Liceo U Student Press

Liceo U Student Press The official student publication of Liceo de Cagayan University.

Editorial Board A.Y. 2025-2026

Editor-in-Chief: Johnric Dumaguit
Associate Editor: Joshua Galamiton
Creative Director: Melodie Andrade
Managing Editor: Michelle Andre Dayo
Publication Secretary: Kent Benedict Balon

Office Manager: Irysh Bea Donasco
Finance Manager: Trexie Kyle Memorando
Communications Manager: Mary Angela Maghanoy
Social Media Manager: Althea Joanna Dayata

News Editor: Joanne M

arie Bandianon
Broadcast News Editor: Joiz Comely Nillas
Copyreader: Klean Trani
Research Analyst: Airon Chiu

Graphic and Layout Editor: Vinche Canalija
Photography Editor: John Paul Romero
Video Productions Editor: Ethan Exclamador
Freehand Editor: Bam Jasmine Abines
Visuals Editor: Frence Venci Paquinol

Deputy G&L and External Marketing: Andrei Torre
Organization, Scheduling & Internal Affairs: Ruehl Galarce
Branding, Uniformity & Quality Control: Rhaneir Cardona

Contact information:
Email: [email protected]
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STATEMENT: Unveil The Truth: 53 Years After, The Call For Accountability RemainsToday marks the 53rd year since the decl...
21/09/2025

STATEMENT: Unveil The Truth: 53 Years After, The Call For Accountability Remains

Today marks the 53rd year since the declaration of Martial Law, a period etched in as one of the darkest periods in Philippine history. Under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the country experienced systematic repression, widespread corruption, and gross human rights violations. At the Liceo U Student Press, we join student publications, human rights advocates, and the broader Filipino public in commemorating this historic turning point not to dwell in the past, but to ensure that its horrors are never repeated.

Beyond Apologies: A Generation’s Call for JusticeA storm gathers on the horizon, a tempest of discontent brewing straigh...
21/09/2025

Beyond Apologies: A Generation’s Call for Justice

A storm gathers on the horizon, a tempest of discontent brewing straight from the hearts of the young. It lingers, for how long must a nation be lulled by words? How many more times will the same apologies, frail as paper boats, fall from the lips of power, only to sink without a trace?

The youth of this nation refuses to be fooled by mere remorse. Raised in the long shadow of corruption and deceit, promises are crafted like theater scripts, and regret dressed as heroine in times of need for accountability. A nation cannot be fed with apologies. Its wounds cannot be healed by sorrowful speeches. Justice cannot be restored by regret.

The Philippines, scarred by systemic corruption, scored only 34 out of 100 in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index. More than six in ten young Filipinos confess dissatisfaction with the political system. These numbers are more than points in a graph, for they are the collective heartbeat of a generation tired of empty consolation, a generation that yearns for substance, and dares to demand more.

History fuels their resolve. They were the inheritors of the First Quarter Storm, of the marches that toppled a dictatorship, of the students who turned streets into bastions of courage. Their voices echo from within, igniting the same fire. When silence was forced upon them, they roared. When fear loomed, they resisted. When power was abused, they stood firm in their belief, for the people and by the people.

There is a declaration made with a word: enough. Enough apologies that do not transform. Enough remorse without reform. Enough cycles of betrayal clothed in polite words. Beyond apologies, we demand justice—transparent, unrelenting, and true.

The young no longer waits for the storm to subside. They demand a reckoning, a cleansing wave. And in their collective call, the fire of yesterday’s youth burns once more in today’s generation—unyielding, unafraid, unashamed.

Beyond apologies, they march toward justice. Beyond silence, they speak for truth. Beyond fear, they fight for the Philippines.

Words by Klean Trani
Illustration by Gwynne Cabason and Francis Hannadei Amorillo

Inside the Lens of a Student ActivistThe first ray of the sun peeking through the window is symbolic to students like Ju...
19/09/2025

Inside the Lens of a Student Activist

The first ray of the sun peeking through the window is symbolic to students like Juan. A usual day that starts with a quick phone scroll, filled with headlines—billions of pesos wasted by corrupt politicians. A corruption so rampant that it manifests into tangible problems, like hip-deep water from ghostly flood control projects.

In the middle of the class, he sees students walk out to protest. He grabs his banners and joins them, shouting messages that echo the woes and frustrations of the common people. Juan is like the students who joined the Black Friday Protest, a demonstration by the students of the University of the Philippines against recent issues about flood control projects and corruption in general.

But Juan is not just from UP—he is in every school, every campus, every region. He is every student who scrolls through the news, clenches their fists in frustration, and demands systemic change. Juan is not just one person—he is all of us.

Like protests of the past and present, the protest was driven by the youth, particularly student activists. In the sweltering heat, armed with megaphones and banners, these young individuals demonstrate an unyielding power to not just take a stance but to take action. Yet behind every chant is a risk, they face red-tagging, surveillance, and even ridicule from peers or family. But still, they march. Across generations, the youth have led these movements, fueled by a passion for change and a deep awareness of the dangers that come with speaking truth to power.

The democratic right to protest is inherent within us. The rights that we fully enjoy today were achieved through the streets. May we not view these activists as villains. As G*t Jose Rizal said, "Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan," the youth is the hope of the nation—and we are. But that hope is not romantic. It is restless, questioned, and constantly under threat. Student activists are our classmates, siblings, and friends who risk backlash, violence, or silence for daring to care, and they must be protected.

We bear the hopes, reflect the struggles, and voice the woes of our nation, even when the cost is high, and the reward is unseen.

Words by Miguel Tan
Illustration by Bam Abines and Venzee Wapanio

Each year, the 10th day of September marks World Su***de Prevention Day which calls for enhanced measures beyond existin...
10/09/2025

Each year, the 10th day of September marks World Su***de Prevention Day which calls for enhanced measures beyond existing protocols. The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that su***de takes more than 700,000 lives annually. People fighting these hidden struggles usually bear undisclosed distress and hidden pleas for help. Behind each statistic is a son, a daughter, a friend, or a colleague whose story could have ended differently.

Mental health talks usually stay confined to basic levels of dialogue. Awareness programs exist yet many people choose not to talk because they fear societal prejudice and negative feedback. Mental health services remain inaccessible to many people particularly within communities which lack proper funding and understanding of mental health issues. People in pain face increased isolation because the silence both isolates them and strengthens obstacles that prevent their help-seeking behavior.

Silence costs lives. Su***de prevention is not a choice—it is an emergency. Mental health must be treated as a public priority, with care that is affordable and within reach for everyone. The walls of shame and stigma must fall, replaced by compassion, acceptance, and safe spaces in our schools, workplaces, and communities. Three simple actions can save lives: listen without judgment, check in with those you love, and reject the cruelty of stigma. Every life matters. Every voice matters. And together, we can choose hope over silence.

World Su***de Prevention Day reminds us that stopping su***de remains achievable while everyone shares the duty to make it happen. Awareness must lead to action because every life matters.

Words by Masheil Rose Dango
Layout by Fitzpatrick Carriedo

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated every September 8, invites us to pause and reflect on a...
08/09/2025

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated every September 8, invites us to pause and reflect on a beginning that quietly changed the world. The birth of Mary was not marked by grandeur or spectacle, yet it carried within it the promise of salvation. To her parents, Saints Anne and Joachim, she was the long-awaited answer to prayer; to humanity, she was the chosen vessel through whom Christ would come.

Mary’s nativity reminds us that God’s greatest works often begin in the smallest of ways. Born into simplicity, she was prepared by grace to embody humility, obedience, and faith. Her life teaches that greatness is not measured by wealth or power, but by openness to God’s will. In celebrating her birth, we honor the dawn of redemption itself, for the story of salvation began with her first breath.

This feast is more than history— it is a call to recognize the value of every beginning. Just as Mary’s ordinary arrival concealed an extraordinary purpose, so too can our own lives carry the seeds of God’s design. Her nativity reminds us that hope often enters the world quietly, preparing the way for light to shine.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Words by Gian Paderanga
Layout by Meil Geroy

03/09/2025

The graceful morning of Cagayan de Oro began with the Fluvial Procession on August 28 in honor of Patron Saint Augustine, accompanied by a light rain that welcomed and blessed the day. Boats adorned with flowers and colorful designs sailed along the Cagayan River, carrying the images of patron saints from various barangays. The event signifies protection and faith, bringing the community together in thanksgiving to Saint Augustine for his guidance and influence on the city’s heritage.

To capture the spirit of the event, Haro Lacsi and Imogean Bandola report on the procession, which serves as the highlight and culmination of the festivity.



Words by Kate Dagaraga
Video by Ethan Exclamador and Joshua Nolasco
Edited by Christy Reyes
Motion Graphics by Frence Venci Paquinol

By the early dawn on August 28, the waters of Cagayan de Oro stirred with prayer and devotion as the Fluvial Procession ...
30/08/2025

By the early dawn on August 28, the waters of Cagayan de Oro stirred with prayer and devotion as the Fluvial Procession of St. Augustine of Hippo sailed forth, themed, “Hope Never Fails: The Legacy of Monica’s Tears and Augustine’s Heart.” Leaving the Port of Macabalan, the river turned into a shining boulevard of faith with 50 affirming boats decorated with flowers, banners, and candles being paddled along.

The solemn procession made its way through the heart of the city, passing beneath Puntod, Marcos, JR Borja, and Ysalina Bridges, where Kagay-anons gathered to wave, pray, and sing hymns. Faith overflowed from the streets and across the Cagayan de Oro River, the city's lifeblood.

The day of devotion ended with an Eucharistic Celebration, which was presided over by Most Rev. Jose A. Cabantan, DD, thus merging faith and festivity at the heart of the Higalaay Festival. Year after year, the Fluvial Procession still stands as a living testimony to the undying devotion of the people of Cagayan de Oro—faith carried not only by boats but by generations.



Words by Masheil Rose Dango
Photos by John Paul Romero, Samantha Pahuyo, Althea Dayata and Johnric Dumaguit

Celebrating the Courage Behind National Press Freedom DayThe mightiest weapon in the fight for Philippine Independence w...
30/08/2025

Celebrating the Courage Behind National Press Freedom Day

The mightiest weapon in the fight for Philippine Independence wasn’t a rifle; it was a printing press. And one of its most skilled operators was Marcelo H. del Pilar, a revolutionary who fought with a pen. Born on August 30, 1850, in Bulacan, he used his sharp wit and the pseudonym “Plaridel” in publications like La Solidaridad to expose the abuses of Spanish rule, bringing to light the harsh realities for a nation yearning to be free and bringing his name as the father of Philippine journalism.

On April 13, 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11699, declaring every August 30 as National Press Freedom Day — a working holiday dedicated not just to memory, but to action.

This law moves beyond simple tribute. It is a nationwide directive commanding agencies and the private sector to actively honor the press. Its most profound charge is to educators, tasked with weaving into the curriculum the principles Del Pilar championed: the irreplaceable role of a free press in unveiling the truth, and its critical mission to protect those who do it.

The battle Plaridel began remains unfinished, the threats have simply evolved. Modern journalists continue to face intimidation and danger for doing the essential work he pioneered thus National Press Freedom Day is more than a holiday. It is a living bridge connecting Del Pilar’s struggle to the headline of today. It is a promise to honor the courage of the past by safeguarding the free press of the present and the future. Reminding us that the right to know what we need to know was paid for with courage, and it is our duty to protect it.

Words by Kharyl Golosino
Layout by Eizyl Lamayo

Bathed in golden light, thousands flocked to Cagayan de Oro's streets on August 27, 2025, for the Higalaay Festival’s Ci...
28/08/2025

Bathed in golden light, thousands flocked to Cagayan de Oro's streets on August 27, 2025, for the Higalaay Festival’s Civic Military Parade and Float Competition. Starting at 6:00 AM from Rodelsa Circle, the parade snaked through Divisoria and Corrales Avenue, concluding at Limketkai Center, celebrating culture and community. Military personnel, government employees, members of various organizations and corporations, and majors and majorettes from different schools all participated.

The Marching Band Competition saw the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) Drum and Lyre Corps emerge as the champion. Liceo de Cagayan University Drum and Bugle Corps secured 1st Runner-Up, while Bulua National High School claimed 2nd Runner-Up. In the Float Competition, Barangay Carmen triumphed, followed by Barangay Lumbia in 2nd place and Oro Integrated Cooperative in 3rd place.

Cagayan de Oro promised to shine brighter each year, now at its peak, a city of immeasurable stories and events, ever-reflecting like gold.



Words by Joanne Bandianon
Photos by Shaina Waban and Irysh Donasco

Mga Huyop sa Tubig, Mga Tingin sa LamangDaplin sa baybayon sa bulawanong suba sa amihanang Isla sa Mindanao, nagpuyo ang...
28/08/2025

Mga Huyop sa Tubig, Mga Tingin sa Lamang

Daplin sa baybayon sa bulawanong suba sa amihanang Isla sa Mindanao, nagpuyo ang usa ka halapad ug misteryosong isda nga nagabantay sa mga bahandi sa ilalom sa tubig nga gihuptan sa mananggilom nga suba. Gitawag kini nga "Oro Fish," usa ka ngalan nga puno sa mga sugilanon.

Sumala sa usa ka karaang alamat, adunay usa ka pari nga nagpuyo sa katedral ning siyudad. Sa sinugdan, ang Oro Fish mahigalaon kaniya. Adlaw-adlaw niya kining ginapakaon, hangtod nga kini midako pag-ayo, labaw pa sa gidak-on nga masabtan sa mga tawo. Apan usa ka gabii, ang pari kalit nga nawala. Pipila ka adlaw ang milabay, usa ka lawas ang nakit-an sa pier. Sumala sa mga istorya, gikaon kini sa higanteng isda.

Apan kini istorya sa mga tawo. Tingali ang higanteng Oro maayo ug manggihatagon, naghatag ug katigayunan sa suba ug sa mga katawhan na namuyo daplin niini. Tingali ang pari nawala tungod sa laing hinungdan, ug ang isda nagsubo sa iyang pagkawala.

Ang tubig sa suba nagpadayon sa pag-agos, apil ana ang mga istorya nga dili malimtan sa panahon. Tungod sa ka-ila niini nga alamat, giingon nga ang “Oro” sa ngalan sa syudad, Cagayan de Oro, gikan sa maong maalamat nga isda. Tungod sa kasugiran, angay nga tawagong “River of Gold” ang suba sa Cagayan. Matod pa, ang lihok sa Oro ang maoy hinungdan sa mga linog sa dakbayan.

Bisan pa man nga usa lamang kini ka sugilanon, gapakita kini sa kahadlok sa tawo sa “dili mailhan,” ug sa kaagi nga ang mga alamat mao’y naghatag og kahayag ug pagsabot. Kada huyop sa tubig, ug ang atong tingin sa lamang, kita usab parte sa sugilanon. Sa umaabot, ang Oro Fish magpabilin nga usa ka simbolo ug usa ka pahinumdom sa atong mga gigikanan, sa mga misteryo nga nagpalibot kanato, ug sa mga istorya nga naghulma sa atong pagkatawo isip mga anak sa Cagayan de Oro.



Words by Miguel Tan and Klean Trani
Illustration by Venzee Wapanio and Gwynne Cabason

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