#Andrea Almeda

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FEATURE: Kaisa sa Musika: The Return of UP Fair

UP Fair 2023 Kaisa ka sa Musika pubmat. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/UPFair/

After being stagnant for many years, the most anticipated week among UP students is back. The UP Fair consists of five days. Each one has its own unique flavor as it's usually organized by different groups that invite a wide variety of artists. Here, numerous booths and rides can be found, but hidden under the guise of an entertainment event for dancing the night away with friends are advocacies that the UP student body at large fights for. Despite the promise of exciting activities and attractions, the real goal of these five days is to provide a platform for numerous people to have their voice, and what they fight for, heard.

Join us as we take a look at what each day brought to the table and what their noble endeavors were.

REV

Lively crowd gathered during REV 2023. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/REVpresents/photos/pcb.3472620732952801/3472620672952807

The first day of the event was UP Fair REV; its advocacy centered on the issue of injustice and lack of accountability from our government. They called out the state for its crimes against human rights—specifically during the regime of Duterte and Marcos Sr., as the victims were never given any justice while the real perpetrators of said crimes still run free with a clean slate under their names. 

UPIS alumnus Kobe Rivera from batch 2019 Ignite, is part of an organization that was in partnership with the REV committee. This is a common occurrence as numerous partnerships are made among organizations that have a passion for a common cause at a big event such as this. According to him, the advocacies of each day are important, and based on his experience during REV, he noted that they were successful in their goal of providing necessary information to the attendees. 

Though he also noted a recurring happening that can be improved—he noticed that the organizers sometimes fail to get the people’s attention. "When the advocacy starts, a lot of people use it as a time to buy food and drinks rather than to listen," he said, the numbers of those who join and actively listen to the advocacy are relatively low as compared to the hype that people give to the performing bands. But even so, he cannot deny that the appeal of the fair did not lessen because of that.

He is actually an avid enjoyer of the fair as he has been going for years. He noticed that the sets were shorter and were bitin for him since it is what he came for, but he still enjoyed it regardless, as he managed to catch up with his high school friends as they went through all the booths and rides.

KALYE TUNES

A picture of the advocacy segment during Kalye Tunes showing their stand on jeepney phaseout. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/kalyetunes/status/1631613876134625282/photo/1

The next day was the day to light up the spirit of local hip hop—Kalye Tunes. On brand with their name, they dedicated their advocacies to both our jeepney drivers and the people who live in slums. Kalye Tunes advocated for something that is a hot topic—one that has been brought to the fore by the recent strike of transport groups: jeepney phaseout. Their other advocacy is fighting against big corporations and how their actions cause many families to be forced out of their homes and live in unsuitable areas. They featured the case of Sitio San Roque, whose people have been trying to reclaim their land after having been evicted from it.

The combination of music that matched the taste of the mass and advocacy on an issue that almost everyone is affected by, made this day one of the most sought-after. Kiel Beldia, a student from 12-Kamalayan, surely made it his goal to be a part of such a big event, as he was part of the volunteer corps of Kalye Tunes. Though it was not his first time attending UP Fair, it was still a new experience as volunteering for it revealed hidden sides of organizing the event, which just made him more passionate about its cause. But being a volunteer doesn’t mean all work for him; he still got to enjoy the event and even had time to roam around and have a go at the rides such as the Viking, and of course, he also got the chance to jam with an artist that he was excited to hear from: Al James.

DIMENSIONS

Mayonnaise during Dimensions. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/mayonnaisemusic/status/1626241089488429058/photo/1

The third day of the fair is probably the one that made the most uproar. Dimensions was the talk of the town as they were early to release parts of their lineup, thus, hyping up the students to buy tickets early. Such a simple strategic move, yet, was very effective. The selling for this day was the most brutal out of all the days, but one that was still worth all the efforts for its attendees. Another smart move of its organizers was their choice of advocacy—somewhat a natural continuation of what came the day before: the country’s transportation crisis. Who wouldn't want to go to an event whose advocacy affects the everyday life of every single Filipino?

Another reason for this day to be the crowd's favorite is that the whole setlist was the best—Annika Porto of grade 11-HT Sy, Sr. clearly thinks so. Among the bands, she was really looking forward to Mayonnaise, Lola Amour, and The Itchyworms. She even mentioned that she has always been on the lookout to experience attending a performance of Mayonnaise. She was put out when she couldn't attend UP Fair 2020 to see them, and so she was ecstatic to tell us how she enjoyed and sang her heart out to their song Jopay.

The name Dimensions might not ring a bell among usual fair-goers, as they were more familiar with the name Roots for the usual Thursday fair, but to those that do not know, both actually have the same organizer which is the UP Economics Society. This rebranding might have been for the better. Annika loved the energy that Dimensions had and she even noted that the planning for crowd space was much more organized as it was divided into two sections, unlike in the past where the audience was compacted all together in the middle.

POLARIS

MRLD celebrated her birthday with the Polaris crowd. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/UP_Fair/status/1626648650620493825?s=20

The fourth day of the fair, Polaris, held a variety of advocacies that are more catered toward the student body of the university. As students of the University of the Philippines, we continuously strive and fight for academic freedom, opposing campus militarization and any form of oppression. Having programs for equality and inclusivity, along with gender-responsiveness and cultural sensitivity—these are what Polaris fights for as well.

But, it is worth taking note that the organizers for this day, the UP Upsilon Sigma Phi, have sparked some disputes and have been known for making statements that contradict the very advocacy of the event, proving all the more the need to fight for equality and inclusivity. Though filled with controversies, that is not a reason to discount the efforts of numerous people and its attendees to fight for the day's advocacy.

Pauline Vargas, a current grade 11 student in the Business and Entrepreneurship track, is one of many that got to hear these advocacies live. According to her, some of the reasons that made her choose to attend the fair day was due to the fact that she resonated with what they were fighting for, and also because of the convenience of the schedule. Not new to attending the fair, she stated that the recent experience differed from others by how they effectively communicated their advocacies to the crowd; the fairs of the previous years were not that successful in voicing out what they were fighting for.

As the students and goers of the fair celebrated and enjoyed the rest of the night, bands and performers like December Avenue, I Belong to the Zoo, Orange & Lemons, MRLD, and more serenaded the crowd that willingly held up their phone flashlights, creating an illusion of a starry night from the artists’ point of view.

The event’s advocacies did not only last for the night, as the organizers extended help towards the students that went beyond the fair day's closing hours. Pauline’s highlight for the night was when Polaris announced that they covered the dormitory fees of all UPD students for one semester.

COSMOS

Ben&Ben performing at Cosmos. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/CosmosOPMFest/status/1630575556432633856/photo/3

Cosmos, the day where the UP Sunken Garden grounds became a safe space for all—regardless of gender, sexuality, and expression—was held on the fifth and last day of the fair, ending it with a bang. Handled by the UP Junior Marketing Association,  the fair day’s advocacies revolve around the promotion of trans rights, the SOGIE equality bill, reproductive health for all, and inclined with National Women’s Month this March, Cosmos also advocates for feminism.

Gian Manalo, a UPIS Batch ‘22 Doble Dos alumnus, expressed how Cosmos became his go-to UP Fair day, and attending every year turned into his own personal tradition. Compared to his previous Cosmos experiences, this year's crowd was especially bigger because of the demand, due to the fact that it has been a while since the fair was last held. According to him, getting tickets felt almost like a lottery by how difficult it was to purchase them. He also observed that there were more non-UP students compared to UP students, resulting in a much different hype, but nonetheless, it was good that more people were exposed to the advocacies that day had.

What made Gian’s night incredibly special was the performance that BINI, an eight-member P-pop girl group, offered to the fairgoers. More widely-known bands were part of the night’s lineup, such as Moonstar88, Autotelic, The Itchyworms, Ben&Ben, and more. And, although his favorite ride wasn’t included in the most recent UP Fair, Gian said he still very much enjoyed the Viking.

With the UP Fair officially back once again, it certainly has brought a sense of hope and something most students can look forward to, whether they may be from inside or outside the campus. For anyone that is interested and is now planning on attending the next UP Fairs, our beloved schoolmates left a few words of advice to make your next fairs worthwhile.

“Go with someone you hold close and dear to your heart or your very sabog friends! Witnessing music live is way more enjoyable and wholesome with company you like because it brings out all the feels, emotions, hype, you name it!” —Gian Manalo, Doble Dos.

"Bring some mats if your feet/legs are weak and if you are going to stand for the whole time." —Pauline Vargas, Grade 11.

"Prepare for when it rains because we were fortunate that rain was not present for the whole week. But if rain was to come you should have plastic bags or ziplocks ready for your belongings." —Kiel Beldia, Grade 12.

"Always be alert and be mindful of your things. As much as possible, don't bring a backpack and use sling bags instead to prevent yourself from losing things. Explore the booths and rides inside the fairgrounds and the most important thing you need to remember is to enjoy the performances! Don't be shy to sing the songs you know out loud!" —Annika Porto, Grade 11.

"If you have the means to do so, it is best to go to the UP Fair at least twice. One or more days for the bands. Find a day where you really like the lineup/advocacy. And another day where you feel that the lineup is relatively mediocre, so that you could enjoy talking to your friends, playing games, riding the rides, and the bands will be just for the background." —Kobe Rivera, Ignite.

One cannot deny that the UP Fair is an event that has constantly proved its effectiveness in highlighting voices that need to be heard and has been a great conduit to connect people through music and advocacies to fight for. Whether you may be an Isko, an Iska, or just someone who happens to enjoy walking along the refreshing UP Diliman campus, you are sure to have a sense of awareness about the current societal issues, and how you can raise your voice to stand for what’s right. //by Andrea Almeda and Daphne De Ramos

#MC2023 #MC2024 #Feature #Filipino #Andrea Almeda #Daphne De Ramos

[sibzine]

✨ PRE ORDERS NOW OPEN UNTIL 5th AUGUST✨

Siblings: An Illustrated Anthology Volume II is finally here! Curators Laura, Andy & their 84 guests are bringing you an even bigger book of art featuring our favorite fictional siblings. Spanning all media, genres & time periods - from novels, TV, animanga, films, games & everything in-between - we hope you’ll join us for another round of sibling-filled shenanigans!

⭐️ GUEST ARTISTS ⭐️

Amanda Schank - Andrea Porretta - Andrea Vasquez - Angela Tong  Angie Nasca - Anoosha Syed - Arielle Jovellanos - Arucelli  Bev Johnson  - Caroline Dougherty - Cathy Kwan - Ceejles  Celine Lys - Charles Tan - Christine Almeda - Courtney Scriven  Crow - Cynthia Tedy - Daniel Shervheim - Debbie Oak  Desiree Surjadi - Enduro - Erica Chan - Falke - Fergelyn Baliclic  Genice Chan - Heikala - Inntia - Istehlurvz - Janet Sung  Jeanne Hammel - Jenn Strickland - Jenny Xu - Jimmy Martinez  Johanna The Mad - Juliette Brocal - Kamille Areopagita  Katie Huon - Kel - Kiernan Sjursen-Lien - Kloysius - Koi Carreon Len Nguyen - Leonie X. Li - Libby Frame - Linus - Liv M - Lok  Lysa Cervantes - Madi Hodges - Maobebe - Megan Fisher   Meyoco - Michaele Riding - Michelle Hiraishi - Michelle Wong   Ming85 - Minuiko - Miranda Yeo - Monica Esquivel - Myra  Natasha Ringor - Punziella - Rian Gonzales - Roll - Russel Del S  Sara Kipin - Siobhan Keenan - Sonia Liao - Sora - Stephanie (Mohtz)  Stephanie Morales - Stephanie Kao - Stephanie Pepper  Stephanie Priscilla - Susan YOSB Bin - Tariah Furlow - Vivian Ng  Vivian Nguyen - Vivian Zhou - Wiktoria Radkiewicz - Yeehun  Yoshi Yoshitani - Yun

The book is 112 pages cover-to-cover, A5 size, perfect bound & contains 86 standalone illustrations. As well as just the anthology, there are 3 higher tiers with exclusive bonus merchandise (prints & stickers) designed by the curators, & limited slots to commission them - an ideal gift for a sibling!

Teaser Art: Vivi Zhou (Ranma 1/2), Cynthia Tedy (FFXII), Jeanne Hammel (Fantastic Beasts), Istehlurvz (Devil May Cry), Christine Almeda (Legend of Korra), Janet Sung (cover illustration) 

Please visit the Storenvy to buy the book, or the official Tumblr & Twitter for more previews/information. This aims to be a non-profit project with all revenue going towards production costs. Do note that all content in this edition is entirely new; there are no character overlaps from Volume 1. All orders will be shipped during the 3rd week of August. Thank you so much for your support!

#sibzine #fanzine #artists on tumblr #art anthology #siblings #zines

[aion-rsa]

Warrior Nun Ending Explained

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The following contains spoilers for Warrior Nun.

The conclusion of Netflix’s Warrior Nun launches its viewers directly off a cliff, and we’re left hanging until (an as of yet unannounced) season 2. The explosive finale leaves things off with more questions than answers. But here are some attempts at answers anyway.

In the beginning of the season, Ava (Alba Baptista) is resurrected by a halo that heals her paraplegia and gives her superpowers. But with great power comes great responsibility, as she’s expected to take on the mantle of Warrior Nun —and fight demons— for the Order of the Cruciform Sword (OCS). After spending the majority of the season running away from the duties that were thrust upon her, she ultimately decides to use her power to stop the cycle of “girls being used, abused, and tossed away by powerful men.” In the penultimate episode, Ava and her allies, Sister Beatrice (Kristina Tonteri-Young), Sister Camile (Olivia Declán), Shotgun Mary (Toya Turner), Father Vincent (Tristán Ulloa), and Lilith (Lorena Andrea), infiltrate the catacombs underneath the Vatican to find the tomb of the angel Adriel (William Miller) —original owner of the halo— to destroy his bones and stop demons from coming to this world.

When Ava enters the supposed tomb, she finds Adriel alive. He immediately spins a tale of being tricked and stolen from, which almost convinces Ava to return the halo to him. But when he touches her, she experiences an Avatar-state like reliving of Areala’s past, likely fueled by the halo, which shows Adriel appearing out of nowhere, with halo in tow, and a Tarask demon hot on his tail.

Adriel pretends to be an angel, and uses the halo to revive Areala (Guiomar Alonso), and convince the Knights Templar to fight for him against “the devils.” He forges his armor, shield, and the Cruciform sword from the melted-down remains of a Tarask —the source of Divinium. Areala knows he’s neither man nor angel, but doesn’t immediately expose him for fear of having the halo, and her life, taken away. Ava, like Areala, sees through Adriel’s bullshit, so he drops the pretense and tries to rip the halo out of Ava’s body.

Previously, scientist Jillian Salvius (Thekla Reuten) saved her son, Michael (Lope Haydn Evans), by infusing his blood with Divinium she harvested from Adriel’s armor. Unbeknownst to her, this created a connection between Michael and the armor’s original owner, which allowed Adriel to manipulate her by way of her son. She builds a portal to take Michael to a world where “death doesn’t exist,” or so she believes. When Adriel tries to yank the halo from Ava’s body, the portal opens, and Michael travels through it alone. The portal closes when Ava manages to push Adriel away, suggesting the halo is a key.

Read more

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Warrior Nuns Through TV History

By Louisa Mellor

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Warrior Nun Review (Spoiler-Free): Sisters Doing it for Themselves

By Nicole Hill

Throughout the season, Mary investigates the death of the previous Warrior Nun, Sister Shannon, and when it becomes clear Shannon was targeted, the evidence points to Cardinal Duretti (Joaquim de Almeda). Duretti’s guilt seems apparent, as he attempts to seize control over the halo, and undermine Father Vincent, including bringing his own coven into the OCS to replace Mary, Beatrice, Camila, and Lilith. When Ava and the team are infiltrating the Vatican, Mother Superion (Sylvia De Fanti) confronts now-Pope Duretti about the bones, and Shannon’s murder. But he has no idea what she’s talking about. Turns out, Father Vincent pulled the long con. He convinced everyone that Duretti killed Shannon to gain power, which Duretti played into by reigning in the OCS and ascending to the papacy, all the while he was responsible. He manipulated the OCS to free Adriel and return the halo to him.

The sisters have to quickly get over the fact that they’ve been played and go fisticuffs with Adriel. Lilith —who came back from… somewhere, with powers of her own— briefly overpowers him, but he survives a point-blank arrow to the head. When Ava shows up with the halo recharged, ready to fight with the Cruciform sword, Adriel summons non-corporeal Wraith demons to possess nearby civilians. The women all prepare to fight. Mary, true to her name, goes in guns blazing. And in the most disrespectful cliffhanger I’ve seen in a long time, the screen fades to black as Mary is overrun by the possessed. We don’t see what happens to her, or the others.

What we know is this. Adriel is not an angel. He stole the halo and escaped to this world, and the Tarask want it back. He lied to the Knights Templar about being an angel, so they would fight the Tarask for him, and the Order of the Cruciform Sword was built around that lie. Adriel has kept up with the outside world through his connection to his Divinium artifacts, and used his connection to Michael Salvius to influence Jillian to build him an interdimensional portal, for which the halo is likely a key. What we don’t know is what the portal is for and who the halo belongs to.

Mayhaps the halo belongs to the OG fallen angel, Lucifer, himself. The Tarask could be demons, sent from hell to retrieve the halo for the dark lord. Or, maybe the halo belongs to another entity, an angelic one, which might mean the Tarask are not categorically evil. Lilith’s conversation with Adriel before fists start flying suggests her newfound powers come from the Tarask, or from their world, which makes the question of whether they are good or evil difficult to answer. Lilith’s comic book counterpart is half-angel, half-demon, so it is equally plausible that her powers — and the Tarasks— are angelic in nature.

We’ll have to wait for a second season to learn more about Adriel, Lilith, and the Tarask. And to discover what Lilith has become, and where Michael has gone, and what the portal is for. We’re left with the knowledge that Adriel and Father Vincent are The Bad Guys. The OCS is founded on lies, but their mission —ridding the world of demons— remains the same. The real fight has just begun, and we hope Warrior Nun gets the chance to show us in a second season.

The post Warrior Nun Ending Explained appeared first on Den of Geek.

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#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

[asociaciondeentrenadores]

Mesa Redonda: Formación Jugadores en mini Basket - Sábado 9 Mayo en Directo 12:00h

Mesa Redonda: Formación Jugadores en mini Basket – Sábado 9 Mayo en Directo 12:00h

Mesa Redonda: Formación Jugadores en mini Basket – Sábado 9 Mayo en Directo 12:00h

Borja Lizaur ( @Borja82 ) – Club Deportivo Escuela Ideo

Miriam Palacios ( @Mirpalaus ) – Basket Almeda

Andrea Rizzo – Baloncesto Villalba

Alejandro Pajares (@Alex_pajares ) – Baloncesto Brains

  Moderador de la Mesa Redonda: Santiago Maeso boal (@smaesobo ) El formato permite tanto las preguntas o dudas que queráis…

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#Directo 12:00h #entrenador alevin #entrenador baloncesto #entrenador benjamin #entrenador mini #entrenadora alevin #entrenadora benjamin #entrenadora mini #facebook live #formacion baloncesto #formacion jugadores #mesa redonda #mini Basket #Sábado 9 Mayo #youtube live

[upismediacenter]

FEATURE: BTBBTS: Business Throwback and Behind the Scenes

Perhaps you miss the UPIS Fair; or maybe you’ve heard stories about the flurry of commercial and romantic activity in Februaries past. How about the Business Fair? Were you half as enthralled as these shop-obsessed writers were upon beholding their online pubmats? Join us in this lofty undertaking and let BTBBTS recount tales of old trades and demystify the present business climate in UPIS.

—Throwback—

In days long gone-by, both staff and students alike would anticipate jumping from table-to-table to eye arrays of goods touted by students from higher grade levels at the Practical Arts (PA) Pavillion. To the gratitude of teachers at their students’ replenished enthusiasm, classmates of Track and Field (TnF) athletes would be in less danger of dozing off mid-lecture so long as they’d been able to purchase some of the treats proffered to them by their fleet-footed peers in between classes.

From gushing about “cute higher years” manning stalls for their internships, to getting rattled over how the recipient of a Peer Facilitators’ love note might receive one’s sentiments, such reminiscences now seem like the stuff of dreams—viewed from lenses too greatly muddled by the abrading passage of these last two years.

Alas, the pandemic has put an end to many enterprises and events that once all seemed so deeply-anchored in the UPIS experience. To commemorate them and do their memory justice, a detailed throwback is in order.

While the UPIS Fair was one of the most anticipated events for the whole UPIS community, the weeks leading up to it were also some of the busiest and most taxing of the school year. It combined the stress of setting up booths, practicing late into the night for Power Dance (PD), as well as readying oneself for the other events that the pKA had planned. On top of all that, students were also likely to support the overhanging weight of either wistfully wanting or having to celebrate Valentine's.

Such is why a certain club in UPIS made it a tradition to sell small gifts and distribute them amongst the student body—an operation which was highly-favored by students who wished to either surprise their loved ones or maintain anonymity in relating their affections. In the past, the Peer Facilitators Club’s “Cupid’s Express” was everyone’s go-to service when it came to purchasing presents during Valentine's season.

Arrays of Valentine’s merchandise sold under the “Cupid’s Express” by the Peer Facilitators Club. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/upispka/status/1095680340792815616?s=46&t=X_bY8iVgd34sk2KyH15CcQ

Their products ranged from stuffed toys to roses and polaroids, the latter having been the most popular amongst couples in school. Another service was actually delivering those gifts to the people whom they were dedicated to.

Days before UPIS Week, some might recall how the club’s members would come up and try to coax fellow students into buying their products. “Hindi naman kailangan i-dedicate sa crush, kahit sa tao lang na ina-admire mo—no harm in making them feel appreciated,” is a line, often accompanied with a wide and assuring smile, that students were more than all too familiar with.

According to Achilles De Leon, a former Peer Facilitators Club member, such inducements were utilized in order to reach their quota. Every member was given order slips and was tasked to sell the number assigned to them by a deadline.

This was to ensure that target sales were achieved without having to do last-minute selling during UPIS week. By then, they would have graduated to another mission—gift distribution. The funds of the club mainly depended on this single event, thus the need for risk-dispelling quota sales.

De Leon said that while stressful, knowing how it would benefit the club later on made it all worth the effort. That in spite of ruing his “lack of salesmanship” and frequent rejection by prospective customers, there’s much gratitude too from all he’d learned.

Sadly, the Peer Facilitators Club has since gone out of order along with all other school clubs because of the pandemic. Clubs were not the only organizations that sold products with the goal of raising funds however; so did some sports teams, but they too have regrettably halted their operations.

A shirt bought from the TnF team in 2019. Photo credit: Allana dela Cruz

In the past, the Track and Field (TnF) team would sell sweets and shirts in order to raise money for their athletes. They sold all year round, though with greater fervor come UAAP season.

The most popular amongst their edible goods were yemas and cereal bars—some might even recall them being lugged around in big containers. They were often bought during breaks or discreetly distributed when class was taking place. The latter would be much akin to a game of hot potato owing to the wariness of seatmates in dropping their classmates’ change; even conspicuous coin jingling was liable to a teacher’s, “Kaninong pera kaya yun?” Many delighted in the closer proximity to food as it saved them from trips to the canteen. The TnF team also made sure that their snacks were accessible to the entire student populace by providing a seller for each grade level.

Former TnF athlete, Aleah de Castro, said that their shirts’ popularity even extended to members of the students’ families because of the choice to customize and have their surname printed at the back. The organization had a quota of 10 shirts per member, but de Castro remarked that it was an easy feat as some students would buy more than one shirt at a time. She said that her past role in sales led her to learn a lot about business and consumer attitudes—particularly, in knowledge regarding products most sought-after and in the employment of various persuasive maneuvers.

De Castro relayed that she had a lot of fun with the selling—owing in part, she observes, to her past experience in it. She had already been selling cupcakes to her classmates from as early as fourth grade. Desirous she may be to carry it out in limited face-to-face, she is hesitant for fear of her products’ being possible cause for transmission of diseases.

At present, it appears that the only remaining school organization with entrepreneurial undertakings is the Pamunuan ng Kamag-Aral (pKA)—UPIS’ student council. As the student council, their services will continue for as long as there is a student body to lead; it will only ever have “defunct” stamped across its banners should UPIS be so too (and to that, we pray never). While one of its main objectives is to aid in upholding the four core values of Love, Truth, Justice, and Freedom, their business ventures appear to espouse an unratified fifth—School Pride.

Samples of merchandise from pKA 2018 and 2019. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/upispka/status/1024248514895695873?s=46&t=6Alc-ewq6ZX1CnF4WaFEKA https://twitter.com/upispka/status/1024233925739085824?s=46&t=6Alc-ewq6ZX1CnF4WaFEKA https://twitter.com/upispka/status/1157969530485764099?s=46&t=uw-rHmQk5w6pQLkBgzq_9w

Prior to the onslaught of COVID, pKA products came in the form of various clothing attire and accessories such as shirts and lanyards embossed with the UPIS logo. They were more or less, as former Vice President Romi Okada would put it, school merchandise. Though generally met with much enthusiasm for their attractive designs, parental zeal was also a primary ascription for particularly successful sales amongst K-2 and Elementary students.

While the supportive community was integral to the student council’s commercial triumphs, chief credit lies within the efforts of its members for their thoughtful planning and strategic promotion via accessible publication material. “The design of the pub for the product really helped; kasi if it's more accessible and easier to understand, more people are going to get attracted,” said Okada.

The tickets sold by pKA for UPIS Fairs 2019 and 2020. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/upispka/status/1094217774476345345?s=46&t=X_bY8iVgd34sk2KyH15CcQ https://twitter.com/upispka/status/1226499064444809219?s=46&t=X_bY8iVgd34sk2KyH15CcQ

The pKA trade wasn’t just limited to pursuits in the sartorial however. If the commencement of the school year was devoted to such, its incipient conclusion would see them vending tickets for the school fair—better known as UPIS Days. Earnings would be reserved for funding the succeeding year’s events such as the Leadership Camp (LC)—in which only a lucky few partook—and the aforesaid fair, wherein the organization would also plan for and host multifarious activities, namely: club wars, Power Dance (PD), and the Battle of the Bands (BotB).

Mandatory it may have been, rarely did exertion slacken—noble too, always remained, the student council’s intentions. To quote Okada, “It really taught me that it wouldn’t hurt to go all-out; more funds meant a better outcome or event. So of course more people would enjoy and be satisfied.”

Last year’s pKA merchandise sold during UPIS Days 2022 “Tanaw”. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/upispka/status/1518538199764996097?s=46&t=-qPe4m2ONnSpx1IBU8XFbA

For the time being, the pKA business has continued to persist—selling still accessories and articles of clothing that brandish trademark UP icons and phrases. Unlike pre-pandemic procedures wherein most of the income would circle back to their treasury, for pKA 2021-2022, half of the sales went to the Save Our Schools (SOS) network which was dedicated to helping Lumad youth.

In line with their enduring retail, we now take a turn to the present state of the UPIS business situation and those at its forefront.

—Behind the scenes—

A compilation of the BE strand’s six start-up companies’ logos. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=136251722484762&set=a.136251729151428&type=3

Since many school businesses have gone out of commission, the current UPIS marketplace mostly comprises the trades of student entrepreneurs both extrinsic and belonging to the Business & Entrepreneurship (BE) track. In our current set-up, some might say that the BE strand appears to be somewhat elusive—a collective whose inner workings outsiders are made privy to only through arrestingly persuasive pubmats promoting their sales internships.

Each company’s solo promotional material for DiskoBErey 2022: Beyond Expectations. Retrieved from: https://fb.watch/g6yTxaR9Pt/ https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid07kSTz1m4499MU3L74QKhYyfAfRpFCzSJmPTMvwzSr2yHtQCgPZwPBmDLyibwJj4kl&id=102315785777322 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid027sRo1mAU3HS3RTPBVGRmmF5ahcWSan9pVf7Nbb52uck6j3FjY23ZNj7BSsiHq8AXl&id=102315785777322 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Tdb91z1LiAjKvV2eUB3UeEsdvwuxakR5hpZvV33w6cLnK11J7Th5ZxmmimvCoLcLl&id=102315785777322 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0V2BmXZ11r74NBVg3bXBssKpSQCAFANgR217Ff3fY6Yu8EMbwCCwWcaJizoA6UcPLl&id=102315785777322 https://fb.watch/g6yYYswwmb/

As of now, the merchants of 12-Kasipagan are in the early stages of production and quality control. They consist of six start-ups: OOTieDye, Lolliloomps, Indie Ocean Co., POV, Beverage Joe, and RelEVENT. In that same order, each offers tie-dyed goods, lumpia desserts, customized t-shirts, tote bags, refreshments, and events management services. They will be up for sale and/or made available to the student body at the BE track’s Business Fair to be held on November 15 to 17.

Launch dates vary amongst the companies. POV’s Production Manager Jasna Seguban says that they’re to start pre-orders a week or two before the fair, whereas Erielle Arceo, the CEO of OOTieDye, has stated that their wares will be made available for purchase from as early as October 18. Both are united in the wish of garnering much love and support from the UPIS community. “We hope that our customers will enjoy POV bags as much as we, the creators, enjoyed turning our product ideas into reality,” said Seguban.

With preparations drawing to a close, and advertising alongside marketing looming ever nearer, it’s important to acknowledge the students’ immense efforts in paving the way, through perennially rocky terrain, for their businesses’ fruition.

According to Arceo, there is no doubt that the pandemic has closed many doors for new businesses. She explains that it’s done away with the possibility of selling their products in person and has posed much difficulty in shooting promotional material.

Notwithstanding, she keeps an optimistic outlook on the situation and believes that certain aspects are preferable and even conducive to advancement in their business. A certain advantage is that rather than having to open up a physical store, they need only to utilize delivery services. And due to the undeniable rise of social media users in recent years, their online presence has led to greater customer engagement—widening reach with their target demographic.

On the other hand, Seguban has admitted that her group struggled considerably with starting a business in the midst of a pandemic. Putting herself in the shoes of her customers, she has shared that she would prefer a physical store so as to properly inspect the products herself.

She is hoping that a smoother flow of production as well as greater ease in communication will ensue with the limited face-to-face mode of learning. For Seguban, up close and personal is more desirable than functioning remotely when it comes to talking to her team or any customers. Further stressing the importance of communication, she relates that, "Ideas would not become a reality if not communicated, and in turn, opportunities would be inhibited.”

For both interviewees, their time in the BE track has been well-spent as it has provided them not just with skills that they can use later on in life, but also with experiences that they otherwise wouldn’t have gained had they gone a different path. They’ve learned how to manage their time and energy with greater discretion—to refrain from worrying about things over which they have no control. But they have also proven that perseverance can be the answer to many things, no matter how impossible the tasks may seem. Everyone should understand that behind every business are individuals who dedicate much of their time and effort in building it.

According to them, the business climate of UPIS appears to be very healthy—one with a generally supportive community of buyers, as well as a diverse range of products and sellers. It’s possessed of enough variety, they say, as to deter very intense competition. They also note that an overlap in themes or products is something they generally avoid.

Both commended their fellow entrepreneurs for how they sell not just for the mere sake of gaining money, but out of genuine concern for their customers as they recognize their potential to provide them with their needs. As entrepreneurs themselves, they never fail to consider their clientele in drawing up every plan. And while up to date with trends, they ensure to integrate their own twists to make them more personalized to their brand. Lastly, they are adamant about how affordability should come hand in hand with good quality.

Because of the gradual transition back to physical classes, both entrepreneurs are positive that small businesses will also return—that it is only a matter of time before more students begin selling to their classmates again once the situation has become the norm.

For any readers who plan on starting their own business, this article concludes with a few words of advice from Miss Arceo. She advises that even though you are determined to go all out with all your plans, taking care of yourself is just as important. "We are not robots that can operate tirelessly and with little maintenance. Care for yourself. Care for your peers. Our mood reflects on our work. Therefore, it is when we, the entrepreneurs, are healthy and happy that our business can also be healthy and thriving!" //by Andrea Almeda and Allana Dela Cruz

#MC2023 #Feature #English #Andrea Almeda #Allana Dela Cruz

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FEATURE: Tara lamay tayo

Iilan lamang ang mga pagkakataon kung saan nabubuo ang pamilya at nagsasama-sama sa iisang lugar. Kadalasan para ito sa pagdiriwang ng mga kaarawan o kaya naman ay holiday katulad ng Pasko. Ngunit ang artikulong ito ay hindi tungkol doon. Tatalakayin natin ang isa sa mga kaganapan na hindi inaasahan at ni kailanman inaasam—ang pagsasama ng mga miyembro ng pamilya dahil sa isang kamatayan.

Photo credit: Rachelle Baldelomar

Bagamat isang hindi magandang balita, ang pagkamatay ng isang kapamilya ay isang bagay na nakakapagsama-sama sa mga kasapi ng pamilya kahit na gaano man kahaba ang panahon na nagdaan mula nung huli silang nagkita. Luluwas lahat ng mga kamag-anak mo at ang mga kaibigan na matagal mo nang hindi nakikita ay bibisita. Magsisipaglitawan din ang napakaraming tao na ngayon mo lang makikita. Bawat isa sa mga dumadalaw ay may iisang layunin; makiramay at magbigay respeto sa pumanaw.

Naaalala mo ba iyong unang beses na pumunta ka ng lamay? Noong naninibago ka pa sa dapat gawin? Noong unang bisita ko sa lamay, talagang nanibago ako. Maraming pagkakataon na nahuli ko ang aking sarili na nalilito. Aking napansin na ang mga tao sa paligid ay tila gumagalaw nang naka-autopilot. Nakaugalian na siguro nila ang napakaraming pamahiin at patakaran pagdating sa mga mali at tamang gawi. Nakamamanghang isipin na darating ang araw na makasasanayan ko ang pagdalo sa isang lamay.

Kadalasang tumatagal ang lamay mula tatlo hanggang pitong araw—nakadepende ito sa mga kaanak ng pumanaw. Minsan ay mas pinapahaba pa ito kung mayroong mga hinihintay na makikiramay mula sa malayong lugar. Sa loob ng mga araw na ito, parte ng preparasyon ng pamilya ang paghahanda ng catering dahil nakaugalian nang bigyan ng pagkain ang mga bisita, kahit simpleng biskwit lamang. Sa katunayan nga, madalas na may sasalubong sa iyong mga tao na mag-aalok ng biskwit at juice o kaya naman ay isang mainit na kape. Siguro ay naranasan mo na ring mautusan mamigay ng mga ito sa mga bisita.

Isa pang karaniwang makikita sa isang lamay ay ang pasugalan katulad ng paglalaro ng Mahjong at baraha. Bukod sa abuloy na bigay ng ilang mga bisita, isa itong paraan upang makalikom ng pera na gagamitin sa mga gastusin. Parte ng mapapanalunan mula sa pasugalan ay mapupunta para sa kaanak ng namatay.

Iyan ang pagbubuod kung ano-ano ang makikita mo sa isang lamay, mukhang napakadali lang namang hanapin kung saan ka lulugar. Ngunit hindi pa napabibilang diyan ang napakaraming pamahiin na karamihan ay hindi nakabase sa katotohanan at minsan pa ay may kanya-kanyang bersyon ang mga tao base sa mga naituro sa kanila noong bata pa sila.

Lahat ng ito ay nakakapanibago para sa isang bata na unang beses pa lamang makakapunta sa isang lamay. Sa dami ng mga etiquette at paniniwala, na minsan nagtutunggalian pa nga, iisa lang naman ang hangad ng bawat tao doon—gunitain ang buhay ng isang yumao.

Ang kasaysayan at mga kaugalian ng pakikiramay at paglibing sa ating bansa ay resulta ng impluwensya ng maraming bagay. Nangunguna dito ang impluwensyang dulot ng pagsakop sa atin ng mga Espanyol. Dahil sa pagsakop nila sa Pilipinas, tuluyan na nating kinupkop ang mga kasanayan mula sa Kristiyanismo at unti-unti nang nabubura ang ating mga katutubong kultura at tradisyon. Sa kabila nito, may ilan pa ring mga paniniwala sa ibang rehiyon at pangkat etniko na nananatili ang kanilang katutubong ugat. Marami sa mga ito ay masasabing katangi-tangi at hindi pangkaraniwan.

Photo credit: Rachelle Baldelomar

Isa na rito ang mga Tinguian na mula sa Abra. Marami sa kanilang mga kaugalian pagdating sa pamamaalam sa mga pumanaw ay ginagawa pa rin hanggang ngayon, tulad ng pagdadamit nang magarbo sa katawan ng pumanaw habang mayroong nakasindi na sigarilyo sa kanyang bibig—na mananatiling nakasindi nang ilang linggo. Mayroon din silang tinatawag na “palpalubos,” na magaganap sa araw ng libing. Ang kanyang bangkay ay ilalabas ng bahay, at sa pangunguna ng isang kinatawan, sasabihin ng kaanak ng yumao ang kanilang mga pamamaalam sa isang kanta. Pagkatapos, ay sasayaw ang mga kaanak upang magsilbing hudyat ng pagwawakas ng kanilang pagluluksa.

Bago ang pagsakop sa atin ng mga Kastila at bago pa man tayo naimpluwensyahan ng Kristiyanismo, ang ating mga ninuno ay naniwala sa animismo. Makikita ang ginagampanang papel ng kalikasan sa pagluluksa at paglamay sa mga B’laan, na nakatira sa timog na bahagi ng Mindanao. Gumagamit sila ng mga binutasang puno ng kahoy o minsan ay kawayan bilang kabaong at sinasabit ito sa sanga ng pinakamataas na puno. Ito raw ay para mas malapit ang katawan ng pumanaw sa langit. Malaki rin ang papel ng tubig sa kanilang mga paniniwala kaya ang mga kaanak ng pumanaw ay minsa’y pumupunta sa ilog upang magdasal.

Mapapansin din ang impluwensya ng Islam sa ilang pangkat etnolinggwistiko sa Mindanao. Isang halimbawa ay ang mga Tausug, na malaking bahagi ng kanilang pagluksa ang pagbabasa ng Quran. Ang bawat lamay ay mayroong limang imam—sa Islam, sila ang mga nangunguna sa pagdadasal at ang tungkulin nila ay maihahalintulad sa mga pari ng Kristiyanismo. Ang limang ito ay walang tigil na magbabasa ng kanilang banal na aklat. Ngunit sa kabila ng impluwensyang Islam, ang kanilang mga paniniwala ay makikitaan pa rin ng bahid ng mga katutubong paniniwala. Katulad na lamang ng mitolohikal na nilalalang na Balbal, isang halimaw na pinaniniwalaan nilang nangunguha ng mga bangkay. Nilalabanan nila ito sa pamamagitan ng pag-iwan ng salamin sa dibdib ng bangkay at ang pagsindi ng apoy o pag-iwan ng kahit na anong bagay na nagbibigay liwanag malapit sa bangkay.

Ilan lamang yan sa mga halimbawa ng kung paano isinasagawa ang paglamay sa ibang bahagi ng bansa na hindi tuluyang niyakap ang Kristiyanismo. Iba man ang mga tradisyon at gawi na ito mula sa ating nakasanayan, hindi maikakaila na bawat isa sa atin ay gusto lamang magbigay respeto sa mga pumanaw. Kahit gaano man magkaiba ang ating kinagisnan, babalik tayo sa iisang dahilan kung bakit natin ito ginagawa. Kahit ano man ang tingin mo sa kamatayan, kinikilala natin ito hindi lang bilang parte ng buhay ngunit ito rin ay isang bagay na handa ang nakararami na paglaanan ng oras at atensyon para sa mga namaalam na. //ni Andrea Almeda

#MC2023 #Feature #Filipino #Andrea Almeda

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FEATURE: KAtching up with pKA ‘21-’22

Halos isang buong akademikong taon na ang nakalilipas mula nang maihalal ang mga kasalukuyang opisyal ng Pamunuan ng Kamag-Aral (pKA). Sila ang pinakaunang nakaranas na maglingkod sa ilalim ng panibagong online setup habang tayo ay nasa gitna pa rin ng pandemya.

Ayon sa Saligang Batas ng Kamag-Aral ng UPIS, may tungkulin ang pKA na pagtibayin ang core values ng paaralan – Love, Truth, Justice, Freedom at Peace. Isinusulong nila ang mga ito sa pamamagitan ng mga gawaing may layuning tumugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral, gaya ng Leadership Camp at ang UPIS Days. Dagdag pa rito, nakikipag-ugnayan din sila sa iba pang mga sektor sa loob ng UPIS, tulad ng Administration, Academic Staff, Non-Academic Staff, PTA at Faculty Club.

Hanggang sa ngayon, malinaw na napapagtibay ang naturang Saligang Batas sa kanilang mga proyekto. Kabilang dito ang Sining KAbahagi Art Competition sa 3-6, na may temang pagpapasalamat sa kabila ng pandemya, at ang Kapwa Isko: Tayo na’t Tumulong, na isang paghahandog para sa ating minamahal na mga custodian worker at guwardiya. Kung nasusundan ninyo ang kanilang Facebook page na UPIS Pamunuan ng Kamag-aral, tiyak ding nakapag-iwan ng ngiti sa inyo ang mga check-up post nila na may kasama pang themed playlist para sa feel-good jamming. Kamakailan lamang din ay matagumpay nilang naisagawa ang pagbabalik ng UPIS Days – ang TANAW: Pusong Umaalab, Muling Magpapasiklab.

Sa kabila ng mga limitasyong dulot ng ating kasalukuyang sitwasyon, paano nga ba sila nakapag-oorganisa ng mga pangmalawakang gawain? Higit pa rito, ano nga ba ang nagsisilbing motibasyon nila sa panunungkulan sa panahon ngayon? Silipin natin ang kanilang mga karanasan nang lalo pa nating makilala ang ating mga minamahal na opisyal ng pKA.

Pagsagot sa tawag ng tungkulin

Ang dalang pag-iisa at pangamba ng remote learning ang nagtulak sa mga kasalukuyang pKA upang kumasa sa hamon ng pagiging lider-estudyante. Sa una man ay nagkaroon sila ng mga pag-aalinlangan, ang matinding hangarin na makatulong sa kanilang mga kapwa-mag-aaral ang nagpalakas ng kanilang loob na ipagpatuloy ang pagsali sa isang organisasyong makapagbibigay-daan sa pagtupad nito.

Para sa kalihim ng pKA 3-6 na si Angela Masangkay, hindi naging mahirap ang pagpapasiya na tumakbo. “Kung bibigyan ako ng pagkakataon upang tumulong para sa kabutihan ng mas nakararami at nasa angkop na sitwasyon ako upang isagawa ito, bakit hindi?”

Ayon naman kay Sam Vidal, pangalawang pangulo ng pKA 3-6, isang “malakas na tawag ng tungkulin” ang nag-udyok sa kanya. Isang paraan na raw niya ito para may maibalik sa komunidad ng UPIS. “Wala naman akong naramdamang pagpipilit mula sa kahit kanino man; sa totoo lang, ako ang pumilit sa sarili ko na sumali dahil sa ramdam ko ang manungkulan sa komunidad ng UPIS, pati tungkulin sa sarili ko.” Umaasa siya na sa pamamagitan ng mga proyektong kanilang magagawa ay mapapagaan ang mga personal at pang-akademiko na dalahin ng kanyang mga kaklase.

Pagpaplano bilang kinatawan ng mga mag-aaral

Komplikado – ito ang isang salitang makapaglalarawan sa proseso ng pagbuo nila ng mga plano. Ayon nga kay Sam, kailangang maging organisado at gumawa ng kongkretong balangkas o daloy ng mga gawain (timeline). Habang nagpaplano, hindi rin daw talaga maiiwasang magkaroon ng mga aberya, tulad ng mga oras na nasasayang, pag-iba ng direksyon ng pagpupulong at pagkakaligta sa ibang detalye.

Bukod dito, maraming salik din ang kailangan nilang isaalang-alang upang maging matagumpay ang mga proyektong nais nilang maisagawa.

Una sa lahat, kailangan munang makuha ang boses at kagustuhan ng mga mag-aaral ng UPIS. Mahalaga ring maisaalang-alang ang oras at ang sitwasyon o pinagdadaanan ng mga mag-aaral upang mapagdesisyunan kung angkop ba na ilunsad ang isang proyekto sa mga panahong iyon.

“Bilang kanilang mga kinatawan, isinaalang-alang namin ang kanilang mga interes at hinaing upang mahikayat silang makibahagi sa mga gawain,” paliwanag ni Ryann Lakip, pangulo ng pKA 3-6.

Dagdag ni Angela, “Sinusubukan naming gawing masaya ngunit nakatututo o educational ang mga gawain namin. Hangga't maaari rin ay sinusubukan naming magsama ng sari-saring aktibidad sa mga proyekto upang mabigyang pagkakataon ang lahat na makilahok sa mga programa.”

Malaking konsiderasyon ito ngayon lalo pa’t sabi ni Abbie, pangulo ng pKA 7-10, “Isa sa pinakamalaking hamon sa amin ay ang sa kaunting numero lamang ng mga estudyante naipararating ang aming mga proyekto at mga aktibidades na ipinapaskil sa aming mga social media site.”

Mga hamon bilang isang opisyal ng Kamag-Aral

Bago pa man sila magsimula, inasahan na nilang hindi magiging madali ang kanilang panunungkulan, lalo na pagdating sa komunikasyon. Sa katunayan nga, kahit ang mga miyembro na mayroon nang karanasan sa pagiging KA dati ay nanibago rin.

Ang tagapamahayag ng pKA 7-10 na si Justice Aguinaldo ay nagsabing tila bumalik siya sa pagiging baguhan sa pagiging lider-estudyante, hindi lamang dahil siya ay nanunungkulan ngayong pandemya, kundi ito rin ang kanyang unang beses na maging KA sa high school. “Bagama't hindi ko pa masasabi na sanay na ako sa pagiging bahagi ng pKA sa gitna ng pandemya, masasabi ko naman na nagkaroon ng malaking progreso ang aming organisasyon pati na ang aking sarili bilang kasapi nito.”

Marami sa kanila ang nagulat sa kung gaano kalaking salik ang oras at distansya upang hadlangan silang makamit ang ilan sa kanilang mga hangarin. Malaking balakid din ang kakulangan sa espasyo na nakalaan para sa pagpaplano. Kung maaalala, dati ay mayroong KA Room na nagpapadali para sa kanilang pagpupulong tuwing lunch time. Ngayong umaasa sila sa online messages at video calls, nahihirapan silang magtakda ng iskedyul ng kanilang mga pagkikita. Hindi raw kasi laging nagtutugma ang kanilang mga personal na iskedyul dahil sa kani-kanilang mga pang-akademikong responsibilidad.

Wika nga ni Angela, at gaya ng nabanggit na, isa talaga sa kanilang mga kalaban ang oras.

Ikinuwento ni Patrick Bantigue, ingat-yaman ng pKA 3-6, na madalas silang mataranta dahil sa kakulangan sa panahon para sa paghahanda ng proyekto. Mukhang imposible raw na matapos ang mga gawain sa itinakdang panahon kaya minsan ay parang gusto na raw nilang sumuko.

Malaking bahagi nitong problema sa oras ay ang pagbabawas ng mga posisyon sa pKA. Ngayong lima na lamang ang inihalal na opisyal, nahihirapan daw talaga sila sa dami ng trabaho. Lalo pa nga raw itong nadama noong naghahanda sila para sa UPIS Week, ayon sa kalihim ng pKA 7-10 na si Ria Bautista.

Dahil sa dami ng kanilang ginagawa, hindi nga raw nila madalas napaghihiwalay ang kanilang buhay-eskwela mula sa kanilang personal na buhay. “Minsan, nararamdaman ko na buong buhay at pagkatao ko ang pKA,” sabi ni Sam. Patuloy raw ang pagtatrabaho nila kahit Linggo, na dapat sana ay araw na kasama ang pamilya. Halos wala na rin daw natitirang oras para sa kanilang mga sarili, sa kanilang mga hobby o kahit sa pakikipagkuwentuhan sa mga kaibigan nila.

Isa pa sa hindi nila inakala ay kung gaano kahirap at kahaba ang proseso ng pag-aapruba sa kanilang mga plano. Marami sa mga ito ay mga plano na nauudlot at hindi na ipinagpapatuloy. Ayon kay Sam, “Halos kalahati ng [mga] nagawa namin ay hindi pinapayagang gamitin o ilabas, at nagtambakan na lang sa GDrives namin.” Dagdag pa niya, “Pagkatapos na maranasan ito, lubos na mas gumalang ako sa nakaraang pKA.”

Pagharap sa mga hamon

Marami mang naging hadlang mula sa pagpaplano hanggang sa pagsasagawa ng kanilang mga proyekto, hindi nila ito inalintana dahil nagkaroon sila ng learning o growth mindset – ika nga ni Ryann. Ang pagiging bukas sa pagkatuto ay nakapagbigay sa kanila ng pagkakataon upang mas matugunan ang mga hamong kanilang kinahaharap.

Mahalaga raw na matutunang magtiwala sa isa’t isa pagdating sa pagtupad ng kani-kanilang mga tungkulin. Sa pamamagitan nito, hindi lamang gumaan ang kanilang mga trabaho bilang isang organisasyon kundi mas lumalim din ang kanilang samahan.

Inilarawan nga ni Abbie ang pKA bilang isang grupo ng mga lider na may iba’t ibang klase ng pamamaraan ng pamumuno. At mula sa mga pagkakaibang ito, nakakukuha sila ng mga panibagong pananaw at gawi. “Tinulungan ako sa pKA na mag-assess at tingnan ang aking mga pwedeng ipagpabuti bilang isang lider,” dagdag niya.

Ang ilan sa kanilang mga hamon ay nalutas nila gamit ang pagiging madiskarte at pananatiling positibo. Ayon kay Angela, “Buong-puso at isip naming gagawin ang aming trabaho sa lubos ng aming makakaya.” Ngunit, hindi pa rin daw maiiwasan ang mapunta sa sitwasyon na hindi nila kontrolado at mahirap gawan ng paraan, kaya lubos ang kanilang pasasalamat sa tulong na natatanggap nila sa labas ng pKA. Malaki ang tulong na nabibigay ng kanilang mga guro, at sila rin ay pinapayuhan ng ates at kuyas nila mula sa mga nakaraang termino.

Nakikipag-ugnayan din sila sa mga opisyal ng mga year-level organization (YLO) at batch representatives para sa pagpapakalat ng balita tungkol sa kanilang mga proyekto. “Malaki ang kanilang tulong upang magkaroon ng kawingan ang pKA at ang bawat mag-aaral ng UPIS,” sabi ni Justice. Sila raw ang nagsisilbing tulay upang marinig at matugunan ang mga hinaing at isyung kinahaharap ng mga batch.

Nagbahagi rin ang ilan sa kanila ng mga paraan para pakalmahin ang sarili tuwing nabibigatan na sila sa dami ng kanilang mga ginagawa.

Para kay Sam, nakatulong sa kanya ang kanyang pananampalataya. “Maaaring hindi ito solusyon sa lahat, ngunit para sa akin, ang pagtaas ng hirap at paghandog ng pasasalamat sa aking Diyos sa pamamagitan ng birtwal na service ay siyang nagpalawak ng aking kaisipan, isip at pagkatao.”

Minsan din ay humihinto muna sila upang ma-refresh ang kanilang brain cells, sabi ni Patrick.

Payo para sa susunod na Kamag-Aral

“Ang pagpasok at ang pananatili sa pKA ay hindi laging magiging madali,” napagtanto ni Ryann. “Subalit, ang mga karanasang makukuha rito ay makakatulong sa paghubog ng inyong pagkatao at magpapalalim sa tunay na kahulugan ng pagiging iskolar ng bayan.”

Dapat na maisapuso nila ang paglilingkod sa kapwa at laging isaisip ang kapakanan ng bawat mag-aaral ng UPIS, wika nga nina Angela at Justice.

Kaya ang hiling ni Ria, sana ay lumabas sila sa mga tipikal na proyekto ng organisasyon at magsilbing kinatawan ng student body. “Kung may mga isyu o sakuna na karapat-dapat matugunan, mapa-lokal man o mapa-nasyonal na antas, huwag matakot na tumugon. Bahagi ng pagiging isang lider ang pagbibigay inspirasyon sa ibang mag-aaral para isipin ang kapwa, magsilbi sa mas malawak na bayan at tumindig para sa tama.”

Paalala naman ni Patrick sa susunod na pKA, “Palaging magtulungan kasama ang kapwa-pKA dahil it is always better together.”

Huwag daw silang matakot na marami silang ideya sa isang grupo. Payo ni Abbie, lagi daw silang maging bukas sa opinyon ng isa’t isa. Pagdating naman sa mga hindi inaasahang sitwasyon, manatili lamang daw kalmado dahil sa ganitong paraan, mas magiging klaro ang mga bagay-bagay. “Huwag ma-discourage sa mga proyekto na hindi natutuloy o nale-late. Basta tuloy lang sa pagsisilbi at magagandang intensyon para sa UPIS,” dagdag pa niya.

Hindi rin kailangang tumigil sa trabaho ang ugnayan sa isa’t isa. Ani Ryann, “Sikapin niyo na kilalanin ang inyong mga kapwa-pKA, hindi lamang bilang mga katrabaho kundi bilang mga kaibigan na rin.”

Ipinarating din nila na handa silang tumulong ano man ang pagdaraanan ng mga susunod na miyembro ng pKA. "Kahit hindi tayo magkakilala ngayon, alalahanin niyo lang na andito kaming handang tumulong at gumabay sa inyo sakaling kakailanganin ninyo. Pwede niyo kaming makausap,” sabi ni Sam.

Alagaan daw ang sarili, iwasang magpuyat at unti-untiin lamang ang trabaho. Sikapin ding balansehin ang mga gampanin at responsibilidad bilang isang lider at bilang isang estudyante, paalala ni Ryann.

“At panghuli, i-enjoy ang mga oportunidad at mga ginagawa dahil minsan lang ito mangyari at napakagandang experience nito sa iyong high school life,” pahabol ni Abbie.

Ngayong naibahagi na ng mga kasalukuyang opisyal ng pKA ang mga hamon na kinaharap nila at ang mga dahilan ng kanilang pagtakbo, masasabi nating malalim ang kanilang pinanggagalingan dahil bilang mga estudyante rin, batid nila ang mga pinagdadaanan ng marami. Alam din natin na ang pagpaplano nila ng mga gawain ay hindi naging madali dahil sinisikap nilang matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga kapwa nila mag-aaral.

Pagbati sa mga nanunungkulan – sila ang ating mga kaklase, ka-batch at kaeskwela na sinuong ang sitwasyong dala ng pandemya upang mapanatiling buhay ang diwa ng UPIS.

Gawa ni Rina Mendigoria

//by Ashley Ramilo, Gabie Santiago & Andrea Almeda

#MC2022 #MC2023 #Feature #Filipino #Ashley Ramilo #Gabie Santiago #Andrea Almeda