There’s no better time than now!

Until now, the issue circulating about the implementation of the K-12 program is currently speculated by different critics and their stand on it. This issue has been on the news since about four years ago. Some people would say that it was implemented too early that the government isn’t even ready yet for such major change in our educational system.

I was one of the high-school students who luckily graduated high-school without undergoing an additional two years in senior high. It was a relief for my family knowing that the more years we study, the more money they will have to spend for our education. We were lucky, or so I thought.

In other Asian countries where discrimination is not tolerated, we are caught up between not being discriminated and being discriminated by them. This is because our credentials will always be “lacking” with two more years compared to the global standard of education. That is what made the ASEAN urge our country’s government to do something about our education system, by adding two more years in our standard high-school program. That way, there will be no reason that we will eventually be discriminated because of our credentials.

I personally get jealous over those youngsters whom I consider the real “lucky” ones who had the opportunity to become world-class and internationally-recognized professionals in the future. As they say, the youth of today, are the leaders of tomorrow. We reap what we sow, and if we sow enough competitive individuals for today, we will reap the same progress of our country in the near future.

Another issue that lies beneath the K-12 implementation is its costs. Some schools, especially the small private institutions, are having a hard time adapting to the new curriculum that they are not able to cope up easily especially in building new structures to be used for the additional years and for the additional students. Not only that, a few more years means a lot more bills, and some parents and benefactors will be carrying this financial burden. They only think of how much they could spend not the benefits and advantages that would serve their children. Money is just money compared to the progress that our children will benefit. Nevertheless, our government is doing its best to help the senior-high students by giving them subsidy for their tuitions and other expenses.

As my Professor said, transition is only hard in the beginning, soon it will be stable and everyone will see how much progress we had achieved. The call for action should not be delayed, for the time wasted will never be regained. There is no better time than now!

UBian eSport enthusiasts request DOTA 2 in UB Days 2016

Several eSport gamers and students of the University of Bohol petitioned the inclusion of DOTA 2 as one of the official events for this upcoming UB Days 2016. The request was ignited after the successful integration of DOTA 2 as one of the events of the CET Days of the College of Engineering and Technology that took place on August 11-12, 2016.

The objective submitted to the SSG by a CHMTN student.

The request was initiated when Franz Mykell Cruspero, a CHMTN student submitted an objective to the Supreme Student Government (SSG) as to why such event should be included and regulated. The said request was backed-up and supported by other UBians including Jessie Tuerca, Isaac Cericos, and Limuel Doysabas of CET, Dennis Balatero of TC, and John Walter Calipes, a CET student and the News Editor of The Varsitarian.

The request is currently under deliberation of the SSG as such request must be relevant enough to be included to the official events of UB Days 2016.

70 Years of Dedicated Campus Press

The oldest surviving publication in the province of Bohol has now come to a 70 faithful years of student service in unwavering fortitude as a campus media. Being the voice of the students against disorder, strife and pressures in the mid and late ‘80s. Courageously faced the stealthy, gloomy skies of the ‘90s. Spoiled with censorship and restrictions that the writer’s original point of view and opinions were significantly distorted and toned down.

After heaps of trials and tribulations, on that momentous year in 1984. The Varsitarian earned its autonomy. A freedom that was desired for so many years.

The time Philippines granted its independence in 1946 and Rafael Palma College (now, University of Bohol) was founded, the student publication was born. Overgone competitive exams to organize the pioneer staff of the school publication. Cesario Balintag, a native from Baclayon, Bohol who was appointed to be the first editor-in-chief, led the ten of them  to run the paper.

Bearing the official name RP COLLEGIAN, came off its very first issue to the press in January the following year. Expressive of the role it must play which the Varsitarian continually preserved at present; to serve and inform the studentry and the administration. The publication was recognized as an organ of information. Moreover, its editors and staff members who became successful in the field of journalism and in their chosen career, established the RP COLLEGIAN.

THE NEW NAME, THE NAME THAT STANDS: 

October 16, 1970 when the Secretary of Education granted a university charter to Rafael Palma College, followed by the December 11, 1970 inauguration with Atty. Victoriano B. Tirol Sr. as its first president bearing the name, University of Bohol.

The publication has done more than merely keeping a record of students, activities and achievements. It captured precious moments in the life of every UBian with great joy and pride.

Since the former Rafael Palma College already became a University of Bohol, the name RP COLLEGIAN had to give way to a brand new name. Several names were submitted and proposed by different sectors of the school until the name VARSITARIAN was finally adopted. At that moment, the student publication of the University of Bohol has established an acknowledged identity that it has never claimed before.

The new staff under the new name, VARSITARIAN, placed the student publication in equal level with ranking contemporaries in Visayas and in Mindanao, when it won honor, when it was cited best in editorial, best in feature and excellence in layout by the College Editors of the Philippines.

Now in its 70 years of existence, seven decades of trials at all levels and  high gaiety. The Varsitarian keeps up to a tradition that dates back to 1946 - a tradition of student service and information. A student publication that obtained a great transition that dates back to the year Rafael Palma College was founded.