-POS), Marie Lee (3 AB HI), and Thirdy Pitero (4 AB EC).
Incoming 2 AB MEC representative Jacob Tamayo secured his position with 13 (86.67%) out of 15 votes.
Occupying two out of four seats dedicated to 2 AB POS representatives, Jedryc Romero obtained 42 votes (51.22%), while Kenshin Mamuad accumulated 36 votes (43.90%).
On the other hand, Erline Gail Zamudio (3 AB EC) stood at 18 votes (94.74%), securing their position.
Taking the seat as 3 AB POS-MPM course representative, Allen Yu earned a total of 13 votes (86.67%).
Meanwhile, Hyram Yusico and Glenn Laus stood at 33 (58.93%) and 21 (37.5%) votes respectively, securing their position as 3 BS PSY representative-elects. With three seats open, one seat remains vacant.
Given that the results for 3 AB EC-H aspirant Joshua Andrei Limpin ended at a 1–1 vote with abstain or a 50–50 tie, COMELEC stated in a memo that “run-off elections” will occur after the Holy Week break to determine the final results.
Electoral inquiries
Prior to the release of final results, the COMELEC received an electoral inquiry on March 21 regarding the JGSOM representative candidate Aoi Rika Lim and alleged screenshots that circulated. These screenshots showed Lim offering “internship opportunities” and access to a “community of career-driven people” to her campaign ambassadors.
In communication with the COMELEC, Lim clarified that the “internship opportunities” and “community of career-driven people” being referred to pertained to her platforms aimed at establishing these initiatives in the Sanggunian. Hence, the COMELEC deemed the case to be a “simple communication error” and that no offenses were committed.
On March 22, another electoral inquiry was filed concerning the total number of voters for the incoming 2 AB MA-POS representative, Giorgia Orda. Despite allegedly having a total of six votes from 1 AB MA-POS, only three votes were counted in the initial tally. The COMELEC claimed that the three remaining votes may have been voided due to a blank ballot, lack of signature and/or course, and the presence of markings on the ballot.
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]]>The post Talks of money in matrimony appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>THE IMPORTANCE of wealth in relationships has been an increasingly polarizing discourse. In a social media post that made rounds online, an anonymous woman aired her sentiments after her eight-year long-term partner proposed with an engagement ring bought online for a modest sum of Php 299.
Some netizens validated her feelings, even bringing up the idea that people who could not afford an engagement ring should not get married. They urged the woman to know and assert her worth, or to expect more than the “bare minimum.” On the other hand, a few netizens expressed that material gifts are not a measurement of love. Later on, the woman’s partner was revealed to be a breadwinner, which added another layer of intricacy to the situation.
Amid such mixed reactions, a couple and an anthropologist weigh in on the matter, deconstructing relevant complexities in the issue.
For richer, for poorer
Arjhay Puod and Joie Cortina’s paths first crossed in an advocacy circle for gender equality—a cause they are both passionate about. At the time, Arjhay resided in Pasig City while Joie flew in and out of the country for career purposes.
Despite their distance, their lives intertwined when Arjhay’s organization sent him to a consultancy event that Joie was working on.
The couple bonded over their mutual stances on critical and political issues. “The feeling that we have when we’re together is really a psychological safe space for both of us. Nowadays, it’s really hard to find company like that,” Arjhay says.
Having no engagement and pre-nuptial theatrics, Arjhay and Joie sealed their relationship in an intimate ceremony attended by six guests, with rings picked out together during a mundane stroll at the mall. Instead of a formal proposal, the couple solidified their partnership and plans for their union over dinner.
For Joie, a clear, sober understanding of what they were getting into held greater importance than any rehearsed proposal or custom-made ring. She attests that financial intelligence should be the stronger factor to consider before getting married, rather than financial stability.
The couple’s attitude toward finances could be best summed up with a simple sentence: “If Arjhay pays today, [then] Joie pays tomorrow.” Finances do not affect their relationship dynamics despite one earning significantly more than the other.
The money factor
Contrary to Arjhay and Joie, some marriages do attach economic value to matrimony. Department of Sociology and Anthropology Lecturer Jozon Lorenzana, PhD cites various reasons why people get married: Aside from religious sanctions, marriage in the past was a way of forming political, social, and economic alliances. Depending on the partners’ financial capabilities, a union may serve as a means to share resources or bridge gaps.
“Economic security has consequences for emotional security,” Lorenzana says. Gaining economic benefits through marriage allows couples to pursue personal and shared goals, such as buying a house or raising children. Given this, people more commonly wed within their social class.
Contemporary times did bring a change in the way marriage is viewed. “In the modern era, people marry for love. There’s that emotional component to a marriage,” they share.
Arjhay and Joie are a clear demonstration of “marrying for love.” While marriage enabled them to share health benefits and expenses, the ultimate deciding factor that sealed their union was their common values.
Seeking stability
While Joie understands that other couples may want to splurge on an important milestone, she sees how it may come off as one’s affections being bought with an expensive item. On her partner’s side, Arjhay also emphasizes that a pricey ring does not guarantee a lasting relationship.
Though not a measure of love, culturally, the price of engagement rings has since been a display of financial stability. “There’s a lot of burden because it’s a cultural expectation for the male party to signify the intent of marrying in a way that also signifies his economic security,” Lorenzana explains.
However, Joie argues that an individual’s wealth is not a reflection of their diligence, naming farmers and teachers as examples of workers who deserve a higher income.
“Kailangan natin i-rethink ‘yung ideas natin ng financial stability (We need to rethink our ideas of financial stability),” she asserts, adding that such ideals may not be reflective of challenges faced by the broader population.
Arjhay espouses a similar belief, citing greater societal contexts, such as the high cost of living and low wages, that restrain people from earning more and saving money.
Ultimately, Arjhay and Joie run counter to the rising socio-cultural value of financial capacity in a relationship. In the couple’s case, they are partners strategizing for current and future expenses—for richer or for poorer.
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]]>The post Blue Eagles lose heartbreaker after Tamaraws’ last-minute goal appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>After dropping their second game of the season, Ateneo remains third in the standings with 14 points entering a two-week break.
The opening half of the match saw both sides trading shots at the net as FEU had 10 shots with four on target, whereas Ateneo had seven attempts with four getting close to the goal.
Despite the physicality of the match prohibiting goals early on, the Tamaraws’ offense would get the better of the Blue Eagles in the 36th minute, as Karl Absalon sent a powerful strike from outside the box with Ateneo late to challenge. With this, the FEU forward picked up his fourth goal of the season, 1-0.
Later on in the 42nd minute, a yellow card was handed to Viejay Frigallano after an advertent play to subdue Kofi Agyei, leading to an Atenean free-kick. Although Leo Maquiling’s kick reached Jose Lopez, the latter’s header was simply too high as Ateneo remained scoreless.
However, an opening would come for the Blue Eagles in the 44th minute after Khent Valenzuela was thrown out with a red card after a hard tackle on Jet Dela Cruz, forcing FEU to play with 10 men for the rest of the match.
Opening the second half, a close call for Ateneo was averted in the 56th minute after an attempt by Sherwin Basindanan skied above the crossbar. 14 minutes later, the Blue Eagles would eventually find a golden opportunity through a corner throw-in by Maquiling, but after multiple header chances, FEU eventually held on.
In the 76th minute, Basindanan found himself wide open off a pass from Martini Rey. With only Artuz Cezar in his way, Basindanan came up empty-handed as the reigning Best Keeper of the league came up with a big save to keep Ateneo within striking distance.
Just a minute later, Agyei took it upon himself to bring Ateneo back with an impressive flick over RJ Pescadera, sending a goal through the legs of Jetrick Fabrigas to even the match at 1-1.
In the 88th minute, the play was eventually stopped after a head collision between Gabriel Busuego and Gerald Estores, which led to their substitutions from the game. With three minutes into added time and multiple failed attempts earlier in the match, Basindanan finally found the back of the net with a header to take the game, 2-1.
Ateneo has two weeks to recuperate as they continue their second-round journey by facing the University of Santo Tomas Golden Booters on Thursday, April 11, 6:30 PM at the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (1): Cezar, Flores, Salud, Dela Cruz, Agyei, Maquiling, F. Roxas, J. Lopez (C), Abaa, Fernandez, Escobin
FEU (2): Fabrigas, Arriola, Yu, Absalon, Rey, Valenzuela, Frigillano, Darapan, Bacon, Mustapa, Alipoon
Standings (Points, Goal Difference):
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]]>The post Ateneo clinches match honors in a set and season sweep romp of UP appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>The win keeps Ateneo in contention for a possible Final Four appearance, despite being at the fifth spot in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 standings.
Spearheading the point tallies for the Blue and White was Geezel Tsunashima, contributing 16 points with her offensive play. Meanwhile, the excellent attack front exhibited by Sobe Buena from the left side of the court complemented Tsunashima’s strenuous feat, contributing 10 points to the scoreboard. Following suit, both AC Miner and Lyann De Guzman tallied eight points while Zey Pacia further solidified the team’s triumphant victory by garnering six points throughout the match.
Opening the match with a relentless ball kill from De Guzman, the long rally ended in favor of the Blue and White, 1-0. Complementing De Guzman’s vigorous attack front, AC Miner delivered multiple quick attacks and even fired from the back row to add more points for Ateneo. Notwithstanding UP’s early lead at 9-8, the Blue Eagles regained momentum with consecutive service aces from Yvanna Sulit and libero-captain Roma Doromal’s timely defensive stops. Despite the Lady Maroons’ attempt to seize the set, the Blue and White ultimately gained the upper hand, 25-14.
The Blue Eagles then leaned on their dominant frontline, led by Miner, to take a quick 11-7 advantage in the second set, forcing UP to call for time. Off the timeout, the Fighting Maroons came away with three straight points to close the gap, 11-10. However, the combined heroics of De Guzman and Buena brought back Ateneo’s advantage to 16-12 by powering through the Fighting Maroon blockers. The Blue Eagles then went on a 6-0 run, leaning on Tsunashima’s three points throughout the outburst to lead 23-16. With Ateneo at set point due to UP’s service error, it was Tsunashima who once again closed out the set with an attack through the blockers, 25-20.
Determined to end the match early, the Blue Eagles consistently fronted the floor defense with Doromal’s arduous digs. On the other wing, the Blue and White fortified the Ateneo wall with their towering blocks which became their conclusive advantage in the final set. Tsunashima’s power throughs from the back row and Pacias statement running attacks characterized the final frames of the match, handing the Blue Eagles a comfortable lead at 14-7. Ateneo never looked back, as they capped their strenuous feat with an Anthea Selga service ace to claim the triumphant victory at 25-15.
After taking University of Santo Tomas to the distance, and now sweeping the Fighting Maroons, confidence is at an all-time high for Head Coach Sérgio Veloso and the Blue Eagles.
“Now, everybody can see how the Ateneo team can play at this level, no matter the opponent, we [keep] trying to do our best, that’s [what’s] most important,” the Brazilian tactician said.
Following this win against their Katipunan co-tenants, the Blue Eagles hope to continue on with their momentum as they take on the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in a crucial match next Thursday, April 4, 4:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena in the City of Pasay.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3): Tsunashima - 16, Buena - 10, Miner - 8, De Guzman - 8, Pacia - 6, Sulit - 2, Selga - 1, Fujimoto - 1
UP (0): Bustrillo - 8, Jaboneta - 5, Ytang - 5, Monares - 4, Baclay - 2, Capistrano - 1, Celis - 1, Encarnacion - 1, Magsombol - 1, Goc - 1, Gould - 1
Set scores: 25-14, 25-20, 25-15
Standings (W-L):
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]]>The post Ateneo narrowly misses mark against DLSU, Final Four berth still uncertain appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>With today’s result, the Blue and White incur their first loss of the second round, falling to a 5-4 record in the current University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 standings.
The Taft-based batters got off to a roaring start in the first inning after Ateneo starting pitcher Manuel Senador struggled to find the strike zone. Courtesy of Joseph Alcontin and first baseman Marco Micael, DLSU scored four runs in the opening frame to put the pressure on the Blue Eagles.
Undeterred by the opening onslaught, the Blue and White quickly countered in the bottom of the second and third innings with third baseman Ethan Mitschiener and left fielder Joaquin Mendoza delivering crucial hits to put Ateneo up, 5-4.
From thereon, it was a shutout from both sides through the middle portions of the contest, with the bitter rivals showing excellent pitching displays to keep the score where it is.
However, Blue Eagle pitcher Gab Francisco’s erratic delivery in the eighth inning resulted in his fourth and fifth hit-by-pitch, which forced him to come out and Joshua De Juras set to check in.
This allowed DLSU to take advantage, as an intentional walk to Lord Aragorn De Vera promptly loaded the bases for JR Samuel. With the Green Batters down a run, the catcher singled to the center-field which brought home two runs and the lead back to Taft, 6-5. Now back in the driver’s seat, a six-out save was produced by the DLSU closing pitcher to end the match with a La Salle win.
As Ateneo took their first defeat of the second round, the virtual three-way tie with National University (NU) Bulldogs and DLSU Green Batters at first place was broken.
Dropping to third in the UAAP standings, the Blue Eagles hope to bounce back and book a Final-Four spot up for grabs as they take on the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons next Thursday, April 4, 6:00 PM at the same venue.
Inning Scores:
DLSU (6): 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 6 4 3
Ateneo (5): 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 5 11 3
Current Standings (W-L):
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]]>The post Batas shines in Ateneo’s five-set victory over Katipunan rivals appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 5-4 win-loss record, keeping them at fourth place in the second round standings of the UAAP Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Both Katipunan-based squads welcomed the contest boasting their attack variation with quick kills and clever tips, 2-2. The Fighting Maroons took advantage of their strong start to assert a two-point advantage, 4-6, but star sophomore Jian Salarzon’s time on deck successfully destabilized the UP defense to level the board, 7-7. Opposite hitter Ken Batas and Team Captain Amil Pacinio then spearheaded Ateneo’s 6-1 run with powerful blows from the pins, 17-13, stifling UP’s effort to bounce back.
Midway through the set, reigning Season 85 Best Libero Lance De Castro was replaced on the court by Leinuel Crisostomo after a stumble that resulted in a minor sprain. Undeterred by their teammate’s absence, Blue Eagle attackers coupled with the Fighting Maroons’ unforced errors allowed Ateneo to claim the first set, 25-15.
The following frame saw increased aggressiveness from UP as their improved net defense contained Batas and Salarzon, 4-9. Unfazed by the Fighting Maroons’ scoring outburst, Batas matched their attacking rhythm for a standstill at 14-14. However, the men in maroon showcased their stellar floor defense to regain the lead, 16-20, while using the blue blockade for off-the-block points, 17-22. The Fighting Maroons then took the second set with a solid block followed by an error from Ateneo, 18-25.
Hungry to redeem their set loss, the Blue Eagles breezed through the third set with check ball points and kill blocks, 8-2. Staking the Fighting Maroons on the scoreboard, Ateneo proceeded to showcase their speed on the transition, closing out the crucial set with a comfortable 15 point lead, 25-15.
Keeping their momentum, the Blue Eagles maintained their good form in set four, 8-6, until UP ace Louis Gamban forced a deadlock with unstoppable crosscourt hits, 11-11. Stealing away the lead, UP fortified their wall to sabotage Ateneo’s attacking efficiency, and hustled to extend the match, 20-25.
The Blue Eagles commanded court momentum early in the final set with Batas leading the charge for a four-point lead, 5-1. Setter Jan Mangulabnan maximized all his attackers for easy kills to overwhelm UP floor defenders, 8-4. With UP only getting breathing room from Ateneo errors and off-the-block hits, the boys in blue were merciless from the wings—not relinquishing their dominant start. Batas, who would later be named Player of the Game for his excellent showing totalling 30 points, finished the contest with an emphatic spike off the weak UP wall, 15-10.
Eager to improve their standing even further, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will meet the top-seeded Far Eastern University Tamaraw Spikers Thursday, April 4, at 12:00 PM in the Mall of Asia Arena.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3) - Batas - 30, Salarzon - 20, Pacinio - 16, Daculan - 9, De Guzman - 5, Gopio - 1, Mangulabnan - 1, Sendon - 1
UP (2) - Malaban - 19, Gamban - 17, Rubin - 14, Nicolas - 9, Lagando - 8, Santiago - 2, Samaniego - 1
Set scores:
Ateneo (3) - UP (2): 25-15, 18-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-10
Standings:
Standings:
1. FEU Tamaraws (7-1)
2. NU Bulldogs (7-2)
3. DLSU Green Spikers (5-3)
4. ATENEO Blue Eagles (5-4)
5. UST Golden Spikers (4-4)
6. AdU Soaring Falcons (4-4)
7. UE Red Warriors (1-7)
8. UP Fighting Maroons (0-9)
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]]>The post Refuge in the islands: The Palestinian exodus appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>THE HISTORY between Israel and Palestine, stemming from territorial and political disputes, has spanned decades of wars and hostilities. The impact of these conflicts has caused another, where Palestine faces the ongoing illegal occupation at the hands of Israel.
Since October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reports the nation’s heavy weight of loss, where one in every 100 people in Gaza has become a casualty of the relentless conflict. More than representing mere statistics, the overwhelming number of lives lost has left stories, memories, and loved ones who now grapple with immeasurable grief.
With the recent circumstances, refugees are forced to leave what was once the comfort of their homes. Palestinian civilians now find themselves in unfamiliar territories in order to seek refuge despite currents of fear and uncertainty.
Currents of solidarity
To escape violence and harm, numerous civilians have fled from the ongoing genocide in Gaza, including 50 Palestinian refugees—many of whom are notably families of Filipina wives who are settled in the Philippines. These families sought refuge and stayed temporarily at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City from November to December 2023.
However, the limitations on the volunteers’ resources and in-kind donations have caused Palestinian refugees to seek another shelter after December 21. These families, once again, are faced with the challenge of securing a new home during their stay in the Philippines.
While discourse on the issue may still often be divided, various Filipino organizations and individuals find themselves partaking in the humanitarian cause. In response to this crisis, the Philippine-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA) stands as one of the many volunteer non-governmental organizations (NGOs) collaborating with Palestinian refugees. The NGO originated as a friendship association between two distinct communities, but it is better known as a network of Filipinos and Palestinians working together to combat shared challenges since 2016.
In recalling the pages of history, PPFA General-Secretary Pastor Alan Rey Sarte shares that Filipino activists and Arab and Palestinian students have already established a deep bond for years even before the NGO was founded.
Sarte also explains that Filipinos and Palestinians share a common denominator—the imperialism of the United States of America (USA). He asserts that the USA, which was historically a colonial power in the Philippines, now supports the illegal occupation of Israel in Palestine.
“We need to rally people to join in this struggle against imperialism—that other countries would like to control our lives. We see the state of Palestine. Bilang mga tao ay responsibilidad natin na makibahagi (As people, we have a responsibility to take part in the resistance),” Pastor Allan shares.
Despite the shared struggle, the PPFA knew since the onset of the war in Gaza that their solidarity with Palestine is not merely based on the affinity of the communities, but a humanitarian effort to assist the Palestinian refugees. One of the things the PPFA helps them with is the payment of rent since their legal papers are still not processed.
From the start, Pastor Allan disclaims that they are a network of volunteers, clarifying that they are not the government responsible for handling such difficult tasks. Nevertheless, they have taken upon themselves the task of coordinating with agencies for support.
Refuting refuge
Zenab* is just one member of the 36 families that were repatriated from Gaza by the Filipino government in early November 2023. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) mentioned that they could not provide the families a place to stay, insisting that they reside with their relatives as much as possible. Since then, she and her family have been looking for temporary shelter in the kindness of strangers.
This reality is a far stretch from the lives they led in Palestine. Zenab and her family moved to Gaza in 1993 after the land and property were passed down to them. They spent the next 30 years carefully crafting a home for their children, a company they could work in, and a life they were genuinely happy to call theirs.
“We liked it more in Palestine than in the Philippines,” she says. “Their culture was our culture. Their land was our land.”
By October 2023, that statement would be retracted when Israel bombed Gaza. On the first day of the bombardment, Danny Denon, a member of the Israeli Knesset, said that the people of Gaza would have to “pay the price” for the attacks led by Hamas on Israel. The price paid by Zenab and her family is the complete uprooting of their lives to avoid being a number on the rising Palestinian death toll. Three decades of their lives were reduced to a 10-kilometer walk to the Gazan border where they would wait for a month to seek refuge in their homeland.
“Ka[ga]galing lang sa heart surgery ang asawa ko. Naglakad talaga siya kahit mahina ‘yung puso niya,” Zenab says.
(My husband just came from heart surgery. He walked all the way to the border with a weak heart.)
When the family reached the Philippines, Zenab recalls that her husband looked like a “zombie.” Unbeknownst to them, he was also suffering from diabetes. His glucose shot up to dangerous levels, requiring immediate medical attention—one they could not easily attain as they had only the clothes on their backs coming into the country.
At the time, their survival necessitated reliance on strangers. Fortunately, her husband received medical help from a contact, who also bridged them to a Redemptorist convent. The members of the convent then eventually linked them to the PPFA for assistance.
Kindness has its limits, however. The convent required a policy of silence—a condition that many of the refugee children could not uphold. Thus, the family sought shelter from Muslim group donors, but the new house they will live in is still under renovation—and that renovation time will be taken from the 6 months they are allowed to stay. While waiting, they stayed on a farm in Batangas, counting the weeks until they would eventually be kicked out.
A question of dignity
Throughout the ordeal, the government has been stingy with its financial support. The Egyptian embassy refused to give Zenab the $1,000 she was promised, stipulating that her son’s family already received the aid. Additionally, they claimed that she was still considered a part of his unit. The Philippine government did the same but without an explanation. “Sapat ba ’yun? (Is that fair?)” Zenab asks.
Less fair is the fact that these refugees have been completely stripped of a home that they built—only to be treated as less than in their country of origin. “We [the refugees] say, ‘Kawawa naman tayo, hindi ito ‘yung buhay natin sa Gaza’ (Poor us, this isn’t our life back in Gaza),” Zenab proclaims. “There, we have dignity.”
Dignity is the keyword in understanding the experiences of the refugees—the loss of it, in particular. The memory of the war has left them in constant pursuit of justice for themselves and their children in each river and sea they cross.
“The trauma of the war is still with us… ‘Yung mga apo ko, apat [na taon] ang isa tapos one and one-half ‘yung isa. Naririnig ko pa rin ang mga sigaw nila,” she cries.
(My grandchildren, one of them is four [years old] and the other is one and a half. I still hear their screams.)
*Editor’s Note: The interviewees’ names have been changed at their request to protect their identity and privacy.
Resources:
As the humanitarian crisis persists, the displaced Filipino-Palestinian refugees need support of any kind. If you are interested in contributing to the Philippine-Palestine Friendship Association, you may contact the organization through the following contact details:
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]]>The post Dimes for dreams: Unraveling the hidden costs of STEM education appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>CONDUCTING SCIENTIFIC research is part and parcel of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. More than ever, the full return of onsite learning in the University has brought STEM students back to the laboratory, ready to don their coats for the first time in two years.
With the pandemic exposing gaps in the current capacities of the scientific and healthcare fields, the next generation of science researcher-practitioners must be trained to conquer any health crisis that could plague the world yet again.
Driven more than ever to respond to that noble call, thesis partners and scholars Yanni Bolacito and Jenn Sampiano (4 BS BIO) hope to pursue careers in the medical field. In line with this, the pair’s senior thesis aims to find antibiotic alternatives using plant extracts indigenous to the Philippines.
Unfortunately, one cannot simply begin an experimental study without accounting for the practical considerations. For Sampiano, Bolacito, and the STEM community, pressing financial issues may restrict student-researchers from fully actualizing their lofty ideas.
In short supply
The end of an undergraduate degree is marked by the completion of a thesis. In the case of SOSE Seniors, laboratory subjects were moved to their Junior Year when onsite classes resumed. Laboratory classes like Microbiology were taught to Sampiano and Bolacito in their Third Year when it is normally taken in the First Year. They both express their struggles having laboratory classes for the first time while also pursuing a thesis grounded in laboratory work.
“By [the] Second Semester of Third Year, we were already doing thesis proposals. It was a bit challenging especially since we didn’t know our way through the laboratory. We just had to learn our way through doing [it]. Until now, we’re actually still learning a lot. Each day, we’re learning something new,” Sampiano shares.
Nonetheless, both remain grateful for the two years they are still able to experience onsite. With the return of the physical learning setup, they were able to pursue a thesis that was not limited to virtual means.
Fortunately, they also won the 2023 Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products with another thesis pair, Kaye Cortado and Renz Trovela (4 BS BIO). The highly competitive grant awards Php 50,000 to two pairs or two groups per region.
Extremely grateful for such assistance, Sampiano and Bolacito quickly realized how costly their materials would be in light of the laboratory’s limited cap for available resources. For example, the Biology Department can only provide 20g agar for one year. Alternatively, buying wholesale from suppliers would cost Php 3,000 to Php 5,000 for a whole bottle they would not even finish.
Besides that, the nonlinear nature of creating a thesis also generated unexpected costs. “It’s not like you plan it, you do it, it works the first time, then you’re done. [Thesis involves] a lot of planning and troubleshooting. There [are] repeats in experiments,” Sampiano explains.
Additionally, the issue of equipment availability persists to be an issue for science education. In the Ateneo, such issues pose a problem to students using equipment for both their thesis and regular laboratory classes.
“Mayroong kulang na equipment, mayroon ding equipment na sira sa isang lab (There is lacking equipment and equipment that is broken in one of the laboratories). It really shows how underfunded [Ateneo] is,” Bolacito highlights.
With that, the pair discussed how winning the grant was unexpected, given its high stakes. “We were hopeful, of course, but we were also just prepared in case na hindi matuloy ‘yung grant (in case the grant would not push through),” Sampiano notes. “We’ll still push through with our study, but we’ll find a way to make it more economical since we know it’s very costly.”
STEM students continue to face the same roadblocks Sampiano and Bolacito encountered, even without a grant. In the Ateneo, the channels for financial support continue to concern the SOSE community, especially with the full return of onsite classes.
Great scope, greater limitations
Back in the pandemic, students would often rely on remote laboratory kits and computer simulations to conduct their experiments. In a post-pandemic world, however, one needs to account for more costs: transportation, materials, and facilities.
In this regard, the SOSE Dean’s Office shoulders such essential costs. SOSE Dean Raphael Guerrero, PhD shares that they offer such support with a budget that remains fixed even despite inflation. Thus, students often need to outsource such assets in order to adequately undertake their research interests.
Explicating these shortcomings is SOSE Sanggunian Representative Annielov Paboroquez. For example, chemical reagents—substances used to cause a chemical reaction—are given in a set amount that is usually insufficient. The limited supply, purchased using a budgetary allocation from the Dean’s Office, would force students to spend more.
Furthermore, while the Ateneo’s laboratories are generally free to use, students need to pay for specialized equipment for maintenance purposes. Even then, campus laboratories may be too rudimentary for some studies. As such, additional transportation, equipment, and data collection and analysis fees also take the bulk of their expenses.
Despite these limitations, the Dean’s Office and the SOSE Sanggunian provide multiple opportunities for students to ease the cost of their academic pursuits. Guerrero discloses that his office is actively working on expanding and maintaining a network of sponsors and partners who can contribute to the pool of resources.
Meanwhile, the SOSE Sanggunian collaborates closely with the Dean’s Office to provide the Sanggunian Academic Subsidy. Every semester, this initiative is open to students across the four schools. In particular, SOSE undergraduates who are completing their academic requirements or attending conferences abroad are welcome to apply for the financial grant, capped at Php 30,000 per individual or group applicant.
The final amount they will be awarded is determined by their line item budget. Last semester, the 30 groups who applied for the subsidy had a total of Php 2,384,000 in expenditures. Providing for these groups at the Php 30,000-limit would have cost the SOSE Sanggunian Php 890,000, which is Php 500,000 more than their Php 390,000-budget.
According to Paboroquez, those who have often sought this subsidy are thesis students from BS Biology and BS Environmental Science given their costs for data collection and analysis. She divulges that despite the necessity, the SOSE Sanggunian is having a difficult time encouraging students to apply for the grant, particularly because of the initiative’s largest deterrent: the slow release of funds.
To request for funding, the SOSE Sanggunian sends the list of subsidy recipients to the Office of Student Activities with the Dean’s endorsement. Once approved, the request is forwarded to the Office of the Vice President for Mission Integration and then the Central Accounting Office—the administrative office in charge of controlling fund disbursements and reimbursements.
Paboroquez laments that securing authorizations from these offices takes a long time. Although she ensures the swift approval of these requests, the pace at which higher offices release funds ultimately delays the financial aid.
“[These concerned offices are] still processing the first semester groups. Their funds haven’t been disbursed. They also haven’t been notified of the amount they’re eligible for. The Dean doesn’t want to release [that information] until we get the money,” Paboroquez says in a mix of Filipino and English.
The state of STEM education
Despite the amplified calls for STEM development, the evident lack of science funding leaves STEM researcher-practitioners to fend for themselves. Such concerns are exacerbated by phenomena such as the healthcare sector’s “brain drain.” Furthermore, rampant urbanization, ecosystem destruction, and worsening climate change further intensify the need for sound and actionable research and education. Should scientific education and research remain underfunded, it will remain in ivory towers, secluded from the people it is supposed to serve.
Sampiano underscores the greater need for support on scientific endeavors, considering that even Ateneans have to contend with stringent subsidy approval processes, as well as financial and material constraints.
“If ganito na ‘yung state ng Ateneo, how about other schools na walang funds at all (If this is the state of Ateneo, how about other schools that do not have funds at all)?” she notes.
In this light, Sampiano also expresses how the grant has provided significant support and hope to her group. “We feel we can push through because we have the funds to do it,” she emphasizes.
In the broader context, DOST’s 2024 budget saw a disproportionate prioritization of the country’s educational goals. Notably, the research and education agencies and programs, including that of the Philippine Science High School, have suffered from budget cuts.
As Guerrero recognizes the globalized context of STEM graduates, he highlights the need for an education that invests in the talents and potentials of the students.
“For that, you need to be updated. [...] You have to know how science works, because we live in a science- and technology-driven society. [...] No matter what degree you graduate with, that curiosity, that willingness and openness to solve problems, will work anywhere, in any job,” he shares.
At the heart of science education is the desire to learn and create more to contribute to humanity’s ingenuity and progress. However, when such a desire is neglected by a significant deficiency in support, the future of Philippine STEM education is left in a stagnant and uncertain state.
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]]>The post After a five-year wait, Blue Eagles cop first win in UAAP Women’s Football appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>This victory against UST marked the Blue Eagles’ first win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Women’s Football Tournament. At the same time, this serves as their first victory since Season 81 when they scored a 1-0 victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons back on March 20, 2019.
Moreover, Ateneo has earned a total of four points at the end of the first set of matches after earning their first point in their 2-2 draw against the same team last Saturday, March 16.
Early into the match, both squads fiercely battled in the midfield, denying each other a chance to inch closer to the penalty box. Ateneo's first shot on target came in the 9th minute with Gabrielle Tuaño dribbling the ball into the attacking third, finding KC Zalamea whose shot went wide.
Ateneo continued to push the pace since then, with most of their chances just barely going over the crossbar or wide. The Blue and White nearly found the breakthrough by the 22nd minute, as Traci Lim would find Ysa Samonte in a set-piece, but the attempt was quickly saved by UST’s goalie Lizlie Garcia.
Two-thirds of the way into the half, the Katipunan-based eleven continued to fight for possession and deny UST’s through balls. The Lady Booters nearly found the back of the net by the 39th-minute mark as Christy Logastua found herself one-on-one with Atenean goalkeeper Adri Lee, but UST’s shot just went wide.
The España-based squad continued to thwart the Katipunan team’s attempts at goal with multiple blocks as the first 45 minutes ended scoreless for both sides. After the first half of play, the Blue Eagles had nine shot attempts compared to Lady Booters’ four, along with three corners.
Angely Alferez got the second half going with multiple chances within the first two minutes. Her teammate Zalamea would set her up five minutes later with a chance to find the breakthrough for the Blue and White, with the attempt just going over the crossbar.
Since the 60th-minute mark, UST saw a plethora of opportunities to score, with Ateneo’s Lee running to make the save each time. Fatigue was setting in for both teams with 10 minutes left, but Ateneo was determined to look for the breakthrough and their first win.
The Katipunan-based squad’s resolve paid off in the 89th minute as Alferez went for a cross from the left flank. With a minute remaining, Alferez eventually found Eval who scored from close range, putting Ateneo up 1-0.
Given the five minutes of stoppage time added, the Lady Booters attempted to look for an equalizer. Eval would put the icing on the cake with another goal to seal Ateneo’s first win of the season, 2-0.
The Blue Eagles will look to continue their momentum into the second round of the tournament, with the schedule yet to be announced.
Current Table (Points)
FEU Lady Tamaraws (12)
DLSU Lady Booters (9)
UP Fighting Maroons (4)
ATENEO Blue Eagles (4)
UST Lady Booters (0)
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]]>The post Accounting for accountability appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>While the amounts were previously confirmed by Scholars Sector Representative Karen Perez as accurate, pertinent documents containing the proposed budget have not been publicly accessible. This issue intensifies student discussions on the Sanggunian’s seeming passiveness in democratizing student representation.
Last November, a hacking incident also occurred on the previous Facebook Page of the Central Assembly (CA), the Sanggunian unit primarily responsible for fiscal deliberations. However, initiatives have yet to be made with regard to making the first semester budgets available on the new Facebook Page.
Private or public?
Coordinating with the Sanggunian Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the CA conducts budget hearings every semester to discuss the proposals of the student government’s various units, including the four School Sanggunians and four sectors.
Once these proposals get the CA’s nod, they will be submitted to the Sanggunian Office of the President, its formator Neil Reyes, and Office of Student Activities Director Ralph Quiblat for further approval.
Quite notably, however, Sanggunian President Bernice Mendoza vetoed CA’s initial budget proposal last September for not meeting the minimum amount for the School Sanggunians’ Resource Partnership Programs, as stipulated in its Code of Financial Procedures.
Clarifying the budget issue last semester, Perez points out that the Php 45,850-budget was proposed by the Sectoral Board themselves. In a memorandum, she explained that the low funding does not indicate that the Sanggunian has “low regard for the welfare of the scholar community.”
With the increased demand for the Financial Subsidies Program and the 14th Scholars’ Week project slated to happen this semester, Perez bares that the Sectoral Board proposed a budget of Php 109,000 during the Second Semester Budget Hearing—a significant jump from the previous semester.
“The sector also knows [that] we’re very intentional when it comes to proposing the budget and not just proposing for the sake of it,” Perez says.
Genuine representation
The Sanggunian makes these budget procedures public by establishing systems ensuring budget transparency, which used to include a live budget tracker website. However, the website has been rendered inoperable as a whole since 2021.
Sanggunian Vice President Czarina de Marcaida explains that the project ultimately ended during the term of former Sanggunian President JB Bejarin, emphasizing that internal processes adapt over time to fit the situations of the student government.
While the live budget tracker is no longer accessible, DBM Co-Chairperson Jacob Arabes shares that they are currently implementing a Transactions Central Tracker, which aims to reflect the status of financial processes filed by unit heads. Due to data privacy concerns, the tracker cannot be made open for public perusal, but it can be requested.
Alongside this initiative, the Sanggunian presents its budget proposals and hearings through livestreams on its main page. Expenditures of each unit and sector were also discussed during the State of the Sanggunian Address.
Despite these measures, there is still a lack of immediacy in the posting of financial documents, especially in the absence of the latest budget reports on the Sanggunian website. As of writing, the latest proposal posted is still from the first semester of AY 2022–2023.
Amid these formal communication platforms, students’ preference for informal channels may indicate probable issues in the student government’s public communication strategies and visibility.
Such institutional phenomenon may be linked to a deeper analysis of political attitudes. From a public management perspective, Political Science Professor Anne Lan Candelaria, PhD cites two possible reasons for the disconnect between leaders and the constituents: gaps in organizational development and public distrust in the government.
Organizational development issues may refer to inefficiencies brought about by bureaucratic red tape or major structural changes. Such issues are solvable, said Candelaria, but the same cannot be said when the relationship between the leaders and the governed is built on distrust. Constituents may also hesitate to put their confidence in political institutions when leaders repeatedly fall short of fulfilling their promises.
Candelaria explains that the predicaments encountered by the Sanggunian point to its internal system issues, but these can be remedied by capacitating leaders to be well-versed in the organizational development component of student leadership.
Following this, Arabes shares that during the transition period, incoming school and sector representatives are individually oriented and trained by their predecessors in preparation for the budget hearings. This practice equips sectors with the necessary skills when participating in the budget process.
Pursuing transparency
With the recent semestral budget hearings, Candelaria expounds on the need for students to be made aware of the budgeting framework. Moreover, she emphasizes that creating avenues for greater stakeholder representation in policy-making is futile if students themselves do not engage.
“How students relate to their student government is actually a reflection of how robust [their] participation is during elections,” Candelaria says.
In recent years, a decline has been observed in the Sanggunian General Elections voter turnout, which stood only at 18.84% and 14.08% in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
“Transparency and accountability is a habit… the only way really for Sanggu to be on their toes is for [the student body] to really engage [with] them on a regular basis,” Candelaria declares.
Following this, de Marcaida encourages students to make use of Sanggunian’s direct channels, like its Sabihin sa Sanggu initiative rather than anonymous platforms. With this call, Arabes also guarantees that the DBM maintains open communication lines for concerns regarding the organization’s financial transactions.
While the student government moves toward deeper initiatives of connecting with the Ateneo community, active efforts to resolve the problem of non-participation within the student body are essential, as transparency is ultimately a two-way dynamic.
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]]>The post Blue Eagles book trip to UAAP Men’s Tennis championships appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>Possessing a twice-to-beat advantage, the Blue Eagles' win automatically sends Ateneo back to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 Men’s Tennis Tournament finals.
Commencing the crucial gameday was Ateneo ace Noy Seno who immediately claimed court momentum over UE’s Jarell Edanga, 3-2. Staking Edanga on the scoreboard, the Atenean easily closed out the first set, 6-2, and continued his dominance in set two. Seno quickly finished the second set with similar numbers, eventually collecting the Blue and White’s first win of the day 6-2.
Looking to build on their teammates’ strong opening performance, Blue Eagles JJ Llavore and Stef Gurria suited up to face Lawnnetters Rj Baje and Rj Singon for the first doubles match. The UE tandem came out of the gates strong and proved to be a challenge as the duo immediately asserted a three-point advantage, 1-4. However, Llavore and Gurria held steady to force three deadlocks, eventually pushing for a tiebreak, 6-6. The Katipunan-based duo stood firm for a 7-4 lead, to get the first set, 7-6.
Unbothered by Ateneo's upturn, Baje and Singson showcased their offensive prowess to level the playing field, and secured the following set in convincing fashion, 6-3. Sustaining the winning energy, UE proceeded to claim their first team-tie win after containing Ateneo in the decider, 6-2.
Attempting to re-swing the tide in favor of the Blue and White, Nio Tria and Axl Gonzaga stamped their dominance in their doubles matchup after an easy 6-3 first set win against Dawson Ormoc and Prince Lastimosa. Despite the Recto-based duo’s commendable effort to force a standstill at 5-5 in the following frame, Tria and Gonzaga boasted their impeccable team chemistry, 7-5, for a two game advantage in Ateneo’s favor.
In the must-win second single’s match, Blue Eagle Rookie JD Velez momentarily stumbled into a roadblock after Macoy Suson’s dominant showing to win the first set, 3-6. Velez and Suson consequently battled it out in the following set with neither letting the lead grow to more than one point, 5-4. Tied at 5-5, Velez showcased outstanding endurance to force a decider, 7-5. Continuing his good form in the final strophe, Velez stifled Suson’s efforts for a comeback, 4-4, ultimately booking the finals ticket for the Blue and White, 6-4.
Hungry to claim the top prize this season, the AMLTT will face the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Male Tennisters for a rematch of last year’s finals on Wednesday, April 3 at 7:30 AM in the same venue.
Team-Tie Score: Ateneo-UE: 3-1
First Men’s Singles: 6-2, 6-2
Second Men’s Singles: 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
First Men’s Doubles: 7-6, 3-6, 2-6
Second Men’s Doubles: 6-3, 7-5
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]]>The post Stubbing out hunger appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>In an effort to alleviate such struggles, the Office of Admission and Aid (OAA) revived its food stub initiative in July 2022. Last October 2023, the OAA expanded the validity of food stubs to other campus cafeterias, including its usage not only for meals but also for other items such as bread, noodles, and toiletries at the Ateneo de Manila Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AMPC) canteen.
As the initiative continues to be implemented, the rising costs of food—among many other factors—have led to concerns regarding its impact and sustainability.
Sponsoring a subsidy
While the OAA launched the return of providing food stubs among scholars, Assistant to the Director for Scholarships Christine Magboo noted that the initiative was started as early as AY 2003–2004 by former AMPC Chairman Leoncio Miralao, Jr.
Referred to as “food coupons” back then, the food stubs were previously open to the whole student body, eventually becoming a scholar-specific initiative. In 2007, each stub was worth Php 150. Six years later, the amount was doubled to Php 300. However, the provision was temporarily halted in 2020 due to the pandemic.
At present, OAA releases 500 food stubs worth Php 500 every month. The initiative is currently being funded by OAA, AMPC, and the Ateneo Alumni Scholars Association (AASA). Scholarship Officer Rosalydele Bajao says that Financial Aid scholars with no additional allowance are prioritized in the provision of food stubs.
These scholars can avail of a food stub every month by signing up on a first-come, first-served basis on a Google Form posted on the Scholars’ Facebook Group.
When food stubs are not claimed by individuals who signed up within the specified schedule, Bajao adds that these are made available for all scholars during the system’s free-for-all (FFA) period.
Initially, food stubs can only be redeemed for meals at the AMPC cafeteria. However, during a townhall meeting last semester with OAA Director Jose Ma. Edito Tirol, PhD, scholars raised their concerns regarding AMPC’s closing time, making them unable to use the food stubs for dinner. As a result, OAA expanded the food stubs’ validity to cafeterias in the ISO building, as well as in Cervini and International Residence Halls.
Notably, Bajao clarifies that the provision of food stubs is solely an extra subsidy and must not be equated to a food allowance. Thus, it does not generally aim to cover a scholar’s food budget for the entire month.
Scholars’ sentiments
For Juan Miguel Manuel (3 BS BIO), food stubs serve as an additional assistance that is financially helpful, especially in times when scholars find it difficult to manage their meager allowances.
Manuel shares that availing food stubs personally aids him in effectively handling his budget. However, as a Financial Aid scholar with a transportation allowance, he acknowledges that having an additional grant for his fare expenses may have also contributed to his convenience in properly budgeting his allowance.
“If you’re a Financial Aid student and you want [additional] allowance, you have to apply for that separately, so the food stub serves as an aid,” Manuel explains in a mix of English and Filipino.
This year, Manuel was able to secure food stubs twice—once last semester and another this February—although he admits that the stubs he received were unclaimed ones. While he is eligible to sign up, he points out that doing so can be challenging because of his academic obligations.
Similarly, Bela* shares her difficulty in availing of the initiative due to scheduling conflicts. She is only allowed to claim food stubs during the FFA period as a merit scholar of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Bela bears that the said period is unpredictable, as the food stubs available by that time depend on the number of unclaimed stubs.
Acknowledging this concern, the OAA plans to further systematize the said period by having an online counter that shows the remaining number of unclaimed food stubs at the AASA office.
Furthermore, Bela also notes the possibility of food stubs being availed by the same set of scholars—a sentiment that even OAA struggles with. According to Bajao, the office is also finding ways to expand the distribution while making it more targeted for scholars in dire need of the said food subsidy.
In a survey on food stub provision conducted by The GUIDON to scholars, 65% of the respondents think the initiative is sufficient in lessening their financial expenses. Three-fifths of the respondents also regularly make use of the subsidy as they sign up to avail a food stub five times every semester.
For the month of January, the survey revealed that half of the respondents’ total food spending on campus ranged from Php 500 to Php 1,499. Due to expensive meal prices, respondents also shared that the Php 500-food stub can only last for a maximum of around three days—indicating a gap between the food stubs’ total value and on-campus dining costs.
Amid these challenges, the survey noted that the respondents find the food stubs significantly useful, especially during financially tight periods.
Following this, Bela appreciates the OAA’s effort to provide extra sources of money for scholars aside from their formal scholarships. “Malaking help [ang food stubs] kasi one factor na ginagastusan sa Ateneo is ‘yung food. Kapag scholar ka, ‘yung tuition mo hindi mo na problema, lalo na ‘pag full scholar ka, so susunod na talaga na malaking bayaran is food,” she explains.
(Food stubs are a huge help because one [aspect] that scholars spend on in Ateneo is food. Your tuition is no longer a problem, especially if you’re a full scholar, so the next big expense is food.)
Short-term solutions
As food stubs prove to be beneficial for scholars, providing such is no longer a new scheme as it translates to bigger economic policies and programs implemented beyond the University.
Sustainable Development Solutions Network Philippines Project Coordinator Edgardo Valenzuela compares the initiative to the food safety net measures provided by governments to ensure food security, which “entails all persons having the right to food.” He states that crucial to this goal is having healthier food options, which he currently sees lacking in campus cafeterias.
Additionally, Economics Professor Leonardo Lanzona, Jr., PhD considers the food stub provision as a form of human capital investment. Recognizing the complementary factor of nutrition and health to education, he says that the assistance ensures scholars’ welfare.
However, as a faculty member of the Economics Department, Valenzuela believes the initiative is only a short-term approach in addressing scholars’ financial struggles. Nonetheless, he stresses that while the food stubs do not necessarily ensure food security, the subsidy still provides immediate food aid.
Despite its apparent effectiveness, continuing the initiative may require the OAA to carry out some cost-cutting measures due to budget constraints. In a general assembly last February 16, the OAA revealed its plans to prohibit DOST scholars from getting food stubs by Intersession next year.
Ultimately, Bajao hopes that the OAA can secure more benefactors for its assistance programs, as sustaining the food stub initiative requires consistent financial support and steady funding.
*Editor’s Note: The name of an interviewee was changed to protect their identity and privacy.
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]]>The post A girl’s girl appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>In February last year, I convinced some friends to start an organization with me. Freshly inspired by the Vagina Monologues, I felt like I was walking into the year with a kind of newly smithed feminism and womanhood sharpened by literature and art. I entered my junior year determined to reignite and sustain the fire of feminism in the University—to be a woman for and with other women.
We called the organization Spaces for Women’s Art and Narratives. In short, SWAN— delicate, feminine, and feisty like the creature it alludes to. We colored ourselves with “Leni Robredo pink,” signifying hope and change, and a reclamation of gender and sexuality. With the color and the animal, SWAN made a space for itself in the Blue Eagles’ sky.
Where Atenean men used to howl at women like dogs was where my orgmates and I stood in September last year to recruit other feminists to join SWAN. But being recently part of another new organization that garnered over 200 members in its first year, I was a little disappointed at our turnout of seventy members. I thought more people, especially women, would be eager to join.
As SWAN progressed, I gradually found myself troubled by questions that doubted my own integrity as a feminist, which also extended to the organization. These questions scared me as I feared that my lack of knowledge and the underlying biases within these questions would tarnish my feminism.
As we posted art and literary pieces, I would ask myself if the image of a vulva would invalidate a transwoman’s experience of womanhood. Was the SWAN social media page too pink that people would think we’re reducing feminism to femininity? Would centering our posts on art and literature lead people to think SWAN’s feminism as a “white woman’s feminism,” and fear that term is misogynistic in itself? Why should SWAN focus on reaching out to women in this prestigious university while other and more marginalized women are suffering?
The last thing I wanted was to be a performative activist. But as SWAN’s leader and founder, I found myself questioning whether my feminism and politics were performing well enough to deserve the position I was in.
Slowly, this dread of being caught as an impostor pretending to be a feminist seeped its way into my personal life. I beat myself up in guilt for every woman’s vent in their Close Friends on Instagram that I failed to reply to, or for each time I was frustrated over another woman’s weaknesses as a co-worker and groupmate.
“Am I a girl’s girl?” I asked my friend earlier this month. She was the girl I first asked to start SWAN with.
“Yes,” she said. “Why do you ask?”
It remains to be true: Open conversations are a space of healing for women. When I began to open up about my internal struggle to other women, I found myself within a resonance: Other women also faced the same terrible scrutiny imposed by themselves and an invisible enemy. Yet as one friend said after she even sought her mother’s wisdom, “If you allow the pressure to hurt you, doesn’t that also do violence on yourself as a woman?”
I am reminded that perfectionism is a patriarchal, masculine concept that suppresses weaknesses and softness. With SWAN, I wanted to be a hero—perfect and strong, with unwavering strength that other girls can rely on. As a hero, I needed to be someone who could save us women from this terrible world. It would be weak to rely on others.
But the thing is, I do not have to be a hero. I cannot be a hero.
With SWAN, I only need to be a woman—imperfect and soft but persevering enough to carve out spaces where others may find healing and peace. And being a woman comes with needing other women and having the strength to say, “I need you.”
Because yes, beyond anything else, I am just a woman.
‘Just’—not as a form of diminishing—but as an act of unburdening all the pressures applied to women for being women. Yes, I am just a woman—nothing else but the sum of other women’s being and becoming.
Julia Hao is a junior in Creative Writing, tracking in Nonfiction. Her literary works and art have been published by UP’s Likhaan journal, Novice Magazine PH, Gantala Press, HEIGHTS Ateneo, and Perceptions International. She is also the Founding President of Spaces for Women’s Art and Narratives (SWAN). For more, you can reach her and read more of her works on her Instagram, @juliaavhao.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.
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]]>The post AMFT dominate Red Warriors to open second round appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>Today’s dominant victory took place earlier today at the University of the Philippines Diliman Football Field in Quezon City.
The first half opened with a quick goal from Andy Roxas after Kofi Agyei’s low-cross assist, giving the Blue Eagles the early lead in the second minute, 1-0.
Despite UE’s attempts to increase the intensity of their defense after the opening goal, the AMFT remained steady with their counterattack-oriented offense. These efforts resulted in another goal for Ateneo in the 17th minute after a free-kick goal from Leo Maquiling, 2-0.
With the opening half’s final minutes winding down, the Katipunan-based team did not hold back despite the comfortable lead. An Agyei-led offensive run resulted in a penalty kick chance for Ateneo late in the half. Ultimately, it was Maquiling who converted the opportunity, allowing for a solid 3-goal lead to close the half.
Prior to entering the game’s second stretch, the biggest story entering halftime was the Blue and White’s efficiency to score three goals on three shot attempts. Ateneo’s defense was another highlight, as they held UE scoreless despite the latter’s 10 shot attempts.
The second half saw similar pacing from both sides, with neither team slowing down their offense. In addition, efforts from Agyei, Maquiling, and Roxas persisted in the attacking third through multiple shot attempts. The final 10 minutes of the matchup saw the Blue and White practice a much more methodical pace, finally concluding the match with the score still at 3-0
Maquiling’s two goals, as well as his attempts at a hat-trick, allowed the midfielder to earn Man of the Match honors at the end.
The Blue Eagles look to carry over their momentum as they enter a marquee matchup against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Sunday, March 24, at 6:30 PM in the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3): Roxas ‘2, Maquiling ‘17 and ‘45
UE (0)
Ateneo Starting XI:
Artuz Cezar (GK)
Christian Santiciles
Wilmer Lopez
Jose Lopez
Fernando Roxas
Marco Salud
Jethro Flores
Luard Abaa
Kofi Agyei
Galen Fernandez
Leo Maquiling
Current Standings (points)
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]]>The post Blue Eagles sustain comeback stretch after outlasting Golden Sox appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>With a commendable performance on the field, the Blue Eagles rose to the top spot in the league with a 5-3 record in the ongoing University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Baseball Tournament.
To seize control of the contest, the Blue Eagles took flight in the first inning with relentless determination. Behind Ateneo sluggers Matthew San Juan and Joaquin Mendoza’s deep line drives, the squad navigated their way to an early 3-0 lead. Fueled by Joshua De Juras’ pitching mastery on the mound, Ateneo kept the opposing offense at bay to close off the second inning.
In their bid to level the playing field, the Golden Sox capitalized on the Blue Eagles’ miscues to notch their initial runs and surge ahead in the third inning, 4-3. However, Ateneo rallied back with defensive tactics in the next two innings to stave off further scoring opportunities for UST.
Putting pressure on the Golden Sox’s defense, the Blue Eagles sought to tighten their grip and regain their momentum. Ignited by Geof Magsadia’s line drive triple, the Katipunan-based unit then began their offensive onslaught to take back the lead in the sixth, 6-4. Sustaining their momentum throughout the next two frames, the Blue and White were positioned with a comfortable six-point lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, 9-4.
In a last-ditch effort, the España-based squad quickly regrouped to trail closely behind their adversaries with four more additional runs to cut the deficit to two, 8-10. However, Zeke Laygo’s timely catch from the outfield dealt UST its final blow, securing the Blue and White’s advantage in the contest, 10-8.
The Blue Eagles will look to maintain their winning ways against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Batters this Sunday, March 24, at 8:00 AM in the same venue.
Inning Scores:
Ateneo: 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 1 — 10
UST: 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 — 8
Standings (W/L)
ATENEO Blue Eagles (5-3)
DLSU Green Batters (4-3)
NU Batters (4-3)
UST Golden Sox (4-4)
UP Fighting Maroons (3-4)
AdU Soaring Falcons (2-5)
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]]>The post ICYMI: Blue Eagles absorb second loss of the round from Lady Falcons appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>This loss puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-6 win-loss standing during the second robin of the elimination rounds in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Softball Tournament.
Commencing the match was Rocio Macasaet at-bat for the top of the first inning, starting the contest with a ground ball that quickly got her out. Following this was Raya Franco getting called for a strike out courtesy of AdU pitcher Glory Alonzo’s heater. Third batter Julia Carsi Cruz also hit a ground ball, concluding their half on an out for an early 1-2-3 inning.
Transitioning from fielding to batting, Lady Falcon Angelli Gabriel hit the ball to center field to gain a double, landing on second base. Afterward, Maryjoy Maguap followed with an at-bat that sent Gabriel to third base despite submitting to a tag out. Shifting to Roma Cruz batting, a fielding error in the shortstop area allowed Gabriel to arrive home, 1-0, with Cruz reaching first. Remilie Herrero and Alaiza Talisik had the bases loaded after a hit and walk respectively, then a ground ball by Nedmay Mahinay had Cruz and Herrero reaching home plate. Finally, fly outs on Jane Sigue and Aliza Pichon ended the first inning, 3-0.
As Team Captain Alia Tuprio began the at-bat for the second inning, a foul hit caught by Mahinay resulted in the first out of the inning. Rochelle Dacutan went for the at-bat afterward but fell prey to a swift fly out by the Lady Falcons. Following suit, Kyle Mejillano struck the ball toward the left field, but a fly out exhibited the fielding prowess of the Ermita-based squad to signal their hand at the bat. Madalene Domalig hit a single, then arrived at home after Gabriel hit the ball to center field to settle on third base. Maguap then smashed a triple, allowing Gabriel to add a second run from the canto to the board, 5-0.
Adamson’s Cruz aptly angled the ball toward the center field wall for a run-batted-in (RBI) by having Maguap reach home, while Talisik went for right field to earn their seventh run of the match from Cruz. Shortly after, Talisik and Mahinay—who took off from second and first base respectively—collected two more runs while Pichon held the bat, highlighting the lapses in the Blue Eagles’ fielding strategies. Closing the inning was an eventual strike out on Domalig by starting pitcher Jesa Daquigan to cut off the Lady Falcons’ lead at 9-0.
With the third inning underway, Asya Tuprio went for a walk after a change of pitcher from Adamson, countering an early fly out from Martina Nacion. Despite this renewed vigor, strike outs on Bernice Yap and Macasaet once again found the Blue and White runless, returning to their fielding positions. Pitching instead was then transferred to Alia Tuprio while Gabriel stood at-bat, getting a center field fly out thanks to Macasaet’s excellent fielding intellect.
Aiming to avenge her co-batter, Maguap bursted with a triple after a fielding miscue by Dacutan caused gravely for the Blue and White. Furthermore, despite Franco catching a fly out on Cruz, Maguap mustered in their tenth run after Herrero’s RBI, proving too distant for the Blue Eagles to field. Alia Tuprio then incurred another fielding mishap on Talisik’s ground ball, but immediately recuperated with a fly out on Mahinay.
Holding on to the hope of a run, the fourth inning initiated with a strike out on Yap to set the tone for the Blue Eagles. Following up on the rookie was Carsi Cruz who, despite getting contact on the ball, suffered an out. With Alia Tuprio at-bat, the Lady Falcons displayed their championship experience as a strike out produced another runless match for the Blue and White, 0-10.
At the conclusion of the contest, assistant coach Joy Lasquite acknowledged the Blue Eagles’ strive and the Lady Falcon’s prowess. “The girls did their best, and it’s hard when [the] pitcher is down. They fought well, they played well, but we couldn’t defend the strong hits of Adamson,” the Blue Eagles head coach expressed.
The Ateneo Softball Team now focuses on striking back when they play against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on April 3, Wednesday, at 3:00 PM in the same venue.
Editor’s Note: Alia Tuprio is the Broadcast News Editor of The GUIDON.
Inning scores:
ADMU: 0-0-0-0
AdU: 3-6-1-x
Current Standings (W-L)
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]]>With today’s loss, the Blue Eagles drop to a 2-6 win-loss record, placing them at sixth in the Women’s tournament standings.
Veteran Lyann De Guzman led the Blue Eagles with 22 points, followed by Zel Tsunashima and Sophia Buena with 21 markers each. Team Captain Roma Mae Doromal stood out as well, collecting 22 excellent digs and 25 excellent receptions. Meanwhile, the first-seeded Golden Tigresses banked on Angge Poyos’s 22 points to spearhead their winning effort.
In the opening set, a slow start on receiving efforts for the Blue Eagles paved the way for UST’s Poyos and Regina Jurado to dominate early and put Ateneo in a seven-point hole, 3-10. As the set went on, Ateneo’s De Guzman and Buena picked up the offensive load for the Blue and White, with the latter’s cross-court kill preventing the UST lead from growing, 10-17.
Despite efforts to spark a run, Ateneo was significantly hindered by UST’s defense as the Blue Eagles gave up five block points in the first set alone. On the defensive end, Ateneo’s struggles continued in the closing sequences, as they were not able to contain Bianca Plaza, Margaret Banagua, and Poyos, eventually yielding the set, 15-25.
In response to their lackluster first set, Ateneo greatly improved their receiving and digging, leading to a highly competitive second set that saw no team lead by more than four points. Ateneo’s offense also shone through, garnering 19 attack points in the set.
Opening proceedings for the Blue Eagles, a Zel Tsunashima cross-court attack and De Guzman kill gave Ateneo a three point lead, 4-1. The Golden Tigresses would not stay down as a 7-5 run led by Banagua kept them in the set, cutting the Ateneo lead to one, 9-8. In the late stages of the canto, Ateneo took hold of a 22-18 lead after a Buena kill and multiple UST errors. However, Ateneo’s cushion crumbled, giving up a 9-3 run and the set, 25-27.
With their backs against the wall going into a 1-5 hole to start the third set, Ateneo jumped to a 6-2 run of their own with a Buena block point tying up the score, 7-7. Heading into another close late-game situation, the Blue Eagles staged a clutch run, outscoring UST 6-2 in the final stretch of the third frame to claim their first set point, 25-23.
The fourth canto continued to be a slugfest as both squads traded blows throughout the set. Showing another display of resilience, Ateneo recovered from a 14-17 deficit by going on a 5-1 run to take the lead, 19-18. Buena, De Guzman and AC Miner showed out on the attacking side, eventually carrying the Blue Eagles to the 28-26 set victory.
Both teams entered the do-or-die final set with the same intensity as the last two strophes. The collective effort from Yvana Sulit, Buena, Tsunashima and De Guzman kept the Blue Eagles in the set, eventually entering another late deadlock, 13-13. However, Ateneo was engulfed by Jurado, Poyos, Cassie Carballo’s attacks, shifting the momentum over to UST. A final Joanna Perdido conversion dealt Ateneo the set loss, 13-15.
Looking to capture their third victory, the Blue and White will take on the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons this Sunday, March 24, at 2:00 PM. The contest will take place at the same venue.
Box Scores:
Ateneo (2): De Guzman - 22, Tsunashima - 21, Buena - 21, Sulit - 12, Miner - 4
UST (3): Poyos - 22, Jurado - 19, Perdido - 17, Carballo - 10, Banagua - 7, Abbu - 4, Penafiel - 4, Plaza - 3, Gula -1
Set scores: 15-25, 25-27, 25-23, 28-26, 13-15
Standings (W-L):
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]]>The post AMVT shatters skid, tames Golden Spikers a second time appeared first on The GUIDON.
]]>The victorious result propelled the Blue Eagles to fourth place in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Exhibiting another breathtaking performance, Jian Salarzon mustered up 29 kills, two blocks, and one ace to total 32 points. Trailing behind him was Kennedy Batas, who scored 25 points from 23 spikes and two blocks.
At the onset of the first frame, the Blue Eagles struggled, lagging by three points after UST’s Paul Collinares' decisive block, 1-4. Still, Ateneo quickly crawled back and tied the game with a sneaky backline cross by Amil Pacinio, 7-7. Despite the Blue Eagles’ efforts, the Golden Spikers stayed in control by taking a seven-point lead, 13-20. However, Ateneo relented by closing the gap to four after excellent passes from Lance de Castro, 20-24. With the Blue Eagles at the precipice of staging a comeback, Josh Ybañez silenced their hopes with a clever drop ball, securing the first set for the Golden Spikers, 22-25.
Setting the tone in the second set, Batas unleashed a cross-court shot toward UST’s back row, scoring first blood. The Blue Eagles used this momentum to extend their advantage to a four-point lead after a triple-block by Jettlee Gopio, Salarzon, and Batas, 4-1.
However, displaying tremendous tenacity, the Golden Spikers soon ate up the Blue Eagles’ lead, 9-11, nearing the second technical timeout. Undeterred, Batas and Salarzon responded forcefully with two back-to-back blocks, reclaiming an incremental lead, 15-13. A back-and-forth affair dragged on in the set’s final moments until King Mangulabnan checked Ybañez's attack, 23-22, quashing UST’s tempo. The Blue Eagles then eventually took advantage of the opening to seal the second set, 25-23.
Moving on to the third frame, the Blue Eagles secured an early lead, 8-6, with Batas establishing the groundwork from his first spike. Mirroring the tempo of the entire game, UST reclaimed their lead behind a block on Ateneo’s engagement, 10-9. Nevertheless, the standstill persisted until Salarzon’s spectacular straight, 23-20. Following this, Salarzon continued with his unrelenting spikes to capture the third set, 25-23.
Tracing the pattern of the last two sets, Ateneo went up two points over the Golden Spikers in the fourth frame, 2-0, beginning with a thunderous pipeshot from Salarzon. As the script unfolded once again, UST crafted another lead from the back of players like Gboy De Vega, 9-6. This time around, the Golden Spikers led the Blue Eagles midway through, dominating rallies with De Vega’s offense and Rainer Flor’s defense, 13-8. De Vega responded with an array of shots, to keep the game close, 16-14.
Afterwards, Salarzon answered inside these golden-painted rallies, demonstrating his power, 15-16. Thanks to powerful attacks from the Blue Eagles, the game devolved back into a deadlock, 20-20. Spearheaded by Salarzon and Ybanez respectively, the Blue Eagles and Golden Spikers traded blows, leading to an extended-set affair, 26-26. With emotions at their peak, UST’s Colinares would abruptly end the fourth strata with a drop ball, 28-26.
Unwilling to receive a third straight defeat, the Blue Eagles blew open the final set, 7-4, with Batas identifying a clear opening in the Golden Spiker’s defense from the back row. Carrying on the momentum, the Katipunan-based squad never stopped with their powerful attacks, even at the cost of some points, 9-8. Despite this, the aggressive mentality flourished, culminating in Ryan Daclunan’s magnificent drop to take match point, 14-9. With UST’s back against the wall, Sherwin Umandal attempted to retake the game. However, Salarzon’s threatening defensive presence forced Umandal to commit a net error, resulting in an Ateneo victory, 15-9.
During the press interview, Salarzon commented on his 32-point outing, recognizing that it would not have been possible without his teammates’ help and contributions. He then commented that the team had changed for the better after the back-to-back losses, now approaching their games with a new and improved attitude.
This Sunday, at 10:00 AM, in the same arena, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are set to take on the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to leverage today’s victory.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3): Salarzon - 32, Batas - 25, Gopio - 11, Pacinio - 10, Daculan - 3, Mangulabnan - 2, Jeric Sendon - 1
UST (2): Ybañez - 33, De Vega - 18, Colinares - 10, Jay Rack De La Noche - 8, Flor - 7, Umandal - 2, Dux Yambao - 2
Set scores:
Ateneo (3)-UST (2): 22-25, 26-24, 25-23, 26-28, 15-9
Current Standings (W-L)
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]]>MIXED RESULTS rake the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) back from holding a fourth-seed placeholder after splitting the last two games of the first round. Sitting at a 2-5 win-loss record, the team hangs on a brittle thread as they split the fifth step of the ladder with the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons.
Chalking up Ateneo’s second win this season, the Blue Eagles thwarted the Lady Falcons on March 13 in a mostly one-sided affair in the skies, 3-1. However, the team’s titanic efforts were no match against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, who continued to pound down the Blue and White after a brief second set turn-over. The Blue Eagles’ chances of clinching fourth-seed were trampled on by their Sampaloc-based foes last Sunday, 1-3.
Landing a slot in the Final Four would be a tricky feat for the Blue Eagles to pull off, but where seasoned coaching meets infallible spirits, the AWVT has an edge to succeed.
Photo courtesy of Francis Ong
Matthea: The Eagles’ nest houses undeniably sharp shooters at the vanguard of Ateneo’s attacking front. Veteran opposite spiker Lyann De Guzman currently soars third among the season’s best scorers, posting 116 cumulative points, just one above De La Salle University’s (DLSU) phenom Angel Canino. Frontrunners Sobe Buena and Zel Tsunashima did not fly far from De Guzman, recording 74 and 54 scoring spikes apiece to earn their well-deserved places within the Top 15.
However, having formidable high hitters with expert playmaking on their own will not suffice in punching a ticket into the Final Four. While Ateneo does have its own supercharged tenacity to score on their opponents, the Blue and White struggle the most when the ball is hurtled down from the opposite side of the net. The Blue Eagles are perched at last place overall in terms of blocking, suggesting a slight inconsistency between their net coverage when progressing to attack versus when defending.
Consequently, the team has an observable needs to widen its range on floor defense. Team Captain and seasoned defensive specialist Roma Doromal showcased remarkable saves as the season’s sixth best digger, and Ateneo still has plenty of room to step up their ball retrieval. To complement the skipper’s guard of the ground, the Blue Eagles could benefit from extending their adeptness to recover from clever hits by their opponents.
Especially when up against the Taft’s towering Lady Spikers and the Golden Tigresses, Ateneo’s strongest weapon will be its grit, from which the Blue Eagles may strike an ideal balance between offense and defense.
Photo by Chelsea May Tan
Luis: Although the Blue Eagles currently find themselves at the exact same spot at this point last year with a 2-5 record after the first round, the extremely top-heavy nature of Season 86 gives Ateneo a rare opportunity to compete for a semifinal slot.
While the Faith Nisperos-led squad in Season 85 slotted themselves at sixth and three games behind the fourth seed, the Blue Eagles this year stand at fifth, only two games away from fourth in the standings.
Returning to last week’s games, if the AWVT had managed to snag a victory in their last match against FEU, the Loyola Heights-based squad would have soared to the solo fourth spot, marking them as a dark-horse Final Four contender.
For Ateneo, the most probable scenario at this point in the season is sneaking their way into the last semifinals spot, which certainly will not be an easy task. In order to make this opportunity a reality, the Blue Eagles would need to shift gears and secure more wins compared to their first round performance.
To ensure this position, the AWVT would need to perfect their consistency as they nearly beat formidable teams early on. However, they have simply failed to sustain their advantage in the endgame.
For the Blue Eagles to make a decisive push for the Final Four, the Sérgio Veloso-led squad must take decisive victories over the league’s best. With Buena, De Guzman, Doromal, and Taks Fujimoto all currently in the top ten in different scoring and defensive categories, their early accolades should be a call to finally tap into their potential.
Additionally, for Veloso, this is the time to finally find a formula that brings out the best in what this current Ateneo roster is truly capable of. Having seen glimpses of what this squad can do when all players click, similar to the games against National University (NU) and FEU, the Blue Eagles need to find a solid rotation and stick with it until the homestretch.
This week’s games:
Wednesday, March 20, 4:00 PM, vs. University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
Sunday, March 24, 2:00 PM, vs. University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
Current Standings (W-L):
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]]>At the time of writing, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) remains committed to the phaseout of traditional jeepneys, the nation’s most popular mode of public transport. According to the Land Transportation Office, the PUVMP targets an efficient and safer commuting experience with GPS tracking and anti-lock braking systems, automated fare collection, and air-conditioning.
However, transport groups foresee the PUVMP causing a “transport disaster.” Despite the LTFRB’s expectations of an 85% consolidation rate by the deadline, the rate is at 76% nationwide and 52% in Metro Manila as of January. Impeding the rise in these rates are the challenges brought by the deficient consultation with transport groups resulting in the inaccessibility and insufficiency of government subsidies. Considering around 140,000 jeepney units and nine million daily commuters in Metro Manila, pushing through with the phaseout without proper coordination with the sector would result in a harrowing transport shortage, exacerbating already existing issues like overcrowding.
Most glaringly, the completion of the PUVMP would triple jeepneys’ current base fare of Php 15, further burdening commuters. The cost of a modern jeepney unit, reaching as much as Php 2.8 million, will likely result in fare hikes as drivers and operators attempt to recover consolidation expenses. Economic think tank IBON Foundation projects that fares may reach up to Php 50 in the next five years.
Recent modernization initiatives have mandated similar overhauls for Metro Manila’s other modes of public transportation. The Metro Rail Line Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), which has been jointly run by private operator Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) since 2000, is set to be privatized by 2025 when MRTC’s contract expires. In light of the MRT-3’s deteriorating facilities, the DOTr foresees opportunities for rehabilitation, replacement, and expansion. Commuter groups have however cautioned that the MRT-3’s privatization may lead to fare hikes without improved services.
Improvements to the metro’s bus networks were also hastened during the pandemic as the then-deserted Epifaño Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) gave government agencies a window of opportunity to partition areas for dedicated bus lanes. With the return of road traffic to pre-pandemic levels, however, similar bus network reforms are now a tall order to implement, proving that transport modernization efforts must be timed right if they are to be effective.
The government’s push for the fulfillment of the PUVMP today is but one facet of a larger initiative to overhaul the entire transport sector. However, its hasty approach neglects supposed beneficiaries, posing threats of inaccessibility to public transport on the road ahead.
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]]>THE PHILIPPINES currently ranks second globally for the prevalence of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). According to a study by the International Justice Mission (IJM), one in 100 Filipino children were sexually abused by traffickers to create child sexual exploitation materials (CSEM) in 2022.
These alarming rates of OSAEC in the country have been the subject of various legislative efforts. Last year, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Law or Republic Act No. 11930 was signed into law, amending the 2009 Anti-Child Pornography Law to create stricter proscriptions on the production of CSEM.
However, due to its proliferation as a family-based crime, the capacity of these laws to address OSAEC is put into question.
Danger in the home
According to the International Justice Mission (IJM), OSAEC in the Philippines was first reported only as recently as 2011 and has only increased since then. This rapid escalation in cases was exacerbated further by the COVID-19 pandemic as a 2021 report by the Global Threat Assessment showed a 265% increase between the months of March and May 2020 alone.
Studies show that poverty is the predominant driving factor for traffickers to engage in OSAEC. However, the Internet-based context of the crime also allows abusers to detach themselves from its exploitative nature.
“There is a lack of awareness and understanding about how online behaviors constitute exploitation. [...] They think that there is no harm since everything is done online, and foreign offenders are not able to physically touch or abuse the children,” IJM Senior Researcher Christine Torres said.
The deep web, in which this cybercrime happens most often, is not the only locus law enforcers struggle to probe into. As a family-based crime, the home is no safer place for victims of OSAEC. A 2020 summary report from IJM shows that 41% of the traffickers are the victims’ own parents and 42% their other relatives.
This emotional proximity between victims and traffickers necessitates a nuanced perception of victimization for survivors of OSAEC. IJM’s 2021 Aftercare Reintegration research shows that survivors commonly do not perceive themselves as victims because they were made to believe that their exploitation financially sustained their families. As such, a notable proportion of OSAEC cases go unreported.
Sociocultural factors also come into play when it comes to the underreporting of OSAEC. “Since it is typical in Filipino culture not to ‘meddle in their neighbor's affairs,’ trafficking is underreported by the community. […] This is why CSEM production appears to be an ‘open secret’ within communities,” Torres explained.
However, Torres emphasized that while OSAEC often occurs within the confines of the home, it could also happen anywhere. “As long as there is an internet connection, a gadget, and a private room, any child can be abused or sold online via livestreamed CSEM,” she added.
Post-rescue dilemmas
Unfortunately, the exact effects of OSAEC on its victims can be difficult to define, as the households that are likely to participate in OSAEC are also likely to suffer from other negative circumstances, such as extreme poverty, drug use, or domestic abuse.
In the aftermath, post-rescue victims are at risk of medical side-effects such as insomnia and lack of appetite, which can lead to other illnesses due to lack of proper rest and nutrition. Victims are also often vulnerable to psychopathological disorders due to the sexual nature of their online presence leads to low self-esteem.
Additionally, the capture and conviction of traffickers can sometimes be equally as traumatizing as the act itself. The victims often perceive the incarceration of their abusers as punitive separation from the community, especially since abusers tend to be trusted adult figures such as parents.
“There’s trauma from the abuse, [...] but there’s also trauma from the rescue,” CURE Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Bart van Oost stated. Consequently, organizations that tackle OSAEC sometimes allow children to reintegrate with their families, whether through supervised home visits or video calls in order to help them develop socially.
Despite both governmental and non-governmental initiatives launched against OSAEC, the sheer magnitude of the phenomenon in the Philippines has enabled it to remain a fixture along the country’s underbelly.
When asked about how to address OSAEC on a societal level, van Oost emphasized the importance of awareness. “We have to work with families and teachers to recognize this kind of problem. [...] We have these big, fancy international reports [stating] that the Philippines is a hotspot for online trafficking, yet most of the population is not aware of it,” he shared.
Each year, more and more children are exposed to an industry that exploits indiscriminately. Without significant response from all sectors of society, OSAEC will continue to invade vulnerable demographics far from authorities’ notice.
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]]>Such a standard may lead uncritical audiences to evaluate: A woman may have finished races and won distinctions, but did she manage to do so while sporting flawless skin, slim legs, and lustrous locks? Evidently a toxic culture, the practice is an unwavering demand that cuts right to the core of what it means to be a sportswoman in a world shackled by archaic norms.
The double standard
Throughout history, female athletes have fought tirelessly to overcome barriers and redefine their place in the world of sports. Early in the modern Olympics—by the late 19th and early 20th centuries—female participation was restricted and met with public ridicule. However, the mid-20th century saw the rise of trailblazers like Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Wilma Rudolph, and Althea Gibson, who reshaped perceptions of women in sports and challenged entrenched gender norms.
The latter half of the century also saw a surge in women’s sports visibility, with leagues like the Women’s National Basketball Association and Women’s Professional Volleyball Association emerging. These leagues represented a powerful statement: Female athletes also deserve professional organizations to nurture their talents and provide equitable opportunities for recognition and success. Eventually, even educational institutions in the 1970s saw the need to address sex-based discrimination, opening long-awaited doors for female student-athletes.
Nevertheless, despite advancements made in opportunities, the journey towards equality remains fraught with challenges. Societal pressure, particularly regarding physical appearance, weighs heavily on female athletes. From rigid beauty standards imposed by endorsements to strict uniform codes, the expectation to conform to idealized notions of attractiveness persists.
This prejudicial burden is compounded by intersectional expectations, where race, ethnicity, and body type dictate additional standards. For instance, Serena Williams has faced numerous derogatory remarks that target her muscular frame and dark skin despite being a prominent sportswoman. This instance alone already illustrates a constant struggle against an ever-shifting landscape of expectations.
Furthermore, biased media coverage exists in both foreign and local outlets, manifested through unequal airtime, the sexualization of dress codes, patronizing language, and an excessive focus on athletes’ personal lives. For example, renowned Filipina athletes like Hidilyn Diaz and Nesthy Petecio have encountered body-shaming remarks despite their outstanding achievements, highlighting the deep-rooted issue of gender-based disparities.
Building upon persisting media challenges, the scrutiny faced by female athletes is also evident in the case of Filipina weightlifter Vanessa Sarno, who faced scrutiny over her competition attire in 2021. Not only do these sexist stories downplay the achievements of female athletes, but they also uphold damaging preconceptions and gender bias in sports reporting.
Throughout history, female athletes have demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming barriers and challenging gender norms in sports. However, while their determination is commendable, true progress requires tangible changes in societal attitudes, media coverage, and institutional support.
Butterfly effect
Delving deeper into the double standards affixed on female athletes, a complex web of sentiments further unravels itself in a fatalistic light. Amid the pressures of societal expectations, many female competitors find themselves forced to navigate a landscape where the value of their calibers is tied to a paradoxical confluence of beauty and accomplishment.
In situations where sportswomen are pressed to embody both physical perfection and athletic prowess, the weight of such expectations becomes an additional hurdle in these women’s pursuits of success and recognition. Similarly, Ateneo University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Cheer Captain Victoria Estiva stresses how society’s beauty standards have tainted the nature of her sport, especially concerning the public’s portrayal of cheer uniforms.
“I know some of my teammates feel a bit uncomfortable when we feel eyes on us [during UAAP games]. We’re just trying to do our job and it’s a bit scary especially [with] the way we’re positioned,” Estiva shares.
Moreover, the psychological toll of these expectations cannot be overstated as many athletic stalwarts find themselves grappling with matters like body image dissatisfaction and malaise. Ateneo Women’s Football Team standout booter Traci Lim illustrates a shared sentiment among female athletes across various disciplines. Having dedicated herself to her athletic passion for nearly 15 years, she emphasizes that there exists a prevalent fear of body transformation among these mavens due to their rigorous athletic pursuits.
“Obviously, I'm still a girl and I want to feel pretty. But I wouldn't say I'm completely immune to not thinking about my body when I'm training,” Lim expresses. “I guess for most girls, it's just hard to want to push yourself in a sport because you're afraid of ruining your own body.”
This revelation goes to show how a woman’s journey toward athletic greatness is frequently clouded by the relentless demand to adhere to society's rigid ideals of beauty and flawlessness.
A course for progress
The candid reflections shared by these female athletes further exemplify the complex interplay between athleticism and beauty standards as endured by women in sports. As such, rewriting the script and discourse surrounding the disparity between genders in sports is essential in recognizing the female champions who embody the epitome of grit, determination, and unparalleled excellence. However, achieving such recognition is only possible by addressing several foundational steps within the community.
Advocating for the representation of various body types in media is one of the first stages toward the celebration of the full spectrum of talent and athleticism present in the sporting world. Diversity is the lifeblood of sports, yet traditional media representations often fall short of capturing such. Thus, championing this kind of inclusivity not only empowers athletes to embrace their unique identities, rather inspires individuals to embark on their athletic pursuits without feeling limited by societal standards of beauty and image.
Furthermore, ensuring gender equality in media representation is paramount for fostering a fair and inclusive sports culture. In consonance, Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team cager Yunika Angala shares that a troubling trend of obstinate attitudes against female athletes who choose to embrace more masculine appearances remains rampant today. “[Many] female athletes right now have boy cuts, and a lot of people don’t really like it. I’ve heard some people say if female athletes look like guys anyway, then why don’t you watch male athletes [instead]?” she remarks.
Implementing gender-neutral language and non-sexualized marketing strategies also becomes imperative to the cultivation of a more just and balanced representation of athletes, regardless of gender. The deviation from mere physicalities and superficial characterizations of how female athletes must carry themselves will also create an empowering environment that allows them to thrive and excel on their own terms.
As student-athletes representing the Ateneo on the grander stage, these remarkable women transcend the boundaries that society imposes on the athletic sphere. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, they continually push the limits and exceed expectations that showcase the extraordinary capabilities of female athletes.
Leading the charge in this shift toward inclusivity and empowerment, these female titans ignite inspiration, urging others to embrace leadership and strive for excellence in every endeavor. Equipped with their unwavering commitment to breaking barriers, they then become a testament to the courage, resilience, and unyielding spirit ingrained within the Blue and White legacy.
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]]>However, despite the optimistic outlook of these statistics alongside economic growth, progress in poverty incidence has remained unchanged. In actuality, the Commission on Audit (COA) reported in 2022 that 90% of the 4Ps’ cash grantees remain poor, warranting a further look into the true extent of the program’s impact on its beneficiaries’ welfare today.
For the poorest of the poor
Patterned after successful conditional cash transfer programs in other countries, the 4Ps is a social assistance program of the government that intends to provide cash grants to the “poorest of the poor.” To qualify for the 4Ps, individuals must be residents of the poorest municipalities based on the National Statistical Coordination Board’s Small Area Estimates. They must also belong to households whose incomes are at the provincial poverty threshold or below it. Additionally, their households must contain children aged 0 to 18 or a pregnant woman at the time of assessment.
Household beneficiaries receive two types of cash grants: a monthly health grant of Php 500 per household totaling Php 6,000 annually; and a monthly education grant of Php 300 per child for ten months, totaling Php 3,000 annually per child with a cap of three children per household. These grants are disbursed through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) or alternative methods like GCash remittance and rural bank transactions.
While the short-term goal is to ease beneficiary families’ budgets and foster their children's human capital, Development Studies Associate Professor Leland Dela Cruz, PhD noted that the long-term goal of the 4Ps is to ultimately increase the family’s future income.
“One theory of change here is that after several years, […] their children will be able to finish high school and find gainful employment, which will get the family out of poverty,” Dela Cruz explained.
Through the 4Ps, beneficiaries’ increased educational attainment is hoped to lead to job opportunities and eventual socioeconomic mobility.
Bane or boon
Since its undertaking, the program has had significant successes. The 4Ps have been noted to help reduce food poverty among beneficiaries, increase gross enrollment rates for children ranging from 12 to 17 years old, and expand access to healthcare services for children.
However, the 4Ps also has its pitfalls. In periodic impact evaluations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), observed gaps in the monitoring and compliance efforts of the program. For instance, there existed a trend among families with multiple children to not maximize the three-child cap on educational grants and monitoring, which underscores the lack of proper monitoring on the part of the DSWD.
Another study conducted in 2019 by Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health also discovered that children from beneficiary families and non-beneficiary households were equally prone to stunting and poor nutritional status, indicating that the 4Ps may make no impact on families’ wealth and food security.
Moreover, Economics Associate Professor Geoffrey Ducanes, PhD highlighted that recent modernization efforts pose the problem of increasing costs of living beyond what the cash transfers can afford. For instance, the jeepney modernization program may entail a loss of livelihood for not only operators but also commuters, due to Filipinos’ widespread reliance on jeepneys. In the face of these economic developments, programs like the 4Ps are insufficient to truly alleviate poverty.
Down the road
By themselves, cash grants and other financial aid programs cannot resolve the crisis brought upon by poverty. Ducanes stressed that alongside providing more livelihood opportunities, one step toward improving the 4Ps would be to reinforce its targeting.
“Who should be prioritized among the poor? Perhaps households with the lowest human capital levels. Perhaps for these households, the amount of financial support can be increased. These kinds of refinements can improve [the] 4Ps,” Ducanes said.
Dela Cruz further added that improving the quality of social services is equally crucial for poor families. “There is a need to improve social services, particularly in terms of health, which the 4Ps impact assessment says is problematic in terms of supply. Ill health can quickly drive families [back] into poverty,” he asserted.
According to Dela Cruz, the government may opt to consolidate and improve the coordination between 4Ps and healthcare interventions to provide appropriate financial support.
Essentially, 4Ps has greatly improved the living conditions of many Filipino families, specifically through poverty reduction and extensive socioeconomic change in the country. However, it cannot eradicate poverty on its own, as doing so requires many policy and institutional refinements needed to achieve inclusive and holistic development.
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]]>However, such discussions do not discount the fact that unstable job opportunities still compel Filipinos to seek livelihood abroad. While migrant workers are portrayed to be valiant contributors to the Philippine economy and culture of resilience, experts criticize the notions of heroism tied to them, considering the lack of quality employment in the Philippines.
Addressing adversity
The present-day management of labor export in the Philippines has been shaped by decades of exploitation, abuse, and maltreatment that have haunted many Filipinos working abroad. Familial absence and its consequences also cast a shadow over the decisions of those who plan to seek sustainable employment overseas.
To address these issues, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged that the welfare of OFWs would be a priority of his administration. One of his first acts as President was to sign into full operation the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), fulfilling the passage of its law by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2021.
The key role of DMW focuses on streamlining bureaucracy and coordination among various agencies that assist OFWs. The DMW also helps returning migrant workers with reintegration by providing livelihood assistance, scholarships, financial literacy training, entrepreneurial development, and technology skills workshops.
More recently, President Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 14 in January 2023, approving the 2023–2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP). Notably, the PDP grants Filipinos working abroad access to social insurance, worker protection, and productive overseas migration.
With these policy changes in place, DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Cacdac revealed that 2.5 million overseas employment certificates were issued in 2023. However, Migrante International, a grassroots migrant organization of overseas Filipinos, asserted that this figure translates to over 6,800 Filipinos leaving each day while the country continues to fail at creating stable employment locally.
Similarly, Center for Migrant Advocacy Executive Director Ellene Sana emphasized that many OFWs decide to find work abroad due to low employment prospects in the Philippines. Even more damning than the lack of jobs within the country are the low wages that make it difficult for parents to sustain their families.
Venerated yet vulnerable
50 years ago, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. introduced the 1974 labor export program to relieve unemployment problems and boost the economy. The billions of dollars in remittances that OFWs sent back to the Philippines within years became the bridge that linked labor export to economic development. Since then, the administrations after Marcos Sr. worked to strengthen the labor export industry to grow the economy and refine foreign policy.
Today, the Philippines is economically and politically reliant on labor exports. In 2023, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) saw an all-time high in personal remittances from Filipinos abroad. Data showed that remittances amounted to USD 37.2 billion, a 2% increase from the USD 36.1 billion in the previous year. The BSP credited the remittances to the rise of OFW deployment due to increased demand by destination countries, namely the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Notably, the growth of the Philippines’ labor export has come hand in hand with foreign countries’ increasing reliance on OFWs. Consequently, while OFWs continue to suffer from grave abuses of their rights, government actions that demand the increased protection of OFWs can complicate both economic and foreign policy.
In May 2023, the Philippines imposed a ban on first-time workers bound for Kuwait as a response to the brutal killing of Kuwait-based OFW Jullebee Ranara by her employer’s son a few months prior. Kuwait retaliated by suspending the issuance of new entry visas for Filipinos until diplomatic efforts smoothed over tensions in October. Throughout the row, migrant advocacy groups such as Migrante International criticized deployment bans as a temporary measure that only encouraged labor trafficking without stopping the abuse of OFWs.
Pre-dating Marcos Jr.’s administration as well is the issue of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia withholding salaries and benefits from an estimated 14,000 OFWs. During his second State of the Nation Address last July, Marcos Jr. boasted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman committed to processing these claims; however, OFWs returning from Saudi Arabia have yet to receive any such remuneration.
Hence, Sana reiterated the challenges that OFWs face even when tackling protective measures: “[A deployment ban] creates tension, confusion, anger; OFWs are angered by the government’s policies if they don’t have viable [alternative] options. [The question they ask is] ‘What do we do? If we cannot leave, then what do we do?’”
Given these grim circumstances, OFWs have become conflated with notions of resilience and heroism. As early as Corazon Aquino’s presidency, migrant workers have been called “modern heroes” (bagong bayani). This glorification has left little room to tackle the local realities that motivate Filipinos to seek job opportunities abroad in the first place.
Ultimately, such veneration reveals not only a new side to the heroized migrant workers, but also the failure of Philippine society to humanize them beyond their economic contributions.
Domestic displacement
According to Sana, the use of the term “heroes” shifts attention away from the actual reason why so many Filipinos opt to work overseas in the first place. Such a title may make it seem that OFWs migrate out of a desire to serve their country. However, it brushes past the reality that participation in migrant labor largely stems from the Philippines’ bleak socio-economic landscape.
When OFWs return, they come back to a country that offers them no social protection or pension plans, thus leaving them socially and economically vulnerable as they age. Families of migrant workers also suffer negative consequences from the separation, despite the extra income being earned. For instance, children of migrant workers may underperform in their academics due to the lack of parental guidance. These children are also affected psychologically by increased feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
Although Marcos has expressed that OFW welfare would be of priority, the sector’s concerns remain unaddressed as his administration instead focuses on how mass labor migration presently affects the quality of workers left in the Philippines. For instance, Marcos recently suggested providing healthcare and information technology scholarships with the intent of requiring the scholars to work in the Philippines for two to three years, thus slowing down rates of “brain drain.” However, the temporary measure ultimately does nothing to address the longstanding issues faced by OFWs.
As migrant labor remains an essential pillar of the Philippine economy and policy, the government continues to examine how to further promote it. Despite the veneration of the country’s migrant workers, many of their present realities are still ignored. It is equally important, then, that Filipino workers are given ample job opportunities in the country instead of being driven to migrate out of necessity.
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]]>With the month of March drawing breath to women’s empowerment in contemporary society, The GUIDON Sports sheds prominence on three oft-unseen queens whose efforts have paved the way for athletic progress in the community.
Loading up the bases
Hailing from the capital revered to be the home of softball champions, City of Bacolod’s Joy Lasquite has been guiding the Blue Eagles as the assistant coach of the Ateneo Softball Team. With her aspirations to make softball more reachable to aspiring players in the country, Lasquite’s tenure has been devoted to elevating the culture of her beloved sport.
Lasquite’s passion for the game surfaced when her elementary school instructor encouraged her to join the softball team. From there, the young slugger never looked back, eventually fulfilling an illustrious high school and collegiate career that led to becoming a member of the Philippine Women’s National Softball Team.
Eventually, the national team athlete saw a turning point in her career when she accepted an invitation to become the assistant coach of the University of the East Softball Team. The spirited competitor welcomed the opportunity as a means to hone her skills as a professional through five fruitful years with the Red Warriors. Thereafter, Lasquite sought her sights overseas and coached in Singapore and Indonesia’s Granada Softball Club.
With her local and international experience, Lasquite expressed the importance for the current string of sportswomen to follow suit in leading the newer generations of athletes in the country. “If you love to teach, [...] hopefully you can be inspired to share your [athletic wisdom],” Lasquite vocalized.
The torchbearer has also yearned to provide more hands-on opportunities for the youth, aspiring to start a future initiative giving more Filipino children a chance at bat. “I want to organize a clinic to share and advocate [...] to more young generations to join and experience our sports,” Lasquite conveyed.
In the last few years, Lasquite has strived to bring grassroots players from the provinces to don the Blue and White. For the ardent coach, helping young athletes recognize their untapped potential is evocative of being a role model in the sports community.
Hidden gem
Working more behind the curtains than the other players and coaches, Ateneo Men's Lawn Tennis Team Student-Manager Kirsten Hizon has made valiant efforts that have uplifted the spirits of the Blue Eagles. The 2 BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship (BS ITE) student’s marketing expertise and altruistic nature have been indispensable for the team’s dynamic, amplifying the squad’s brilliance in the ongoing Season 86 tournament.
Initially, Hizon was unfamiliar with the game of tennis when she first set foot in the university. Nonetheless, she took up the managing position to seize the opportunity to help others.
In line with her duties, being a liaison is one of the responsibilities that Hizon shoulders, bridging communications between the team and sponsors to gain support and acquire other essentials. With the skills Kirsten has honed as a marketing undergraduate, she has elevated her ability to build external relations for the squad.
Aside from her more tangible duties, Hizon also acts in part as the support system of the Blue Eagles, akin to being a “mother” figure for the athletes. As such, Hizon has overseen the players’ fitness and emotional states, raising their spirits regardless of the matches’ outcome.
The current University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) tournament is the rookie’s first in-season duty for Head Coach Gee Abacan’s selection. Nevertheless, Hizon navigates her role with bright eyes and earnest expectations. “I’m still trying to understand how things work when we’re [fully] in-season. But then again, I remember a philosopher saying [...] it is really foolish to be afraid of something that you do not know,” the student-manager remarked.
Guiding light
A multi-award-winning tennis player in her professional years, Jennifer “Jade” Saret carries double duty as the coach of the Ateneo Women’s Lawn Tennis Team (AWLTT) and as the Assistant Director of the University Athletics Office (UAO). With her spirited background within the sports domain, Saret sees an undeniable future for women leaders in the world of sports.
Saret began representing the Philippines in the SEA Games at 14 years old before moving to the United States to play for Brigham Young University (BYU), bagging multiple awards in the NCAA. The seasoned veteran went on to play in multiple high-profile opens, including the prestigious Wimbledon.
After returning home to the Philippines, Saret was appointed as head coach of the University of Asia and the Pacific Tennis Team from 1999 to 2000. Shortly after, the BYU alumna assumed the mantle of coaching the Blue and White’s Women’s Tennis team in 2002, which she continues to lead until this day.
Saret’s coaching aspirations stemmed from her mentor at BYU, a courageous sportswoman who showed the then-collegiate competitor the nuances of the game. The former NCAA athlete’s experiences under her mentor helped her further understand her players’ mental and physical condition, which she described as assuming the role of a counselor and mother.
“[The players] look up to you in other things. [...] I have to understand where their thoughts are, what their moods are; [...] I have to play around that as well,” Saret stated.
In addition to her coaching position, Saret was appointed as the Assistant Director of the UAO before the pandemic struck. Alongside other Assistant Directors and the Athletic Director, she takes care of the needs of the Ateneo sports teams and oversees campus sports facilities, namely the Moro Lorenzo Field and the Blue Eagle Gym.
With her experience in professional competition and coaching, Coach Jade thinks that it is inevitable for women to progress even further in leadership roles in the Philippines. “It’s slowly happening. [...] There is always something that a female can contribute in any workspace or environment,” said the former SEA Games competitor.
Women at the helm
Throughout time, sportswomen have taken strides over pedantic underlinings that have devalued their blood, sweat, and tears in their respective competitions. Nonetheless, their long list of achievements and their unshakeable voice have reverberated the global ascent of courageous women turning the sports scene anew.
From the corners of the university, women have piloted their triumphant run as various teams have sunken their talons deep on swooping remarkable laurels. In this season alone, the Loyola-based institution has seen UAAP’s women’s pole vault record holder Jia Kawachi and two-time Badminton MVP Mika De Guzman sustain the victorious mores of the Blue Eagles.
With the second half of the UAAP Season 86 underway, it will come as no surprise that Lasquite, Hizon, and Saret will continue to showcase their command, spearheading the culture of distinguished honors in competition.
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]]>However, as the industry continues to develop and surpass its pre-pandemic levels, the ramifications of the gambling industry’s proliferation extend beyond individuals and into the broader fabric of society.
Stacking the chips
Filipinos are no strangers to playing with chance and luck. The country’s first legal casino opened in 1977 when PAGCOR established the Manila Bay Casino, a floating casino inside the luxury liner MS Philippine Tourist. Land-based casinos were established soon after, and since then, casinos have only increased in popularity and profitability.
In 2008, revenues saw an explosive uptick when PAGCOR allowed four large-scale resorts to be developed along Manila Bay as part of a “Las Vegas-style” project. Dubbed the “Entertainment City,” the complex has remained the biggest contributor to the industry since the opening of its first casino, Solaire Resort, in 2013. In 2023, Entertainment City generated Php 207.48 billion in revenue.
Despite the rocketing year-on-year growth of its main driver, the landscape of the gambling industry remains ever-changing, with online gambling platforms now challenging the predominance of physical casinos. Aside from the convenience and anonymity it provides, online gambling offers a wider variety of casino games, sports betting, and other specialty games. The industry has also proven to be extremely profitable, earning Php 58.16 billion in gross revenue.
While its economic contribution has been immediate and is projected to only increase in the following years, the popularity of online gambling has encouraged illicit operations. As such, Filipino players are at heightened risk of not only falling for scams, identity theft, and credit card fraud but also getting tangled up in criminal activity.
Designed to deceive
Despite the dangers associated with gambling, the allure of quick financial gain can be particularly tempting for those in impoverished situations. According to Belinda Livingstone, Group Trustee of Gamblers Anonymous Philippines (GA), poverty is the primary reason as to why Filipinos gamble in the first place. Aside from money, dopamine acts as another incentive for gambling, triggering the human brain’s reward system and reinforcing risk-taking behavior.
“It's a thinking and living problem. If they gamble, they could double the money that they have and pay for everything. In the end, the money that’s supposed to be for food and for rent is lost,” Livingstone stated.
With numerous casinos, cockfighting arenas, and online gambling platforms available, Filipinos have easy access to avenues where they can attempt to recover their losses. Some are unable to resist the chance to win back their money by gambling even more. Compulsive gamblers can often fall into debt because of this, even to the point of borrowing from loan sharks, thereby entering a precarious cycle of escalating financial instability.
On a larger scale, the Philippines’ acceptance of traditional forms of gambling has also influenced a broader tolerance towards the matter. The proliferation of gambling facilities and its integration into various cultural events has fostered an environment where engaging in such activities is viewed as merely recreational.
Nevertheless, economic considerations, given the amount of revenue generated by the industry, hamper the government’s willingness to intervene. While operators are required to obtain licenses, strict measures beyond this are notably scarce. For instance, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and traditional casinos are given considerable leeway due to substantial financial contributions to the economy.
Regulatory responses
To this day, gambling addictions are viewed more as an individual’s lapse than as a preventable industrial issue, even as the industry consistently generates revenue from players’ repeated losses. As such, social stigma remains a colossal hindrance to addressing gambling, often delaying intervention until its negative effects become severely pronounced.
“It takes a long time and many tries before [gamblers] could give up, accept [their mistakes], and admit that they cannot beat gambling—that they are sick [and have an addiction],” Livingstone lamented.
To address this, Livingstone emphasized that the categorization of gambling addiction as a mental health issue here in the Philippines would deepen the gravity of the issue and help remove the stigma around it. The move would also give way for the integration and streamlining of support services into establishments such as healthcare facilities, rehabilitation centers, and community health programs.
Recognizing gambling as a public health concern demands comprehensive strategies, accessible support, and community involvement to mitigate its impact. In urging this shift in perspective, a humane approach must be prioritized above all else.
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]]>In 2022, Manila ranked fifth worst among the world’s public transit systems. Commuters face a 71% increase in travel time during their daily transit as compared to their supposed duration during free-flow traffic. The congestion is further coupled with poor quality and connectivity to other regions in the country.
As the country’s transport system seeks evolutions, legal frameworks continue to solely service the private transport sector, further dragging down their public counterparts.
Two-way street
Divisions between the use of public and private transport sectors are marked primarily by an economic split. Although public transportation is meant to cater to the general public, inefficient facilities and overcongestion deter many from regularly using them, especially by those who can afford private vehicles.
Despite the majority relying on public transportation, government agencies exert more efforts into improving infrastructure for private vehicles through road expansions and parking construction. To illustrate, only 22% of space is allotted for public transport, with the rest used for roads.
As such, many commuters have expressed that little attention is given to sustainable transport options like walking and biking as well, with dangerous lanes and crosswalks all around. In a 2020 survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), 87% of Filipinos stated that they believe the government should exert more effort into public transportation over private.
Likewise, transport advocacy network The Passenger Forum’s 2022 survey indicated that 96% of its respondents find the supply of Public Utility Vehicles lacking. Moreover, 97% of the respondents express their hopes for more trains and train lines.
Shared-Use Mobility Center Chief Executive Officer Benjamin de la Peña echoed this sentiment, stating that expanded transportation options should be given more attention in policy-making. “A good metropolitan area would give you better options than driving a car. Public transportation should be faster, [and] walking should be safer,” he explained.
With mobility improvements in Metro Manila focused on enhancing the experience of car users, commuters have long stressed the need for the government to prioritize public transport.
Family favorite
The heavy amount of investments that the country has made in developing roads over public transportation has reflected a car-centric mindset. Examining how the government spent its road program budget from 2010 to 2021, the Move As One Coalition saw that only 1% of the funds went into road-based public transportation, with the lion’s share going into road expansion and widening.
This heavy emphasis on road expansion leads to induced demand, as adding more spaces for vehicles only encourages citizens to use up the additional road. As such, continuous road expansion not only fails to solve the problem of congestion but also pushes private vehicles as the primary mode of mobility above all other options.
Development Studies professor Segundo Joaquin Romero Jr., PhD further stated that while currently being improved, the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit “have yet to ease congestion.” “The BRT mode has the best potential for alleviating traffic congestion, but the [EDSA] Bus Carousel remains a poor interpretation of what has been a powerful and transformative transportation mode in other countries,” he added.
A similarly car-centric approach manifests in policies that aim to ease traffic congestion. Currently, laws regarding traffic regulation have only prompted the purchase of more cars, such as the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, otherwise known as the number coding scheme. As de la Peña pointed out, number coding only targets people who can already afford a car, so restricting when they can use their vehicle would only incentivize them to purchase a second one.
These concerns have also manifested in Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Regulation No. 24-022 series of 2024, which prohibits e-bicycles, e-tricycles, tricycles, pedicabs, and pushcarts from traversing national, circumferential, and radial roads.
According to the MMDA, this directive aims to decrease the occurrences of vehicular accidents. However, Move as One Coalition co-convener Roberto Siy Jr. asserted that this ban would only exacerbate traffic congestion as it further promotes car use.
Nurturing neglect
The government’s car-centric approach evidently runs counter to the needs of the predominantly commuting urban masses, leading to dissatisfaction with the current state of public transportation.
To combat the dominance of car-centric policies, de la Peña suggested a number of ways in which the country can put public transportation development firmly on the driver’s seat.
First, by implementing congestion pricing, which de la Peña described as “the only proven model to reduce traffic congestion,” and adding hefty certificate of ownership fees, car usage would not only be disincentivized, but would also help fund public transportation programs.
de la Peña added that public-private partnerships could explore the prospect of value capture mechanisms involving utilizing train stations as centers of development. Moreover, he emphasized the need to invest in pedestrian sidewalks rather than parking incentives that would easily succumb to induced demand.
Romero also emphasized the need for a paradigm shift through policy. He stated that incentives should be given to carpooling, while parking in public spaces should be paid.
Furthermore, he cited the importance of transformative approaches to promoting inclusive mobility, such as expanding lanes for bicycles and public transportation, while reducing road space for cars.
“Innovative solutions, such as off-site public parking that is connected by buses, monorails, and e-buses to common destinations such as Ateneo should be generated to de-clog main arteries such as Katipunan Avenue,” he added.
As such, the push for sustainable and inclusive mobility has been gradually building up its groundswell not just from the academe, but also from the grassroots. With the harsh commuter experience growing increasingly dire, the government’s mobility-related policies will primarily dictate whether the movement toward quality public transportation will get further derailed or be put back on track.
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]]>IN THE hushed halls of Catholic all-girls schools, a group of young women neatly dressed in white ankle socks, embroidered hems, and black leather loafers fade into view. On the far end of the corridor, a girl holds another girl’s hand as they exchange youthful laughter and whispered secrets.
For alumnae of all-girls schools, the world as they knew it was run mostly by women. However, as much as these educational institutions can cultivate safe spaces, some schools may be prone to engendering norms of social exclusion.
Walls of ivory
Sofia* (2 BS CH-MSE) studied at an all-girls Catholic school in Saudi Arabia. In Arab culture, girls are not allowed to interact with boys unless they are married. Even siblings of the opposite sex eat dinner separately. Despite this, Sofia never felt constrained by the idea of being a woman.
Although society has created gender-biased standards and ideas, those distinctions did not exist in Sofia’s all-girls Catholic school. In fact, the women in her school took on the roles attributed to men. Moreover, the women at her school embodied a spirit of never feeling constrained by the idea of being a woman, as they boldly defied conventional gender norms.
Another alumna of an all-girls school, Maria* (1 AB Dip-IR) found comfort growing up surrounded by girls. According to her, asking for sanitary napkins was normal, as well as changing clothes together in the restroom without getting sexualized. Elsewhere, these practices would be frowned upon.
Moreover, Maria’s early exposure to an active queer community occurred within the walls of her school. “It was a safe space. It created this bubble for me and the students there. It didn’t show much of the prejudice,” she shares.
However, while all-girls schools made women feel included, these spaces may still subject them to isolation.
Within tight spaces
Anna* (1 AB POS) was raised in what she calls a “feminine-household.” Living with her lola and titas, she says that she never doubted powerful women. Initially, her mother decided to enroll Anna in an all-girls school in order to keep her safe.
Over time, Anna began to question the heteronormative teachings at her school. “It was very ‘gay equals no,’ especially with Christian teachers. [They would say that] ‘a woman should be with a man and should have children,’” she mentions. For her, it was perplexing to hear that religion—something she was comfortable with—denounced homosexuals.
Anna recalls her school’s tradition of “chastity pledges.” They would recite prayers that promised their abstinence and innocence until they eventually found their husbands.
In the search for solace from the uncomfortable experiences at her school, Anna alludes to the importance of female friendships. “I can’t explain in words how much love I feel for these women,” Anna says. Around women, she feels that everything is possible.
Breaking free
Amid their unique experiences with all-girls schools, the three women converge on harnessing the impact of an educational institution to educate, empower, and emancipate.
For Sofia, seeing two girls holding hands as an everyday occurrence in her high school led her to think that homosexuality is not “weird or wrong,” as opposed to conventional notions that homosexuality goes against what is considered “normal.”
“Acknowledging that homosexual relationships existed, recognizing that we’re an all-girls school, [and] helping us navigate that—[‘yun ang] pinaka-importante for me na maibibigay ng education (that’s the most important thing that education should provide),” she shares.
Moreover, Maria explains that schools are where children spend most of their formative years. As such, what they learn in school shapes their view of the world, providing a foundation for when they grow into adults. For instance, her school’s advocacy for women’s and children’s welfare pushed her to be in service to the marginalized. Schools also serve as the foundation for people’s understanding of gender.
“With our current education system, it’s still very heteronormative and focused on the gender binary. Changing that would be such a big help to other communities,” Maria mentions.
Anna also hints at the perils of restricting women and their interaction to solely the people within the walls of their school. For her, she laments the opportunities and interactions that could have widened her worldviews.
Maria further expounds on the liberating power of diversity. “The diversity of a community is an invitation to them to share about their experiences and their identities,” she shares.
While all-girls schools may serve as a sanctuary for women, such institutions may also espouse stereotypes of gender ideals. Thus, conceptualizing the idea of “safe space,” should not be confused with isolationism; otherwise, all-girls schools may take on new forms of exclusion.
*Editor’s Note: The interviewees’ names have been changed at their request to protect their identity and privacy.
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