The Roving

Media

Part of The Carolinian

Title: The Roving
Creator: Awitan, Ariston P., Jr.
Language: English
Year: 1953
Rights
Fulltext: w 1/1 / inking the left or the right V V eYe- dear readers, is an expression which conveys different meanings. It can even be a language between lovers, they say. But opening the right and closing the left eye for a period of time clearly suggests one meaning — that something is aimed at. Aiming at some views is the hob by of our roving eye. It enjoys life by peering at almost anything. Its daily roaming around is incomplete when it can't feast on the pages of the newspapers — schools mags es pecially. We don't know what be comes of it should it be completely devoid of the things it has learned to love. We saw almost anything on the pages ol many student publications, within and outside the Philippines, we chanced to scan. We noticed that some of the student official organs do not contain exchange sections. This is one of the splendid sights missed by our roving eye. We can't deny that we are more flattered when we learn that other schools also read us. At any rate, let's continue the account of our roving eye's adventure: The TEMPER (College Editors' Guild of the South) reminded us of the headaches that a college editor undergoes before putting up a school newspaper. It's not really a picnic to be in an Ed's shoes. Mr. Salvador Layno, former CIT Editor, having realized the problems com mented: "Maybe, you should just go home and apply your energies to some less prodigous tasks like, say . . . hog-raising." But we can build up the Ed's enthusiastic and enduring spirit by inspiring him. Writers need inspira tions! Here, we convey our congratu lations to the Staff and to the people responsible for the publication of the CAMPUS LIFE (Students' Ma gazine). What part does it play? Let's see what the founders say: "This publication shall stand an eloquent witness to our youth's at tempt at interpreting and implement ing the sweeping events in a world where, sooner or later, they have to play a major role in. Campus LIFE shall depict in its every page the minds of our enthusiastic stu dents as they react to the varied forces at play." This mag is a newly-opened orchid for our youth considering that its persistent need for a proper and dependable outlet of his thoughts is obviously intense. From the CHANNEL (Tanon Col lege) Mr. Isaac Yap lays stress on his editorial: "We have waited long for an organ that will serve to broaden ten-fold of what we learned within the four walls of a classroom; an organ thru which we may develop our latent talents and creative abi lities; one that will help us develop an intelligent and useful interest in life; one that will enlarge our vision and instil in our hearts the lofty spirit of service and sacrifice." A lot of chin-and-eyebrow raising was caused by our August issue of the "Carolinian" because two of our columnists dished out some of their pent-up emotions about political issues of the day. Kicks and brick bats poured in like lava from a newly-erupted volcano and seem ingly withered a lot of timely-given orchids. Some comments even went to the local newspapers and war with ideas followed. Well, that was only an outcome brought about by harping on this harp, called politics. Much can be said about it, but we better skip a lot or else another version of "potential terrorrism" might come to a head and produce a USC-brand "Moises Padilla!" Excuse me brother! Our elders can be narrow-minded sometimes. Speaking of elders, here's some thing from the BUILDER (Mapua Institute of Technology): "Many of our elders are strongly against the active- participation of the youth in politics. Some of our public officials are displeased when the student-youth shows interest in the current political issues........ I believe that the student-youth may take part in the political discussions, for the chief reason that he is a part of the government, and what ever this government achieves or fails to accomplish greatly affects the life of everyone of the consti tuents of the government — the stu dent-youth among them. Moreover, the youth of today, are the future public officials of tomorrow. Hence, it is imperative that the youth must have an early training in the com plicated political affairs of the country." Mr. Pastor T. Quinto, Jr., has surely written this with a student pulse as depicted by the BUILDER'S column itself. Does participation of the student press in politics drag the school to it? One may answer this question without a moment's • hesitation, yet others may lift their brows before any attempt. Any way, here's what Greg. G. Gabumpa says in the VISAYANIAN, (University of the Visayas). "While it is true that the student press represents the school, its par ticipation in politics does not in any way drag the school to it, for in expressing its views, it carries not the voice of the school but that of the student body. While we believe that its participation in politics would tend to divert its attention and role 'as an organ of the student body, it is (Continued on pane 33) Page 22 THE CAROLINIAN our considered view that it is as much the legitimate activity of the student press as it is of the public press to discuss and crystallize public issues if it would redound to the promotion of the public weal." So, what do you say brothers? Are you pro or con-Gregs? Or do you say we shall only harp on "Campuscrats"? Our own Delia Saguin has much of them I Our much loved English teacher. Miss LV, has taught us a thousand-and-one things about our early writers. She has made us dreamers of inheriting even just an ion of Spencer or Shakespeare's tact in describing things which are invisible to an ordinary eye. We also hope we can be Layamuns or Chaucers of this Atomic age so that we can create vivid descriptions of many things around us. For instance, we are asked: What is a lovely coun try? This time, Miss Erlinda Abueg has her edge over us. In the ORION (St. Theresa's College, Ma nila) she wrote: "A brazing indigo sky, a sunset whose grandeur and beauty men have learned to capture on a can vas, a countryside cool, green and colorful . ... all these boil down to one thing ... loveliness ... the loveliness of a country. And yet do all these make a country lovely enough to love? Love ... on what is it based? On beauty alone ? No, not physical beauty but the beauty from within. To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely. Yes, lovely enough to be loved when the people thriving in it live up to the standards of the All Beautiful; when hate and lust and greed are cast to the seas; when love and respect stand out; where the poor and the rich alike before the eyes of the Creator are equal before the eyes of men. Then and only then can we say, yes, but coun try is truly lovely—lovely enough to be loved!” We can make our country lovely, but how? To beautify is either to add more beauty or cover the de fective sights. We ought to look further than our noses. In our Phil ippines, according to Mr. Jose A. Samson, writing in the VARSITARIAN (UST) we have our Godless Politics. He says: "The science of politics in our country is in a state of total moral confusion, yet sadly enough it is the politician who is last to realize the Pharisean state of affairs. Like a hysterical person in one of his temperamental fits some of our Jhe (Continued from, page 22) statesmen have a malignant spiri tual affliction evident to all except themselves—and this is the ailment of employing conversion tactics re gardless of decency and human value.... It appears that certain men, either within the administra tion and hoping to stay there, or outside it desiring to get in, have suscribed to the Machiavellian pre cept of "power no matter at what cost." In an attempt to uphold this misguided principle they have un dertaken the revision of the Deca logue by removing eight of the "nots" out of its context and intro ducing two negatives among the affirmative rules. In short, had the Positive Laws been written inversely to its requirements, they would have followed it to the letter." More on persons who are riding high with "political blood", Judge M. J. Walsh of the New York Su preme Court dishes out in the MAR QUETTE JOURNAL (an All Univer sity Literary Quarterly) the follow ing: "Too many unqualified persons seek public office; some of them are Catholics. Too few qualified persons are willing to accept public office; too many of them are Catho lics. One of the greatest liabilities which our Church and Catholic citizens must write of is the Catholic in public office who does nqt know the fundamental teachings of his Church and does not live up to them in his public and private life. One of the greatest assets to our Church, our country, our fellow citi zens and to the political parties is the Catholic in public office who knows what his Church teaches, lives up to those teachings and, by his daily life in contact with mankind, demons trates convincingly the sublimity of his Christian Faith, and the sound ness and reasonableness of Christ ian morality. It is the practice of political parties to try to balance a ticket or political slate by selecting as candidates persons of different religious affiliations. Without pass ing on the merits of this practice. Catholics can do a great deal to prevent the liability by insisting that the candidate who is a Catholic be representative and well equipped. This.is the suggestion that the wise political leader will accept. He knows that most Catholics prefer a qualified non-Catholic to an unqua lified Catholic." Politics is a puzzle as well as a promise according to Miss Zenaida Lansangan. She gives us a food for thought through the ACTION (Holy Ghosts College, Manila). Not only student but all citizens ought to know this before going to the polls come November: "You, students, who are begin ning to exercise the right of suffrage, wake up. Remember, you are going to the polls. Let it not be just the mere routine of having yourself re gistered and then entering the booth to cast your vote. This is serious business, demanding your deep in terest and a lot of common sense, because your votes may decide whether your country will head for prosperity or "go to the dogs." And don't think this is a take-it-or-leave-it affair.... that you can shrug your shoulders and say you wash your hands of voting. It would be foolish for you who are citizens enjoying the rights of democracy to shut your eyes to the responsibilities it lays on you. And this include registering and voting intelligently. Think • straight. Don't let the sugar-coated speeches of candidates and their campaign leaders get the better of you. Brush aside any prejudice or partiality for one or the other parly, judge for yourself. Above all, don't be bought by gold or silver. Care fully examine the candidates and their policies. In elections, the men more than their platforms are the issue.. . choose the men of solid worth, of proved honesty and abil ity—good men, reliable men, moral men, men of conviction and men of God! If we keep this in mind, we shall have fulfilled our duties as good Catholics voters and can hope for a progressive and happy Phil ippines." There's no doubt that students constantly crave for vacation days, and when vacation comes, we want it always extended. The editorial of the Letran News has this to say: "The outcome of every under taking depends upon the nature of its start. Ours is a most difficult undertaking: that of studentship. For we are at the stage of moulding and re-shaping. We come to school and subject ourselves to rigours. We come for physical and moral discipline. We likewise come for Page 33 OCTOBER, 1953 mental uplift. Upon the opening oi a new scholastic year we depart from the frivolity oi the preceding summer vacation to hop instantly into the serious routines of school life. And this is far from being easy. For we are youthful and will not fully appreciate the values of discipline and mental uplift in ex change for the frolic of vacation time just in one turn of a moment. Even if we are completely conscious of how important it is to ourselves wholly to the routines of studentship, still at times, we cannot help tend to recoil back to ease and relaxa tion." All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! So, er. .. our Moms ... and er ... Pops is filling only our heads and disregarding the cravings of our hearts not treading on Jack's footprints? ... hmm .... skip itl Western influence has much affected the lives of the Filipinos today. This is apparently mani fested in the kinds of dances that* make air hot in the ballroom. When you do ever want to go dancing next time chico be sure you know your Boogie, Mambo and other leg stretchers, or else you'll just be like a lonely mouse that sees a cat around! KOR Ocee and KON ED of the CORPS (PMA) have this to say: "It seems as if the dance craze is hitting a new high. New dances are cropping up with assembly line rapidity. No sooner has a would-be Terpsichore learned the phases oi one dance then another comes out, automatically rendering the preced ing one obsolescent or downright obsolete. The poor fellow runs the risk of becoming the salon laughing stock it he persists in dancing his piece. Well, they say modern living is dynamic, and when it comes to dances, it sure is." Well brother, blame the LatinAmericans! What's wrong with college girls? Mr. Vicente Mayoralgo, Jr. of the TORCH (P.N.C.) is unlimbering a right-cross if only to dish out his opinions on college girls: "To be blunt without malice, our college girls are degraded in man ners. They indulge in gossip and chit-chat. Sometimes, they behave boisterously in and out of class rooms. They violate school regula tions. They forget to say such need ful little expressions as 'excuse me', 'thank you", 'please', etc." Don't grow red girls because Miss Andrelina Sarrol has this to (Continued from page 32) The girls had to go through the same ordeal. I should be telling you about it but I couldn't snoop through any key hole. The initiations were done in tight doors. Now I must start with my Litany of Campus Personalities. I know everybody is interested to know who's who in the Campus world. ‘High on the List' is that scholar BER NARDO BAUTISTA... he isn't the type whom you will regard with awe and re spect (just because he is highly intellec tual) ... no, he isn't. In fact, he is the gamest person I've ever met... full of wit and humour... easy to talk with and not a bit conceited. Keep it up, Bernie. Passing thru the third floor corridor one day, I saw INTING 'HERBIE' LIM. Asked me if I hadn't finished my column yet. Told him how I was in great search for personalities. "Well, here's one." Then, introduced me to the guy standing beside him. Now, I in turn introduce him to you. He's MA NUEL AZCONA. It's good to have trust worthy friends, don't you think so? For that I'll recommend Mr. Azcona. Have you met OPHELIA SANCHEZ already? I have not met her in the sense that we were introduced. I just saw her hurrying by. . . petite, fair cute... from what I have gathered she is an ex-sponsor of the UV ROTC. GERMAN PALMARES, this time I'm not just kidding. I'm already putting you with the Campuscrats. So now you'll ready my column, no? Who does not know German? ... inside the classroom he recites things which are not even cov ered by the lecture yet. He doesn't only study his present lesson but also his fu ture lessons. That's diligence of the first degree. STOP! It's time for me to blow to the office and hand this in or SOME BODY'S gonna blow me down. You know who's that Somebody? Why it's the ED!!! say about college boys too: "Not to put it in any other way (a thousand apologies to those who are not concerned), some college boys are addicted to alcoholic drinks. They drown their worries and problems in gulps of burning liquor .. . They, too, are sometimes self-conceited. They go to school only as it it were a fashion. Whey make the college a hunting ground for their better halves-to-be.'" From the Philippine Collegian (U.P.) here's an inspiring news for graduating pre-meds. Dean Rotor spiked rumors that the U.P. College of Medicine is exclusively for U.P. pre-medic graduates. "Our college", he said, "is open to everybody who meets with the requirements of the local Committee on Admission." The Dean disclosed that there are some pre-med students from Silliman Uni versity who are currently studying at the U.P. College of Medicine. At the same time, Dean Rotor asserted that it was U.P.'s idea to increase the present two-year pre-medic course to three years "to better qualify students to tackle their work in the medicine proper." It was recalled that Dean Agerico B.M. Sison, in his opening address before the student body of the U.P. College of Medicine last June 17, said: "The strong reason for increasing the preparatory medical course is that the state university's College of Me dicine belongs to the Class "A" Me dical School — it is accredited by the Association of American Medi cal Colleges as an affiliate member." Dean Rotor, it was reported, pointed with pride to some sixty U.P. gra duates now serving either as re sident physicians or interns in va rious hospitals in the United States. He said twelve of them belonged to the class 1952." So, how about it co-pre-meds? Are you ready to meet the require ments? Dean Rotor would be will ing to accommodate you! Our roving eye is tired and weary now. To our lessons shall we rove for a break and prepare for a quantitative analysis of our unknown tomorrow. This much we pray, that the stockmen in the Quanti laboratory would be a little more kind to us, boys, and not only to girls. Or else, anyone of us wguld dream of becoming Christine Jor gensen just to take hold of a beak er of distilled water! And before we forget, the mem bers of the "C" Staff convey their congratulations to Mr. Alberto Mo rales, former Exchange and Alumni Ed of the "C", who just recently be came a member of the Feati H.S. Faculty. We miss you very much Bert! How long? To Norms of' the "Blue and Silver," we extend our best regards. And when the roving eye blinks and re-blinks, that's so long, not goodbye. Page 34 THE CAROLINIAN