The Dean Who’ve Been with Us

Professor Felix S. Billon, MA

              As the school welcomes a new year, College of Arts Sciences (CAS) will welcome major changes too. Professor Felix S. Billon had been the father of the College of Arts Sciences (CAS) department for four years now. But the 41-year-old educator, who had finished college and his master’s degree here at Holy Trinity College with the course of Bachelor of Arts in English, will soon be leaving his office.

                According to Prof. Billon, he is set to hit a new road. In an exclusive interview, he explained that he will be transferring to a government agency for personal reasons. Though we all know he’s been doing fine being the CAS Dean and the Student Personnel Services (SPS) director at the same time, The Pioneers couldn’t resist asking him some questions regarding his stay as the CAS Dean.

Here’s how our talk with Sir Billon went:

The Pioneers: How do you find heading the CAS department?

Prof. Billon: Okay lang. Hindi naman kayo ganun ka-pasaway…Being a Dean? No it’s not a problem. After all, your work is supervisory, so it’s not at all problematic.

The Pioneers: Will you be missing something here at Holy Trinity College?

Prof. Billon : Honestly, oo meron. Mami-miss ko yung… being with you, especially because I served as the father of this department and that is something na wala sa lilipatan ko.

On Students’ Concerns

The Pioneers: One student wrote this in  our FeedBox: he is “invisible” when he’s needed: How will you react to this?

Prof. Billon:  Maybe during those times that I was needed, I have classes or meetings.

The Pioneers: Bakit and tagal umaksyon ng dean pag may problema ang department? [Why does it take long for the dean to address problems in our department?]

Prof. Billon: Well, if there’s no problem addressed directly to me I’d be taking no action because obviously, there are no complaints.

The Pioneers: What’s your say about the matter concerning the CAS Intramural t-Shirt and it’s assurance of release?

Prof. Billon: I’ll be needing a list of names and their sizes. How many are they?

Last Words

The Pioneers: What message would you like to leave for the Red Dragons?

Prof. Billon: They have to strive harder to help the department in all aspects and to support whoever the new Dean of the college department.

The Pioneers: Message for the the CAS faculty?

Prof. Billon: If you gave me your 100% support, you give it 200% to the new Dean.

                The exclusive interview ended with a little exchange of jokes and pleasantries. As we leave his humble office, with the presence the piled up paper works and documents and him facing his turned on computer, we could tell that he’s preparing for his very near farewell.

Good luck Sir!

Thank you for being a part of our one-of-a-kind Good Holy experience.

-The Pioneers

CAS VISITS KAMPUHAN FOR LUMADS

By Aliene Pearl D. Condez 

The BA Communication students and Prof. Beverly Anne F. Santos (center) with the Lumads.

                With the hope to attain just and lasting peace, SANDUGO: A People’s camp for Peace, Unity and Justice was held last December 1-10, 2016 at the AMSUA Park, Mindanao State University, General Santos City.

                Three faculty staff from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) namely Ms. Beverly Anne F. Santos, Ms. Rocyl E. Bagatila and Ms. Pabnaveth

Bagus together with two BA Communication students namely Chrysa Hazelene Hazelene Sabuelo and Aliene Pearl Condez attended the said event on its 6th day.

                The peace camp involved Lumads and their leaders coming from different tribal community. According to the organizers of the peace camp, the Kampuhan served as a peaceful protest of the Lumads who experienced injustices and maltreatment in their respective native communities and were affected of the militarization.

                Lumad schools like an alternative learning center in Surigao have been made into a military camp resulting fear to the people living around the area. Two farmers are also reported missing and a missionary priest, Fr. Fausto Tentorio, PIME, a vigilant advocate and supporter of Lumads’ rights, was killed at his own church on October 17, 2011, inside the compound of the Mother of Perpetual Help parish church in Arakan. Mining and illegal logging are also a concern of the camp as it affects the source of living for the lumads, the forest and mountains.

                One of their supporters is South Cotabato Board Member Romulo O. Solivio Sr.

                “As a leader, we are the voice of the people. Apart from our legislative works, like signing documents and passing ordinances, we also need to initiate people to organize and ear their grievances like this Kampuhan…combined with my commitment to hear and listen, one way communication isn’t enough, there should also be government officials to join this kind of gathering,” Solivio explained.

                The said peace camp was organized by three NGOs namely the KALUHHAMIN, SOS Network-SOCSKSARGENDS and Sowing the Seeds Of Peace SOCSKSARGEN.

Exposure to a Not-so-common Community

By Chrysa Hazelene J. Sabuelo  

It was a cloudy afternoon of December 6, 2016 when we departed from Holy Trinity College to visit a peace camp held at Mindanao State University. With us are our course adviser, Ms. Beverly Anne F. Santos together with two CAS faculty namely Prof. Rocyl E. Bagatila and Prof. Pabnaveth Bagus. Setting foot on the wide, grassy campus of MSU, Pearl and I looked forward to knowing new things and seeing new perspectives.

We first mingled with the volunteer teachers of the Center for Lumad Advocacy Network and Services Inc. who offered to teach the young students of different schools coming from Malapatan, Palimbag, Kiamba and South Cotabato. One of the volunteer teachers, shared us that her reason is to help the students to learn. Jonalyn P. Balome, CEGP Chairperson, told us how the schools were ransacked and burned by the military and as a result, students were the ones greatly affected as they are deprived of their right to be educated. Balome added that the constant mining, logging and militarization are the reasons why the Lumads and Moro groups are struggling for forty years now.

Approaching the tent of Center for Lumad Advocacy Network and Services Inc.

Interview with the volunteer teachers of Center for Lumad Advocacy Network and Services Inc.

                Hearing these, I felt sympathy towards them. I may have not seen enough proof of accusations and claims but I cannot bring myself to accept that they could allow the young innocent mind of these children to be victims of their feud. Still, the Lumads and Moro group continue to shout and voice out, an action so brave and courageous and I thought I don’t blame these people. It is their right, and freedom to fight. Justice is the only thing they seek. Justice to retrieve what was taken and robbed from them.

                Next, we explored the MUSEO LUMAD. The exhibit showcased the four ancestral lands of the lumads which are Habagat (South), Kasadpan (West), Sidlakan (East) and Amihan (North). Each land has its own story of peace, war, struggle, loss and hope. Lito Roxas, Regional Chairperson Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas, said the purpose of the exhibit is to expose the condition the lumads are in and explain the reason for their fight. He told us how the lumads’ struggle for peace started when the once peaceful ancestral land were taken into the hands of David Consunji, a powerful businessman and is one of the richest person in the Philippines.

With Mr. Lito Roxas (center) as our guide in the MUSEO LUMAD

                Since then, the once rich and fertile land that provided the lumads with food, shelter and living were turned into a mining site particularly at Maasim where coals are being unearthed and in Sultan Kudarat, loggings were heightened. He also added that the militarization forced the natives to be evacuated against their will while those who resisted were harassed. Some were robbed of their belongings, others were maltreated and worse, several were killed.

                 Others may label these people as “activist” or “leftist”. I, for one, may not be a fan of these campaigns but honestly, I salute the the people who support this kind of movements. I may not be a supporter  myself but I do believe that as a member of this society, one should be practically aware of the conditions these people are in. After all, they are also victims.

                After the exhibit, we got a chance be acquainted with Hon. Romulo O. Solivio Sr. who is a board member from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng South Cotabato. We had the opportunity to interview him and he told us how events such as this could empower the people to be aware of the occurrences happening within our country.

The class with Hon. Romulo O. Solivio Sr. (second from right) after an exclusive interview.

                It was almost 6 o’clock in the evening when we left the place. Everything I saw, heard and observed in just hours of strolling in the campus gave me new insights of how our society is shaped today. Whether within the vicinities of our country or outside the boundaries of our state, it either gets better or it becomes worse.

                What I learned from this exposure is that you don’t need to be involved by actually placing your shoes in the movement itself. Be involved through awareness and knowing both sides of the story.  

Earning Success

“Success is not something you could easily gain. It is earned through determination and hard work.”

4th Weekly Wednesday Wardrobe

The last of our Weekly Wednesday Wardrobe features Ms. Devine Grace C. Alberca, proud Miss Pearl of Maasim 2015, as our model wearing a simple dress but nevertheless shows her elegant and charming features.

Week 4 FeedBox