LAKANDIWA

LAKANDIWA The Official Student Publication of University of Cebu Lakandiwa is yet another word commonly described to a judge in a poetic joust.

Lakandiwa - The Way of the Warrior

Lakan is a tagalog word that means "warrior," "freeman/landowner caste," or even "chieftain." The word covers the range of responsibilities of the warrior/hero, from mandirigma (warrior) to magsasaka (farmer). If we break down the word into its components, we get Lakan (warrior) and Diwa (spirit). Thus, Lakandiwa means "the spirit of the warrior" or "the way of

the warrior." From this word, we can derive our own code of the warrior: a hero who, in times of war or times of peace, leads us in our maintaining the very essence of our lives. The Pro-Student, Pro-People Lakandiwa was established in the 1970s.

02/06/2026

UC–LM DEBUTS NEW WEBMASTERS BASKETBALL SQUAD

As aspiring athletes double by number, so do the opportunities for future triple-doubles.

Expanding academic opportunities for student-athletes, the University of Cebu–Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UC–LM) Webmasters officially announced its new collegiate men's basketball team on June 1, 2026.

Philippine Basketball Association All-Star and champion and UC alumnus Donaldo "Dondon" Hontiveros will lead as the new Webmasters intercampus basketball team's head coach.

The announcement was made during Hontiveros' birthday celebration at his residence in Banawa, Guadalupe, Cebu City, where UC Athletics Director Jessica Honoridez and the UC–Main and UC–LM coaching staff were also present.

UC–Main Baby Webmasters Coach Regie Licanda will serve as assistant coach to the new team while also leading the UC–LM Baby Webmasters as head coach.

Additionally, UC–LM Baby Webmasters coach, Calib Gawangon, will lead the UC–Main Baby Webmasters as head coach.

In an interview with Lakandiwa, Honoridez expressed turning the collective love for basketball into an opportunity.

"Maski wala mu-champion pa ang atu’ng college basketball sa [UC]–Main, nagbutang ta sa [UC]–LM, because I know Atty. Go wants to help," she said.

Honoridez added that the new college team helps give the high school athletes more chances to continue college as student-athletes.

"We have two sources sa atu’ng high school. Then we cannot accommodate that sa one team ra, so we put up one para adtu sa pikas, then he's extending [and] he's helping sa mga bata to finish their studies," she said.

The newly formed Webmasters team is set to make its debut in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. Season 26 later this year.

LOOK: Tayo ang Taya, with the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), spearheaded the yo...
02/06/2026

LOOK: Tayo ang Taya, with the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), spearheaded the youth consultation initiative "CTRL+YOUTH: Shaping ASEAN's Digital Future," at the Department of Education Ecotech Center in Lahug, Cebu City on May 30, 2026.

The initiative aimed to address youth concerns on the influence of the digital world, highlighting the importance of youth resilience and the responsible use of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).

The consultation was conducted in clusters across regions of the country, with previous sessions held in Tagum City (Mindanao), the National Capital Region, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Luzon, the latter two held as Zoom webinars.

In an interview with Lakandiwa, DSWD Central Office Director for Policy Development and Planning Bureau Hannah Giray-Carcido emphasized the importance of the youth's perspectives in addressing national and international concerns.

“In all clustered consultation, we gathered the youth of that particular island cluster, and convened them, and we talked about ASEAN digital resilience, as well as the responsible use of new technology, so that includes the use of AI. Kasi for this chairship, we want to promote an ASEAN declaration on youth digital resilience, so ‘yun ‘yung isa sa sinusulong natin as the chair of ASEAN 2026,” she said.

The event featured various speakers and plenary discussions highlighting action plans against cybercrimes and the misuse of digital tools, among other topics.

To conclude the event, delegates were grouped by different digital-related topics to present manifestos suggesting areas for change and development in digital literacy, online safety, and digital privacy.

In a separate interview with Lakandiwa, Barangay Tungkop Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines Adviser Justin Sanchez shared the necessity of the topics discussed during the consultation moving forward, especially for often-neglected sectors.

“I believe that each Filipino g'yud kay deserve to have these kind of learnings just like what we bring regardless of their socio-economic status, their geographical location, cultural background, and such. As someone who has [pursued] in the field of education also, it's very important for us youth [leaders] to educate those youth individuals in our barangay,” he said.

The series of consultations will have its culminating activity during the ASEAN Youth Summit on Digital Resilience and Responsible Use of New Technologies on August 5–6, at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Words by Paul Philip M. Bucog
Photos by Brian Benedict R. Orlanda

LOOK: The University of Cebu–Main (UC–Main) marked a new milestone in campus governance as the Student Affairs Office (S...
01/06/2026

LOOK: The University of Cebu–Main (UC–Main) marked a new milestone in campus governance as the Student Affairs Office (SAO) held its first-ever Student Leaders Promoting Action, Responsibility, and Knowledge (SPARK) Leadership Awarding Ceremony at the UC–Main Jones Building Auditorium on May 29, 2026.

The ceremony honored the leadership and community service demonstrated by student leaders across the university throughout the academic year.

Student Body Organizations and graduating officers from the Senior High School and College departments were recognized during the event.

In an interview with Lakandiwa, incumbent Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants Vice President for Membership and Records Jenny Marie Pelares reflected on the vital lessons she drew from the year-long SPARK series.

“Challenges will always test our confidence and capabilities, but true leadership means standing firm, rising above doubts, and inspiring others to act. It is less about what we can do alone, and more about what we can empower people to achieve together,” she said.

The SAO previously launched its SPARK Summit midterm edition last January 22–23, at the same venue.

Words by Cherie Lhot D. Sintos
Photos by Adrianne Carl B. Pepito

LOOK: The University of Cebu–Main (UC–Main) College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) held its annual Industry Forum and...
30/05/2026

LOOK: The University of Cebu–Main (UC–Main) College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) held its annual Industry Forum and Internship Completion Ceremony on May 28, 2026, at the UC–Main Jones Building Auditorium.

The Industry Forum commenced with an assessment on the student interns' On-the-Job Training (OJT) experiences, and preparing future employees through a question-and-answer segment.

In an interview with Lakandiwa, fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Accountancy student Rheajen Belarde shared her post-internship realizations during the forum.

“When I entered the company nga napili naku, at first, I was very hesitant and shy. But in the middle of the OJT training, nakat-un g’yud ku nga dapat mu-communicate g’yud ku and dapat mu-initate g’yud ku,” she said.

The Internship Completion Ceremony followed the forum, recognizing students who completed their internship journey through an awarding of certificates. The ceremony also announced the most outstanding student interns per class.

In a separate interview with Lakandiwa, CBA Dean Manolito Alsola emphasized what sets the new interns apart from the previous batches.

“This batch of interns [is] more creative and energetic. Well, the [OJT] president is the model of them all—very energetic. And they accomplish what they plan to accomplish through it with excellence,” he said.

In addition to the certificates awarded to students, the ceremony also recognized practicum advisers for their guidance and contributions throughout the internship journey.

Words by Nate Antonio Saed P. Plando
Photos by Grysha Mae Colance and Brian Benedict R. Orlanda

"PingDing!"Comics by Fiana Jiecel M. Mondoñedo
30/05/2026

"PingDing!"

Comics by Fiana Jiecel M. Mondoñedo

Beyond ReachDivided through darkness and light,His wishful thoughts keep him alive.The filthy seats and rusty railings e...
29/05/2026

Beyond Reach

Divided through darkness and light,
His wishful thoughts keep him alive.
The filthy seats and rusty railings ease him up,
As days come by in a haste.

Along the loud engine roars,
He watches strangers pass with hurried pours.
Behind him rests a silent, hopeful woman,
Bearing heavy burdens for so long.

Carton boxes hold the fruits dear,
With little dreams where hardships swear.
Though hunger and exhaustion visit every day,
They greet each day anyway.

Through crowded streets and restless days,
They seek a life full of comfort and wealth.
Within his eyes a quiet fire flickers,
For better days he yearns.

So close yet so far,
He refuses to give up.
The night may steal the light of the day,
But his dreams for a brighter future will always stay.



Words by Airah E. Autentico
Photo by Eliza Jane C. Culpa

Farmers and vendors' pleaWhen I was younger, I used to fantasize about being stuck in a grocery store where supplies wer...
28/05/2026

Farmers and vendors' plea

When I was younger, I used to fantasize about being stuck in a grocery store where supplies were unlimited.

Back then, I thought oversupply only meant abundance. But now I realize that for some, that same abundance can be a matter of survival.

In the streets of Baguio and La Union, extending to Benguet, cabbages were recently sold at "giveaway prices"—Php 80 for five kilos, roughly Php 16 per kilo—due to a massive oversupply in the Cordillera region.

This is not an isolated case; tomatoes were dumped on roadsides while onion prices skyrocketed during shortages and collapse during oversupply.

Farmers and vendors are trapped in a cycle where they suffer whether prices become high or fall too low.

While consumers feel relief over low prices, vendors and farmers bear the losses that lead to debt and hunger for their families.

After months of planting and praying their crops could survive, they sell them for prices too low to even cover transportation expenses and production costs.

I cannot stop thinking about how painful that must feel, as I have witnessed the hardships of my neighbors who depend entirely on their harvest for income.

Instead of providing real-time solutions, the government prioritizes cheap imports that compete directly with the country's own produce.

This is not support, but a betrayal of Filipino farmers and vendors who have fed generations.

Importation may offer short-term solutions, but it ignores the long-term damage to the local economy.

When goods become expensive, the nation reacts immediately. But when prices fall and vendors and farmers start incurring losses, the suffering becomes invisible.

That is why, when I watched a documentary about a Filipino farmer who chose to pursue farming abroad, I felt relieved.

Farmers abroad are supported, earn stable incomes, and are respected, unlike the treatment they receive here in the Philippines.

The country could learn from Japan's agricultural cooperatives, which stabilize prices and coordinate supply to prevent severe oversaturation, or from South Korea's practice of purchasing excess produce during oversupply periods.

These countries understand the simple truth our country continues to overlook: food security begins with protecting the people who feed the nation.

The Department of Agriculture could implement measures like training on food processing and value-adding, yet these efforts remain limited, and farmers are left without options.

Despite agriculture being essential to the economy, the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that farmers consistently rank among the poorest sectors in the country.

This is alarming because the very people feeding the nation are also the same people struggling the hardest to feed their own families.

What makes this even more heartbreaking is that we praise cheap prices without realizing that someone else is barely surviving while absorbing the losses.

That is why this story lingers with me: the abundance I once fantasized about is actually the naked truth of losses for every farmer and vendor I see in the news.

The cheaper the goods become for consumers, the more expensive survival becomes for vendors and farmers. And that is the cruelest irony of all, because the government remains deaf to its people's pleas.



**This commentary is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the stand of the publication or the Editorial Board.

LOOK: The University of Cebu–Main (UC–Main) College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) held its first-ever Research Congr...
28/05/2026

LOOK: The University of Cebu–Main (UC–Main) College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) held its first-ever Research Congress at the UC–Main Jones Building Auditorium on May 26, 2026.

The event showcased 52 posters and 31 presentations featuring different research projects of graduating students and faculty members.

The congress was divided into two parallel sessions: Session A at the auditorium focused on digital business solutions, while Session B at the eighth floor Audio-Visual Room highlighted food development innovations.

In an interview with Lakandiwa, CBA Program Research Coordinator Danny Sumagpao shared his insights on the department's shift toward practical and output-based studies.

"I am very happy that the entire CBA is not only making a traditional research, but we developed another format for our research which we call business research. We have a lot of output like digital business solutions and, at the same time, food development," he said.

The event also invited representatives from UC–Banilad (UC–Ban) who discussed the ongoing efforts to secure the intellectual property rights of the student developers.

In a separate interview with Lakandiwa, UC–Ban Research Director Judy Ann Gimena emphasized the importance of integrating legal protection for systems created by the students.

"The students, together with the teachers and advisers, also applied for the copyright of the system-based researches, so we now also integrate the protection of our intellectual property. So whether or not these students will pursue this creation of them even after they graduated, they can do so but the intellectual property is also of UC," she said.

Furthermore, the department looks forward to future research collaborations among CBA departments across UC campuses offering the same programs.

Words and Photos by Grysha Mae Colance

Zero Resistance to Your AffectionAs Grigory left the classroom, his classmate Nastasya approached him for his contact de...
27/05/2026

Zero Resistance to Your Affection

As Grigory left the classroom, his classmate Nastasya approached him for his contact details for a group work in their art class.

"You already have my contact," he replied without thought.

"You weren't in the Accountancy group chat because you're in the Physics department. What are you talking about?" she said.

While reluctantly giving his contact, Grigory caught a note on Nastasya's phone, leaving him confused.

After finishing his midterms in Classical Thermodynamics, Grigory headed to the rooftop, accessing it through an isolated staircase on the building's west wing that had a loose lock. He was carrying a plastic bag with tupperwares of takoyaki and Kansai-style okonomiyaki.

He sat down beside Nastasya's silhouette, overlooking the city's skyline, the tangerine sunset, the students and faculty prancing about the school grounds, and the great balete tree.

Nastasya slapped Grigory. "Did you invest your brain cells in stupidity? I told you not to give everyone a hint that we're going out!" she exclaimed.

"Oh? But that was just a mishap," Grigory shrugged it off comically. "And it adds to the thrill to give them a piece of a hint from time to time, right?"

The teasing continued as the two pushed away each other's limbs. Grigory was laughing and giggling, while Nastasya was still irritated, but soon calmed down as the sunset brushed on her blushing face.

The takoyaki were burning in Grigory's mouth, while the okonomiyaki, glazed with mayonnaise writing "Happy Three Months of Us" with a heart drawn rather swiftly at the end, was savored to Nastasya's liking.

The crimson skyline overheard the stories Grigory and Nastasya were talking about: their classes and exams, Grigory's embarrassing confession, their first date, their relationship hidden as to not break their university's norms, Nastasya's long and beautiful hair, Grigory's jawline charm, Nastasya's dedication to being an accountant, Grigory's passion for quantum mechanics, and how they sorely missed each other's embrace.

Nastasya, leaning on Grigory's shoulder, asked, "When will you be leaving for Japan?"

"In three days. I'll be away for a week anyway, so we can do the catching up quite sooner," he replied, flustered, as he played with Nastasya's fingernails.

"So, how are you? Are you nervous?"

"No, no. I'm fine…"

"That's the same thing you said last time," said Nastasya, in a tone rather melancholic, as she lifted her head from Grigory's shoulder. She turned toward him. "Is that really how you feel?"

"Yes! That's how I—" Grigory paused as he looked at Nastasya's eyes.

"Then that's not how I think you are feeling. I can't tell if you are even confident or not. I can't tell how you're feeling at all." Nastasya clenched Grigory's hands. "Can't you just tell me how you really feel about your competition in Japan?"

Grigory felt an overwhelming rush as he clenched Nastasya's hands in turn.

"Well, I," he began to talk, stuttering, placing his palm behind his head, "I'm really nervous. Being passionate about astrophysics can get overwhelming, you know. And my competitors are from other countries, so there's that, too."

He continued on and on, slouching as if trying to hide behind a turtle shell.

Once Grigory finished, Nastasya beamed a serene smile, her eyes curved in relief, the tensions on her face toned down, her embrace soft and calm. Grigory stared at Nastasya with a fluttering heart.

"I really like it better when you're honest like this," Nastasya said.

"It's quite hard. I'm not used to it," said Grigory. "Is it even that necessary—"

"It is necessary!" Nastasya raised her voice. "As your partner, how can I tend to your wounds if you do not tell me how you feel? I can't just live on assumptions, and I can't read your mind, either."

Nastasya took a deep breath. "I cannot be a hero to your every problem, but at least I can be your sanctuary. A place where you can rest and be honest."

Grigory clenched his chest, then covered his entire face. "Gosh. I'm not used to this much love… Then, can I say something really honest?" he asked.

"Sure. What would that be?" said Nastasya as she stroked Grigory's curly hair.

"I like you. Like, I super, really like you," he said. "And you look really cute today, too. And I always really appreciate you. And… I super really like you since then."

Nastasya chuckled, her smile wider than before, her face as pink as cherry blossoms. "Aww, you're really adorable when you're this honest. I like you, too, Grigory."

Under the sunset's final minutes, Grigory and Nastasya hugged each other tightly, whispering each other's appreciation that only the dust could hear, with Nastasya awkwardly tiptoeing to reach Grigory's hair.

Words by Paul Philip M. Bucog
Illustration by Ruelyn N. Espinosa

Today, the Muslim community celebrates Eid al-Adha, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and...
26/05/2026

Today, the Muslim community celebrates Eid al-Adha, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and reminding us of the power of ultimate faith and selflessness.

As we observe this blessed day, may we carry the essence of this sacred feast into our everyday lives through generosity, respect, and compassion for one another.

Eid Mubarak!

Layout by Katrina Mae O. Magno

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