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The Techno Forum, Brgy. Igtuba, Miagao (2025)

18/06/2025

[June 18] A gentle smile warming the air,
A quiet strength beyond compare.
With every word, your truths unfold,
A pen that’s calm, but brave and bold. ✨🖋️

Happy birthday to one of our most beloved and quietly passionate newsroom writers, Athea Saylon! You may not always be the loudest in the room, but your presence speaks volumes. There’s a calm confidence about you that draws people in—and when you speak, it matters. Your quiet nature doesn’t hide you; it reveals a deep well of thought, sincerity, and strength.

You face every task with a can-do attitude, and it shows in the way you write, in helping others, and brighten the atmosphere around you. You never settle for half done; you finish each task with genuine care. You may keep to yourself at times, but your work always speaks loud and clear.

Let today remind you, quietly yet firmly, of how many people appreciate you. May the year ahead bring fresh growth, hearty laughs, calm moments, and stories worth storing in your heart.

Keep writing, keep growing, and keep being wonderfully you. Happy Birthday, Athea! 🥂

15/06/2025

"...𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩, 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠. 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮? 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚."
— 𝘠𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘸𝘢𝘯-𝘴𝘪𝘬, 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 🍊

No father is perfect— not even the iconic Yang Gwan-sik from the Korean drama When Life Gives You Tangerines. He has his own flaws. But even with their imperfections, fathers have a way of making love feel safe, strong, and steady.

No such perfect fathers exist, yet no amount of softness can compare to them when they first held us in their huge arms—too afraid to squeeze us, always extra careful, too scared to awaken our gentle sleep.

No perfect fathers exist, yet no joyful tears ever come close to the ones they shed when they first heard us call them “𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢,” “𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘢,” or “𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘺”—as if we were angels singing a beautiful hymn.

No perfect fathers exist, yet no amount of happiness can compare to their laughter and excitement when they first saw us take our little steps toward them.

No perfect fathers exist, yet no coach has ever been devoted and can go beyond when they first taught us how to play sports—always by our side, coaching us nonstop—or how they taught us to draw and proudly stuck our artworks on the refrigerator doors, as if they were worth millions.

No perfect fathers exist, yet no one showed much bravery or strength than they do when continuously striving and making ends meet for the family despite life's challenges.

And no perfect fathers exist, yet no love, loyalty, and gentleness can go deeper than the ones they show in simple acts: every time they make sure we have eaten, wait for us despite pouring rain or cruel heat, buy our favorites, keeping us protected, and most of all, never pressuring us. They whisper safety into our souls, along with the words:

"𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮? 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚."

Not every father can express their love the same way as others do, but these are just a few of the countless acts of love that the "𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪 𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯" showers on their family. Like Yang Gwan-sik, they often show their love in quiet gestures—ways their children may not recognize at first but will one day understand and appreciate.

To all fathers, today is a special day to honor your sacrifices, commitment, strength, and genuine love as the head of your family. You are always your sons’ first coach and your daughters’ first fan. You are their first love, and you will always be their very own "king" in your very own palace called "home."

Salute to all fathers! 👑👨‍👧‍👦

🦅

Words by Ana Cattleya Escamos
Pubmat by Radj Tejada

13/06/2025

𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱—𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 🎓

From chasing deadlines to chasing dreams—our Manangs and Manongs finally reached the finish line! 🦅

You've now reached the end of your college journey. With diploma in hand and lessons in heart, the time has come for you to enter a new track of life. This isn't the end of one race, it's just the beginning of another. Ahead lies new challenges, new obstacles to conquer, and a new opportunity to run with purpose.

As you step into the starting line of life beyond our office walls, know that you have left lasting footsteps that have marked the path for those who will follow you, in every narrative you’ve written and in every staffer you’ve inspired. You've trained hard, stumbled, pushed through, and grown tougher.

Behind every powerful article and heartfelt narrative was your unwavering passion, creativity, and dedication. You were more than just our editors and writers—you were mentors, storytellers, and also the torchbearers that continue to uphold the legacy of The Techno Forum through every lap. In the long run, you indeed served with vigilance, a heart full of integrity, and took action when needed.

Today, we celebrate not only your earned degrees but also your journey throughout these years, leaving countless memories that will be treasured. Again, congratulations to all of our senior staffers! Your TF family will be forever proud of you beyond words can describe! ✨🖋️

🦅

12/06/2025

"Ang kalayaan ay hindi lamang sa pagiging malaya sa mga mananakop, kundi sa pagiging malaya sa mga tanikala ng kahirapan, kamangmangan, at hindi pagkakapantay-pantay."

Kasinglakas ng sigaw ng mga mamamayang Pilipino ang iniwang ideolohiya ng kanilang pambansang bayani, si Dr. Jose Rizal. Tunay ngang ang kalayaan ay hindi lamang nakasentro sa pagiging malaya mula sa mga mananakop; bagkus, sa lahat ng mga kadenang humahawak sa mga Pilipino, lalo na ang kahirapan, kamangmangan, at hindi pagkakapantay-pantay.

Hanggang sa huling sandali, ibinuhos ng mga bayani ang kani-kanilang buhay para maasam ang isang Pilipinas na nakakatayo sa sariling paa. Ilang tinta ang ginamit sa pagsulat sa mga papel upang imulat ang mga hindi makakakita at iboses ang mga hindi makakapagsalita. Ilang dugo ang pumatak at ilang katawan ang natumba upang maitayo ang sariling watawat.

Hanggang sa kaya, dumidipensa naman ang mga tapat na pinuno at opisyales ng bansa upang hindi muling masuko ang Pilipinas. Ilang konstitusyon ang ipinasakatuparan para mabawasan ang kadenang humahawak sa pagiging malaya. Ilang batas ang ipinatupad at ilang programa ang ipinaunlakan para matapos ang kahirapan. Ilang pagbabago ang naganap sa edukasyon para lahat ay matuto at walang maiiwan. Ilang karapatan ang inilaban dahil ang lahat ay dapat na pantay-pantay.

Mula kasaysayan hanggang kasalukuyan, halos lahat ay iginawa sa abot ng makakaya para lamang ating maigunita ang diwa ng kalayaan.

Kung kaya...

Sa bawat tugtog ng pambansang awit ng Pilipinas, nawa'y atin itong awitin nang taos-puso; hindi lang dahil kinakailangan ito tuwing Lunes ng umaga, kundi dahil ang awit na ito ay tanda ng mga ingay ng mga malalayang mamamayan.

Sa bawat pagtaas ng watawat ng Pilipinas, atin itong tingalain at igalang; hindi bilang pagkukunwari, kundi bilang pagrespeto sa simbolong nagpaalala na hangga't bughaw ang nasa ibabaw at p**a ang nasa ilalim, tayo ay malaya.

At sa bawat pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kalayaan, atin itong isabuhay — hindi lamang sa araw na ito kundi araw-araw, at hindi lang pag-alala mula sa pagiging malaya sa mga mananakop, kundi sa patuloy na paglaban para sa tunay na kalayaang ipinagkait ng kahirapan, kamangmangan at hindi pagkakapantay-pantay.

Lagi't lagi, ipaglaban ang kalayaan! 🇵🇭

🦅

Sulat ni Ana Cattleya Escamos
Pubmat ni John Bert Taronas

12/06/2025

🎓 𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗪 | 𝙉𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙣𝙞𝙬𝙖𝙣

Naranasan mo na bang maiwan?

Ang hirap pala, ano? Nakakapiga ng puso. Minsan napapatulala ka pa sa kawalan. Tapos parang... hindi mo pa alam kung anong gagawin.

Isa kasi ito sa mga "core memories" ko sa loob ng apat na taong pag-aaral ko rito sa ISAT U. Sa katunayan, isa ito sa mga karanasan kong hindi ko makakalimutan.

Minsan na akong iniwan.

Minsan nang iniwan ng service bus.

Akala niyo naman love-love na kaagad. Wala rin naman kasi akong maiku-kuwento tungkol doon, dahil una sa lahat, walang namang "lovelife" na sumama sa aking "college life".

So, 'yun na nga, naiwan ako ng service bus ng ISAT U. Medyo kasalanan ko rin naman, hehe...

Nangyari ito noong first year college pa ako. Wala pa masyadong face-to-face classes dahil may pandemic pa nga no'ng mga panahong iyon. Sumali kami sa vaccination program sa Iloilo City at may provided na service bus 'yung campus. At dahil halos online pa yung mga klase dati, hindi ko rin nakikilala sa personal 'yung mga kaklase kong sumali, kaya kaming dalawa lang ng kaibigan ko ang magkasama. Second dose na namin no'n.

Pagkatapos ng vaccination, pinadrop-off muna kami sa Festive Walk at binigyan ng time na makapag-lunch muna. 4 hours ba naman kaming naghihintay sa sobrang haba ng pila kaya gugutumin talaga.

At dahil nga lunchtime, mahaba rin yung pila sa mga fastfood chains at restaurants. Buti nalang medyo nauna kami sa pila kaya nakapag-lunch kami kaagad.

Akala ko, medyo matatagalan pa bago bumalik ang lahat sa bus dahil marami pa sa mga kasamahan namin ang nakapila pa. Kaya, dumaan kami sa National Bookstore. Nilubos-lubos na namin 'yung oras dahil minsan lang naman kami magkaroon ng pagkakataong pumunta sa city noon at makapag-mall.

Ayun nga lang, napasobra.

Paglabas namin ng Festive Walk, walang bus. Akala namin no'ng una, baka hindi pa nakakabalik kaya nag-antay-antay muna kami.

Hanggang sa parang ang tagal na naming naghihintay. Doon na kami nagsimulang mapatanong:

"Naiwan ba kami?"

Agad na sumibol ang kaba ko sa dibdib habang unti-unting napagtanto na parang napag-iwanan nga kami ng bus. Parang pinipiga ang puso ko. Napapatulala ako sa kawalan.

Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong gagawin ko no'n dahil wala kaming ideya kung paano kami makakauwi. Hindi namin alam kung alin at saan kami sasakay, at kung saan rin kami bababa. Hindi namin kabisado ang buong syudad.

Bukod pa roon, mas naging limitado ang pera kong dala dahil nakagastos na ako. Paano kung hindi kasya ang pamasahe ko pauwi?

Alam niyo ba ang 5 stages of grief? Pambihira, habang inaalala ko iyon para akong dumaan sa ganoong stages no'n.

Una, anger.

Pero hindi naman sa galit talaga. Parang feeling betrayed lang na iniwan kami. At saka frustrated rin dahil wala talaga kaming ideya kung ano ang dapat gawin.

Pangalawa, denial.

Pero baka wala pa pala talaga yung bus.

Pinaniwala pa namin ang sarili sa ganyan. Naglakad pa kami sa labas ng mall sa magkabilang dulo, umaasang naghihintay pa rin pala ang bus sa amin, hindi lang namin nakita kaagad. Pumasok pa kami ulit sa loob, nagbabakasakaling may makikita pa kaming mga kasama na nag-iikot pa pala upang makumbinsi lang namin ang sarili na wala pa pala talaga ang service bus.

Parang ayaw pa naming maniwala sa mga oras na iyon na nakaalis na sila kaagad dahil hindi naman kami tumagal sa National Bookstore. Pero siguro tumagal pala talaga kami at hindi lang namin napansin dahil masyado kaming preoccupied kaka-testing ng mga ballpen kung alin ang maganda na bibilhin namin.

Pangatlo, bargaining.

Naisipan na naming sabihan ang class mayor namin na tanungin yung kaklase naming sumama rin (kasi hindi pa namin kilala) kung nasaan na ang service bus. Hiniling namin na sana tama kami. Na sana parating palang. At kung nakaalis na nga, sana ay bumalik pa ang bus para sa amin.

Nalaman namin na sa Tigbauan na pala ang bus kaya ibig sabihin, matagal na itong nakaalis. Nagsimula na rin kaming magtanong-tanong kung anong dyip ang sasakyan para makauwi. Ngunit hindi namin lubusang maintindihan ang direksyong binibigay nila kaya ang ending, sa taxi nalang kami sumakay papuntang Mohon Terminal. Kahit papano, nakahanap rin kami ng solusyon.

Pang-apat, depression.

Pero hindi naman nito ibig-sabihin na na-depress talaga kami (grabe naman), pero kasi parang doon na talaga nagsink-in lahat-lahat.

Kahit na nakahanap na kami ng solusyon, parang hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Parang kinakabahan pa rin ako. Parang nag-aalala pa rin ako.

Iniisip ko pa rin na paano pala talaga pag hindi nga kami nakauwi?... na paano kung hindi kami makahanap ng solusyon? Sana kamo bumalik nalang kami kaagad sa bus no'n.

Ayan, ballpen pa nga. Worth it ba yung mga bago mong ballpen para maiwan kayo?

Pakiramdam ko talaga muntikan na kaming mawala, hahaha.

Lesson learned: Kung 'di niyo gustong iniiwan kayo, wag na wag magpapabudol sa mga magagandang ballpen.

Joke lang.

Hindi talaga ako nakakibo buong biyahe. Mula sa taxi hanggang sa makalipat na sa pampasaherong bus hanggang sa makababa, hindi ako nakaimik.

Tapos umulan pa. Eh 'di napa-senti lalo.

Kung maka-react ako no'n dati, akala mo parang iniwan talaga ng taong mahal eh, ano? Hahaha.

Mahirap talaga kapag iniwan ka ng bus.

Pero kung seseryosohin, iniwan na nga lang ng bus mahirap na;

Ano pa kaya kung ang taong mahal na ang mang-iwan sa'tin?

Ano pa kaya kung pakiramdam mo napag-iiwanan ka na ng mundo? Nale-left out?

Iyon ang mas mahirap. Mas nakakapiga ng puso. At mas lalong hindi malalaman kung ano ba ang dapat na gawin. Iyon din yata ang pakiramdam. Parang nawawala. Parang naiwan sa isang lugar na wala tayong kaide-ideya.

Dahil pakiramdam natin, wala na tayong sandigan.

Pero dapat ba talaga tayong makaramdam ng kawalan ng pag-asa?

Mayroon pang panglimang stage: acceptance.

Napagtanto ko rin na masyadong ko palang nilaliman yung nangyari. Higit pa roon, hindi lang naman ako mag-isang naiwan ng bus.

Hindi pala ako nag-iisa.

Kasi oo nga pala; kasama ko 'yung kaibigan ko.

Kasama ko pala ang kaibigan kong hindi ko na nagawang pansinin dahil masyado akong naabala sa ibang bagay.

Napagtanto kong, kaya pala nakagawa rin agad ng solusyong makauwi, dahil may tulong niya.

Nang magkita ulit kami, agad ko siyang kinausap. Tinawanan na lang namin ang mga nangyari.

Kahit papaano naging memorable experience iyon sa amin. At least, alam na namin ang gagawin sa susunod. May natutunan din naman kami.

Totoo, minsan iniiwan o pinag-iiwanan nga tayo. Pero naniniwala akong hindi totoong wala na tayong ibang sandigan pa. Hindi nga lang natin gaanong napapansin. Tulad na lang ng napatunayan ng ala-alang ito.

Dagdag pa roon, kung sakaling nasa ganito man tayong sitwasyon, darating rin ang panahon na maging isa nalang itong alaala na mapagtatawanan na lang natin, at maging isang aral na siyang dadalhin sa buong buhay natin.

Nang minsan tayong iniwan, hindi tayo nanatili roon—tayo'y umusad.

🦅

Composed by Jesse Ian Solinap
Illustration by Jearie Anne Tamayo

11/06/2025

🎓 𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗪 | 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙖 𝙏𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙮

From “Ma, wara ako kapasar sa interview” to “Ma, Magna Cum laude na ako.”

I fell short during my interview phase. When my interviewer asked me after I read the story of the mother hen and a baby chicken, “What is the story all about?” I addressed her squarely, “I don’t know, Ma’am.” I focused more on my pronunciation and enunciation of words, to the point that I compromised my comprehension; I have been true to my answer. That “I don’t know” has been the landmine I stepped on that destroyed my dream, after I saw the result on the PIO page. I couldn’t see my name among the qualified enrollees.

There, I questioned my worth, my capacity, and my intelligence. Why couldn't I pass the interview? Perhaps it was because of my response of “I don’t know," I guess.

𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦.

To shorten the story, after days of feeling the burden of disappointment in my heart, the Miagao Campus Guidance Office messaged me that there was a slot because some qualified enrollees prioritized UP and WVSU, and asked if I was willing to take it. To be honest, hesitation still lingered at that time because my decision was final: “Next year na lang gid ako ma-iskwela.” COVID-19 was still at its peak at that time, so my mindset was already recalibrated that it was still okay to have a two-year delay. I grabbed the chance.

In short, I am WAITLISTED.

𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘢𝘺.

My college journey wasn’t easy. It was not a walk in the park; it was a walk in the dark. It was not a piece of cake; it was a piece of heartbreak. Before I hit my head on the hay every night, I was anxious about the uncertain “tomorrows” that were about to come. Doubt and fear gripped me very tightly to the point that these spirits dulled my faith.

𝘍𝘈𝘐𝘛𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘍𝘈𝘐𝘕𝘛𝘪𝘯𝘨. (𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘳, 2022)

During my high school days, I never cried while reviewing my notes, but this college pressure has been so heavy on me. There came a point during exams when I kept on insisting on putting chunks and tidbits of learning into my mind while the pearls of tears streamed out from my cornea. My mother asked, “Ayos kaw lang, Noy? Kung may problema kaw, istoryaha kami.” “Wara, Ma ah, nastress lang ako.” I couldn’t afford to fail; everything was provided—all the moral and financial support. All I needed to do was to focus on the privilege of education and to give justice to all the extended efforts and support.

𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴.

To be labeled as an English major, you need to have a double standard. You need to be good at speaking, you need to be the jack of all trades and master of none, you need to be a “bida-bida," and you need to be someone as “wala huya” or "kapal mukha." Everything in the English world was full of pressure. Well, if you walk into a fire, there are two things: either you will burn or you will be purified, choose the best option.

𝘛𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦.

In college, I experienced not having even a single second of sleep for some time. I need to multitask things, especially to satisfy and comply with the countless academic demands. Moreover, I juggled balls in the air as I worked on my academic needs at the same time, joining contests and giving time to my hosting and judging stints.
To make the long story short, as I trusted and humbled myself before God’s master plan, I survived my college life.

𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘊𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦.
𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘦. 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳.
𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥.

This verse has been so true to me, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10).

I know that I have nothing to boast and to brag about. What I have had achieved is “was”, “is”, and “will always be” GRACE.

You won’t experience victory if you have never experienced failure. You wouldn’t know the feeling of being on top if you had never been under. Learn to humble yourself before God, for He will lift you up as He lifted up Gideon and his 300 armies, defeating the 130,000 Midianites.

Who knows that your “I don’t knows” will be turned by God into beautiful things you didn’t even know? Be glad if you are tested; you will testify it someday.

Yes, God authored this story. Let’s call this a TESTimony.

🦅

Composed by John Ray Flor
Illustration by Axl Rose Britanico

11/06/2025

𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | ISAT U holds 91st Commencement Exercises for External Campuses

Marking a significant milestone and formally concluding a journey of perseverance for years, the graduates of Iloilo Science and Technology University for the academic year 2024-2025 took the center stage during the 91st Commencement Exercises at the Iloilo Convention Center, this June 11.

All students from the external campuses of the ISAT U System—Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Leon, and Miagao— along with their parents convened to celebrate this pivotal occasion and honor the achievements of the graduates. Campus administrators presented the candidates for graduation to University President Dr. Gabriel M. Salistre Jr., who officially conferred degrees upon a total of 1,903 graduates.

Dr. Raul F. Muyong, Director IV of the Office of Instructional Quality Assurance and Governance at the Commission on Higher Education, served as the Commencement Speaker, imparting profound insights from his life about being poor and uderprivileged to inspire graduates to push through despite adversities in life.

"Growing up in a poor family is a blessing because you learn to appreciate every little thing you have in life. Dear graduates, I keep on telling my story every time I am invited as a guest speaker in graduation program not because I want to boost my self but because I want to prove to all of you that being poor is not the end of the world. Being poor is not an excuse for us to stop becoming successful in life. Being poor is a challenge—it is an opportunity. I am really happy to see you that you have overcome all this challenges. Prove to the world that being poor is not a hindrance to success," Dr. Muyong stated.

Moreover, Dr. Muyong shared invaluable reminders and values that graduates should carry as they embark on their professional journeys, highlighting the essential skills and competencies that will guide them toward success in their chosen careers.

"My most important reminder for you: Wherever life takes you and success finds you, always remain humble and grounded. Finally, never forget to thank the Almighty for all the blessings you have received. Stay steadfast in your faith, for with Him, nothing is impossible," Dr. Muyong concluded, emphasizing the values graduates should uphold as they step into the next chapter of their lives.

In addition, Xenica Kim Eclar of the Miagao Campus' BS Hospitality Management program received the University President's Academic Excellence Award for garnering the highest general weighted average (GWA) of 1.26.

With the theme 'Innovating Tomorrow, Today: ISAT U’s Legacy of Excellence Continues,' the ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the university’s commitment to shaping future leaders and innovators, inspiring graduates to carry forward the values of excellence, perseverance, and lifelong learning.

| via Daryl Sealongo
Screengrab from the livestream of Partum Multimedia League - ISAT U

🦅

10/06/2025

🎓 𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗪 | 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩'𝙨 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝘾𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨

In that fleeting moment, my body trembled,
My heart erratically swayed; my thoughts scattered.
A delightful suffering—
You did it all to me,
My precious cup of coffee.

Every sip offers a temporary reprieve
From moments I can no longer retrieve.
My heart chose palpitations
Over the pain caused by expectations, and situations.

My academic life will end in a while,
Yet I'm suspended in a vacuum,
Plastering a hollow smile.
Silence keeps me intact, a fragile thread.
My body stays in the present, while my mind's in torment's dread.
Torn between the past regrets and future fears.

Particularly were the nights I wanted to study, but made emotions the priority.
I wept instead of maintaining control.
When a friendship slipped away because I felt so much more,
When friends left, and I chose to leave others.

When a family member left, a permanent goodbye,
I wished I was stronger, less fragile, and less dry.
Maybe I did it all wrong, chose a path I didn't desire—
Yelling at my workload, plans that never materialized, notes left unread, a heart grown tired.

Abandoning myself when solace was dire.
I long for an escape if not for my societal impact.
I've explored ways to silence this internal conflict,
Though skeptical, I prayed to God,
and accepted impermanence.

Still, I can't articulate what I felt openly—
Impermanence reminds me—
That people leave unexpectedly.
But it's ultimately, the fear of dependency and vulnerability.
When it's tough I seek to isolate
And even when surrounded, I prefer to dissociate.

I've learned that pain won't simply vanish—
You must navigate it painfully.
Situations won't bend to emotion,
But to action and careful reaction.
Life is numbered, and so are our plans.
The carpet is red, because it demands sacrifice.

🦅

Composed by Mica Molase
Illustration by Radj Tejada

09/06/2025

𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | ISAT U MC commends excellence of academic awardees during '25 Recognition Program

Celebrating student accomplishments and institutional success, Iloilo Science and Technology University Miagao Campus (ISAT U MC) held its 2025 Recognition Program today at the institution's covered court.

With the theme "Innovating Tomorrow, Today: The ISAT U Legacy of Excellence Continues," the event recognized all the achievers for the non-graduating and graduating class of 2025 who contributed to achieving the university's goals, vision, and mission.

"Without you [students] the very important stakeholders of the university, we could never prove the name of our school in silver lining," shared Dr. Ramon N. Emmanuel Jr., Campus Administrator in his opening remarks, acknowleding the hardwork of parents, faculty, and staff in shaping the students and university's success.

Moreover, Mr. Lyle Sidney Gayoba, Assistant Principal II of Guimbal National High School, guest speaker for the said ceremony and a proud alumnus of 2011, emphasized that this event not only recognized students who excelled in their academics, but the sweat, sacrifices, values, and resilience in molding the professionals and leaders.

"You are a living proof that dedication conquers even the struggles," he added, also recognizing the sacrifices and perseverance of working students.

Furthermore, Xenica Kim E. Eclar Campus Administrator's Academic Excellence Awardee, shares her life experiences as a first born that carried weight of expectations but she manages to overcome those with the help of her supportive families. She also expressed her admiration to every working students saying, "To every hard working, resilient, and courageous working students, you are proved that no matter how hard life is it is still possible to rise, to hope, and to thrive."

This recognition honored outstanding students while also acknowledging the collaborative efforts of families, faculty, and staff in shaping their journeys, empowering them to contribute to society and pursue greater goals beyond the campus.

| via Marlyn Tudara
Photos by Larry Jade Degamo

🦅

09/06/2025

🎓 𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗪 | 𝙇𝘼𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙒𝘼𝙍𝘿: 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠

“The greater the pullback, the greater distance for the projectile to travel.”

All I know is I am in a deep dream of having a happily ever after, and only heard these words from our professor.

“Wake up, wake up”, the words uttered by my best friend.

“Did I find him? Oh no! I almost missed the moment of being with him. Let me sleep for a while.”

“Niadas, solve this one on the board”, I slowly opened my eyes, all I could see was the chalkboard full of numbers.

I feel nervous; I think I can't do it anymore. I am no longer happy with what I am doing. I don’t even see myself teaching, and why do I bother to solve? A lot of questions linger in my mind, but I cannot let myself be embarrassed again; people know how good I am. With a dizzy head, half-opened eyes, and even messy hair, I took the courage to stand and take the chalk to solve.

Physics was challenging for me. It was a formidable foe, and I faced it like a relentless storm. I had to retake the exam multiple times just to pass, and fortunately, I wasn’t alone—the whole class faced the same struggle. I wonder where I would be now if I had not taken the step and risk of enrolling. Maybe I was still crying because of syringes, night duties, and piles of Biology books, or maybe I am happy because those were my dreams. Neither being happy nor crying, I am not there, I am where I belong, and I feel more alive.

As Newton’s first law of motion states, an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion continues in motion unless acted upon by an external force. We sometimes stay at rest and contented within our comfort zones, and we tend to hate change because we don’t want to fail. However, there will always be one thing, one decision that will change everything. The things we thought we didn’t want will eventually be what we love the most. When I first entered this institution, all I knew was to finish everything and go back to what I wanted.

I was stuck on what I want and despising the possibility of loving where I am.

Avoiding failures and keeping myself behind the camera during the online classes, barely heard and noticed. However, one thing changed everything. I had a great head start on my first year, and the momentum I created continued. The fact that I am in the right place is slowly settling in, and I have learned to accept it.

With all the doubts and hesitations at first, it turned into determination and resilience. As I learned that teaching needs a massive love and force of eagerness to learn to cover a greater distance.

According to the second law of motion, acceleration is directly proportional to the force applied and inversely proportional to mass. In life, we exert a lot of effort on things we want and see progress. However, there are times we feel stagnant, constrained by the weight of trials. Pursuing our passions with joy makes the journey lighter than approaching things as an obligation. Embracing this perspective allows us to move forward with ease and purpose.

As I held the chalk against the board, I realized it was me conquering my fear, my doubt, and letting myself be heard and seen. I am becoming not what I want but what God called me to be, and it was His grace that brought me here. I’ve seen it as one of the triumphs as I stood in front of my students. My fear was gone as I heard myself during my internship journey.

“Are you familiar with a slingshot? This is another example of launching a projectile. If you pull it backwards, the greater you pull, the greater distance the projectile could travel.”

These are the words I heard with my eyes closed, but these are the same words I uttered when I am wide awake, projecting my voice with newfound confidence in front of my students.

“If something is pulling you backwards now, your worries, your academic stress, remember that it is a stepping stone to your dreams. Every pullback is an opportunity for a greater launch forward.”

The smiles and nods as a response made my heart feel like I was learning how to teach and inspire.

At the end, the uncertainty and fear transformed into passion and direction. The decision I made to step out of the box—my comfort zone—was not merely solving equations, but it was recognizing that I have the power to influence the young minds while pursuing my sense of fulfillment.

“Math is the language of Science,” was clear in my mind when the same professor said this during our early years in college.
“I hate it, I hate Math,” echoed at the back of my mind, but how ironic to love something you hate the most. I found myself loving it; I love seeing every solution unraveled in front of me and giving answers to every problem.

There is no next semester, this journey will eventually come to its end, but with trials and triumphs, I remain steadfast because all I know that everything will be worth it in the end, as what the last law of motion tells, “In every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”. I will reap what I sow. This is no longer a dream, and I chase not the happy ever after—I chase what makes me feel fulfilled.

From standing in front of the chalkboard with doubts, struggling to solve what was written, to the exciting feeling of standing on stage receiving awards and honors, that has been the testament of indeed, hard work pays off. I can’t wait for diplomas that will soon be handed out, and caps will be tossed in celebration. This course may not be what we want, for how many times, we’ve been dragged down and experienced setbacks, yet we are still here standing firmly, wearing our beautiful smiles and gladly say—“Finally, I am here!”

🦅

Composed by Ma. Jeanesa Niadas
Illustration by Jude Warren Nacita

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