Stepping back

When was the time I left this site? Was it yesterday? No. Last day? Not either. But it’s been more than a month now. How I’d wish I maintained posts in Blogspot and share more thoughts but I forgotten to. Well, I’m trying to change the mode of my blog and retouch some part of it this time. Let’s put a little different taste which I long not used to.
Actually I don’t have certain topic/s to blog about but merely random thoughts that might drop along the way while I’m typing this. What idea should I start with? Just anything, as I said. What now? Ahh…Umm…Formulating…
For more than two months now, I’ve been working in the student publication not as a mere writer but holding a position more than just twice a work of a writer or of any position for that matter — not an ordinary work that I was used to before. I kept asking myself why I am here. Maybe because people picked me to be here. Do I have a choice — was my rebut. I have, but I just did what I have to do. Everything in my environment has a sole rationale. Fate, that is.
Along with the many challenges that I hurdled with this responsibility, I had the chance to meet people of different beliefs and attitudes. Chances are, you may fail them along the way or make them feel satisfied with your work. But that's what it is all about — either fail or succeed.
Time heals. We joggled many times and cried a lot. But things are back into its proper places. Many, more to go. One has to think out of the box, evaluate, and learn from it. And that's the reason we are all here. To not just shared our thoughts, while life is going, but also learn from them.

Transpiring thoughts from an experienced…

“It’s abused but it’s the privilege that I’ve got...”!

"Teachers are not allowed to make mistakes. We students, we made mistakes because we are students".

"We do comparison for betterment".

- Former Associate Editor Jehromel Ebuen, The NORSUnian

Swimming 101

There’s nothing more exciting than swimming. Problem is ‘I don’t know how to’.

It's been awhile that I was not able to plunge into a body of water since I don't know how to handle swimming. But just recently I had a time to take a little dip in a pool. I got many realizations in mind during the event.

Here are some insights:

*Don't swim with shirt on. Though tummy would little be seen, nothing to worry. People around you are your friends. They won't harass you anyway. They'll just tease you to death. Whether you'll be bullied or not, sure thing is - skin is still visible with shirt on. Just take it off!

*Use a balloon. Balloons are helpful in swimming nowadays. Instead of using that costly floating device, just bring with you balloons. It won't burst immediately anyhow. Though you don't know the floating technique, if you'll just know how to handle it, you'll feel floating underneath a body of water.

*Do the three to six feet challenge. If you are a beginner, try to swim back and forth with the three feet perimeter scale. After some 100 times trial and error, now undertake the six-feet challenge. Fast as you can, swim back and forth, and even roam around the border. Though you'll fail at first, you could possibly make it after that 1,000 times test.

*Managing your weight on top of a body of water. It's a bit interesting but for a first timer, it takes a lot of trial to do. More intake of water before one will successfully achieve the floating scheme. It's hard especially that you don't have faith and believe in one's self.

There you go, I have shared some of my realizations and shortcomings with swimming 101. I just hope I could conquer and defeat my fear with the idea of serious swimming next time.

Mode: At School!!!

Always at school though it's lent season and be at school again for the rest of the summer.

Schooling is supposedly done at this time but still I'm in the school working with something that need my attention with some peers [and it's out of your business. Why am I explaining this to you? Just joking!(not funny though)]. Well, probably one might ask why? And especially that it's Lent season. The answer would be - I need to and must be. That's out of your coverage!

Kidding aside, everything went well. I'm at the office, trying to be comfortable with everything - from staying to manning the place. Probably everyone might then again be wondering why? It's because I'll soon be staying the place, not for good but for sort of working purposes. Well, I should have brought my things in here. But not a good idea.

Overnight and staying overtime - it's like real work right? But it's not. I'm in the student publication, working with some important stuff like for the farewell thingy for the bidding of goodbyes of the graduates. It's hard, but we have to let them go. Actually, I and a peer are working with it now. Though it's a surprise, the graduates have already learned about the idea but one thing they don't know is what will happen during the good luck party. Well, everything will be a surprise this time.

Trying to stitch every detail but for now I have to stop. It's just that my parting words would sound like insignificant. Well, I have nothing in mind anymore. So, goodbye for now [good for all]!

Senior Writer turned E.I.C.

A tough job for an inexperience...

It was never in my mind to write, not even to become a member of a student publication like that of The NORSUnian (TN), the weekly student publication of the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) System. When I first step in as a Mass Communication student in NORSU, I already have had assumed myself to become a radio personality because of the quality of my voice. I even went disk jockeying in one of the famous radio stations in Dumaguete City.

In the length of time, I never did imagine that I will ever go this far - to become an Editor-In-Chief. Never did I realize that this has come to realization now. To what point I am entrusted with this task? - I then asked myself with uncertainty. But I rebut my query with this answer - the staffers see what my capability and ability is.

Relating to my experience as a writer, I have had more than two years now as part of the editorial staff of TN. What did I do during that length? I did what I had to do - to write, write, and write. I also thought of my character as student journalist [to fight for the students' right - of which is the purpose of my stay]. I become very active. I submit articles on time though I pass some late. I join editing and layouting overnight. Little did I know that my attitude plus the output have had add up to become ingredients for the position.

This accounts to the leadership of the incumbent E.I.C., Mr. Junrell Calunod. I will not become who I am today, if not with his help [of course with the rest of the remaining staffers]. Though there are times that I was confused with how he leads and rules the publication but I have seen reasons why he became that way - only for the publication's good.

Everything will be new next school year for the student publication and even the adviser has planned to make exit. I am very positive to what will happen to my administration. I even anticipated that TN staffers will be as cooperative as what they have been showing to the publication at the present. Though there are failures from publishing on time to taking account of the responsibilities of the editors, this should have been corrected now.

I am also taking credit to the former Associate Editor, Ms. Yvoughn Nadine Navarro, her leadership has also aspired me to become better person as well. To my Associate Editor Ms. Maria Margarita Narvasa and the rest of the new elected editorial board, I am looking forward with same cooperation and understanding. Thank you ahead. Humbly speaking, this should go with the flow that has been into years now with the student publication, though most of us are inexperienced with the tough job ahead of us.

Wanted: job search

Getting ready for work!

Few months from now, graduating students of Negros Oriental State University will be celebrating their farewell parties, telling their goodbyes to friends and peers, and setting foot off from the university premises. But, more than missing people, the institution, the professors, alike, there are other challenges that graduates will have to face outside and beyond the four walls of this institution – firm and tall – challenges in the real world.

Nowadays, it’s really hard to find jobs that fit the course one has graduated with. Most of the time, graduates prefer to stay at home for awhile, for the preparation to board or licensure examination, while others were eager enough to get a job related to the field after finishing a degree. There were also others that plan to study for mastery of their chosen degree.

While thousands of graduates who have been filing up for the unemployment rate in the Philippines among other countries that were affected and have had experienced the global financial crisis last year, Filipinos are optimistic enough for employment and soon fetch a stable job to support needs and wants.

Reminders for job seekers

There are things that need to be given emphasis when searching for jobs. A graduate has to comply with a lot of documents like transcript of records (TOR), birth certificate, and other pertinent requirements. But, how can we accomplish said documents without too much flaws and delay? Here are some suggestions to bear in mind, read on….

Request TOR ahead of time. After graduating, it is way better to have the TOR requested earlier, so that the Office of the University Registrar could do the work ahead and release it as soon as it is done. Just prepare needed requirements for the TOR request that include the National Statistics Office Certified Birth Certificate, University Clearance, Form 137 from High School, 2x2 picture (coloured with white background), receipts for INC, and retake fees.

Prepare for the cover letter and the resume. A cover letter or application letter is essential to anyone who is searching for a job. It also accompanies a resume, which is a summary of the applicant’s education, work experience, and introduces the applicant to the prospective employer. Just fill in your letter and resume with enough and important information needed.

Scan the classified ads and online job search. It is very much advisable that one should look for job openings and vacancies in local and national newspapers for prospect employers. There are also online job openings that is available, just look for specific job search and click it in and see if there’s a job waiting for you and/or if you qualify.

Be ready for job interviews. Don’t be stiff in interviews. There are already common questions that will be asked by human resource persons or employers that you can practice formulating your answers. Like, if you will be part of the company what will you do for its improvement? For that, research and know at least a little background about the company you will be applying to, if that’s the case. Just be confident enough in answering questions for a job interview. Of course, don’t forget to dress up accordingly.

The ideal worker

The Department of Labor and Employment with labor education for graduating students, an employment-enhancement program, shares five characteristics of an ideal worker that include the following:

Dependability. Loyalty is one of the qualifications that employers needed most in their employees. A worker should be dependable not just with the assigned tasks as part of the work but practically the personality of a person as a whole, as well. Like, always follows directions, gets along with peers and management, cooperative, a team player, and the like.

Honesty with integrity. It is said that honesty is next to goodliness. That’s why there is more that just telling the truth. It also includes doing well at work with the best performance as part of the team. Though flaws at work could not be avoided, there are chances that it could be mended. But, as much as possible keep away from bad influences that could spoil a good record.

Positive and proactive attitude. Attitude of a worker projects one’s belief and values, the culture where one is in, and how one is being raised with influences in the environment. The attitude of a person is shown in the quality of one’s work. Being positive and proactive suggests being upbeat not just at work but also with attitude towards co-workers and personnel involve. There are many ways of expressing being proactive like the way one smile, good posture, pleasant tone of voice, respect and courtesy among others.

Willingness to work. It is better for a person to do a job by one’s will. That is, no one pushing an individual to do the work without one’s consent and voluntarism. It is also hard to work with a task that’s hard for one’s conscience and belief. One should understand the rules and nature of the job, so that in the later part no one will be held liable and accountable. It’s about confidence for the job chosen.

Uses time productively. Being productive during spare time is advisable. There are instances that one will not just be bored with vacant times but also be left ill because of inactiveness. One should be using the extra time reading informational materials that could help a lot for brainstorming of ideas. One’s ability is believe to be not enough, so better educate oneself more and more by the cited example. And there are also other activities that are productive like joining to essential organizations and the like.

Hunt for job listings

There are many job listings that you can choose from; you can scan the classified ads of the national broad sheets like the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Manila Bulletin, the Philippine Star, and other dailies while you could also open local newspapers in the city and the province. However, there are also online job search like JobsDB.com or the Jobstreet.com, to name a few, that caters people specific job opportunities.

On the other hand, the demand of the Business Process Outsourcing companies or call center firms is becoming stronger and bigger. May it be in vernacular or the required English language, said companies are already dominating the job listings and offer young graduates or even the oldies the opportunity to work and earn bigger amount. While more other opportunities also sprung out that offers to skilled workers – to work abroad and earn even more.

With great perseverance, patience, and optimism, it will not be hard to find cool and stable jobs. Just be confident and believe in yourself – with own capability and ability, enough to make jobs available beforehand soon as you graduate. Good luck in job seeking!

Utilizing mobile load credit

Load credits for cellular phones, nowadays, become too costly but there are already alternatives to have your load credit be consumed as reasonable as you wanted it to be.

With almost everyone bragging one’s cellphone before a group of mob, it needs some load credit to withstand its authenticity and superiority. Roughly everybody in all walks of life, from tender years to grown-ups, simple and/or bizarre mobile phones have come much available these days, but come to a common point that needs to bear with it cellphone load credit to work.

But problem arises on cellphone load credit management, its utilization, and how to minimize unsolicited text messages, among others. Of course, money matters these days. However, people tend to overspend just for cellphone load credits but have not even eaten a meal for that.

Many cellphone users who have already enjoyed much of the device’s convenience, versatility, and adaptability have not thought of the expenses made as long as it serves its purpose to them. In fact, individuals often buy load credit to electronic-load retailers just to send SMS to a special friend, and even owe for it, not minding the costs made.

The mobile habit

Most of the mobile users are guilty and amenable about overspending much on cellphone load credit alone. Like the students, they come across with affiliates and acquaintances that collect mobile numbers to stock in their phonebook. Of course, much at the end is exchanging thoughts thru text.

In a random interview conducted, seven out of 10 Norsunians, of which four are males with three females, find texting a fun and pastime habit. They spend more than 12 hours texting their contacts, some forwards quotes and the like, while others seldom drop a call. On the other hand, most of them admitted that they spend those times even during class hours.

There is about a P10-budget for the mobile load credit a day while approximately P70 in a week. For that, most of the students come to avail for the unlimited cellphone service that costs P10 only. Subsequently, there are only a few who spends for a P20-P30 unlimited mobile service. Whilst, others have took advantage for a five to 10-minute free call options with a limited text offer in some of the big mobile networks in the country.

Saving techniques

There are people who change mobile network preferences because of the cost made by the previous one. Though it could not be a defect because one has wanting to lessen expenses, but contact confusions take place due to recent new cellphone number. But there is no need to do that. Here are some suggestions that one could consider to minimize mobile load credit expenditures, among others:


Go online. There is no need to use your mobile phone to text and just waste load credit. When online and need to text somebody importantly, it is already a click away. There are many free text messaging sites in the web that you could choose from. One big example is Chikka.com, a social networking site that offers one. Another available outlet for free limited messaging service would be Yahoo! Messenger. However, if responded, the text recipient will be charged.

Emergency only. If one has meager fund for mobile load credit, do not waste much for text messaging especially if communication is not that important. Make use of the SMS capacity that includes one whole message or the number of characters accepted per text. But it is better to store some load credit in anticipating considerable and important messages from love ones, alike.

Deny services. There are many unsolicited text offers that networks usually send their users from mobile tones to MMS services among many others. Do not entertain such so that cellphone load credit will not be deducted. You might forgot that you went subscribing to SMS alerts, daily quotes, MP3s, and many others, just do not hesitate to ask the customer care service to help you out.

Buy and sell. You might also have long been into text messaging and other cellphone network services, but maybe this time, after consuming almost everyday for a mobile load credit, why not try to be an electronic-load retailer yourself? You could already pay your own mobile bills, serve fellow cellphone user, and/or even earn a little.

Go unli. It is more practical that you have to avail for the use of the networks’ unlimited texting promos and services especially if you have more than one contact or text recipient to send important and significant messages to. It cannot also be denied that almost everybody is already availing for such promo, not just to send important communication but text special someone as well. And of course, even forward quotes and other messages.

Use moderately

Like anything else, everything should be in moderation and control. Once you cling too much into it, more often, you did not know that you find yourself one day addicted to it. Though it is not bad that you give yourself time to relax, an entertainment, and fun spare time for the day, but you should also be accountable with everything you do.

On the other hand, it is not just about how you manage and utilize your mobile load credit but also being cautious every time that relates with it is also much of the importance. However, it is assumed that you have learned the danger especially with texting unknown contacts, long as you did not make actions for your meeting because it will eventually, not just fool you but make you the next victim as well.

Before bearing some mobile load credit, first spare some time and put in mind the reason you are using it and you will eventually make up your mind whether to load up or not. Use your mobile load credit wisely and reasonably!

CAUTION: Stranger Danger

Stay away from strangers!

During the neophytes’ time, almost everybody is totally strangers around the environment. But, university life will jail someone to boredom without getting to know other people. More than that, strangers outside the school is more alarming than people inside. However, there were already crime incidents and abuses that resulted to death.

In this issue of The NORSUnian, let’s define, understand, and orient ourselves with the danger that is accompanied to meeting and conversing with people we barely even know because not everyone is good to befriended especially ‘strange’ strangers. So let us know, define, and understand danger with strangers. Bear in mind these reminders…

Who is a stranger?

Basically a stranger is someone you don't know, whether man or a woman. If you have never met them in real life, they are a stranger. Although there are kind strangers, some strangers are not always kind and some can even hurt you.

A stranger who is not kind does not have to look scary, physically. They can be good looking, clean, and well dressed. There is no way to tell if someone is good just by looking at them. Bad people can pretend to be nice to try to fool someone. Just stay away from them.

Strangers can be your neighbor, your board mate, and even your classmate. They can be of any kind or come from any group. They are just around you.

Don’t talk to strangers

You’re big enough, but still, ignore people you don’t know. Do not look at them or acknowledge that they have spoken to you. Walk quickly or run away from them. Go in the opposite direction as fast as you can.

Go somewhere or go to someone you know or to an area that has a lot of people. Just go inside the school. Tell an adult you can trust about what happened, like a parent, an instructor, a landowner, a police officer or some other grownup your parents said you can talk to.

Alone at home

Just keep all the doors and windows locked and don't let anyone know you are home alone. If someone rings your doorbell or knocks the door, look through a peephole or window to see who it is. If you do not recognize them, don't open the door.

Even if they are saying it is an emergency and they need to use to phone or come inside, do not open the door. They can go to somewhere else to ask help. If someone calls and asks for your parents, do not tell them you are home alone.

People are welcome in your home or even in the boarding house but remember what your landlady or landlord and your parents told you, not to allow anybody to get in the house especially in your room. They might just be pretenders and even rob your things.

Strangers’ tricks

Strangers who are bad people and want to hurt you have developed some pretty tricky things to do to confuse you and get you alone with them. There is a stranger that will ask you to help them find a lost item or maybe asks you for directions to get somewhere. See his harmless enough right? That is what they want you to think. Instead, turn and walk away.

Another trick, a stranger will tell you that there is an emergency in your family and your mom or dad asked them to get you. The stranger may even say that your mom or dad got hurt. Think straight. Your mom or dad would never send a stranger to tell you news like this. Just don’t bother.

There are also strangers that lay on the ground and looks like they have been injured and unconscious or in pain. The desire to help this person is big and of course you might want to help. Do not go over to the person. They can grab you and take you away. Instead, go to someone you know and tell them about the situation or ask some other people’s help.

And there is a stranger that promises you money or something else of interest. People do not give gifts to people they do not know. This is only a trick. Once the stranger has you alone you are going to be hurt. Just refuse the offer.

Keep the following in mind: always tell your parents where you are going, try not to walk anywhere alone, don't take shortcuts at the back street or empty lot and do not pass to vacant alleys, make sure you have room to run, don't tell your name or address to a stranger, never get into a car with anyone you don't know, if a stranger follows you or grabs you, yell real loud to get some help, and never open the door to a stranger.

People who look friendly are not always nice. Strangers can also be a friend but just check who you are befriending at. Norsunians will do but unfamiliar persons outside cannot be. Be aware, be safe, and be cautious!

Pornography: sex and violence

It cannot be denied, the fact that pornography appears to be associated with sex and violence. But, what really is pornography? How are we affected to it? What can we do about it?

Porno or porn, pornography gives the notion to have been outspreaded through various media formats nowadays. It ranges from innovative internet lines to mere cellphone trends. It has already invaded other materials that include books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video, video game, and the like.

Pornography has been also given a massive considerable stress in the business industry. In fact, it is a multibillion-dollar business around the globe and still growing. This business catches a vide variety of audience – of any age and of both sexes. It is very much available to almost everybody at anytime and anywhere around the world.

In this issue of The NORSUnian, let us be aware of the consequences that has relationship with pornography, how it affects us – youth, and what we can do about it. Read on and decide by yourself on what to do next after the following information.

What is Pornography?

According to Oxford English Dictionary, pornography is any printed or visual material intended to stimulate sexual excitement. However, Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary provides that it is the depiction of erotic behavior aimed to cause sexual stimulation, and the depiction of acts in a sensational manner to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction.

It only means that pornography exemplifies the portrayal of one, two or many people doing sex acts to motivate and encourage its audience’s emotional sexual desire. On the other hand, it has always often been subjected to consideration of offensiveness, censorship, and legal restraints on publication if it is accepted by the standards of morality and decency.

However, the grounds and definition strongly differs from different historical, cultural, and national contexts of what is or is not pornography. With the increasing utilization of VCDs, DVDs, the internet, and even cellphones, there is an enormous industry for the production and consumption of pornography that has grown over the past few decades.

Pornography has also greatly affects the appearance of social attitudes of people towards being more broadminded of sexual interpretations. Also, if we have actors and actresses in TV and radio mainstreams, there is also what we call “porn star” in the pornography scene. Moreover, amateur films of pornography have also become commonly popular and generally distributed through the web at no cost, at all.

What it does?

Pornography does not have anything to do with us. But, it does have to do with the human activity and behavior. There are instances that screening pornographic materials have led to abuses and violations to people involved. To name some, here are the things that pornography specifies with the result of such action and its consequences.

Increases violence and creates sexual crime. There are cases of human activity that leads to violence and that pornography is one. People are inclined to viewing such material and later want someone to let go of and relieve their intense emotion. But, it just suggests human behavior to be cruel and intends to hurt, damage, and worse kill.

Degrades women. Women are always on the very screen in most of the pornographic scenes. They oftentimes face the camera while men are at work. It only constitutes that women are on the go for sexual activity and creates the impression of degradation and humiliation in their part.

Dangerous to children. Parents are not every time putting an eye to their children. There are out-of-the-house activities that most parents are not aware of what their kids are doing. But, the most alarming one is that if these youngsters are indulging to activities like viewing pornographic materials. It perhaps damages not just the future of the kids but also their behavior, going out in the environment.

Spiritually deadening. It is a known fact that religious people are the most vocal foes of pornography, like any other sinful and immoral acts. It destroys a person’s spiritual sensibilities and faith to God. It could also be recalled that God sent people to earth and be multiplied, but it does not mean that people have to abuse what the Almighty have been telling His disciples.

The real score

Toptenreviews.com shares the findings on the Internet Pornography Statistics and said that it might appear that pornography has been incomprehensible as to the amount of pornography itself, but there are certain researches that have come across with the consumption statistics.

The compiled numbers of respected news and research organizations said that a single second creates $3,075.64 being spent only on pornography. However, there are 28,258 internet users that open such. During that time, there are also 372 web users that are typing adult search terms into search engines while every after 39 minutes, new pornographic video is being created.

According to the Internet Pornography Statistics, the amount of pornography on the web is very difficult to be understood. There are a total of 4.2 million websites with just 12 percent of it containing pornographic stuff or approximately a total of 100,000 websites that offer such while one of the seven youths have reported to have been searching it on the internet.

Moves to do

There might be legal rules and regulations anywhere around the globe or the country for that matter, it could not be avoided that pornography will still be available. If you are one of the many people who cry for anti-pornography campaign, here are some of the many things that one could do, to at least minimize such activity, if not totally eliminate it.

Recognize for what it is. Pornography is a dangerous sickness in the society. It just only represents violence, abuses, sex crimes, and the like. It perpetrates people from doing good act and even influences them. It is also a portrayal of indecent acts presented for the public and should not have been tolerated.

Create a healthy environment and set the example. Let retailers of pornographic materials know and understand what you feel by not patronizing it. Refuse to shop at stores that sell “skin” magazines. Set the example to the people around by personally avoiding publications, songs, TV programs, films, and the like in which sex is pegged to be cheapened or explicitly done. Also, talk tactfully but plainly to children about sex and pornography in terms that are appropriate to their age level and understanding, and encourage them to feel free to talk about the issue.

However, though it depends on how pornography is being utilized, the fact remains that it could drain somebody’s mind and behavior, and will influence someone to do immoral and wicked act.

Civilized and decent people are now becoming alarmed about the threat of pornography in the society. Because of great demand, on the internet and in general, it could barely be avoided and stopped especially if one will not be willing to do his/her part.

(Sources: www.toptenreviews.com, http://wikipedia.org)

Speaking up for human rights

If you or a family member was a victim of a human rights violation, what will you do? What do you think will happen? How would the general public react on it? Why or why not?

Questions like such would probably come out every time we discuss about rights of human beings especially if it is violated. There are things that we thought we already knew about or a little of it but we still need to discover and know better about the issue.

According to Article one of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” But what do we really know about human rights and what are these?

We have been talking about human rights but many of us did not fully understand what is it all about and we also often just cry for justice on human rights violations and abuses without acting on it. In this issue of The NORSUnian, let’s educate ourselves and others more about human rights. Read on…

Human rights is

Amnesty International a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights explained what human rights is. They have detailed human rights as set of standards that guarantee a life suitable to a rational human being. It has basic and minimum standards that everybody is entitled to like protecting one’s dignity. It also guarantees the development and wholeness of an individual with the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace where people are empowered to change their lives and the society.

How can an individual determine that it is a human right? For that, the group has related the following characteristics of human rights that we have to be aware of:

Inherent. A child with innocence is born with it and one has already known if it is violated. It does not have to be written down on papers and documents or even have to be enacted and ratified. It is there, present before an individual because it is a human right.

Universal. Human rights do not stop to one place or two alone but will be applied anywhere else in the world at anytime. What other countries are applying on their rights as human beings, it should also be of the same rate anywhere else on the globe. It also does not matter whether you’re an American or a Filipino, or an Asian or a European.

Indivisible. Rights of an individual should be enjoyed in its full range. One has given the opportunity to be free from intervention. If a person likes to express feelings of dismay or any alike, one has all the things one wanted to express because it is a right.

Inalienable. One important fact on human rights is its worthiness. It is very essential to a person’s life because it could not be taken away. Rights can be limited to put into practice unless it has offended other’s right for that matter. Human rights are absolute and undisputable.

The rights

Individuals are entitled to certain rights simply because of the fact that they are human beings. Rights like to live in an environment where people exist, to befriended, to give opinions, to be compensated, to suffrage, and others. But those rights are mere ones, there are still a lot more of these.

If human beings are not well versed about human rights, abuses such as discrimination, oppression, maltreatment, injustice, alike could arise to either sex. On the other hand, understanding what everyone’s rights are, would lead to freedom, justice, and peace.

But what makes individuals as human beings? The Amnesty International shared the different characteristics of such that include physical, biological, social, emotional, rational or intellectual, spiritual, sexual, and cultural aspects. They added that if these characteristics are denied to an individual, it doesn’t make a person a lesser human being but it will just degrade one’s dignity.

Talking about human dignity, the movement extended some facts that it is about the wholeness of a person that makes him or her human. They further stated that it constitutes all the characteristics of human being. Dignity must also be essential so that individuals can be identified to be fully human and it is common to all that makes everybody equal.

According to wikipedia.org, people knew human rights like that of the civil and political rights; and economic, social, and cultural rights. Individuals usually thought of the right to life and liberty, freedom of expression, and equality before the law. Moreover, they also included the right to participate in culture, to be treated with respect and dignity, and the right to food, work, and education.

On the other hand, youthforhumanrights.org suggests 30 rights of human beings that include to be born free and equal; should not be discriminated; right to life; free from slavery; from suffering; rights wherever; equality before the law; protection of the law; no unfair detainment; right to trial; innocent till proven guilty; right to privacy; freedom to move; right to seek a safe place to live; to a nationality; marriage and family; to own things; freedom of thought; of expression; right to public assembly; to democracy; social security; workers' rights; to play; food and shelter for all; to education; copyright; a fair and free world; responsibility; and no one can take away one’s human rights.

Responsibilities along

With recent issues arising from human rights violations to abuses like political and extrajudicial killings, many individuals are questioning the foundation and strength of human rights protection and law in the Philippines. With these issues, it has already been subjected to controversy and concern.

Being aware of one’s human rights comes with the responsibility of developing and protecting dignity and that of others. According to Amnesty International, the state has obligations on human rights to perform and execute before its constituents. These are the following:

Respect. Rights of individuals should be respected like of the others. It requires the government to refrain from interfering especially if it concerns matters on decision-making and personal choice. The state should not also judge or of any kind to any person like that of gender preference and other related concerns.

Protect. The government should protect its people from any kind of abuse. Prevention on human rights violations should be done anywhere and everywhere at anytime. Issues like rights violated by others involved likely occur but if the state works with the protection of every individual, abridging rights will not take place.

Promote. Human rights should be promoted by making campaigns and activities about issues concerning the people and its rights. It is also the job of the government to conduct such actions and operations to provide individuals the knowledge and understanding all about rights of human.

Fulfill. This time, the state has to accomplish actions on human rights by taking appropriate undertakings including the legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial and other measures towards its full realization. By implementing said sections that concerns rights of humans, individuals could exercise different rights properly without intervention.

In the main stream, human rights do not only include the concerned but the people in the environment as well. We might not directly be affected but humans as we are; we have to share a spare of our time for campaigns on issues concerning rights of human beings. Well, we should not wait until one or many of our family member’s rights will be abused and eventually be violated.

Lesson 101: Memorizing vs. Understanding

Could you understand what you have been memorizing?

Students usually encounter lessons that need to be memorized but have they gone to understand it? They also had been having hard time absorbing all the teachings that their professors have taught them. Most of the students who excel during either oral or written exams that need memorization have good memory. However, there are those who don’t because they could not soak in the lessons for some obvious reasons and one of it is laziness.

On the other hand, lessons are supposed to be understood by the students but some or many of the lessons, nowadays, become customarily memorized. Though there are still some who come across for ideas and information that they have read and later realized that they are actually learning something, there are others who just plainly read for the sake of examinations and not learning anything.

To better understand the difference between plain memorization and pure learning, let me give you a hint on the distinction between memorization and actual learning. Read it carefully and understand why students could not learn something they have read, and if students benefit on memorizing with the lesson or understanding the lesson itself, and/or understanding while memorizing.

Rote learning

Merriam Webster Online defines the word rote as “the use of memory usually with little intelligence, and routine or repetition carried out mechanically or unthinkingly.” However, wikipedia.org described rote learning as a learning technique that concentrates only to plain memorization but keeps away the idea of understanding the subject matter. Such ideas only suggest that learning of the subject is not concentrated well but instead the repetition of the subject for memorization.

Rote learning also teaches students to be able to have a good memorization technique about certain lessons but not understanding the lesson itself. There are quite a number of students who frequently take their lessons memorized but after making an examination almost perfect, lesson learned just fly away from their head while there are those who stock it up in their memories and even shares the ideas to others.

Applied learning

There are classes that spends long period of time on lessons that is only repeated but in the long run, learning is not really taking place. There are those who believed that rote memorization is a better way in learning lessons but it does not apply to all individuals. Some memorized their lessons and learn after but there are others that just forget them.

Learning lessons engages with the acquisition of knowledge while commonsense suggests that learning information and ideas from a specific subject needs to be assessed that’s why teachers apply it with testing them such as oral recitations and examinations, to see how students have gone far with the subject and understood it.

Memorized or understood?

Here are some obvious facts about lessons if they are just plainly memorized or fully understood:

Own words/word for word. It is memorization with the ideas given were learned from what is written and provided on the material, word for word or phrase for phrase, alike. But if understood, one could be able to manipulate own words and put it on action.

Explanation is hard/easy. Ideas could be difficult to explain to somebody else if it is just memorized because the words written are just the one that could be remembered. But it is easy to explain it clearly to others if put into ones’ account and understanding.

Application beyond classroom. If memorized, ideas found and provided are difficult to be relayed and be seen in real-life setting while importance of such ideas is hard to imagine and typically not sought. But ideas could be applied to real-life situation if it is completely understood with only one’s very own perspective.

Struggling for identification/not. If memorized, differences and similarities, and implications of ideas could not be identified, and just understands it literally. But with good understanding, differences and similarities of ideas and its implications could be recognized with abstract knowledge as well as one’s literal interpretations.

One answer/more than. Memorized idea when asked is believed to have only one exact answer and if there is only one missed out word or interchanged; there is already struggle in between. However, if understood, ideas could still be organized even if one word is not in place while recognizes that there may be more than one answer to a question depending on circumstances given.

Memorization technique helps

Traditional memorization and recitation techniques help students build up strong acquisition of knowledge and ideas taught by professors. Though others believed that understanding will be absent every time memorization takes place, there are circumstances that prove that memorizing an idea more than once gets to be understood.

Memorizing through repetition and recitation is a useful step to develop understanding an idea or information especially with voluntary action. Some professors try to work out with techniques that could make students easily associate and learn the material at hand by applying the memorized and practiced method to realistic situations.
Throughout the history of organized and formed education, students have been asked to memorize and recite certain information and ideas as part of the traditional technique of teaching and learning.

It really pays to have good memory, though ideas are memorized but if repeated, it is later understood. Let’s put it this way, if an idea is presented once, it will likely be forgotten. The second time, it would sound familiar. On the third time around, it would start to stick up in the head and becomes available for practical use.

Buhay TN

Panag-Sinuoray 2009 Theme Video
(The NORSUnian IPR)
The NORSUnian - The Official Weekly Student
Publication of the Negros Oriental State University
Main Campuses, Dumaguete City

SUPPORT PINOY VIDEO BLOGGERS! ツ
www.facebook.com/SuperKaloy88 <-- ADD
www.facebook.com/SuperKaloyOfficial <-- POST
www.youtube.com/ImSuperKaloy <-- RATE
www.twitter.com/SuperKaloy <-- TWEET
www.facebook.com/groups/353374781353145/ <-- JOIN

HAPPY B-DAY!!!

To Junrell and Catherine!!!
Birthday comes once every year, though celebrations are anticipated but most importantly because of the people who will greet, bother to give you gift, and say good words to you. It seems that every time we celebrate birthday, we grow old but aging does not really matter, not at all.

To the celebrants, once again HAPPY2x BIRTHDAY!!! It's been years that God given us life to extend one more year but as what they always say, more years to come, and we are thankful for it. I am grateful that I met people like you, though there are times that we had misunderstanding (if there was) and I am very sorry for that. Things have had been changing, not just the age but also the personality, faith, and character of a person. We change not for the worse but for the better.

As you step another year of your life, I and your friends, your family, will not just greet you good health and fortune but also peace of mind and love. There were times you had fell but you stood up and pose as if nothing happened. That's the good thing one person should do. Everything happens for a reason, right?

Everyone was greeting. Making surprises. Putting efforts. And all. But one thing is for sure, that is for a reason. Because we love our friends, our family despite all the odds.

It's MY CHOICE!!!

Decisions are made but why criticize? People tried to pick their own choice but still there are others who will react. There are also instances that they will influence others and decide for them.

Would that be fair? Do we have freedom to choose? To what point could we decline? Was the decision final? Was the step correct? Was there hesitations? Could we just decide for ourselves?

I was already choke about the issue. Is this what they call democracy? Perhaps others could not get over it. Just to give you a glimpse of what I am talking about I will share you this...

I think almost everybody is interested with extra and co-curricular activities. May it be fraternities, religious group, student organizations, and sports affiliation, to name a few. I know you yourself has decided to join one. But they cannot accommodate all. One has to go through series of examinations, screening, and interviews before the assessment comes. Many applied but few were chosen.

At first, I applied as writer in the student publication but unfortunately was not accepted. Lucky were others. I was not able to passed the standards that led me to strive hard more.

The semester was about to end, that time, when I decided to join on another extra-curricular activity. Lucky as I am, I passed as feature writer there. It was summer when I got acquainted with the whole activity. I bonded with them. It was fun. But suddenly the end point came.

Another school year was about to start. My subjects' schedule was unstable that I had to convene the assigned schedule with that of the teacher's. Because of that, I missed few of the meetings in my co-curricular affiliation. I informed the head but she refused to believe saying that changing schedule was a lame excuse. But, that was true and I even did not excuse myself for that.

Well I was really shy before. I could not reason because it hindered me to do so. The head asked the final load schedule to convene with the meeting assignment. I was about to meet her in the office because she wanted me to talk to her and give my final say - if I'm going to stay or not. Before, I'm not used to stay late at night so I decided to go home. I can't wait for her to arrive.

Next days was off and on. I decided to stop. Nevertheless there were no doubts at all. It just that she was mad at it. I don't know with her. I just can't spell it out.

Following announcements that the student publication have once again inviting interested writers to apply. Now, I decided to try it out again. If I could not still pass, it would mean, writing is not for me but if I pass well fair enough. I'll work hard for it.

The time came. Yes! I passed. Fortunate, I was accepted to the publication. Big embraces were before me. But before I ventured to the publication. My ex affiliates were in trouble thinking why I was not showing up in the office. Well, if the head cannot accept me why should I push myself there, I said.

I feel that there is something between me and my former affiliates though most of them are still good friends of mine, if they still consider me as one. By the time I was with them, there was already talks about conflict between the publication and them. Just simple insecurities.

The issue is still there up to now. I don't know with them or the one heading it. I am just silent about that one but I have heard talks about it. Maybe it doesn't mean a lot to some but I was cited as bad example.

Well back to my concern. Do I have a choice? Well I HAVE!!!

I was not influenced. It's my decision not of anyone. Can they just understand that and get over it? I don't know why they are competing. Are we of the same level? I don't know. Could they just realize that it's between me and their group. They just put issue to my exit. Well, am I a loss to them? Why are they overreacting to the situation?

Things have to be decided. But my decision was final, I am not staying. The group that I am with now are those people who I am mostly welcomed. Though no regrets about the past and I am even thankful.

Again we are in the democratic country like the Philippines. We have our own choice. Don't be influenced! If you are staying then stay but then when you feel like stopping then do so. I don't have guilt feelings because I don't owe them anything, not at all.

Freedom: saan na ba ang kalayaan!!!

[Picture Courtesy From: Justine]

SAAN NA BA SIYA?
NAGTATAGO LANG!