The Defender - Official Student Publication of BPSU-Balanga Campus

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The Defender - Official Student Publication of BPSU-Balanga Campus

The Defender is the Official Student Publication of Bataan Peninsula State University-Balanga Campus Founded in 1971 by then Bataan Colleges Instructor, Mr.

Ben Medina and a group of students, the "The Defender" (TD) was primarily intended to promote students' awareness and to serve as an avenue of discussion of school-related issues. Starting with not more than ten student writers, The Defender has released its pioneering issue in October 1971. After a year, the next batch of the Editorial Board pursued the publication's membership to the College Edi

tors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). The student publication was smooth sailing until it was closed down during the Martial Law. After the People Power Revolution in 1986 and along with the rekindled freedom and democracy, the publication's normal operations were redeemed. The editorial board during that time adopted this line from Dylan Thomas: "Rage, rage against the dying of the lights!" This has been the publication's battle-cry since then. In 1998, the Bataan Colleges (BC) merged with Bataan National School of Arts and Trades (BNSAT) under Republic Act 8562 to a chartered state college, now known as the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU). Though BC has only become a campus of BPSU, having BNSAT as the main campus or mother unit, The Defender was retained as the Official Student Publication of BPSU-Balanga campus. Now, the Defender has already proven its worth as a vital student institution as it continuously earns awards and citations from different regional and national press conferences as well as from other student organizations. TD has constant advocacy to provide social consciousness through conferences. Having served the students for forty-nine years, The Defender still aims for a higher service to the studentry. The Defender is a proud member of the proactive Network of Campus Journalists of the Philippines, the Young Journalists Association of Region III (YJAR-III), and the Luzonwide Association of College Editors (LACE).

11/10/2025

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: The Defender, the official student publication of Bataan Peninsula State University-Balanga Campus (BPSU-BC), is currently conducting its 25th Annual Competitive Examination themed “Breaking the Code: Campus Journalists as Game Changers in the Digital Arena.”

Student Affairs and Services Office (SASO) Chairperson Prof. Lawrence D. Balana affirmed the role of applicants as upholders of truth in the ever-changing digital landscape.

“To all of you na nag-aaspire na maging part of the official student publication, always remember this: uphold the truth. Ito ‘yung dapat lagi niyong maging objective, [to] uphold the truth and deliver the truth dahil marami na ang nagiging challenges sa social media ngayon. Sabi nga, natatakpan na ng fake news ang katotohanan,” shared the SASO Chairperson.

Now in its 54th year of service, the examination continues to identify and shape emerging campus journalists in both traditional and digital media.
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Report by Mariel Perez
Photos by Kristine Albarda, Min Del Pilar, and Ronnan Kent Maranoc

10/10/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁! 👾

Missed the application period? The game isn’t over. The Defender is now accepting walk-in applicants for the 25th Annual Competitive Examination, happening at 7:30 AM today.

Simply bring your duly accomplished application form and proceed to Edtech, Old CoEd Building, to submit it to the TD attendance officers upon arrival. Extra forms will also be available on-site if you haven’t filled out yours yet.

Walk-in applicants will be accepted only until 8:00 AM.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁. 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮, 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗧𝗗𝘀!

10/10/2025

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁! 👾

Power up for a full day of challenges in the digital arena starting at 7:30 AM tomorrow at EdTech Old College of Education (CoEd) Building. Here’s your mission checklist:

• 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 – your pen is your primary weapon, keep it ready.
• 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – gear up with your cameras, phones, and photography tools.
• 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – boot up your laptops and ready your portfolios.
• 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – stock your weapons of craft: pens, paints, brushes, oslo or watercolor paper, etc.
• 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 – prepare your laptops and pen tablets.
• 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 – steady your voice, keep your smartphones on hand.
• 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸-𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 – your entry pass is a fully completed application form.

The Defender will also provide clean bond papers and card readers to keep you equipped.

All attendees’ names will be forwarded to their respective college deans, program heads, and NSTP chairs to ensure that participants are excused from their Saturday classes. Your time to enter the arena is secured.

𝗚𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘂𝗽, 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗧𝗗𝘀! 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀.

08/10/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘂𝗽, 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀! 👾

The wait is over, BC Peninsulares. This October 11, sharpen your pens, ready your lenses, and power up your craft, because The Defender’s 25th Annual Competitive Examination is officially loading.

Brace for a full day of journalistic activities designed to test your wit, creativity, and command of the truth in the digital arena.

The time has come to break the codes and change the game. See you on October 11.

06/10/2025

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱

In light of recent adjustments, The Defender is extending the submission of application forms for the 25th Annual Competitive Examination until Wednesday, October 8.

This gives aspiring campus journalists more time to prepare their game plan and ready themselves for the challenge ahead.

Stay tuned for the official announcement of the new examination date. The arena awaits.

05/10/2025

𝗕𝗖 𝗞𝗔𝗦𝗜: 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹

𝗠𝗔’𝗔𝗠! 𝗦𝗜𝗥! 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗔 𝗔𝗡𝗢 𝗣𝗢, 𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗞𝗔𝗡!!!— 𝘼𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩𝙤'𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙨𝙖'𝙮𝙤

Pero sa likod ng lahat ng tawanan at kalokohan, nariyan ang tunay na mensahe: Salamat.

Salamat sa mga prof na nagtuturo kahit tatlong klase ang magkakasunod, sa mga nag-eextend ng deadline kahit halatang labag sa kaluluwa nila, at sa mga naging pangalawang magulang namin sa loob ng apat na pader ng BC.

Ngayong World Teachers’ Day, hindi muna tungkol sa grades o attendance—kundi sa inyo, mga propesor naming may PhD sa pag-unawa at MA sa malasakit.

Heto muna ang espesyal na episode ng BC Kasi: isang love letter in comic form. Sa ngalan ng lahat ng BC Peninsulares, ang awiting ito’y para talaga sa inyo (dahil kung wala kayo, baka nagka-suntukan na talaga sa BC).
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𝘼𝙣𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛? 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬!

Panulat ni Kenneth Clarisse Ongoco
Disenyo at pag-aanyo ni Jean Dominguez

03/10/2025

𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

Due to the weather disturbance brought by Typhoon Paolo and in consideration of the safety of all applicants, the 25th Annual Competitive Examination of The Defender will be postponed and rescheduled to a later date.

In line with this adjustment, TD will continue to accept application forms until the new schedule is announced.

Please wait for further announcements regarding the rescheduled date. Stay safe and vigilant.

03/10/2025

𝗕𝗖 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

With the theme “Gabay-Liway: Teachers Month Celebration 2025,” Bataan Peninsula State University-Balanga Campus (BPSU-BC) Peninsulares dedicated a day to recognize the contributions of the institution’s teaching staff to their life and education at the Bataan Youth Center (BYC), October 3.

Campus Director Prof. Sisenando Masangcap Jr. expressed BC’s commitment to observing Teachers’ Day, pointing out that the campus always ensures the celebration pushes through annually.

“Sa Balanga Campus we have a tradition, every year, kahit isang araw, we always secure na mai-celebrate natin ang Teachers’ Day sa kahit anong paraan, magarbo o simple man.” the Campus Director noted.

Prof. Masangcap also extended his acknowledgement of the efforts of all teaching personnel, commending their vital role as educators.

Moreover, College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) Dean Dr. Olivia Ann Siccion reminded students to always express gratitude to their professors, emphasizing that their guidance and discipline are intended to mold them into good individuals.

“Sa ating mga estudyante, isa lang po ang hinihiling ko, appreciation sa ating mga g**o. Kung napapagalitan man po kayo o napagsasabihan, at the end of the day iisa lang ang gusto naming lahat: maging mabuti kayong tao, maging mabuti kayong mamamayan,” explained the Dean.

Outstanding teachers from different colleges were also nominated for titles such as Café King and Queen, Sunshine Award, Index Card King and Queen, and Anchor Award through a collective piso-voting system.

Meanwhile, awardees of the “Dakilang G**o Award” per college were Prof. Jackielyn Cipriano from CBA, Dr. Leandro Olubia from the College of Education, Prof. John Kenneth Padel from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Prof. Nelson S. Roman from the Institute of Public Administration and Governance.
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Report by Ronalen Anoba
Photos by Min Del Pilar and Noah Consus

03/10/2025

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧: 𝗕𝗣𝗦𝗨 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝟵𝟬.𝟱𝟮% 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗣𝗣

Out of 211 examinees, Bataan Peninsula State University–Balanga Campus (BPSU–BC) produced 191 new psychometricians, recording an overall institutional passing rate of 90.52% in the September 2025 Board Licensure Examination for Psychometricians and Psychologists (BLEPP), October 2.

Of these, 178 out of 195 are first-time takers (91.28%), while 13-of-16 are repeaters (81.25%).

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) also reported that 12,416 out of 14,275 examinees qualified in the licensure examination, with a national passing rate of 86.98%.

BPSU’s 2025 BLEPP performance marked a significant improvement from last year’s 58.39% success rate.
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Report by Mariel Perez

02/10/2025

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧: 𝗖𝗦𝗕𝗦 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗣𝗣 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝟰 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀

For the fourth consecutive year, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (CSBS) produced top-caliber psychometricians, with six graduates placing in the Top 10 of the September 2025 Board Licensure Examination for Psychometricians and Psychologists (BLEPP), October 2.

Ranked as topnotchers were Batch 2024-2025 BS Psychology graduates, Louise Gian L. Calingay (Top 6), Lyka Linneth R. Apostol (Top 8 ), Jan Andrei G. Figuracion (Top 8 ), Marianne S. Armas (Top 9); fresh BA Psychology graduate Kimberly Rose D. Navarro (Top 8 ); and Ma. Angela Mayumi M. Samson (Top 9) from Batch 2023-2024.

The six joined the roster of CSBS alumni who previously entered the licensure exams' Top 10: Robert Lorenz Angelo G. Ramos (Top 9) in 2017, Gerlane Mae S. Hipolito (Top 8 ) in 2022, John Kenneth Q. Padel (Top 8 ) in 2023, and Erin E. Bagtas (Top 7) in 2024.

This marks the first time in CSBS history that multiple graduates secured top spots in the BLEPP during the same year.
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Report by Mariel Perez
Photo Courtesy of College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

01/10/2025

𝗕𝗖 𝗦𝗟𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔.𝗬. ‘𝟮𝟱-’𝟮𝟲

Bataan Peninsula State University-Balanga Campus (BPSU-BC) Institute and College Student Governments (CoSGs) officially took their posts in their respective colleges as they affirmed their duty during the Oath-Taking Ceremony at the College of Education Amphitheater, October 1.

Campus Student Government (CSG) President Kurt Cobain De Belen shared that CoSGs should unite to produce effective programs rather than compete to fulfill their service to students.

"Sana iwasan na natin ang thought of rivalry [in terms of projects]. Ilang years na po 'yang nangyayari. Sana po, do it for the students, not for the awards, not for the recognition, but do it kasi kailangan ng mga estudyante," the CSG President pointed out.

De Belen also intends to strengthen the collaborative efforts between the BC colleges through open communication and inquiries.

Meanwhile, Student Affairs and Services Office (SASO) Chairperson Prof. Lawrence Balana educated BC student leaders on the importance of submitting requirements for proposing in- and off-campus activities.

“Ang priority namin is safety, kaya po nagpapasa kayo [ng paperworks]. And, of course, para maging maganda rin yung outcome ng inyong mga gagawing activities,” the Chairperson emphasized.

Prof. Balana also mentioned that early preparations are needed to effectively execute the Annual Ex*****on Plan of each student government and organization, limiting the production of substandard activities and abrupt changes in plans.

“Hindi niyo naman kailangan ng sobrang daming activities. Ang kailangan niyo, ma-execute ‘yung activity with quality. ‘Yung kalidad ang tignan, hindi ‘yung dami,” he added.

The session also highlighted the role of student leaders in fostering student engagement in upcoming first-semester campus activities.
__________
Report by Gabriel Almario
Photos by Bennedict Baldwin Tolentino

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