After much discussion with your parents, finally you’ve chosen where to go for college.

“Mag Biska ko, Ma!”

“Ngano man mag-Biska ka, nak? Sure ka?”

“O, ma. Daghan kaayo ilang accomplishments didto, “nya basin diay maapil ko sa ila mga billboards didto gawas sa eskwelahan!”

“Aw o, nak, tabla ra ka’g na-artista ana. Sige, didto na enroll!”

There. Come enrollment, you saw a line as long as the line for NFA rice sometime in the ’90s, or you might have been too young then.

“Classmate, asa pila enrolment?”

“Duh, mao na ni, yads.”

And you said to yourself, Ginoo ko!

But for the sake of good education, you braved the lines and finally was an official Biskahanon at the end of the day.

And now it’s March. After a school year, you find yourself reevaluating your choices. Maybe that billboard along a national highway isn’t worth it after all. Being enrolled in the Visayas State University (VSU) is more than merely setting your goals and going after it. It might just need for you to actually have what it takes to qualify for a tarpaulin posted by the campus’s gates. Regardless of passion, talent is, unfortunately, just as important a requisite after all.

So why have you entertained the thoughts of transferring next school year? Let’s ask around. Don’t worry, dear, you’re not alone.

1. Kapoy Baktas. For out-of-towners, the best advice for this is to live in the dorm. Aside from saving a considerable amount of money every month for not commuting, the monthly rate is way lower compared to out-of-campus residences. To cite a specific example, dorms would only cost you an average of P800 per semester while out-of-campus boarding houses would amount to an average of P400 every month (P2,000 per semester). The minimum fare for the habal-habal is P6; multiply that by two (back and forth), then by twenty (school days), that gives you P240 to spend for fare monthly.

And there are two main reasons why students opt to live outside VSU despite the price. First, the school has a limited number of students to accommodate. We know the school is trying its best, but sadly, it’s a fact that some students, especially freshmen, have no other choice but to stay in off-campus residences. Second, waking up early to the sound of bells just might not be the way to go for some. Dorms inside school have wake-up calls; that’s when cleaning and gardening, perhaps among other things, are done around the dorm.

But whether you stay in campus or out, the inevitable walks await a VSU student. Try taking a walk from Rosilio Dorm in Utod to the guard post, then walking on to maybe DLABS or DoPAC. Or from Sampa to the HRTM department. From the dorms in lower VSU walking to classes in upper VSU. You get it. A lot of walking.

2. Lisud. May it be Biology or Math or English, one of those just tortured you endlessly to your dreams, and when you asked around your friends, you found out these same subjects are kinder to them in their respective schools. And so thoughts of flight enter your mind, taking you to wonder about other schools, comfortable safety zones.

And then, you find yourself realizing passing is enough, better than failing. You rather started to opt “to endure rather than end up a little more triumphant.” Simply having to pass seems hard enough to you.

Have upperclassmen friends. For sure they’ve been through where you are. They would have helpful tips for the particular way a teacher gives exams. They would also have notes, which perhaps you might have to dig in from some boxes. Seek help from your classmates as well. When you ask for help, you somewhat teach them to be helpful too.

3. Baduy. Remember, number one: the long walks, thus forget stilettos and shiny leather shoes. You’re better off with the good ol’ sneakers or your reliable slippers. We have freedom of clothes here (except those required with uniforms—Nursing, Vet Med, HRTM, and Education), thus anything goes, and with it are not exactly magazine types. No glitz, no glamour.

The thing is, school is something you have before you move on to the working world, where possibly there are stricter dress codes. Revel in the freedom of being able to wear slippers anytime you want while you can. Besides, with clothes, comfort is as important as aesthetics. Sneakers and mascaras could very well go together if you so chooses.

Dress up however you want until who faces you in the mirror is exactly who you feel and think you are. At the end of the day, you will judge yourself harsher than anyone’s insults could. Never seek the approval of others at the expense of losing your soul.

4. Wa’y nightlife. This school sleeps; thus nightlife would require a visit to the city. Public transportation ends 9:00 p.m. You can bargain with available tricycles, but this is if they are still awake to accommodate you and you’re willing to negotiate for the fare.

A party now and then makes sure you stay balanced; thus go on, indulge. For sure, come the time you are looking back on your college years, you would remember with more fondness the time you sang your heart out on a Friday after the finals than how you crawled beneath barbwires to graduate.

Today is the time to make memories. It doesn’t even have to be during the night. We have so many places to go to get together with classmates and friends—hydro, the beach, even VSU’s pool. Sugba-sugba anyone?

5. Kulang ug Courses. And, yes, the great what-if. Somehow in your wanderings about our green campus, it occurred to you that you wanted to join the literati, to look for words to make poetry out of your beautiful school; you decided you want to pursue literature or a similar study. Or you just realized you want Psychology or Philosophy or to be a Math or Physics major. VSU, if you’ve noticed, is an agricultural school, so we can expect to have courses with leanings toward the betterment of our country’s agricultural resources. And so, yes, sadly, if your heart pulls you to a course VSU doesn’t offer (perhaps yet), you might have to go elsewhere.

Well, count the semesters you need before graduation and think whether a new course is really worth giving up what you’ve so far already studied. Remember how you chose your current course and try to like it again, even just enough to go on and finish what you’ve started. You can always go back to school even after you graduate. Also, when you shift to another course in the same school, at least your minor subjects would be credited. Other schools would have different minors; you might have to start over from first year.

Maybe you have other reasons of your own to add to this list. I always believe in the “if there’s a will, there’s a way” philosophy. If you want something bad, you’d always find ways to reach it; while if your heart is just not set on some certain thing, you’d always find reasons why you don’t like it. “Kung may gusto may paraan, kung ayaw ay laging merong dahilan.” I heard this from a Siakol song.

You might say sometimes circumstance decides for us, not necessarily us. This is true. But with regards to VSU, the numbers are just a little too different from the other schools’ that it has drawn some attention—these numbers being VSU’s low enrolment number and low retention rate. Smaller state universities have better figures than us; they have more students enrolling there and staying on to graduate.

We have now some sort of list answering why, the next is going to find out what should be done then.

It’s not all the time that Amaranth was free. It was limited during Martial Law. It was abandoned during EDSA. It was hampered a number of times by faculty and staff. We sometimes find the pub at the mercy of admin staff, because they hold our money. We are even forced not to follow our charter just because VSU authorities want things their way, like holding the screening.

I was still in high school when Amaranth was reborn. It was in 2005 when a group of students took on the challenge. It was to resurrect a publication who died. Dead for five years.

To those who see this publication alive and kicking today, we cannot really imagine much. We couldn’t appreciate the efforts of the pioneers. These trailblazers are largely taken for granted.

As a junior high school student in VL, I had no idea what was happening in the upper campus. But to them it might be different. Like the editors who probably sat on this chair that I am sitting on right now. To the writer who walked down the market thinking about school injustices she witnessed. Or to the student leader who felt helpless. If we only knew what they really went through, we won’t probably think the same as before.

Imagine TV Patrol or 24 Oras if they only featured the good news. Or just showbiz. Or some other savvy feature. Let’s say their news chiefs won’t let out news about Lacson, or the RH Bill, or the Ombudsman’s impeachment issues. They say it might offend people. It might probably get them sued.

You would say, “O, come on! We have press freedom. They should tell the story fearlessly.” There’s something to be said about cowardice in avoiding issues.

Believe it or not, Amaranth went through that. Even staffers fight a long way to get a magazine printed. The university’s long processes to get our money out were very tiresome. Though some writers wanted to cover important issues, some feared bad reactions. Student leaders would taunt them. Don’t publish or else… Even advisers sanctioned articles.

So only feature articles about coffee or some alien fantasy would push through. Very irrelevant. Ay kent releyt. They ought to tell the story fearlessly, you would say.

But that’s the truth. Amaranth had not always been free. Not always been fearless.

Today, we take pride that our magazine is the best in Region 8. We boast of award-winning student journalists like our very own Vernabelle Balmori. This Foodtech major is last school year’s Journalist of the Year.

But despite our Pearl Magazine’s resounding success, despite its victory over student government mediocrity, despite all the appreciation from our readers, there is still a challenge.

This challenge is to keep the flame burning. There are many questions, like, will the Amaranth continue to be the best in our region? Will it improve? Or will it die out?

Will it retain its quality? Will it stay true to its mandate as the voice of the VSU student? Will it continue to be free?

For it to be free, we need your help. As we look back, the past 30 years of the Amaranth was a mixture of ups and downs. Our recent victories should tell us this: we should continue. We should press on.

For three decades, it’s not all the time that Amaranth was free. It was limited during Martial Law. It was abandoned during EDSA. It was hampered a number of times by faculty and staff. We sometimes find the pub at the mercy of admin staff, because they hold our money. We are even forced not to follow our charter just because VSU authorities want things their way, like holding the screening. That is a threat to press freedom, that shouldn’t get in the way.

Remember, it’s not always been free. Our prayer for the Amaranth is this: after its 30th year, it will live on. And it will live on free. Free from limiting forces. Free to express. Free to become the students’ real voice. Free to be recognized as Region-8′s best. Free to challenge conventions. Free to initiate change.

As one of the two Editors-in-Chief who served for two terms, and as its youngest ever, I take pride in seeing Amaranth free in my time as a student. I take pride that I helped free it, along with my colleagues like Ian. Their contributions are priceless. We all should thank the staff for the past few years for their efforts. Look at how Amaranth has transformed. Proud. Fearless. Undaunted. Free.

So this is my story: I am Jed and I have a voice. Amaranth.

Welcome to the Visayas State University (VSU). The University prides itself as the premiere State University in the Visayas. The most noticeable feature of the VSU aside from its stylish edifices and lush vegetation is that the whole land area is very wide. It actually has a total land area of 1,479.086 hectares. The University is divided into the upper and lower campuses. Getting around would be hard to do especially for the new students like the freshmen and the transferees. That is why we made this short guide to have students be familiarized with some of the important buildings and places necessary for your at least 4 years stay in this wonderful institution of learning. A huge map showing the whole extent of the University can also be viewed at the Ecopark. Memorizing all the different establishments and departments would be very hard if not impossible, but don’t worry what’s important is that you would know what and where the important buildings are.

The buildings for paperworks

The building where most of your paper works are processed is the Administration building. May it be something to do with enrollment, shifting of courses, changing of subjects, payments, and other related transactions. Locating the Admin building is very easy, but reaching it is another thing. It is one the highest elevated building and is located on top of a hill; it is visible even from the highway near the guard posts.

The next building is the Information Technology (IT) building, or as what VSUans humorously calls it the “Chow king”. Its bold orange color stands-out giving its other moniker. It is located near Mango Avenue and the Agricultural Development building (ADE). It is the Computer Science department main building, but during enrollment most of the enrollment processes is done here.

Tip for the freshmen: you can use your free P50 worth of Internet use stated in your COR at the IT bldg.

A little less visible than the Admin building is the University Student Service Office (USSO) building. It is where you can ask about available scholarship programs as well as student housings and for the different Organizations in the University.  It is also where student can get helpful advice for some of the problems they encounter in their college life. Freshmen, think of it as the Guidance counselor’s office during your high school. It is located somewhere near the Dept of Nursing and the library.

Classrooms

Nearly all buildings used for college classes are found at the upper campus. These include the Laboratories, the Gymnatorium, the Institute of Human Kinetics (IHK), the Library, and as well as the different Departments. These Departments are scattered throughout the upper campus. Enumerating each one would take some time. To locate the different Departments, you can look it up at the VSU map at the Ecopark or you can try asking students, especially higher years. VSU students are friendly and would be more than willing to help their fellow schoolmates.

Foodspots

If you are in a hurry or just too lazy to cook your own food, you can always eat at numerous food spots around the campus. The most accessible ones for students are found at the VSU market. The choice of foods includes meriendas like banana-cues and other delicacies, to street foods like kikiam and fish balls, and most importantly the “ready to eat cooked meals”.  If you are craving for a sizzling grilled meat you could try buying fresh meat at the meat vendors and have it grilled on the nearby Eateries.  Other easy to access food spots are the Fast Food Eateries at the upper campus and the Pavilion in the lower campus. You can also check ATI (Agriculture Training Institute).The eatery is located near the beachfront and they offer delicious foods at an affordable price. For a greater eating satisfaction (you can argue or agree with me on this one) but for a bit pricier meals, you could also check out AJJA’s Honeycomb located near the tennis court. All of the mentioned food spots are definitely time-savers and hassle-free, but if you want to save money you can always cook on your own. Groceries can be bought at Baybay City or from the VSU Market.

Student Housing

As mentioned earlier it’s in the USSO where you can inquire for available student housings in the campus. These housings are called dormitories. There are 6 dorms for males and 16 dorms and cottages for females as well as 2 coed dorms for Graduate students.  Outside the campus in nearby barangays, there are privately owned boarding houses for students. It’s your choice in which housing you think will make you feel safer and more at home. It is said that dormitories have stricter rules and regulations like curfews and many other prohibitions. While on most of the off campus boarding houses, there are fewer rules giving you much more freedom to work your way around.

Have you ever wondered why we’re all different? Sometimes we like others because they’re different. Sometimes, we are annoyed because they’re different. How do we solve the people puzzle?

Everybody is unique. No fingerprint is ever alike, even identical twins have different fingerprints. So are our likes and dislikes, our attitudes and behaviors. Imagine if you have a complete clone, how would you feel?

We are all different, but sometimes we shape others to suit our taste. We want them to think the same way as we do, or have the similar likes as we have.  You get disappointed when someone likes Lady Gaga when you don’t. You feel squeamish when someone is too emotional when you are stiff. Some would cry over a movie, some wouldn’t.

It’s because of our brains. The way our brains prefer things make up our personalities. Our personalities are who we are. From our brains, it moves on to emotions, speech and actions. Our preferences determine who we are.

Did you know? Scientists found out a cool way to explain our brain preferences. They came up with a device that can scientifically explain who we are. Mental scientists, which we call psychologists, use four letters to describe our tendencies. You and I–all of us–are four-letter words.

Each letter can have two choices each: I or E, N or S, T or F, and J or P. For example, your personality can be ESFP. Your friend could be INTJ and your brother could be ENTP.  What do these letters mean?

These letters are dichotomies, simply put, two opposites. North and South are dichotomies. You could be anywhere in between these opposites. When put together, these four preferences make up your personality. Let’s break them down this way:

Introversion (I) or Extroversion (E) is where your mind gets energy. People who prefer ‘I’ get energy from the inner world of ideas. People who prefer ‘E’ get energy from people and things. Do you want to be around people all the time? You’re likely an extrovert. If you’d rather read a book than come to a party, you could be an introvert. Mind you, introverts don’t have to be loners or nerds. Are you an I or E?

iNtuition (N) or Sensing (S) is how you take in information. Do you crunch data and details? The S people want clear and concrete facts. The N people often dislike a lot of facts but love general patterns even if the facts don’t tell. Are you an N or an S?

When you make decisions, you either use Thinking (T) or Feeling (F). T people decide based on logic or objective criteria while F people use their emotional intelligence. Do you empathize with the situation? You could be F. Or do you value justice over compassion? T people are like that.

Your lifestyle, Judging (J) or Perceiving (P), is the last letter. The J people are not judgmental, silly. It means they make decisions quickly and act immediately. The P people leave matters open-ended. They usually have several options before they act.

For example, Richard “Dick” Gordon is likely ENTJ. We know this 2010 presidential candidate as a proactive politician (E for people, J for the action). He is witty (N) and he is willing to take drastic measures even if his policies hurt as long as he knows it’s for the good (T). So an ENTJ can be a strong field marshal.

INFJs like Mother Teresa have soft spots on the down-trodden. ESFPs love to party. INTPs are the serious thinkers. See the connection between the letters?

So who are YOUU in four letters? Have you figured it out already? They call this device the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI. When Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs discovered this, it helped women find the right job during World War II. Because of our personality, there are jobs that we are more comfortable and effective with.  Because of our personality, we are drawn to different people than others do. There are also things and ideas we don’t like. It’s still the four letters in action.

If you know your personality type, it could help you find the right job or even the right partner. No, there is no fixed method in finding Prince Charming. But does the quote “Opposites attract” sound familiar to you? The tinkering ENTP and the caring ISFJ might have a happily ever after. It’s because their different preferences and lifestyles have all the bases covered. (By the way, Kim and Gerald’s personalities in “Paano Na Kaya” were ISFJ and ENTP respectively.)

Isn’t that exciting? See, another way of understanding people. Have you ever wondered why that classmate is so quiet? His silence annoys you. He’s probably an introvert. On the other hand, he might be annoyed because you’re too loud and freaky. When there’s an explanation behind all that we do, we could be kinder and more understanding to the people around us. If we are confused with ourselves, knowing our personality type might give us answers.

Be careful. These four letters can explain many things, but don’t take it too religiously. Yes, it can help us understand ourselves and others. But it can also keep us from changing our bad attitudes. We might insist, “This is the way I am!” and so we resist our parents’ advices.

No personality is superior than the other. We can’t say an INTP is more intelligent than its opposite. Nobody should feel inferior because she dresses like the 80?s in the world of emos. Maybe she’s just unconventional when emo is the convention. We can’t say a Feeler must have higher EQ than a Thinker. All of us have brains, attitudes and emotions. It’s just the way our brains shape us.

All of us are molded differently for a reason. We are different so we will need each other. We are unique so we can complement each other. Wouldn’t it be tiring if everybody loves to party like an ESFP? Wouldn’t it be boring if we’re all drowned into our deep thoughts like the INTP? And so the story goes. The world is what it is today because of our personalities. Today is full of surprises, all because of those four letters that make you…YOUUnique.

So, what’s your personality type? (Go to http://kisa.ca/personality/ for an online personality test.)

The sudden increase of fuel prices in the world market spurred drastic changes in prices of products and services. And there’s no question about it. What used to be a seven peso Banana Cue now costs a student eight peso coins. But there is certainly more to the issue than the banana cue we munch for snacks. Multicab Drivers have recently imposed a local fare hike, raising the 5 peso minimum fare to 8, plus a peso for every following kilometer. Is it legal? Is it fair? There are lots of question about it, but we have one question for you: What can you say about the fare hike?

Makasapot jud! Samok ang extra nga piso dili angayan ang 8.00 nga minimum kay bisan sa Gabas rako kay 8.00 gihapon.    – Shemang, Tragz, Anuding BSCS-3

Dili ko uyon kay dugang nga i-budgetna pud sa allowance. Bisan P1.00 lang nga dugang, dako na ang epekto ani sa among gasto.   – Emel BSEd- 4

Dili ko favor sa dugang na pamasahe kay krisis na kaayo karon unya musamot pa ang pagtaas sa pamasahe, sa allowance, pangload, pagkaon.- Francis Bual BSAB- 3

1 peso is a great amount! Daghan na unta kay pwede ma palit ana! Mubayad tag tibouk, Masinsilyuan. NO to FARE HIKE gyud!    – Anacleto Almendra BSCS-2

Dili ko uyon kay dugang dugang sa gasto. Hasol kay bungkig, hasol gyud ai!   – Padox BSHRTM- 3

Over ra kaayo. Ibalik ang daan ang fare.    – Dan BSAB- 4

Aw, para nako ok raman tingali mag-increase basta naa’y maayong mga mahimu ang ila pagtaas ug pamasahe. Di man pud na tingali sila mag increase kung wa sila’y makita nga kaayuhan ana. Ang ako lang, dili pud palabi-an pagpataas ug pamasahe kay wala pa baya ‘ta’y mga trabaho.    – Jeremy Gloria BSA- 3

Wala diay Student Privilege sa mga multicabs ug sa habal-habal? Dagko na ako bagtak ug lumakaw dinhi.   –Julius HRTM-3

Uyon! Kay mahal na ang gasolina. Dili man pud sakto kung ang mga driver dili nila increasan ang pamasahe kay looy man sad ang ilang pamilya. Ok lang mo saka ang presyo sa gasolina basta mu-increase sad pud ang sweldo sa mga tawo para balance gihapon.    – Anonymous

Ok lang sa akin ang increase sa pamasahe. I hope there’s a uniform in increase di tulad ng walang papeles ang iba sa pag-increase ng pamasahe.    – Joven Ray Casupang DVM- 6

I am against the fare hike because it is not fair to add 3 pesos to the original 5.00 fare for trips inside the campus. The fare hike they are imposing is too much and it’s too heavy for the students.    – Bean DVM- 3

                Dili gyud ko in favor sa pagtaas sa pamasahe. Bisan pa tingali ug muingon sila nga ngano man lagi sa load makagasto man og bongga.  Importante man sad ang load sa atoa para maka-communicate sa atoang mga classmates mates para makasundog sa assignments. Dili pud unta nila palabi-an ang pagpataas sa  pamasahe kay wa pa baya ta’y mga trabaho.   -Ephrainne, BEEd-4

Yes. Kay looy pud ang mga driver kay nanginabuhi pud na sla, but  I hope tagaan sad nila ug discount ang estudyante nga utro pud nga naglisod.    – Jerry Alba BEEd- 4    

Favor jud. Why? It’s because ang presyo sa gasolina karon kay misaka na gyud intawon and the drivers really need money to sustain the financial needs of their family. It’s okay because through the small amount of P1.00 we can help them.   -Anne, BEEd-4

Fare hike? Na, dili ko pabor ani sa pagka-karon kay wala ko’y enough na budget para idagdag sa fare. kung sa  mga driver, every piso counts. Sa mga estudyante  pud, every peso counts. Kung pwede pa gani every centavo counts.    – Gelay

I am not in favor of the fare hike under the present circumstances. I understand that the drivers need an additional income because of the continued increase in the prices of fuel; however, we also have to consider the side of those who will bear the brunt, the commuters. Fare hikes almost always come with price increase, but we have not experienced a fare rollback whenever there is a rollback in the prices of fuel.  I personally oppose the fare hike and I strongly believe that the students should not be the one bearing the burden of the recent price increase, in fact, our fare should even be lessened.    -Gerald Rivera, BAS-4

They say first impression lasts. Indeed! But what is IMPRESSION then? Impression is something that stays in somebody’s mind: a lasting effect, opinion, or mental image of somebody or something and/or a general idea: a belief about or understanding of something. We all know that Visayas State University progressed in the number of freshmen enrollees for School Year 2011-2012 by 15% from last school year’s 1,600 freshmen now almost at 1,900 including the transferees. So, I roamed around and asked a few students to send in their impressions about our beloved alma mater and asked what made them decide to pursue their studies here.

“Ang akong unang impression sa VISCA: Kaingnan ko kapoy tungod sa ka layo sa mga rooms then medyo sakaon. Pero within one month sa experience sa pag baktas sa VSU, ang kakapoy wala na ‘coz love na nako ang school. Kay kung love na nimo ang usa ka lugar o botang bisan lisod or kapoy mawala jud kay kayanon man nimo ang tanan. In other words, if you already love a thing or a place, kayanon jud ang mga sakripisyo.”

- Basilisa Almoroto, BSDE-I

“This school is very unique and has lots of great personalities. A place where the sun rises and sets beautifully. Perfect sea breeze with stunning and untainted beach for us VSU students to enjoy. The walking distance from our dorm to our departments is very far, sakaon kaaju. Murag 10-15 minutes ang amo gilakaw. Pero okay ra because we are blessed and loved in this school. We will be physically and mentally fit. We can also hone our social skills away from home.”

- Paolo Nayra, BSGE-I  & Devin Morales, BSAB-I

“For us, VSU: Is an Eco-friendly University. Is a High Standard University. Has High quality of education. Has Affordable tuition fee. Has Nice building structures. Producer of Topnotchers. And its staff: Gives pressure in subjects, lots of things to be done. Are really good and teach us well.  And somehow we’re just tired walking from one building to another but atl east we’re learning.”

- BSCE –I students

“Daku nga unibersidad, good for asthmatic person kay nice ang surroundings ug ang dagat, very environmental-friendly nga eskwelahan, dagku’g eyebags ang mga estyudante dire kay sige’g tuon.”

- Ivane Nerves, BSHRTM-I

“Una nga impresyon ko ha VISCA kay maupay nga eskwelahan ngan mahibaro it mga estudyante kun ano it college life ngan kun gaano kakuri it college. Pagkita ko gihap, malimpyo ini nga eskwelahan ngan mahibaro ka gud magrespeto ha imu igkasi tawo kay it mga tawo ngadi mga boutan ngan makisangkayon tungod kay maupay an katutdo hit mga instructor didi ha VSU.”

- Pamela B. Verra, BSHRTM-I

“My first impression in VSU is that the University is very kapoy and ang mga staff dili approachable but my impression was proven wrong because VSU is an institution na na’ay staff na approachable ug maka-understand sa situation sa usa ka student. Honestly, kapoy jud kaau ang VSU kay sige ng saka but I know nga maanad ra mi kay freshmen pa. Someday I will really love VSU because of its’ high quality education and it is a school na affordable ang tuition.”

- Cristenel Tudio, BSCS-I

“My first impression on this University is I really get tired on getting up and down the stairs. The classrooms are so far apart for the next subject. The University have many don’ts  and do’s to be followed. But at the same time I really enjoy the dark green environment. The University offers many scholarships that really inspire many students to avail those very beneficial scholarships. The professors really teach us clear, informative and very useful lessons that help us to gain more knowledge. The students are very friendly like my new classmates. They are very  approachable.”

- Marc Denver C. Gonzaga, BSDC-I

“I expected that VSU will provide me a better learning that’s why I chose to study here. VSU is a very huge school. The buildings are a bit far from each other. Everyday you will have an exercise, even though you don’t want to. This school is “kapoy” pagpaduong, mura og dili ka modugay.”

- Francisco T. Lutao Jr., BSAB-I

“I know that VSU has high quality education. I am hoping that VSU will provide all students their needs. Needs for efficient learning and academic development. That’s all and go forward VSU!”

- Noel E. Togonon, BSHRTM –I

That’s what the freshies have to say. Let’s remember that whatever our expectations are, in the end, it all boils down to the choices we make during our stay here in VSU. Cheerio freshies! And welcome to your second home! Good luck on our college voyage.

Wheew. Klase nasad. Humana ang bakasyon. Balik na sad ta og eskwela ani, balik nasad sa Beska. Kita nasad ta sa atong mga crush og mga dili crush, sa mga classmate og instructors nga atong ganahan og dili ganahan. Unsa’y naa karon nga sem? Daghan! Lingaw. Labi na diri sa Beska nga medjo daghan sad og Wow mali nga banat ang mga tawo.

Ngano naa man gyud mosingit?

Bitaw, nganong naa man gyu’y mosingit kung enrollment? Nganong normal man gyud nga naa’y mga estudyante nga wa’y batasan nga dili maghunahuna sa kahago sa uban nga naglinya? Hmmm. Intawn sad, kaluoy sa mga nakauna unta ug pila. Naniguro intawn og tugbong gikan sa ilang lagyong bukid aron lang maka-enroll ug sayo. Ug sa dihang ma-unahan ra diay gihapon anang mga tikasan nga baga og nawong. Bisan hayag kayo ang adlaw, magpakita gyud sa ilang abilidad. Tsk tsk. Naa sa’y uban nga mura’g Barney and friends Ug trip. Isa ra ang mupila, pag-abot na sa iyang turno, mangabot dayon ang mga abubot. Bad cheetah. College na unta, dili gihapon kabalo ug unsa’y tarong ug unsa’y dili. Ayaw na mo anang singit singit oy! Baho baya nang singit ay!

Unsa’y naa sa first day of school?

Sa una atong gagmay pa mi, kahinumdom mi nga basta  first day of class gani sa elementary og highschool, daghan kayo manungha sa klase. Kamo, kahinumdom sad mo? Magpasuya dayon sa mga bag-ong gamit sa classmates. Pakita dayon ug unsa’y ipakita, hasta ang dili mao mapakita usahay ug apil. Karong nga dagko na ang mga tawo sa Earth, nidako na sad og apil ang boot, nanobra pa gani. Naunsa na man hinuon nga sa sobra ka dagko og buot, dili na motungha ug first day of class. Daghan dayon og rason. Nagsakit, nagpa-enroll pa, dili pa tarong ang klase, og uban pa. Ang lola nga namatay na og kaduha namatay gud og balik para lang naa’y palusot. Estoryahe! Ingna nalang gud nga tapulan ka.

Naa sa’y uban nga instructors sad ang wala. Hmmmmm. Ngano kaha? Nagsakit pud? O na-extend ang bakasyon? Pag-sure mo o ma’am ug sir ui! Gibayaran baya mo sa gobyerno ay! Klase gani, klase dayon! Palabi sad mo sa inyong gibati dah. Ang schedule, schedule. Sugod naman ang klase, buot pasabot ana nga kinahanglan naa na ang studyante ug instructors pareho. Aw, pwede man sad wala ang studyante ug instructor pareho para quits. Haha, o diba?

Sidewalks

Ang walang kamatayang sidewalk. Ang walang kalamanlamang sidewalk. Tsk tsk. Kita ba, university na man gyud ta nagskwela, dili unta ta magpaila nga wala pa ta kataak ug sidewalk sa atong bukid. Grabe naman sad. Grabe naman sad! Obvious man siguro sabton nga gipasemento nang kilid sa mga agianan aron diha moagi ang mga pedestrians. O basin wala sad kasabot unsa’y pedestrians? Naa sa’y pedestrian lanes nga luag kaayo, dili gyud moagi! Pakita gyud Ug talent. Wheew! Maluoy intawn ta sa mga driver nga mao nalang ang molikay kay ang mga nagbaktas naman ang nanag-iya sa kalsada. Magpractice na ta daan kay kini raba atong mga nawong, hilig kayo ug laag. Unya kung maka-taak ta ug syudad, dakpan dayon? Jaywalking dayon? Yaks! Matud pa ni Espina, “Don’t be a genetic dead-end, use the sidewalk.”

Ingon bawal ang habal-habal?

Kung ang sign sa may upper guardpost ang pangutan-on, bawal sa campus ang habal-habal. Kung ang guards sad ang pangutan-on, bawal. Aw, mali, naa diay sumpay. Bawal kung dili nila kaila ang driver, kung estudyante nga dili nila close ang sakay, ug kung dili empleyado ang sakay. Yun! Bawal ang habal-habal. Weh? Pagsure mo ui! Kung ing-ana man gani, tangtanga nang sign board diha ug ablihi ang gate aron makasulod na silang tanan! Kung estudyante lang gani, lisud-lisuron pa, pero kung empleyado gani or friends ang driver, sulod dayon. Pina-ngisi pa! Kung bigatin ang sakay, with matching salute pa jud! Ijara! Mura’g true!

Magtarong unta na sila ug decide kung unsa gyud. Kung bawal, eh di bawal. Lisud ba gud na i-impose? Mao na diha ron kay kini lagi atong kapamilya-kapuso nga style. Kung kaila ok, ra. O kung naa sa posisyon, ok gihapon. Kung bawal, tanan unta dili pasudlon. Dili kay pilion lang. Unfair sad! Ang studyante barahon unya ang mga emplayado lusot dayon. Baktas tang tanan uy. Ngano man diay? Unsa ma’y paki nato anang ilang convenience? Pataka ra na sila. Bag-ohon ang rules aron mofit sa ilang ganahan. Kung dili mo gusto mangbaktas, pangundang mo, or pamalhin ug skwela or pangita ug lain trabaho. Kung dili sad mo ganahan mo-impose ana ug tarong, hala ayaw mo diha trabaho.

A Smoke-Free University

Balik na sad ta. Smoke-free lagi, dili free smoke! Bawal lagi ang sigarilyo. Intawn. Ingon nila bawal ra kuno kung dili makit-an, aw, ninja-ninja dayon—tago ngari, tago ngadto, tago sa ilawm sa puno. Kanang Eco Park, udtong dako naa pa gihapon gabon. Bisan init naa’y fog. Unsaon na lang. Naa man guard nga mangsita, pero sita ra pud taman. Asa naman nang 1st offense, 2nd offense, og uban pang offense sa kalibutan? Kutob ra man diay ta ug sulti,ug tarpaulin sad (ganahan baya ko sa layout ato). Mao na lagi ni, nindot kaayo ang policy, pero nagkulang o wala gyud implementasyon nga mahitabo.

300?

Nangamatay na lang ang mga dinosaurs. Nilabay na lang ang Dark Ages, ang Medieval Times, og ang Renaissance. Nahuman na lang ang WW1 og WW2. Naimbento na ang airplanes, nuclear bomb, condom ug pills. Nahuman na lang ang Martial Law. Si Marcos ug Ninoy nangamatay na lang. Nahuman na lang ang termino ni “Great Leader” Gloria Arroyo. Minglabay na lang ang daghaaaaang “end of the world” predictions. Nisikat nalang ang RH bill. Wheew, P300/month ra gihapon ang stipend nga madawat sa atong scholars. 300? Unsa’y mapalit ana? Intawn sad oi! Pang isa ka semana nga budget para sa isa ka bulan. Kung maohon diay ani, maayo pa mag- Student Assistant (SA) nalang. Sa 25 pesos per hour and four hours per day nga rate, maka-dawat pa sila 2k kada bulan. Ang scholars ani, di nalang apilon ug kwenta? Ikumpara nato ha. Ang 300 hundred bale, tulo ra ka adlaw sa SA, sa scholars, isa ka bulan na. Mao nang mga wow mali ug banat ang mga estudyante karon, dili ganahan maningkamot kay kung ma-scholar gamay ra man ug benefit sad. Magpa-hagbong nalang para ma-irreg, mag-SA kay mas dako ug madawat.

Computer time fee

Sugod pa sa una naglibog gyud mi ug unsa’y gamit aning ilang computer time fee. Mahal raba kaayo, 100. Asa ka ana, 100 unya 5 hours ra! Maayo pa ug sa private nga internetan nalang ka mogamit. Ngano? 1.) Ang imong 100 modagan na na og halos 8 hours sa gawas. Makakita na ka didto og 12 to 15 pesos lang per hour. 2.) Mas paspas ang connection sa gawas. Meaning, mas daghan ka ug mahimo sa kada minuto nga pag gamit nimo. Mas sulit. Sa atong mga computer sa IT labs, purya gaba, dili nalang ko magsaba. 3.) Mas bag-o ang mga computer sa gawas. Didto, LCD screen na ang gamit, ang mouse, USB na. sa IT, CRT nga monitors pa gyud tawon. Ang mouse daot pa gyod ang scroll usahay. 4.) Mas maayo sa gawas kay dili na ka mupila. Sa IT maabtan ka ug hapon ug hulat.

Giunsa man tawon ni nila pag huna-huna oi! Nagtuo man tingali ni sila nga makaya sa pila ra ka kaaran nga computer units sa IT building ang tanang estudyante sa Beska. Unya kay dili pa gyud tanan PC didto ipagamit, unsaon nalang? Kaila ka ug 100 per student per sem? Kadako ana nga kantidad, unya wala gyud sila kapalit ug dugang units sa computer! Iundang nang collection anang computer time fee kung ana man gani. Mas daghan pa ug magamitan sa 100 pesos ang mga estudyante kaysa anang 100 nga computer time fee nga kasagaran dili ra gihapon magamit mahuman nalang ang sem. Pwede sad ihatag nang kwarta sa USSC para naa sad sila’y budget para sa ilang projects.

Autobots, ALERT?

                “Vroooooooooooooooom!!”

I hear them. Padulong na sila! Tabang ninyo great Optimus Prime!!

“Skreeeeeeeeeeeetch!!”

kayasa. Abi nako ug unsa, makulbaan man sad ta. Un-mufflered motorcycles ra man  diay. Unya gwapo na mo ana, ha?! Nag-tuo mo nalipay mi ana? wala gyud! Nag-saba-saba ra mo sa kalibutan.

Dako gyud inyo problema sa mufflers kay inyo man gyud panangtangon? Unsa man gyud diay naa diay kung pasagdan nalang ninyo nang mga mufflers sa inyong motor? Nganong ilisan man gyud? Naah, grabeng binuhatan. Kahibaw ba mo nga naka-distorbo ra mo sa pag-iskwela sa mga tourist, este, students diay? Sa mga lectures sa atong terror, este, wonderful teachers? Naa pa’y mga scholars nga gamay na lang gani ang stipend, inyo pa gyud samokon sa ilang tumang paningkamot. Be considerate pud. Ang kalibutan dili motuyok para ra ninyo. Basin nakalimot mo nga eskwelahan ning Beska, dili race track. Or basin nalimot mo nga pangiskwela inyong tuyo diri.

Ok raman nang i-modify ang motor ba. Wala gyu’y problema ana kay ila man sad nang gasto. Ang problema lang kay maka-disturbo na man gud. Huna-hunaa ra gud kung unsa’y bati-on sa mga instructos nga nangugat nang liog ug discuss ug sa mga estudyanteng naminaw kung naay saba kaayo nga mukalit ug labay. Kung dili gyud kalikayan nga i-modify, aw, baktasan ta. Ayaw ipa-agi duol sa classrooms o buildings para dili makasamok. Security office, unsa’y say ninyo? Kamo man gyud naa diha duol sa dalan, wala pa mo saba-i? Don’t tell me milupad sila para dili mo-agi sa guardhouse?

Dili lisud para sa bisan kinsa nga maka-matikod ani ug uban pa nga mga butang diri sa campus. Ang uban maayo, ang uban sad dili maayo. Ang uban kataw-anan, ang uban sakit. Unya kay kataw-anan man, ato nalang kataw-an? Ang sakit, ato nalang diay pasagdan? Dili man siguro lisud nga mausab ang dapat usabon kung disiplinado lang unta tanan. Mas maayo man nang kita mismo makasaway sa atong binuhatan kaysa maghulat pa ta ug taga-laing dapit para moanhi ug mosaway nato ug ipakalat kung unsang klase sa pagka wa’y disiplina ang makita sa mga tawo diri.

The 2010-2011 School year was truly a very memorable year for our school, the Visayas State University. After all,in that year alone,the University’s reputation as one of the best State Universities in the region was further established by numerous awards and recognitions given to the school, school orgs as well as to some of the member of the faculty, staff, and students. These awards were presented from both the regional and national levels. We bring you the accomplishments of some of the award-winning students as well as University staff and faculty.

February 2010 – Led by 2ndLt. Florencio G. Sacdalan, Jr (VSU ROTC Commandant) and 1stLt. Clint M. Edjec (Asst. Commandant) with Cadet Col. Arnold C. Balleser (Corps Commander),the VSU Reserve officer Training Corps (ROTC) unit retains its title as the best ROTC unit of Region 8 since the 2009-2010 Regional Annual Administrative and Tactical Inspection (RAATI).  The ROTC cadets and cadettes showed their well-practiced routine for the ceremonial parade, rank inspection, close order drill, administrative inspection, military stakes, and field demonstration. Their performance garnered a total point of 97.016 based on the following criteria: Administration and Management, 24.769; Drill Test, 29. 169; Theoretical Exam, 18.79; and Military Stakes, 24.288.

April 2010 – VSU’s Institute of Human Kinetics (IHK) adviser – Asst. Prof. Alelie A. Villocino won the Gold medal in the 1.5 kilometer 3rdOlango Challenge Open-water swim Marathon held at the Tambuli beach resort in Maribago, Mactan Island, Lapu-lapu city. She bested other younger swimmers, proving that even at 46; she can still compete just as well or better than the younger generations. For her awesome feat, she was awarded with the Gold Medal, as well as a Timex Ironman triathlon wristwatch and Havaianas gift items from the organizers. A total of 70 swimmers competed in different racing categories. The event was a fund raising activity aimed to raise P1.2 million for livelihood and environmental projects of residents in Olango island, Cebu.

May 2010 – The second place of the Best Paper (Senior Category) Award was bagged by Dr. Anabelle B. Tulin and Ms. Venus O. Saz, professor and science research assistant of the Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center (Philrootcrops), respectively. They got the second place against 15 other papers of their fellow competitors. Their paper was entitled “Micronutrient Biofortification on Acid and Neutral Soils for Enhanced Crop Productivity and Improved Purple Coloration of Sweet Potato”. While the second place for the Best Paper (Junior Category) was bagged by the undergraduate thesis of Jessie R. Sabijon entitled “Effects of Organic Amendments of Soil Characteristics and Growth and Yield of Tomato (LycopersiconesculentumMill) under the Dr. A. B. Tulin. The Awardswere given during the 13th PSSST Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference on May 27-28, 2010 at the Legend Hotel in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

August 2010 – Mr. Hadrian Aguilar, who recently graduated BS in Development Communication, brought honor to the University when two of his photography competition entries “Buwad (dried fish)” and “Sunset’s Reward” were selected as runners-up for the 10th year of the ArtPetron National Student Art Competition. The competition was held at Petron Megaplaza in Makati City. Hadrian also won as Grand Prize Winner of the same event held two years ago. For the ArtPetron 2010, he received a cash prize worth P30,000 plus a certificate of recognition courtesy of ArtPetron.

September 2010 – Four VSU board exam takers ranked high during the 2010 board examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Two of them, the Agricultural Licensure Examination board exam takers ranked 1st and 2nd besting examinees from other Agricultural Universities. Engr. Julious B. Cerna from Baybay, Leyte got a rating of 84.20% to take the 1stplace.  The 2nd placer, Engr. Jonas R. Buhay from Tanauan, Leyte got a rating of 83.30%. 12 out of the 13 VSU examinees passed, giving the University an institutional passing percentage of 92.31%.

In the Veterinary Medicine Licensure examination, Ms. Irene Mae L. Limson from Pulupandan, Negros Occidental topped 9th place. 216 out of the 696(31.03%) passed the exam nationwide. VSU got an institutional rating percentage of 28.57.

For the Agriculturist Licensure Examination, Mr. Allan A. Ramal now an Instructor of Chemistry at the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistryfrom Mahaplag, Leyte bagged the 7th place. About 575 out of 1875 examinees passed, giving a nationwide passing percentage of 36.14. VSU has an institutional passing percentage of 51.00.

Mr. Joseph Morales, a BS Geodetic Engineering graduate emerged as another board topnotcher. He ranked 9th among the 400 examinees. Two other VSU Geodetic Engineering Board Examinees passed, giving the University an institutional passing mark of 75.00%. This is higher than the national passing percentage of 38.50%.

October 2010– Ms. JihanSantanina J. Santiago 2010 Magna cum laude graduate in BS in Food Technology was selected as one of 2010 Ten Most Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). VSU as well as her fellowmen in Pilar, Camotes Island, Cebu are undoubtedlyproud of having a highly achieving student and potential leader like her. The award is given to Filipino students that are academically excellent and shares their talent and leadership skills to actively serve their respective communities, organizations, and field of interest for the greater good of their constituents and members. During the same event, Dr. Jose Bacusmo, the University president, also received a certificate of recognition from the TOSP National Council in gratitude for the VSU’s contribution for making the TOSP National Program a successful event. The awards were personally handed to the awardees by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III at the Malacañang Palace.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), one of the 13 councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), has won 3 major awards – the Tanglaw Award, the PANTAS for Research Administrator and the PANTAS for Researcher/Scientistcategories. PANTAS means sage, a wise man or intellectual. VSU, the leading institution of the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Program (ViCARP), celebrated this “Grand Slam Victory” for it’s the first time that the PCARRD a Research and Development consortium won these three major awards.

November 2010 – The result of the 2010 Licensure Examination for Teachers was released by both the Board of Professional Teachers (BPT) and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Two VSU grads were topnotchers in the examination. Mr. Joel Abunda a 2001 BS in Statistics (BSS) Cum laude grad from Hilongoswho took up some units in education and  now working in the Bureauof Agricultural Research, was ranked 2nd in the LET-Secondary Level. He got a rating of 87.40, just .40 less from the highest ranker. A total of 36, 714 examinees took the exam, but only a total of 9,493 passed giving a national passing percentage of 25.86%.

For the LET-Elementary Level, Ms. Maybelyn Bauyaban, a 2010 Bachelor in Elementary Education Magna Cum Laude grad fromOrmoc City got the 9th place. She got a rating of 83.60.  About 39,508 examinees took the exam, but only 7,737 (19.58%) passed. 42 other examinees from VSU passed the LET-Elementary Level. This gave VSU an institutional passing percentage of 50.59%.Meanwhile, 12 Bio-chem majors, 4Math majors and 3 PEHM majorspassed the LET-Secondary Level giving an institutional passing percentage of 52.78%.

Jade Vincent Q. Membrebe, a VSU ROTC Cadet 4th Class and a then BS Statistics Freshman became the champion of the 11th Philippine Army Regional ROTC Speech Contest held at the VSU Convention Center on November 6, 2010. Several other institutions from Leyte and Samar competed during the contest.

December 2010 – The research paper ofMr. Jayzon G. Bitacura, an instructor at the Department of Biological Sciences, won the 2nd place for the Best Research Paper Award during the DOST-PCARRD-sponsored 2010 Visayas Zonal R&D Symposium and Roadmapping held on November 22-24, 2010 at Cebu Business Hotel, Cebu City. His undergraduate thesis entitled the” Biodegradation of Used Engine Oil Isolated from the Coastal Sediments in the Vicinity of Ormoc City Port Area” bested 12 other competing papers.

January 2011 – On Dec. 8 2010, Mr. Clar Don L. Evangelio, then a freshman of BS Civil Engineering (BSCE) landed second place in the 19th Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) National Level held at the Assembly Hall of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in Manila. He garnered a total point of 26, and was just one point short of claiming the first place after Mr. Gabriel Paul S. Pascual of Saint Louis University in Baguio City.

TARSIER (Terrestrial Aquatic Restoration by Students Immersed into Environmental Reforms) one of the prominent student organizations in VSU has been recognized as one of the 20 finalists for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) of the Philippines of 2010. The Organization was represented by Ms. Jihan Santanina J. Santiago. Even though it fell short on making to the top ten, the organization still received a cash prize of P20, 000 and a plaque for winning the Team Energy Special Award. Ms. Santiago received the awards in a ceremony held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace on December 9, 2010 with his Excellency Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

February 2011 -The Amaranth, VSU’s official student publication celebrated its Pearl Anniversary on February 15, 2011 at the VSU Convention center. The 30th Anniversary’s theme was “Celebrating 30 years of Campus Journalism”. The event was attended by the current Amaranth staff as well as some former staff and by VSU students eager to have their own copy of the Pearl Anniversary Issue. The latest Issue was awarded as the “Region-VIII’s Best Magazine for SY 2010-2011” during the Regional Tertiary Press Conference at VSU-Tolosa. Amaranth Staff also garnered numerous awards during the competition including the “Journalist of the Year award” which was given to Ms. VernabelleBalmori, a Foodtech major from Inopacan.

During the 7th National Congress of Veterinary Medicine Students (NCVMS), the VSU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) team composed of Zeam Voltaire E. Amper (then DVM-5), Maria Isabel A. Mallillin (then DVM-6), and Harvie P. Portugaliza (then DVM-6), got 1st Runner-Up in the 16th National Quiz Contest sponsored by the Rodeo Club Philippines-BSU (Benguet State University) Chapter. The team was also declared  2nd Runner-Up in the Mentalympics (Veterinary Medicine Quiz Bee They also landed as finalist in the Zootechnics and Parasitology Quiz Bee.

The Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) Board of Trustees awarded VSU with Level II accreditation after their visit on November 22-26, 2010. This makes the VSU the first-ever institutionally accredited SUC in the country.

April 2011 – Several VSUans were recipients of highest awards during the recently conducted 26th Philippine Chemistry Congress. Dr. Eduardo E. Tulin,VSU professor and VP for Planning and Research Generation, got the PFCS (Philippine Federation of Chemical Society) Achievement Award for Chemical Research for his pioneering work on “novel lectin with immunoproliferative function from Taro (Colocasiaesculenta) and cytokine-mimetic properties of some Philippine rootcrops and medicinal plants.”

Miss Ma. Leah Borines also bagged first price in the Student Poster Competition (Undergraduate Category). Two other poster entries from VSU were presented among 35 national finalists.

On the other hand, Miss Jeella Z. Acedo, 2004 VSU Laboratory High School Class Valedictorian graduate, got the 2nd place in the Student Poster Competition (Graduate Category). She’s now teaching in UP Los Baños.

The awards were presented by the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies during the 2011 International Year of Chemistry during the 26th Philippine Chemistry Congress held at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.

These are just a few of the numerous Awards and Accolades received by the University each school year. Even so, this is truly a wonderful proof of just how talented and competitive VSU Students and Staffs are, within or outside the campus. It surely inspires us and makes us even more proud of our dear Alma Mater.

Internet usage is at its height. Millions of downloads are processed by the minute; billions of information are being shared and processed by the second. This is the Age of Information Revolution. And the more we use it, the more our minds are clouded; the more we forget the beauty of the conventional means:

Encyclopedias. Dictionaries. Novels. BOOKS!

The Library.

There is no question that there is a decline of visitor’s or “patrons” of the library. And it has been for a long time. This is because most students are heavily relying on the internet as a means of information gathering.

Yes, the Internet is a good source of information, but not utterly reliable. The information in the Internet can be manipulated, are unregulated, deceiving, and could either be right, imprecise or just incorrect. And it gives you the urge to play Internet games, or Facebook. And let’s not talk about that.

I guess, we all know about this. But why won’t we rely on the unassumingly old eerie building on a hill? I mean, the Library.

Well, the VSU Library offers us a collection of books (the biggest in Region 8). It ranges from dictionaries, encyclopedias, novels of different genres, thesis manuscripts, newspapers, you name it. It offers books in different subjects: from agriculture, fiction, to medicine. It also has a collection of records, tapes and videos for additional reference and your own comfort. It can be borrowed for a limited time, but only to those students who availed the “yellow card”—a yellow-colored card (of course!) filled with gridlines, washed-up prints, signatures, and an old ID picture—for a hefty sum of P20. A good deal, right?

The books you might find in the library are mostly old, but their content is timeless. The books cannot be manipulated, but updated; they are regulated by the editors, scientists, mathematicians, etc; they only deceive the mind that doesn’t know how to look; and the information they offer could either be precise or plainly correct. They are just what you need when modern technology offers you mediocrity.

By the way, a good read has no ending. Imaginations, mind inventions and mind creations continue to flow. Poems, novels, books and all those wonderful things help us create our own movies, operas, dramas and comedies in our minds. It helps us create our own heroes, our own superheroes, our own new friends, our own comfort, our own world, our own refuge, our own . . .

Students who have been here since 2009 could recall the start of a campaign. This campaign was to correct the student government system of VSU. It was also the time when people thought the Amaranth (the one who started the campaign) and council (the student government) couldn’t work together.

Amaranth has tried since 2009 to work with the student government. Some officers were willing, some took it offensively. However, the present leadership seems to be open-minded about taking suggestions from the Amaranth.

With USSC president Gerald Rivera on the lead, our student government has shown its willingness to change the system: a quite complicated parliamentary system of council officers, arrangements and fees which can be simplified. When made simple, it will be more effective.

The new Council Officers with the Amaranth sat down one afternoon in March to talk about correcting misconceptions and addressing school problems. Together, we also figured out a way to rearrange our government system. It’s called the Power of Four.

What does this mean?

The Power of Four is just a name for a special system of student government that we can use in VSU. Similar government systems exist in other universities, Ateneo deManila for example.

Since VSU has many colleges under it, all of them will have four officers each. It works this way, we will have what we call as the Big For. This Big Four stands for the four USSC officers: The President, Vice-President, the Secretary-General, and the Treasurer.  Under them are the College Fours (C-4s), with the same positions.

Our present system is quite complicated; we have lots of officers everywhere. The more the merrier? Nope. This actually prevents the job from getting done. That’s why we need only enough. In this case, four.

All these officers will be voted at large, meaning the students will vote for the USSC officers. This is unlike the present system: the CSSC Presidents vote among themselves as to who will become the USSC president, VP and so on. We find democracy missing here: we don’t directly choose our leaders.

But the power of four will be different. When we directly elect our leaders, it means we’re more involved in decision-making. It in turn makes them more accountable, which in turn again will push them to be more responsible. More projects, better government.  Better government, more involvement. It’s a cycle of successful leadership, people participation, and effective governance.

The amaranth and the USSC share the same desire: that the system will be more effective than ever. There are still many questions about this plan, but these will smoothen out if the students are willing to discuss with the USSC and Amaranth. We have yet to prove the effectiveness of this system.

Since the USSC promised a real Constitutional Convention to correct last year’s “mock” Con-Con (it was indeed a mockery of the USSC Constitution), the Amaranth is hopeful that the delegates will favorably consider the Power of Four.

The council officers have expressed their interest in changing the system. Will they go the extra mile to really change it? We hope it’s not lip service. We have yet to see what they will do this year. Let us all keep a watchful eye.

The power of Four may not be a perfect system. However, many schools work well with it. It is theoretically better than what we currently have. Testing this is better than not changing at all. It’s not really much about whether we can do it or not. The real issue is, are we willing to do it?

Students who have been here since 2009 could recall the start of a campaign. And until we see the change we need, we will not stop it.