THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS

School Year 2014-2015

Vol.13.2014.1

years
of
E XCELLENCE

in the
cover

THE OF
Vol.13.20 FICIAL ST
UDEN
14.1
T

PUBL

ICATIO

N OF

THE VI

SAYAS
STATE
UN

IVERSIT

Y-MA
School IN CAMPUS
Year 201
4-2015

years of

E X C E
L L E N
C E

editor s

note

inety years is a milestone. It is fitting to dedicate this issue of the

Amaranth to VSU's 90th birthday to celebrate the memories of
the past that moulded future victories, as well as of the beaming
future in ten years time that is just around the corner.

Being contributors to VSU's history and future, allow us to bring you the
90 good things about our school and you may probably add a thing or
two. Here you will know how the historical DYAC has transformed into
DYDC and what it took to bring us back on air again. We also reveal to
you in this volume the various hopes and expectations of students for the
impending centennial celebration.
By turns feel-good and sad, this issue tackles the growing trend of selfies
with real selfie/groupie photos from VSU students posted on social
media, as well as the special story of a student who survived the worst
typhoon in history. We also encourage you to create strong opinions as
we give our takes on different national concerns such as the basic
commodity price hike.
This issue is a story mag of loss and revival and how we should remain
robust in times of adversity so as not to waste what 90 years has brought
us now. Read on and let us know what you think.
Era Christine Wales
Chairman, Amaranth Editorial Board

about the

cover
T

his year's cover is a tribute

to VSU's 90th anniversary.
The artwork is done by our
very own Zeal Conbrio Artajo, a
Vetmed student, who is also with a
talented cartoonist for the
Amaranth.

Notice how every piece of the

artwork resembles a landmark in
VSU. This is to signify that we have
done and accomplished many
things in 90 years. An artwork to
commemorate 90 years of
excellence.
Can you identify all the doodles in
the artwork?

AMARANTH
Era Christine Wales EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Rhea Jenny Ogalesco ASSOCIATE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Irish Jane Calungsod
Ivory Ace Palacio MANAGING EDITOR
WRITERS
Quirene Wenceslao
Lourence Mae Alkuino
Jade Moreno
Faith Princess Sinagoya
Moesha Fatima Castillo
Joshua Velarde
Shahoney Jane Zamora
Ivy Dematawaran
PHOTOGRAPHY
Precious Joyce Ogdoc
Pete Mar Yves Villalino
ILLUSTRATIONS
Zeal Conbrio Artajo
Aliana Gene Sarmiento
Dionard Mendova
LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Jucel Marie Guatlo
Mari Denise Amphy Layola

column

students take on the price

hike of basic commodities

feature

be prepared with these basic

steps to follow

p8
p5

p8
p6
p13

Price Hike
DYDC

90

Be Pre

VoxPop D

Smart Phones

ADVISERS
Jude Nonie Sales
Ella Lois Bestil
Editorial Office
1st Floor, ADE Building
Visayas State University
www.amaranthvsu.com

p20
p24

feature

are you smarter than your

smart phone?

p26
p13

column

are beauty pageants really

what organizers say they are?

whats
column

feature

get inspired by a story of

survival and hope

90 good things about VSU to

celebrate on its 90th birthday

p12
p14

p14
p16

inside

Selfie
Students Behavior

epared YolandaH.I.V.

+
+

DormiStory

Bed Bugs

Renovation

Presidents Reports

p36
p32

feature

learn how to manage your

expenses when on a limited budget

p36
p20

feature

new and on-going infrastructure

projects on campus

Students Behavior:

Whats in & Whats Out

What are these annoying

habits your roommates may
have.

p36
p34

p30
p32

other
stories

Presidents Report

Then and Now. Previous

years USSC President and the
current President talks about
their accomplishments and
plans during their term in
office.

p36

VSU is back on AIR

Read about our campus

radios history and how it
came out of hibernation after
many years.

AMARANTHVSU.COM

READY, SET, STEADY

90 YEARS OF VSU:

t has been ninety years since

the birth of our beloved
alma mater. Ninety years
ago, the university was then an
agricultural college, taking different
names like totemsBaybay National
Agricultural School, Visayas
Agricultural College, Visayas State
College of Agriculture, Leyte State
Universitythat embrace the
changes that occurred before them.
Ninety years is a milestone and
here we begin to notice the
buildings that have grown old and
were renovated, landscapes turned
to skyscapes, idle and unkempt areas
to tourist spots, or sentimental-

valued places into ones that are

valued by the income it generates.
For one, the convention center
which was once a mesh hall of
students now boasts of the national
conferences it has held over the
years. The dingy and dusty cottages
have been replaced and have
become a part of a wide beach
resort. Staff homes have
transformed to suites and inns, and
lodges.
A flatland of crops that are
either purposively planted or left to
grow on their own is where the new
VSU Library is being furnished. The
accessibility of it is a relief in that

there is no need to hike to do

homework. Moreover, the concept of
library has also changed. The card
catalogue will become computerized
and more of attuned to the times.
Several infrastructures are in the
works: the new staff housing, and an
Olympic-size swimming pool.
The famous DYAC AM radio station
has shifted to an FM frequency, too,
with a new name: DYDC.
There are also remarkable
breakthroughs in our curricular
programs. New courses such as
Nursing, Civil, Geodetic and
Geomatics, and Mechanical
Engineering, Hotel, Restaurant, and

2014 ISSUE NO.1

Tourism Management, Biotechnology,

Chemistry have been offered as four satellite
campuses in Isabel, Alang-alang, Tolosa, and
Villaba have been introduced into the
university's system. These are proofs that we
have really come this far from being an
agricultural college that we were years ago.
Not only that, we have outdone other schools
not only in agriculture as once before, but
including, now, in the field of engineering.
Such are changes worth the counting of
years, changes that are huge and
conspicuous. The years seem to come and go
so fast; we could get a whiplash if we are not
watchful. And it is by being watchful that we
notice the things that have remained steady
amidst the swift run of the years.
Or perhaps, steady is a wrong word, for
things have not remained the way they were;
they either get better or get worse. For
instance, in the changing times (and needless
to say that the times always change), stipends
for scholars have slowly become less valuable
or useful. Laboratory facilities have, too,
because they have become too old and
worse. Anniversary celebrations now feels as
just mandatory when they were once treats.
What has happened? What has become of
us? Have we reached the top so that there is
no other way to go but down?
The 90th anniversary of VSU launches the
countdown for the centennial year. This is the
time when we see 100 years beckoning us.
The time travel that we know is singular: the
past to the future. And the future hopes to be
always better than the past.
As it has been said, this is also the time
that we should be more watchful. Today is an
invitation for us, students, to be more
creative, to help make the changes in this
university more fitting to our educational
needs, to be more assertive, and empowered.
To be watchful is to always think that
there is always room for improvement. What
else should be done or built to help you as
individuals develop your potentials?
We have reached ninety years. For VSU
that has reached a high time must refuse to
peak. It always has to reach for the sky.

Price
hike
irritation spike

Era Christine Wales

ne of the pitfalls of being a

student is our limited
weekly allowance that we
have to budget carefully if we want
to make it through the week or
month. So we must be very careful
on how we spend our money. But
we may be experiencing a snag in
our careful use of our funds
because in recent months the
prices of some of our basic buys
skyrocketed.
If you don't know what I am
talking about, then let me
enlighten you. Several commodities
like garlic, ginger and rice had a
price hike. You may think it is not
really unusual but what if I tell you
that the price raise doubled the
normal price?
Notice how a cup of rice has
increased from P5 to P8 sometimes

to P10? The price of a kilo of rice has

increased by two pesos more every
kilo. Garlic previously priced from
P130 is now sold at P230. Garlic at
VSU market is sold at P15 per piece.
Presidential spokesman Herminio
Coloma Jr. said the price of rice was
increasing due to market forces, and
that the coming harvest or planting
season should remedy the problem.
Some suspect the price hike was
due to El Nio that damaged the crops
lessening the supply of rice and garlic.
But many also suspect that

there are many farms that

hoard their stocks, so that when
the demand is high and the supply
is low,they can sell them at a
higher price.
According to the Philippine
Daily Inquirer, Malacaang said the
government was exerting all
efforts to ensure the stable supply
of rice, garlic, and ginger amid the
unusual spike in prices.
Surveillance is being carried
out to discourage hoarding and
other practices that could lead to
an artificial shortage, Herminio
Coloma Jr. said at a press
conference.
Coloma said those behind the
artificial shortage of these
commodities will be made
accountable.
If they are discouraging
hoarders, why are we not feeling
the effects yet?
Whether it is due to natural
causes or the manipulation of
supply either way it is very
inconvenient for us students who
rely on our meager allowances.
We only use a few cloves of garlic
but still, the high prices have
affected us badly. If the
government cannot control the
inflation of these crops, then it is
more likely that we suffer an
insane price increase of our basic
commodities.
VSU as a research
academe should also contribute to
the body of knowledge in working
around problems such as these.

AMARANTHVSU.COM

2014 ISSUE NO.1

ur country lies on a path

of disasters. Based on the
Country's Risk Profile from
the National Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Council
(NDRRMC), Philippines is located
along the typhoon belt in the
Pacific that makes us vulnerable to
an average of 20 typhoons a year,
where seven are destructive. It is
also situated in the Pacific Ring of
Fire that explains the occurrence
of earthquake, tsunami, and
volcanic eruption. The 6.2magnitude earthquake, typhoon
Yolanda and typhoon Ruby prove
those facts.
The best that we can do is to
be prepared. It is learning what to
do before, during, and after a
particular disaster or emergency. It
is through knowing the risk, your
vulnerability when it comes to that
risk, and the things you can do to
mitigate impact and keep you and
your loved ones safe.

Here are safety precautions

and things to remember from the
NDRRMC and Bureau of Fire
Protection:

shelf life like canned goods for a

minimum of 5 to 7 days. You could
also include prepaid sim cards with
load and extra charged cellphone
batteries for future emergency
communication needs. Seal in
plastic container important
documents like birth certificate,
titles, licenses and cards to keep
from being ruined. As what
typhoon Yolanda experience taught
us, we have to prepare an
emergency fund for future repairs,
medical or financial crisis. We also
had experienced the inconvenience
of power interruption. We have to
learn how to cope with other light

the building that gets burned.

AFTER DISASTER.
Do not immediately go back at
home or in a damaged building. Be
updated from proper authorities.
Call the attention of any member
of the first aid team or response
team if you need help or if
anybody gets hurt. You should
report to appropriate authorities
on any accident that may happen,
even minor ones and make a
follow-up on the matter.
Currently, the University
Students Services Office (USSO) is
into strengthening the framework
of the school's Disaster Risk
Reduction Management (DRRM)
Committee. Its members, which
are also including students,
1were trained with Sen.
Bam Aquino for first aid
and rescue response,
traffic controlling, and other skills
needed in mitigating the impacts
and responding during disasters.
Dormitory advisers were advised
to buy commodities for student
occupants for a span of 3 to 5 days
prior to a typhoon or any
emergency. The Security Office,
headed by Engr. Celso Gumaod,
also organized people for
emergency response and had
disseminated mobile phone
numbers for campus residents to
contact.
For emergency, call any of these
security contacts:
0906-9580-031 | 0917-6341-532
0905-9346-834 | 0909-8871-222
0943-4355-074
Remember, when you are
prepared you can get going with
high spirit and optimism. During
disasters or emergencies, a calm
and ready mind and body will help
you make it through distressful
times.

BEFORE DISASTER.
In case of an incoming
typhoon or unexpected
earthquake and fire accidents, you
have to be ready with an
emergency kit. Your emergency kit
could be in a bag or any safe
container to be packed with the
following necessities: portable
radio and flashlight with extra
batteries, hygienic items like soap,
toothbrush, toothpaste, etc., a
medicine and first-aid kit, and
some clothing for 3 to 4 days. Keep
clean and safe drinking in clean
container and store food with long

Keep calm
and be alert.
sources and be away for a while
from our electric devices and
gadgets.
Schools, dormitories or
boarding houses should also have
emergency drills for fire and
earthquake.

DURING DISASTER.
Keep calm but be alert. Having
a ready mind is utmost essential. In
case of a typhoon, evacuate to a
safer place with your emergency
bag. The school had identified ADE
building in the upper campus as a
safe place to serve as an
evacuation center.
In case of an earthquake, do
not panic. If you are in a room, sit
and duck on the floor and cover
your head. If you are outside, look
for an open and safe area without
rushing. Stay away from falling
debris and glass panes. If a fire
accident occurs, do not hide in the
comfort room and stay away from

AMARANTHVSU.COM

smokey

Truth2.0

SU is a smoke free
university and at the
same time, a university
with many cigarette smokers. Isn't
it ironic? But why do they have the
guts to smoke? Does our school
lack campaigns to our students
that smoking inside the university
is strictly prohibited? Or the
students just don't know we are in
a smoke free zone? There are
really a lot of questions roaming in
our minds with regards to this
matter.
However, there were already
many students who have raised
their voices on this issue. Some
have reported it to the University
Students' Service Office (USSO)
and others have raised their
arguments in the form of writing.
In fact, the publication has already
released an article with the same
issue 2 years ago. But it seems
that smokers in the university are
too numb to listen and follow rules
in the campus. And here's more,
the smokers are invoking their
rights on smoking inside the
campus because there is no one
averting them against their wrong
doing or if there is, they'll just
ignore it. In short, this issue is not
over!
Cite this example, I was
walking in the market and as I
walked along the stairs near the
laundry shop I saw a group of men
smoking. I passed along them and
said, Smoking is strictly prohibited
in this school. And this was what

Ivory Ace Palacio

one of them said, Badlungbadlung kaman maestro man

gane ni ako katapad oh!. Yes, it
has been confirmed when I looked
at the guy beside him, I
recognized the face immediately.
Here's a clue, he is an instructor
from the department where you
can inhale the smell of progress.
Another thing is that, we all
know that VSU anniversary is a big
event that is much awaited by all
the students and many guests.
Just the same as our school is
known to be a smoke free
university, right? Yet, there were
guys who smoke in the VSU
market despite the huge crowd
because of the succeeding eventssuch as intramurals and
anniversary of the campus. Take
note, they're not just smoking but
displaying the cigarette in the
public.
Also, according to the
University President in his State of
the University Address (SUA)
recently, Some of them (smokers)
are sons of our faculty members
who also insist smoking in the
university. In fact, I spotted some
faculty and staff who smoke inside
the campus. With this, what can
we imply in the smoking issue in
the university? Probably it
will remain perennial; how can we
rely from the guidance that the
staff could offer when they can't
even correct the wrong doings of
their children or when they
themselves cannot even discipline

themeselves? Well they should

action to that first. I understand
that nobody's perfect. I am not
saying that they don't have the
right to discipline students about
smoking but what I am
emphasizing here is that someone
should be credible to if he put his
words into action.
I can still remember an
implementation in the campus
stating that if somebody was
caught littering inside the school's
premises, the one who witnesses
the wrong action can report it to
USSO. Better if you have evidence
with you. Good evidence will be a
photo. The same action is applied
in the smoking issue. Report it to
the USSO immediately so that they
will have their first warning from
the office if ever you caught one.
But, not all of us can dare to do it.
Some don't have the courage to
report the case due to the lack of
evidence, lack of willingness or the
witness do not want to offend the
smoker because of the conscience
of putting somebody at risk and
embarrassment.
Upon knowing all of the facts
stated above and considering the
one I have quoted from the SUA of
the university president, what can
the university administration do
about it? If they will consider my
suggestion, they could just
continue to implement the rule
no smoking in a stricter way.
Anyone who will be caught
smoking inside the university is

continue to page 29

2014 ISSUE NO.1

...

VoxPop
Jade Moreno

Amaranth

@amaranthvsu

The 90th Anniversary or VSU's Emerald Year came and went. Years fly by and
before we know it, we would have already reached the Centennial. Change is
inevitable and it makes sense that in the decade before VSUs 100th year there
would be many changes in our university.
How do you see VSU past the 90th year?

Jackie BSAB - 4
I can see improvement; there will be a lot of changes in the our facilities, teaching force, and also in our
environment. I foresee an improved VSU.

Raven Fajardo BSHRTM - 1

It will take many preparations for the upcoming centennial year; changes would be seen in the campus
environment as the years will pass. For sure the alumni will be gather that year. The gathering will further
bring more programs to the school.

Joni Franz Davis DVM - 2

I can see VSU reaching its Centennial year as an overpopulated school, because it offers cheap tuition fees for
students who were not given a chance to have a good status in life. And VSU offer great opportunities for those
less fortunate people who dream high. VSU will be a popular school because it produces topnotchers.

Ian Dave Custodio BSEcon - 4

I see that in the next years to come there will be new facilities here in the university, laboratory equipment
and others. There will be more expansions and installation of buildings and classrooms.

Cloyd Rempillo BSEd MAPEH - 2

I think in the next years to come, VSU will produce more professionals, more degree programs will be
endorsed or offered, more educational facilities will be seen in the campus.
There you have it. To sum all up the sentiments and comments, expectations and predictions of our fellow
students may be fulfilled if all of us will take part in making and building our university to its finest. That in
VSU: Excellence is a lifestyle. It is good to note that VSU students are looking forward to a better university
in the future. These suggestions, comments and views, however, are worthy of the administrations
attention and consideration.

Reply to Amaranth

140

TWEET

10

AMARANTHVSU.COM

iving in a campus dormitory is considered by most students as a great

privilege and a significant part of University life. It enhances your learning
experience through an independent life that gives you opportunities to develop
social skills and a sense of responsibility. You will learn to be responsible of your own
life. However, the dormitory, as it seems now, doesn't look conducive enough for
learning. Here is a bad dormistory.

Room Problem
Most on dorm occupants face the problem of poor room
condition and management. Toilets, kitchen, and ventilation
need major repairs and should be maintained. A clean and
healthy environment should also be sustained. Dorm
maintenance fee has increased from P180 in 2002 to P275
this year. The University has spent this money for major
repairs and incentives for dormitory advisers. This increase in
dorm maintenance fees should be used to repair damaged
beds, lockers, windows, and among other things.

Water Scarcity
One of the major complaints of students staying in
dormitories in the upper campus is the insufficient water
supply. In most dormitories, bathrooms are communal. If
there are many users at the ground floor, the water pressure
cannot reach the upper floor. As early as 4:00 a.m., dorm
occupants have to take a bath especially those who have
7:00 a.m. classes to avoid the hassle waiting for the water to
go up. They, at times, attend classes without a bath. Going
to school well-groomed is important for the students. Water
is a basic necessity. Hence it should be solved immediately.

Lots of Activities
Activities and events are expected in
dormitories to build camaraderie. But
having too much activities in a semester
sometimes becomes a problem. Besides the
acquaintance party, there are sweet-heart
dorms acquaintance party, freshmen talent
showdown, team building, and sportsfest,
among other activities. Lots of activities
mean fees to be paid for, and worse, most
events are compulsory especially for
freshmen. Students are fined for their
absence in the events. Moreover, there is
more hassle when the event happens
during the midterm week. Instead of
studying, students devote their time to
practice with or without exams tomorrow.
We are not saying that we don't like to have
these activities in dormitories. We are
saying that it will do more good if we
reduce the number of activities in a sem.
Remember, we cannot serve two masters at
the same time.

2014 ISSUE NO.1

DormiStory
THE

Shahoney Jane C. Zamora and Ivy J. Dematawaran

Lack of Dormitories

Every school year, the VSU student population

increases. The demand for school dormitories
also increases each year. Out-of-town students
find it very necessary to live within the campus
to avoid expenses on transportation. But our
dormitories and cottages are not enough to
accommodate students who want to apply for
on-campus residence. Consequently, rooms are
overloaded with occupants. Many students
were forced to take boarding houses offcampus. So students will have to walk long
distances to attend their classes.

Limited Power Outlet

Dormitory occupants are not allowed to use
outlets inside their rooms. But the room
outlets don't function, anyway. They are only
permitted to use the outlets in the living area
where wire extensions are provided. However
this is not enough to serve all occupants who
want to use it. Occupants use these outlets for
charging gadget batteries. Cluttered
cellphones and chargers are often seen in the
living area. There are times when cellphone
owners get the wrong cellphone because of
the clutter. Because of insufficient outlets they
unplug other's cellphones to plug in their
own. This led to misunderstandings among
occupants.

Stealing of Properties
Burglary is a major offense that penalize the
offender to be kicked out of the dormitory.
One's dorm residency ends after being
caught stealing. Stealing of cellphones,
tablets, money, clothes, and even underwear
is rampant. Because of overpopulation in the
dormitory, it becomes difficult to find the
culprit. To be aware of this problem, students
need to be more responsible of their
personal belongings. Occupants should learn
to respect others and their properties.

Living in dormitories inside the campus is a

great privilege. To consider the dormitory as
a second home, the university should offer
the best to students to help create a better
place for learning. It is necessary to
constantly check the condition of the
dormitories, that is, if VSU really values its
students.

11

12

AMARANTHVSU.COM

Rememberin
I

went back home the day

before super typhoon
Yolanda struck. I'm from
Jaro, Leyte but my family decided to
stay with my grandmother in
Tacloban City because we thought it
would be safer there. When I
arrived home, everything was in
place and everyone was relaxed.
We were not bothered about the
news in the TV or from text
messages from our friends and
relatives. November 7, Thursday
was bright and sunny; who would
have thought the typhoon would be
strong after all?
But we were wrong. Early in
the morning of November 8, strong
winds started to blow. Only minutes
had passed, but we could already
feel the wrath of Yolanda. Very
strong winds followed by heavy
rains. At the peak of the typhoon,
water began to enter our house at
heel high. When a second wave

came, we were knee deep in

water. It was getting worse. The
third wave followed and the water
inside our house was waist high.
We panicked!
It was zero visibility outside
and the floodwater went up to
chest high. A strong current carried
me away from my family and led
me to a two-storey house. The
door was already damaged and
gave me entry to the house where
water was ravaging inside. I
summoned my strength to go
upstairs to save myself from
drowning but the way to the
second floor was blocked. The
water was rising, and in my
desperation to survive, I shouted
at the dwellers of the house, Kun
diri ak niyo pasudlon, bantay kamo
ha akon kun may mahinabo ha
akon (If you won't let me in,
prepare yourselves if something
bad will happen to me).

At my insistence, the family let me

upstairs. I stayed in the corner of the
room, chilling, and scared. I fell asleep.
I woke up late in the afternoon, the
super typhoon and the flood had
abated. The family was no longer there
with me; I was left alone. I went
downstairs and went out of the house.
Outside was a landscape of bloated
dead bodies. Some were floating in big
water puddles, others hanging in
electric posts. The city itself seemed
mined from below the ground
rendering everything to rubble. The
sight was unbearable.
My stomach grumbled as I
wandered around the mined city. I was
very hungry. I saw a big house and
knocked on its door. They gave me two
packs of biscuits. I thanked them and
continued walking. In the streets, I saw
a half-filled bottled water and picked it
up. I wanted to go home but
everything was topsy-turvy and almost
unrecognizable; I can barely tell where

2014 ISSUE NO.1

13

ng
Rhea Jenny Ogalesco & Quirene Wenceslao
I was. I was very lost.
I tried to find more food, but
many of the survivors needed it
too. So I decided to save the
biscuits and water that were left
until I found my way home.I kept
on wandering the streets in the
city. Dead bodies were scattered
all over and the smell was awful. It
was already dark and I have
nowhere else to go to. I slept
beside the dead bodies piled in the
streets of Tacloban downtown. For
three days, I wandered starving,
lost and hopeless. News about
Yolanda survivors looking like
zombies was not an exaggeration.
Smelly, dirty and tattered clothes
and infected wounds all over the
bodies are common things you'll
observe on a Yolanda survivor. It
was horrible.
I saw lootings but was never
tempted to do the same. I even
saw bundles of money spilled out

of a vault, but I didn't bother

to take even just a handful. All I
could think of at the time was my
family. What is money for without
my family and without anything to
buy it with? I assumed they were
dead and I was losing hope.
On the fourth day after the
typhoon's landfall, I found my way
home. All the members of my
family were alive. They were half in
shock and half in joy at the sight of
me. They thought I was dead. They
even had a portrait of me on an
altar and a lighted candle. We
hugged and cried so much. I
approached the altar and blew the
candle out. It was like my second
birthday.
This is the story of Rachel
Sangrano, 16. Her story is just one
of the thousand other accounts of
hardships and grief, as well as of
hope and inspirations that no other
natural calamity has brought.

Almost a year has passed

after that deluge. Rachel's family
is back in Jaro, Leyte. Their house
was totally damaged by Yolanda,
but it is being renovated slowly.
She said they are starting to live
the way they did before the
typhoon. She was thankful and felt
blessed that her family withstood
the tragedy that killed thousands
of people. She is now in her second
year student taking up Bachelor in
Secondary Education at the
Visayas State University.
Some may say that Yolanda is
now a figment of Leyte's history,
and that Leyteos need to move
forward. But for Rachel, Yolanda is
part of the world's history which
shaped not only the lives of
Leyteos but the world's.
Rachel's story are those
kinds that we keep in our hearts
with hopes that our lives may
someday get better.

14

AMARANTHVSU.COM

3.

A hill full of
Molave trees,
the Molave Hill

Precious Joyce Ogdoc

90VSU
GOOD THINGS ABOUT

VSU had turned 90. Who knew it has been that long?
Heres to the*90 good things for the 90 good years.

2.
Malakas and Maganda
have the best view in
the whole campus.

1.

You can never get

enough of sunsets
at the Camotes Sea.

*Disclaimer: 90 good things written in this article are based only on the authors
views and that of her peers. It does not represent the view of the whole university

4.

We have
our own
gasoline station.

5.

a firetruck.

13.
14.

The only
university
with a complete
PE Facilities in
Leyte.

11

10 hours free
internet per
student per
semester at
the IT
Building.

12.

Local and
Internationally
known scientists.

Fashion is not a
necessity; T-shirt,
jeans and
slippers and
you're good to
go.

Borg's lidgid are

so delicious you're
going to look for
Borg within the
campus.

8.

MERALCO's
Energy-Saving
University.

topnotchers
every year.

10.

20

We have
our very own
fresh buffalo
milk and it also
has a chocolate flavor.

23.
22.

Fruits,
fruits

everywhere.

The VSU President

is so cute and
cool.

A dry and wet

market within
the campus.

9.

Want to lose a few pounds?

Easy. Walk from your class
to the next. Try having a class
from the Dept. of Economics
to the Dept. of Animal Science,
or other distant departments.

16.

17.

A forest at
the back of
the College
of Forestry
and
Environment
al Sciences.

15.

21.

7.
6.

15

Philippine deer, ostriches, boars,

buffalos, horses, cows, pigs,
chickens,
ducks and more.
The Department of Animal
Science could actually Awarded
create a
as the
mini zoo.

VSU produces
board exam

A level one
hospital

3.
We have

2014 ISSUE NO.1

Cassava
chips
with ice
cream.

19. 18.
DYDC

Milk-O gels!

Mount Pangasugan
has been just so

1.

24.TARSIERS (!)

majestic it has
living in it.

25.

A resort inside
the campus,
the VSU Beach Garden Resort.

16

AMARANTHVSU.COM

26.
27.

The
National
research
centers.

Stay at the
Apartelle, Hostel,
Seafront Suites
and the Balay Alumni.
Affordable
accommodations within
the campus.
We're
unintentionally
reproducing
Philippine
deer.

35.

36.

Very
affordable
food.

34.

37.

Talented and
creative
professors.

45.

46.

Study under
the trees at
the Eco park.

29. artists
Frog
Fountain.

47.

56.

A new
and
larger
University
Library.

Nationally and
internationally
outstanding students
and student leaders.

30.

Professors that treat

their students, snacks
and pasalubongs.

32.

31.

Exchange students

Cool

Cosplayers

33.

at different parts of

the world and from

different parts of the

world!
Amazing Rappler visited
building VSU thrice!
architectures.

39.40.

things
about

VSU

44.

Wines made
from jackfruit,
sweet potato
and taro.

We have
a lot of
Masteral
and Doctoral
degree
graduates.

57.

Painting
exhibits from
our VSU

Our very own

Pasalubong
Center

A butterfly
sanctuary.

The Department
of Development
Communication is
the Center of
Development in
Development
Communication.

28.

43.

VSU has
coffee
made from
jackfruit.

48.

A
school
With with rice
Level and corn
4 AACCUP fields.

Accreditation.

Cool and
clean,
drinkable
water at the
Frog
Fountain.

41.

Our own
Marine
Sanctuary.

42.

We offer courses
that the other
universities in Leyte
don't offer like BS in
Development
Communication,
Meteorology and
many others.

49. 50.

Students can access

their grades
and class
schedule at the
my.vsu.edu.ph

55.

38.

A
Researchoriented
University.
Beautiful and
handsome
teachers.

Vacuum
Fried
Jackfruits

54. 53 52.

VSU's Mr. & Ms.

Intramurals where
the basis is actual
physical fitness, they
had to do push-ups and the likes.

51.

The VSU
Administration
Building is on top
of a hill and is facing the
sea, a very nice view.

2014 ISSUE NO.1

58.

Flexible
dancers at the
VSU Dance
Troupe

59.

WiFi, WiFi
everywhere!

69.

68.
70.

Visca
Foundation
Elementary
School

60.

Amaranth,
is the best in
Eastern
Visayas.
Increasing student
Our own population every
photography year.
studio.

Produced amazing
people like
Cherrie Atilano,
Rey Evangelista,
Jeremy Aasco,
Jihann Sta. Nina
Santiago, and
Ruphil Baoc.

78.

We have 26
dormitories,
all inside the
campus.

77.

VSULHS

67.

Greenhouses.

71.

High-tech
laboratories.

A debate Renewable
Energy Center
society.

Water
87.
wheel!

Picturesque
views.

66.

72.

A huge
garage
with a lot of
for-schooluse cars,
vans and
buses.

(Satellite campuses)

water.

88.
Bio-fueled
ride.

(Yes that is a
good thing.)

64.

A
viewing
deck.

76.
We have

86.
Free

security guards,

63.
61.

4 satellites,

79. 80.

62. Strict

81.

NO tuition
fee HIKES

Great artists
from Banaag

85.

89.

Our own
version of the Basilisk,
theBanakon

17

We have
a twin tower,
THE
OBELISKS

65.

We have a
huge
campus

73.
OTHER

schools tour
our school.

75.

74.

VSU
students
have a very
good taste
in fashion.

Cool
slings for
IDs

82.83.
Friendly

Cool VSU
Website. vendors

84.

Awesome
singers of the VSU

Chorale Emsemble

VSU

90

has reached

years of

EXCELLENCE

18

AMARANTHVSU.COM

Lemme take a

#SELFIE

Pete Mar Yves Villalino

The formal definition of the word, for those of you not familiar with social media, is a photograph
that one has taken of oneself, typically using a smartphone or a point and shoot camera which is then
uploaded to a social media website, may it be on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
It's really easy; you just flip the view on your camera, hold it at a high angle, position your thumb
on your best side, and voila! You just took a selfie.

ll over social media, you

can usually see the
person's arm holding out
the camera (or the monopod).
Selfies taken that involve multiple
people are known as group
selfies. This tongue-in-cheek
Australian slang definition doesn't
make taking a selfie any less
popular. The subjects of these
photos have started to trade peace
signs, duck lips, (and with Miley
Cyrus's outbreak) the most
infamous tongue-out.
Selfie being Oxford's English
Dictionary 2013 Word of the Year,
beating out Twerk and other
internet and social media related
terms. It's no doubt that everyone
has at least taken
a selfie.
Self-portraits or
selfies have been around
since photography became
an affordable hobby for
millions in the mid 19th century.
Robert Cornelius, an American
pioneer in photography, produced
a daguerreotype of himself in
1839 which is also one of the first

photographs of a person.
Russian Grand Duchess
Anastasia Nikolaevna at the age of
13 was one of the first teenagers
to take her own picture using a
mirror to send to a friend in
1914. In the letter that
accompanied the
photograph, she
wrote, I took this
picture of myself
looking at the mirror.
It was very hard as my
hands were trembling.
Selfies before
looked like portrait paintings as
the sitter had to remain still for
long periods of time. That's why
portrait people look dull as it
was painful to sit and smile
for twenty minutes. Yes.
Twenty-long-minutes!
Imagine that posing
with your duck lips for
that time duration.
The introduction of the
portable Kodak Brownie box
camera in 1900 led to
photographic self-portraiture
becoming a more widespread

technique or as we know them

today, a selfie.
Selfies have taken the world
of social media. It opened up
another outlet for both the young
and older people in this
generation to
express one's
individuality
in many ways
possible. From
teenage girls
taking photos of
oneself in their
dirty bathroom
mirror, to forever
alone guys who takes selfies in
bed pretending to sleep with the
caption Awwe. My girlfriend took
a photo of me while I was
sleeping. How sweet. (When you
can clearly see the shadow of his
own hand holding the camera in
the background), to a simply
narcissist person being vain, who
just loves taking selfies to almost
everything (from taking a selfie
with a person, food, animals,
babies, and everything else that
you can think of).

2014 ISSUE NO.1

Here are some exceptional selfies:

Oscar Selfie
Oscars 2014 host Ellen Degeneres has taken a record-breaking 'selfie' with, brace yourself (leftto-right): Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Kevin
Spacey, Bradley Cooper, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong'O, Peter N'yongO and Angelina Jolie. She had
Bradley Cooper take the photo, which she captioned, If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best
photo ever. #oscars. It then went viral on Twitter having retweeted for about 3 million.

The Papal Selfie

The photo was taken with a smartphone belonging to one of these
youngsters inside St. Peter's Basilica which was then posted on social
media. Pope Francis has given new meaning to the #blessed hashtag
by posing for a few papal selfies to these young teens.

Earth-Space Selfie
This is the amazing selfie taken in space, and it could possibly be the best one
yet. When it comes to International Space Station astronaut Aki Hoshide's
perfectly reflected Earth-space selfie, Buzzfeed reporter Andrew Kaczynski said it
best when he tweeted, "There are selfies, and then, well there are selfies."

#iLoveVSU Selfie

Social media have provided us many outstanding ways of expressing ourselves, most of the time we are not able to
actually make use of it for the greater good. So before you tilt that camera and click for a pose, ask yourself if it's really
necessary for you to take that Selfie. Remember, not every Selfie has to be shared.

19

20

AMARANTHVSU.COM

mprovements
A

D o o r w a y

t o

S u c c e s s

Joshua Velarde & Lourence Mae Alkuino

isayas State University is known as one of the prestigious institutions in the Visayas. It manifests good
quality education, training and instruction that persuade students to choose Visayas State University as
their alma mater, aside from that, with the use of high standard and concrete materials to good quality
buildings that has unique structures and angles that were well-planned and designed by credible engineers.

VSU Convention is a place where occasions and events like parties, meetings,
symposium, etc. are being held. It was renovated on January 2014, and was
first used last April 2014.

The new renovated NSTP Office was improved with concrete tools and well-furnished walls, the landscaping enhanced as well.
This is an Office for staff, advisers, and coordinators of NSTP (CWTS and ROTC). (left)
It was once called the Greenhouse building, also serving as a classroom, and was transformed into a newly department, the
Department of Community Development Education for the faculty office. (right)

2014 ISSUE NO.1

Formerly called the Bamboo Guest House, designed by Engr. Alfredo Lapuebla and now called the VSU Guest House ( left).
It was again renovated and improved last 2013, with ventilated and concrete materials. Likewise, a famous place where students,
faculty and staff have their meals is the Pavilion (right). It was renovated on 2013 for the purpose of widening and for
accommodating bigger capacity for customers

Beside Ilang-ilang dormitory, lies a new University Library. Its new location is more
convenient for students, staff, and faculty because it is located on a plain area in
contrast with the old library located uphill which is not easily accessible.

A vacant lot beside the Sampaguita dormitory was utilized for the construction of the student dormitory, in order to
accommodate more students, and provide safe residential space within VSU (left). Also the construction a faculty and
staff dormitory behind the VSU Market provide a second home to the faculty and staff who are living outside the 8km
zone. (right).

21

22

AMARANTHVSU.COM

Search
f
o
r
Truth
Let search for truth prevail as a dominant activity of university life. For truth is the guiding light in
our paramount mission: the pursuit of excellence. A teacher must foster intellectual curiosity
among students and train them in the art and science of searching for truth to achieve excellence
whether in the classroom, in the laboratory, in nature, or in society.

Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo

ViSCA President
April 5, 1984

2014 ISSUE NO.1

23

photo courtesy: Dr. Daniel Sanchez

24

AMARANTHVSU.COM

a
stage
of
STEREOTYPES
Editorial Board

he holding of beauty
pageants have long been
around since time
immemorial. We anticipate these
events every time: from the
amateur village contests, to
international competitions like
Miss Universe. In many ways, it is a
celebration of beauty, body and
brainsthe three things most
women dream of having.
Many argue that pageants
empower women. After all, they
ramp around and show off the
good things about them. They
walk like a queen, dress like a
queen, and talk like a queen. The
crown will give them a voice: for
the underprivileged, for the
downtrodden, for the poor, for
world peace.
And so, motherhood
statement after motherhood
statement, we love to hear them
spew it out.
The Miss VSU 2014 Facebook
page's description is a perfect
example of the kind of vague but
meaningless word play we use to
glorify these events: a
transcending celebration of once
a frail woman into power, wisdom
and royalty.
Wow.
Now stop laughing and let
that sink in for a moment.
True, the beauty pageant
appears to be a good avenue to
show off the things women enjoy:

being beautiful, putting on

makeup, wearing nice clothes and
shoes, showing them off, and the
sense of confidence and
accomplishment they feel after.
True, its organizers may have noble
intentions of using this
competition as a platform to raise
awareness on developmental
issues like poverty, AIDS, or peace.
And true, it proves to be a good
business venture since it draws
crowds every time.
Many love it, to be honest.
The Miss VSU finds itself with a full
house of audience every year (or
every other, other year?) it is held.
And look at how it engages people
online, in social media.
Pageant pages get 1,000 likes
in a week or so, compared to the
months it takes a Student Council
page to get the same number.
So it must be good. So it must
be empowering. Or is it?
We talk of stereotypes as if it's
some form of stigma, especially
when it pertains to women and
their roles in the society. We often
emphasize that women are not
what we think they are: the
weaker sex and all. We want to be
radical. We want to break free of
conventions, of sexism, of power
belonging only to men. So we try
to question the status quo.
Isn't that what we try to do in
pageants? We want women to
break free from the 'traditional

roles'.
We want women to take on
adjectives not commonly associated
with being feminine: confident,
outgoing, brave, strong and yes,
empowered.
But come to think of it: observe
how viewers react. Look at how she
walks. I don't like her butt. It looks
like her false eyelashes are falling
off. Her boobs are bouncing ever so
awkwardly. Mura siya'g bayot (she
looks gay)whatever that means.
(Which also brings us to the
matter about pageants not being
produced by women. Many are of
the opinion that we don't really find
women on stage, but women
formed in the image of the women
impersonators behind the
production.)
We don't find a strong and
empowered woman, more than a
sum of her parts. We have the
essence of being a woman watered
down to her different physical
attributes instead. We are stripping
her of her soul. We dehumanize her,
and make her an object.
An object whose parts
we can behold, fantasize, lust after,
or criticize: her legs, her breasts or
her nose. It's a showpiece an
advertisement of what a woman
should have to consider her a
beauty queen.
Our rigorous measures show
how superficial our description of
beauty is. Height requirements.

2014 ISSUE NO.1

Vital statistics. And in the

Philippines, to look like a
'foreigner' rather than a 'native'
Filipina appears to be a plus. You
have to have a particular way of
walking with super high heels. All
these seem to set emphasis on the
physical appearance rather than
what's within. Isn't this
stereotyping?
Physical beauty is a good
thing, and we ought to celebrate it.
Men fancy beautiful women, and
so do other women, wishing they
have those perfect vital statistics
and beauty to behold.
A lot of good things have
come out of pageants as well.
Beauty queens and muses go
around as ambassadors of goodwill
and noble causes, visiting
earthquake victims in Haiti, or
feeding malnourished children in
Africa. (Or is this just for
publicity?). Wait, what do Miss
VSU winners do after they get
crowned, anyway?
The Philippines also have our
own share of celebrated queens:
Diaz, Marquez, Quiambao, Raj,
Quigaman, Supsup, and Arida, to
name a few. It gives a sense of
national pride that they have
walked the international stage and
made our country famous as a
dwelling place of goddesses.
You see, pageants are not
necessarily wrong. This isn't an
argument of moral black and
white.
The point is, we need to look
beyond its face value (pun
intended).
One of the reasons why
organizations and businesses hold

beauty pageants is its revenue.

But in the case of VSU, where
the Miss VSU pageant ends
with a deficit every year (yes,
our tickets are not enough to
pay for all the expenses), it
rather escapes that business
logic.
Perhaps this deficit is
telling: of bad business
management, or maybe
students just don't think it gives
them the value for their money,
or better, students are now
critical about matters like these.
Another, as an academic
institution, we should be the
first to start an intelligent
discussion about
women and pageants. The
students, through its Council,
can initiate dialogue about it.
Not only about the great
debate on gender equality or
women empowerment. Fielding
a candidate entails a budget,
and the student or the council
bears the brunt of spending for
the snacks, costume, makeup,
and training of their candidate.
We spend as much as two
tickets to support our college's
candidate, but we still have to
buy an actual ticket to get to
watch the show.
To hold a show that claims
to empower women by
showing off physical qualities
that only few possessdoesn't
it sound ironic? Women ought
to be celebrated in whatever
form, with whatever strengths,
weaknesses and talent they
have, in whatever physical state
they are in. We come home

from these pageants feeling

insecure about our image. Even
boyfriends may feel their
girlfriends aren't 'good enough'.
To say that it's a
transcending celebration of
once a frail woman into power,
wisdom and royalty not only
shows that we haven't really
grasped what gender equality
and women empowerment are,
we are also reinforcing the very
stereotypes we say we want to
change. In the end, the 'power'
we bequeath the winning
candidates ends right on stage,
and makes it nowhere in real
life.
To say that we are an
academic community but we
avoid tackling the topic of
women's rights with regards to
holding a pageant as an
anniversary highlight, or at the
very least, fail to embed an
intelligent discussion about
developmental issues in the
pageant program, shows that we
are not entirely living up to our
stature as a premier university in
the Philippines.
We have to start rethinking
about pageants, than blindly
supporting and attending it. If
we are to make women really
free, really empowered,
confident, strong and capable,
we have to admit that
continuing this tradition without
stopping to think isn't the
solution.
Beauty pageants are not
necessarily wrong. We just have
to stop claiming that it is what it
really isn't.

25

26

AMARANTHVSU.COM

Be
Smar
t
e
r
Than Your Smartphone

Pete Mar Yves Villalino

smartphone is just like any

other mobile phone. You can make
calls and send SMS with your
smartphone. But it becomes smarter than a
mobile phone because with it, you can access the
internet, download apps and games, send and
receive emails, and log into your Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram accounts, among other social
networking sites.
Smartphones have been growing in
popularity for the past ten years. When these
phones first came on the market, they were
primarily used by business professionals.
Today, smartphones are accessible to the general public. There are lots and lots of different models and several
different operating systems like the Apple's iOS and Samsung's Android that persistently battle it out on creating the best
smartphone that an average person not just want, but actually need.
These gadgets are not called smartphones for nothing. A high-end smartphone is just a lifeless piece of gadget if the
user is not able to make the most out of it. And for some, getting a smartphone for the first time can get very
overwhelming that sometimes, the smartphone is a little too smart for them.

Download Essential Apps

Apps or Applications are softwares that
can be downloaded to enhance a
smartphone's functionality. Apps range
from photo editors (Camera360,
Retrica, Snapseed & etc.) to games
(Angry Bird, Flappy Bird, Piano Tiles,
2048, & etc.) and there's even apps
that watches over your calorie intake
and get a track of your sleeping time
habit.
In App Stores, over a million free
applications are available. With a
limited phone memory, just download
those which are very essential to you.
For students, apps like the Adobe
Reader is necessary to store and read
PDF files necessary for schoolwork.

Offline Dictionaries will come in

handy, too.
In Singapore, people have an
app to guide them on the train
schedules. In other words, apps can
make your smartphones very
powerful.
Turn your Smartphone
into a Portable Wi-Fi
Your smartphone can be used as a
Wi-Fi hotspot where your friends
can also connect too. Here's how:
Check with your carrier. While
some services include free mobile
hotspot usage on all plans, not all
wireless services allow the usage of
mobile hotspots without paying an

additional fee (so you may have to get

your sim card loaded). After doing that,
go to the Mobile Network settings and
activate data network by checking Use
packet data. Once the data network is
activated, you will be charged every
time you use the service. So I suggest
you get promos like Unlimited Surfing
for 1 day and etc. depending on the
promos that are available by your
network sim provider.
Open the Settings menu. You can
access this from the Settings app on
your Home screen or App Drawer, or
by tapping the Menu button.
Open the "Tethering and portable
hotspot" menu. This is typically
located in the Wireless & Networks

2014 ISSUE NO.1

section of the Settings menu. You

may need to tap "More..." to find
it.
Adjust your hotspot settings.
Before activating your mobile
hotspot, you should ensure that it
is properly secured and that the
SSID (network name) does not
contain any personal data. Tap
the "Mobile AP settings" to set up
and manage mobile AP, and then
tap Configure mobile AP option
to change your settings.
Network SSID. This is the
name of the network that will be
broadcast. Anyone nearby will be
able to see this name, so make
sure that there is nothing that
can identify you in the name.
Security. Unless you're trying
to connect old devices that don't
support newer security protocols,
you should always have this set to
WPA2 PSK.
Password. You should always
have a password set, without
exception. Make sure that it is
strong, but memorable, as you
will need to enter it on the
devices that you are connecting
to the hotspot with.

Enable the hotspot. Check the

"Mobile AP" box to enable the
hotspot. With your configuration
set, you can now safely enable
your mobile hotspot.
Extend Battery Life
You can extend the battery life of
your smartphone by closing
unused apps , lowering screen
brightness, shortening screen
timeout. Turning off
WiFi/Bluetooth/3G/4G if not in
use, and GPS/Location services,
and minimizing notification pop
out. Smartphones rely heavily on
batteries. Bigger screens, better
cameras and features like GPS all
use more power and will run a
battery down quicker. Typically,
you will need to charge your
battery every night.
Back up files
You back up your computers, or
at least recognize that you
should. But what about your
smartphones? They carry massive
amounts of personal data, and
are subjected to life-or-death

situations on a daily basis. There are

lots of backup apps for Android, but
most of them needs to be
purchased, either immediately or
after a free trial. Just go with the
best free-ish solutions, all of which
you can find by searching in the
Android Market.
Each backup apps has its respective
data to your microSD card (in
/sdcard/*appname*BackupRestore/
) for easy restoration on another
phone. Using these apps is selfexplanatory, since there are only
three buttons: Backup, Restore and
Delete.
Voice search
This feature is waiting for your word
to go ahead and search stuff for
you. Just click on the microphone
icon on Google search and say "OK
Google" to send an email, text
message, know about your flight
schedules, weather or traffic
conditions. But you need to make
your voice clear though. If that
doesn't work for you, just type in
the key words the way we usually
do.

The evolution of smartphones for the past decade has changed drastically, so did the evolution of man. The
invention of these smart gadgets has somehow made the human beings less smart or in other words, it has
made us dumb. So it's about time to really be making use of these smartphones to our advantage. It will not
only make us better people in our daily life but also reclaim our pride as human beings.

Disclaimer: Terms on some method may vary depending on what type of smartphone you have.
These tutorials are largely for Andriod, and iOS and Windows systems may vary. Check your
smartphone manual for more info.

27

28

AMARANTHVSU.COM

Better Safe than Sorry:

how to avoid being infected with

HIV

Era Christine Wales

ex is a basic human
necessity that sometimes
even outweighs food. It is a
fact for most of the world's people. I
understand that living in this day and
age has made most young adults
amoral and worldly. The rise of the
internet and mass media has
contributed to it greatly. But our
being very liberated like the Yankees
made us careless about one of the
most important things about sex:
SAFETY
HIV which stands for Human
Immunodeficiency Virus is a VERY
strong plague that attacks the White
Blood Cells weakening the body's
defences against diseases and lifethreatening infections and cancers.
HIV uses human cells to
manufacture more of the virus,
eventually killing the host and
nearby cells that eventually
overwhelms the immune system.
On the other hand, AIDS, which
is short for Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome is a condition
caused by HIV contracted from
another person which attacks and
weakens the body's immune system.
The infected individual becomes
vulnerable to life threatening
infection. According to global
reports AIDS, still remains as one of
the most serious health problems in
the world.
Once a person is infected with
AIDS, the person is infected for life
because AIDS does not have a cure.
The best way out of it is by
prevention. It is thus, important to
be educated on ways to contract the
virus.
Having unprotected sex with
someone who is HIV-positive is a
sure-fire way of getting infected.

Unprotected, penetrative sex accounts for

80% of total exposures to the disease
worldwide. Whenever my friends talk
about their sex lives I always ask if they are
being safe. Most of them said they don't
By: such
Era Christine
Wales
use contraceptives
as condoms;
just
the old pull-out method is enough, they
say.
Well I say, there are only two ways of
not risking being infected and only one of
those two are 100% guaranteed to work.
Condoms can reduce the risk of
contracting HIV, but ONLY abstinence from
sex can give 100% prevention from the

infection.
Don't be too paranoid. It is not true
that you can contract AIDS just by
standing next to someone. It is not like a
cold caused by airborne germs. You also
can't get it through handshakes, kissing,
sharing utensils, or bathing in the same
pool. Not even mosquitoes or bed bugs.
HIV Testing is voluntary, confidential
and anonymous, with pre- and post-test
counselling. The window period for
testing is 6 months from the last
exposure with HIV. Tests will be kept
confidential.

Ways of infection:
Unprotected sex.

Transfusion
with infected blood and sharing
syringes and needles with someone
who is HIV-positive such as in taking
drugs or tattoos or other skin
piercing tools such as razor blades
and surgical instruments can
transmit HIV.

Breastfeeding.
Mothers can also
infect their
unborn babies.

Always remember the ABCDE rules in AIDS prevention:

A
B
C
D
E

bstinence
e faithful (having a mutual monogamous relationship)
areful Sex (No exchange of body fluids), though saliva has
extremely minimal risk.

on't share needles/ sterilized needles

ducation and Information

2014 ISSUE NO.1

so you don't have to worry.

Here in VSU, the VSU Hospital
has built an organization called HIVAIDS Organization of PEER Educators
or H.O.P.E. This organization is a
volunteer group composed of
students, teachers, and health
workers who will actively serve as
peer educators on HIV-AIDS and STIs
in the campus and in the
community. They provide access to
correct information on HIV-AIDS and
STIs, and encourage fellow students
with reproductive health problems
to seek professional help. They also
organize trainings and seminars to
inform and educate not only the
VSUans but also students from
other schools in Region 8.
In the Philippines, a Filipino
gets infected with the virus every
two hours. And did you know that
statistics shows that the highest
number of infections in recent years
is from male-male intercourse? I am
not saying this to discriminate or
judge homosexuals. I am just saying
to be careful about who you are
going to have sex with. Minutes of
fun is not worth a lifetime of
regrets.
We need to think before we
leap, let us be informed and
prepared because the best
prevention of the disease is by being
well-informed.

For more information,

contact:
Dra. Josephine Zafico

Medical Officer III

DOH certified HIV Counselor

56377510

SMOKEY

TRUTH
(CONTINUED)

automatically punishable for a

guidance call. In that moment, the
guidance counselor will do the rest
of the disciplinary stages.
We are now through with the
university administration, we will
now move down to the student
council. The council can have a hard
labor implementation to whoever is
caught smoking. There will be no
signing of clearance unless the hard
labor is complied. Better to do the
hard labor than not being able to
enroll the next semester.
How about here in the
Amaranth, what can we do to lessen
or to erase this issue inside the VSU
community? You can send us
photos of the person you caught
smoking, the name, course or any
details will do for as long as it is
valid and acceptable. Simply report
to us any smoking problem of the
university. Remember, the
publication is your voice and it is
our duty to relay your message to
the upper council. What we need is
a factual and reliable source of your
information and nothing will follow

but our action.

Smoking issue is not over, so we
need each other's help and
cooperation to stop this problem.
That is, if you do not want to have
The Smokey Truth 3.0 article on
your next issue of the amaranth
magazine. Be a concern citizen and
do your part. Do not hesitate to do
your service for the whole university.
You can't just save the school but
also a life.
Smoking is not only bad to one's
health but also to other people
breathing the smoke. Smoking is also
a threat to our environment given
that we are awarded recently as the
most eco-friendly university in the
whole country. And it is really sad to
think that the smoking scenario
within the VSU vicinity gets worse
each time. Other schools have solved
this issue, why not here? Each one of
us controls this smokey realitysmokers and to non-smokers. We
have to achieve the solidarity in
order to gain the assurance that we
are living in a smoke-free university.
Not just in words but also in action.

29

30

AMARANTHVSU.COM

CASH

ALL OUT OF LOVE:

DO BUDGETING
Irish Jane Calungsod

t the start of the month,

you think you are the
richest person in the world.
You already have your allowance
from your parents. Immediately,
you make a mental list of the things
that you're going to buy. At the
department store, you buy these
and you buy that. While pushing
the cart, you see chocolates in the
stall. Yummy, right? You can't just
resist those chocolates! While
passing by in a dress shop, you see
a nice fashionable dress that
attracted you. And you just can't
wait to wear that dress, so you buy
it. After shopping, you peek your
wallet and boom! your money is
only good for a couple of days.
School days are about to start, but
half of your allowance is already
spent.
Money usually burdens
students. We worry, we lose
temper or cry. We become
miserable. But we can do away
with this problem.
The money we are spending
doesn't come from our own sweat
but from our parents'; budgeting
then is really a must. We can't just
ask money from our parents
anytime we wish. If you come from
a rich family where money isn't a
problem, I suggest that you still
have to continue reading this. It
might help you in the future. We
don't depend on our parents in our
entire life, right?
The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD)

conducted an Academe
Orientation of Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program on
October 10, 2013 in VSU. DSWD
Regional Office with Mr. Von
Taster Horboda, Financial Analyst
III graced the event.
Horboda first defined Budget
Management as, the financial
analysis of the amount of money
present in correspondence to the
amount of money allocated for
the performance of duties. In
other words it is how we manage
the money we have, spending and
allocating properly the right
amount intended for necessary
expenses.
There are two steps in
creating a budget plan. These
are:
Tracking Income. This means
you have to identify first the
source of your allowance. You
have multiple sources if your
allowance does not only come
from your parents. You may have
gigs, side-lines, or part-time jobs
that also help you in your
academic pursuit. These sources
may be permanent or seasonal,
but it is important for you to
identify these so that you can
foresee how you spend your
money.
Tracking Expenses. After
you have identified the sources of
your allowance, identify your
expenses. There are three types
of expenses: the fixed, the flexible
and the irregular ones. Examples

of fixed expenses are those you

spend for board and lodging,
personal necessities, and other
expenses which you think are
consistent. Flexible expenses
are food, fare, or other
necessities that have no specific
amount. Examples of these are
expenses for food because it
may differ every time. Irregular
expenses are hand-outs, loads,
projects, tuition fees, and
others.
To be able to create an
effective budget plan, here are
some tips!

Distinguish wants vs.

needs. There's a big
difference between wants and
needs. Needs are the things
that you should have, while
wants are the things that are
just the fruits of your liking.
Needs can sometimes fall under
fixed expenses. For example,
your board and lodging,
personal necessities, and of
course, the food you eat. Think
of this: which one should you
prioritize when you have
limited money? Your board and
lodging which is due this week,
or the Jag T-shirt which you
crave so badly?

Live within your means.

This is why you have to
identify your source or sources
of money and your expenses so
that you can easily adjust and
budget your money. Your
objective should be,

2014 ISSUE NO.1

Income - Expenses = 0. But it

would be good news if there is an
excess in the end.

Trade-off, if not, build a

margin of safety. Consider
this situation: you badly need a
new white undershirt because
your old one has turned yellow
for 3 years of use. However, you
need to pay your contribution for
your class fieldtrip which is due
today. Of course, you'll choose to
pay your contribution rather than
buying a new undershirt. Your
undershirt is a need but it can
wait. Compromising is a tool for
effective budgeting. You need to
understand things and be patient
when you can't get what you
want or need.

Build a Margin of Safety.

When you do budgeting, it's
more effective if you allocate an
excess amount for a particular
expense. A conservative way in
anticipating and exaggerating
your budget may be useful. If in
the middle of the month you
have unexpected expenses, you
need not worry because you
have an excess money left in your
hand. You can even buy the
things you want or your
secondary needs.

4 fund. If you really want to

Develop an emergency

save money, you can save, right?

If you budget 50 pesos a day, it's
good if you make a mental note
to spend less than 50 or only half
of it. If you have that desire, you
can really save a big amount for a

month and save as an

emergency fund or for your
savings. There's no need for you
to worry if in the middle of the
month you have unexpected
expenses, because you have a
bank to lean on. Your own piggy
bank.

Borrow with care. In other

words, utang with care. It's
normal for us students to
borrow money from our friends
and classmates when we run
out of money, or when our
allowance is delayed. When we
borrow money, it automatically
creates a fixed expense because
when we borrow, it is
understood that we return it on
the particular date that we have
agreed upon. We have to think
that we borrow money from our
fellow students too, and they
also need money. So better not
abuse the kindness of others.

Don't try to use someone

else's budget plan and
expect it to work for you. Each
of us has different priorities.
We are the sole person
responsible to plan our budget
for ourselves. We should not
copy others' budget plan nor
depend on their suggestions.
What they think is effective may
not be effective when you
personally apply it.

7 budget plan is as simple as

Keep it simple. Making a

ABC. But you have to make it in

the simplest sense as possible
for you to easily understand

and follow it. In creating a budget

plan, it is important that both
ends meet. Inflow = Outflow. If
you can manage to have savings,
then you should congratulate
yourself. But if your budget plan
creates deficit, then you need to
review it and identify where you
got wrong. When you create a
budget plan, you create recordsshort, simple and informative
records. These records can be a
big help for your future financial
plans and you have to make sure
that it is effective. Making this a
habit is an exceptional trait an
individual should have especially
that we are living in a world of
uncertainties.
The tips above may or may
not be applicable to you. You
might have better ideas. But
what is important here is you
should develop a positive
attitude towards effective
budgeting while you are still a
student. Remember, you may
have a lot of money today, but
for tomorrow no one knows. We
should control ourselves. We
should discipline our stomachs,
you know what I mean. Lessen
the indulgence of activities which
involve spending lots of money,
unless necessary. And of course,
stick to the budgeting plan.
When you receive your
allowance, don't think on how
you spend your money, but think
on how your money can last until
the end of the week or month.
Bear in mind that it pays to be
money-wise.

31

32

AMARANTHVSU.COM

students

Behaviors:
whats in and whats out
Ivory Ace Palacio

very society creates its own set of norms. Even subsocieties set their own behaviors which they are happy
to call their own. Students in huge universities follow
traditions and cultures, and they become known for it. Conyo
talk is for Ateneians or for Lassalites. Tibak is for UPians. Now,
what is for VSU?
A degree of refinement is somehow expected among the
educated. But do we, at VSU, consider such behavior as cool?
Here is an expos of some of our well known behaviors that
seem to defy set of etiquettes.

EARSPLITTING MEMORIZATION.
At VSU, it makes us feel very confident to take the
exam if we have memorized our notes. Usually,
when we commit words to memory, we recite
them loudly. So, imagine yourself in a room and
all of you mumbling loudly. Good luck to your
exams.Everybody needs a cool, relaxing,
convenient, and conducive place to learn and not
a place of bees buzzing out of your ears and
bothering your head. We all have the right to
focus and concentrate, everyone inside in the four
corners of the room should be considered. After
all, all of you are renting in your own little abode.

FARTING TIME.
Expelling intestinal gas could occur at any time and
in anywhere. Farting is barely done consciously.
Others just let it all out leaving those behind with
the stinky gas. When this unfortunately happens to
you, just fart with poise. To women, don't call it fart
for it may sound unbecoming of you; call it
flatulence.

2014 ISSUE NO.1

SLEEPY HEAD AWAKENED.

You are in the middle of your sleep and somebody
in the room breaks in with head-cracking voice.
Joke on a drunk, but never on someone who just
woke up. If not for etiquette, do it for respect.

HANGINGS EVERYWHERE.
Everybody knows what ukay-ukay is, it is an
assortment of clothes and shoes sold at bargain in
the market. But who says that ukay-ukay is only
present in the marketplace? In dormitories and
boarding houses, a variety of clothes are hung
everywhere, blurring the line between laundry area
and the kitchen. In the lobbies, clothes are in
queue. Often they are left overnight by an
amnestic, if not unruly occupant. The only
difference between the ukay-ukay in the market
and this is that clothes here are not sold. That is
why they are usually stolen.

CHEWING NOISE.
Usually roommates eat breakfast and dinner in
pack and it's really irritating to the ears when
someone chews food with an annoying sound of
crunching as goats do. It could be funny but really,
it is annoying than humorous anyone could use a
slap. Good thing, etiquette tells me to resist
brutality and stay reserved.

LIKE EATING POOP.

Imagine the scene; your class is from 7am to 1pm.
After your class, you rush in a blistering pace to
your dorm to eat lunch. While you are enjoying
your food, your roommate will suddenly barge in
and talk about poop. Then everything you put into
your mouth suddenly tastes and smells like poop,
too. Good job, nice magic.

Everyone holds his own attitude and is sensitive in his own way. However, we have set of etiquettes to follow in the
society. Doing such misbehavior might lead us to a misunderstanding with someone who cannot adjust in the manner
that someone has. Following etiquettes is keeping you safe away from any misunderstandings and will lead you to a
more controlled and quarrel-free home atmosphere.

33

34

AMARANTHVSU.COM

Q
A

Q
A

President

Were there any projects of the previous USSC

that you continued? What are those?

Yes. Before my term, the USSC led by Mr. Wilfred Alfeche in S.Y. 20132014, saw the approved of a Board resolution on the Federation
Fund. The Federation Fund resolution required the consolidation of
the membership fee of all students from the main and the external
campus. In my term, we adapted it and made some amendments.
Under the Federation Fund Act (FFA), the USSC will allocate a
maximum of P 30, 000 for university project. FFA was implemented
last year on my term in which the Villaba campus benefited first.
Some of the USSC funds last year were also spent in paying for
construction of the Ecopark benches which was left unpaid during
Alfeche's term. However, the USSC funds were not sufficient to pay
the dues in full. The balance will be taken cared by this year's USSC
officers.

Any further accomplishments of the

council last year?
The USSC called for a meeting with all College Supreme Student Council
members so that all student organization activities in the campus will be
tied up to the advocacies and objectives of the USSC. The Student
Federation Act which was improved last year covered the impeachment
rules as well as the organizational structure. The USSC is at the top; CSSC
is at the middle and below are the departments where students are
directly connected. Because for how many years with the previous
structure, it seems like the USSC is too far from the students.
After the destruction of
typhoon Yolanda, the
USSC members assisted
the administration in
determining the students
who financially needed
support. Scholarship
grants were established for
those who were affected
most by the super
typhoon. All in
all, the USSC
approved
39 Board
Resolutions,
some are
administerial,
and some
are policies
and projects.
Last year, we
focused
on creating
policies to sustain
a better system.

Q
A

Were there any problems in finances

that the USSC had encountered?

There were no major problems in finances last year. This is partly due
to the formulation of the Financial Code, authored by Ms. Dema
Vanessa Tampus, the USSC treasurer. The code created a manual of
operations that will guide incoming treasurers and auditors in
presenting financial reports, keeping the receipts and other important
financial management tasks.

Q
A

What were the projects that the

council had accomplished?

Using the fund (Federation Fund), the Villaba campus was able to
construct their Student Council Office. The second campus to receive
funding support was Isabel which they used for the renovation of
their students' kiosk or center since it was destroyed when typhoon
Yolanda struck. The project was realized when the second semester
almost ended. This was also the reason why the council was not able
to implement projects in the main campus because we decided to
attend to the needs of the external campuses first. Based on USSC
reports, the external campuses were not given much attention for
more than four years. The goal of the FFA is to create a more solid
camaraderie and partnership among the campuses. With what the
USSC under my term has started building, the present officers will
continue to adapt the system and the next beneficiary will be the
Alang-Alang campus, followed by Tolosa, and finally, the main campus.
This cycle will continue in the years to come.
Last March 2014 also, the USSC initiated a two-day Leadership
seminar at the Beach Garden Resort which was participated by all
student council members except Alang-Alang and Tolosa. There were
90-100 participants. All expenses were paid by USSC and USSO. The
purpose of that activity was to establish camaraderie among the
officers. The event was successful. There was a sharing of lessons
learned from the past administration. The event also saw the election
of the new USSC officers for S.Y. 2014-2015.

Q
A

As a former USSC president, any words

for the new set of USSC officers?
As I always emphasize during the assembly, the love for our fellow
students is the best motivation to work. Since I'm still here in VSU, I'm
willing to help and share my experiences. At least they will not be
blinded, and they could ask me ideas.

Clar Don Evangelio

USSC President S.Y. 2013-2014

Interviewed by Irish Jane Calungsod

ts Report
Q
A

What were the activities or projects that the

USSC had accomplished on the first semester?

June 16, 2014, the SSC organized the Freshmen Night. It was one of
the most successful events for the first semester. Each College did
different activities for their respective students. Some Colleges even
gave their students giveaways as a welcome symbol.
The USSC also sponsored the medals for the Most Valuable Players
during the Intramurals last July 23-25.
On August, the USSC had its first Income Generating Projects (IGP).
USSC sponsored the Miss VSU People's Choice Award wherein each
candidate had its own voting box. It was a monetary vote, in which
P1.00 is counted as one vote. 50% of the money went to the
respective College of each candidate, 40% went to the USSC, and the
remaining 10% was given to the candidate.
On September, the USSC together with the VSU Debate Society
organized the Inter-Collegiate Debate. Each College had their own
representatives for the said debate. The USSC's goal is to encourage
the students to look at campus issues and think critically about them.

Q
A

Aside from campus activities, are there any

plans or development within the council?
There is this Memorandum of Agreement between the USSC and VSU
Alang Alang Student Council that by the end of the semester,
provided that they have already contributed the Student Federation
Fund, Alang Alang will have its CSSC Office or a student kiosk. After
the completion of the project at VSU Alang Alang campus, the USSC
will implement a project at VSU Tolosa.
The concerns and problems of the external campuses have already
been brought up to the council. I found out just early this semester
that the other scholars of the external campuses don't have stipends.
And the USSC is on its way to address this concern.
We also found out the excerpts of last year's USSC proposals. One of
these is the Secretary Code, which is not yet completed. We decided
to complete the Secretary Code which will be headed by the present
USSC secretary. Aside from that, the impeachment procedures were
mentioned last year. It was motioned and approved to be transferred
to the next meeting where there will be more talks and debates. So
we will continue on that.
The USSC is also imposing a new rule anchored on the principle of
check and balance. Since the CSSC is under the umbrella of USSC, the
USSC requires each college to submit a copy of all the minutes of
meetings, resolutions ad financial reports to ensure that the CSSC is
doing the job right especially in financial matters. These documents
are submitted on the last Board meeting in every semester. Failure to
submit these documents will be subjected for impeachment, the new
USSC rule says.
We also made a resolution to draft the Infirmary Services Evaluation
Form. We already conducted a survey in the University's Library in
the main campus. We will also be conducting surveys to the external
campuses' libraries, as well as the dormitories and the fast food. For
what purpose?

Q
A

Q
A

2014 ISSUE NO.1

35

What are the further plans of the

USSC for the next months to come?

In October, the USSC will have a joint activity with a non-government

organization. We will host a university-wide Youth Forum on social
issues, environment, disaster awareness and management and
government transparency.
Hopefully, for the second semester, the USSC will have its own
database of all the students' account collected by the USSC. This will
help hasten the process and the database will be useful in crafting
appropriate projects. In December, USSC will implement a new IGP
through a variety show.
January will be the Baybay Youth Leader's Program, an outreach
program for student leaders, particularly elementary and high school
students within Baybay City. It will be organized by the USSC. January
will be more on community projects and they are targeting the Ayala
Foundation as sponsor.

Any words for the whole student body?

Thank you for trusting the members of the USSC Federation Board
with this great responsibility. We cant do our vision without your
help and cooperation. Were all in this together.

Claire Larzen Tello

USSC President S.Y. 2014-2015

36

AMARANTHVSU.COM

vsuAIR
is back on

Rhea Jenny Ogalesco

ave you turned your radio on

and tuned in to 104.7 FM?
Yes! The Visayas State University
(VSU) is now on air through its DYDC FM,
your development campus radio station.
104.7 DYDC FM started its test
broadcast on June 9, 2014, running at 10
watts. This means the people within 10
km radius can listen to DYDC if not
obstructed by high-rise buildings or
mountains.
Marissa Cano, DYDC program
producer and announcer, said that as
soon as the permit to operate gets
approved by the National
Telecommunications Company (NTC),
DYDC will run with a wider reach.
DYDC FM was DYAC in 1982, an AM
station with a frequency of 1449 KHz.
DYAC could reach Western Visayas,
Northern Mindanao, and Southern Luzon
then. Several farmers benefitted from
listening to DYAC's school-in-the-air
programs in agriculture and livelihood.

Gregorio Monte, a farmer in

Ormoc City, said he missed DYAC's
school-in-the-air programs on
livestock farming. Monte is 2006
Ugmad Outstanding Farmer Awardee.
DYAC stopped operating when its
transmitter was damaged. It was
revived and changed to DYDC FM this
year when the Commission on Higher
Education granted VSU with 1.5
million pesos for the repair of the
station.
The radio station shifted from AM
to FM in response to the listeners'
survey which showed that most
people listen to FM than AM radio.
Moreover, FM stations are easy to
maintain, and its parts and equipment
are way cheaper and more readily
available than in AM stations. The
cost of electricity in FM stations is
lesser too.
DYDC FM is a non-profit and an
educational radio station.

Commercials such as those you

usually hear in other FM stations
will not be aired in DYDC.
The campus radio station is
also a training venue for
Development Communication
students majoring in community
broadcasting. VSU president Dr.
Jose L. Bacusmo said DYDC will also
be capitalized for research and
extension purposes.

Contact them @
09323845887
09056194474
On Air Every
Mondays-Fridays
5:00 AM-5:00 PM

2014 ISSUE NO.1

Literary Attempts

Moesha Fatima Castillo

A LETTER FROM THE BEDBUGS

Dear Bedmate,

I know you were kind of mad at me for I sometimes hide in your bed. And I
felt sorry for that. I won't really do it again. I will always be in your bed from now
on. Join you when you're studying. Crawl in your shirt when you are in the class.
Just for the sake that you won't be mad at me.
You know you're very lucky for I am choosy with friends. I like you when you're
not cleaning your bed. I like it when you're appreciating the itch when I'm sipping
your blood. I like it when you are touching the tiny red hill passionately when it
itches.
So don't be mad at me because these things show that I really love you:
1. I sip your blood because I think you're too fat and I'm trying to make you
slender.
2. I think you maintain your health to give me flesh blood that's as sweet like
a candy.
3. I make your body my playground. Aren't the tiny red hills on your skin
pretty? I will make more of them don't worry.
4. I join you in your sleep because I think you're scared and you need
someone to be with.
5. I am always in your happiness because I saw you kill my brothers and its
okay for me.
6. I love it when you're trying to seduce me for you are beautiful and sexy
when sleeping.
7. I won't tell your secrets and you can trust me with your controversy. For
as long as you need, I'll stick around.
We both know that you could live without me but I don't think I can live
without you. I've always been there for you whenever you have problems and
whenever you are alone. I'm afraid of losing you. I'm sorry for anything that made
you mad.

Lovingly yours,
Bedbugs

37

38

AMARANTHVSU.COM

2014 ISSUE NO.1

39

40

AMARANTHVSU.COM

Throwback

Illustration : Zeal Artajo

Colors: Jucel Marie Guatlo

2014 ISSUE NO.1

41

Illustration : Aliana Sarmiento

Colors: Jucel Marie Guatlo

Illustration : Aliana Sarmiento

Colors: Jucel Marie Guatlo

HAAA?!!

42

AMARANTHVSU.COM

what
goes

rough rides,

GOOD EXPERIENCE
publication without its
struggles is impossible.
There is no such thing as
smooth sailing for people like us. But
in the past year, the Amaranth
struggled for sure, more so than usual.
But we persisted, mainly because it is
our job and setting ourselves up for
failure is not really an option.
The coming of the new
school year brought a new light to the
publication. We had new and fresh
ideas, and we were ready to do our
best in producing this magazine.
When I first found out that I
was appointed as the new Editor-inchief I was really nervous because I
was afrazd that I wouldn't be able to
measure up to my predecessors.
Everyone has apprehensions,
especially when given such important
positions but I am not going to let
mine hinder me from doing my job.
Having the first all-girl
editorial board is a daunting task
maybe because of the belief that
women are prone to being more
personal than boys. But we try to be
as impersonal as possible, and try to
address issues that people do not
notice or cannot voice out.
This year we held a

Da Chief

workshop for our new staff to

acquaint them with the old members
and to improve their skills in writing
and layouting. We are hopeful that
they will be as committed to the
publication as we are.
We hosted the RTSPC 2014.
It was a lot of fun and very
educational. I think that this year's
speakers were the best that we had
so far. People from UP Los Baos,
PACE, Rappler, and GMA were there
which made for a very impressive
event.
We also attended the
Philippine Social Good Summit in
Tacloban City on September 2014. We
got to hear foreign and local media
talk about disaster preparedness and
risk management. This event was
hosted by Rappler.
The Amaranth website is
also up and running, just log on to
amaranthvsu.com to access campus
news online.
There is however some
misconceptions about the Amaranth
that many students still hold.
First of all, the Amaranth
does not belong to any college or
department. We are entirely
autonomous. Some think that we

belong to the Department of

Development Communication and that
only development communication
students are allowed to join. That is
totally not true, everyone as long as
they have the qualifications are allowed
to join.
Second, the Amaranth does
not belong to us. But as we've said time
and time again, it belongs to you, the
students. We are merely its caretakers,
the voice of the students. We strongly
encourage you to contribute and write
for the Amaranth. Let it be your voice
that is heard.
Lastly, it is not easy producing
a magazine. I pray that you would
understand that making a magazine is
no walk in the park, especially if it was
preceded by Best Magazine awardees.
And the production goes through a lot
of process, which we are still trying to
adjust to.
I believe that the whole is only
as good as the sum of its parts, well at
least I do when it comes to a
publication where teamwork is needed
for it to succeed. We tried our best to
make this issue the best that we could
make it. It took a lot work and effort.
But hey... C'est La vie, and trust us we
are riding the rough tides.

2014 ISSUE NO.1

43

SCUAA 2014
Irish Jane Calungsod

ith a theme, Breaking Records,

Reaping Honors, Boosting Morale,
the 2014 Regional State Colleges and
University Athletic Association (SCUAA) held its
30th Regional Meet, hosted by the University
of Eastern Philippines (UEP), in Catarman,
Northern Samar on October 19-24, 2014,
where Visayas State University athletes once
again show off their competent skills and
garnered 50 gold, 26 silver, and 44 bronze
medals.
The week-long sports competition were
participated in by 11 state colleges and
universities in Region 8: Eastern Samar State
University (ESSU), Eastern Visayas State
University (EVSU), Leyte Normal University
(LNU), Naval State University (NSU), Northwest
Samar State University (NwSSU), Palompon
Institute of Technology (PIT), Samar State
University (SSU), Southern Leyte State
University (SLSU), University of the Philippines
Visayas-Tacloban Campus (UPVTC), Visayas
State University and the host school,
University of Eastern Philippines. VSU
improved its ranking in the overall
competition. In 2013, VSU placed fifth and this
year in fourth place.
PASUC-8 President Atty. Mar P. De Asis of
UEP turned over the SCUAA banner to VSU,
represented by Prof. Alan B. Loreto, VSU
Executive Officer during the closing program.
This marks that VSU will be the 2015 SCUAA
host. Athletes have to hone their skills and
competency, and VSU will also prepare in
accomodating the participants and take charge
of the different activities and venues as SCUAA
host.

photo courtesy: Sheena Eunice Tabudlong