IN FOCUS | Issue No. 2 | August-December 2020

OPINION
8
T
he first semester of
school year 2020-
2021 went by quite interestingly,
with more than
a few pauses in between
due to frequent typhoons
and internet connectivity
issues. The flexible learning
modality implemented by
the university provided a
different avenue for its students
to continue their education
whilst being home.
However, this option did not
go by quite smoothly as we
all hoped, and the adjustment
period for students
was painstakingly long.
The main problem encountered
by many —both
students and professors
alike is the unstable internet
connection, especially
for those who are studying
or teaching in far-flung areas.
The average student
population in the country
equates to more than 23
million enrollees for this
school year. According to
a recent article by Enquire
Magazine, based on recent
studies, the Philippines
ranks as one of the countries
with the slowest, least stable,
and secure, and not to mention,
most expensive internet.
The fact that the entire
student population plus
800,000 teachers in our country
are trying to share and
secure their connection provided
only by five major telecommunications
companies
with approximately 18,000
cell sites is not enough and a
national problem on its own.
Aside from that, four
consecutive typhoons, with
the last catastrophic one,
typhoon Ulysses, devastated
the Filipino people and
drowned the most frequently
flooded areas at a much
faster rate compared to typhoon
Ondoy. Education
was again put on hold for
a few weeks to allow students
and teachers to recuperate.
This pandemic we
are still facing and the miniature
disasters that entail
it is enough to drive anyone
half-mad. Our professors
alone work double-time to
accom modate every need
of their students, which is
An Update on Online
Classes: How It’s Going
not enough to compensate
for all the other academic-related
problems we all have.
Online classes are not
as easy as everyone thinks.
You would notice there are
not enough hours in a day,
and even in the comforts
of your own home, it is not
exactly the optimal environment
for learning. A lot
of people say, “Time Management”
is the key. But in
the words of our beloved
college Dean, there is no
such thing as time management.
There will always
be various circumstances
that can spontaneously
pop-up, thus altering
your supposed schedule.
In addition, balancing
schoolwork with household
and personal endeavors,
financially speak ing, online
classes are not cheaper
than a regular face-toface
class. I believe some
students who enrolled this
year, in general, took the
risk of enrolling this semester
due to the anxiety of
being ‘late’ in graduating.
It is as if studying in these
times is not because of one’s
free will and determination,
but more about fear and obligation.
When asked, ‘how is
it going?’ the easiest way to
respond is, “it’s going.” Saying
“It’s okay” is difficult because
nothing is ever, ‘okay’
until this somewhat endless
adverse time loop we are
stuck in comes to an end.
Online classes for
Medical Technology is doable,
but it is the proficiency
that is being sacrificed. It is
the skill that is perfected in
an actual laboratory setting
that is compromised. With
the second semester to be
held still using the flexible
learning modality of the
university. Will the adjustment
period be as long?
Have the students already
adapted to this kind of setup?
Some have, but most
of us are still struggling to
keep up; not everyone is
hard wired to adapt quickly.
We have to empathize
with those who are lagging
for us to finish strong.
Freedom of the
The power of the media is
too great to be given
and handled loosely. As
much as we don’t like to
admit it, the media controls
the world. And if anyone
with money can alter
what was published, what
is left for us to believe?
According to a recent
survey, the 2020 World Press
Freedom Index ranks the Philippines
at 136th place out of
180 countries as being one of
the worst countries to exercise
Press
the freedom to publish. With
a total of 86 journalists murdered
from 1992 to 2021 and
hundreds more convicted and
sued for libel, not taking into
account other media personnel
and publishers. Freedom
of speech in the 1987
Constitution states that we
are well within our rights to
express our truths as long
as it’s not solely to provoke
others and their opinion.
It is very important not
to misconstrue freedom of
speech and the Bill of Rights as
an excuse to do as we please
without expecting any form
of condign retaliation. Yes,
we are relatively free to do
and say what we want. However,
we must always remain
within reason, which leads
me to realize when Aristotle
defined rhetorical appeals
as ethos, pathos, and logos,
it seems far too simple now
for the media to categorize
them as just ‘this’ and ‘that.’
What a world we must live
in if credibility was the only
threat to our freedom.
Journalism is about
capturing and publishing information
that prioritizes the
public good above all else. It
doesn’t have biases and never
picks a side oter than the
truth. The truth isn’t always
for everyone; more often than
not, it’s ruthless and unforgiving.
Freedom of speech is continuously
perceived to be fundamental
when talking about
democracy. Take it away - you
will take away our liberty.