SBE Gazette

Today is the return of the Artemis II, the astronauts who have been the farthest any human has been from Earth. And among the four astronauts is Christina Koch, one of the mission specialists and the only woman on the team. Her expedition beyond the moon and back marks a historic expansion of the boundaries we once thought too difficult, and she is no stranger to breaking barriers. She has also set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, spending 328 consecutive days in space, and she participated in the first all-female spacewalk as well.
Her journey beyond the atmosphere is a physical manifestation of a bridge built over decades, a bridge constructed by women who refused to accept limitations and instead charted a course for those who would follow. This is a victory of the human spirit, a proof to the fact that women have always possessed the capacity to push the limits of what is possible, given only the space to breathe. Each step Christina Koch takes upon her return is a footprint laid for every girl watching from below, a silent promise that the path is becoming more accessible, more worn, and more welcoming with every passing orbit.
Yet, as we look up at the stars in awe of how far we can go, we are also reminded of how far we still are from where we want to be. There is a painful disconnect in a world where a woman can navigate beyond Low Earth orbit while, on the same planet, a girl is barred from a classroom. This gap is evidence of a struggle unfinished, a reminder that while some have broken the atmosphere, others are still being crushed by the weight of the patriarchy.
True liberation, then, is not found in the singular achievement of the few, but in the relentless victories of many. The distance we have gone is only half the journey; the rest lies in dismantling the systems that commodify our labor and police our bodies. The systems that decide which girls deserve to learn and which must remain in the shadows. The victory of women like Christina Koch is a light, but it cannot be the only one. We must continue to fight because freedom is not a tiered privilege or a limited resource to be rationed. It is a collective atmosphere that we must all breathe together.
The movement toward liberation must remain unyielding, fueled by the understanding that the seat in a cockpit is hollow if there is still a cage in a home. We march forward with our eyes on the heavens but our hands firmly clasped with those still grounded by oppression. We must continue the struggle with hope in our hearts, knowing that no one is truly free until the path to the greatest heights is open to us all.
As we look to the night sky, we remember that the stars do not belong to the few who can reach them, but to the many who have the right to dream beyond them.

Literary | space girl
Visual | Shanley Blanco

The stars have aligned as the constellations of ORION, CYGNUS and HYDRA came together one more time for the closing of SBE Days 2026. One last bout of dance and twinkle to see who shines the brightest



Caption | Ed

𝗨𝗦𝗖 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗻 '𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴' 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗦𝗖 𝗦𝗦𝗖'𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲

As the University of San Carlos faces a proposed 6.7% tuition adjustment for the 2026-2027 academic year, a senior Economics student has formally challenged the student council’s position paper, labeling their arguments as "misleading" and "grounded in selective reality."

In a manifestation letter dated March 3, 2026, Ken Isaac Boltiador, a BS Economics 4 student, addressed the USC SBE Student Council regarding their recently endorsed position paper. While Boltiador expressed sympathy for the council’s pro-student intentions, he warned that their current macroeconomic arguments could undermine the credibility of the position paper.

The core of the dispute lies in the council’s use of national inflation data. In their position paper, it is noted that Philippine headline inflation was at approximately 2% in early 2026. They argued that a 6.7% tuition hike is unjustified because it exceeds the general cost-of-living growth by more than three times. However, Boltiador pointed out a logical fallacy in comparing monthly headline inflation, which measures a broad basket of goods like food and transport, directly to a specific service like education.

"Your position paper not only misrepresents presented data, but also misleads students into drawing conclusions that do not follow or lead to a logical causal relationship," Boltiador stated in the letter. He argued that citing a single month's 2% inflation rate to block a yearly tuition adjustment ignores the rising cost of education cited by the administration, which often includes faculty salary increases and facility upgrades.

Boltiador’s critique comes at a sensitive time for the Carolinian community. Earlier this year, in late January 2026, various student groups staged the First Day Rage protests at the Talamban Campus to denounce the impending Tuition and Other Fee Increase (TOFI). The administration has justified the hike as necessary to comply with mandated salary increases for teachers and staff.

"Capital accumulation for improvement is necessary, but must be balanced with the best interests of the students," Boltiador wrote. He emphasized that while education is a fundamental human right, quality education "always comes with a price."

The USC SBE Student Council has responded to the paper submitted by Boltiador and has officially acknowledged it. Furthermore, the SBE SC has forwarded the position paper to the Conglomeration of Student Organizations (CSO) for review and action.

Smashes were powerful, rallies were dramatic, and the cheers were louder than ever. USC Days reminded us that sometimes the best memories are made between classes, around a table, and in the middle of a perfectly timed shot. 🏓✨


Photos | Sam

Feeling the rhythm of home

Himig Pinoy brings the music, the stories, and the heart of Filipino culture to life — one note at a time. Let the melodies take you on a journey you won’t forget. ✨💛❤️

Net results only 🏐😏

Men’s volleyball bringing the heat — high jumps, harder spikes, and zero chill at the net. If it’s coming over, it’s coming back faster. 🔥💪

Serve strong, block louder.

Photos | Leigh & Kristel

SBE vs SBE 🏀

When you compete against your own blockmates, and suddenly it’s “groupmates today, rivals tonight.” Same school, same colors, but no mercy on the court 💛💙

Bragging rights > friendship (just for today). 😆🔥

Photos | Sam Ceniza & Kristel

Game face on 🎾🔥

Our women’s tennis team steps onto the court with strength, precision, and confidence. Every serve sharp, every rally fierce, every point deserved! Play with heart and finish strong! 💪

Photos | Kristel

SBE vs SOE on the lawn tennis court 🎾🔥

Focus locked in, rallies strong, and every point earned. Ready to serve, swing, and represent with pride. 💛💙

Photos | Kristel

Let’s go, SBE! 💪

Women of SBE are hitting the court with focus, teamwork, and heart. Every serve, every set, every spike we give it our all. 💛

Let’s go, SBE! 💪

Photos | Kaila Beyer

We sorted, measured, and analyzed the waste collected this week, and the results were eye-opening. A strong reminder that small changes in our daily habits can make a big impact on sustainability. 🌏✨

Photos | Kaila Beyer