Lighthouse - CAS Publication

14/10/2025

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 💌

As flu cases rise, let us prioritize following these protective measures to limit the spread of the influenza within our schools and communities. Remember, our safety begins with us. 😷

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐬! 🐬

(Caption by Naomi Ashlee Manuntag; Pubmat by Julian Mamades and Jarelle Dizon)

10/10/2025

“𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐤𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐭”: 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

“𝗞𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗯𝗮, 𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗮 𝗺𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮,” isa sa mga salitang naririnig natin sa iba, parte ng pakikipag-biruan nila sa kanilang mga kaibigan o kaklase sa loob ng silid. Kung papansinin ito ay nakakatawa, pero sa kabilang banda ito ay lubos na nakakabahala na sumasalamin ng ating realidad. Dahil ito ang totoong realidad ng buhay ng isang estudyante—ang pagod sa dami ng kailangang gawin at ipasa na takdang-aralin, at ang takot na bumagsak dahil hindi sapat ang ibinigay nila. Ilan lamang ito sa mga kinakaharap na problema ng isang mag-aaral, ngunit sa huli, pinipilit pa rin nilang lumaban sa buhay.

Sa pagdiriwang ng World Mental Health Day 2025, naging paalala ito sa lahat ng estudyante, na hindi dapat ikahiya ang paghingi ng tulong at kalinga sa iba. Dahil hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon umaayon sa atin ang tadhana, kaya kailangan natin huminto, huminga at muling sumubok kapag handa na. At sa pamamagitan nito natututo silang alamin ang bawat paksa ng kanilang sarili—tulad na lamang ng isang libro, na bawat pahina ay mahalaga. Kung kaya bilang mambabasa kailangan natin maglaan ng oras at panahon para unawain ang nilalaman nito, tulad na lamang ng kanilang pinagdadaanan sa eskwelahan at pang sariling buhay.

Ngayong ikasampu ng Oktubre 2025, World Mental Health Day, ipinagdiriwang natin ang pagbibigay kalinga sa ating pansariling kaisipan. Layunin ng selebrasyong ito na palawakin ang kamalayan ng bawat estudyante—na hindi dapat ikahiya ang paghingi ng tulong at ang negatibong pananaw ukol sa usaping ito. Ang kampanyang ito ay mayroong mahalagang mensahe para sa lahat, ito ay ang matutunan nating unahin ang ating sarili sa bawat pagkakataon, dahil hindi natin mapupunan ang pangangailangan ng iba kung mismong tayo ay kulang.

Sa bawat salitang “𝙃𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙠𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙨𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙩,” 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙣—𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙖, 𝙠𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙨𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙞 𝙢𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙖.

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Words by 𝐂𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐭
Graphics by 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐚

06/10/2025

𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐎𝐌 𝐏𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐃: 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

In light of the recent tragedy that struck Cebu, 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐎𝐌 opens its arms to extend help and compassion. Let’s unite as one nation and aid our fellow Filipinos affected by the recent earthquake.

If you are willing to donate, you may do so through:

GCash: 0906 466 3670 (Shan Sayang-od)
Maya: 0961 506 0560 (Yves Matthew Magtoto)

All proceeds will be forwarded to the Angat Buhay Foundation for relief initiatives.

05/10/2025

𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 | 𝐓𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

To you, whose leaf does not wither,
To you, whose guidance sweetens the bitter,

We utter nothing but the greatest “Thank You.”

Thank you for the shower of hope that built our second homes.
Thank you for the endless gleam that secured the top of our dreams.
Thank you for each time you decided to show up,
Even when life became harsh and tough.

Today, and everyday, we celebrate you.
Our dear educators, the heroes of today.

Maybe two words will not suffice your honored value.

So instead, we wish you kinder days.
We wish you a life fulfilled and a strong heart eased.
We wish your leaves to never wither, for they are every student’s hope.

𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨’ 𝘿𝙖𝙮 ♡

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Words by 𝐍𝐚𝐨𝐦𝐢 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠
Graphics by 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐠

03/10/2025

𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦

Hailie Jade Gopez from Angeles University Foundation (AUF) clinched the 7th rank in the Board Licensure Examination for Psychologists and Psychometricians (BLEPP) held last September 24 and 25, 2025.

Gopez tied with 17 other passers with a score of 88.20%. Aside from Gopez, two fellow Angeleneans join her in the list of top-notchers. Nicole Elizabeth Moran garnered the 9th rank with 87.80% while Lira Eunice Samonte ranked 10th with a score of 87.60%. Furthermore, AUF recorded a 98.73% performance rate, while the overall national passing rate is 86.98%.

Moreover, Dandean Lago Bernabe from the University of San Jose - Recoletos garnered the rank 1 spot with a score of 90.00% with Johnsel Torre of De La Salle University - Dasmariñas and Bettina Mae Reyes of Far Eastern University - Manila ranking 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

The BLEPP is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), which aims to evaluate the fundamental knowledge and competencies of aspiring Psychometricians and Psychologists before working in the field.

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Report by 𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬
Photo from the 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝

01/10/2025

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒆𝒆𝒌’𝒔 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅: 𝐃𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Definition: According to Oxford Languages, 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is a noun that pertains to the process of getting worse or becoming less acceptable in condition or quality. In the context of recent events, it highlights the worsening state of affairs after repeated faults, causing a ripple effect on the public and diminishing trust in government.

Sample Sentence: The 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 of governance in this country is alarming, emphasizing the need for accountability.

Words by: Matthew Wendel Neri
Graphic by: Yves Matthew Magtoto

30/09/2025

𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 | 𝐇𝐮𝐰𝐚𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝, 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐔𝐦𝐚𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐠𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐮𝐩𝐨

“𝗚𝘂𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗼 𝗸𝗮! 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘂𝗽𝗼,” ang mga salitang walang sawa kong naririnig tuwing ako ay nakakaramdam ng katamaran sa aming bahay. Maagang ipinamulat sa aming kabataan ang kahalagahan ng kasipagan at katalinuhan, hindi raw dapat kami pumayag sa kung ano lang ang meron kami, kailangan daw namin ito doblehin para aming buhay ay guminhawa. Kaya sa bawat pagbaba ng marka at katamaran na aking nagpapamalas, ay pananakot at kumpara sa mga taong naglalako sa kalsada, “Tignan mo yan, gusto mo ba matulad ka dyan?” Wala naman daw mali sa kanilang trabaho, marangal daw ito at legal, ngunit huwag daw namin itong nanaisin, mangarap daw ng mas mataas pa sa buhay na meron kami ngayon.

Kaya sa kabila ng mga pagsubok at hirap, patuloy akong nagsusumikap para sundin ang kanilang mga payo, pero kasabay din nito ang aking unti-unting pag-unawa sa mga trabahador na dati sa amin ay panakot. Dahil nasubaybayan ko mula pagkabata si Lola sa tapat ng aming paaralan na nagtitinda ng mga kendi at kakanin, bakas sa kanyang tindig ang pagsakit ng kanyang mga kasukasuan, at kung paano araw-araw siyang pinagmamasdan ng batang nagtitinda ng sampaguita, habang paulit-ulit binibilang ang kaniyang benta, na parang nagdadalawang-isip kung kaniyang dadagdagan ang laman ng pitaka ni Lola. Nakita ko rin kung paano huminto sa pag-aaral ang aming kaklase upang buhayin ang kaniyang mga kapatid matapos pumanaw ng kanilang ama’t ina, masinsinan siyang kinausap ng aming mga g**o, ipaintindi sa kanya na hindi niya kailangan isakripisyo ang pag-aaral, na kaniyang pinakinggan…sa umpisa, dahil kahit na siya ay isang iskolar ng bayan, hindi ito naging sapat upang sila ay mapakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw.

“𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘂𝗽𝗼,” patuloy na pananakot sa akin ng mga matatanda. Pero ang hindi nila maintindihan, iba na ang aking kinakatakutan, dahil ang kanilang mga tinuturo ay marangal na nagtatrabaho, walang naaagrabyadong tao, at higit sa lahat, sobra pa sa sobra ang sipag at talino. Hindi sila kulang sa utak at diskarte, sila ay kulang sa oportunidad at magarbong apelido.

Kaya mali ang mga matatanda, hindi pag-upo ang dahilan ng kahirapan, hindi kurso ang dahilan ng pag-asenso. Dahil akin ngayong pinapanood sa harapan ng aming telebisyon ang mga nakabarong na nakaupo, at kung paano nila itinatanggi ang mga dugo’t pawis ng mamamayan na kanilang naigasta, niluluto ang mga proyektong kanilang ginatasan, at mariing dinedepensahan ang kanilang mga pamilya sa kura-kurang wala naman daw sapat na ebidensya. Kilala ko ang nakabarong, sila ang mga taong nakikinabang sa sweldo ni Lola sa tapat ng aming eskwela, ang dahilan kung bakit ang bata na nagtitinda ng sampaguita ay nasa kalsada imbes na nasa eskwela, at higit sa lahat, sila dapat ang mga gumagawa ng paraan para maging sapat ang pagiging iskolar ng bayan. Sila ang mga walang takot na binabalandra ang dugo’t pawis ng ating mga magulang, kampanteng nakaupo sa kanilang di mabilang na sasakyan, habang naghihintay humupa ang tubig sa kalsadang sila rin ang dahilan, at lumilipad ng bansa upang makaharap sila doktora.

“𝙆𝙖𝙮𝙖 𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙤’𝙩 𝙜𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙠𝙖! 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙮 𝙣𝙖 𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙪𝙥𝙤.”

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Words by 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧
Photo by 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚

25/09/2025

Ang 𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 - 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡 ay nakikibahagi sa panawagan ng sambayanang Pilipino para sa makatao, makatarungan, patas, at may pananagutang pamamahala. Pinaiigting namin ang tungkulin ng matuwid at makatarungang pamumuno sa paglaban sa korapsyon at sa pagpapatatag ng tiwala ng nakararami.

Ang korapsyon sa Pilipinas ay hindi lamang usaping legal o politikal; ito ay isang sakit sa ating lipunan na sumisira sa tiwala ng mga Pilipino, nagpapalubha ng kahirapan, at humahadlang sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa. Ang pinsalang dulot nito ay sumasalamin sa mga kaawa-awang pinagkaitan ng pagkakataong makalaban, ng karapatan, at ng kalayaang magpahayag. Ang bawat pisong binubulsa mula sa kaban ng bayan ay katumbas ng serbisyong panlipunan na ipinagkait sa mga nangangailangan—mga kabataang pinagkaitan ng marangal na pamumuhay at karapatan sa edukasyon, at iba’t ibang bahagi ng lipunan sa bawat sulok ng ating bansa na patuloy na nababalot ng madilim at hindi makatarungang panunungkulan.

Bilang mga mag-aaral, kabataan, at lider, tayo ay may mahalagang tungkulin na dapat gampanan; kailangan nating magkaroon ng malawak na kaalaman at malalim na pang-unawa kung bakit patuloy na namamayagpag ang katiwalian at kung paano nagiging bahagi ng suliraning ito ang patuloy na pagsasawalang-kibo at pananahimik ng karamihan. Sa halip na maging panatag at magbulag-bulagan o sumang-ayon sa bulok at sirang sistemang nagpapatakbo sa ating lipunan, dapat nating tuparin ang isa sa ating mga tungkulin—sirain ang makinarya ng korapsyon, upang makamtan ang inaasam na pagbabago. Walang duda na ang edukasyon, pananaliksik, at paggabay sa kapwa ay susi sa pagtataguyod ng malinis at tapat na pamamahala.

Kaisa ang mga 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙨 at 𝙉𝙤𝙣-𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙊𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 sa misyong ito, batid namin na mahalaga ang aming papel sa hinahangad na pagbabago ng bawat Pilipino. Tungkulin ng mga mag-aaral na maging magandang halimbawa ng karapatan at integridad sa loob at labas ng pamantasan. Tutuparin natin ito sa pamamagitan ng pagiging tapat, pagkakaroon ng malasakit sa kapwa, at pagsusulong ng kapaligirang nagpapaunlad ng pananagutan at makataong balitaktakan.

Marubdob naming ipinahahayag ang aming paninindigan: Panagutin ang mga dapat nagsasaayos sa tiwaling lipunan! Mariin naming kinokondena ang mga pinunong mas piniling magpasilaw sa kasamaan kapalit ng yaman at maginhawang pamumuhay na dapat sana’y nararanasan ng bawat pamilya sa ating lipunan. Panahon na upang wakasan ang kultura ng pang-aabuso at pandarambong. Sama-sama nating harapin at labanan ang pamahalaang korap at mapang-api. Magkaisa para sa pamahalaang para sa bayan, hindi para sa bulsa ng iilan, dahil ang bayan ay hindi alkansya ninuman. Ang mga namulat na kabataan ay hindi mananahimik pa—kami’y patuloy na lalaban, maninindigan, at magsusulong ng makatarungan at makataong kinabukasan para sa lahat. Naniniwala kami na ang pagtindig ay hindi natatapos sa isang araw lamang, dahil matagal na itong nasimulan, at ating ipagpapatuloy ngayon higit pa kaysa dati. At sa pagkakabuklod ng ipinaglalabang katarungan, mababawi ang ninakaw na kinabukasan.

𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚 𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧!

Mariing nakikiisa,

Angeles University Foundation - University Student Council (AE**US)

College of Allied and Medical Professions - College Student Council (SULAGPO)
College of Nursing - College Student Council (LIYAB)
College of Engineering and Architecture - College Student Council (AETHER)
College of Criminal Justice Education - College Student Council (SIGASIG)
College of Arts and Sciences - College Student Council (VENTUS)
College of Education College Student Council (ALAYA)
College of Business and Accountancy - College Student Council (SPIRA)

Association of DOST Scholars - AUF Chapter
AUF Legal Management Society
AUF Biological Sciences Society
AUF CON Nightingales
AUF Great Danes Esports
AUF SABMA Psychology
CAS Beatbreakers
Capampangan Occupational Therapy Students Assembly
Chinese Language and Culture Society
College of Nursing Community Encounter with Responsive Nurses
CON Sports Club
Council of Hospitality Management Students
Criminology Society
Institute of Computer Engineers of the Philippines - AUF Chapter
Junior Law Enforcement Association
Junior Marketing Association
Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants - AUF Chapter
Junior Philippine Pharmacists' Association - AUF Chapter
Junior Professional Criminologist Association of the Philippines
Kapisanan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Sikolohiya sa Angeles University Foundation
League of Tourism Students of the Philippines
Multimedia Systems Developers
Nurscene
Nurse Explorers
Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers - AUF Student Chapter
Physical Education Society
Physical Therapy Students’ Society
Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Komunikasyon
Society of Future Medical Technologists
United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary - AUF Chapter
Young Entrepreneurs’ Society

CAS Lighthouse
Nurscene
Teacher's Pen
CRIMWATCH

Pubmat by: Carla Luiza Policarpio

24/09/2025

𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 | 𝐏𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐧, 𝐊𝐚𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐰𝐚𝐲

Sa isang kwarto, may isang dalagang nakayuko at natutulog sa kanyang lamesa.
Makikita ang magugulong papel na nagsikalat at ang pagod nitong postura.
Maya-maya pa ay umalingawngaw ng malakas ang tunog ng alarm mula sa kanyang cellphone.

"𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗸𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗴 𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗸𝗼.
𝗢𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗹𝗶𝘁." ani ng dalaga.

Dahan-dahan siyang tumayo at inayos ang mga papel na nagkalat sa sahig.
At nang matapos ay kanya namang inayos pa ang ibang gamit sa kanyang kwarto.
Naniniwala kase siya na kapag magulo ang paligid, magulo rin ang kanyang isip.

"𝗔𝗸𝗼 𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝘀𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮! 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮, 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗻𝗶𝘆𝗼 𝗻𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗮?"

𝙄𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙡𝙖:

Mabigat man ang midterms at parang sobrang hirap,
Tandaan na ang pagpapahinga rin ang magbibigay saʼyo ng lakas.
Kapag pagod ang isip, madalas nakakalimutan ang mga binasa,
Kaya bigyan mo rin ito ng tulog at huwag puro aral lang nang aral.
Magpahinga, mag-recharge, at gawin ang makakaya;
Sa bawat hakbang tungo sa pangarap,
Tiyak na malalampasan mo ang iyong pagsusulit na kinakaharap.

“𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙙𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙣,
𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣ʼ𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙝𝙪𝙬𝙖𝙮.”
- Letra at Litrato

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Words by 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐳
Cartoon by 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐉𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐚𝐨

23/09/2025

𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦

If the government thinks that they can drown us willingly in these harsh floods, leaving most of the innocent to be unprotected, cold, and unsheltered, then the masses shall drown the government in grievances and cries for change.

Today marks the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., wherein many atrocities, human rights violations, and even the shutting down of a free press were committed as an act to silence the people who opposed the tyrannical system of the dictator.

Yet after five decades, the truth is still manipulated to favor those in power. Corruption in our government remains rampant, with flood control projects being ghosted. The taxes of the people, on the other hand, have been allocated into building a false sense of luxury for those who were supposed to protect us.

Last Sunday, tens of thousands of people gathered in all corners of the country. People flooded the streets for the Baha sa Luneta Rally and the Trillion Peso March in EDSA to condemn the irregularities happening within our nation. Students, religious leaders, celebrities, and workers cried out in chants to bring an end to corruption and to bring justice to those who need to be held accountable. Cars were being honked, and the people marched under the heat of the scorching sun to curse the injustices happening within our country.

The people were and are still angry. We are sinking beneath the depths of corruption to the extent that we are drowning in our hardships and working to support a government that’d rather leave us to drown in floods, and it’s time to wake up.

If you dream of living in the Philippines with a better system, then the fight is far from over. Staying neutral would be siding with ignorance. Use your voice and words to stand up for the nation you wish the Philippines to be, and criticize those in government who prioritize luxury over the well-being of the people.

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Opinion by 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐦
Graphics by 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚

21/09/2025

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Silence is not an option. Neutrality is ignorance. We must call for action.

Fifty-three years since the declaration of Martial Law, we remember a regime built on lies, corruption, violence, and an ultimate abuse of power. Today, history is once again being made as Filipinos rise to exercise their freedom—flooding the streets with cries for justice, transparency, and accountability.

We, the student journalists of the Angeles University Foundation (AUF), stand firm with our fellow Filipinos who opt to rise against corruption, greed, and tyranny in all its forms. The rage of the past fuels the outrage of the present.

Billions were stolen. Lives were oppressed. Freedoms were crushed under Martial Law. These injustices echo today in ghost flood control projects, negligence disguised as governance, and corruption that leaves our nation drowning—both literally and figuratively.

With the 1.9 trillion allocated budget to the Department of Public Works and Highways, countless are confirmed to be ghost projects, with many more potentially undisclosed. This blatant misuse of funds demands transparency and accountability on the government.

History does not merely repeat—it festers when forgotten and denied. To distort the truth of Martial Law is to excuse today’s plunder. To remain neutral is to side with the oppressors. To dismiss the cries of protest is to mock the very lessons written in blood and sacrifice.

As student journalists, our duty is clear: confront the abuse of power with truth, amplify the cries of the oppressed, and resist every attempt to bury accountability beneath propaganda. We will not be neutral. We will not be silent. We will serve the Filipino people.

To those who marched before us and to those marching today, we are one in advocating: “𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅.”

𝑴𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒌𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒈𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏.




𝐈𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲:

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐔𝐅
𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲
𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬
𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐧 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

(Graphics by Francheska Esplago and Asha Mercer/ The Pioneer)

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Silence is not an option. Neutrality is ignorance. We must call for action.

Fifty-three years since the declaration of Martial Law, we remember a regime built on lies, corruption, violence, and an ultimate abuse of power. Today, history is once again being made as Filipinos rise to exercise their freedom—flooding the streets with cries for justice, transparency, and accountability.

We, the student journalists of the Angeles University Foundation (AUF), stand firm with our fellow Filipinos who opt to rise against corruption, greed, and tyranny in all its forms. The rage of the past fuels the outrage of the present.

Billions were stolen. Lives were oppressed. Freedoms were crushed under Martial Law. These injustices echo today in ghost flood control projects, negligence disguised as governance, and corruption that leaves our nation drowning—both literally and figuratively.

With the 1.9 trillion allocated budget to the Department of Public Works and Highways, countless are confirmed to be ghost projects, with many more potentially undisclosed. This blatant misuse of funds demands transparency and accountability on the government.

History does not merely repeat—it festers when forgotten and denied. To distort the truth of Martial Law is to excuse today’s plunder. To remain neutral is to side with the oppressors. To dismiss the cries of protest is to mock the very lessons written in blood and sacrifice.

As student journalists, our duty is clear: confront the abuse of power with truth, amplify the cries of the oppressed, and resist every attempt to bury accountability beneath propaganda. We will not be neutral. We will not be silent. We will serve the Filipino people.

To those who marched before us and to those marching today, we are one in advocating: “𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅.”

𝑴𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒌𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒈𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏.




𝐈𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲:

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐔𝐅
𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲
𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬
𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐧 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 - 𝐀𝐔𝐅 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬

(Graphics by Francheska Esplago and Asha Mercer/ The Pioneer)

21/09/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐭: 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰’𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲

Fifty-three years ago, our nation’s democracy was dismantled. The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. dealt the nation its Queen of Spades — a card of betrayal, power cloaked in elegance, and a curse. He imposed Martial Law with a promise to contain communist resurgencies and dissipate violence in the country. But did it? It did not. On the contrary, violence intensified. The difference? It happened behind closed doors. And behind those doors were victims silenced by fear and repression. Some lived to see the light of day again. Others never did — dying in the struggle for freedom and justice. And to this day, justice remains denied to those who deserve it most.

The oppressors have shown neither accountability nor remorse for the torment and chaos they inflicted on the Filipino people. They never returned the billions of pesos stolen from the pockets of hard-working Filipinos. We lost more than just the fight against corruption and injustice — we lost our very voices and faces, which were shamelessly stripped away. To those at the top of the hierarchy, we were nothing more than mindless subjects, born only to obey their every command. Speak out, and you’ll be cast out. Oppose, and you’ll be disposed. The media were silenced, free speech was blacked out, and truth was buried in shadows. And this, they dare to call a ‘Golden Age.’

After more than half a century, you would imagine that truth would have prevailed and that people would have learned their lesson. But no. Instead, Martial Law marked the beginning of a cycle — a never-ending loop for our country. We vote. Corruption thrives. Outrage follows. And yet, we vote them back again. For decades, we have been trapped in a political stalemate with only a handful of families sitting on the throne. A Marcos even returned to the presidency — despite the tumultuous regime of their patriarch, a regime that ended only through a revolution by the Filipino people. And yet, the very same people who once threw them out of Malacañang brought them back in, lured by a promise of unity. But the promise quickly crumbled, as two dynasties fueled by greed cannot co-exist in power. Even the Marcos siblings, themselves, now appear locked in their own feud — perhaps over who will carry on their family’s dreadful legacy in politics.

So, how do we break this seemingly never-ending cycle? By protecting the light of truth. For decades, truth has been manipulated, and silence bought — traded for money and power. Truth-tellers are vilified, while traditional and mainstream journalists who work tirelessly to uphold the integrity of truth are discredited and silenced. In their place rise social media influencers and vloggers — not guardians of truth, but peddlers of deceitful lies and paid narratives. And yet, these are the voices many now trust.

And so today, we take the first step in breaking the cycle — not by playing their game, but by flipping the board and burning the deck. The Lighthouse joins the nation in not only standing with the victims of Martial Law, but also with the countless victims of the system it left behind. For too long, the people have been treated as pawns — sacrificed in the name of peace, harmony, and progress. We must take a stand and reclaim our voice, reclaim what is rightfully ours. We are drowning not only in the flood of corruption and lies, but also in the blood of those who died for freedom and justice, the sweat of working families, and the tears of loved ones left behind.

The King’s Gambit has gone on long enough. The crown belongs to the Filipinos. The throne belongs to no dynasty. And the land is, and must forever remain, a democracy.

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Words by 𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬
Graphics by 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐠