ni Levi Joshua A. Verora Jr.

Wagi ang anim na mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Los Baños sa katatapos lamang na 2013 Gawad Felicisimo T. San Luis para sa Namumukod-Tanging Kabataan ng Laguna nitong Sabado, Hunyo 22 sa Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Kabilang sa mga pinangaralan ang tatlong nakapasok sa top 10 na sina John Cynex Sollorano, Veah Fleurdeliz Escote, at Venuel Robel. Tatlo naman ang nakapag-uwi ng special awards sina Candy Barcena, Earl Gio Manuel, at Stanley Gajete.

Ang Gawad San Luis ay isang samahan na nagbibigay parangal sa mga natatanging kabataan sa lalawigan  ng Laguna. Bubuksan ang nominasyon para sa mga nais magsusumite ng kanilang mga pambato. Pagtapos ay susuriin ang mga ito at iaanunsyo ang mga opisyal na mga nominado.

Ang mga natanggap na nominado ay dadaan sa proseso ng screening o pagsasanay sa loob ng halos anim na buwan. Dito, layunin ng Gawad San Luis na linangin ang mga kabataan at tulungan silang matuklasan ang kanilang mga kakayahan. Matapos ang proseso ay gagantimpalaan ang Top 10 at ang mga Special Awardees base sa mga batayan ng samahan.

Ilan sa mga batayan ng Gawad San Luis ay ang kakayahang mamuno at makisama ng mga nominado at ang kanilang mga kontribusyon sa pagpapaunlad ng kanilang lugar.

Ang mga nagwagi ay kapwa dumaan sa matinding pagsubok sa final screening ng Gawad San Luis na tumagal ng halos limang buwan mula Enero hanggang Hunyo ng taong ito. Kada linggo ay nagpupulong ang mga nominees upang magkaroon ng mga talakayan, diskusyon at samu’t saring mga aktibidad.

Nakapanayam ng Los Baños Times ang dalawa sa mga nagwagi—sina John Cynex Sollorano mula sa kursong BS Biology at Venuel Robel, mag-aaral ng BS Economics. Inilahad nila ang kanilang mga pinagdaanang mga karanasan bago tuluyang makamit ang karangalan.

“Sapat na ang sertipiko kung tutuusin; malaking bagay na iyon sapagkat panalo ka na sa karanasan at sa pamilyang ibinigay ng Gawad,” ani Sollorano, na hindi raw inasahan na malagay sa Top 10. “Hindi ko talaga inaasahan sapagkat lahat ay magagaling. Ang tingin kong inilamang ko sa kanila ay ang pakikisama ko at pagsali sa lahat ng kategoryang mayroon.”

Ganito rin ang mga naging susi sa tagumpay ni Venuel Robel. “Malaking bagay ang dedikasyon sa patimpalak na ito. Hindi pwedeng mang-iwan sa ere at hindi mo iiwanan ang Gawad ng walang naaayos na gusot.” Si Venuel Robel ay wagi sa kategoryang high school, matapos magtapos sa Famy National High School.

Hindi lamang ang mga katangian ng isang Felicisimo San Luis ang natutunan ng mga naging kasapi ng organisasyon bagamat iba’t ibang aspeto ng mga buhay tulad ng pagkilala sa sarili, sa ibang tao, sa lipunan at iba. Ito ang ilan lamang sa mga bagay na hinding-hindi malilimutan ng mga nagsipagtapos sa Gawad San Luis ngayong taon.

Bukod sa karangalang natanggap, isang pagsubok ang pagkakahirang na pinakanamumukod-tanging kabataan para kina Cynex at Venuel; ayon sa kanila, higit pa sa naiuwing mga tropeyo ang hamon sa kanila na mapatunayan ang kanilang angking galing pagdating sa paglilingkod sa sambayanan, sa mapakahit-anong paraan.

[PRESS RELEASE] Over a hundred educators, non-teaching staff and students of Malayan Colleges Laguna (MCL) gathered recently in Tagaytay City for their first faculty congress, an event aimed at strengthening the implementation of the outcomes-based education (OBE) system.

The two-day event, with the theme “Laying the Solid Ground: Our Best Effort”, provided a deeper understanding of the learner-centered approach to education to the attendees by discussing the theory and philosophy behind OBE as well as its practical applications.

“This event was organized to provide a forum to discuss the student outcomes and programs objectives that we have set for each academic program and the means to realize them,” said Engr. Dennis H. Tablante, MCL’s Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Two teaching pillars were invited as guest speakers to share with the MCL community their knowledge and experiences on the system.

Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose B. Bautista, Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education and a notable social scientist, said that unlike traditional learning system, OBE focuses on student learning, with emphasis on what knowledge and skills students need to become successful professionals.

She added that instead of focusing only on the inputs, like world-class facilities and equipment, the degree of student learning must also be measured to improve an academic program.

MCL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mapúa Institute of Technology, adopted OBE to produce students who can meet the entry-level requirements of local and international companies. Since the school adopted the system, it has invested on facilities, faculty and administrators to ensure the efficient implementation of OBE.

Dr. Allan B. de Guzman, a University of Santo Tomas professor and seasoned educator, on the other hand, shared the practical applications of the system.

He provided techniques that can help professors in designing and developing the course syllabus and coming up with assessment measures which they can use in evaluating their students.

MCL, together with Mapúa, is among the first schools in the country to shift to OBE, demonstrating its commitment to produce globally competitive graduates.

by Janica M. Gan

“Life may sometimes seem unfair, but if you chose to let go of those bad memories and begin a new one, you will found out that you are stronger enough to resist the same pain once you face the same situation again.”

I never thought that I will be part of the Kizuna (Bond) Project in Japan on March 11-20. I, as a simple scholar of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, have never expected this dream become an experience.

Kizuna (Bond) Project is a program that aims to invite youths to Japan from other countries in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, to show them the efforts underway at disaster-affected area that are vigorously making recovery initiatives, and to promote understanding on reconstruction in Japan. The program includes interaction with youth in disaster-affected area, participation in recovery support activities, and other projects. The youths are expected to relay the current status of Japan’s reconstruction to the people of their countries through report presentations and other means of communicating their experience in the disaster-affected area after returning to their home countries.

The Kizuna (Bond) Project contains three different batches. I became part of the second batch. The batch contains 75 students and 6 supervisors from different regions in the Philippines. The program has been facilitated well as it grouped the students and supervisors into three. All in all, there were seven UP Los Baños students in Batch 2 that became part of the program.

There were lectures being conducted for us to understand more of the things happened in Japan during the March 11, 2011 earthquake disaster. As the program started, the second batch delegates have been assigned to visit Iwate Prefecture. Iwate Prefecture, located in Tohoku region and is the second largest sub-national jurisdiction in Japan in terms of area, has suffered too much from the disaster. I have seen some of the beautiful places of Iwate Prefecture, the simplicity of the town and its people and I cannot contain my feelings how the tsunami washed it all out. It is really heartbreaking to see the clear area where houses and building were built before.

Some may say that Japan has been fully recovered after the disaster but it is all wrong. Whenever they discuss what happened in March 11 incident, I can see through their eyes that they are still not that fine, the Sanriku Railway experience showed it all.

The Sanriku Railway Company is a small railway company founded in April 1, 1984 as a third-sector railway line, taking over the former Japanese National Railways lines. The company, familiarly known as “Santetsu,” operates the Kita-Riasu Line (71.0 km) and the Minami Riasu Line (36.6 km), which run along the Sanriku coast of Iwate, and has 71 employees.

Immediately after the massive quake of the March 11, 2011, lights went out at all Santetsu stations and communication systems, and all were disconnected. The tracks and stations were washed away by the tsunami, bridges were damaged, tracks were buried in rubble, and trains submerged that made it unable to move. Fortunately, no one got hurt. As pictures of the before and after scenario of the place were shown to us, it breaks my heart that I can see that the place has been really changed, a huge change happened.

The good thing is that, the company did not stop their operation. Restoration work is being carried out under the full cooperation of the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency, in an effort to resume operations of the Minami-Riasu Line between Sakari Station and Yoshihama Station in April 2013 and full operation in April 2016. Another good thing is they have this program called “Train ride to learn about earthquake disaster” wherein you will be toured and lectured on the affected area while riding the train. The program aims at having passengers learn about earthquake disaster and disaster prevention while riding on trains along the partially recovered line. Passengers will learn also about the violence of nature, value of life and importance of connecting with others as well as enjoying the scenic spots along the Santetsu line where trains will slow down or stop. Honestly speaking, I almost cry after we were asked to pray for the lives of the victims. The train stopped in front of the ocean and silence ate the whole place. I realized how blessed our country is even though it is not yet developed as Japan is.

My 10-day stay in Japan is so short. However, the knowledge and values the experience taught me made me re-evaluate the things in my own country. The program really did it well. Aside from this Sanriku train experience, there are some more. Japan welcomed us wholeheartedly with their culture. I cannot forget the onsen experience (the spring experience wherein everyone has to take off their clothes and have a relaxing time in the spring), the mamebu cooking (food culture), the amber pendant making experience (amber making is one of the job in the place), the forest board painting experience (we painted messages on the wood boards that are to be placed on the railways in the forest so that those people who are on wheelchairs, when the railways are already completed, will be able to enjoy climbing the mountain path and enjoy nice views from the top of the hill), the Machinaka aquarium experience (we saw different sea creatures found only in Japan and learned from the company’s experiences after tsunami hit their real aquarium place where several fishes died), the Shinkansen (Bullet train) experience, our homestay with farmers, the cultural night, the Japanese foods, the snow and the blooming of some cherry blossoms, and the drills and workshops we have experienced.

Aside from the experiences that Japan has given to me, there is this one more lesson that I will forever keep in mind and heart:

“In every failure, there is always a brand new chance to look at.”

You may lose something big but life must not end with that. You are still here, breathing, thinking, talking, or in short, living. You should not box yourself of what had happened in the past but look forward on the future that is about to come. Failures are just some parts of life that will strengthen you even more. It is better to let go of those unnecessary baggages you are carrying for a long time and start facing the reality that someone or something has gone and new things has yet to come. Japan taught me that there is really hope and faith in life. Maybe that is the reason why it is termed as the “Land of the Rising Sun”, for every rise of the sun brings new hopes and brand new chances.

There is still hope for my country. Our leaders may fail, disasters may come, and so forth but hope will always be enough. All we have to do is to choose or decide, believe and strive more. After all, God will not let His people starves. There is always a lesson to come out, we just have to figure it out. And that’s why I did, from a simple resident in LB, I chose to stepped out, believe in it and even striving hard to achieve my dreams. I may sometimes fail with my decisions but it does not mean it’s the end. There is always hope and a future. All I have to do is to keep holding on. As what someone told me, “If God deprived you of something good, He will give you something better. Let go and let God.”

Japan is not just an experience but a lesson that is to be learned by everyone. Arigattu Gozaimashita.

JMGan is a resident of Brgy. Anos in Los Baños, Laguna and was one of the UP Los Baños representatives in the Kizuna (Bond) Project on March.

by Gumamela Celes Bejarin and Levi Joshua Verora

The family and friends of Marry Grace Esguerra gathered this afternoon to bring the child’s remains at the Los Baños Memorial Garden in Brgy. Anos.

Marry Grace, an 11-year old peanut vendor, was found dead earlier last week at a vacant lot in Villa Carangal, Brgy. Tuntungin-Putho. This was after she was reported missing since March 1.

Fredalyn Esguerra, Marry Grace’s mother, said they believe their child is already in peace. She added that they are grateful that the suspect to her daughter’s death was already sent to jail. She also acknowledged the support shown by their relatives, friends and students from UPLB.

Classmates and teachers of Marry Grace from Paciano Elementary school also paid their respect to the remains of the child.

by Mary Joie C. Cruz and Gretzel H. Lantican

A 27-year old pedicab driver Henry Hipolito admitted this afternoon that he killed Marry Grace Esguerra. According to PO1 Rommel DG Montecillo, officer on case, Atty. Carlos Acain was present during the extra judicial confession of the suspect. Hipolito will be tried for murder.

Hipolito, the person who reported the body of the 11-year old girl in Villa Carangal in Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin, was also said to be one of the last persons Marry Grace was seen with the night she disappeared.

“Ang sabi ng suspect ay nagandahan daw siya kay Marry Grace pero ang tingin namin ay matagal na rin siyang minamatyagan,” said Fredalyn Esguerra, Marry Grace’s mother.

Based on the report of PO1 Montecillo, Hipolito narrated that the victim boarded his pedicab with another male passenger on March 1 at the pedicab terminal near UPLB Animal Husbandry at about 11pm. The male passenger got off the pedicab upon reaching Purok 3, leaving Marry Grace alone with Hipolito. Upon reaching the dark portion of the road near Villa Carangal, the suspect grabbed Marry Grace who resisted and shouted for help. Hipolito hit the victim on the head with a stone knocking her unconscious. The suspect then brought the unconscious Marry Grace to the dark portions of the grassy vacant lot at Villa Carangal and started to undress the victim.

The suspect denied he raped Marry Grace. Based on his narration, a tricycle passed by as he was undressing the victim forcing him to flee from the scene.

“Mabuti naman po at umamin na ang suspek sa pagpatay sa anak namin. Sa ngayon, ipinagpapasa-Diyos na lang namin ang nangyari kay Marry Grace,” said Fredalyn Esguerra.

“At least mabibigyan na natin ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ni Marry Grace,” said Chief Superintendent Conrado Masongsong of PNP LB. Police Chief Masongsong is appealing to all the parents of Los Baños to guard their little children closely and to restrict them from staying outside their homes during night time.

The police are still waiting for the results of the autopsy of the body to confirm the suspect’s statements.

Marry Grace’s remains are now in Capunitan Funeraria in Brgy. Anos.