Trinity Observer Volume 53 Issue No. 2

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VOLUME 53 ISSUE 02 | February - May 2021
Trinity Community Development Section gets inspired by the Maginhawa Community Pantry,
creates Trinitian Pantry for frontline workers of Trinity University of Asia
Photo Via : Trinity Community Development Section Facebook page
TUA celebrates 58th FD amid pandemic
Despite the ongoing health
crisis brought by COVID-19
pandemic, Trinity University
of Asia (TUA) successfully
celebrated its 58th foundation
anniversary via online channels
last Feb. 15 to 20, 2021.
The theme for this year’s
celebration is “Celebrating
Abundance Towards the Diamond
Years,” in preparation for the
university’s diamond anniversary
in 2023.
The celebration started with
a thanksgiving mass presided by
The Most Rev. Joel Pachao, the
Prime Bishop of the Episcopal
Church in the Philippines.
It was followed immediately
by the Bp. Paul Mathews Service
Awards for TUA employees
celebrating their jubilee years,
led by Prof. Gracia D.G. Sarao of
the College of Arts, Sciences, and
Education, who is celebrating her
40 years at TUA.
BY JOE ASHER P. FUENTES
Different units and
organizations also put up several
online contests that catered
to students of TUA and other
institutions. Trinity Observer
hosted TriniThink 2021, an
intercollege quiz bee, while the
CASE organized SCHOLa Fiesta
and Cultural and Language
Festival, which were participated
by several students from different
parts of the Philippines. The
College of Allied Health Sciences,
the Psychology Department, and
the Biology Department also held
online quiz bees related to their
fields.
Several colleges also organized
their own episodes of TrinityTalk,
an online panel discussion
where prominent personalities
in different fields were invited
to share insights on trends and
issues that interest the students.
TUA celebrates 58th Foundation
amid pandemic | p.2
TUA to host health consortium conference
BY: TO Staff
With the hopes of bringing to
light the humanity’s journey in
surviving the COVID-19 pandemic
and carving a new future in the
new normal, Trinity University
of Asia (TUA) will host the 5th
International Symposium and 12th
Annual Scientific Conference of the
Metro Manila Health Research and
Development Consortium (MMHRDC)
on Sept. 24 to 25, 2021 via online
platforms.
Anchoring on the theme “COVID-19
Pandemic Realities: Equitable
Initiatives for a Healthy Juan,” the
conference will highlight the current
scientific and empirical knowledge
and capabilities, as well as prospects,
roles, and gaps in information in many
aspects of human life during the
pandemic.
Plenary speakers are prominent
personalities in health education
and research, governance, business,
hospitality industry, and other related
fields in and outside the Philippines.
Dr. Prathana Langkarpint of
Payap University, Thailand, will talk
about the future of global health care
while Dr. Michelle Min-Yu Li of Chang
Jung Christian University, Taiwan will
discuss the technology and strategies
in transforming global education.
Meanwhile, Dr. John Robert
Bautista of University of Texas in
Austin, U.S.A., will speak on the new
roles and impacts of public information,
focusing on the internet and the spread
of fake news. Dr. Emmanuel Luna of
University of the Philippines Resilience
Institute will discuss risk management
and empowerment for health resiliency.
His talk will be followed immediately by
TUA to host health consortium conference | p.3
CASE conducts
spiritual
webinar
p.3
The Legacy of
Dr. Marlon Gomez
p.5
ANY QUERIES? @TheTrinityObserver @TrinityObserver
@TheTrinityObserver
tua_to@tua.edu.ph

2 News
3
CASE conducts spiritual webinar
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri shares his stories about faith and hardship during the pandemic
Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer Documentation Staff
“We must tell the truth. Honor and dignity are the
most important things in life.”
These were the words of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
during the spiritual nurturance webinar hosted by the
College of Arts, Sciences and Education (CASE) last
Feb. 18 via Zoom.
Senator Zubiri, together with Dr. Rolex M. Cailing and Rev.
Leonardo Galenza Jr., were the invited guests of the activity which
was part of the 58th foundation anniversary celebration of Trinity
University of Asia (TUA).
Senator Zubiri, who is on his second term in Philippine Senate,
shared that the most significant instance when he felt the deep need
to communicate with the Lord was
when he learned his win in the 2007
election was rigged. He immediately
“We are all equal in resigned in 2011. He believed that
God humbled him during that time.
the eyes of God and in
BY : Raya De Leoz
The senator, who was the 142nd
COVID-19. There is no case of COVID-19 in the country,
also said that contracting the virus
quick fix,”
last year allowed him to reflect and
shed light to his vulnerability
-Dr. Cailing
Meanwhile, Dr. Cailing and Rev.
Galenza, All4Christ Ministries, Inc.
executive board member chairman
respectively, shared how to hold on
one’s faith in time of suffering.
“It is not easy to hold on especially if you are weak, especially
when Faith is confronted by our vulnerability. This is the time we
need one another,” said Dr. Cailing.
“No matter what happens, we know we all are under God’s care,”
added Rev. Galenza.
Senator Joel Villanueva also graced the event and sent his wellwishes
to the university’s constituents.
The annual Spiritual Nurturance activity was held online for the
first time due to strict government restriction on mass gathering
during the pandemic.
TUA celebrates...from page 1
The Media and Communication
(MAC) Department, in partnership
with the Languages and
Contemporary Human Studies
(LACHS) Department, on the
other hand, arranged the two-day
National Conference on Language
and Education, which highlighted
the importance of global languages
such as Mandarin and English in
the present globalized world. The
online conference reached more
than 24,000 engagements in social
media and has attracted audiences,
including educators and language
enthusiasts, from all over the
country.
The annual Spiritual Nurturance,
held via Zoom for the first time this
year, featured the sharing of the
Hon. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senator of
the Republic of the Philippines, and
preachers Rev. leonardo Galanza Jr.
and Dr. Rolex M. Cailing. Senator
Joel Villanueva also briefly graced
the event to extend his well wishes
to Trinitian constituents.
In a surprising twist to usual
beauty pageants, the Mr. and Miss
TUA was held virtually too last Feb.
19. Dubbed as Ambassadors of
Peace Education, Patricia Misenas
of CASE and Edwin Baradas Jr.
of St. Luke’s College of Nursing,
were crowned Mr. and Miss TUA
respectively. The flexibility of online
competition allowed Baradas to
compete and win the title while in
the United States.
Bea Bianca Racelis of Senior
High School and Joseph Anton
Bañas of CASE were declared first
NU pub partners with TO in JournFest
BY : Jean Andrei G. Senen
In celebration of the National
Arts Month in February
2021, The National, the official
publication of The National University-Manila,
hosts the Camilo
Osias Arts Festival with the
theme “Amplifying the Role of
Campus Journalism towards
Press Liberty Amidst Pandemic”.
In line with this, The National
partners with the Trinity Observer
as one of their Campus
Media Partners.
The media partnership
aimed to strengthen the reach of
the event through social media, as
well as to encourage up-and-coming
runners up while Sara Richard John
Alloyce of College of Engineering and
Information Sciences, and Ryjem
Roj Obsum of the Junior High School
were chosen as the second runners
up.
The week-long celebration was
capped with Trinity Icons, a virtual
homecoming and outstanding alumni
awards night.
Maria Franisa Avendaño-Umali,
AB Mass Communication Batch
2006 and newscaster at DZBB,
received the most outstanding
alumni award while Medine Karakuş,
BSEd major in English Batch 2015,
was chosen as the Young Alumni
Achiever awardee.
“Dr. Trinidad and the Foundation
Week Celebrations Committee were
able to maximize online platforms
to still mark the event. For that, we
are very thankful,” said Mr. Caleb
Conne Coniate, Manager of Global
Education and Industry Relations
Office (GEIRO). Mr. Coniate served
as master of ceremonies in many
programs of the foundation week
celebration.
Dr. Fernando Trinidad III, Dean
of the College of Hospitality and
Tourism Management, is the overall
chairman of the Foundation Week
Celebrations Committee.
Majority of the events were
broadcasted simultaneously to the
official social media accounts of the
university.
journalists to showcase their journalistic
capabilities by participating in
their various activities.
CAMAF aims to discover
ten students who excelled in journalism,
photojournalism, editorial
cartooning, and flash report nationwide.
It was a contest open to both
Senior High School and College students.
Ms. Princess Angel Najera, a
third year student from the College
of Tourism entered the PhotoJournalism
Contest with the theme:
Freedom through Arts. Her piece is
titled: Kalayaang Alay Para Mabuhay.
Observer hosts Intercollege Quiz Bee
By: Jean Andrei G. Senen
In this picture: Reinald Mendez (second to the left top row) bested other participants in Trinithink 2021
Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer Documentation Staff
In the spirit of excellence
for Trinity University of Asia’s
57th founding anniversary, Trinity
Observer held TriniThink 2021,
an intercollege quiz bee where
bona fide Senior High School and
College students of TUA are tested
in a contest of wit and knowledge.
The event gathered sixteen
students representing their
colleges in a three-round competition
with different questions that
ranged from general information,
history, mathematics, general science,
religion, and pop-culture.
Sweeping the competition,
Reinal Andrei Mendez from
Senior High School (SHS) emerged
as the champion of TriniThink
2021 after perfecting all the questions
in the championship round.
Jan Victor Ayson from the College
of Arts and Sciences (CASE) and
Lourdes Nicole Pedrezuela from
the College of Allied Health Sciences
(CAHS) came in as first and
second runners-up respectively.
from page 1...TUA to host health consortium conference
Atty. Krissi Shaffina Twyla Rubin
of the Commission on Human
Rights. She will present women’s
involvement in health resiliency.
In the afternoon of the first day
of the conference, Dr. Ma. Martina
Geraldine Dimalibot of St. Luke’s
Medical Center, Col. Alladin Collado
of Cebu Police Provincial Office, and
Ms. Rhodora Angela Ferrer of Private
Education Assistance Committee will
share narratives on the challenges in
the workplace, peace and order, and
education, respectively.
Medical Director Dr. Melvin
Sanicas, Mr. David Hind of Asia Pacific
Institute for Events Management, and
Ms. Joanne Golong-Gomez of Hilton
Manila, on the other hand, will share
global perspectives on COVAX, safety
in events management, and leisure
and recreation.
The second day of the conference
will feature Dr. Randy Misael Dellosa
of LifeChange.org who will speak
about holistic perspectives on coping
with health issues in the workplace.
Mr. Jerico Bajador, Nurse Training
Coordinator of National Center for
Mental Health, will also present
the topic Holistic Health Care
management in the Hospital and
Public Health.
Concluding the plenary is Dr.
Shake Guevarra-Hocson of Far Eastern
University who will discuss the online
promotion of holistic health at home.
The conference will also feature
oral research competition for the
undergraduate and professional levels,
poster research paper competition,
and creative competitions including
video memes, spoken word poetry,
vlogging, pitch-to-policymakers, and
photo competition.
“TUA is involved in this endeavor
because of our commitment for the
betterment of our society,” said Dr.
Howell Ho, Dean of the College of
In addition to his title as
champion, Mendez won a cash
prize of PHP 3,000 while the 1st
runner up and 2nd runner up won
1,000 and 2,000 PHP, respectively.
Unlike the first TriniThink
held live in the university last year,
the entire competition this year
was held online via Zoom in line
with the shift to online classes, as
well as to ensure the safety of all
the participants of the events.
Arts, Sciences and Education.
“Currently, health and COVID-19
being the top concerns of the
world at the moment, this
event hopes to bring about
understanding of the different
realities that we face in all
aspects of life and society.”
Dr. Maria Antonia C. Capili,
URDC Director is the official
representative of TUA to the
MMHRDC is the overall organizing
committee chair of the event
Established in 2009,
MMHRDC aims to strengthen
collaboration and develop
research capability of health
research institutions in the
National Capital Region. It
has 43 member institutions
composed of hospitals, private
companies, organizations, and
higher education institutions,
including TUA.
News
CMT clutches
impressive
passing rate
BY : Russel Loreto
Trinity University of
Asia’s College of Medical Technology
(CMT) has achieved
an astounding 84.62% passing
rate in the March 2021
Medical Technologist Licensure
examinations (MTLE)
way above the national
passing rate of 59.09%.
Twenty out of the twenty
six first-time takers from Trinity
University of Asia are now registered
medical technologists.
During the January 2021
MTLE, CMT achieved an 80%
passing rate, beating out the
national average passing rate
of 67.69%. The January MTLE is
for approved examinees of the
March and August 2020 MTLE
only, which were postponed
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the September 2019
MTLE, TUA ranked 6th in
the best performing schools
in the entire country with
a passing rate of 96.97%.
The Official 2021 MMHRDC banner
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Howell Ho

4 News
News Feature 5
TUA organizes
culture and language
festival
With the aim of showcasing the
public speaking, video making, and disc
jockeying talents of young Filipinos nationwide,
Trinity University of Asia (TUA)
organized the Culture and Language (CuLa)
Festival as part of its 58th founding anniversary
celebration last Feb. 17, 2021.
Princess Sophia R. Domingo of Bago
Bantay Elementary School was declared winner
in the Grade School division of elocution
while Aira Ragos of Alaminos City National
High School won in the DJ and VJ MYX’s Junior
and Senior High School division. Both winners
received cash prizes and gift vouchers.
BY : Jonel Sayon
BY : Charles Worren E. Laureta
The CuLA aims to showcase talents of Filipino students nationally in public speaking,
video making and disk-jockeying
Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer Documentation Staff
Schools from all over Philippines participated
in the Gradeschool Elocution and Senior
High School VJ and DJ competitions.
The event was hosted by Ms. Justine Sophia
M. Justo and Mr. Ian Galman of the TUA
Senior High School Department. Judges were
Dr. Juliet A. Demalen of the Graduate School,
Ms. Rosary Quiling, English and Arts teacher at
TUA-SHS, and Dr. Heidee Ferrer, DepEd Supervisor
and faculty of the College of Arts Sciences
and Education, teaching German language.
The competition and awarding ceremonies
were held via Zoom and broadcasted simultaneously
via official Facebook accounts of
the university.
CHTM puts up local publication
BY : Princess Angel Grace Najeera
With the aim of having a fair and transparent
communication among students, councils
and faculty within the College of Hospitality and
Tourism Management, a local publication for the
College was born.
Dubbed as the “CHTM Insider”, the new media
organization for CHTM will be responsible for providing
news and information and school updates to the
CHTM community.
The publication is also tasked to oversee the
creation of high quality materials for the CHTM department.
“The beginning was the hardest phase of CHTM Insider,
since most of us had minimal to no-experience.
It was hard because there were a lot of students who
joined the community and some of them left. But
I’m really grateful to work with them,” said Alexander
Sembreno, the newly-installed Editor-in chief of the
publication
For Elleine Jamille Factoran, the associate editor of
CHTM insider, she believes in the phrase: ‘Solam Veritatem’
which translates for “Nothing but the Truth.”
According to her, this is one of the most important
values in journalism, and that the community is more
than an organization within the campus. It is a starting
point of CHTM students who wants to share their
skills in the field of journalism
The publication is the brainchild of Jhenelyn
Cruz, former president of the Tourism Society.
She believes that leadership is like a battlefield--before
engaging in a war, one must hold the legacy and
changes that former students imprinted. She noticed
the stress of student leaders whenever publication
materials were needed for the College. She came up
with the idea of creating a publication to ease the
burden of student leaders in communicating to their
constituents thus helping them focus on their duties.
To form the first members of the organization, she
contacted CHTM students whom she saw a potential
in journalism
The CHTM Insider published their first Issue,
Christmas Special in December 2020. They are open
to CHTM students all year-round who want to develop
and use their skills.
Psych holds well-being seminar
“Self-diagnosis on mental health can cause
serious damage.”
This was the message of Mr. Novie Palarisan,
a psychologist and guidance counselor and one of the
three invited speakers of the webinar entitled Nurturing
Psychological Well-being, organized by the Psychology
Department of the College of Arts, Sciences and
Education last Feb. 20, 2021.
Mr. Palarisan was joined by fellow Psychologist
Prof. Yeng Gatchalian and Dr. Nichole Tangco in the discussion
of coping mechanisms in the new normal of education.
“When it comes to your mental health, always seek
a professional. Never self-diagnose yourself because that
can cause serious damage to your mental health,” said Mr.
Palarisan.
The speaker also pointed out the importance of
“Sacred Hour” or the exclusive time and attention given by
a person to himself and his needs.
They also suggested that spending time doing
the things that a person loves can greatly improve mental
health conditions.
Mental health experts and advocates Mr. Paralisan, Prof Gatchalian and Dr. Nicole Tiangco share their tips on nurturing
one’s well-being during hard times.
Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer Documentation Staff
The webinar was organized in response to the increasing
cases of students and faculty struggling to cope
with the sudden shift in the modes of learning.
Hosted by Ms. Dawnie Dela Cruz and Mr. Rommel
Agbayani, faculty members from the Psychology Department,
the webinar was broadcasted live in their official
Facebook account.
The Legacy of Dr. Marlon Gomez
Dr. Marlon de Jesus Gomez is an esteemed academician, leader, colleague, friend,
father and a husband. Most of all, he is someone who embodied Trinitian core values.
Dr. Marlon rose from the ranks. From being a faculty of Mathematics at the then
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), he became Dean of Students for the last 12 years.
He also worked with CHED (Commission on Higher Education) in the GIA (Grants in
Aid) program from 2005-2007. He has also published a number of research on Mathematics
and Education. Needless to say, but he has left a legacy not only for himself but also for
the recognition of Trinity University of Asia.
A Family Man
“He is a devoted husband and a good father and a provider,” said Dr. Serena Gomez,
the wife of Dr. Marlon Gomez. “Though he looks strict, he is gentle and understanding with
his children,” she added.
“He is straightforward and hindi siya nagprepreno especially if he is right,” Dr. Serena
said.
The Gomez couple are alumni of Trinity University of Asia’s BS Mathemathics program.
They started out as classmates, then became friends and co-teachers, and eventually
as husband and wife.
“He loves me very much, di
niya ako iniwan kahit masama na pakiramdam
nya,” Dr. Serena said with a
crack in her voice.
“A lot of people have told me
to be strong, pero mahirap talaga but
despite that, I know that God is with
me,” she added while trying to hold
back her tears.
They have three children,
namely Sean Matthew, Symoun and
Myles who are all studying at Trinity
University of Asia.
Dr. Marlon Gomez poses for a photo op with his eldest son, Sean
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Serena Gomez
“I’d like to thank a really special person,
who up to now has spent more
than a third of his life pouring love to me,
my siblings, and to Mommy. Thank you Dad, for everything you’ve given us as a father,”
read in a letter shared to us by Dr. Serena that was written by Sean Matthew Gomez for Dr.
Marlon’s 50th birthday. In that same letter he thanked his father for sharing his wisdom
and love for video games. He also thanked his father for doing his best and working hard
to provide for their family.
(From left to right) Mr. Homer Balmes, Ms. Lea Degay and Dr. Marlon Gomez.
They are colleagues who worked together for the welfare and development of Trinitians
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Serena Gomez via Dr. Marlon Gomez’ Facebook
An Esteemed Colleague
“Dr. Marlon will surely
be missed for so many
reasons, “ said Ms. Lea B.
Degay who worked with
Dr. Gomez for around 9
years in the Student Affairs
Center (SAC). “He
was a supportive leader
who believed and encouraged
his staff and who did
not hesitate to give a ‘pat
on your back’ for a job well
done.”
Dr. Gomez is the Dean of Students who unapologetically fights for the studentry. His
office finds ways to develop and hone not just student leaders but the Trinitian community as
a whole.
By: Russel Loreto
“Dr. Gomez knows his trade. He knows what should be done and how it should be
done, and he takes responsibility for the decision.” said Ma’am Degay. “He supported
students’ programs and activities and inspired students, especially student leaders, to
go over and above. He walked the talk,” she added.
An Inspiring Leader and a Teacher
“He is approachable, he greets us pag nakasalubong sa hallway , and Dr. Marlon is
such a great educator as well,”said Arnold Sarreal, an alumnus from Batch 2008-2009.
“I admire Sir Gomez for his openness to us back when I was still studying. He has
such a pure heart and (was) always jolly in and outside the classroom,” he added.
“From the very short time I’ve been able to interact virtually with Dr. Marlon, I knew
to myself that I want to learn from him more, not just about the knowledge he can share,
but also the right attitude and skills in leadership,” said Danica Espiritu who served as
Batch 2020-2021’s College of Arts, Science and Education (CASE) student councilor.
“It was also shocking for some of the student council officers because a week
before the sad news, he had been able to help us with our proposal,” she added.
Dr. Marlon Gomez oversees and supervises all university-wide and college wide
organizations, including University Student Council (USC) . The USC is the highest student
body office and a group of students who are elected by the student body to address
issues of concern and organize student events and activities.
From the archives: The 2019 Trinitian of the Year awarding ceremony
Photo Courtesy: Trinity Observer 2019
He is well regarded
in the Trinitian community
as someone
who is approachable
and pro-student. He
would support student
leaders in executing
their ideas and help
them refine their project
proposals.
“One thing that I
won’t forget is during
the recognition day
and he told my parents
“ Ang swerte niyo po kay
Ryan ” and until now
that memory will never
be forgotten by my
parents and I,”said
Ryan del Mundo.
Ryan del Mundo is the Trinitian of the Year of Batch 2019 and served as the USC -
College of Engineering and Information Sciences (CEIS) councilor for batch 2017-2018.
“Yung influence niya yung isa sa mga naging strong foundation ko to give my best
and be a better servant leader to my fellow Trinitians,”he added.
Dr. Marlon J. Gomez is really an embodiment of a teacher that cares for the students
and a person who would devote their time, effort and skills for the Trinitian community.
He might be long gone but his legacy and leadership will forever be remembered
and cherished by the Trinitian community.
Editor’s Note: On April 12, 2021, Dr. Marlon J. Gomez, the Dean of Students
and a professor at TUA Graduate school died from complications of COVID-19.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Serena C. Gomez, and three children.

Features
6 7
BECAUSE WE CAN’T WRITE OUR OWN STORIES
BY: Mayzelle Riz A. Vejano
The last few weeks of 2020 felt like reading a hopeful epilogue after the unfortunate
climax and falling action of the first installment in a book series. When everything
before that last chapter didn’t go the way you wanted them to, you’d hold on to the
last pages and hope you’d find a hint that things could still change in the next book.
It felt like this for a lot of us; like the new year meant everything would change.
And just like a series’ die-hard fan, we enthusiastically welcomed the next
chapter.
Four months into 2021 and I’m stuck here at home, looking
back to last year when a lot of us were hoping that 2021
would signify our recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
How are we now, really? I’d say it’s the exact opposite of
our wishful thinking. We treated January as a fresh start
and welcomed the year with smiles and hope, but vanished
immediately when we realized that we could’ve
gotten millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as
early as January if all the requirements were submitted
and processed on time.
Fear started to creep in more when the first UK variant
was detected in the country. February, the month of love,
would have been a great reason to smile, if only we could meet
all our loved ones. It was a pain to send chocolates and flowers
in place of our presence. March had the highest daily COVID-19
cases since the start of the pandemic and broke those records day after
day. Later that month, the NCR Plus (NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) was
The Perception of SLCN Students on Online Return
Demonstrations and Related Learning Experiences
BY: Reem Guada Y. Lee
It has been a year ever since we shifted to online classes due to the pandemic. Because
of the shift to online classes, freshmen Nursing students in particular are doing their Return
Demonstrations (retdems) while sophomores are busy with Related Learning Experience
(RLE) in the comfort of their homes. To get their opinion and stand on this, a survey was
conducted and they were asked the following questions: What are their thoughts on this?
Do they find it effective? What are their doubts and fears on this? Are they able to perform
the tasks properly? Do they get enough feedback from their professors with regards
to performing the task correctly? What are they hoping for? The freshmen and sophomore
respondents’ names were omitted. Here are their responses:
Based on the answers of some freshmen students, they find it hard because of some
circumstances and such practical skills are better learned in a face-to-face setting. A freshman
stated: “As a nursing student with this kind of situation right now, even if we want to
learn practical skills in face-to-face classes, we really don’t have any choice at all. But we are
privileged enough to gain knowledge through online classes since it’s the only best alternative
solution that we have now.”
For the sophomores, they find their RLEs helpful and informative because of their
hardworking professors, but then clinical duties are what nursing students look forward
to.“Despite the pandemic, I am very much happy with our RLEs, for our professors are
trying their best in order to make our RLE rotations enjoyable yet filled with useful information.
Every rotation leads to different lessons and realizations, nursing-wise and life lessons
in general.”
When asked about the effectiveness, freshmen students do not find it effective in an
online set-up because of limited equipment, and since it is one of the practical skills nurses
need to learn, it is best done under guidance and supervision (personally) by the professor.
“I can’t say that it is fully effective since we are not able to personally witness the
demonstration, and I think that sometimes we miss small details in performing the demonstration.”
Freshmen students fear that they only learn through knowledge and not through practical
skills, which is more needed in this field, and they doubt whether they can do and apply it
correctly or not.
“Life of a nurse is all about hand-on situations and I think with this lack of knowledge
there’ll be certain mistakes made in the future if we are asked by a professor to do a task
since we don’t have the practice at all.”
placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) once again.
Déjà vu, right? Almost exactly a year ago, we were also isolating ourselves inside
our homes. We were wishing to see our friends. We didn’t like the online set-up
and we didn’t want to miss any opportunities outside and families could barely
hold on and provide for their needs. The same concerns and what-if ’s for the
second time. You’ve gone through it once and you think you can deal with it a
second time, but you end up coming up with nothing.
Time has changed, but time has also brought us back to this experience
that we hoped we’d never face again. At this point, it feels like coping
means watching things happen and trying to live with it because
you don’t have a choice. We can’t choose when there are no
options.
Most of us are hoping that things wouldn’t be the same
throughout the next pages. I know a lot of us wish we could
write it on our own and make things happen the way that’s
ideal for everyone. If only our wishful thinking could come
to life, we’d all be back to how it used to be before the pandemic.
Unfortunately, what’s ideal cannot always turn into a
reality. We want to take things in our own hands and give it
our best but sometimes, even after we do, things don’t change.
We can’t be the author of our own lives even if we work hard
enough to be in control. Because we can’t write our own stories, we
just play our part in it, and fulfill that role. We keep that role, survive,
and hope that whoever is writing this story will let us see a better epilogue
soon. That’s our 2021 story.
Sophomores also worry about relatively the same thing.
“I do fear that we may not be able to perform as well when it comes to the clinical field
due to the lack of physical return demonstrations. But all we can do right now is to hope that
this pandemic would end soon in order for us to make up for the lack of clinical exposure.”
However, freshman students said they are able to perform well with different ways
and techniques such as time management and the use of learning materials provided by the
professors.
“With the help of lectures and hand-on practices from YouTube medical videos specifically,
I am able to perform my tasks properly. On top of that, my mother is a doctor so
she is helping me whenever I ask for a certain procedure that a task is asking to do.”
While there are some sophomore students who struggle from time to time and there
are students who are able to perform well by taking one step at a time.
“I could say that I could perform the tasks properly, sometimes it’s quite hard to balance
things out in terms of RLE outputs and lecture exams. But little by little, I try to prioritize
and organize my tasks by scheduling them. Organizing and prioritizing are very
important when it comes to dealing with exams and school work.”
To conclude the survey, both freshmen and sophomore students, and even professors,
are hoping for face-to-face classes as they think it is the most effective way for them to learn.
“Just like others in general, I am hoping for a face-to-face class soon even though it’s going
to be limited, it’s nice to have hands-on practical learning so that I am able to apply it to my
future profession.”
“Although RLE is quite successful for me, I think we learn best if we’re physically
exposed to the field. That’s why I am hoping that this pandemic ends soon in order for us to
learn better. We would be able to master specific kinds of skills if we try and practice them
to actual people. All we could do right now is to hope and pray that this pandemic would
end, for the betterment of our learning and for the betterment of everyone’s lives.”
There are a lot of courses which require physical and practical learning, and are best
learned in a face-to-face setting for the students to better apply specific skills. Nursing students
look forward to the clinical duties and capping and pinning ceremony, but due to the
pandemic and the current situation, such ceremonies are not allowed. The digital shift of
education is indeed challenging. It’s one of the toughest challenges given to us, but we are
stronger than we think.
Literary

Extras
Extras
8 9
Aries (Mar 21 - April 19)
Confront mo na ang groupmate mo na walang ambag para sa finals. I-confront mo na
rin crush mo. Mag-ready ka nalang baka i-seen kalang nilang dalawa.
Lucky Color: Red
Things To Avoid: Facebook Messenger
Taurus
(April 20 - May 20)
Taposin mo na finals mo bhie, maya na yang k-pop mo
Lucky Object: Notebook
Things To Avoid: V-live
Gemini
(May 21 - Jun 20)
Wag kalimutan hugasan ang plato bago magtiktok.
Palaging uminom ng water, nakakapagod mag hit
the whoah.
Lucky App : TikTok
Place to avoid : Kusina (feel ko lang)
Cancer
(Jun 21 - Jul 22)
Happy ka ngayon, matatapos mo na lahat ng finals
mo. Magkaka 1.0 ka.
Lucky Number: 1
Unlucky Number: 3
Leo
(Jul 23 - Aug 22)
Message mo na si crush tas sabay daw kayo
pabakuna, char may bakuna na ba? #Bakuna
Lucky Mythical Creature: Bakunawa
Next travel destination: Sa vaccination site
Virgo
(Aug 23 - Sep 22)
Tigil-tigilan mo ang pagiging perfectionist mo, wala
kang matatapos jan.
Unlucky activity: Procrastination
Things to do: Finals requirements
By: Tired EDITOR | Artwork by: maria rumbaoa
Libra
(Sep 23 - Oct 22)
Pagod ka na, oo pagod ka nang magisa lang sa buhay; kaya ikaw ay
maghahanap ng karamay.
Lucky App: Tinder (charot)
Unlucky supernatural creature: Ghosts
Scorpio
Sagitarrius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Pisces
(Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Ma-didiscover mo na ang peace mo, kase lahat ng gc ay nakamute or naka-ignore.
Maawa ka sa groupmates mo bhie.
Things to open: Groupchats
Lucky Number: 13
(Nov 22- Dec 21)
Lalago ang mga pinaghirapan mo, ung maliit na halaman mo na tinanim
noong simula ng quarantine ay mamumunga na.
Lucky Plant: Kamatis
Future ulam: Tinola with kamatis
(Dec 22 - Jan 19)
Makakatulog ka habang nasa harap ng computer. Sasakit ang ulo mo tas
sasabihan ka ng mama mo, “kakakompyuter mo yan.”
Lucky Object: Mousepad na naging unan
Medicine to take: Mefenamic acid
(Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Mahina ang pressure ng tubig ngayon kaya dapat kang magipon ng tubig para
makakaligo sa susunod na araw. Joke lang, pwede pumasok sa online classes
na walang ligo.
Lucky Item : Tawas para sa kili-kili
Things you should do: Maligo
(Feb 19 - Mar 20)
Blessed by the moon ka this week. May isang Aries sa buhay mo na malaki
ang crush sayo, pero dapat acads muna
Lucky Item: Acads
Things to avoid: Late night talks (marupok kase sha)
Comic Corner
Here are some of the questions that appeared in Trinithink, do you think you can answer them all?
1) Find the average of the ff. numbers: 1-25.
2) How many years was the Philippines colonized under Spain?
3)Who wrote Dekada’ 70?
4) What is the value of Avogadro’s number?
5) What is 9-3÷ ⅓ +1?
6) Which river flows through Paris?
7) The Battle of Austerlitz took place during which war?
8) What year was Trinity University of Asia established?
9) Which country in the world consumes the most chocolate per capita?
10) What are the Jain scriptures called?
1) 13 2) 333 years 3) Lualhati Bautista 4) 6.022 x 10^23 5) 1 6) River Seine 7) Napoleonic
Wars 8) 1963 9) Switzerland 10) Agmas (precepts) or Siddhantas
Answers:
BE FEATURED!
Send your artworks at tua_to@tua.edu.ph

10
Opinion
Opinion
11
When the lights go out
Why should we protect community pantries?
Tired.
If there was one word that
encompasses the one constant
feeling I have been experiencing, it’s
tired. I’ve lost count of the amount
of times I have lost motivation to
do things that I need to do.
Lack of sleep, overflow of work,
and the constant exposure to
screens has been pushing me to the
edge.
One of the worst things to lose
in oneself is motivation. Once it is
lost, your drive to move onward is
lost, and you are left stuck in one
What does it mean to be a
hero?
Heroes in films, comics and
books are often defined to have
superhuman powers, to fly, to lift
heavy things, see through walls
and run faster than the speed of
light. But we humans don’t have
such extraordinary superpowers
when we help the people in
distress, but what we have in us is
our ability to see injustices and to
take them on—often at great risk
to ourselves and others.
Since the beginning of the
COVID19 pandemic the term ‘hero’
has been used throughout the
world. It has been used to identify
the heroic and unremarkable
service of the people who worked
in the quarantine facilities along
with the patients to contain the
spread of the virus and also the
people who continue in working
to sustain and help us to this new
normal.
ESTHEIM
Andy Nathaniel M. Legwis | Editor-in-Chief
place, stagnant.
The fire inside you is, in the
simplest sense, burnt up.
Losing physical interaction
with the people we work with, our
friends, as well as our families,
has damaged our ability to cope.
It makes us feel alone, more so
than we already are. Although the
internet exists to bridge this gap,
it can only do so much. What a lot
of people struggle with is the fact
that the quarantine has diminished
our sense of space.
The spaces we consider personal
are also the spaces we enjoy, the
place where we find respite, and
this isn’t always inside our houses.
Being subject to this situation
for over a year has forced a lot of
people to run on fumes. We push
for perfection in a dire and unideal
situation, and yet we still end up
blaming ourselves when we come
up short.
When the price of productivity is
burning the flame in us out, can we
still call it growth?
When the lights go out, we lose
sight of our path. It becomes easy,
then, to get tunnel-visioned when
the light is scarce, and it becomes
more convenient to blame a person
than it is to question the system.
For students, it is so easy to lash
out on their teachers. However,
educators are also victims to
the shift. Just as we feel the
Unsung Filipino heroes
DAKILA
Joe Asher P. Fuentes | Managing Editor
Them being called as our
heroes with the matching
applause and offering of songs
and performances in appreciation
of their service to others.
But not only the health
workers need recognition but also
the real life day to day heroes. The
local workers who risk becoming
infected themselves—who risk
infecting their own families.
Online Delivery Drivers, who
take the roads in scorching
temperatures to deliver foods
and goods in our everyday needs.
Store keepers, cashiers, market
vendors and all the essential
workers who devote themselves in
making our adapting to this new
normal easier.
We all know it’s been a year
since the start of lockdown and
the quarantine but let’s always
be grateful to the people behind
the big and small jobs who are
risking their lives in making a
great impact in the betterment of
our situation in the middle of this
health crisis.
Heroes often have their own
fancy costumes with capes and
masks. But in the case of our
Filipino heroes who are in battle
but don’t have armour and shields
to protect them because they lack
equipment and protective gears.
Not only by risking their
lives and safety is what makes
them our heroes because in the
perception of heroism is that
it is not the obligation of these
workers to put themselves at risk.
They have not already agreed
to take on this risk as part of their
job and so are voluntarily going to
work to help others.
Their service is out and beyond
the call of duty.
But why do we need heroes?
Because these people work
the best they can to demonstrate
positivity to society and serve as
powerful examples in making a
difference in our world.
responsibility to move onward with
our lives regardless of the situation
we are in, educators are burdened
with the task to ensure that we are
capable of doing so.
As we slowly piece together the
life we once had, we must learn to
be empathetic, and to understand
that although we are all in the
same boat, we do not share the
same experiences. In this regard,
we must also learn to take a step
back and cut ourselves some slack.
We all have something we miss
from then. That, for me, was the
commute home. Commuting has
always been therapeutic for me.
It was my alone time. It let me be
with my thoughts.
I could honestly use a jeepney
ride home.
And if people will hear their
stories, they can inspire others to
do heroic things too.
That’s why, thank you to all the
health workers, from the nurses,
doctors and lab technicians,
Thank you to all the delivery
drivers and food workers for
preparing our food and delivering
it in the fastest way possible.
Thank you to the teachers and
professors who are changing their
entire plans for the rest of the
semester in order to keep children
educated.
Thank you to the journalists
who are working overtime and
facing strange conditions to relay
important information to the
public.
Thank you to all the people
who are keeping in together.
And if you’re staying home
right now, thank you.
Together, we are all heroes.
We will get better soon.
On April 14, a lady by the
name of Ana Patricia Non set a
humble and small bamboo cart on
a pavement in Maginhawa. It was
stocked with goods worth 800
pesos of vegetables, rice, noodles,
canned food and bottled water.
From that one small initiative it
sparked a national movement that
echoed the words of “Magbigay ayon
sa kakayahan. Kumuha batay sa
pangangailangan.” (Give whatever
you can. Take only what you need.)
Its reach was so far and wide that
this movement has started similar
movements in other countries.
However, community pantries
are now under attack as they face
issues of red-tagging. Why are they
Since late 2019, voter
registration for the upcoming 2022
elections have already been open,
and despite the pandemic and the
need for everyone to stay at home
and quarantine, the Commission
on Elections had adapted to the
circumstances and had launched
online registrations, making it
accessible despite the ongoing
pandemic.
And rightfully so, since the 2022
elections are coming in fast. Ever
since registration for voting opened
last 2019, everyone, especially the
youth and non-registered voters
have been strongly encouraged to
get themselves registered.
Given the state of society now,
voting has become more important
than ever. And something people
should realize, I think, is that
voting was always important. From
simple elections, such as classroom
THE POLEMIC
Russel Anthony P. Loreto | Associate Editor
so motivated to close down these
initiatives whose sole purpose is to
help and save those who are poor
and starving?
This pandemic has been
particularly devastating for Filipinos
especially for the urban poor, the
same people who are the most
vulnerable in our society.
Turning a blind eye on these
issues and threats is like cutting
the cord of a person who is on lifesupport.
Silence on these issues
won’t do us any good.
People now succumbed to the
fear mongering from the alleged
claims that the community pantries
started out because radical idelogies.
Votes are more than just ballots
PIERROT
Jean Andrei G. Senen | News Editor
elections, student council elections,
or even Barangay elections, giving
people the privilege to vote should
be considered as something
powerful.
As quoted from the Spider-Man
comics, “With great power comes
great responsibility.”
Being able to vote ideally
puts the power into the hands of
the people. The power to decide
together who seems fit to run
institutions, neighborhoods, and
even nations. The Philippines
especially, being a democratic
country, heavily depends on voting
when it comes to choosing the
next leaders.
As mentioned before, voting
is a heavy power. And at this
point, it’s important to mention
that voting doesn’t concern just
a single person’s life; whoever is
In my humble opinion, this kind
of thinking is hurtful and ignorant.
People need help and they need help
fast.
Trying to tag advocates as
communists in this political climate
is devastating to these people who
just want to help other people.
If you are so afraid of
communists and detest them so
much, let me give you an example
of a country that has an advocacy
like this that is accepted and
is ultra-capitalist — the United
States of America. In America, their
equivalents of community pantries
are food banks, soup kitchens,
pantries and shelters.
These are found throughout the
U.S.A and operate on this same
principle. These facilities are where
the needy can get what they need
and where people can donate their
excess food or funds.
granted power impacts the life of
every person under someone with
power. Choosing certain leaders
will lead to certain actions that
would eventually be implemented
and change the lives of everyone.
Registering to vote holds so
much value now that our eyes have
opened to what power can really
do for the people around us.
We need to remember that
whoever we decide to put up
there, we may as well be putting
our lives and the lives of everyone
else at stake. Even if you feel like
a decision like this wouldn’t affect
you directly, it’s important to take
into consideration that the world
doesn’t revolve around just you.
A new act could be passed, and
while it may not affect your way
of life, it could affect the lives of
so many other people, and quite
possibly, could take a turn for the
worst.
As mentioned before, voting
is a privilege that nowadays, not
everyone can afford to possess.
Having this privilege comes with
Helping other people will not
overthrow the government. Helping
the needy and hungry will not
hurt anyone. In this time of crisis,
instead of trying to spread hate
and fear mongering we should help
each other. Giving your extra food
out of goodwill will not suddenly
cause civil unrest. I will not delve
so much into my opinions on these
political axises as that is not the
point of this piece.
If you hate civil unrest so much,
you should help people out. Because,
helpful advocates won’t overthrow
the government but hungry people
in a crisis would.
So why should we protect these
advocacies? Because, community
pantries are not a move from the left
or an act of terrorism. Community
pantries are exemplification of our
Filipino values of resilience and
social responsibility. Community
pantries is the the modern day
bayanihan
the responsibility of knowing your
candidate well, and knowing to
vote for someone based on their
capabilities.
And that’s why as a society, it’s
about time we took voting a little
more seriously. Especially within
the youth. The youth are going to
inherit the country one day, and
with that in mind, the vote of the
youth is needed now more than
ever.
While it is understandable
that several cannot register to
vote given certain circumstances,
refusing to register to vote, despite
having the privilege to do so, comes
off as ignorant. Keep in mind, what
may not affect you, will affect so
many other people.
Voting is a civic duty, and when
society votes wisely, powerful
changes may come from it. Voting
nowadays is more than just papers
and ballots; voting means changing
society for better or for worse.

February - May 2021
A Year of Quarantine: Looking Back
The past year of
quarantine was
not a cake walk.
Being separated
for more than 365
days from our school, workplaces,
friends and even family
members is not easy to cope
with. Jobs were taken away,
sacrifices were made, and lives
were lost.
What started as a “break”
week for a lot of people ended
up extending indefinitely,
becoming the norm that we
are now knee-deep in. In public
spaces we wage war against
the virus by staying far apart,
this struggle continues on even
in our private lives. It has been
relatively hard to connect with
people and have heart-warming
interactions.
As morale plummeted,
so did productivity. As students,
the line that divided
work from rest became marred
by the need to move forward
and to maintain the status
quo. The difference became indistinguishable,
as we woke up
and worked and slept in one
place. At first glance, it will appear
trivial, convenient even;
but that lack of distinction is
what diminishes our personal space with stress.
As students, we have been expected to
perform to the best of our abilities to comply with
the requirements set forth by the program that
we have chosen. On the flipside, our educators
are expected to share knowledge and experience
as optimally as possible, even amidst being under
sub-optimal circumstances themselves.
The thing is, CoViD19 was only the catalyst.
Through the months, we as a nation have had
to go through so much - physically, mentally, and
emotionally. What we have lost as a country for
the past year goes beyond the virus. If anything,
CoViD19 revealed our weaknesses as a nation, further
exacerbated by mistakes and inefficiencies of
those in power.
As a publication, we knew that our online
presence had to be amped up to a hundred. People
were looking through the one place that the
CoViD19 virus could not reach – online. The need
for information accessibility was at an all time
high. Naturally, we consume news that not only
concerns the Philippines, but other countries as
well. Learning about the developments of the virus
both in the country and outside can be interpreted
quite differently, depending on how you look at it.
On one hand, it is inspiring because we see
that the virus is not impossible to quell, as other
countries have already proven that it can be eradicated.
On the other hand, it makes us question
how, after more than a year, have we not done the
same. Regardless of whether the news we were
about to share was good or bad, it was our duty
to release it in an unadulterated, unbiased manner.
As Filipinos, however, it pains us to witness the
country in such a state.
But here we are.
While it’s easy to quantify days locked in as losses,
it’s even harder to quantify the people who were
affected because of this pandemic. Maybe this
could have all been avoided if we only acted quickly
and decisively against COVID-19.
Maybe, we would have been back to normal sooner
than later. Just maybe.
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
Technical Adviser
Andy Nathaniel M. Legwis
Russel Anthony P. Loreto
Joe Asher P. Fuentes
Jean Andrei G. Senen
Mr. Divino L. Cantal Jr.
Head of Writers
Raya Isabelle De Leoz
Head of Graphics Malachi Diwa Castro
Head of Illustrators Jasmine Joy Badua
Head of Documentation Rana Sophia De Leoz
Head of Social Media Managers King Mohammad Tillah
Staff Writers:
Reem Guada Y. Lee
Mayzelle Riz A. Vejano
Charles Worren E. Laureta
DJ Anthony A. Andaya
Alexandra B. Calanoc
Elinjane S. Vinson
Jonel Sayon
Documentation Illustrators
Michael Evan B. Parocha Ma. Kristina Angela R. Rumbaoa
Earl John R. Patricio Sheryl Leih S. Gonzalez
Kristina V. Pelobello John Andrei K. Libutan
Lexine Caryl N. Soriano Elinjane S. Vinson
Gino Gabriel D. Tuason
Social Media Managers
Julia Ysabel Quirino Espiritu
Lianne Gwyn Prado
Kate Parojinog Gullem
Layout Artists and Graphics
Jamilla Marie San Andres
Julia Andrea Ravela
To Write.
To Struggle.
To Serve.
(02) 8702-2882 loc.434
S-203B
2nd Floor
Student Services Center
tua_to@tua.edu.ph