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The Fishponder, SOUTHERN LEYTE (2026)

01/10/2026

𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 | 𝐒𝐋𝐒𝐔-𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐜 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦

The faculty and staff of Southern Leyte State University-Bontoc Campus came together on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, to celebrate the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary with a tree-planting activity and a commemorative program at the Multi-Purpose Covered Court.

The day began early with campus personnel planting trees across various areas of the campus. The activity aimed to highlight the civil service’s commitment not only to public welfare but also to environmental stewardship and campus sustainability.

Following the tree-planting activity, the personnel gathered at the Multi-Purpose Covered Court for the official anniversary program, centered on the national theme: "Puso, Dangal, at Galing Para sa Bayan" (Heart, Honor, and Excellence for the Nation).

Dr. Deeoowoogen P. Baclayon, Campus Director, delivered the welcome address. He expressed his appreciation to the faculty and staff for their dedication to public service and commended their participation in the morning’s environmental initiative.

The event featured an inspirational message from Mr. Richmond A. Sanglay, who shared insights on public service and reflected on this year's sub-theme, "Bawat Kawani, Lingkod Bayani: Puso, Dangal, at Galing Para Sa Bayan" (Every Employee, a Heroic Servant: Heart, Honor, and Excellence for the Nation). In his address, Mr. Sanglay spoke about his personal experiences in government service, emphasizing the values of integrity, empathy, and professional excellence in daily public duty.

Adding to the festive mood, selected members of the faculty presented a special intermission number, providing entertainment and showcasing the creative talents of the campus personnel.

The celebration concluded with a shared commitment among the SLSU-Bontoc workforce to continue delivering dedicated, honor-driven, and high-quality service to the university community and the nation.

29/09/2026

𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃! 𝐎𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤-𝐭𝐨-𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝

Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena successfully defended his Asian Games title after clearing 5.91 meters at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 29.

Obiena broke his own Asian Games record of 5.90 meters, which he set when he won his first Asian Games gold in Hangzhou in 2023. With his latest victory, he became a back-to-back Asian Games champion.

The victory comes after another successful campaign in 2025, when Obiena captured his third Asian Athletics Championships gold in Gumi, South Korea. He won the title after clearing 5.77 meters in a jump-off, adding another major continental title to his collection.

Obiena’s latest triumph adds another milestone to his growing career and gives the Philippines another gold medal on the Asian stage.

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via Calubag, G | The Fishponder
Layout by Simpao, J | The Fishponder Creatives

29/09/2026

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬!

As you take this 2-Day Licensure Exam for RFP on October 1-2, may you always lead with passion, integrity, and purpose.

Your hard work, sleepless nights, and dedication will pays off. Trust in yourself and believe in your potential.

May God guide you all.

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Layout by Simpao, J | The Fishponder Creatives

29/09/2026

𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑹𝒀 | 𝑳𝑰𝑽𝑬 𝑳𝑰𝑭𝑬 𝑻𝑶 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑼𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑻
by James Uno Simpao | Editor-In-Chief

To live life to the fullest does not mean you have to climb the tallest mountain, travel across the entire world, or achieve grand fame. It simply means choosing to be fully present in the time you are given.

Imagine your life as a canvas. Living fully is not about filling every inch with bright, energetic colors all at once. It is about feeling the weight of the brush in your hand.

The warm comfort of a morning cup of tea or coffee before the day gets noisy.
The sound of laughter shared with someone who truly knows you.
The calm quiet of a sunset that reminds you another day has finished, and you made it through.

We often spend so much time waiting for the future waiting for the weekend, waiting for a promotion, waiting for things to become easier. But while we wait, today quietly passes by.

To live fully is to wake up to the present. It is the decision to forgive quickly, to love openly without holding back out of fear, and to care deeply about the work and people right in front of you.

There will be hard days, quiet days, and days filled with simple routine. Living fully means embracing all of them. It means taking chances on the things that make your heart beat a little faster, learning from the mistakes that hurt, and standing up again with a little more grace than before.

In the end, a full life is not measured by how much you collected or how busy you kept yourself. It is measured by how deeply you felt, how genuinely you loved, and how courageously you stepped into each new day.

Do not just pass through your life. Step into it, breathe it in, and give it all you have.

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Layout by Simpao, J | The Fishponder Creatives

29/09/2026

𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 | 𝗞𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗞𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆
‎𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘰

‎Kung alam ko lang na ganito ang buhay, sana hindi ko minadali ang paglaki.
‎
‎Noong bata pa ako, lagi kong hinihiling na sana maging matanda na ako. Akala ko noon, ang pagiging matanda ay kalayaan. Maaari kong gawin ang gusto ko, pumunta kung saan ko nais, bumili ng mga bagay na gusto ko, at mabuhay nang walang nagsasabi sa akin kung ano ang dapat kong gawin.
‎
‎𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗸𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗱.
‎
‎Kasama pala ang mga gabing nakatitig ka sa kisame habang iniisip kung paano mo haharapin ang bukas. Ang mga ngiting ginagamit para itago ang bigat na hindi mo kayang ipaliwanag. Ang mga pangarap na unti-unting napapalitan ng responsibilidad.
‎
‎Noong bata ako, ang problema ko lang ay kung paano ako makakapaglaro bago ako tawagin pauwi.
‎
‎Ngayon, ang tanong ko ay kung paano ko haharapin ang mundong tila walang pahinga.
‎
‎𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗸𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗸𝗼.
‎
‎Ang batang kayang tumawa dahil lamang sa isang simpleng biro. Ang batang masayang tumakbo sa labas hanggang sa dapithapon. Ang batang kapag nasaktan ay iiyak lamang, at pagkatapos ay yayakap sa taong alam niyang magpapagaan ng lahat.
‎
‎Ngayon, natuto akong itago ang luha.
‎
‎Natuto akong sabihing, “Okay lang ako,” kahit hindi naman.
‎
‎𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗶 𝗸𝗮𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗸𝗼.
‎
‎At minsan, sa gitna ng lahat ng ingay, gusto ko lang sabihin—
‎
‎Ayoko nang maging dito.
‎
‎Gusto kong bumalik.
‎
‎Hindi sa isang perpektong buhay. Hindi sa panahong wala akong problema. Gusto ko lang bumalik sa panahong hindi ko pa kailangang maging malakas palagi.
‎
‎𝗚𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗴 𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘂𝗺𝘂𝘄𝗶.
‎
‎Gusto kong maramdaman ang yakap na hindi kailangang hingin.
‎
‎Gusto kong maranasan ang isang araw na ang pinakamabigat na bagay na kailangan kong dalhin ay ang sarili kong bag.
‎
‎Kung alam ko lang na ganito ang buhay, sana niyakap ko nang mas matagal ang pagkabata ko.
‎
‎𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗸𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘀.
‎
‎𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗸𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮 𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗱..
‎
‎Dahil ngayon, habang hinaharap ko ang buhay bilang isang matanda, may isang batang bahagi sa akin na tahimik na nagtatanong:
‎
‎“Kailan tayo naging ganito kapagod?”
‎
‎At wala akong maisagot.
‎
‎Kaya kung bibigyan man ako ng pagkakataong bumalik sa nakaraan, hindi ko babaguhin ang kahit ano.
‎
‎Gusto ko lamang umupo roon sandali.
‎
‎Sa tabi ng batang ako.
‎
‎At sasabihin ko sa kanya—
‎
‎“𝗛𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶. 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗺𝗼 𝗸𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗱. 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗮. 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼. 𝗗𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗻𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗻𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸 𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶.”
‎
‎Kung alam ko lang na ganito ang buhay…
‎
‎sana hindi ako nagmadaling maging matanda.

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Layout by Jake Ello | Contributer

28/09/2026

𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲: 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚-𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚-𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐦𝐮𝐨 𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐚𝐥𝐚

Ang Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day ay isang paalala na ang pagsasalo-salo sa hapag-kainan ay higit pa sa pagkain. Ito ay pagkakataon para sa pamilya na maglaan ng oras sa isa’t isa, magkuwentuhan, makinig, at muling patibayin ang kanilang samahan.

Sa kabila ng abalang iskedyul sa paaralan, trabaho, at iba pang gawain, mahalagang magkaroon ng panahon para magsama-sama ang pamilya. Sa simpleng hapunan, maaaring maibahagi ng bawat isa ang kanilang mga karanasan, problema, at masasayang pangyayari sa araw-araw.

Ang isang masayang pagsasalo ay hindi nasusukat sa dami o presyo ng pagkain, kundi sa oras at pagmamahal na ibinibigay sa bawat miyembro ng pamilya. Sa bawat pagkaing pinagsasaluhan, nabubuo ang mga alaala at napapalakas ang ugnayan ng bawat isa.

Sa Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day, gawing pagkakataon ang hapag-kainan upang muling magkalapit ang pamilya dahil sa bawat pagsasalo, mas pinatitibay ang pamilyang sandigan sa bawat araw.

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Artikulo ni Glenys Calubag | The Fishponder
Disenyo ni Jake Ello | Contributer

28/09/2026

𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞.

Information travels faster than ever. With just one click, a post can reach thousands of people within minutes. But in a world where information spreads quickly, not everything we see online is true.

Fake news and misinformation can create fear, damage reputations, mislead the public, and divide communities. A false claim shared without verification may seem harmless, but repeated often enough, it can be mistaken for truth.

Everyone has a responsibility to help prevent misinformation. Before sharing a post, we should ask: Who published it? Is the source credible? Is the information current? Can it be confirmed by other reliable sources? We should also be careful with sensational headlines, edited images, and posts that encourage people to react before they think.

Fighting misinformation does not mean refusing to believe everything. It means developing the habit of checking facts before accepting or spreading them.

In the digital age, being responsible is not only about what we say—it is also about what we choose to share.

Think critically. Verify carefully. Share responsibly.

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Opinion by Glenys Calubag | The Fishponder
Layout by James Uno Simpao | The Fishponder Creatives

28/09/2026

𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 | ₱𝟐𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫.

A ₱20,000 scholarship may look like a simple amount on paper, but for a struggling college student, it can help pay for tuition, transportation, school projects, food, and other expenses needed to finish a degree.

Under the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang program, each barangay receives ₱200,000, with ₱100,000 allocated for five qualified fourth-year college students, giving each scholar ₱20,000.

But concerns over the selection of beneficiaries have raised an important question: Is the assistance reaching those who genuinely need it? Reports have surfaced of applicants questioning why they were not selected, while the Palace has urged the public to report abuses or irregularities in the program.

This is why transparency matters. Whether beneficiaries are selected through assessment, community consultation, or another permitted process, the criteria should be clearly explained and applied fairly. No student should feel that connections or favoritism determine who receives educational assistance.

The purpose of a scholarship is to open doors—not create another reason for students to feel left behind.

₱20,000 can help a student reach graduation. It should never become a privilege reserved for those with the right connections.

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Opinion by Glenys Calubag | The Fishponder
Layout by James Uno Simpao | The Fishponder Creatives

28/09/2026

𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬

Schools are supposed to be places where students learn, make friends, and build dreams for the future. But recent shooting incidents in different parts of the Philippines have raised a serious question:

Are our schools still as safe as they should be?

On June 22, a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City left three students dead and 20 others injured. On August 18, another shooting occurred at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where two people died and others were injured. Then, on September 18, Banga National High School in South Cotabato experienced another deadly shooting that killed two students, injured eight others, and ended with the death of the 16-year-old shooter.

These incidents are not simply numbers in the news. Behind every casualty is a student, a family, a friend, and a community left to deal with grief and fear.

The repeated occurrence of violence in schools should remind us that campus safety requires more than locked gates and security personnel. Schools, parents, communities, and authorities must work together to prevent fi****ms from reaching students, respond seriously to threats, and provide safe ways for young people to seek help when they are struggling.

At the same time, we must be careful not to spread rumors, graphic content, or unverified information after a tragedy. Doing so can cause further harm to victims and their families. Authorities and schools have also urged the public to avoid sharing distressing details about the incidents.

Students should be able to walk into their classrooms thinking about lessons, friendships, and their future—not about whether they will make it home safely.

A school should never be a place where students learn to live with fear. It should be a place where they learn to live with hope.

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Opinion by Glenys Calubag | The Fishponder
Layout by James Uno Simpao | The Fishponder Creatives

26/09/2026

𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) has issued a Memorandum Order No. 250 declaring a flexible work and class arrangements on September 28, 2026, in observance of Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day.

Work and classes will be suspended starting 12:00 noon.

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