Many times it’s been quoted that the youth is the hope of the fatherland. With a total population of more or less 24 million as projected by the National Statistics office, this is not so hard to imagine.

The youth, age 15-30 years old as defined by Republic Act 8044, plays a major role in the making or breaking of the country’s future. At least a third of the country’s population is composed of young people who, if they work as one, could change the course of the country’s history.

And if there is one more moment in the history of this country where the voice of the youth is greatly needed, it would be in the upcoming elections. The youth population alone could ensure the victory of the candidate who embodies the ideals of the young generation.

In an article published in abscbn.com, entitled “Imperatives of the Youth” by Maxine Tanya Hamada, it was noted that in the 2004 elections almost 13 million of the total number of voters were 18-24 years old, 5 million of which are first time voters. But it was also noted that roughly 2 million supposed new voters also failed to register for that election. In that same year, the president won by more than a million votes than her opponents and as Hamada says it, “Had the 2 million youth voters registered and voted, it could have tipped the scale.”

For so many years now, the vote of the youth has been considered negligible because a huge number of young people are not registered voters. A lot of them are either unaware that they need to register to vote or they prefer not to vote at all. The latter is perhaps the more damaging since the decision to not participate in the polls is a blatant act of apathy to the fate of the country.

But of course, registering for the elections is only the first part in taking the steps to attain the changes that we aimed. It is not enough just to have yourself registered for the elections; you have to take part in the actual voting.

According to Youth Vote, an organization that encourages the youth to vote in the election, 54 per cent or 34 million voters for the 2010 election falls within the 15-24 years old age range. Comprising more than half of the total number of voters, it is therefore imperative that the youth exercise its right to suffrage.

The 2010 election is fast approaching but out of the 6.4 million potential voters, only 2.6 million were registered as of August 2009. Though the 4.2 million unregistered voters are given until October 31 to register, it is still expected that only a fraction of it will be able to register.


The youth is more than the hope of the fatherland, we are agents of change. If we are not satisfied with what is happening in our country today then it is high time to do something about it and the best way to show our discontent is to choose for new leaders to lead our country.

With the threats of Cha-Cha and extended terms for politicians, the upcoming election is a crucial moment in the lives of every Filipino. This is not only the time to choose a new leader but also the time to express our dissatisfaction to the government. Our collective votes could change not only a new leader but also the course of our history.

The change that we have been looking for could not be found anywhere else. The power to change the country for the better is in the hands of every Filipino, it’s in the hands of the youth.

It is up to us to do something to ensure a better future not only for us but to the future generation. By taking part in the elections, we are chartering the future our country. Through our votes, we have expressed to the world our choice—the choice to change.

Every single vote counts. Every single drop of the indelible ink makes a difference. Every stroke of the pen charts the destiny of our country. And the youth plays a crucial role in attaining this change.

The youth must vote. The youth must take part. The future is in our hands.

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The seminar was held at PHCCI Ballroom here in Dumaguete City.

It was fun and I learned a lot. I just hope that others did too.

A lot of things were discussed aside from the usual News and Features Writing lectures. The speakers were great, the venue was relaxing and the food was superb.

We were at the third floor of the building and we had fun playing with the elevator. LOLS. The view by stairs, as well as in the veranda, is also nice.

After spending my whole college life in the publication and experiencing four midyear seminars, I say that this is the best seminar we've ever had. And that is aside from the ambiance of the place. I am just so happy that despite the glitches along the way we were still able to conduct the seminar successfully.

The seminar was graced by Dr. Ma. Cecilia Genove ( Professor, Silliman University), Mr. Bobby Flores Villasis (Tourism Officer of Negros Oriental and one of the few Palanca Awardees of the province), Prof. Sandra Duran (former instructor of NORSU), Ms. Merlinda Baliola (former TN EIC), and Mr. Romy Amarado (TN Adviser).

The lectures were superb and I learned a lot especially in Creative Writing (with Mr. Villasis) and Feature Writing, and Magazine Article writing (by Dr. Genove). I especially like the way Dr. Genove lectures. You'll never feel sleepy with her upbeat and exciting delivery of the topics.

For the first time in my four years of attending these seminars, I saw Kuya Junrell (our EIC) calmly listening during the lectures. In the past years, he was always so busy that you seldom see his shadow during these seminars. This time though, he was able to enjoy the lectures as well as the presentations just like the rest of us.

It was really fun seeing our staffers presenting during intermissions. I just so love Paul Anthony's  (our new artist) voice and the way he plays the guitar. Such a pity I forgot to snatch a picture of him from our files. I just might one of these days (if I don't forget that is) and post it here.

Of course, I did not let the chance of having a picture with my baby brothers pass. This picture of me and Justine was taken as the technical team was packing the equipment after the seminar. I also had photos with my other brothers but since they've been so cruel to me lately I won't post their photos here. LOLS.

So that's it. A lot of things have actually happened in the publication since the last time I posted here. I just don't have the energy to post it.

On a good note though, Caballes Printing Press won the bidding for the weekly paper and I am just so jubilant! Thank God for answered prayers!

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Sometimes when I edit, I feel like crying.
Sometimes when I edit, I feel like giving up.
but there are just times when I feel so kontrabida.

But what I hate most about editing is when I find writers copying other peoples write up. Plagiarism is a crime. Plagiarism is a disrespect to the writer who labored on writing the original article.

its just so...heartbreaking.

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“…now you have to realize that PhDs are rare species in the academic world,” says NORSU President Henry A. Sojor. This came out after Sojor said that he will be hiring PH.Ds this year but as of now, nobody applied yet.

In all honesty, I think its not because PhDs are rare that they are not applying in NORSU. Well, yes. PhDs are indeed rare but there is another reason why very few competent teachers apply in the university. And that is because, NORSU does not really know how to take care of their instructors.

What good is a PhD when he/she doesn't know how to share his knowledge to his students? What good are those who have studied abroad when all they do is brag in class? What good is a teacher who has achieved all these honors when he doesn't even want to share it to his students?

I know a lot of teachers in NORSU who are not PhDs but are a lot better than those who are and even more better than those who are so proud to have studied abroad. NORSU already has instructors who are competent but of course we need more. It is, of course, a great advanatge if the admin could hire these PhDs who would really teach students and not just brag about what they had achieved.

What the problem in this university is that, they don't know how to value their instructors. Salaries are very small, often late and they also get very poor support. So who would want to apply in here?

I wish NORSU would learn to acknowledge those teachers who are excellently performing their jobs even though their not PhDs nor foreign-schooled.

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For so many times in the past, I have heard several people in the university accusing The NORSUnian of being bias to one party or another. For many times I have heard of people who keeps on saying that the publication should publish this and that. For many times I have heard of the countless complainers grumbling about a lot of things that does not satisfy them.

And for the many times that I have heard of all this, I can count in one finger the number of times we published something regarding their complaints. Why? Is the publication really protecting somebody then?

The answer would be a firm “NO”. The NORSUnian is not protecting anybody or is it bias to anybody.

As much as we would like to cater to everybody’s complaints, we can only do so if the people concerned would cooperate. The problem always lies in the reluctance of people to speak out and stand by their statements. The problem is that, there are a lot of complainers but very few would want to have their names published or even just stand for what ever it is they are complaining about.

The publication has always had the policy of “no anonymity” which restricts us from publishing articles with no clear source—aside of course if the story is of really confidential nature which could possibly harm the source. Anonymity questions the credibility of the source, the report and of course the publication. Besides, why hide your identity if you know that you are telling the truth?

If you know that what you are doing is right then stand by it. Don't hide.
===========================

I had been saying again and again that the publication is a STUDENT PUBLICATION and not a university publication.
Why can't some people understand that unless they win in the bidding they could not print the paper? Are they stupid or what?
============================

We don't need the publicity really. The NORSUnian is for the student's of NORSU and not for the whole province of Negros Oriental. Besides, we too have the website. In fact, our website is better than what is being offered.

============================

WE fight you. We write you.

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This is exactly how I would describe editing sessions. But at least it's a lot better now that I am no longer the news editor.

Before, I would literally have migraines after editing news articles. Though it is a lot better now because by the time the articles reach me it was already edited by the news editor and the assistant news editor so the articles are not that hard to understand already. There would be confusions but at least not as bad as before when there are times when I am tempted to junk the articles whenever my patience is running out. And my patience always runs out whenever I edit.
Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Unfinished articles. I always hate it when I am already in the mood to edit and the deadline has already come and gone and I still don't have an article to edit. I hate it even more if I ask the writer if they are done with their articles and they would tell me that it is all ready and then I wouldn't find anything when I check on it. And I usually reach the boiling point when I find an article saved in the news folder but only contains a headline and a lead.

2. Confusing articles. There are just times when I couldn't understand a single thing from the article I am reading because the writers would mix details and, I suspect, transliterate when they encode. I mean, its like this, when you write something in English but you are mentally constructing the sentence in cebuano or tagalog, you end up with a really nosebleeding article because you transliterate whatever is on your mind.

3. Lost Writers. Not in the literal sense of course but I really do hate it when I ask writers for clarifications on their articles and they seem as lost as I am. I mean, hello? you are the one gathering the data and you are the one talking to those people so don't ask me what happened because I am asking you too!

4. Attributions. Plagiarism is a crime, that I believe. That is why I always make sure that the things written in every single article are those of the writers and not copy-pasted from some where, especially for articles where they have to use the internet to verify or get more details. I think copy-pasting details from websites is a sign of laziness and should not be tolerated. You may of course use the information you got from websites but, please, don't just copy-paste it.

5. Right click->synonym. Whoever said that highfalutin words makes you sound more intelligent should try reconsidering. Actually, it depends on how you use the word. Words are only powerful if you know how to use it properly.

Using highfalutin words without knowing what it really means or as substitute for simple ones makes you look insecure. It looks like you are merely writing to fetch admiration from people or impress those around you. If that is so, then journalism is not for you because I don't think that the role of journalism is to impress.

As what my former feature writing instructor said, "if a simple word will suffice then use it." What good is an article if nobody understands it? Your readers don't carry dictionaries with them you know? And if your readers are distracted by your high-sounding words, no matter how beautiful the write-up is, it will all mean nothing.

So yes, despite my reluctance to be in the position I am occupying now, I am still thankful that at least I had gotten away from the curse of being the first to edit the news articles.

Being an editor is not a privilege at all, I tell you. It actually is a burden.

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"Follow the leader"
-a line used so often that it has somehow lost its meaning. To follow the leader does not only mean following instructions and orders.

"Lead by example"
-there was this line I've read from an old Academic issue of the Corps Magazine (the PMA magazine) written by the then Class Baron of PMA Class 2002 and I think this fits my line of thinking perfectly. It says, "lead your men by example and they will obey with willingness, confidence, respect, and loyal cooperation."

So true.

If you want your subordinates to follow the rules, show them how. If you want them to cooperate, give them a reason to.


"Children are confused about right and wrong because adults talk right then do wrong"
- read this a long time ago from a woman's magazine (can't remember if its Mod or Women's journal). I guess its the same with leadership. When you say something then do something else, it confuses your followers and they will most likely follow what you do more than follow what you said.

"Walk the talk"
-If you say you will do it, then do it. If you keep on saying something to people then don't do it at all people will eventually take your words for granted. And again, so is with leadership. If you say they will be punished then show them that you mean it because otherwise they will learn to take the threat as nothing but a threat.

and lastly,

"Action speaks louder than words"
-and this doesn't have to be elaborated.

Now, get my drift?

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Interact with your fellow Norsunians at
The NORSUnian Interactive!

Or browse through The NORSUnian Website and be informed of the latest campus news!

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Not that we were given a rest from editing all through out the summer, but but we are now back to our regular editing and layouting sessions. I can already see it; sleepless nights, backaches, rising tempers (mine usually), nosebleeds, etc.

The school year has just begun but I couldn't summon the energy to at least look enthusiastic with the prospect of publishing again. There are times when I would strongly consider resigning and focusing on my studies instead. I feel so tired and so bored with this office and people here. I mean, they are surely fun to be with and the office is like home but I've been here practically the whole year (and my whole college life) that I am longing for some fresh air and new environment.

I never even had the chance to enjoy summer or take a rest. I never even had the chance to go to other places and see something new for a change. I never even had the chance to indulge myself in a well deserve rest.

And now the school year has started and there will be no respite for me until next summer. By then I will be looking for a job already (hopefully) as I am hoping to graduate next March. So, when can I have the luxury of enjoyment? I don't think I will ever have the chance to enjoy summer again after I graduated. Jobs don't have summer breaks you know.

Oh well, guess I can't do anything about it now. So I'll just finish editing now. We will start the layouting this week and also publish this week. Hope no glitches this time. *fingers crossed*

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The past two months we were busy working with the magazine and the literary folio. We were hoping that we could follow the timeline we had set up and publish the magazine early. Unfortunately, we are still working on both. Though we were already done editing a lot of articles and contributions, still a lot of articles remain unfinished.

Needless to say, were halfway through but still quite far from releasing the magazine. We are hoping we could release it by July since the plan is to publish the magazine twice per semester. We still have a lot to do; layouting, pictorials, editing, proofreading, bidding, and waiting. =)

And what excites me now is that, we will be publishing again next week!!!! Though I am also quite anxious because the "somebody" might try to disrupt our printing again. I hope not. I hope everything will be fine this year because last year was a lousy one for us. So help us God.

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A Glaring Fact: The NORSUnian is the official STUDENT PUBLICATION of the Negros Oriental State University system.

Translation: The students own the publication. The students are the publishers. Not the University. Not the University President. And CERTAINLY NOT THE PRINTING PRESS!

Another fact:
♦The university does not own the publication in any way.
♦We are subjected to the rules and regulations of the university but the publication is independent from the influence of the school administration.
♦The administration cannot dictate or manipulate the student publication into publishing or otherwise hold stories that are critical to the university or its administration.
♦Even the university president has no right to dictate the publication with regards to internal matters in the publication. Such as, and most especially, the printing.

Translation:

The owner of the previous printing press which printed the TN issues starting November can rant all he wants to the university president but WE WILL HOLD FIRM to our decision that we will not make any repeat orders from him.

You want to "tell it to Henry", then go and tell it to Henry.
WE DON'T CARE!
You can even go and tell it to Gloria! Not Henry or Gloria can make us deal with you again.
As I've said, the university president cannot dictate the publication.

We will proceed with the bidding of the paper whether you like or not. Our contract with you is already done. The printing of the paper will pass through legal channels and will undergo legal and proper ways.

We are not satisfied with your printing, therefore, we have the right to go and look for another printer through a bidding (or a shopping). It is our right and you cannot deny it from us. If, in some unfortunate twist of fate, you manage to win again then so be it. But we will not submit without fighting for it. We will push through with the shopping (or bidding whichever is more convenient)!

One thing I want to make it clear to you is that, the student publication exists because of the students and for the students. NOT for the university president and certainly not for you or because of you. We are not your minions.

In one of his speeches, the university president once described the publication (indirectly) as a barking dog. Well, let me tell you something, we don't just bark. Sometimes, we bitetoo. And we bite hard!

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I posted this thought in my Friendster shoutout this morning. The thought just came into my mind as I was trying to decide what to replace my previous shoutout.

"Responsibility must come first before comfort. Ahay. Meaning, obey first before you complain. Aw? Relate?"

Even I could not understand the relationship between the two. I just posted it there without bothering if the two idea actually relates to each other. As I lay in bed this afternoon, I realized that there is.

Everyone of us has responsibilities and sometimes these responsibilities brings us discomfort, unearth our insecurities, etc. Yet we do not have a choice but fulfill our duties. We have to do our duties first before we start complaining because otherwise we would look like fools who keep on complaining but has never actually done anything.

Isn't it annoying when the people who complains a lot are those who haven't done anything at all? Isn't it irritating to hear those who have never shed a single drop of sweat complaining about something, commenting, and acting like they know everything when they haven't contributed anything at all?

And you know what's more irritating? It's when these people starts to brag about the "work" they've done when it is actually nothing to what others have done.

I think you don't need to be a leader to be considerate. You have to think of your responsibility not only to your group or your organization but also to the people around you first before you think of your self. You have to ask yourself if you have done enough already or if there is something more that you can do.

Right?

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Timeline

March 23- Conceptualization
March 2-April 11- Gathering; Screening; Finalization of Handurawan/Magazine Articles, Artworks and Graphics
April 13- Meeting (Evaluation of Articles and Planning)
April 13-25- Editing
April 27-May 9- Layouting
May 11-16- Proofreading; Finalization
May 18-23- Output assessment

=============================================

No Summer Vacation for me. I will be definitely be staying here in Dumaguete until May to work for the Literary and Art Folio which is scheduled to be released on the First Semester of the coming School Year.

Not much of a problem with the Folio actually since we have contributions for it but the problem now is the Magazine. The TN Magazine (With no Official Name yet), which is also targeted to be released at the same time as the Handurawan, is the publication's first.

The Magazine has been in planning stage for three years already and is supposedly released in time for our 25th anniversary last 2006 but because we never really got the time to make it, the plans never materialized. Last year, the Editorial Board and Staff decided to push through with the Magazine in addition to our Weekly Newspaper and the annual Literary Folio.

Plans were already made and articles were gathered yet we were not able to release the Magazine during the school year. Why?

Reason Number 1: The magazine is not really part of the Annual Publication budget and we need to ask for an increase for the Magazine to be published.
Reason Number 2: We never had the time because of so many problems that plagued the publication this SY.
Reason Number 3: Very few of our writers passed their contributions for the Magazine and most of the submitted articles were rejected.

I will elaborate on the third reason.
Our writers are used to writing for newspaper and writing for a Magazine requires a different approach. The Staff does not have an inkling as to how to write for a Magazine or what topics to include because we have never done this before. That is why, the Editorial Board decided to look at different Student Publication Magazines for inspiration.

And so we will be working on these two babies for the whole summer and I can't see any light in sight (not for the work but for me). I hope the budget we asked for the working committee will be approved so we could lessen our expenses here.

Well, I need to look for a job also because, though the publication will shoulder our meals, it will not of course shoulder our boarding house payments. Huhuhu...Of course, I also need pocket money and I can't just ask for money anytime I want from my parents. Hello! It's summer and I'm supposed to stay at home and they are supposed to relax from the payments for two months...But then, duty calls and we have to face our responsibilities.

I don't know how this summer will be like but I do hope somebody will have pity on us and send us food here.=)...And also pay for our lodgings...it will greatly help a lot.

I hope we finish the work on time. We're just waiting for Carla Mae to return from her vacation so we could start with the planning.=)

So help us God.

================================================
Incidentally, if you are a student of Negros Oriental State University (past or present) or an alumnus of the University, you may pass your Handurawan contributions (essay, short story, poems, art works, photographs) to editors@thenorsunian.com or log on to THE NORSUnian Interactive and submit your articles in the forum.

You may also visit our office and personally pass your contributions. We are located at the 2nd flr. Balay sa Alumni, Negros ORiental State University, Main Campus I, Dumaguete City.

=================================================

Enjoy your summers Guys!

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A week ago the election of the new editorial board was held and I was promoted. Okay.
I did not post it right away because honestly, I am not so confident with that election. Maybe if the staff was given more option they would have chosen somebody else. Besides, I never really want to be on any of the positions available so I did not do anything about it.

So I'm still an editor. Good Luck to me.
I thought I will be relieved of all responsibilities in the publication in the next school year so I was already planning to apply for a part-time job here in Dumaguete. Unfortunately for me, with the publication, I cannot work part time anymore.

I am glad of one thing though, Kuya Junrell is still our EIC. I can't really imagine TN without Kuya Junrell and I don't know if there is anybody in the publication who could lead us the way he does. I could only pray that he will not leave us because as the Associate Editor, I will have to take his place if that happens and I really don't know what to do.

I prayed really hard that Kuya will change his mind and stay with us instead of resigning from the publication. I think it worked though it still remains to be seen because he could still change his mind right? Oh God, please don't let him change his mind.

Anyway, I really don't feel like happy or anything about the result of that election (or at least my being voted as Assoc. Ed). I'm so dedma to it and I don't feel anything about the position at all.

Well, what can i do? I am already here and I guess I just have to accept the responsibility. It will be greater than my previous responsibilities because I will not only be editing both News and Features Articles but I am now responsible administratively in the publication.

What does an Assoc. Ed do? I don't know. I am not sure. Our By-Laws says that the Assoc. Ed acts as the PR Officer as well as the, of course, assistant of the EIC... well, maybe that's it, I will have to act as the PR Officer of the Pub...huh?

Whatever...I will have to accept whatever comes...=(

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I want to begin by saying thank you but I realized that people already know me for being outright with what I think and what I feel that it would be hypocrisy if I would. So, I’ll start by telling you all how disappointed I am with all of you.

In all honesty, to say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I am frustrated not only as an editor but as a member of the student publication who has been with TN my whole college life. I had been through three editors already and I know how different it has been and how life in the publication is.

When I was chosen to replace Kuya Micho as the News Editor of TN, I was both flattered and disappointed. I was flattered because I never expected that my fellow staffers will vote for me and at the same I am disappointed because I will have to lead. Despite my misgivings, I accepted the position, simply because I did not have any choice.

I was glad that we started the school year right. The writers were cooperative and were doing fine that I told myself that maybe everything will be alright and this won’t be a miserable year after-all. August came and the new writers joined us, problems started to rise. At first I thought it was all because of the problem with the printing that everything was affected. However, as the weeks pass and August became September and September became October, then November and so on, I realized that the printing is only a small part of it.

It is frustrating to see senior writers acting like newbies, writing like they haven’t written a single news article their whole life. It is frustrating to see newbies struggling to learn and not learning anything because the people who are supposed to guide them need more guidance themselves.

Writers with so much potential, this is how I would describe all of you. Unfortunately, aside from being good writers you are also irresponsible and undisciplined.

I am frustrated because no matter what I do to make you learn the value of discipline and observing deadlines, no matter how many times I reprimand you, no matter how much effort I exert to make you better individuals and writers, you prefer to remain the same. I am frustrated because instead of helping the seniors develop as writers, they regressed instead. I am frustrated because the writers that I trust most in the publication and from whom I am expecting good, if not better, write-ups became decorations in the office instead. I am frustrated as I see you lounging in the office, laughing your hearts out, watching movies, eating and enjoying your publication lives while neglecting your duties as campus journalists. I am even more frustrated when I realized that a lot of you are Mass Communication students and majority of you are writers in high school.

Many times I have reminded you of your responsibilities as campus journalists and as members of TN. Many times I gave you warnings and strikes and gave you punishments. Many times I asked Kuya Junrell and Paul to remove the internet connection and disallow you to use the internet unless you could pass your articles, but to no avail. You did not learn anything even if you were restricted from using the internet, reprimanded, and even if Amy and Lester were evicted for the same reason that majority of you were placed under probation.

Many times I asked myself what to do to you. Many times I contemplated of just giving up and resigning because I know that I am not effective as a leader. Many times I told myself that maybe the fault is not with you but with me. And yes, many times I had been tempted to choke each one of you to wake you out of your senses.

It has been said that the kind of attitude the subordinates have is a reflection of the kind of leader that they have. If your attitudes are reflections of what I am as a leader, then I say that I am a failure. I don’t know if you ever learned anything but I know that each one of you hates me because I am the cause of all your sufferings in the publication. But honestly, I don’t care if you all of you will hate me as long as you learned something and as long as I see you become better writers and people.

For the ten months that I had been your news editor, I could say without fear of contradiction that you did not develop as writers or as individuals. I guess I am also in the position to say that the seminars you’ve been through are not enough to teach you because I don’t see any improvement in your articles.

As we end this year, I hope that despite all of these you somehow learned something no matter how small it may be. I hope that I could finally see you develop in the coming school year and that you would finally realize that you are here in the publication not only to enjoy the privileges that goes with the job.

My term as a news editor has officially ended with the end of the school year. I am not relieved because I know that another nose bleeding year is waiting for me in the coming school year but somehow, I am happy that I will be leaving the position. I am still hoping that I will see you develop in the coming year. I still have my hopes high.

I had been initially tempted to write a speech full of praises and positive remarks to all of you but I told myself that it is already enough that I tolerated you for ten months. They say that the truth will set you free and I hope this did set you free. I don’t want any of you to go on believing that you deserve to be in TN just because you are good writers. I prefer to tell you the truth that being a good writer is not enough to make you stay in TN. Amy and Lester were good writers, they were even better than some of you, remember that.

I know I will hurt, irritate and embarrass a lot of you with this speech but I since I am used to being back-bitten and criticized, I preferred to push through instead. I am a leader and I am here because of all of you, and I want to give justice to the position you gave me.

To the incoming editors, I am glad that you will finally know how it is to be in our position. Maybe when you have finally experienced what we have to go through you will realize why I had to do what I do to all of you. Nevertheless, I pray you all the best.

To the writers, I know I have been reprimanding you for the whole school year and still reprimanding you for the past few minutes but I assure you that I don’t hate any of you personally. I am only doing my job as a leader and sometimes, leaders have to sacrifice friendship if it’s for the benefit of the organization.

To my fellow editors, we did our best and I don’t know about the rest of you but this is how I feel. I am glad to be working side by side with you and share those countless nosebleeding moments with you.

And to all of you, I am sorry for being a failure but I did my best. I am sorry for causing a lot of sufferings in your lives but I only did it because I want the best for all of you. And lastly I leave you this message, I want to be liked but I don’t mind being hated if that’s the price for telling the truth.

(Note: this is my outgoing speech for the farewell party on March 14.)

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And I don't even want to say Good luck because I prefer to say, God Bless.

The University Graduation will be on March 13 already and the publication Good luck Party will be on March 14-15. Four people will be leaving us and maybe a lot more will no longer be with us in the coming school year.

It will be especially sad for us in the publication because we are very close in here. We exist not only as an organization but as a family. We are together through thick and thin and goodbyes are never a part of our agenda.

But its finally here. The time to say goodbye.
tears will be shed but that won't stop them. Words will be said but that too won't stop them
We will not even try stopping them.
Everybody has to move on and choose their own paths. We are thankful that they have been with us and became a part of our lives but we also know that sooner we will also have to leave just like them.

This will not be a goodbye because I know that we will still see each other. I only pray that they will find the right paths for them and hope that they will be successful in whatever journey they choose to take.

Congrats guys...and God bless!

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I am frustrated. And that's putting it lightly.

To be honest about it, I feel like a loser. Sometimes I think my best was never enough to fulfill my duties in the publication. Ten months of being an editor and nothing to show for it. I am a failure.

When I assumed this position, the senior writers were doing fine. Ten months after, they're the worst bunch of writers I've ever came across with. Irresponsible reporters, half-baked reports, incomplete data, incomplete reports, unfinished articles and of course, invisible articles.

Wow! What a failure. I'm probably the worst editor this publication has ever had.

I am supposed to help them develop but they regressed instead. I am supposed to train them and help them become better people but I think they became worst. What happened to all the seminars they've been through? What happened to all the trainings they underwent?

90% of our writers are presently under probation. Meaning, majority of them are in danger of being kicked out from the publication for not doing their parts as writers. Their behaviors reflects the kind of leaders that they have. And if they are as irresponsible as this then it only shows what kind of failure I had been.

I did my best to encourage them, to make them work. I did everything for the publication but all for nothing.

=(

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This is a trial post to test my new signature...

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Yes, it actually is.
There is no point arguing or rationalizing, media is all about business.

It's all about profit. It's all about ratings. It's all about raking in the big bucks.
Major networks may argue and say otherwise but in reality, its all business.

Yes, you gather and report the news because you have the duty to do so. But of course, if the news affects your business, you slant it a little. You give the people the information that they need but not because you think that this is your call. Media networks gives the people the information that they need so they could get the loyalty of the people and therefore, get more advertisers.

Really, even print media is no difference.

Advertising matters. Of course, no media network or print media could continue to exist without advertising.

Why do you think the media tends to sensationalize some of their reports? So the people would tune in to their stations or read their papers. The more subscribers, the more advertisers. The more advertisers, the more money.




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If man can manage to reach the moon when it seemed so impossible, then why can't TN reporters submit articles on time (or just submit an article for that matter)?

I had been checking and rechecking the "news" folders and the articles saved there remain the same. No addition, no change. NOTHING. The ones I assigned to be rewritten remains the same. The ones that were supposed to be updated, remains the same.

Why? I am sure it's not because its the finals week. Those articles were assigned to them weeks, even a month, before and still nothing.

Am I asking for the impossible? I am not asking for them to go to the moon or find the lost city of Atlantis. I am not asking them to climb Mt. Everest or demolish the school. All I'm asking for is that they pass the articles assigned to them. Is that impossible? Is that too much to ask?

The school year is ending and we will be on our last issue already yet, the "lost" articles remain lost. And these people are supposedly the future leaders of this organization...phew!






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Nothing is constant, everything changes.
and tomorrow, a very significant change will happen. A change that will determine the future of the publication.

Another year has passed and a lot of things have happened which tested the publications resolve. We had been berated with criticisms and that is with a reason. In a way, we have failed in our duty to be the voice of the students. We did not reach our usual number of issues. When we used to have 30 plus issues, now we did not even reach 15.

I will not rationalize on the reasons and I will not even try to defend the publication because this is not the purpose of this post.

Tomorrow, is the Editorial Board Election and a new set of leaders will be chosen by the staff. Then a new year will begin.

I don't know what to expect and I don't even want to expect.
For weeks now I had been thinking about the election and I am, to be honest about it, scared. I am not concerned about my position because the staff can choose whoever they want to take my place and it will not affect me at all. I wouldn't care less if I would have to leave my position.

What I am most worried about is that, I can't see anybody who is responsible enough to lead the publication. For the one year that I had become their editor, I think I am in the position to assess them.

They are good writers. That, I am confident. But the problem is that, they have the habit of lapsing into a mild case of irresponsibility. Sometimes, they tend to forget about their duties in the publication. They also have the habit of making excuses, very lame excuses. they don't observe deadlines, they don't follow rules, and they don't care if you give them a warning.

Are they prepared to lead the publication?

Leading the publication is different from leading a regular student organization. Leading the publication is different from leading a group in a class project.

When you are an editor, you are an editor 24 hours a day/7 days a week. You have to be on call 24/7 and be ready even if you are not yet ready. You don't cease to be an editor even when you are on break. You have to be willing to sacrifice a lot of things, even those things you don't want to sacrifice.

But if they refuse to do the simple tasks that they are told to do, if they are already irresponsible with the small things, will they be responsible enough to take their places and lead the publication? I hope so.

Even if the present editorial board will remain, even if nobody will graduate or leave, sooner or later they will have to lead the publication. We will not be here forever and whether they like it or not they have to be prepared when the time comes.

We were not prepared when we assumed our positions. We were not prepared when we were chosen to lead. Now, it's their time. With all the problems the publication is facing now, we need not only good leaders but responsible and brave ones. Brave enough to face the storms of the coming year.

So, help us God.



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There is a reason why we write about something. There is a reason why we write about what we write. We at the student publication do not just write a piece just so we could have something to publish. We don't write so we could ruin somebody, especially when we don't really have a reason to.

We write about issues because it affects the students. We write about issues because people complains. We write because it is our duty to write.

If you don't want to see your name published in the newspaper, then don't give us a reason to. If you don't want people to think bad of you, then don't give them a reason to.

And just a piece of advice: when you are asked a question, answer it honestly so you don't get confused with your own lies. If you want to make excuses, polish it well because once it is printed you can hardly take it back.

When you are given the chance to answer and give your side of the issue, grab the opportunity and explain your side well. Don't just mutter in a corner and complain after the issue is published.

Back-stabbing us and grumbling will not do you any good.

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There is no question about it; the media is always adversarial to the government. Government does not only mean public officials and the administration. Being adversarial to the government” means that the media is adversarial with everything that represent the government.

They say that the media is a watchdog; guardians of the public trust. The media is seen as the eyes, ears and voice of the common tao.

The media plays a great role in influencing the people. What the media says, the people believe. It is therefore important that the media ensures the accuracy of whatever information it gives to the people because the media could make or break a nation.

The extent of the media’s power over the people is immeasurable. It influences not only the day to day life of every individual but it also influences policies and laws. Almost everything that we do today is influenced or dictated by the media; from the clothes that we wear to the opinions that we formulate. Everything is affected.

It is often said, and observed, that the media only reports the wrongdoings of the people in the government but not the good things that they have done. Perhaps it comes from the thought that the media, as watchdogs, exists to ensure that people in government do not abuse the power that they have. Or perhaps it also comes from the thought that to do well and to serve the people are the duties of the government and is not therefore needed to be published.

But I sometimes ask myself if it is indeed wise to do so. Observing the effects of what the people see in TV, hear in radios and read in newspapers (or the internet), I personally think that it is not.

The people have lost its trust to the government and everything that represents it and the media has played a major role in this.

I, of course, am for the media. But this does not mean that I will close my eyes from the apparent mistakes that our kind is committing.

Yes, I consider it a mistake that the media is always against the government. Yes, I consider it a mistake that media reportage only often covers the offenses made by the government. Why? I consider it a mistake because this kind of reportage is actually dividing the nation. Its sets the people against their leaders; it creates despair and hopelessness, it breeds distrust.

Yes, the media exposes the shortcomings of the people elected to serve and lead the Filipino nation yet it also inadvertently paints an image of a government that could never do right for the people it promises to serve and protect. The constant beatings that the government gets from the media makes the people think that people in the government sits all day and does not do anything good at all.

In a way, we have poisoned the minds of the people. In a way, we have caused the division of the Filipino nation. We are the reason why the people refused to acknowledge the good things that the government has done because what they always see are the transgressions committed by public officials and government employees.

The media of course aims to ensure that the people are updated with whatever matter is happening in the government, especially matters of great public concern. By making the people aware of what is happening in the government and the society we make the people vigilant with their rights.

We aim well. But in our attempt to fulfill our duties as vanguards we forget that what the people often see is more important than what the truth really is.

It is true that the government and its people commits a lot of transgressions but it is also true that the government has also done good things for the people. But only a very few of these things are made known to the public.

Maybe it is too late to change everything now. But then again, maybe it’s not. Maybe we can still make a difference. Maybe we can still do something about this.

Then again, only time can tell.

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I never liked leadership positions. I never liked it when I have to lead people or whenever I am put in charge of something. I never liked responsibility not because I'm irresponsible but because I know I can never fulfill it.

Responsibility is commitment. To take responsibility, to accept it is to commit. To commit, for me, is to fail.

Why? Because I've never been a good decision maker and I've never been a good leader. I know I am not a good leader. I lack the capabilities. I lack the skills. I lack the essential elements to become an effective leader.

For one, I can be hard and mean when I am given the authority. I want a system, I want order, I want discipline. I want rules to be followed and I want to impose whatever punishment is necessary when the rules are violated. This I do, please take note, without any emotional attachment at all.

I guess I never had the head nor the heart of a leader.
I am not compassionate. I am not even emotional.
I am ruthless. I am cruel. I am demanding.
Would you want me to lead you?
Certainly not.

I hate being a leader because oftentimes, I hurt the people I cared for the most in my attempt to fulfill my duty and impose discipline. Why is it that when you want everything to go as it should, when you want so bad to have order and discipline, you hurt a lot of people in the process?
Sometimes, without meaning to, you step on people so you could enforce what you think is right. Sometimes, you have to hurt those you love just so the group could achieve its goal.
Sometimes, you have to let go of the people who has been very important to you because you know that they have be let go in order for the organization to be effective.

When you are a leader, you have to make grave decisions. Sometimes, the people around you do not understand why you have to or why they have to follow. Sometimes, you don't even know if you really have to but you have to go on because you don't know what else to do.

Most of the times, I don't know what I'm doing. Most of the times, I don't know if letting them is more effective than reprimanding them. And a lot of times I find myself wondering that maybe hanging them is really the most effective option of all.

When you're a leader, you have to be tough even when you are feeling weak. When you're a leader you have to be smart even if you are not. When you're a leader you have to be good even if you don't know how.

I don't know how to lead. Many times I've been made a leader and many times I tried to be a good leader but always, I fail.

I don't know how to lead because I don't know how to follow.
The irony of it is that, I want the rules followed when I don't even like rules myself.
Rules are like prison bars to me. I never liked it but I have to follow and I always think that nothing could ever go wrong if only people will follow the rules (myself included).

I don''t like being a leader because I am not sure I was ever meant to be.

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The past. Sweet and bitter.
But still worth remembering.

I was hesitant when I first applied in the publication. I imagined the staff to be a bunch of elitist and imagined myself out of place or out of their league.

But all my fears were instantly banished the moment I joined the publication. The staff were not the kind of people I expect them to be. Life in the publication was never dull. Laughter and jokes are as frequent as pressure and reprimands.

My life would have been different if I did not join the publication, this I am sure.
There would have been no responsibilities, no deadlines, no pressure. Just a care-free student life with the usual ups and downs.
But my life would not have been worth living if I did not.
There would be no friends to laugh with, to cry with, to argue with.
There would be no family to support, to take care, to love.

Being alone in a place far from my family, the publication served a home to me; the staff, my family. What would my life be without TN? I can't even imagine. I never really have a life outside the publication. I never had any close friends outside the publication. I never really had anybody I am very much comfortable with outside the publication.

Yes, I have my coursemates. Yes, I have my classmates.
But, to be honest about it, I will always choose my TN Family over them.
I don't know them that much, or as much as I've known the people in the publication.
I was never really close to them and if I ever was, only to a very few.

It is important to me that I am accepted and the acceptance I get from the people in the publication is the kind of acceptance that I had always longed for; unconditional.

Here, I could excel and still keep my feet on the ground. Here, I could commit mistakes and be forgiven. Here, I could be myself and still be accepted. Here, I could laugh (and cry), grumble and shout and people never cease to care. Here, you can be somebody or a nobody and still it wouldn't matter.

It doesn't matter how many years you stay in the publication. It doesn't matter if you do and leave. It doesn't matter how long you're gone.

Nobody ever leaves TN. I doubt if anybody ever could. Once a member of TN, always a part of TN. No matter where you go or how far you've reached, your heart will always be with TN and the TN family will always be a part of your life no matter what happens.

TN is not just a publication. TN is us.
TN is more than just an organization. TN is a family.
and to those who left, TN is more than a memory.
Because TN lives in our hearts.

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A cup of coffee(or in my case, milk). A cup of noodles (optional).
An armory of load (optional but highly advisable).

"Para sa iba, ang kape, pampainit lang sa sikmura.
Para sa iba, ang noodles, pang snacks lang.

Para sa amin, ang kape (at gatas) ay buhay. Pampagising sa mga gabing halos hindi na maimulat ang mga mata sa antok; pampalakas sa mga gabing kinakailangan ng takutin ang sarili para kumilos.

Ang noodles, siyempre, paborito ng estudyante. Madaling lutuin, mabilis makain, at mura.
Pumapawi sa gutom; nagbibigay buhay sa nakakagutom at nakakapanghinang trabaho."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had been staying overnight for how many days now and because I don't get enough sleep, I have to load myself with all the food I could get.

I stayed overnight not only for editing purposes but because I have to convert our videos from dvd to WMV. We will be starting the video editing today and it is important that I finish converting the videos and see that it is fit for editing.

But because I am so busy with the conversion, I am not able to edit anything for the publication. I can't even remember when was the last time I checked the folder for articles. Maybe Friday or Saturday, I'm not really sure.

In times like this, I find myself wishing that I would be just like any other student. You know, just attend my classes, pass my assignments, submit projects, go home, eat, sleep and so on. I am always busy that I don't even get enough sleep.

Of course, with my present schedule, I could sleep during daytime but then, sleeping at night is a lot different from sleeping at daytime. You are more rested at night than during daytime.

Honestly, I miss my bed already. I miss the nights I sleep in it. I miss my pillows and my blanket. I miss the comforts of sleep.

But what can I Do?
I'm just a student with deadlines to beat.
I am just an editor with reports to edit.

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I am human; I get hurt, I get tired.
I don't pretend to be invincible or hyperactive. I don't pretend that I could go on for days without sleep or even pretend that I can do anything in this world.

I am just a human being. I have limitations.
I can't always do everything and most of the time, I don't even know what I am doing.
There are times when I am unsure with what to do but I have to go on and do it anyway. Most often, I am left with no choice. Or to be more precise, I have a choice but I am not given the option to choose.

Sometimes, I hate it when people demands a lot of things from me. I hate it when people relies everything on me. Its like, you're always the one being called when there are others who can do the job; its like being on-call 24/7. I hate it when I have to do everything while the rest of the people around me simply smiles, pats my back and say "okay lang yan, kaya mo naman eh"...

Are you sure? How do know that I can really do it?
Its flattering to think that people trusts you that much but its also agonizing to think that they don't know anything at all. They all expect you to do something and expects you to do best without even considering that you might not know exactly what to do at all.

Nobody ever asked me "kaya mo ba?" or "kaya mo pa?"
Nobody ever asked me if I wanted to do a task or not.
Nobody. Not my teachers, not my friends, not my classmates, not my family.

People always expects you to accomplish everything they ask you to do and blames you if you don't. Its easy to say that you can do it but its really hard to prove.

Sometimes you have no choice but to say okay even if its not. Why? Because nobody will do the job anyway. They smile at you, pats you back, say something "encouraging" and the leave you alone. They never had any idea how much you're dying to just say no or that when you say "no" you actually mean it.

Haven't they realized that all of us are humans? Haven't they all realized that we can't do everything in this world? Haven't they ever thought that our capability is sometimes lesser than their expectations?

Its easy to expect so much that the work will be done when you are not the one doing it. Of course, how could it be hard when you only have to sit in a corner and watch the people around you do the job? But of course its hard for those who has to do it.

They say you can't measure your full potential unless you are placed in intense pressure and stretched to the point of breaking. Maybe. But I hope they be gentle when they stretch me, because I am not as elastic as they expect.

I am human. We all are.
We have limitations. And so are others.
We get tired. They do too.
Stop passing the job to others.
If you think its easy enough, the you do it yourself!

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I'm like a vampire. Almost all of us are.
Awake at night. Asleep during daytime. Or at least, an hour or two during daytime.

I've been spending overnights since Monday last week and only skipped a night last Wednesday. Never really got enough sleep and my head is already aching so bad. Never got the time to actually sleep well the past days because we had to shoot for our short Film and to edit our videos.

Ang hirap maging sikat...hehehe!

We had our last night for editing last night and I just woke up. Missed interviewing with my classmates because I overslept. I went home at past 6am and slept until 11am...whew! The longest for this week!

Thank you Lord!

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Endless overnights. Long, long overnights.
Aside from the constant harassment and threats we get from the people around, one of the things that is constant in our lives in the publication is the overnight.

Because we are all students and has to, obviously, attend to our academics during daytime, we often do our works in the publication at night. We stay in the office and encode our reports or edit or layout, and sometimes, we stay overnight in the office just because we like it. We seldom sleep in our own beds that our housemates find it puzzling if they see us at home at night.

Of course, nobody is forced to stay awake the whole night. We do have sleeping mats in the office where you could catch a few naps side by side with anybody who happens to have the same plan as you. And I mean it when I say anybody. In the organization, it doesn't matter who is lying beside you when you sleep because malice has no place in here. Like what we always say, we are all brothers and sisters here.

We also have plenty of coffee in the office for those coffee addicts who just can't live a day with out coffee. You can stay awake the whole night, drink all the coffee (just don't blame us if something happens to you), sleep all you want or face the computer and do whatever it is that you do in front of the computer.

Because we are a weekly student publication, overnights are held almost always. If the deadline for the submission of reports is on Tuesday, then editing starts on Wednesday and usually lasts for two days or three at the most depending on the number of reports. Of course, Lay outing of the paper follows usually by friday or Saturday. The paper will then be passed to the printer either Saturday or Monday morning. Of course this means that, for editors, we have to stay overnight starting Wednesday night until the newspaper is released either Monday or Tuesday.

There are also times when we have to print six-page or eight-page issues and the newspaper has to be folded by the staff. This means another sleepless, back-breaking night.

So if you will analyze it carefully, if we would really follow this order we could only sleep normally on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Of course there are times when we have to skip the three-night luxury because we have to finish our projects or assignments.
How's that for a schedule?

Despite its unappealing reality, overnight is one of the greatest things in TN. Overnights does not only allow us to finish our jobs and fulfill our duties but it also allows us to know each one of us better. Its one great bonding moment where anything could just happen. Every overnight is an experience to remember.

Overnights are usually fun-filled nights full of laughter and enjoyment. While working of course. Missing one overnight is like missing half of your life. A lot of things could really happen and not being there could really send a pang of regret to your stomach.

Tiring it may seem but this is one activity in the publication that very few would want to miss. You will hate it at first but it could grow on you and before you know it, you don't want to go home anymore. Who would want to when you could have a fully airconditioned and internet connected slumberland complete with music, television and many other forms of entertainment (provided by the staff of course)?

Honestly, I wouldn't trade overnights for the world's most comfortable bed. Losing sleep is worth it when you are with the people you love and makes you happy.

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The NORSUnian, "the official weekly student publication of the Negros ORiental State University System" is one among the four student publications that publishes weekly in the Philippines.
An organization who has been in existence for 26 years now and has underwent several name change since it was established. When it was first established 26 years ago, it was known as The Edutech. Later the name was changed into "The State Scholar" and has stayed with the name until 2004 when the then Central Visayas Polytechnic College has officialy become Negros Oriental State Univeristy.
Though the name was orginally The NORSUnian Tribune, the publication name was officially changed into THe NORSUnian months after TNT was adopted.


BUT ALL THESE FACTS DOES NOT DESCRIBE WHAT THE PUBLICATION REALLY IS. Or at least, what the publication is for me.

The NORSUnian is more than an organization for people like me who has been with the publication all my college life. It has become a family for us who are far away from home.

Joining the student publication has changed my life.
They say that lives of campus journalists are a lot different from the lives of ordinary students. I think, this is an understatement. I could never really describe how different my life is from those of students whose only focus is their studies. I could never describe how hard, fulfilling and depressing our lives can be.

In my first year in the publication I had already experienced all kinds of abuse. Physical, mental, psychological, emotional, and yes even sexual. A fact that all of us in the publication has accepted as part of our lives. Irregular it may be but we had learned to integrate these irregularities in our daily lives.

We are constantly being threatened and criticized by our teachers and administrators. Yes, we are sometimes looked up to by other students but there are also those who detest our very existence. A lot of them thinks that we can solve their every problem and answer their every question which we could certainly not.

Our grades are also in constant danger and not just our lives. We side with the students and publish something mentioning a teacher and there goes our grades. Our academic lives are sometimes put in jeopardy just to fulfill our duties as campus journalists.

But of course, very few believes so.
But we don't care of they believe or not. That, is also a part of our lives.

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It has been almost a year since I became a News Editor for the weekly Student Publication. Almost a year and I am still not used to the idea of being one.

To be honest about it, I don't like this job. I still prefer doing the interviews and scouting for news than sitting in front of the computer and editing. I feel useless in this job.

Barely months after I officially started my "duties", I started to lose interest in the job (which, thinking about it, I am not really interested in in the first place). But I tried to keep on doing my duties. I tried to do the best that I could for the publication. And yet, I could feel that all these are not enough.

It has been almost a year when the staff voted for me to be in this position. Almost a year and I am now desperate to leave it.

Why?
Because I feel so useless, so utterly useless, in here.

I don't think that the authority that my position has given me was ever respected. Nobody really follows what I tell them to do and no amount of reprimand has ever changed them. We have at least 14 reporters in the publication and none of them seemed to realize the importance of what is being asked of them.

I am disappointed. Very disappointed.

As I was reading the previous posts in my other blog, I realized that I finally need to create a new blog which will contain the ups and downs of my publication life. Why? Because my other blog is already littered with my angst and gripes as a campus journalist. Besides, my life in the publication is an important one and I think it deserves a special attention of its own.

I guess what people would expect from this blog is a serious (and not-so serious) reflection of my life as a writer, a campus journalist, and an editor. This will serve as a memoir of a life that I had learned to love and hate. This will be my breathing space.

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