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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.
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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 Editors 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).

05/08/2026

𝗞𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗠: 𝗣𝗮(𝗻)𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻
Ni Samantha Lorraine Sampang | La Serein

May mga kuwentong mabilis kumalat, ngunit mayroon ding dumaraan muna sa bigat ng pananagutan bago mailathala.

Noong Hulyo 20, idinaos ang kauna-unahang Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Broadcast Arts Awards kung saan nagtabla sina Ivana Alawi at Kara David bilang ‘Best Host for Public Service’, habang kinilala rin ang ‘Ivana for All’ vlog series ni Alawi bilang ‘Best Public Service Show’. Naging sentro ng usapan ang pagkilalang ito matapos ilagay sa iisang kategorya ang isang content creator na nakilala sa lawak ng kaniyang impluwensya at isang beteranong mamamahayag na ilang dekada nang naghahatid ng mga kuwentong panlipunan.

Nauunawaan ko kung paanong pareho silang pinagkakatiwalaan ng mga tao; sapagkat ang isang influencer ay may kapangyarihang gamitin ang kaniyang plataporma upang magbahagi ng mga programang umaalalay sa komunidad, habang ang isang mamamahayag naman ay may obligasyong ibalita ang mga impormasyong kinakailangang malaman ng mga mamamayan. Kapwa man may mabuting hangarin, hindi na lamang ito isang simpleng usapin kung sino ang mas karapat-dapat, kundi kung tama bang gamitin ang iisang pamantayan sa dalawang magkaibang uri ng paglilingkod sa taumbayan.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗯𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘆-𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗼, 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘂𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘆𝗮 𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶 𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗴.

Ang pagkakaibang ito ay higit na makikita sa proseso ng kanilang trabaho. Nakasaad sa Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists ng International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), ang pandaigdigang gabay ng mga peryodista pagdating sa tungkulin nitong igalang ang katotohanan, beripikahin ang impormasyon, at tiyaking tumpak ang bawat inilalathalang ulat. Maaaring magbahagi ng sariling pananaw o adbokasiya ang isang influencer, ngunit ang isang mamamahayag ay itinatakdang makapaghatid ng impormasyong may sapat na batayan at walang kinikilingan sa lahat ng oras.

Sa tagal ko nang pagsusulat ng balita bilang isang student journalist, natutuhan kong hindi nagsisimula ang isang kuwento sa harap ng kamera. Dumadaan muna ito sa paghahanap ng datos, pakikinig sa magkabilang panig, at paulit-ulit na pagsusuri ng impormasyon. Ito ang bahaging madalas na hindi nakikita ng mga manonood at siyang pinakamainam na pundasyon ng reputasyon ng isang mamamahayag.

Tayong mga tagapagbalita ay humaharap din sa posibilidad ng pag-atake mula sa mga makapangyarihang personalidad at institusyon. Nitong Hulyo 21, naglabas ng opisyal na pahayag ang I-Witness upang depensahan ang dokumentaryo ni Kara David tungkol sa mga Lumad matapos itong kuwestiyunin ng ilang awtoridad ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Bagama’t parehong puwedeng makatanggap ng batikos ang isang content creator at reporter, naiiba ang bigat ng panganib na kaakibat ng pamamahayag dahil sa paglalantad nito ng mga sensitibong usapin.

Sa katunayan, isa itong depiksyon ng mas malawak pang sitwasyon ng midya sa bansa. Ayon sa National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, umabot sa 184 ang naitalang pag-atake laban sa mga mamamahayag, nasyonal man o pangkampus, mula Hulyo 2022 hanggang Abril 2025, kabilang ang red-tagging, cyberattacks, at death threats. Kaya, ang pagtupad sa tungkulin ng pagbabalita ay nangangahulugan ding pagharap sa mga panganib na dala ng paghahanap ng katotohanan.

Higit sa lahat, ang mainam na pagkilala sa pagkakaiba ng isang influencer at reporter ay ipinapakita kung anong uri ng tiwala ang kinakatawan ng isang parangal. Habang pinagmamasdan ko ang naging resulta, nagtataka ako kung ano ba talaga ang kinikilala ng FAMAS. Ipinaliwanag ni Gerry Lanosga sa pag-aaral na The Power of the Prize: How an Emerging Prize Culture Helped Shape Journalistic Practice and Professionalism na ang mga parangal sa pamamahayag ay higit pa sa simpleng pagkilala sa mga nagwagi. Nagsisilbi rin ang mga ito sa pagtatakda ng pamantayan ng kahusayan at nakaaapekto sa kung anong uri ng gawain ang kinikilalang may kredibilidad sa loob ng propesyon.

Sa ganitong pananaw, mahalagang suriin ang nagiging batayan ng mga binibigyan natin ng pagkilala—hindi dahil walang ambag ang iba, kundi dahil magkakaiba ang layuning sinusunod ng kanilang ginagawa.

Kinakailangang paigtingin pa ng mga paaralan at organisasyon sa midya ang pagpapalawak ng media literacy sa panahon ngayon ng social media. Maaaring bumuo rin ang mga paaralan ng sariling mga kagamitang panturo sa media literacy, tulad ng ginawa ng Department of Journalism ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman sa pangunguna ni Kara David. Sa halip na isang beses na seminar lamang, naghanda sila ng mga video lessons, pagsusulit, at gabay sa talakayan na maaaring gamitin ng mga g**o at estudyante sa loob mismo ng klase. Sa ganitong paraan, nahuhubog ang kakayahan ng mga mag-aaral na suriin ang impormasyong kanilang tinatanggap.

Kasabay nito, nararapat ding magkaroon ang mga institusyong nagbibigay ng parangal ng magkahiwalay na kategorya o, mas tiyak na batayan sa pagkilala sa kanilang mga ambag upang hindi malabo ang pamantayang ipinapakita sa publiko at manatiling malinaw ang hangganan ng dalawang larangan. Hindi kailangang pagpilian ng publiko ang mga influencer at mamamahayag, ngunit mahalagang maunawaan ang magkaiba nilang pananagutan.

Walang masama sa paggamit ng kasikatan upang makatulong sa iba. Ngunit, kapag ito na ang naging sukatan ng serbisyong publiko, hindi lamang isang parangal ang nawawalan ng saysay, kundi pati ang tiwalang dapat iniuugnay sa gawaing nakasalalay sa katotohanan.

01/08/2026

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: 456 Iskolar ng Bayan hopefuls from the province took the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) at Bataan Peninsula State University-Balanga Campus (BPSU-BC) Bataan Youth Center (BYC), August 1.

With the campus officially chosen as one of the testing centers last 2025, BC had hosted the admission test for the second consecutive year with 225 students from the morning batch, and 231 from the afternoon.

Campus Director Professor Sisenando Masangcap Jr. highlighted that the campus was more prepared to accommodate this year’s examinees, citing a more efficient preparation process compared to the previous UPCAT.

“Last year kasi siyempre it was the first time [for BC to host], almost two weeks ang preparation namin sa mga meetings. Ngayon hindi naman na. So, we had one meeting and then another meeting pagdating ng team,” said Prof. Masangcap.

“We requested the NSTP [National Service Training Program] students na mag-online kasi nga gagamitin ‘yung BYC, and then I also issued a college memo para sa CBA [College of Business and Accountancy] na online din sila ngayon para masig**o na as much as possible ma-limit ‘yung noise sa campus,” he added.

Furthermore, the Campus Director noted that BC is ready to get more opportunities as a testing site in the future, aside from the usual UP Admission Test.

“Actually, may kasunod ito. Kinakausap na ako ng admission office natin; they will be conducting the exam naman ng TDP [Tulong Dunong Program] sa mga scholars [and] they are requesting na dito rin ganapin,” he shared.

The third and fourth batches of UPCAT takers are set to take their exams tomorrow, concluding the two-day examination period.
__________
Report by Alexa Guevarra
Photos by Bennedict Tolentino and Alexa Guevarra

31/07/2026

[𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗦]
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗕.𝗔.𝗞.𝗔.𝗧'𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

Between ringing bells and scattered footsteps, there is no sound more jarring inside a school than the crack of a gunshot.

Barely weeks after the nation was shaken by the tragic school shooting in Tacloban City, conversations about fi****ms once again dominated headlines. Fear, grief, and unanswered questions filled public discourse, reminding Filipinos that a single trigger pull can forever alter lives. In moments like these, anything that resembles a fi***rm is often met with caution, if not outright fear.

But fear often lives in what we fail to understand. Every Sunday, the hallways of Bataan National High School witness these guns being loaded, but fire plastic pellets in a sport governed by strict rules, mandatory safety briefings, and mutual respect. Here, replica ri**es become weapons of strategy rather than violence, as members of Bataan Ai***ft Knights and Troops (BAKAT) gather to play a game that challenges not only their aim but also their discipline, honesty, and responsibility.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘆 𝗚𝘂𝗻𝘀

At first glance, ai***ft appears to be little more than adults playing soldiers. Camouflage, tactical gear, and replica fi****ms create the image of a military exercise rather than a recreational sport. However, beneath its realistic appearance lies a game founded not on violence but on teamwork, strategy, and honesty. Instead of live am******on, ai***ft guns fire lightweight 6-millimeter plastic BBs through spring-, gas-, or electric-powered mechanisms, allowing players to compete in objective-based tactical scenarios within controlled environments (International Practical Shooting Confederation [IPSC], 2024).

Originally developed in Japan during the early 1970s, ai***ft emerged as an alternative for fi***rm enthusiasts living under the country’s strict gun control laws, eventually transforming what started as recreational target shooting into a competitive tactical sport practiced across Asia, Europe, and North America. As the sport steadily gained a following in the Philippines, local communities began organizing regular games that emphasized sportsmanship, teamwork, and responsible gun handling. It was within this growing local ai***ft scene that the Bataan Ai***ft Knights and Troops (BAKAT) would eventually find its beginning.

What began as simple match-ups among solo players during 2020 gradually evolved into one of Bataan’s most active ai***ft communities, now composed of more than a hundred active members.

“Basta pandemic, nag-start kami, patago pa kami noon maglaro. Naglalaro kami—2v3, 3v3—doon kami nag-start. Hanggang sa, ‘yun na nga, naghanap kami ng mga mapapaglaruan namin,” said Kapitan. As the organization grew, so did its playing grounds, expanding to multiple sites across the province, including jungle fields in Munting Batangas and Capitol Hills, an urban course in Hermosa, and its current home at Balanga National High School.

Every Sunday, BAKAT transforms its play area into a battlefield of strategy and teamwork. Players are divided into opposing teams and compete in a variety of objective-based scenarios that go beyond simply eliminating opponents. Some matches follow traditional team-versus-team formats, while others challenge participants to rescue a VIP, retrieve an objective, plant or defuse a simulated bomb, or accomplish mission-specific tasks inspired by military and tactical operations that demand coordination rather than aggression.

Ramil “Kapitan” Tumbaga, a senior founding member of the group, remarked that beginners are allowed to borrow units to determine whether ai***ft is truly suited for them before making any significant expense. For the organization, entering the sport begins not with buying a replica r***e but with understanding the discipline required to use one responsibly. Recognizing that the sport requires both financial investment and personal commitment, BAKAT encourages newcomers to observe first before purchasing equipment.

“Hindi rin kasi biro ‘yung paglalaro ng ai***ft. Masakit [matamaan], pero kayang-kaya naman. Tapos sa mga unit, hindi rin basta-basta. May presyo rin kahit paano. Pero kayang pag-ipunan kung talagang gusto mo [maglaro],” according to Kapitan.

Yet despite its emphasis on sportsmanship, structure, and safety, ai***ft continues to face public scrutiny because of one undeniable reality: every replica gun still looks remarkably similar to the real thing.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺

Ai***ft’s greatest strength—its realism—is also its greatest challenge.

Replica ri**es and pistols are intentionally designed to resemble actual fi****ms for simulation and tactical training, making it understandable why many people associate them with danger. In a society increasingly exposed to gun-related violence, the sight of anyone carrying what appears to be a fi***rm naturally raises concern. The challenge, therefore, is not simply distinguishing replicas from real weapons, but ensuring that both are handled with the same level of responsibility.

The Philippines recognizes fi***rm ownership as a regulated privilege rather than an absolute right. Under Republic Act No. 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Fi****ms and Am******on Regulation Act, the acquisition, possession, carrying, and transport of fi****ms require strict licensing and compliance with government regulations. Although ai***ft guns are not classified as fi****ms under the law, the Philippine National Police-Fi****ms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) has consistently advised owners to transport replica guns responsibly, keep them concealed in public, and avoid actions that may cause alarm because of their close resemblance to real fi****ms.

Those same principles are reflected in BAKAT’s own operations. Before every Sunday game, facilitators conduct mandatory safety orientations, covering gun handling, field rules, emergency procedures, and proper player conduct.

“Bago mag-start ang game, orientation, reminders, safety, precaution, lahat ‘yan ididiscuss bago mag-start talaga ang game. Weekly, nare-refresh sa mga member ang mga Do’s and Don'ts,” said Kapitan, reinforcing the idea that safe handling is a continuous practice rather than a one-time lesson.

The organization’s safety measures extend far beyond verbal reminders. Every replica gun is tested through a chronograph before entering the field, ensuring that muzzle velocity does not exceed the group's regulated 450-feet-per-second limit. Players whose units surpass the allowable limit are immediately restricted, while eye protection remains mandatory until participants have exited the designated play area. Marshals roam the field throughout every game, monitoring safety compliance, preventing unnecessary risks, and enforcing the honor system that defines ai***ft as a gentleman’s sport.

“Lagi naming ipinapaalala ang handling ng ai***ft. Kailangan itrato natin siyang parang real fi***rm para iwas tayo sa mga incident,” said Hensel “Big Boy” Laroya, one of their senior members. By treating every replica as though it carries the same responsibility as a real fi***rm, BAKAT believes its members learn lessons that outlast every match.

Once the game ends and the equipment is packed away, what remains are not the tactics or the targets, but the values the sport quietly instills— discipline, patience, camaraderie, and a commitment to giving back.

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱

Outside of its tactical objectives, ai***ft has become a form of recreation that promotes both physical and mental well-being. Every match requires players to sprint across uneven terrain, navigate obstacles, communicate with teammates, and make split-second decisions under pressure. According to the World Health Organization, by combining physical activity with strategic thinking, the sport engages both body and mind while supporting psychological well-being, stress management, and social connection, making participation beneficial beyond physical fitness alone.

“Sa akin, malaking bagay talaga sa akin ‘yung iba-ibang tao ‘yung nakakasalamuha ko eh. Parang ang dali ko na ngayong mag-adjust… Medyo kalma, nakakakalma ng isip… Kaya lagi kaming nakapush sa friendly at enjoyable na grupo. Sa mental health, malaking bagay siya,” Big Boy expressed.

The same experience is shared by many of the organization’s members, who describe ai***ft as an avenue for personal growth rather than simply a weekend pastime. Through constant interaction with people from different backgrounds, players learn patience, teamwork, communication, and adaptability while building friendships that extend beyond the playing field.

“Patience ang naitulong [ng ai***ft] sa akin. Dati kasi ang gamit kong unit, assault r***e. Ngayon, nag-shift ako sa bolt-action, sniper na. Kailangan mo talagang maghintay. Hindi ka makaka-hit ng tao kapag hindi ka naghintay,” Kapitan explained.

Those lessons extend far beyond the weekly matches. Since its establishment, BAKAT has transformed its shared passion into a platform for community service by organizing annual outreach programs, participating in Brigada Eskwela, supporting game-for-a-cause events, and conducting gift-giving and feeding programs throughout Bataan. Funds collected from weekly games are saved throughout the year and given to charitable efforts every December, proving that the group's victories are measured not only by missions completed, but by lives touched.

“Yearly, hindi kami pumapalya sa gift-giving, food feeding, at donation sa mga paaralan. Hindi lang kami basta grupong naglalaro,” said Big Boy.

“Gusto naming mas marami pa kaming matulungan habang mas dumarami rin ang members namin.”

***

Ai***ft may be mistaken for violence by those who only see the replica fi****ms. Yet beyond the camouflage, plastic pellets, and tactical simulations is a community built on discipline, trust, and accountability— values that cannot be measured by accuracy or victory alone.

After all, what BAKAT carries is not the weight of the replicas in their hands, but the responsibility, friendships, and service they continue to uphold long after the game is over.
__________
Words by Bennedict Tolentino
Photos by Min Del Pilar
Layout by Noah Consus

25/07/2026

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: A total of 1,065 completers from Bataan Peninsula State University - Balanga Campus (BPSU-BC) received their degrees at the Bataan People’s Center, as the university concluded its three-day Commencement Exercises for the Undergraduate Class of 2026, July 22 to 24.

BC colleges with the largest graduating cohorts held their ceremonial rites on the final day, with 313 College of Business and Accountancy, 219 College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and 468 College of Education graduates completing the batch.

University President Dr. Ruby B. Santos-Matibag highlighted the importance of the attendees’ support systems throughout their academic journey, noting that these relationships continue to shape their growth outside the institution.

“Never be ashamed of where you came from. Remember the people who helped you, the community that formed you, and the university that believed in your potential. Your degree is not the end of your education. The world will continue to change, and you must continue to grow with it,” said Dr. Santos-Matibag.

Meanwhile, the 65 Institute of Public Administration and Governance completers, who were included under Cluster A of the commencement exercises, claimed their diplomas two days before the other BC colleges.

BPSU produced 3,558 degree-holders this year, comprising all graduates from its six campuses.
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Report by Ronalen Anoba and Alexa Guevarra
Photos by Min Del Pilar, Denise Esporlas, and Bennedict Tolentino

25/07/2026

𝗗𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗴
ni Marx S. Ongkingco

𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼:
Bubuhos ang sandamakmak na karimlan.
Mag-ingat ang mga tao sa pampang.

Kahapon sa pagbugso ng ulan
Nagsiapawan ang mga ilog,
Pati na rin ang emburnal.

Rumagasa ang baha
Na nagtuklap ng bahay sa lupa,
Mistulang mga mantsang binura
Mistulang banwang tinungkab sa mapa.

At ako, akong naritong nakalambitin sa sanga't
Pinanunuod ang pag-abot ng kamay
Ng mag-iina kong mahal
Habang inaagaw ng ragasa
Na dulot ng nangangalit na habagat.

Ngunit, sila pa rin ay nahiwalay,
Kaya’t sinabi sa sarili na
Kailangan kong mabuhay.
Hanapin ang aking mga anak,
Kahit ako mismo’y nasa ilalim na ng dagat,
At tanging tanaw ay tanglaw ng buwan.

Kumapit ako sa lubid ng isang barko,
Sabay dumampot ng tulos ng kawayang
Inanod mula sa estero.
Sa takot na ang mga buwayang nakalusot
Mula sa mga prinsa,
Ay siya namang manalasa
Lumamon sa mga bangkay
Na iniwan ng bagyo.

Hinanap ko ang buo kong pamilya,
Subalit panlulumo ang nadama
Nang sila’y makita.

Wala ni isa sa kanila ang nakaligtas…

Matapos malagutan ng hininga
At kanilang bangkay ay humalo
Sa tumpok ng basura’t
Gumuhong d**e.

24/07/2026

𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗲𝘀
By Kenneth Clarisse Ongoco

sometimes i think adulthood is just
recognizing people through temporary things

through tarpaulins tied to subdivision gates
through 1x1 ID pictures
through half-faded addresses on shopee waybills
through the way somebody’s mother still waves at you
even after years of not hearing your name in their house

i pass by your street sometimes
not intentionally
just because the way to the grocery is there
because the tricycles charge too much now
because this town only has so many roads

and there you are suddenly
zip tied to the gate
printed ten feet tall in toga
and your hard-earned cerulean blue hood
cum laude in giant letters
as if the whole subdivision needed proof
you survived manila

i stopped for maybe three seconds
because i realized i recognized you
not from your face
but from the feeling of being seven

that strange age where everyone still smelled like glue and crayons

you still had braces on in the picture
which shocked me more than the honors did
because i genuinely thought
you would’ve gotten them removed by 2023

funny what survives

the world keeps people in weird storage boxes

you in org posts and graduation photos
me running errands for my grandmother still
watching people from elementary school become
nurses
fathers
sales agents
names on reunion lists

people think losing someone happens all at once
but mostly
the world just stores them elsewhere

inside tarpaulins
inside congratulations comments
inside photos this town hangs up like saints

and i stay here
learning the town in its after-version
where every familiar thing
has been slightly rearranged

and you became someone
i only run into accidentally
in giant print
under electrical wires
while i’m carrying something mundane home

trying to understand
why an old smile
can feel heavier
than missing a person ever did
__________
As the final call echoed through the newsroom, we realized it was not just another deadline we were closing, but the last chapter we would share with our graduating KapaTDs who turned the publication into a family.

Soon, your familiar voices may no longer fill the long table, but you will always linger in every page we publish, every layout we perfect, every headline we rewrite, and every story we choose to pursue with courage. Long after graduation, TD will still carry pieces of you—not in the archives alone, but in the journalists you helped shape.

To Kuya Joshua, Ate Jean, Ate Kc, Ate Jade, Kuya Jay, and Kuya Russel, this will never be a goodbye. No matter where the next story takes you, you will always have a home in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳.

24/07/2026

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: The final batch of Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) Class of 2026 graduates takes the stage today, as the university holds its last cluster of commencement exercises at the Bataan People’s Center (BPC).

Graduates from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Business and Accountancy, and the College of Education, along with the Bagac and Dinalupihan Campuses, are filling the venue with their loved ones, in celebration of completing their academic programs.

The graduation rites officially started at 8:00 AM with the entrance of BPSU’s officials and honored guests.
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Report by Ronalen Anoba
Photos by Min Del Pilar and Denise Esporlas

21/07/2026

[𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦]
𝗝𝗥𝗟𝗗𝗠: 𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻

𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘪 𝘴𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘺𝘰, 𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬 𝘬𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘰 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘰.
‎
Sa bawat kanta ay may nakakubling istorya. Marahil ang pinakamalaking puhunan ng isang musikero ay higit pa sa boses at tunog na binubuo nila, kundi pati na rin ang pag-uugnay ng mga liriko sa tunay na kinalakihan nilang mundo.

Panyo sa ulo, malaking t-shirt, at medyas na hanggang tuhod. Ito ang pananamit sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ni Jerald Laxamana Mallari, o mas kilala bilang JRLDM, na sa kabila ng ganitong angas sa lansangan ay mayroong lungkot na itinatago at mabigat na pinagdaraanan.
‎
‎𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝘆𝗮𝘀
‎
‘Di naging kasintaas ng mga medyas ang kanyang pangarap, na maging ang mga bituing kumikislap ay napag-iwanan na sa alupaap.

‎Bago pa man umingay sa masa ang mga kanta ni Jerald, nagsimulang lumaganap ang kilabot niya sa hip-hop sa kanilang eskwelahan sa Barangay Poblacion, Mariveles, Bataan. Ang pagdayo sa mga rap battle ang naging una niyang studio. Wala pa man siyang instrumentong maiaambag, mayroon naman siyang kwentong nais ipamahagi.

“Dati gusto ko sumali sa mga banda. Kaya lang ‘di nila ako sinasali, dahil ‘yung mga kasama ko noon, mga bata rin na mas may privilege kaysa sa akin—may guitar sila, may tambol sila. Ako wala, dahil mahirap lang kami, pero nagko-compose ako,” ani niya.

‎Patunay lang na hindi hadlang ang kakulangan sa isang taong may pangarap na nais punan. Nagiging banta lamang ito sa mga hindi gumagawa ng paraan. Mula sa paghahanap ng kanyang tinig, natuklasan ng batang mang-aawit ang isang komunidad, kung saan nakilala niya ang mga tropang lubos na magtuturo sa kanya kung paano bumuo ng sarili niyang kanta. Higit pa sa mga kaalaman ay ang mas malalim nilang samahan sa kasiyahan at kalungkutan.

Sa panahon na laganap ang Pop rock sa Philippine music scene, bilang sa daliri ang tumatangkilik sa hip-hop at rap tracks; at isa na roon si Jerald. Hindi niya na sinubukang ipilit sa sarili ang mas papatok sa tenga ng masa, kundi mas pinili niyang sundin ang himig ng kaniyang talento kahit pa iilan lang ang may gusto nito. Ang pagyakap sa sariling hilig ang siyang nagbukas ng oportunidad kay Jerald na makasama sa hip-hop community.
‎
‎"Maliit lang ang community ng hip-hop. Noong 2010, nakiki-record lang ako kina King Promdi kasi siya lang ‘yung may matinong recording studio. Diretso ako sa studio nila, nakiki-record ako. ‘Yan 'yung mga early days." Sa ganitong simpleng mga pamamaraan, natuto si Jerald kung paano makisama, at bumuo ng sarili niyang piyesa.
‎
Gayunpaman, sa likod ng samahang kanyang nabubuo sa musika, may mga balakid siyang kinaharap na talagang sumubok sa kanya mapahanggang sa kabilang dako ng buhay. ‎

Marahil ay hindi na bago ang kwento niya. Kumbaga, sa dinamiraming genre ng mga kanta, melodrama ang sa kaniya—problema sa pamilya. Sa ganitong tagpo, napagtanto niyang tulad lang din ng iba’t ibang mga tao, ang kanta ay may iba't ibang nota. May nasa taas at mayroong nasa baba, ngunit pare-parehong mahalaga upang maging kaaya-aya sa pandinig ng masa.
‎
‎𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗨𝗹𝗼

Sa panahong ito kinailangang muli ni Jerald ng panyo, ngunit, hindi na lamang bilang disenyo sa ulo, kundi pamunas ng kaniyang mga pawis at luhang kusa na lang bumabagsak mula sa bigat ng mga hindi inaasahang problema na sa huli ay siyang hindi rin agad nasusuklian ng sarap.
‎
Hindi pa nagsisimula si Jerald na buuin ang pangalan niya, nang may isang sakripisyo na siyang kinailangang gawin: ang tumigil sa pag-aaral. Sa murang edad ay nagtrabaho na siya sa pabrika kung saan sinubukan siya ng mapagbirong ritmo ng buhay.

‎"Maraming problema sa buhay. Nanay at tatay ko, hiwalay pa. Si nanay, hindi niya naman kayang lahat kami suportahan—tatlo kaming [anak niyang] lalaki. Ako, hindi ko naman hahayaan ang sarili kong gano'n na lang ako, kaya nagtrabaho na ako habang ginagawa ko [ang] gusto ko,” paglalahad ni Jerald nang may bigat sa bawat bigkas.
‎
Subalit, may mga bagay na hindi rin nagtatagal—mga bagay na nakatadhanang lumipas. Kabilang na rito ang trabaho niya, pati na rin ang relasyon sa dating nobya. Matapos siyang pagtaksilan at ipagpalit, dumaan si Jerald sa depresyon, tinamad magtrabaho, at tila nawalan na ng gana sa lahat.

Dahil dito, nawala sa tono ang buhay niya. Naligaw siya ng kumpas bago pa man umabot sa koro. Idagdag pa ang pagkasira ng motor na ginagamit niya sa tuwing lalabas at gagala; maging ang kompyuter na pinag-ipunan niya at naging kaagapay sa kanyang musika ay bigla na lang din na hindi gumana.

‎Ang noo'y nagsisimulang JRLDM ay muling nagbalik sa Jerald na kilabot ng lansangan—nagpabaya, nalulong sa bisyo, at mistulang nawalan na ng pag-asang umangat pa muli.

Ito na marahil ang lusak ng kalbaryo para kay Jerald. Bumagsak siya sa pinakamababang nota ng kanta na hindi niya inaakalang makakayang abutin ng boses na taglay niya.
‎‎
‎"Pinapalayas na ako sa bahay, nasira 'yung ganito ko, niloko ako ng ganito. Wala, sabi ko, hindi ko na alam. Grabe talaga. Hindi siya biro. At walang tao ang may deserve ng ganoong feeling. ‎Kahit sinong tao dapat hindi nila maranasan yung ganoong pakiramdam." Sa saliw ng kaniyang sariling na kwento, dito niya isinulat ang kantang “Patiwakal”, na siyang tinangkilik at isinapuso ng karamihan.

Napundi ang ilaw na nagbibigay liwanag sa kinatatayuan niyang entablado at ito na ang pinakamadilim na pagtatanghal sa kaniyang buhay.
‎
Sadyang komplikado kung aawitin ang naging buhay niya. Mapaglaro ang mga nota, ngunit, kinaya niyang panindigan ang mga ito dahil sa mga tunay na kaibigan na naging instrumento upang makuha niya muli ang tamang tono.

‎"’Yung time na umiyak na ako, pinagkukwentuhan namin lagi ‘yan nina Poison13. Sila ‘yung kasama ko nung time na umiyak ako. Hanggang sa nagawan ng paraan 'yung kompyuter ko. Syempre, kahit papaano pinipilit ko pa rin. Baka may pwede pa ako gawin sa buhay." Kahit nangangapa kung paano siya makakabalik sa dati ay pikit-mata niyang ginawa ang dapat, at unti-unti niya muling binuhay si JRLDM.

Buhat sa mga awiting nakaimbak lamang sa kanyang kompyuter noon, hindi na lamang sa apat na sulok ng studio napapakinggan ang boses niya. Nagsisilbi na rin itong inspirasyon at kanlungan sa mga taong pilit ikinukubli sa pakikinig ng musika ang mga emosyong nararamdaman.

𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧-𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁

Habang tumutugtog na ulit ang plaka at maingay na ang pangalan ni JRLDM sa industriya, hindi niya nakakalimutang lumingon sa kaniyang pinanggalingan. Ang espasyo sa malaking t-shirt na suot niya dati ay siyang nakalaan pala sa pag-abot ng tulong sa iba.

Malaking espasyo na magsisilbing puwang upang palaguin pa ang buhay ng mga tao sa paligid niya nang maging isa sila sa loob ng malaking kamiseta.

“Kaya ko ginagawa ‘to, para sa kanila na. ‘Di na ‘to para sa akin eh—’di ko na habol ‘yung fame. Gusto ko ibigay ‘yung buhay sa kanila na hindi ko naranasan dati.” Nang dahil sa mundo ng pagiging mang-aawit, nakaahon siya sa maraming paghihirap, malayo sa panahong iilan pa lang ang kaniyang mga tagapakinig at mahina pa ang kanyang tinig. Ngayon, siya naman ang magiging sangkap upang tulungan ang mga mahal niya sa buhay, pati na rin ang mga taong nais ding sumubok sa larangan niya.

“As long as masaya ‘yung mga mahal ko sa buhay—naibibigay ko ‘yung mga kailangan at gusto nila, ‘yung mabigyan ko sila ng stable na buhay—okay na ako doon eh.” Balewala para sa kanya ang mga numero sa pera at dami ng taong humahanga. Hindi ito ang basehan ng tagumpay para sa kanya, bagkus ay sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong at pagbabahagi ng mga biyayang kanyang pinagsikapan.‎

Sadyang alam at naranasan ni Jerald kung paano ang buhay na lugmok sa hirap. Menor de edad pa lang ay kinailangan na niyang kumita ng pera at pasukin ang ilegal na trabaho, matugunan lang ang pangangailangan nilang pamilya sa araw-araw.

Kaya naman bukod sa paglikha ng sarili niyang tunog, karangalan para sa kaniya na mabigyan ng komportableng buhay ang kanyang pamilya at turuan ng libre ang mga batang sumasalamin sa karanasan niya. Ito ang alaalang nais niyang ibahagi sa lahat.
‎
‎"Maging totoo sila sa sarili nila, gumawa sila ng sarili nilang path—maging trailblazer sila. 'Di dahil uso, 'yun 'yung gagawin mo. Huwag kayong matakot mag-experiment. Huwag kang mahiya. Ikaw yan,” banggit niya.
‎
Mula rito, hindi lang ang mga kanta niya ang nais niyang tumatak sa masa, kundi ang personal niyang istorya. ‎Hangad niya na malaman ng lahat na karaniwang tao na kapwa lang din sya. Isang musikero na ginagawa kung ano ang tinitibok ng puso niya at hindi ang dinidikta ng iba.
‎
‎***

Ang musika ay may buhay na tinataglay; mayroon itong sariling nota, himig, at may lalim sa kwentong dala.

Kabilang ito sa mga obra ng sining na may mensaheng iba-iba at nakadepende sa magsasalin. Subalit may natatangi lamang itong manunulat at mang-aawit na nakakaalam ng lahat. Ang buhay ay hindi nauubusan ng hamon ngunit sa lahat ng ito ay may pagkakataon para bumangon.

𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗸𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝗴-𝗶𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗮—𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗸𝗮𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗸𝗮, 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗸𝗮.
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Isinulat nina Ronalen Anoba at Sophia Moralizon
Inilapat ni Frances Gatbonton

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