The Face of the Philippine Politics by Jeff Navarro

            In times of great evil, we are often reminded of Epicurus, who famously questioned the notion of an omnipotent God. Epicurus argued: “If God is unable to prevent evil, then he is not all-powerful; if God is not willing to prevent evil, then he is not all-good; and if God is both willing and able to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?” Indeed, the answer is that if God designed a perfect world for each one of us, then there would be no value to human freedom. Precisely, we have to learn from our mistakes, suffer from the consequences of ill-fated decisions, but most of all, the reflexive attitude toward human action means we must not commit the same mistake over and over again. This, however, is not true in the Philippine Politics. Our political leaders are still in their usual debates and politically motivated investigations.

            In the Philippines, politics is always about the glamour of public office. In 2010 we saw President Aquino as some silver bullet delivered from above, thanks to the death of a democratic icon, Corazon Aquino, yet what we have seen so far is that the job of cleaning the terrible mess of corruption is next to impossible. They say that JejomarBinay have been using us, the people, for his own needs and ignoring what we need the most. It shows that their masks they have worn to win are not the masks they are using to help.

            Many bright academians feel the politics is nothing but a chaotic phantasmagoria. For them, it is a hopeless case. Those who say that there is a light at the end of the tunnel are actually outside of it. They want nothing about political engagements. The poor, in this regard, have two problems: Many good men, such as the townspeople I have lived with, who refuse to get involved in designing a better country for our children, and plenty of evil politicians like Binay who continue to bully their way into the future of this nation by way of political machinations.

            Theorists in this country talk about all inclusive growth, yet one government think tank is recommending relaxing minimum wage regulations in order to solve the high rate of unemployment. That suggestion is not even a Band-aid solution, it does not fix anything nor does it heal, it simply hides the real problem by artificially improving employment numbers. People do not need just jobs. People need jobs that are sustainable, that will give them the capacity to send their children to school and afford healthcare.

            In 2010, we put a lot of faith in Politicians. We were wrong. It was a mistake. A mistake that cannot be undone. However, while the courage to be is still preferred over falling into the abyss of despair, I suppose we have to change the way we see things. We have to encourage civil society to heighten discussions of public ussues rather than recommend political heroes. The face of Philippine Politics has not changed. Not because we still have the same maniacal leaders in office, but because many Filipinos have remained in the dungeons of human poverty.

Suicide by Kyle Supan

                 Over 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and there are many more who attempt suicide. Hence, many millions of people are affected or experience suicide bereavement every year. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds globally in 2012. Suicide is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world; in fact, 75% of global suicide occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2012. Suicide accounted for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide, making it the 15th leading cause of death in 2012. Effective and evidence-based interventions can be implemented at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.

                Teens commit suicide because they feel extremely lonely, desperate and helpless. Perhaps they had a problem for which they felt there was no solution and that there was no one to help them. Suicidal teens usually suffer from major depression which makes them have a dark and gloomy mindset. Depressed teens usually give warning signs about their suicidal thoughts. World Health Organization states that in the last forty-five years the suicide rates have risen by 60% worldwide and is one of the leading causes of death in teenagers and basically people between the ages of fifteen to forty-five. They also mention that suicide is just the result of one problem but a combination of complex socioeconomic, personal and interpersonal situations. They have reported that nearly 30% of all suicides occur in India and China.

                 In times parents are creating comprehensive comparisons from another person, especially negative ones, that’d feel like they’ve lost the purpose of living and loses self-actualization and therefore depresses them socially. The kinds of problems that teenagers face may be different from those of adults, but the problems are very real to the teens who are facing them. Teenagers face the pressures of trying fit in socially, to perform academically, and to act responsibly. Teens are given more freedom which means more responsibility that they are sometimes not ready to handle. If a teen is facing a problem and has nobody to talk to, they may feel neglected, unwanted, and alone. If a teen continues to encounter their problems alone, they may become overwhelmed and think that suicide is the only way out.A 1987 study by Wodarski and Harris linked the increase in suicides in America to the proliferation of single-parent households. And a 1988 study of 752 families found that youths who attempted suicide differed little in terms of age, income, race and religion, but were "more likely to live in non-intact family settings." Recently a Flinders University professor of social sciences reported that research shows a very close link between suicidal behavior and parent-child relationships. Psychologists from the University of Leiden conducted a study of nearly 14,000 Dutch adolescents between the ages of 12 to 19. They found that slightly more than 10 per cent of the adolescents living in non-intact families reported having attempted suicide, compared to 5.3 per cent of peers living in intact families.

                Broken families are increasing in counts. Teens who are in the hands of single parents or separated couples have high tendency of being emotionally unhealthy thus make them feel like they are not as gifted as others are in their lives. And consider their lives a waste. Children from broken homes are more likely to be plagued by suicidal thoughts in later life than those with a more stable past, research shows. The study of thousands of adults also found that boys are more profoundly affected by seeing their parents’ marriage crumble than girls. The Canadian researchers questioned 6,647 men and women, including almost 700 who had been under the age of 18 when their parents divorced. This revealed the men from broken homes to be three times as likely to have thought seriously about suicide as those whose parents had stayed together. The link was strongest in men who had witnessed the effects of unemployment, violence and drug addiction as they grew up. But even those without such a troubled past were twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives, if their parents had divorced. Lead researcher Esme Fuller-Thomson, of the University of Toronto, said: ‘The association between parental divorce and suicidal thoughts in men was unexpectedly strong, even when we adjusted for other childhood and adult stressors, socioeconomic status, depression and anxiety.

If you see mild warning signs, asking your teen if he or she is depressed or thinking about suicide can be helpful. Such questions filled with love and concern will provide assurance that you care and will give them the chance to talk about their problems. Get them to commit to you that if they ever do have those thoughts, they'll let you or someone else know.  If your teen doesn't feel comfortable talking with you, suggest a more neutral person, such as another relative, a counselor, a pastor, a coach, or your child's doctor. It's important to keep the lines of communication open and express your concern, support, and love. If your teen confides in you their loss of hope or control of their life, show that you take those concerns seriously. It's important not to minimize, mock or discount what your teen is going through, as this can increase his or her sense of hopelessness.

Stop Suicide

            Suicide is an act of taking one’s life. It is also a selfish act where you don’t mind other people’s feelings. Depressed people mostly want to die directly just because of their problems. It is just a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

            Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death. Thousands of people commit suicide just because of cyber bullying, the daily problems that all of us are facing, lack of attention and etc. One example is Whitney Houston committed suicide because of drugs. She was found dead in her hot tub in the hotel she was staying. Some suicidal are not the cause of problems but often cause of drugs.

            It is the 3^rd leading cause of death for ages 15-24. They commit suicide just because of stress, work or school problems, and their love life. Isn’t that childish? Just taking their life because of problems with many solutions? Most of them are teenagers where they think that no one can help them at their problems and think suicide is the only solution.

            Suicide rates have increased for people who were middle-aged and older adults. Most news that I have researched about the sudden deaths of people was because of cyber bullying, love problems and other problems that all of us are facing every day. One example is Amanda Todd who committed suicide when she was 15 years old. She committed suicide because of cyber bullying. Because of the embarrassment they give to her, she decided to take her own life. She committed suicide because she thought it was the only solution.

            Sometimes the reasons of people who committed suicide were because of people who hurt them physically and mentally. Sad but true. But suicide was not the right solution for their problems. You can express your feeling to them. You can talk to them calmly. If you still respect yourself then don’t commit suicide. Therefore, suicide isn’t the right solution to all of your problems. Suicide should be stopped.

Suicide Prevention: Speak Now by Jenika Nero

                Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teens, and the biggest killer of young women in the world. Though clearly many teenagers struggle daily with thoughts of killing themselves, families and friends are still left confused and frustrated when one commits suicide. Usually, teens who take their own lives refuse to open up about what they’re going through every day, leaving behind numerous questions when they die. If only they’ve discussed their problems with the people they trust, suicide could have been prevented.

                A girl who attempted to kill herself recovered through talking to a friend and a psychologist. “When I focused on my health, not my illness, and the things that made me happy, the things that were troubling me became less important.” Hayley Purdon, a 27 year old from Australia, admitted to having bulimia and anxiety in high school. Even after graduating and becoming a university student, her eating disorder got worse. Her anxiety made it harder for her to leave the house; she would often drive to campus and refuse to get out of her car. At age 20, she attempted suicide and was brought to the hospital. It took her three years to start recovering through the support of a friend who’d gone through a similar experience, and speaking to a psychologist who helped her better understand her anxiety. Now, Hayley helps other teenage girls in schools who also struggle with depression and suicide. She believes that it is vital for people—not just girls, but boys as well—to talk to one another about their experiences and problems.

                Schools have started to create suicide prevention programs which reach out to students who are bullied and have depression. Universities like MIT, Boston University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute have already signed on to the Jed and Clinton Health Matters Campus Program, which is a suicide prevention program created by the Jed Foundation and the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation. Their idea is to combine mental health and substance abuse services with efforts to make sure that the emotional health of the students is one of the main focuses in the campus. But then again, their hardwork will be put to waste if students refuse to reach out. The rates of suicide on campus suggest that open communication among students should be the next priority of the school. Students should learn to get over their fear towards their bullies and not to think about feeling awkward when talking to school officials in order to overcome their suicidal thoughts and the things that trigger them.

                People who have mental health issues such as depression often don’t see a psychologist in fear of being seen as the weird one or the freak. In addition, bullies take this as an opportunity to make fun of others even more. Ryan Halligan, a thirteen year old from New York, killed himself on the 7^th of October 2003 because of bullying. It all started when he was in 5^th grade. A certain kid and his friends picked on Ryan’s academic weaknesses and poor physical coordination. During his 7^th grade, his dad has had enough of the bullies and had told Ryan that he was going to talk to the school principal to stop those boys. But, Ryan told him not to do so, saying how that will only make the bullying worse. Even when Ryan was taught how to kick box and to use it on the boys if they ever made a move on him, and even when he became friends with them, the bullying continued. His parents had assumed that everything was settled between him and the bullies; they thought that he was finally living a completely normal life as a teenage boy, but they did not know that Ryan was also cyberbullied. He was called gay by the same group of bullies as was shamed by his girlfriend, who said that he was a loser and that she did not want anything to do with him. They started dating online through IM exchanges over the summer and finally met when Ryan entered the 8^th grade, when he was humiliated in front of her friends. Ryan had depression throughout his short-lived teenage years, and unfortunately committed suicide in the end.

Nobody should be blind to the signs of suicide. Family, friends, and even strangers who experience struggles just need at least somebody who they know will listen to them, will help them, will support them, and will not judge them from what they’re going through. Also, those who plan to take away their life must know that people will be there to reach out to. Through talking to each other, we can lessen and prevent more cases of suicide.

DELINQUENTS TO SPEND JAIL TIME by Valerie Aldridge

            Some people say jail is not the right place for children who disobey the law to stay because it’s a dull and negative environment. Some people even say a child could just be an accomplice of a bigger person. So how come unlawful children should remain in prison despite the Special Child Protection Act?

             Republic Act. No. 9344, an act establishing a comprehensive juvenile justice and welfare system, creating the juvenile justice and welfare council under the Department of Justice, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes. It states that children are not to be abused and or neglected inspite of the Special Child Protection Act. But it also states that justice is to be served. A person who commits crimes are criminals, young or old. If a child can kill, then so can an adult. If a child who disobeys the law is left without justice then chances are that child could do it again. Jails provide discipline that is mostly needed by children. If a child is disciplined then that child can identify what is right from wrong. So a child can be imprisoned but with proper surveillance.

            No criminal should get away with their crimes even if that person is just a child who is an accomplice of a bigger person. Most cases show that the mastermind bribes children into doing their dirty work. When the child accepts the bribery, that means that child agreed to all the tasks given by the head. So that child agrees to committing crime. It is also possible for the mastermind to bribe the child with drugs to do certain tasks. A Florida mom and dad were arrested for allegedly bribing their kids to do their chores and do well in school. According to Gawker, Joey and Chad Mudd were arrested on Monday after they allegedly told police that they bribe their two daughters with drugs to get them to do their chores and do well in school. Justice is to be served to both mastermind and children.

            Children may not be so innocent after all. There are cases all over the world that include children involved in gruesome murders and theft. One of the cases happened on June 1, 2004, an 11-year-old schoolgirl, best known as "Girl A", murdered her 12-year-old classmate, Satomi Mitarai, in an empty classroom during lunch at an elementary school in Japan. In the attack, Girl A slit Mitarai's throat and arms with a utility knife. She then left Mitarai's body at the murder scene and returned to class with her clothes covered in blood. Girl A wasn’t sent to prison because Japan doesn’t take minors to jail. Everybody may have violent impulses but obviously this girl can’t control it. Since she’s free, this uncontrollable impulse of hers may return which may lead her to do another violent action. If this law continues, children will depend on the law to liberate them even if their crime is mature enough to let the doer sent to prison. Children may abuse this law and go on doing violent and abusive actions.    

            Therefore, a child who commits crime should stay in jail but with proper surveillance. A child who accepts tasks from a mastermind is willing to do the dirty job. Children can be capable of making decisions and doing things on their own will. If a child criminal were to escape, chances are that child is influenced by wrong doings which makes him or her even more dangerous. Parents of these children might be the reason why they turned out to be that way, their parents should do their part and raise their children right to avoid any illegal incidents.

High School Roller Coaster-------Jenika Gi-An C. Nero

High School. Two words, big impact. Many say that these four years are probably the best years they’ve ever had. Some say that high school was a point in their life that they never want to revisit ever again.

                 What’s your high school story?

                 Prom. The struggle of putting the alphabet in Math. Your very first relationship, maybe? Endless fun memories happen during high school. My high school trip has not ended yet, but I could definitely say that it has been very interesting for me so far.

         The pain of being class president has dawned on me throughout this trip. Having to be in charge of keeping my classmates in order is not my cup of tea. Oh, why do I have to go through this? Sigh. At least I have some clowns that I call my friends that keep me from blowing up. Their corny jokes, endless stream of puns, and sarcastic conversations never fail to amuse me.

              Bullies. Cue horror music. Everyone is not safe when it comes to them—including me. They always seem to remind me of the Mean Girls. Well, minus the wearing of pink on Wednesdays and the Burn Book. Because of my bullies, I now know why sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can’t hurt me—they don’t just hurt, they kill.

          High school is like a roller coaster ride. There are ups, there are downs, and there are some twists and turns. Fear might’ve settled in your stomach before you hop on, but you’ll never regret riding it. So sit back, relax, and fasten your seatbelts, because this ride will be the best one you’ve ever had. No kidding.

Aquino Binigyan ng Iskolarship ------Allysha Danielle Tadios

Si Psalm Deniel Aquino, na isang manlalangoy sa ACT, ay hinandugan ng full scholarship ng paaralan para sa pag-aaral niya sa hayskul.

                 Isa talaga itong karangalan sapagkat siya ay ang kauna-unahang mag-aaral na nakatanggap ng ganitong alok.

                 Ayon sa isang panayam kay Bb. Floramae Arain, nabanggit niya na isa sa mga rason kung bakit naisipang gawaran si Aquino ng scholarship ay dahil sa kanyang mga nakamit sa larangan ng paglangoy.

               Hindi lang siya kilala sa buong ACT o sa probinsiya ng Cebu kundi tanyag din siya sa buong Pilipinas maging sa mundo.                             
               Kabilang siya sa listahan ng mga magagaling na manglalangoy sa buong mundo.

              Ngayon, si Aquino ay nasa Aklan para sa isang kompetisyon at umaasang maiuwi ang tropeyo dito sa Cebu.

Arieta, Rivilla take home Kallistione crown-------- Maria Eloisa Garcia

Adrian Arieta and Paula Rivilla won Mr. and Ms. Kallistione last September 8, 2014.

                 Alexander the Great claimed the Best Costume and Best in Costume for the male category. “Adrian was definitely fit for the role. His costume was also well-made,” Lallene Cinco, his classmate commented.

                 Rivilla, on the other hand, entered the spotlight with poise and fearlessness. “A fierce persona, an eventual queen,” Rene Sebes, a Grade 9 student, said referring to Rivilla.

Queen Boadicea’s production number sent the audience tailed to every piece of action, justifying her role as a warrior queen. The latter received the Best in Production Number and the Best Performer for the female category.

Posing as two of the most popular history figures, Arieta as Alexander the Great, and Rivilla as Queen Boadicea, carried out their respective roles for the said competition.

Both were from the juniors, who made a splash as they were proclaimed victors of the night.

“They retained their composures and their strong, dominating auras throughout the whole program.”, Sir Rommel Alvarez, faculty, commented.

  “Wonderful performance, greatly modified by her tiger-like screams,” Christian Alferez, a sophomore, said.

Juniors also won second runner-up for male and female, with Chauntel Gimenez as Queen Elizabeth and Lance Catadman as Charlemagne.

The seniors proved that they never leave without putting up a fight. Noreen Sumalinog as Nzinga Mbande and Ryan Musa as Julius Caesar were proclaimed the third runner-ups of the competition.

The Kallistione: The Gods Who Shaped History was the first competition in ACT which featured the most important figures of the earliest civilizations of the world, portrayed by selected high school representatives.

Not only that, the competition was educational. “The activity was really great. It was something to enjoy and something to learn as well. We as audience learned names and lives of prominent personas in history.” Ms. Monette Binagatan, School nurse, commented.

Binagatan also said that whatever the contestants did on stage for sure would never be forgotten.

Genayas wins photo with Mario Maurer ------- Johanna Zapanta

Duane Genayas, Grade-10 student, was photographed with Thai celebrities, Mario Maurer and Baifern Pimchanock during the Penshoppe fancon last August 31, 2014 at the Ayala Terraces, Cebu.

                 Genayas joined the games during the said event. In return, he got to meet Maurer and Pimchanok up close. “Mario and Baifern were so sport.”, Genayas commented.

                 During the event he was  full of confidence that the crowd became wild when he posed as a catwalk model wannabee. “It was quite embarrassing (if it had to be me doing what he did) but I’m really proud of him.” Kimberly  Abellanosa said.

“That  was the best day ever!” Genayas said seemingly reminiscing. He said that opportunities like that can only happen once, so why not grab it.”

       Genayas, together with his friends Abellanosa and Noreen Sumalinog won free VIP tickets to watch Penshoppes’s fancon featuring Maurer and Pimchanok.

           “If it wasn’t  for Kim. I wouldn’t have known about the contest in twitter. I thank her for that,” Genayas said.

              The event ended at around 6 pm.

Esmas bags 3 awards in Mr. Teen Talisay ---- - Lance Roi Catadman

 

Reynaldo Esmas, Gr. 9-Prudence,  won 3^rd runner-up in the recently concluded Mr. & Ms. Talisay 2014 last October 14 at Talisay City Carnival, Mohon, Talisay City, Cebu.

                 Esmas also won best in production wear and  best in casual attire.                

                 In the casual interview, Esmas was asked what he likes in a girl. He answered, “I’m not really much into the good looks.” He said he is the “attitude” kind of guy. “What is beauty when the attitude is bad?” he added.

                After being chosen as one of the Top 5, he had to face the Question & Answer portion.

                 His question was, “What problem is the local tourism of Talisay facing right now and what can you do to help and promote it?”

                He answered, “The problem the local tourism of Talisay is facing is its cleanliness because as you can see Talisay areas are frequently flooded; and I can help solve the problem by suggesting to the local officials to practice the proper disposal of garbage.”

               Esmas and Wynd Caindec a fellow Junior represented the school in the said competition.

          Esmas and Caindec performed a contemporary dance together with Sir Rommel Alvarez, PE Instructor.

               Alvarez taught them routines they haven’t really done before but they were able to pull off. “We intend to make our presentation distinctive. Buwis buhay kung baga.” he said.

Ms. Dorina Magale, Grade School Teacher, who was one of the spectators said it was nerve wracking.

            “I had intense emotions during the presentation especially when they did the lifting and all. It made leap from where I stood.” Magale said.