By Francisco Palabra

I overheard Eng’r Randy A Capili saying, “Liars go to hell”. Well, I pray they do. Unfortunately though, they don’t to go hell.

I tried to let that fluid-like saying absorb or sink into my skull by first defining or deconstructing the sign “liar”. What is a liar?

Following the layman’s impulse, a liar is someone who deceives or fails to speak the truth. Echoing Pontius Pilate, “What is the truth?”

Like the term truth, the term lie is too ambivalent and elusive. Perhaps an illustration or interrogation might facilitate us to fully understand, if this is possible, what it means to be a liar.

Take for instance Eng’r. Capili’s own words.

But before we proceed, one might ask: Who the hell is he?

Honestly speaking, I do not know him that much. The only information I have about Eng’r Capili is that he was born on this world in the early decade of 1970’s. When Eng’r Capili reached college, he took up the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and graduated in Leyte Institute of Technology in 1998. He was twenty-four by then. Currently, at the age of mid-30., he pursues BSGGE in the same alma mater. In fact, he is the auditor of their course-oriented organization. At the same time, it is said, he works as a JO in a government agency. Paradoxically, I am not certain as to the validity or truth about these claims.

Charles Sanders Pierce’s adage might give us a comfort, “Every man is fully satisfied that there is such a thing as truth, or he would not ask any questions”. And thus, we will not ask any questions.

Here are some of Eng’r Capili’s semiotics: Eng’r Capili, at one time, said that:

1. He is not currently studying at the Eastern Visayas State University, formerly LIT. He is not a university student but a government worker.

2. He will not attend his class today. He will simply work.

3. He attends classes every weekend. And at weekdays, he goes to work.

4. He was the first choice to run the presidential position in their course-oriented organization. Next school year, he will be the sitting president of said organization.

5. He will be a professor in a certain university some day.

The first semiotics – that of being not a student – appears to contradict with the second to the fourth semiotics. Perhaps, Eng’r Capili meant it the other way like Humpty Dumpty saying, “When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less”. My guess is: What he signifies here is that he is not studying at EVSU Tanauan Campus or any other satellite campuses but rather he is studying at EVSU Main Campus. When he used the word “EVSU”, it means just what he choose it to mean, neither more nor less.

The second and third semiotics state that Eng’r Capili goes to school every weekend, and on weekdays, he goes to work. Although, Eng’r Capili often attends classes during weekdays. In fact, one Friday morning, I saw him in the university. Perhaps, he used the word just the way he “chooses it to mean”. Perhaps he really meant that: Mostly, he attends classes every weekend and mostly he goes to work every weekday.

The fourth semiotics leads our attention to the signifier “first choice”. Actually, Eng’r Capili is not the first choice to run the presidential seat in their organization’s election. He was merely one of the many choices to be presidentiable. Out of respect, being the most ancient student in the BSGGE course, his co-students deemed it necessary that he deserves to be presidentiable. But he meant “just as what he choose it to mean” of first choice – that is, the first choice among the many first choices. Whether we comprehend what he means by this or not, let’s just listen to C. S. Pierce and ask no more questions.

Now let us go back to our original question: What is a liar? Or to be more precise: Can we categorically say that Eng’r Randy A. Capili is a liar?

I guess he did deceive us. He failed to speak the truth, the whole truth that is.

But is Eng’r Randy A. Capili a liar?

This is the reason why it is impossible for “liars” to go to hell. Like the term truth, the term “liar” is difficult to be grasped. It is ambivalent, elusive, and fluid.

So when he said, “Lairs go to hell”, we wonder whether Eng’r Capili understood what he is saying. Or probably he is lying!

By T. A. S. M.

The senior students of the College of Architecture in the Eastern Visayas State University Main Campus are sponsoring a seminar dubbed as “Landscape Architecture”.

The speakers of this seminar are two distinguished architects, namely, Architects Socorro Atega and Jaime Silva. They will tackle landscaping and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of BP 344 entitled, “The Law to enhance mobility of disabled persons”.

Said seminar will be held in Balyuan Convention Center, Magsaysay Boulevard of this City. The seminar starts on 8:30 in the morning and ends on 4:00 in the afternoon of September 26 this year.

All interested parties are invited to join and participate in this seminar.

For tickets and inquiries, please contact Jully in this number: 0919-592-4638.

[For those EVSU constituents who want to advertise their seminar or similar nature of activity, please send your statement or news article to this e-mail address: Siday_kultura@yahoo.com. We will be glad to post them for free.]

By Fhen M.

The Regional Trial Court dismissed the case filed by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. and Leo Cleto Gamalo docketed as Civil Case No. 05-112502. Likewise, the same RTC denied the plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration and affirmed its previous ruling.

Said Civil case contains the plaintiff’s motion to enjoin the implementation of Sections 302(3) and (4) of the Revised Rules and regulations of the National Building Code of the Philippines.

However, Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. of the Department of Public Works and Highway issued an NBCDO Memorandum Circular No. 02 Series of 2009 directing the Building Officials to:

1. Process and issue the necessary permits and certificates to all applicants/owners notwithstanding whether the design plans and/or other pertinent documents that are submitted, particularly those enumerated in Section 302(4) of the Revised IRR, are prepared, signed and/or sealed by either a registered architect and/or civil engineer until there is a final and executory decision rendered in the abovementioned cases.

2. Desist from using the new forms including NBC No. A-01 and NBC Form No. A-02 under the Revised IRR and in lieu thereof process the application for building permits using the application forms, design plans and other forms under the old IRR until a final and executory decision to the contrary is issued by the Courts.

These directions are consistent with the Memorandum of the Office of the Secretary of the DPWH dated 25 September, 2005, as well as, its Memorandum dated 16 April, 2007.

From Lamiraw Project Coordinator

Calbayog City — The Lamiraw Regional Creative Writing Workshop (LRCWW) is now accepting applications for the 6th Regional Writers Workshop to be held on November 4-7, 2009 in Calbayog City, Samar.

Panelists invited in said workshop are Prof. Daryll Delgado and Prof. Larry Ypil from Ateneo de Manila University; Prof. Merlie Alunan and Dr. Victor Sugbo from UP Tacloban; Dr. David Genotiva from EVSU (Eastern Visayas State University), Tacloban City; and Mr. Dante Rosales from Calbayog City.

Fifteen slots are at stake for young and adult writers who are willing to improve or develop their craft in fiction, poetry, the essay and drama. As decided by the organizers, three slots are allotted for fellows coming from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (1 slot per area), nine slots for writers residing in Samar, Leyte and Biliran, and the remaining three slots for Abaknon speakers in Capul, Northern Samar. Applicants will be admitted given that their works pass the aesthetic standard of the Selection Committee. Writers may send entries in Waray, Cebuano, or English. Entries written in Abaknon or in any regional languages spoken in Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao should have a translation in English or Filipino.

This Writers Workshop is funded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and hosted by the Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST). A decent housing, a modest stipend, and a subsidy to partially defray costs of the fellows’ transportation will be provided to those who will qualify in the selection process. Walk-in auditors will have to pay a registration fee of P3,000.00 each which cover their meals, accommodations and workshop materials.

Consider submitting to us a collection of any of the following: 3 poems, 2 short stories, 2 essays, 1 one-act play, or any reasonable combination of the above in hardcopy and on a CD containing the manuscripts and your application form in Microsoft Word (Windows 2003, font 12, Arial) and two 2×2 pictures. Sending your entries together with other requirements (scanned) through email at lamiraw@yahoo.com is also accepted. Include in your submission a statement from one person of authority attesting to the originality of your works. Use the application form posted at Panitikan.com, the NCCA website or simply google it.

Evaluators of Lamiraw RCWW manuscripts this year are Dr. Victor N. Sugbo, NCLA Regional Coordinator; Harold L. Mercurio, Lamiraw Project Coordinator; and Mr. Dante A. Rosales, member of Ibabao Arts Council of Calbayog.

Send applications on or before September 30, 2009 to Harold L. Mercurio, Project Coordinator, Lamiraw Regional Creative Writing Workshop c/o Office of the Arts, Social and Cultural Affairs of TTMIST, Calbayog City, Samar, 6710.

For inquiries, call at 09177982781 or email at lamiraw@yahoo.com.”

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA

BASEY, Samar – The students of Masters in Public Resource Management (MPRM) of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) Burauen Campus in Burauen, Leyte has visited two of the famous ecotourism sites in Samar as part of their 2-day educational tours last week.

Led by campus director Dr. Felixberto Avestruz, Dr. Ann Rose Refuerzo and Dr. Dennis de Paz, all professors of said campus, the group visited last Aug. 29-30 the mystical Sohoton Caves in Basey and the Langon-Gobingob Caves in Calbiga town, which are both protected areas under the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP).

In Sohoton, the group composed of Melinda Tan, Lizley Prejula, Darlene Monteros, Fe Maningo, Riza Dumaduma, Erlinda Malate, Iman Alvinez, Aileen Tacbalan, Eduard Nerja, Luisito Rodriguez, Liza Pedere and Crisostomo Badeo were entertained by members of the Sohoton Services Association (SSA), a people’s organization duly registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) who at that time were having meeting. They were interviewed by the group before taking the cave tour.

At around 10:28 a.m. the group entered the Sohoton Cave and were amazed by the different rock formations distinctly described by the guides as stalagmites, stalactites, helectites and columns or pillars.

At the end of the Sohoton tour, the group recorded the following observations, to wit; the management should install public calling booth within Sohoton area, improve the vicinity map, revive usual visitor management by briefing them first before entering the cave, and provide trash receptacles in the area, among others.

In Calbiga, on the other hand, the participants of the tour, most of them wore sandals and rubber shoes, said they experienced their most difficult journey of the tour as they hike at least three kilometers to the cave, and while inside the cave, loose soil, sticky and slippery rocks made them feel uneasy to walk.

After an hour of cave explorations, the group got out exhausted. “(Majority of us) experienced difficulty in breathing due to insufficient supply of oxygen wherein one of our classmates was not able to continue and decided to go out for fear that she may collapse inside the cave,” said Forester Crisostomo Badeo, one of the participants who is also a DENR employee.

But nevertheless, “we are mesmerized by the huge doom ever seen by our naked eyes. I think that first chamber has the size that can fit the 5-storey building inside,” one of the participants said in full excitement.

At the end, they arrived at the following observations. The trail leading to the cave needs clearing and maintenance, picnic tables and kiosks at the cave entrance should be installed, graded trail with hand railings and elevated cantilever bridge within the cave is suggested as, according to them, it may serve the tourists better.

In an interview, Dr. Avestruz informed that the tour was a culminating activity of the three subjects and was conducted with a concomitant purpose of yielding salient information about protected area management of the park.

“Apart from unwinding break after a series of lecture-discussion in the four-walled classroom, this activity enabled the students’ erudition to review on how biodiversity resources along with the identified mapped and non-mapped issues were addressed by the SINP as contained in its management manual and thereafter come up with a group report with categorical recommendations,” the director said.

It was learned that the group, through Dr. Avestruz, will submit their observations and recommendations to concerned agencies such as the respective local government units and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, particularly the SINP.

By SARWELL Q. MENIANO & JOEY A. GABIETA

TANAUAN, Leyte - At least 40 junior Hotel and Restaurant Technology students of Eastern Visayas University Tanauan campus will avail the Tourism Apprenticeship Program of the Department of Tourism.

Marie Recarro, tourism operations officer of the Office of Product Research and Development of DOT central office, said that Tourism Secretary Ace Durano approved the request initiated by the students for them to avail the apprenticeship program.

“They are actually the first students outside Metro Manila to avail of this program which will give them exposure and the feel of the real world of tourism,” she said, explaining the reason of the program which was launched last January.

Recarro said that the students will have their apprenticeship starting on August 18-21 which will bring them to major tourism destinations of Cebu as part of a comprehensive experience of the industry through educational visits and training in tourism establishments.

The program is offered to the top 20% graduating students of tourism-related courses from universities and colleges in Metro Manila offering the said courses.

The students will be accommodated at the Marriott Hotel, an international tourism facility that stands in the center of Cebu Business Park.

Among the tourist destinations that will be visited by the students are the Taoist Temple, Mactan Shrine and Lapu-Lapu Monument, Guitar Factory, Mactan Resort, Maribago Blue Water Resort, Plaza Sugubu, Magellan’s Cross, Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño Church, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Plaza Hamabor and Colon St.

But the most important aspect of the apprenticeship, Recarro said, is that they will be given a hands-on training on front office, sales and banquets, food and beverage and housekeeping.

“All travel related expenses such as airfare, accommodation, meals, transfers and tours as well as travel insurance for the participants will be sponsored by the DOT,” Recarro said.

For this three-day apprenticeship of the EVSU students, the DOT has set aside about P1 million, the tourism official said.

Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, meantime, said that she is happy that the EVSU students will avail the program adding that it could help them become more competitive and gain experience.

“We are proud the first group of students outside Manila that availed the apprenticeship program are from Tanauan, Leyte. This will help our students to become more competitive,” Tiopes said.

Among the objectives of the program is to grant exposure trips and let them experience the real world of tourism to deserving and graduating students.

The batch is composed of 40 students plus two faculty member from the school. Two project coordinators from the DOT will also join the group to ensure the smooth implementation of the program.

Students from the Manila-based colleges and universities, namely the Philippine Women’s University, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, Lyceum of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, Arellano University, St. Scholastica’s College, Centro Escolar University, San Beda College, and La Consolacion College have availed of this apprenticeship program of the department.

These students toured the tourism destinations of Davao, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Bacolod and Iloilo.

By Eleonor B. Garcia, RSU Chief, PALD

All (100%) Water Districts in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran/Western Leyte, and Southern Leyte complete formulation of their respective Citizen’s Charter required by the Anti-Red Tape Law. This was learned from Lawyer David E Cabanag, Jr., Regional Director of the Civil Service Commission here.

Atty. Cabanag informed the (media outlet) 100% formulation same Charters in State Universities and Colleges within Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran-Western Leyte. Also 100% of Local Government Units in Northern Samar and Eastern Samar, Director Cabanag added.

He said, however, that publication or posting of said Charters is necessary for ready accessibility to the public. He reported 100% posting by Water District in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte; by State Universities and Colleges in Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar; and 100% by Local Government Units in Northern Samar and Eastern Samar; 92% in Southern Leyte; 76% in Samar; 61% in Leyte and 55% in Biliran-Western Leyte.

Public Assistance & Liaison Division, Chief Eleonor B. Garcia names government agencies which had completed posting of Citizen’s Charters, as follows:

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Eastern Samar

Provincial Government of Eastern Samar, Arteche, Balangiga, Balangkayan, Borongan, Can-avid, Dolores, Giporlos, Guiuan, Hernani, Jipapad, Llorente,Maslog, Maydolong, McArthur, Mercedes, Oras, Quinapondan, Salcedo, San Julian, San Policapo, Sulat, Taft,

Northern Samar

Provincial Gov’t of Northern Samar, Allen, Biri, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Lapinig, Las Navas, Lavezares, Lope de Vega,Mapanas, Mondragon, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, San Isidro, San Antonio, San Jose, San Roque, San Vicente, Silvino Lubos, Victoria

Samar

Calbayog City, Catbalogan City, Calbiga, Daram, Gandara, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Matuguinao, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, San Jorge, San Sebastian, Sta. Margarita, Sto. Nino, Tagapul-an, Tarangnan, Villareal, Zumarraga

Leyte

Provincial Gov’t of Leyte, Abuyog, Alangalang, Barugo, Basey, Calubian, Dagami, Dulag, Julita, Macarthur, Marabut, Palo, Pastrana, San Miguel, Sta Fe, Tacloban City, Tanauan, Tolosa, Tunga

Southern Leyte

Anahawan, Bato, Bontoc, Hilongos, Hindang, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Inopacan, Libagon, Liloan, Limasawa, Macrohon, Malitbog, Matalom, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Francisco, San Juan, San Ricardo, Silago, Sogod, St. Bernard, Tomas Oppus

Biliran/West Leyte

Albuera, Almeria, Baybay City, Culaba, Kananga, Matag-ob, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Tabango

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES/REGIONAL OFFICES

Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Jail and Management, Bureau of Fisheries And Aquatic Resources, Cooperative Development Authority, COMELEC, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Labor and Employment, DPWH RO8, DPWH 1st Led, Department of Trade and Industry, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, National Food Authority, National Maritime Polytechnic, National Statistics Office, Philippine National Police, Parole and Probation Administration, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Postal Corporation, TESDA Provincial Office, DENR – Eastern Samar, DPWH ESamar, National Food Authority – ESamar, Balicuatro Colleges of Arts and Trade-TESDA, NFA, Northern Samar, DTI-Samar, NFA-Samar, DILG, Samar, DepEd-Samar Div, DepEd-Maasin City Division, DepEd-So. Leyte Division, DepEd-CRMNHS, DepEd – Leyte National High School, DepEd-Ormoc City, DepEd-Baybay, DepEd-Biliran, NFA-Biliran

GOVERNMENT OWNED AND/OR CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS

Water District of Borongan, Catarman , San Isidro, San Jose, Catbalogan, Jaro, Sogod, Maasin, Metro Hilongos, Naval, Baybay, Isabel

STATE, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

Easter Samar State University, UEP Main Campus, Catubig Campus, Laoang

Campus, EVSU Ormoc, Tanauan, Carigara Campus, Leyte Normal University, PIT Main Campus and Tabango Campus, VSU – Main Campus, SLSU Bontoc Campus and San Juan Campus.

By Eileen N. Ballesteros

An old joke states, “One has to face his problem, unless his problem is his face.” Idealists reply, “Even so, there is still a solution to that problem.” Therefore, the lesson is that in any difficulty encountered, there is a corresponding way out and that worrying will not ease the problem, although on the other hand could at times lead to a possible solution.

In a baking class at the Eastern Visayas State University one day, two students hurriedly went to their class on hope of finishing their products before lunch and proceed with their other recipes for the day only to be a bit downhearted to find out that they could not work on their sponge cakes because of power interruption. Two hours past lunch, these two trainees decided to work on their sponge cakes on the next day although as their instructor suggested, they have already prepared all the ingredients and utensils.

Before they spoke a word about their plan to the instructor, the latter told the younger student to be ready with her eggwhites and mixing bowl. The two students got puzzled with the instructor’s cue as it was still brownout that time and it would be impossible to make eggwhites stiff without using electric mixer. But confident of their instructor’s capability, both of them submitted to the trainer’s advice. With her own whisk, the cooking trainer started beating the eggwhites and turned it over to the younger student to continue whipping until the eggwhites turned foamy then stiff.

Stunned yet awestruck, these two trainees yelled in cheer for in spite of the power interruption, thus they were not able to use an electric beater, they were able to produce stiff eggwhite, of course with the aid of their trainor. The success of their effort did not only teach them how to bake Basic Sponge Cake and Mango Cake but saved them the worry of finishing their crash course in baking on time. Further it taught them a very important thing: there is no drawback which could not be worked out if only one will use his talents, skills and abilities in finding the solution to it.

Another incident, also in the same cooking class but on a different day, made these two trainees prove that indeed there is a way for one who wants to get through a task regardless of the hitch. Here the older trainee failed to complete the ingredients needed for her Choco Custard Cake. Instead of providing a brownie fudge mix in powder form, she mistakenly brought to her class a bottle of liquid Choco Fudge which is not meant for baking but only as a frosting or filling. With her vast experience that matures into wisdom, the trainor tried her best to make a substitute for the missing powdered brownie fudge mix using the dry ingredients available. Finally, the cake was baked. Although it did not look and taste perfectly the way it should, the cake turned out to be a best-seller when this trainee brought her Choco Custard Cake to her office for free taste to her officemates, who ordered from her the same kind of cake for their upcoming affair.

Words of gratitude do not suffice to express how thankful they are to their trainor and how they admire her. She had taught them things beyond their expectation from a baking class. The trainor: Prof. Nazarena Nacario-Aguirre of the Hotel and Restaurant Management Department of EVSU. She was an angel who showed a way out of trouble to these two trainees, besides being like their mother while in class. She taught them a simple yet very important fact of life: its thinking of a remedy not overly worrying that will solve a problem. She is really marvelous.

By Jose Rodriguez T. Señase

TACLOBAN CITY- Seventeen-year old Rachelle Erica Chua- Pineda, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation president of Tacloban City, was crowned Miss Tacloban 2009 at the Tacloban City Astrodome, Saturday.

Pineda bested 11 other lovely ladies from this city to win the coveted plum.

For winning the title, Pineda received a cash prize of P50, 000 plus other special prizes from the organizers

The other winners were Rosjane Tiunayan, who was first runner-up; Shierra Israel, 2nd runner-up; Noeime Claire Lee, 3rd runner-up; and Santañina Dagami, 4th runner-up.

The newly-crowned Miss Tacloban, who is also the daughter of Councilor Eden Chua-Pineda, the president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) of Tacloban City, also bagged six special awards.

Pineda copped the Best in Talent award for her flawless rendition of the song “Careless Whisper” using a saxophone. Aside from that, she also won the Miss Coke Zero, Best in Evening Gown, Globe Texters Choice, Darling of the Press, and Leila’s Collection special awards.

City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, assisted by City Councilor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez and Miss Tacloban 2008 Sushiela Kumar, crowned the new beauty queen

In addition to bagging the Miss Photogenic award, Tiunayan, who is a Nursing graduate of the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation (RTRMF), also won the Miss Duptours award.

As runner-ups, Tiunayan received P30, 000; Israel P20, 000; Lee P10,000 and Dagami P5,000.

Lee was selected among the candidates as the most friendly as she bagged the Miss Congeniality award. Also, she won the Miss Royale Beauty award.

Israel went on to win the Miss New Placenta and the Miss Natasha Beauty special awards.

Dagami, who is a student at the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), won three special awards, namely: Jimms Choice award, Best in Swimwear, and Miss Digital Gleen.

Renowned cosmetologist Dr. Richard David served as the chairman of the board of judges, which also included actor Jestoni Alarcon and Evangeline Pascual, the 1st runner-up of the Miss World 1973 beauty pageant.

Actor Gabby Concepcion serenaded the top five finalists who were on their evening gowns.

Among the sponsors of the Search for Miss Tacloban 2009, which was held as part of the Sangyaw Festival celebration, are the City Government of Tacloban, Leyte Samar Daily Express, Cristina’s Saloon and Spa, Globe, Rafael’s Farm, New Placenta, Gleen Marketing, Nenas Trading, Coca Cola, Natasha, Duptours, Jimms Coffee, Robinsons, Postal Bank, San Miguel, Dana Souvenir and Flower Shop, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Rotary Club of Kandaya.

By Joey Gabieta

TACLOBAN CITY – This year’s graduates remain optimistic that despite of the crisis engulfing the country and the rest of the world, jobs still await for them.

Take the case of Christopher Rojas, 22 and Zyrah Cadagong, 20, who both graduated yesterday at the Eastern Visayas State University.

The two new graduates said that they are still confident that they could still find employment despite of the economic crisis and eventually help their respective families.

“I know I can still find a job. I have to look for one,” says Rojas, who finished a degree on engineering.

He, however, said that he would take a “rest” to ready him for the board examination. But eventually, he would look around to find a decent employment, Rojas stressed.

For her part, Cadagong, who finished food and technology course, said that she really have to find work to help her parents send her two younger siblings finished their studies.

“This is my motivation why I want to have job- would like to help my parents and my two younger siblings,” the La Paz town native said.

The two were among the more than 1,200 graduates of the EVSU that would be competing with millions of people in the country who have yet to land a job amid the financial crisis engulfing the country and the rest of the world.

In the region, estimates of graduates on a yearly basis reaches as high as 10,000 with about less than five percent landing employment.

Senator Manny Villar, who was the commencement speaker, urged the graduates “never to lose hope.”

“The 2009 graduates are the most challenging and unforgettable batch considering that we are facing a serious global financial crisis. But my dear graduates, never lose hope and don’t get discouraged,” Villar said before the graduates.

The crisis may just turn out to be a big opportunity for them.

The former Senate president encouraged the graduates to take the lead in what he called as “entrepreneurial revolution” wherein they would engage in small business which they can enrich.

“We have been into various revolutions. But at this time of economic difficulties, we need a new and different revolution which is the entrepreneurial revolution which can radically change your future and even that of the country,” Villar said.

In his short talks with the graduates, Villar narrated his “humble beginning” which he used as his inspiration to rise above poverty.

Villar, who entered politics in 1992, is considered to be among the country’s richest men who made his billions on real estate development.