APO, UP Cebu holds blood drive

by Keiza Empleo and December Cobarde

Fourteen students were able to donate blood after passing the screening last Tuesday, September 17, 2013, during a Blood Drive organized by the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) of the University of the Philippines Cebu in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Psychology Majors Association (UPPSYMA) and the Department of Health (DOH) held at the Arts and Sciences Building of UP Cebu.

“The response of the people is overwhelming but a lot of them didn’t get through the screening process. The DOH really adheres to very high standards in choosing blood donors. They are commendable for doing such strenuous job for the benefit of those in need.” This is what Gerime Basalo, UPPSYMA Chairperson, had to say about the activity. Members of DOH were present to perform the blood transfusion where each donor had to donate at least 500ml of blood that will be sent to DOH’s blood bank.

         The Blood Drive is part of UPPSYMA’s “I Love Life” campaign where, according to Aragon, there may be no tangible reward but it is a form of community service and so far, it has been successful.

            

          This is the first blood drive out of the two that APO organizes every year. APO President, Luana Abada says ever since she started studying in UP, there have always been blood drives that she can no longer recall when it began. “It has become a tradition of some sort and with the upcoming Sorority Charter Anniversary; we tried to align it [blood drive] with the event.” APO has a series of services they would like to extend; along with their most recent activity is the Book Drive in which they have no beneficiaries yet.

Abada was hoping there would be more donors this time, as there were 20 last February.

             

UP Pep vows for vengeance

by Jesa Mariel M. Parreño    

September 15, 2013 may have appeared to be a typical Sunday for most people, but for cheerdance enthusiasts in the nation, it wasn’t just a normal Sunday.

A sea of blue, maroon, green, yellow, red and white filled the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena last Sunday as the crowd went wild for one of the most anticipated events in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) every season, the UAAP Cheerdance Competition (CDC).

More or less 20,000 fans and cheerdance enthusiasts occupied the whole arena, causing the atmosphere inside the MOA Arena to have a vibrant feel from the wait for the event to start, while the performances were being done, up to the much awaited declaration of this season’s champion. Even those who were streaming from the internet all over the country were eager to know the results.

Much to the dismay of the fans of the so-called Pep Squad ng Bayan, the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad, who gunned for a four-peat from 2009, and ninth title this year as the UAAP CDC champion, was dethroned by the National University (NU) Cheer Squadron.

NU Cheer Squadron who settled for the third spot in the competition last season, bagged their very first UAAP CDC championship trophy. NU Cheer Squadron was ahead by 75 points, receiving 695.5 points compared to UP Pep Squad’s 620.5.

NU Cheer Squadron captain Adrina Alban said in an interview with GMA News that they had focused on their weak points from last year’s routine, and that the great improvement shown by their team was a product of a five-month long preparation for the event.

Not only who were present in the arena had expressed their thoughts on the turn out of the event. Netizens as well had flooded Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites with both praises and bashes regarding the result of the competition.

Being the UAAP CDC champion for three years straight, many had anticipated on what routine the UP Pep Squad would showcase to defend their title. Although they had failed to become this season’s champion, fans of the team still expressed their support.

Former UP student regent, Cleve Arguelles, expressed his support in twitter saying that a person is not measured by the number of times he had fallen, but how he would get back up with poise. Another supporter on twitter, @HEARTdino, tweeted, “Congratulations NU Pep Squad! You guys deserve it! Pero mas mahal ko pa rin ang UP Pep (But I still love UP Pep more)! Let's grab that 9th win next year!”

In an interview with GMA News, UP Pep Squad co-captain Lian Melegrito assured that the team will reclaim the title next year. "Like in 2009, expect a hungrier UP next year. Di kami sanay ng nagse-settle for [a place] lower than the championship [title] (We’re not used to settle for [a place] lower than the championship [title]). Get ready for us next year," said Melegrito. 

The results have been announced and the only thing fans can do now is anticipate next season’s competition and look forward to the teams’ routines, especially for the dethroned UP Pep Squad.

What kind of routine would they come up with to reclaim their title? For now, all we can do is anticipate and wait.

Up Student Council: Signature Campaign, Noise Barrage, Flash Mob, and Budget Cutwalk to oppose Pork Barrel

by December Belle C. Cobarde 

“Gimme Gimme Higher State Subsidy!” was the Student Council’s (SC) cry along with other UP Cebu students as they performed a flash mob, in protest against the pork barrel and the education budget cut.

With their banners, the students danced to Beanie Man’s hit single Gimme Gimme, at 12:30 noon last September 13, 2013 by the main gate of UP Cebu.

            What transpired last Friday was one of the many activities the Student Council of UP Cebu prepared in opposition to the pork barrel as well as the 1.43 billion budget cut proposal by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for school year 2014.

            SC Chairperson Jun Marr Denila points out the relation between the call for the abolishment of the pork barrel and the opposition of the budget cut. He said that the former could mean rechanneling of the funds to basic social services like education; hence, the call for higher state subsidy.

            Shaneen Bargamento, 3^rd Year Representative supports the abolishment of the pork barrel. “I want it [pork barrel] to be channeled to education, health services, and capital expenditures. We need higher state subsidy again and again because the children are the nation builders. If we have poor-minded people, we can’t progress.”

            The UP System-wide Day of Action was observed last Wednesday, September 11, 2013, where all UP units, including UP Cebu performed a protest action for the abolishment of the pork barrel. The SC visited the students of the National Training Service Program (NSTP) to conduct a comprehensive discussion on the pork barrel issue soon followed by a noise barrage. A signature campaign was also launched that same day. “Once enough signatures are gathered, they will be sent to the Office of the Student Regent, the highest student representative in the UP system”, says Denila.

            Together with the Scrap the Pork Alliance from the Office of the Student Regent, UP Cebu is set to have a Budget Cutwalk on Thursday, September 19, 2013 in protest against the 1.43B budget cut. Starting 4pm, the students will march from the Arts and Sciences Building to the Oblation Square, where the program will be held. Letters are sent to the teachers who will have classes at the time to allow students to be excused so they can participate.

            A 3^rd year Political Science major approves of the campaign of the SC because it will enable the students to become more aware of the issues. “I am for the abolishing of pork barrel because it is not clear where the money goes. There is no transparency.”

            However, a first year Fine Arts student is reluctant of the effectiveness of the SC’s programs, saying there is no short-term change for the issue. “We would have to wait until we are recognized but I am for the abolishment of the pork because the funds will be redirected to social services. That will be a huge help to the Filipinos.”

            The SC sees the importance of the issue, which is why they are encouraging other school organizations to join them in more activities related to the pork barrel and budget cut. “The Student Council is ready to help the activities of the orgs for continuous campaigning.” says Denila.

                          

UPOU to participate in Tianjin conference

by Paulo Salada

             University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) will participate in the 25^th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference at Tianjin Open University (TOU), China, this coming October 16-18, 2013.

          ICDE is the leading global membership organization for enhancing the quality of open, distance, flexible and online education, including e-learning, and has supported many initiatives to help overcome the challenges faced by ODL institutions. 

          UPOU Chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso will be one of the participants in the study support panel discussion in the upcoming international conference.

        Alfonso will take part in panel discussions regarding open educational resources and study support in Open and Distance Leraning (ODL) at the 25^th ICDE World Conference.

         “This conference will provide a broad and rational platform for the educators and the friends from all social sectors who are engaged and interested in open and distance education and in the education for social vulnerable groups,” said Feng Xuefei, TOU head.

         Four among the 400 accepted papers in the conference were written by UPOU professors. The first two entries were written by Joane Serrano and Alvie Simonette Alip entitled “Virtual Reporting: An online learning initiative for intercultural environmental practices” and “Enhancing Quality in Online Class Collaboration through Peer Evaluation” respectively. The third one is “Collaborative Learning through Online Communities of Practice (OCoPs) at the UP Open University” by Ben Hur Vira. The fourth and last paper is entitled, “MOOC- to MOOC+:  Applying the ODeL Quality Framework to Fill the Gaps” by Melinda Dela Pena Bandalaria.

          “One of the important events of the ICDE is the ICDE conferences, which have set the necessary forum for the presenting new ideas, learned papers, vigorous debates and above all, an opportunity for the best of academicians, administrators, policy makers, and practitioners to challenge, inspire and enhance the practice of ODL,” said Tian Belawati, ICDE president.

              ICDE World Conference will carry the theme "New Strategies for Global Open, Flexible and Distance Learning." Together with their view of reflecting a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the theme, seven sub-themes have been provided namely: culture, system, technology, resources, quality and services, and assisted learning.