Atalaya Publication

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝙀𝙙𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙙𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙤'𝙨 𝙎𝙞𝙭 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙁𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙄𝙉𝙎𝙀𝙏 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝟯
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The In-Service Training (INSET) continued on June 3 at the HTM Conference Hall, with activities designed to strengthen critical thinking and decision-making.
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‎Ms. Jhonamie Ponce led the morning session on Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats, covering the first five hats. Instructors from different departments shared insights and responses to guide questions for each hat.
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‎The activity encouraged participants to examine situations from multiple perspectives, promoting collaboration, reflection, and effective problem-solving.
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‎Correspondent: Eriqa Conie Lazarte | ZonE-23
‎Photojournalist: Charish Anne Belarmino

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝙄𝙉𝙎𝙀𝙏 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝟮 𝙏𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙞-𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙘𝙩, 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙨 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙅𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩
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‎The afternoon session of Day 2 of Cebu Eastern College's In-Service Training (INSET) was held on June 2, 2026, at the HTM Conference Hall.
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‎Ms. Chalo Maturan led the session, discussing Republic Act No. 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. She emphasized that addressing bullying requires looking beyond the behavior to understand its root causes, while still maintaining accountability.
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‎As the session concluded, she reminded participants to treat others the way they want to be treated, adding that a culture of empathy is the strongest defense against bullying.
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‎Correspondent: Galgo, Jhea Mae | ZonE-23
‎Photojournalist: Celine Gaudicos

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝘿𝙧. 𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙨 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡'𝙨 𝘿𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙄𝙉𝙎𝙀𝙏 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝟮
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‎Cebu Eastern College (CEC) continued its In-Service Training (INSET) on June 2, 2026, at the HTM Conference Hall, with the Child Protection Law as the central focus.
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‎Leading the session, Dr. Mae F. Palapar emphasized the school's responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment for students.
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‎Before the session closed, a teacher shared personal insights and reminded colleagues of four guiding actions: Stop, Teach, Observe, and Protect.
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‎Correspondent: Galgo, Jhea Mae | ZonE-23
‎Photojournalist: Prince Jade Rodrigo

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝘾𝙀𝘾 𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙄𝙉𝙎𝙀𝙏 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳
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‎Cebu Eastern College (CEC) kicked off its week-long In-Service Education Training (INSET) on June 1, 2026, at the HTM Conference Hall.
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‎Faculty members from the Basic Education Department to the College level attended the event, which opened with a welcome for new teachers and introductions of the school administration and departmental faculty.
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‎On Day 1, HR Coordinator Dr. Darlene Tan-Rivera presented the Faculty Manual, covering school rules, daily procedures, and handling student needs. The training aims to strengthen collaboration and ensure full readiness for the coming academic year 2026-2027.
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‎Correspondent: Roan Dave Yelo | ZonE-23
‎Photojournalist: Jegemay Capin

𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀. 🏳️‍🌈
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‎Most days, the world asks people to be smaller. To mute the glitter, to hide the flag, to walk a little straighter through rooms that weren't built for certain kinds of joy. And most days, many oblige, not out of cowardice, but out of calculation. Living authentically in a world that still debates the right to exist is exhausting. Rainbows, for all their beauty, don't appear without a storm first.
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‎But then June comes.
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‎And suddenly, the same streets that once felt like a gauntlet become a river of sequins and signs. The same silence so many learned to carry breaks open into laughter, into chants, into the unmistakable sound of people who have finally stopped apologizing for their own existence. This month, no one asks permission to be loud. Pride borrows the sun's audacity and shines anyway.
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‎So yes, life isn't all sunshines and rainbows. The other eleven months will ask for resilience again. But this month, the rainbow gets worn like a promise. Sunshine pours into every crack the world tried to seal. Hands hold in places where people once walked alone. And for a few precious weeks, joy announces itself as anything but frivolous, the most radical act there is.
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‎Happy Pride. Every color has been earned.
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‎Words by Federico Napiñas
‎Pubmat by Angelyka Brañanola

𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

Please be informed that 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 for Academic Year 2026–2027 whose 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 in the previous weeks' 𝗜𝗗 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 are advised to 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 starting 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, for their ID capturing.

For further updates and announcements, please visit the official Atalaya Publication page.

𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
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‎This is to inform all students who were 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 on their designated program-specific enrollment dates that enrollment for all courses will resume next week, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆.
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‎𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲:
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‎𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆
‎• 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
‎• 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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‎𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆
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‎• 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
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‎Please make the necessary arrangements to complete your enrollment during this period.
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‎For exclusive updates, please visit official Atalaya Publication page

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢
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‎Nursery, Kinder, and Grade 1 learners demonstrated their skills and growth during the Summer Class Culminating Program held on May 29, 2026, at the HTM Conference Room.
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‎The event featured dance numbers, songs, poem recitations, and nursery rhymes, highlighting the students’ creativity and confidence. Certificates were awarded to recognize their participation and dedication throughout the summer class.
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‎Correspondent: Aricia Yana | ZonE-23
‎Photojournalist: Jegemay Capin

𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

Please be informed that the listed enrolled students for Academic Year 2026–2027 are required to follow their assigned schedule for ID capturing on May 𝟯𝟬, 2026. The office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon) only, following its half-day operation every Saturday.

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: Students whose names are not included in the list are currently on the waiting list and are advised to wait for the next scheduled batch for ID capturing.

For further updates and announcements, please visit the official Atalaya Publication page.

𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬 | 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙨 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚
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‎They say patience is a virtue. That the right time will always come—that it will all be worth it. But how long does it take? What's the difference between waiting and being caged? Does staying guarantee being chosen someday? Does it?
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‎Five years ago, I met Clerk.
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‎A gentle one—hoodie, glasses, and bicycle, to be exact.
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‎He is the closest I have ever been to a guy.
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‎He is normal.
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‎Or so he calls himself.
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‎We met through a friend's rendezvous.
‎He raised his hand with a subtle "Hi," then followed it with a Japanese introduction of himself.
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‎If I had only known what would happen after that, I wouldn't have reached out to shake his hand.
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‎But I did.
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‎We became friends.
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‎And soon enough—much more. But still less than the kind of more that I had longed for.
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‎Five years of him calling himself "normal," and five years of me staying because he meant comfort.
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‎Afraid to look at anyone else but him.
‎Unable to hold hands with anyone.
‎Closing doors to those who wanted to come in.
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‎All because I had always kept my heart reserved for him.
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‎Believing that when what they called "soon" and the "right time" finally came, he'd knock.
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‎In those five years, Clerk had always acted like more than what a "normal" friend and a "less-than-this" relationship should.
‎He didn't like it when I got close to other guys. It made him angry.
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‎He stayed longer than necessary, slept over, and made dinners with me a regular thing.
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‎He always asked about the guys who talked to me—their intentions, how I saw them—making me explain myself before telling me to avoid them.
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‎Clerk acted off-script, doing things that distinguished him from what he claimed to be.
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‎But still, I stayed.
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‎Because of the belief that someday would come.
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‎That someday he would realize that I was more to him.
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‎And that I deserved more from him too.
‎Until the idea of the "right time" slowly left me rotten.
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‎I was not afraid—he made me afraid.
‎I wasn't unable—he blocked my hands.
‎I wasn't closing the door for him, but because of him.
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‎So that he could remain normal.
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‎So that he could be with whoever wanted him, while I couldn't.
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‎He could hold someone else's hand, but not mine—which remained chained to his.
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‎All because of the reserved heart I had for him.
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‎I was forbidden.
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‎I was kept.
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‎I was archived.
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‎Everything that no one deserves to be. Tonight was the same as the usual nights we shared: mobile games after dinner, scrolling through our phones until we fell asleep, and lying crumpled on my fading-colored couch—looking at each other more than what an "only this" should.

‎Though it was a cynical night, I decided to make it different.
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‎Out of nowhere, I gathered every bit of strength I had to tell him something I should have said much sooner.
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‎"Clerk..." I called hesitantly.
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‎"Naa koy nakaila. Seryoso siya, and he wants to get to know me..."
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‎I finally let it out.
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‎For a moment, I wondered why he didn't react the way he usually did.
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‎He didn't ask the same questions that always led to pleas, advice, and arguments.
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‎He simply said,
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‎"Maayo hinoon..." without making eye contact.
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Later that night, he spoke less. He ended conversations by saying he was busy.
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‎He was upset.
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‎Again.
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‎A week later, I had formed a genuine relationship and exchanged healthy conversations with the guy I had met.
‎Meanwhile, Clerk and I slowly felt the distance growing.
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‎We stopped eating at the same table.
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‎We stopped sharing earphones while falling asleep.
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‎I stopped back-riding on his bicycle.
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‎And I stopped wondering what Clerk thought whenever he saw me with the guy I had met.
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‎One evening, he came by our house and knocked—not his usual way of entering.
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‎When I opened the door, I saw him holding a cup of popcorn and two milk teas, breathing heavily.
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‎Unlike before, he waited for me to invite him inside.
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‎I hesitated.
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‎Still, I told him to come in.
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‎"Mag-movie marathon ta..." he said enthusiastically.
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‎He said it as though he hadn't avoided me for an entire week.
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‎"Clerk... ayaw lang sa ron," I replied flatly.
‎Then came another knock.
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‎I knew what would happen once he heard it.
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‎I told Clerk that I already had plans.
‎That the guy I met wanted to take me out to dinner.
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‎And I expected how he would react.
‎"Ngano man?!" he asked, his voice rising.
‎For the last time, I didn't know how to feel about him.
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‎I only knew he had gone too far.
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‎"Unya human ninyog kaon, unsa dayon?" Clerk questioned again, as if he had every right to.
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‎"Unsay labot nimo? Nganong kinahanglan makabalo ka sa tanan?" I shot back.
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‎Clerk dropped the milk teas onto the floor.
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‎I didn't know whether they fell by accident or on purpose.
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‎All I knew was that it made me even angrier.
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‎"Nganong ikaw pwede ka magka-girlfriend, nya ako dili? Unsa ni nga klase sa friendship?"
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‎I spoke in a flat voice.

Clerk quickly grabbed my hand.
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‎He pressed it against his chest.
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‎"Please, stay. Diri lang ka. Ayaw i-risk kung unsa ang naa nato para lang sa laing laki..." he pleaded.
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Again.
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‎He said it in a way that made me feel like I was finally getting the thing I had longed for all these years.
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‎Yet somehow, it also made me realize that I wasn't sure if I still wanted it.
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‎Not now.
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‎I freed my wrist from his grasp and walked toward the door.
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‎"Dili ko makauli ron. Ug dili ko gusto nga igbalik nako naa pa ka diri sa amoa."
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‎As I reached for the doorknob, I saw the way Clerk looked at me that night.
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‎As though he was daring me to choose someone else over him.
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‎Leaving him was one of the hardest things I had ever done.
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‎But sometimes, the hardest decisions are also the most necessary.
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‎A year later, I had not heard from Clerk anymore.
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‎I developed a healthy relationship with the guy I met.
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‎He hears me.
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‎He sees me.
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‎He values me.
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‎And most importantly, he feels the same way I do.
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‎It was peaceful.
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‎It was safe.
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‎One night, during a gathering with friends, Clerk and I saw each other again.
‎He approached me and asked if we could talk.
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‎Not the usual him, who simply said whatever came to mind.
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‎We talked about how we'd been.
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‎He didn't ask about my boyfriend, and I didn't bring him up.
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‎Talking to him felt like talking to a stranger.
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‎"Nag-therapy baya ko..."
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‎Out of nowhere, he shared something I had long wanted to hear.
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‎"Sa therapy nako nahibaw-an nga naa gyud diay koy feelings para nimo."
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‎He paused.
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‎"I love you. And I still do."
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‎"Pero Clerk, dili na man pwede."
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‎I spoke my truth with all the courage I had.
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‎"I know. Pero dili man na mao ang rason nganong gisulti ko ni karon. Di lang ko ganahan nga mahimong tawo nga wala gyud nakasulti sa tinuod."
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‎Tears formed in my eyes.
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‎My hands trembled.
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‎My mind replayed every moment I had imagined this would happen.
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‎"Pero kabalo ka, therapy has also taught me nga dili diay kinahanglan panag-iyahan nimo ang imong gihigugma."
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‎His lips trembled.
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‎Tears fell despite his efforts to stop them.
‎I felt an overwhelming emotion that I couldn't put into words.
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‎It was bursting.
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‎It was instinctive.
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‎It was real.
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‎I couldn't stop my tears from falling.
‎"...Sometimes diay, love can take the form of letting go for the happiness of the person you love."
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‎In the middle of his breakdown, and in my most vulnerable state, I saw a part of him he had hidden for years.
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‎The part that finally recognized his own emotions.
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‎He sounded mature.
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‎Not long after, my boyfriend arrived and called for me.
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‎I would've stayed, but I no longer had a reason to.
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‎I simply thanked Clerk for everything he had taught me.
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‎But before I could even wave goodbye, he spoke.
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‎"Bagay kay mo."
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‎He smiled.
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‎"Salamat kay wa ko nimo gihuwat. I would've ruined what you have with him now."
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‎He nodded, as if finally giving me permission to leave.
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‎Finally, I had the words I had longed for.
‎Finally, I had the answers to the questions and doubts that haunted me for five years.
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‎We may not have had the best ending, but even the worst experiences become part of who we are.
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‎What matters now is where I stand and who I stand beside.
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‎The moment I walked through that door, Clerk became part of my past — a history that escalates through an ephemeral weave of my journey.
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‎Because my present is here now.
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‎And for the first time, I choose to face it.
‎And hope that, at last, it becomes the best.
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‎𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: If you’d like to submit your literary pieces, feel free to send them to the official Atalaya Publication page or email us at [email protected].
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‎Written by Jerry Mei Pedros
‎Pubmat by Angelyka Brañanola