Pambansang Araw ng Watawat ng Pilipinas—Ginunita ng mga Bulakenyo

PAKSANG DIWA:

"Igalang ang Ating Watawat, sa Isip, sa Salita, at sa Gawa"

Sumasagi ba sa iyong isipan kung ano nga ba talaga ang kahalagahan ng ating watawat? Naipapamahagi mo ba sa iba kung ano ang kasaysayan sa likod ng pagkakalikha sa sarili nating bandila? Isa ka ba sa mga nagbibigay daan upang higit nating malaman ang natatanging kadakilaan ng pakahulugan nito?

Ang pambansang watawat ng Pilipinas ay may isang araw na walo ang sinag, at tatlong bituin, parehong kulay ginto, at nakapatong sa puting tatsulok na equilateral. Sa gawing itaas ng natitirang bahagi ay ang kulay asul at sa ibaba nito ang kulay pula.

Ayon sa Deklarasyon ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas ng Hunyo 12, 1898, ang puting trianggulo ang natatanging sagisag ng Katipunan na sa pamamagitan ng pagsasanib ng dugo ay nakapanghikayat sa mga Pilipino na sumama sa rebolusyon. Ang tatlo nitong bituin ay kumakatawan sa tatlong heograpikal na grupo ng mga isla sa bansa: Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao, bagama't sa Deklarasyon ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas, ang isa sa tatlong bituin nito ay orihinal na kumatawan sa isla ng Panay, imbes na Visayas. Gayunpaman, kapwa silang nagpapahiwatig ng mismong ideya: ang pagkakaisa ng mga magkakahiwalay na tao at kultura sa iisang nasyon. Ang walong sinag ng araw ay sumasagisag sa walong probinsyang unang nag-alsa sa Kastila: Maynila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, at Batangas. Ang pagbuo ng watawat ay pinangunahang isagawa ni Emilio Aguinaldo. Ito ay unang itinahi sa Hongkong nina Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo at ni Josefina Herbosa de Natividad. (Watawat ng Pilipinas, Wikipedia)

Isang araw ang itinakda--Mayo 28 bilang Pambansang Araw ng Watawat ng Pilipinas. Ang paggunita ay ginanap sa Bulacan State University (BulSU). Alas-sais ng umaga naganap ang pagtitipon ng dadalo, sinundan ito ng pagparada ng watawat ng Pilipinas at watawat na ginamit noong himagsikan patungong Panlalawigang Liwasan ng mga Bayani sa Bulacan sa pangunguna ng ilang mga beterano ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig at ng BulSU ROTC.

Ang pag-aalay ng bulaklak sa mga bayani ng Bulacan ay isinagawa sa liwasan, sa saliw ng awiting "Pilipinas Kong Mahal" na itinanghal ng BluSU Symphonic Band kasabay ng pagtatanghal sa watawat ng Pilipinas sa pangunguna nila Gob. Joselito Mendoza, Dr. Mariano de Jesus (kasalukuyang pangulo ng BulSU), mga bokal, at ilan pang mga piling kinatawan sa lokal at pambansang sangay ng pamahalaan. Ang programa ay pinangunahan ng panalanging bayan ni G. Ricardo Capule, katuwang na dekano, Instituto ng Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya at sinundan ng pag-awit sa pambansang awit ng Pilipinas "Lupang Hinirang" sa pangunguna ng BulSU Symphonic Band. Dito nagtapos ang unang bahagi ng pagtatanghal ng watawat ng Pilipinas. Sa oras ng pag-aalay ng bulaklak sa mga Bayani ng Bulacan, unti-unti namang bumuhos ang ulan ngunit hindi ito nagbigay-daan upang mahinto ang makasaysayang paggunita.

Dahil sa may kalakasang ulan, ipinagpatuloy na lamang ang ikalawang bahagi ng paggunita sa loob ng Valencia Hall. Dito nagbigay ng mensahe ng pagtanngap si Dr. de Jesus, isinalaysay niya kung ano at saan patungkol ang ating watawat. Higit na tumatak sa isipan ng mga tagapakinig ang sinabi niyang:

"Hindi makakarating ang bukas kung hindi tatanawin ang nakaraan."

Isang mapanuring mensaheng nagpagising sa mga tulog na kaisipan ng mga kabataang naroroon. Ang BulSU Theatre Guild ay nagpamalas ng pagsasadula sa kasaysayan ng watawat ng Pilipinas. Itinanghal nito ang iba’t ibang imahe ng watawat na ginamit sa pakikidigma ng Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK). Sinundan naman ito ng isang mensahe ng pagpapahalaga ni Gob.Joselito Mendoza. Higit niyang binigyang pansin ang mga beteranong dumalo sa pagtitipon dahil kung wala sila, wala tayo ngayon, at marahil wala tayong aangkining sagisag at wala rin ang kalayaan. Sinabi ng gobernador na ang lalawigan ng Bulacan ay ang Lalawigan ng mga Bayani, na ang mga Bulakeño ay mga taong hindi marunong makalimot, at ang mga Pilipino ay magaling kumilala, magpakilala at rumespeto, sa Isip, sa Salita, at sa Gawa.

Hindi rito nagtapos ang programa. Bandang Alas-otso ng umaga, magiliw na nag-ambag ang BulSU Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Troupe ng isang katutubong sayaw. Nagbigay naman ng mapagpunyaging mensahe si G. June G. Joson, Pangulo ng SAMPAKA, Inc. patungkol sa determinasyon ng mga Bulakeño sa pagpapahalaga sa kultura ng ating bansa. Ibinahagi niya ang kaisipang "Kung watawat lamang ang pagbabasehan natin, hindi ito makakatindig kung wala ang matikas na kahoy na sumusuporta sa kanya, at ito po ang kanyang mga mamamayan. Ang mga mamamayang Pilipino na may malaking pagpapahalaga at mabuting hangarin sa bayan ay dito natin makikita." Matapos ang natatanging mensahe ni G. Joson sa mga manonood, nagbigay din ng maikling butil ng mensahe si Alex L. Balagtas, na siyang kumatawan sa punong tagapagpaganap ng Pambansang Suriang Pangkasaysayan (Bulacan-Zambales Cluster) na si Kgg. Ludovico D. Badoy na hindi nakadalo sa pagtitipon.

Ang susunod na bahagi ng paggunita ay pinangunahan nila Gng. Maria Antonia T. Jimenez, Shrine Curator II ng Pambansang Dambana ng Simbahan ng Barasoain, Pambansang Suriang Pangkasaysayan, Dr. Mariano de Jesus, at Vice Mayor Noel Sakay. Samantala nagpaunlak naman ang BulSU Saring Himig Choral ng mga awiting bayan at makabayan, na isa sa mga hinangaan ng mga dumalo sa pagtitipon.

Ang pagsasara ng palatuntunan, ay pinangunahan ni Prop. Agnes DR. Crisostomo, Direktor ng Bahay-Saliksikan ng Bulacan at sinundan naman bilang pangwakas na awitin ang "Mabuhay ka Pilipino" at "Tagumpay Nating Lahat" sa pangunguna ng BulSU Saring Himig Choral.

Ang taunang paggunita sa Bulacan ng Pambansang Araw ng Watawat ay sa pagnanais at inisyatibo ng pinagsamang tanggapan, institusyon, at panlalawigang samahan ng:

• -Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan (Center for bulacan Studies)
  -Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan
  -Pambansang Suriang Pangkasaysayan, Pangkat ng Bulacan at Zambales
  -Bulacan State University (BulSU)
  -Samahang Pangkasaysayan ng Bulacan, Inc. (SAMPAKA, Inc.)
  -Kagawaran ng Edukasyon (DepEd), Sangay ng Bulacan

Tunay ngang walang kapantay na salita at paliwanag ang kahalagahan, kasaysayan at kadakilaan ng ating pambansang sagisag, ang ating bandila. Mabuhay ka, Pilipino!

---Rica P. Morales---

---Joseph Theodore Jiongco---

When Earth Got Sick

18,000 years ago, half of the Earth was covered by glaciers and deserts: a place where everybody cannot live. Years passed, glaciers turned down as grasslands, woodlands and forests bloomed. This is the right place where people can live but after many more years, it changed again and became a warmer place to live.

As I was writing this article, my father was shouting "Carlo kunin mo yung dalawang timba diyan!". Two trashcans full of fallen leaves, plastics and other waste materials are what my father is pertaining to. I immediately picked up those trashcans and handed it to my father at the backyard. He was on the mid of burning our daily trashes and then he added the two cans I have in my hand. Smoke started to lift up to the sky, thinking that this could be one or should I say this is really one of the factors damaging our ozone layer that causes ozone depletion and then gradually becoming a catastrophe called “Global Warming”.

Global warming is a serious, abnormal state of the Earth having high temperature, leading us to effects that we are not usually aware of.

Global warming is the effect of everyday consumption of energy, living transportation and daily use of toxic chemicals. Greenhouse gases are the main contributor of this problem. Carbon Dioxide, a gas which every human and animal gives-off is one of the contributors. Power plants, cars, airplanes, infrastructures emit carbon dioxide too. Other gases are methane (animal manure) and nitrous oxide (engines, surgery and dentistry). Before, when heat from the sun enters the Earth, it easily radiates back to the space. Because of these greenhouse gases, heat from the sun was being trapped. This process continues as people did never notice how they contribute every single waste, chemical and various matters that really affect our own environment and soon—us and every living creature here on Earth.

Signs and Symptoms

It was very limpid to everybody what our Earth is suffering right now. From being a superb God’s creation, it turns out to be a threatening situation. Disasters, catastrophes, and other dangerous calamities may strike every country right now or later. From the past years until now, changes of climates can be felt. Something crazy about this is that summer must be hot days!--but PAGASA forecasted that summer would be rainy days since many storms will pass our country. Sometimes that sounds ironic, because everyone feels the heat of the sun when you walk through the street particularly during afternoon and even earlier. The superfluity of a certain thing is always bad, like the overexposure of your skin under the sun’s Ultraviolet (UV) rays. It may harm your skin and worst, it can lead to skin cancer. Intolerable heating of glaciers from the North and South Pole will eventually increase sea levels. I have read that big cities near coastlines like Tokyo, New York, and Los Angles will be in danger. The fact that our country is an archipelago it has the more possibility to be affected than to other big land masses. Tropical typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms and droughts are now hitting different sides of the world. United States is still coping after the tragic hurricane “Katrina” which has killed hundreds of people and destroyed many homes and infrastructures. In our country, corals were immune when ocean’s water became acidic. While in Antarctica, ice-thickness decreased about 45 percent. All of these truthfully happened. But these are more than enough sufferings for our home. Earth is crying!


Wake Up Call!

I found out that many agencies, organizations, private sectors, and our government as well as media around the world over hundred plus of countries are now starting to make a step calling out attentions to this unusual condition of our Mother Earth. Many projects and awareness ads are already made for this serious type of problem. Last year, a Hollywood film/documentary narrated by Leonardo Decaprio (star of Titanic) was showed in cinemas all over the world. It tackled about the global state and its environment. I haven’t watched it yet but for sure it’s interesting to know. These past few weeks, our country has been joining the “Earth Hour”- a thrifty move to help lessen the contribution of gas emissions to the atmosphere saving energy consumption at least an hour. The “Earth Day” which was celebrated last 22nd day of April, is an annual movement over 174 countries making the environment more healthy and wealthy with their programs and activities. When media acted, they released different awareness advertisements, articles, and notes with warnings for the people of every nation. Media, for having a widest coverage, can awake every man. Lately, a fine kind of awareness advertisements about global warming (it's effects and way of prevention) is regularly aired at QTV channel 11 and in GMA at channel 7. Another one is “Signos” a documentary of GMA 7, was aired last April 20 focusing on environmental issues today specifically the world’s changing climate. Actually, when you search for the key words “global warming” over the net, you’ll find a lot of sites with its concerns. May these projects and movements work and wake us up!


Call the Doctor Very Quick

It is very tough to have a battle against nature. But there are ways we can do about it. Global warming is cause by mankind; therefore we are the one responsible for fixing it. We are the doctors and we can cure the wound we have created. There are several medications and treatments we can give to our patient. First one and the most classic way is recycling. Recycling reduces the amount of fossil fuel being emitted. Separate biodegradable to non-biodegradable. When at home, try to save energy as soon as possible. Change your bulb, unplug your appliances when not in use, if you have enough money you can use a motion-sensor so that lights automatically turn-on when somebody is at the room and turn-off when somebody is in need of light.

“Earth Hour” can be a daily habit! “Earth Day” can be everyday! Be involved to some organization or foundation aiming to save the Earth. We, CICT students must be aware that gadgets too affect global warming as they release CO2. According to a source, if a million digital photo frames are sold, the average carbon dioxide emissions a year will be 11,000 tons. All of the solutions will work if everyone will put it into action. Let’s all act as time pushes the Earth into its unsightly face. Let’s face the truth that we humans are the cause. Feel the heat. See the difference. We must act against it. Remember that “GLOBAL WARMING is not COOL”.

---John Carlo Brigino---

Bulacan Journalism LAKBAYAN

“Water is the basis of life and the blue arteries of the earth! Everything in the non-marine environment depends on freshwater to survive.” -Sandra Postel, “Sandra Postel, Global Water Policy Project,” Grist Magazine 26 Apr 04

For too many times, we have heard of government campaigns for clean water (including the rivers and seas) in the Philippines. Sadly, according to Times, two of the world’s most polluted rivers were found in here in the country, worst, it is found here in Bulacan. They were the rivers of Marilao and Sta. Maria. The last time CURSOR was invited to a journalism seminar- that was Punlaan sa Tag-araw sponsored by PUNLA, one of the oldest running paper here in Bulacan, and was participated by six members, we were informed about the real score between the Bulk water supply project. If you would ever noticed the billboard of Gov. Jon Jon Mendoza downside before the flyover, there is something stated about the said bulk water supply project which is worth 11 Billion pesos to be paid for the company until the year 2017 which was said, the assumed time to finish the project according to Mr. Noel Julao (MWSS representative to Bulacan), though it was still ongoing a decisive process like bidding and some formal negotiations between the MWSS (Manila Water Supply System) and the Bulacan provincial government.

Water… water… water… it is the main source of life.

Everyday when you wake up; you take a bath, you drink clean water, you brush your teeth. So you should know and realize by now how important water is. It is essential as the air that we breathe, but did you ever know where does it came from and where does it goes?

The CURSOR team was fortunate to be invited in a tour- the Bulacan Journalism Lakbayan, in order to know how this vital liquid of life were processed from fresh stream water exposed to waste materials into clean water we could use in a day to day basis.

Our first stop was the La Mesa Dam. This huge dam located in Novaliches, Quezon City is the main container of water coming from Angat dam, and this is the source of 97 percent of water used for the residents of Metro Manila. Only a few people knew that the water of Bulacan is not coming from Angat but in deep wells, although Angat dam is just located here in Norzagaray. It was the history brought upon by Mr. Julao in one of the discussions we were into during lunch. We learned that the 15% of water from Angat that is produced for Metro Manila usage is just a debt from the Bulacan farmers for their fields. Now, the farmers were claiming what they have lend them for years and that’s why MWSS came up to the idea that they could implement the establishment of this project that could be finished nine years from now.

Our second stop is the Balara treatment plant, where the water is filtrated. This place was built in cooperation with the ambassador of China Hoyoshiko Yushita who was a former MWSS founder but since it can't operate rationally due to some technical conflicts in the late company, it was turned to a filtration plant for the residents of Metro Manila. Here the water is chlorinated to be safe for drinking and it is quarterly monitored by the DOH (Department of Health).

After the Balara Filtration Plant, we went to our final destination. We went to the Water Treatment Plant which can be found in the University of the Philippines in Diliman compound. Mr. Nico Goco, one of their staffs, discussed the three approaches they are doing when it comes to water waste treatment. The three approaches are (1) Package Sewerage Treatment System, (2) Septic Tank Emptying and Septic Treatment; and (3) The Community Sanitation Project. Mr. Goco also showed us the actual processing of our waste water turning it to more useful water. The processed water can be used as water in the fish ponds. The Metro Manila Development Authority also used it in watering the plants near the City’s utmost places. After the discussion and some tour inside the plant, we took some pictures of the place as souvenirs. The Manila Water also gave us a certificate for participating in this tour. They also gave us MWSS customized souvenir items like bags, ball pen, notebook, and key chain.

After this fun-filled tour, I realized that like us, water is passing through some stages which made it cleaner and potable. This wonderful tour gave me and the other participants a wonderful experience, knowledge, and of course memories to be cherished.

--Sheila Rose Valenzuela and Mylene Villafuerte--

Our Work and Yours Too

I’ve never been in a publication before and it has been my dream that someday I would become a journalist. Back then, these sheets of newspapers have no impact on me. I merely look at it as pieces of paper containing peoples’ thoughts about what is happening in our surrounding and views about life.

At first, I just merely joined this publication because I think; I want a new score on my day to day routine. But there is so much more that I’ve found- CURSOR, the official publication of the College of Information and Communications Technology is just a new and emerging publication, therefore there is more hardship and endurance needed in order for it to be known and for it to be fully stabilized. I never even thought about the big pressure that there could be in one team, it is the fact that even if I’m a new comer, I should comply with the professionalism that most of the staffs put in to practice.

Joining this team is more than publishing our works in a corner of the paper for the CICT students to read, and far more than being able to develop our writing skills. As what I’ve learned from our previous facilitator, Mr. Kevin Ople, the bottomline is this: it’s not only being able to improve our well being, our character, personality, and strong bond of friendship through this team but to prolong our love for the College. It is being innovative and creative in many ways in order to produce a quality work.

Honestly, my approach about CURSOR became deeper and my awareness became wider. It is because from a closer look, I have realized that being a part of it is not that easy after all, that it is just the start for so many beautiful outcomes and there are so many things to be improved and organized. Those who were out of it criticize it but as a part of CICT, why not try to improve it? Change the course of your mind. It’s not just a paper and never a trash. It is our work and yours too.

--Mylene Villafuerte--

How Should I Say “I Love You”, Mom?

It is nearly 12 in the afternoon; I close my dear magical book and pay a short glance to the calendar above my head… MAY 10. Just a few moments left before the celebration of Mother’s Day. I let a faint smile cover my face momentarily and half-consciously (as I may say it) I boot my antique personal computer.

Frankly, every story of every life never fails to astonish me, particularly if it is about family. I believe you will know a lot about a person, if you know a lot about his own family. Much more if you’ll know more about his mom…

I remember when my close friend delivered his piece as a part of our recitation in Speech Development, I can’t help but to stare at the blank space falling in deep thinking. He was talking about the regrets he has now for not clearly showing his mom how much he love and admire her. He had lost his mom at a very young age… Until now, I can still feel the hollowness of his sigh whenever we cross that matter. His breathing shows nostalgia as he was saying “Paano kaya kung nandito pa rin siya…” Honestly, it did not sound a bit of question for me. Because I can tell that by the way he speaks, he is still dreaming about having his mom right beside him.
Another friend made me forced a false laugh when she said “Hindi ba kayo naglalambingan ng Mommy mo? Kami kasi ganun nung nandito pa siya.” She too, lost her mom. And until now, I still fail to discover how she can muddle through with it, knowing that she had a lot of wonderful memories with her.

I am now on my 21 years of being here on earth, but would you believe me if I tell you that I never, ever dare to say “I love you” to my mom ever since I’ve learned how to speak? (Even I stretched my long-term memory, I failed to recall uttering those words--- even once.)

When I was five years old I remember her bringing me to the public market on town. I saw a bunch of round, mouth-watering, seedless grapefruit and asked her to buy me some. She said we do not have spare money for the fruit so I got upset and cry as loud as I could. She grabbed my arm and told me “Hindi masarap ‘yan, mapait ‘yan!” She did not know I hated her that time. But I have realized that on my young age, she taught me a very important lesson: YOU CANNOT ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT. (Especially if you will just cry over your unfulfilled goals). Oh, how should I say “I Love You”, mom?

She is often reluctant to attend my Recognition Day, telling me “Wala akong magandang isusuot. Kayo na lang ng tatay mo.” She did not know I hated her that time. But I have realized that on my young age, she taught me a very important lesson: YOU WILL NOT ABLE TO DISCERN THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESS WHEN YOU ARE ALL ALONE ON THE SPOT LIGHT. Oh, how should I say “I Love You”, mom?

On my fourth year in high school, she refused to get my report card at school. “Bakit ba gusto mo makita ang grades mo, ano mapapala mo ‘dun? Sayang lang ang pamasahe, makikita mo rin naman ‘yon sa Graduation.” She did not know I hated her that time. But I have realized that on my young age, she taught me a very important lesson: YOUR REPORT CARD DOESN’T ABSOLUTELY SHOW WHO YOU ARE AND EVEN DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FORETELL IF YOU’LL BE A SUCCESSFUL PERSON OR NOT. Oh, how should I say “I Love You”, mom?

As a teenager, I think she had given me much freedom. I can go out whenever or wherever I want to and come back home whenever I feel to. “Pumunta ka kung saan mo gusto, bahala ka! Malaki ka na, alam mo na ang ginagawa mo.” My friends told me I am indeed lucky, but they never know that I don’t wish for that setting. I feel worse, as if I am being neglected…abandoned… unloved… She did not know I hated her that time. But I have realized that on my young age, she taught me a very important lesson: AS A HUMAN WE HAVE OUR OWN FREE WILL, WE JUST NEED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IT TRULLY MEANS AND LEARN TO EXERCISE IT VERY WELL. Oh, how should I say “I Love You”, mom?

Maybe it sounds a bit ironic how my mom and I exchange our own way of expressing love and concern. A lot of times, I hardly distinguish loving from neglecting, trusting from abandoning…But I cannot deny that I have learned so many lessons from her (mentioning some of it in this writing). At the end of the line, no matter how odd our relationship is, vaguely as it may seem, and no matter how we conceal our emotions trying not to sound too corny or childish, we both know that we cannot hide the truth---she is my mother and I love her.

As I ended this piece, I am counting self-made, faded cards---eight in total, not to mention some simple notes scribbled in a hurry. But I do not have the courage to hand it to her. Aside from the fact that I can’t fish out the guts to tell her, I definitely know those words won’t fit all the sacrifices she has given me. Until now, I do not know how I should say “I Love you Mom”, so let me do it this way:

For thinking of aborting me when I was in your womb, I now appreciate I am precious, for Heaven give me a life to live in this world. THANKS MOM.
For planning of giving me to other family, I now appreciate the meaning of “family” by choosing me to stay. THANKS MOM.

For saying that I am a worthless child, I now appreciate the meaning of hard work and dedication to keep my head up to the goal of proving you I am not like that. THANKS MOM.
For not trusting my capabilities when competing for an academic match, for the discouragements I have received when I failed to top the class, I now appreciate that painful words and even failures mean success in the end, when put in different perspective. THANKS MOM.

For not attending my school’s parental meetings and refusing to hand me my medal for the past three university’s Recognition Day, I now appreciate the meaning of standing on my own feet, that there are certain times when I need to accept bravely that I am alone-- without losing my self-esteem. THANKS MOM. I know that I would never be the same person as I am now-- standing in my place, believing and fighting with dignity and rightful principles if I am not with YOU. THANKS MOM and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO YOU!

I threaded this writing piece attempting to gather enough audacity to express my kept thoughts for my mom and now that I boldly share to you this fraction of my life, I hope that by now, you’ve got the idea of how to say “I Love You Mom” to your mother, in this very special moment of her life…Trust me, it is never too late!

-- (My personal contribution) Leianny--

Imagination

There are different species of animals in our planet. They are intelligent in a way, but what makes us humans different? Yes, we do not have the strength of a bull, the power of flight of the birds, the agility of the cheetah, nor the poison of the cobra. We do not have these abilities but we have our imagination. These animals here have their own unique abilities but we differ from them in a very important way. They cannot perform the ability we call imagining. They cannot make mental images of how reality might be; they merely act by their own instincts. They cannot envision what we call the past and the future.

This ability which is to imagine is the most decisive part of our intelligence. This ability helps us in solving problems and in making something happen. In what way does imagination helps us make something happen? Think of a sculptor as an example; doesn’t he use imagination in making a masterpiece? A concrete proof is the great wonders of the world: didn't it started from the united thoughts of the people who envisioned and imagined it? Therefore, I can proudly say that imagination has a great effect in making things happen.

One drawback of this is that we do not choose to control our imaginations, we imagine wondrous things and we also imagine terrible things by nature. It’s now up to us whether we will use it to create a better world or to induce chaos and destruction.

--Jeffrey Saguinsin--

PUNLA Conducted a Journalism Seminar

PUNLA- Pulso Ng Madla (One of the Oldest Paper of Bulacan) conducted a seminar for young campus journalists last April 29 and 30, 2008 at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center Malolos City in order to motivate the youth in journalism and to enhance the writing skills of aspiring journalist regarding News and Feature writing. It was attended by 23 participants from different College Papers of Bulacan State University (BSU), two students were incoming freshman and it was also attended by some officers from the Information Office of Bulacan provincial Capitol.

As of now, PUNLA is composed by respected journalists like Mrs. Nene Bondoc Ocampo (Editor-In-Chief), Jeeno Arellano (Managing Editor), Mylene Padua (Associate Editor) and other young journalists of Bulacan. Mrs. Ocampo and Mr. Arellano lectured all about basic news writing on the first day. A press conference was held after every speaker’s discussion. Mr. Noel Julao, one of the resource speaker, discussed about the Manila Bulk Water Supply System Project and Mr. Bienvinido Ramos, former Editor-In-Chief of Liwayway (oldest running magazine in the Philippines) gave insights for feature writing and some writing tips to the attendees. Governor Jon-Jon Mendoza, Bokal Christian Natividad, Bokal Glenn Santos and Bokal Michael Fermin visited the seminar to extend their support. Ms. Rio Rose Ribaya, a reporter from Manila Bulletin discussed on building nose for news and Mr. Dino Balabo, a correspondent from the Philippine Star focused the discussion on feature writing on the second day.

A certificate of attendance was given to the participants. As closing, PUNLA awarded Sam Rhoy Cruz (incoming freshman, Education student in BSU) for writing the best news lead for the Bulk water supply project. PUNLA was very glad for the success of the seminar. “We are looking forward for another Journalism Seminar”, said Ms Nene Ocampo.

Cursor Members attended PUNLAan Sa Tag-araw

Cursor Members- Alicia Magtira, Mirasol Buenaflor, Ericka Bautista, Joana Ombao, Sheila Rose Valenzuela and Mylene Villafuerte attended a Journalism seminar conducted by PUNLA, Pulso ng Madla at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, Malolos City last April 29-30,2008. They learned about basic news writing, feature writing and other Journalistic skills from respected reporters of different local and national newspapers. The six will relay the things they have learned from the seminar to the other Cursor members on their next monthly meeting.


--Joana Ombao--