PAGE 2

EDITORIAL CARTOON

EDITORIAL

Education: Bridging Gender Gaps

“If you ask what is the good of education, the answer is easy-that education makes good
men and that good men act nobly”, Plato once said.
Gender has been the most endemic form of discrimination among societies. In fact, there
have been many cases of violence caused by gender issues. LGBT students are often ridiculed and
violated (Thoreson, 2017). Many people have experienced public humiliation and even physical
maltreatment because of their gender.
Gender concerns need to be addressed seriously and education is one way to do it.
Education has the potential of creating social change especially in the context of gender relations.
It will serve as an effective way to combat bullying and other crimes that could happen at school
or even among teenagers who are very prone to act on impulse. The quality of education should
be improved especially in the secondary education which consists a huge population of children
between the age group of 13-18 years. They should be given an opportunity to understand their
constitutional duties and rights as citizens.
Sex and gender are two different things. Gender refers to the socially determined ideas
and practice as to what it means to be female and male. Thus, to address the gender issues, the
Gender and Development (GAD) approach has been developed. This approach focuses on the
social or gender relations between men and women in society-breaking the stereotype about
gender, those women are inferior and subordinate to men.
Furthermore, a Gender Responsive Basic Education Policy has been made possible
through the order of the Department of Education No.32, s.2017. This policy confirms to the
DepEd’s vision, mission, and values ensuring access to quality basic education for all. Gender
equality doesn’t seek to prove that men and women are the same. Instead their rights and
responsibilities should not be based on their gender. Both should be given the same opportunity
to pursue their interests. Hence, we should let go of our envious and belittling thoughts. Stop
putting other people’s performances in a negative light.
 We are all the same in the eyes of God. Do we not want the same things-family, love,
health and fulfillment? We all want to survive, be happy, and feel safe and secured with our lives.
But how can we do it if we keep on focusing on our differences? We all deserve to be accepted
regardless of how we look, where we are from, what we do or how well we do it. Let us educate
ourselves with these values and help bridge our gaps concerning gender.

OPINION EDITORIALS

Tamang Panahon, Tamang Pagkakataon

“Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan”, ang sabi ni Jose Rizal.

Ayon sa datos ng National Demographic and Health Survey na isinagawa ng Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA), ang insidente ng maagang pagbubuntis ay bumaba na para sa mga may edad na 15 pataas. Ngunit,
hindi pa raw dapat na maging kampante at panatag ang sinuman, giit ng ahensiya.

Karamihan na sa mga kabataan ngayon ang nauwi sa maagang pagbubuntis at nagging ina sa murang
edad. Marami sa kanila ang tumigil sap ag-aaral at nabigong tuparin ang kanilang mga pangarap at
tunguhin sa buhay. Alam kaya nila ang malaking responsibilidad na kaakibat nito sa maagang edad na
pagdadalang tao? Paano nila palalakihin ang bata? Ang pagkakaroon ng problema sa pamilya at
impluwensiya ng social media ang ilan sa mga dahilan nang maagang pagbubuntis, kasama na ang
kahirapan, ayon sa Commission of Population (POPCOM).

Responsibilidad ng bawat magulang ang gabayan at payuhan ang kanilang anak sa bawat bagay na
kanilang gagawin. Kailangan ang ibayong atensiyon ng mga kabataan ngayon, laong-lalo na ang turuan sila
sa paggawa ng mainam na desisyon para sa kanilang sarili at pamilya. Katunaya’y bawat isa sa atin ay may
mga pagkukulang at pagkakamaling nagawa, kaya’t kahit na iilan sa mga magulang ang nagkulang sa
pagdisiplina ng kanilang mga anak, iwasan natin ang manghusga.

Ang isyung ito ay matutugunan kung magkakaroon lamang ng metatag na pamilya at pagiging bukas ng
bawat miyembro ng pamilya sa lahat ng bagay. Kailangang maipakita ng mga magulang ang pagmamahal
sa kanilang mga anak at maiparamdam sa kanila na mahalaga sila sa buhay nila. Hindi mali ang
pagbubuntis, ngunit nararapat na alam natin ang tamang panahon para rito. Sapagkat tayo rin naman ang
kawa-awa sa huli at magsakripisyo sa mga maling desisyon na ating nagawa.

Bawat kilos natin ay may kaakibat na responsibilidad. Mga responsibilidad na dapat alam at gampanan ng
lahat. Maging mahinahon sa lahat ng bagay at alamin natin ang ating mga limitasyon, dahil mas magiging
makulay at maayos ang buhay natin kung bawat pangyayari ay naaayon sa tamang panahon at tamang
pagkakataon.
 WPS Dispute: Ph must fight back

Sean S. Eco

It seems that China won’t stop squeezing the Philippines with its own walls. From buiding an island
to installing missiles on the Spratlys in West Phillipine Sea (South China Sea). And now, it was reported
that Chinese fishermen were poaching giant clams from the waters of Scarborough Shoal.

This is a big slap on the face to us Filipinos considering that the United Nations Arbital Tribunal
had recognized the Philippines as the rightful owner of the West Phillipine Sea yet, we do not seem to
accept that recognition. We have not only lost our moral high ground. But we have also lost identity as a
country that protects its territory, people, and rights. Are we still a country? Or a ghost province of China?

Though it was said that President Rodrigo R. Duterte will likely discuss these matters with
President Xi Jin Ping in visit to China for the opening ceremony of the Second Belt and Road Forum, it’s
not an assurance that China will leave us alone as they’ve done so many lawbreaking acts against us in
front of our faces. We will only receive flowery words but the situation will still continue to get an even
worse. President Duterte also said that there’s a right time for this issue, but when? China had been
claiming islands since 1988, the dispute though started 2011. But whichever timeline you start, it’s still a
long way back. When will we make a stand on this issue? Why not now? Things will sure get worse for us
and someday we’ll only realize that it’s already too late, that there is nothing to fight for anymore. If our
President truly has the desire to raise a fist for this, he should do this sooner as his Presidency is slowly
decaying.

Our President should know that during this kind of situation, there is no right time. It is time that
we are chasing, instead of waiting. Things should be done for this matter. This is not something that we
could just lay under our desk. This should be worked out, now.
 THE LIMASAWANIAN STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: KEARRI GRACE D. SINDO

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: AJ IAN R. SENOC

FEATURE EDITOR: DEVENA DAWN T. DAGOHOY

NEWS EDITOR : CRISTEL JOY P. BAYDAL

SPORTS EDITOR: SEAN S. ECO

LITERARY EDITOR: EARL JUDE S. GALEON

FILIPINO EDITOR: LAWRENCE S.PALCES

SCIENCE & TECH. EDITOR: SHAMAH KANGLEON (ENGLISH)

NICA ANAIZA BOCO (FILIPINO)
CARTOONISTS: CHARIZ PAGANGPANG (ENGLISH)
LHARNELLE STEVE PAGANGPANG (FILIPINO)
PHOTOJOURNALISTS: HAZEL DESIREE ABANDO (ENGLISH)
XEANNE CASSEY CABLITAS (FILIPINO)

CONTRIBUTORS: HANNIKA ALTHEA AMOGUES

MARY LYNNE ALATRACA
BRITNEY MAE AMBALONG
BALANE, CHAZNEY