UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS // ISSUE 1 // VOLUME 1
BEHIND HUMANITIES AND
SOCIAL SCIENCE
HUMANITIES
AND SOCIAL
SCIENCE
BY JANELLE NGIS-EBAN
       Do you love to read, writing
or speaking? Are you interested
in culture, politics, or arts? If
yes, the HUMSS strand is for
you. HUMSS (Humanities and
Social Sciences) This strand
focuses on the study of human
behaviour and societal
changes, and analysis of arts,
culture, literature, and politics.
It involves political science,
anthropology, linguistic,
psychology, and
communication.
IN THIS ISSUE
THE HUMANITIES AND
SOCIAL SCIENCE STRAND
THE TRUTH BEHIND  THE
PHILIPPINE SOCIETY
WHAT IS HAPPENING
INSIDE PHILIPPINES
THE HUMSS NEW FACES OF UNIVERSITY
STRAND
OF THE CORDILLERAS 
BY JANELLE NGIS-EBAN
      Through studying Society
and Human Behaviour the
strand HUMSS was made. It
involves human  behaviour ,
interactions of humans,
culture, economics, history and
politics. HUMSS expands from
personal to global context and
consider challenges.
       Students who are under
Humanities and Social
Sciences will develop the
ability to communicate
effectively, think critically and
solve problems on their own to An interview
adapt for the better change of with the New
society. In this case it requires
an understanding of the teachers of
economic status, societal University of
factors involved, political and the
lastly historical background of
our society. 
Cordilleras
 WHAT IS HUMSS ALL ABOUT?
BY MARY ELIZABETH PAGALA

               The Humanities and Social Science strand help students in improving their
reading, writing and speaking skills. Students under this strand are aspiring to become
members of our society who will be dealing more with people. (Teacher, psychologist,
lawyer, police officer etc.) Having these kind of skills is the key in establishing an
effective communication with people who they interact with. Most of the subjects in this
strand focuses on language and speech. Mathematics and Science are not the main focus
of this strand, It focuses more on realistic incident and society related.

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

BY MARY ELIZABETH PAGALA

                The HUMSS strand was designed for those who wonder what is on the other side
of the wall. It means that you are prepared enough to interact more with people. If you
take this strand, you could be looking forward to becoming a teacher, psychologist,
lawyer, writer, social workers, or a reporter someday. It focuses on imporving one's
vocabulary skills and critical thinking.

WHY CHOOSE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO

                There are a lot of strand to choose from and one of them is the strand
Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS) People asked if this strand would be helpful
for the student's future and the answer is yes. HUMSS students will be studying
society related subjects and focus on criticising  through logical thinking. Students
always asked if "what is the advantage of this strand from other strands?" In this
field, students will learn the different characteristics of a person. Humanities do not
simply judge just by looking a person's physical appearance and actions, they go
beyond what they see. Students can also learn about culture that can help to
understand one's differences based on what culture they have and what practices
they do. The overall focus of this strand is the discipline and characteristics of  people
in the society, understanding yourself is also a must in this field. If you enter this
strand, your view for the society will definitely change and you always go beyond all
things.
BEHIND THE HUMANITIES
AND SOCIAL SCIENCE PAGE 2

WHY HUMSS?
BY MARY ELIZABETH
PAGALA
         Humanities and Social
Science, it contributes a lot in
communication skills and
builds the confidence of a
student in front of the crowd.
This also strengthens our
logical reasoning and critical
thinking which are needed
skills once you go to college.
Senior High School students
who took up HUMSS strand are
being educated with different
kinds of subjects that concerns
the discipline, communication
or interactions and social life
of a person.
DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST THE
HUMSS STRAND
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO
and Psychology. A senior
high school HUMSS student
from Polytechnic University
of the Philippines made a
thesis about what is under
the said strand. He stated in
his thesis the reasons why
HUMSS is not an easy strand.
His work also went viral. The
inequality view of each
strand cause now the
students to argue with one
another. People should keep
in mind that each strand has

LIFE OF A      Recently, a controversial their own uniqueness and

issue about a teacher dissing struggles. The discrimination

HUMANISTA students from the HUMSS

track during a review class.
for the HUMSS strand should
be remove and change. This
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO is not an easy one therefore
        Being included in this field The teacher made the tweet people should view HUMSS
will definitely change your and it went viral students same as the other
opinions and perspective immediately. Of course, a lot students from each track.
of students from that strand
about our society. Personnel
that are under Humanities and felt offended since HUMSS is
HUMSS KA LANG!
BY JANELLE NGIS-EBAN
being underestimated by a
Social Science got to involved          Why did you think that
professional. They view the HUMSS is. an easy strand?
on society concerns most of
HUMSS track as an easy track HUMSS is a branch of study that
the time. As their title deals with humans and their
because it doesn't involved
indicated "Humanities" and social relations including
much mathematics and economics, anthropology,
"Social Science" automatically science. The track is not as political science, psychology and
they handle soical concerns. easy as it looks like, in this sociology.
Being a Humanista is not as          I interview a HUMSS student
field students are studying of Baguio State University. Her
simple as it sounds, the the difference principles of name is Rowena Nayoyos, I asked
pressure are also in their the society and disciplines here "What do you think of the
strand HUMSS?" and she
hands, people also depend on within the society. answered that you need be more
them for what actions they will        HUMSS doesn't active in this strand because you
do in order to maintain the will miss a lot if you don't. We
automatically mean you will know that some students say
society. People look forward in pursue politics or law in the that HUMSS is an easy strand but
each action that they do. The future, there are a lot of for me, it's not. I chose this
strand to have more knowledge
field of Humanities and Social courses offered under about what course I will choose
Science is surely a difficult field HUMSS such as Education  in college and know more about
it.
to enter that is why as early as
BEHIND THE HUMANITIES PAGE 3
now,
A N Dthe  SOCIAL SCIENCE
 PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE: "THE PROMISE
OF CHANGE"
BY JOHN VAN MUSTACISA

         Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was born on March 28, 1945 in Maasin, Southern Leyte. He is a lawyer and a
politician that served seven terms as a Mayor of Davao City in the Philippines. In 2016 he run for the
position of President of the Philippines that is aiming for "Change" as he become the 17th president of
the Philippines, He had an immediate action regarding to his platform and one of this is the "Oplan
Tokhang" that refers to the Drug Policy of the Philippine Government that started June 30 2016. This
policy is aiming to terminate Drugs and not the Person who sell or use drugs, but because of their
resistance it resulted to over 4000 death one example is the death of 4 people that tries to escape but
resulted in dying. President Duterte also come up with the Build Build Program, Train Law and of course
the renovation of Boracay, All of that are for the better and innovated Philippines.

PHILIPPINE WORKERS
MARCH IN PROTEST
AT SHORT TERM
CONTRACT
BY JOHN VAN MUSTACISA
May 1st 2018, thousand Filipino workers
brought placards while marching towards
the Malacañang Presidential Palace
during the May Day Rally at Espana,
Manila Philippines. These people are
against what they said was President
Rodrigo Duterte’s failure to keep a
campaign promise to get rid of the short
term employment contract. 10,000 people
joined the protest while waving banners
and carrying placards. There were no
report of violence but the Protestants
burned a replica statue of our President
Rodrigo Duterte and labeled it with “Liar
King”  been through.
MARAWI WAR
BY JOHN VAN MUSTACISA
      The longest Urban war in the
Philippines History 23rd May 2017, The War
in Marawi also known as the Marawi siege
and the Marawi crisis. A 5 month-long
armed conflict in Marawi, Lanao Del Sur
between Philippine Government security
forces and Islamic state of Iraq and the
Levant including the Maute and the Abbu
Sayaff Salafadi jihadist group. The war in
marawi led President Duterte a decision to
declare Martial Law in the whole region in
Mindanao on May 23, 3017. The declaration
is for safety of the people living in the
Region of Mindanao. October 24, 2017. The
Philippine Security official declared an end
to the urban fighting in Marawi. The war
totally destroyed the city of Marawi, all the
business shut down and got robbed by the
terrorist group. Almost 43,000 families got
affected by the war and got displaced due
to the war. Their education system was also
affected, the school buildings were
destroyed including the teaching materials
that the schools have. As of today, Marawi
citizens are trying to bring back the old
image of Marawi despite of what they have

BEHIND THE HUMANITIES  PAGE 4

AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
EDITORIAL
THE TRUTH BEHIND    The issue is that the
THE PHILIPPINE political tool to serve
Catholic Church as a
SOCIETY power from the
BY MARY ELIZABETH PAGALA Government. The
      Throughout the
struggle of the Filipinos,
the Philippine Government
has chosen to ignore the
issue and concerns.
       Today that we have an
issue about the Philippines
in line with the efforts to
ensure transparency in the
conduct of the anti-illegal
drugs campaign the
Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) has guidelines on
the body cameras during
the anti-illegal drugs
operations and also that
the largest Christian
evangelical groups in the
Philippines openly broke
away from President
Rodrigo Duterte saying bad
words in front of the crowd
BEHIND THE HUMANITIES
AND SOCIAL SCIENNCE
Philippine society's
primary mission is to
represent, promotes and
advance the intellectual
and sociological interest
of its members.
ACCEPTANCE OF
LGBTQIAP+
COMMUNITY IN
THE PHILIPPINES
BY JOHN VAN MUSTACISA
      The LGBTQIAP+ or
lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, quers,
intersexual, asexual,
pansexual is a community
that started at the year of
1990's. This community
should be respected,
accepted and loved by the
society because they are
also humans from soil and
of course equally created
by God and our only
difference is we do not
have the same gender
identity and orientation.
This community is being
disrespected and treated
unequal in school, work,
malls, bar etc. One
example that show the
lack of acceptance for
LGBTQIAP+ is the death
case of Jennifer Laude in
2014 and the Valkyrie
accident in 2015. In the
Philippines LGBTQIAP+ is
really hard to accept
because Filipinos are
very religious people
that believes that God
only created man and
woman that's why for
them the LGBTQIAP+ are
sinners and soon will be
going to hell.
 Representative
Geraldine Roman the first
ever transwoman
politician is now
implementing the SOGIE
Bill or the Sexual
Orientation Gender
Identity and Expression
this is a bill that will
fight for the rights of the
LGBTQIAP+ Community it
will make sure that they
are being respected,
accepted and equally
treated in the society.
Pope Francis once said
"If a person is gay but
seek for the Lord a has
goodwill who am I to
judge?"
PAGE 5
STOPPING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN
IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD
BY JANELLE NGIS-EBAN

      I agree about on this to prevent the violence against women and children for a
better life. Violence against women and children is a serious public health concern.
Although violence is a threat to everyone, women and children are particularly
susceptible to victimization. In the past years the rate of the violence against women
and children range from 80% in the Philippines not only in our country but also
around the world.
      Some of the victims are scared to report the crime that happened to them. Our
country and some other country lack laws and regulations that protects the victims.
So in this case, we should not tolerate this kind of incidents in order to stop and
avoid the violence against women and children.

INEQUALITY IN PH EDUCATION
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO

     The population of students who don’t attend in college are increasing each year
despite of financial problems, our Government developed a program that can help the
students who don’t have enough money to pursue college. But is it really beneficial and
effective for all of the students? They have a relatively minor impact on the poor since
few of them could qualify scholarship. They favor the youth who have gone to good
quality elementary and secondary schools and live in more stimulating learning
environment. Comparing now to the less fortunate students who attended their
elementary and secondary in a standard school, the upper class has a higher chance to
be accepted in a University than them. The inequality access to higher education is
worse in higher quality institutions since admission to them is more restricted than to
the less prestigious schools. Majority of students from the lower class drop out of
school before completing elementary instead of going to school and studying, they
choose to work for them to contribute something to their family. Same through for the
secondary education, students are dropping-out because of the same issue. Only few
from the population finished secondary education and those who completed high
school, only a fraction are able to enroll in college mostly in a numerous low-cost, low-
quality private and public colleges and universities.
      The inequality of education in our country should not be practiced because we all
have the rights to study and go to any school we want but sadly, it’s not easy to achieve
that kind of goal considering our country’s economic status. 

BEHIND THE HUMANITIES

PAGE 6
AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
 NEW FACES OF UNIVERSITY OF THE
CORDILLERAS
CONTINUATION OF JOURNEY
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO
         Mr. Rjay Regala is a physical education teacher of University of the Cordilleras for Senior High
Department (Grade 11 and 12) Mr. Regala was a former instructor at Saint Louis University, Baguio City and
recently transferred here in the University of the Cordilleras.
         Since majority of his students are Senior High, he also has his own strategy on how to teach his
students and as a new teacher, he also has contribution for the school “One thing for sure that I can
contribute to Senior High is not only teaching them what is inside a book but what lesson that they will
learn in life as a person, connecting my subject in real life situation.”
         Being a physical education teacher is not as easy as playing basketball but Mr. Regala seems to enjoy
what job he has right now “I got my inspiration from God, my family and my students – without God, I can
say I’m truly nothing. My family who always motivate/supports me and lastly my students, they are the
reason why I am here teaching.” As a new teacher, there are always room of improvement and according
to Mr. Regala, Seminars are very helpful for improvement and changes of teaching skills. “I know change is
natural to this world that’s why as a teacher I also need to improve my teaching skills and by reading
books can also help me with my goal to improve my teaching skills.”

NEW START
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO
          As another school year begins, a new journey will also begin. Mr. Kebin Gayados, a teacher of
Senior High School department here in the University of the Cordilleras.
          Mr. Gaydos grew up in the town of La Trinidad, Benguet and has spent her entire life in Mass. He
graduated from Saint Louis University in Baguio City and has worked in teaching ever since. Before
teaching Senior High School, Mr. Gayados worked as a professor for college department here in
University of the Cordilleras.
          As a new teacher for Senior High School department, Mr. Gayados change his strategies of teaching
and he is currently teaching the subject literature for Senior High. “I did just what I have been doing I
just teach, try to interact with my students and make them listen to me during discussions.
         According to Mr. Gayados, University of the Cordilleras has a high standard in education that’s why
he chose to teach in this school. “As a new teacher, I can contribute in teaching values and teaching
knowledge of the students and regarding on what I can contribute to the school, I can contribute to the
academic standard of the school, Of course in our society today the view of academic ranking of each
school is very important.”
         Most of the students of Mr. Gayados are from the Humanities and Social Science strand and the
approach of his subject will surely change based on the strand. “HUMSS students are more on
expressive way in terms of their knowledge. Expressing how they feel, what they know especially to my
subject literature. Even in the activities they can express their emotions well that I can guess they
understand how humans work.” 
BEHIND THE HUMANITIES 
PAGE 7
AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
 Palace: Duterte’s
claim on Halili’s
drug link was
mere ‘suspicion’
BY CHELSEI LEANNE MOVILLA

      The remark of President Rodrigo

PRESIDENT DUTERTE'S
WAR ON DRUGS
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO
        Recently, this became a hot topic not only in our country
but also around the world. Our country is one of the biggest
country who holds the population of Roman Catholic Religion.
Automatically, the church is against this campaign because it
violated human rights. For those who doesn’t know how the
‘War on Drugs’ or  ‘Oplan Tokhang’ works, drug users and
pushers are being arrested by the Philippine National Police
and if the suspects refuse to surrender the police officers will
use fired arms to make the suspect surrender. The War on
Drugs started during the era of President Duterte as the newly
elected president of the Philippines. Since President Duterte
was declared as the president, he immediately implemented
his ‘Oplan Tokhang’ campaign that kills over 12,000 allegedly
drug pusher and users. The crime rate of the Philippines
decreases however the killings in the Philippines became
normal to the point that some unknown groups joined the
campaign and started fabricating crimes. The down side of this
campaign was there are a lot of people who got involved
during the shooting and killing. Kian Loyd Delos Santos a 17
years old Senior High School student was one of the victims of
this campaign. As seen in the CCTV footage, Kian was dragged
by a two police officers of Caloocan City and was found dead
after the said incident. The campaign continue to be bloody
until the present time.
BEHIND THE HUMANITIES
AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
Duterte linking slain Tanauan City
mayor Antonio Halili to the drug
trade was just a suspicion. In the
conference of President Duterte in
Malacanang, qualified it as a
suspicion. The investigation into the
city mayor’s murder during the city
hall’s flag ceremony, Roque, also
assured that the presidents word
will not be affect.
In a speech of President Duterte, he
had warned Halili not to get
involved in illegal drugs. Plus the
President said that Halili pretends
that the issue on drugs is getting
worse and that he pretends to
parade the drug addicts, Halili was
killed earlier and Duterte doesn’t
know who killed him.
While in a television interview,
Halili’s daughter said that her father
is not a drug user and he would
rather die than to be a drug lord.
The Malacanang was alarmed with
the killing of Halili. Roque said that
they were alarmed, because killings
of this nature shouldn’t be
happening. Duterte’s remarks could
affect the public perception about
Halili and the investigation of his
death.
PAGE 8
PRESS FREEDOM IN THE
PHILIPPINES
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO
        Despite being touted as the country with
the freest and liveliest press in Asia, the
Philippines sank lower in the 2018 World Press
Freedom Index of media watchdog Reporters
without Borders. Philippines has sank to 133rd
from 127th out of the 180 countries on the list.
The Philippines has a score of 42.53. Philippines
was also named by RFS as the deadliest country
that involves journalist in whole Asia. Last
January, President Duterte has told the
Securities and Exchange Commission revoked
the license of news outlet Rappler after it ruled
that the news website had violated
constitutional prohibition on foreign ownership
of media. He accused Rappler was owned by
Americans. The President did not stop  their he
also called out ABS-CBN and Philippine Daily
Enquirer for their supposedly “slanted”
reporting and threatened that he would block
the renewal of the Lopez-owned media
company. Malacañang defended the
Government actions are not an attack on press
freedom.
BEHIND THE HUMANITIES 
AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
THE SPREAD OF FAKE
NEWS IN THE PHILIPPINES
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO
        Publishing news and articles are now easy in
our modern time by the help of social media, a
person can publish as many articles as they want.
Recently, fake news became popular in the
Philippines. It started last year when different
articles are being spread via facebook about
different well-known personnels since that day
until now, the spread of fake news here in the
Philippines is still happening.
        Previously, the Senate had a hearing regarding
the issue of fake news circulation in the social
media, which was attended by the Presidential
Communications Operations Office (PCOO)
Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson as a resource
speaker. ASEC Uson was accused of spreading
several fake news in her social media account. She
used a non-existing article from the constitution of
the Philippines against a tobacco company, she
also posted about the “best intel cop” who got
killed during the third buy bust day and calling out
Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Aquino,
Senator Trillanes and Senator Hontiveros to pay a
visit for the police officer however the news that
she spread happened a year ago.
        Senator Grace Poe proposed a law regarding
Government officials that spread fake news and
information. According to the Senator, Government
officials should always remember that they are
holding a huge responsibility to the public and they
should criticizes a certain issue whether if it is true
or not. Social media is the easiest way to spread
some fake news that’s why the Government are
encouraging people to look for legitimate outlets
for the articles that the netizens read.
PAGE 9
PLASTIC FREE BAGUIO
CITY
BY JOHN VAN MUSTACISA

       On the 9th of April 2018, the

implementation of the rules and
regulations for the ‘Plastic and
Styroform Free Baguio City’ was
officially established by the Local
Government Unit (LGU) of Baguio City.
Ordinance No. 35-17 prohibits
businesses from providing any
customer plastic bag for goods and
items they purchased or serving food
or drink and it will cover all business
activities and establishments in the
city including city government schools
and offices. Huge business companies
such as SM City Baguio and Porta
Varga were the first one to dispose the
plastics bags. Citizens of Baguio City
are encourage to use eco-bags and
paper bags to lessen the growing
plastic waste of the City. However, the
campaign is not strongly implemented
in the City – Baguio Public Market was
the hardest one to dispose all the
plastic bags and until now they are
still using plastic bags in any purchase
of their products. The Local
Government Unit (LGU) of Baguio City
are still working on how they will take
an action regarding the Market. One
who will be caught using will be have
to face the consequence: 1,000 php for
1st offense, 3,000 php for 2nd offense
and lastly 5,000 and suspension of
business permit for 6 months.

BEHIND THE HUMANITIES

PAGE 10
AND SOICAL SCIENCE
 averaging from 1,000 people per week. Just

OPLAN TAMBAY
like the ‘Oplan Tokhang’ there are already
victims who got killed during the operation.
Genesis "Tisoy" Argoncillo  was one of the
victims of ‘Oplan Tamaby’ he was allegedly
BY JANINE ROSE OROSCO
reported for being drunk and picking up a
fight with his neighbors in Novaliches,
Quezon City said the Chief officer but
according to his family, Tisoy was waiting
      After implementing the Oplan Tokhang for
for his load at a sari-sari store near their
War on Drugs, the Duterte administration has
house. Neighbors also claim that the police
released a new ordinance that are being
made him hold empty beer bottles left by
implemented nationwide and that was the
someone else, and also took photos of him
Oplan Tambay. President Rodrigo Duterte
for evidence. Oplan Tambay was declared
believes that getting rid of the loiterers
nationwide and it has no age limit whether
(tambays) can lessen the crimes that are
you are a minor or adult. Labor groups are
happening during the night. On the first weeks
also worried about the campaign because
of the ordinance, the Philippine National
the administration may consider jobless
Police have already arrested around 8,000
citizens as loiterers (tamabays)
loiterers (tambays) in Metro Manila Area 

BEHIND THE HUMANITIES  PAGE 11

AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
 FREEDOM BOARD – EVERY
STUDENT’S THOUGHT COUNTS
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER SENIOR HIGH?
“After Senior High School I will pursue my college while studying college and I will review for the
entrance examination for Philippine Military Academy.”
“I plan to take up college to back up my knowledge. Honestly, the education in Senior High School is
not efficient enough for me to have a job. So therefore I thinks it’s a prerequisite to take up a college
course after Senior High School.”
“I will try to find a job that can help me to pay my tuition for college and continue my dream to be and
English teacher.”
“Continue my studies in college and get a job after college.”
“I will continue my studies and I will take up the course that I truly want.”

“WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE

PLASTIC FREE IMPLEMENTED HERE IN EDITORIAL STAFF
BAGUIO CITY?”
Editor-In-Chief:
Janine Rose Orosco
“The plastic free implementation is not that effective in other parts of
Baguio City just like in Baguio Public Market, they are still using plastic bags Editorial:
even if it’s prohibited already.” Mary Elizabeth Pagala
“It’s good for the situation of our environment and it help promotes people Janelle Ngis-eban
to be more ecofriendly.” John Van Mustacisa
Janine Orosco
“The implementation of plastic free here in Baguio City is very good but in
the other parts of our City, It is not that well implemented. People stay hard News Writers:
headed and disobey the city ordinance.”
John Van Mustacisa
“It’s good because people will learn to lessen the garbage in our community Chelsei Movilla
and it will help our mother nature.” Janine Rose Orosco
“Practically speaking it’s more resourceful to use Eco bags than plastics to
help our mother nature.” Feature Writer:
Janine Rose Orosco
“I think it’s just right because honestly as time goes by, if we do not
implement it as early as now, we would only face bigger problem. It’s better Layout Artist:
to be early than to be sorry because it will be too late to fix certain Janine Rose Orosco
problems.”