The Truss

𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 | 𝗖𝗢𝗖 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘 - 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗖 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀

The filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the PICE-BUSC Election 2026 officially starts today, April 20 until May 1, 2026, marking the formal commencement of the organization’s electoral process.

Eligible members are encouraged to submit their candidacies and signify their intent to serve, within the designated period, as the student chapter prepares for the selection of its next set of student leaders for the incoming academic year.

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Editor-in-Chief

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟲 | 𝗖𝗘𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱

"𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙡"

Sleepless nights with fingers stiff from gluing corn grains. Scorched days beneath a merciless sun, gathering agoho fruits in silence. Frustrations flared, jokes cracked through the tension, and still—we built our giant parol.

Our hope blazed brighter than its fragile lights. When we lost, the night felt heavier than the dark itself.

Yet nothing actually was in vain. In the ashes of defeat, laughter endured, bonds deepened, and a memory—raw and unrepeatable—remained glowing within us.

- 𝘚𝘉, 𝘉𝘚𝘊𝘌-4𝘋

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟱 | 𝗖𝗘𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱

"𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 + 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨"

This photo was taken after 1st semester finals.

The pouring rain soaked my pants while riding the tricycle, my umbrella was malfunctioning, and I had papers in my bag that I couldn't afford to get wet.

Everything felt irritating. It felt like a poke would make me explode.

But I wished to explode.

And then the clouds exploded. The rain felt heavier.

Yet, I stayed near the guard house under the roof and waited for the rain to be gentler.

Ayoko na talaga.

Yet, I walked fast to attend class on time.

And after class, I walked with my friends. Deep within my thoughts, I didn't notice the rainbow, but they pointed it out.

It was beautiful. My phone couldn't capture what I saw that day. The clouds were still dark, but the rainbow was shining.

It washed all my thoughts that day.

I thank my friends for helping me see the beauty within those heavy days.

- 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘹𝘣𝘰𝘮𝘣, 𝘉𝘚𝘊𝘌-1𝘋

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟰 | 𝗖𝗘𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱

"𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨"

Some lights still blink and live,
but somewhere,
something’s gone quiet...
We don’t feel them anymore,
and that absence hurts more each year.
If we grieve how beautiful things were once, how can we not let it be that once more?
Maybe it just waits for us to come back...

- 𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘕𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘉𝘚𝘊𝘌-4𝘈

𝗕𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝟱𝟮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺

Bicol University celebrates its newest batch of civil engineers as it produced 52 new registered civil engineers in the March 2026 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination (CELE).

With an overall passing rate of 38.81% (out of 134 takers), the institution exceeded the national passing rate of 35.05%.
The first takers delivered a remarkable 46.67% passing rate (49 out of 105), while retakers showcased resilience at 10.34% (3 out of 29).

Congratulations to our newly licensed BUeño civil engineers!

Visit the link to view the full results:
https://www.prcboard.com/list-of-passers

caption by 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝘁𝗲
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𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜 | 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗮: 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲


​The Bicol University College of Engineering community gathered to showcase wit, talent, and camaraderie for Nexus Arcana: Engineering Week 2026 on March 23-28, 2026. The event concluded with the Civil Engineering (CE) department—The Emperor—being hailed as the champion. With a grand total of 2,629 points, the CE department achieved their 13th championship title.

The Emperor team displayed strength in physical events by having a significant score of 1,600 points in the sports category. Their balanced effort across multiple events resulted in an impressive medal haul of 24 Gold, 11 Silver, and 12 Bronze medals.

​While the top spot was secured, the race for the remaining positions was a testament to the rising competitiveness within the college. The Geodetic Engineering (GE) department earned the 1st Runner Up title with 1,781 points. They brought home 8 Gold, 17 Silver, and 9 Bronze medals, reflecting a depth of talent across various categories.

​Following closely with an eight-point gap, the Mining Engineering (EM) claimed the 2nd Runner Up position with 1,778 points. They stood out in the Special Awards, leading the entire college with a top score of 100 points. They received awards such as the “Best Delegation’” and “Most Active and Participative" department awards.

​The intellectual and technical prowess of the college was also on full display. Electrical Engineering (EE) secured the 3rd Runner Up position with 1,448 points, notably being the 1st place in the Academic category with 200 points. “The Sun" reaffirmed their reputation for technical excellence, proving to be the one of the premier thinkers in the scholarly challenges.

​In the final standings, Mechanical Engineering (ME) earned the 4th Runner Up title in the overall ranking with 1,228 points, showing immense grit and perseverance throughout the week. Despite facing significant point deductions, the ME department remained a fierce competitor in the sport events category.

The 5th Runner Up title was claimed by the Chemical Engineering (ChE) department with 1,088 points, maintaining a steady and balanced presence in both the Mini-Games and Special Awards categories. Their team, "The Magician” was awarded as the most disciplined department.

As the Nexus Arcana comes to an end, the Civil Engineering department celebrates its historic win, while the entire college looks forward to a new year of innovation, camaraderie, and healthy competition.

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𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | 𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀

Civil Engineering players Mark Renz O. Gomez and Juliane Sam H. Balbuena secured their spot in the semifinals of the Badminton Doubles event after a strong performance on the court. The duo outplayed their opponents with skillful rallies and well-coordinated teamwork, earning a well-deserved victory in the semifinals round.

Their consistent plays and strategic ex*****on proved crucial in advancing further into the competition, showcasing the strength and determination of the CE team.

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𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The Civil Engineering (CE) Department delivered strong performances in both the men’s and women’s divisions of the Engineering Week Volleyball Tournament held on March 25, 2026, at the BUCENG Gymnasium.

A power interruption occurred at around 5:30 p.m., causing a temporary delay in the scheduled games. Matches resumed shortly after power was restored and proceeded as planned.

In the men’s division, CE recorded consecutive victories in the elimination round, defeating Electrical Engineering (EE), 30–22, and Mechanical Engineering (ME), 30–27. Advancing to the championship round, CE faced EE once again and secured the win to claim the gold medal.

In the women’s division, CE opened with a narrow victory against Mining Engineering, 35–33, but fell to Electrical Engineering (EE) in the succeeding match, 30–24. The team advanced to the championship round and finished as runners-up, with EM securing the gold medal.

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Junior Feature Writer

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | 𝗡𝗔𝗘𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗨𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗲

The scrabble tournament concluded its semifinal and final rounds this afternoon of March 25, 2026 at CE Building Room 103, bringing together representatives from various engineering programs in a test of vocabulary, strategy, and composure.

The men’s semifinals opened with Mechanical Engineering (ME) securing a commanding win over Civil Engineering (CE) with 329–198, in a match marked by an unfortunate streak of consonant-heavy draws for Miranda. In the other bracket, Mining Engineering (EM) advanced to the finals after defeating Chemical Engineering (ChE) with 344–285, showcasing consistency and control as they continued their strong run as a multi-year undefeated contender.

In the women’s division, Geodetic Engineering (GE) triumphed over Mining Engineering (EM) with a score of 291–236, while Civil Engineering’s Sotto edged out Chemical Engineering (ChE) through 252–238 points, in a tightly contested matchup to secure a place in the finals.

The finals delivered equally intense battles. In the men’s division, Mechanical Engineering (ME) emerged as champions with 365 points, followed closely by Mining Engineering (EM) with 355 points, while Miranda secured bronze for Civil Engineering with 332 points. Chemical Engineering (ChE) capped the bracket with 287 points.

Meanwhile, in the women’s division, Sotto led Civil Engineering (CE) to the championship title, with Geodetic Engineering (GE) taking silver, and Mining Engineering (EM) securing bronze with 291 points. Chemical Engineering (ChE) also posted a strong 279-point finish in the battle for third.

Despite the absence of game officials, players upheld the integrity of the competition through a self-managed gentleman’s game, guided by mutual trust and discipline. Being more than a battle of words, the tournament became a testament to unity and sportsmanship across departments.

Even amidst the challenge, the players proved that true sportsmanship goes beyond rules. In a game built on letters, they formed something far greater—a shared respect that no scoreboard can measure and no final tally can define.

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𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | 𝗖𝗘'𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗔𝗘𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀

Civil Engineering (CE) representative Sheena M. Millena took home the silver medal in the Women’s Table Tennis Singles at Nexus Arcana: The Engineering Week 2026 (NAEW 2026) yesterday, March 25, at BU Gymnasium.

Facing off against the Mining Engineering (EM) delegate in the championship round, Millena put up a tough fight but ultimately fell in straight sets. The EM contender claimed the best-of-five series, ending the match with scores of 7-11, 5-11, and 2-11.

Despite the finals loss, Millena's impressive run and podium finish successfully contributed 50 points to the CE department's overall championship standings.

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𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | 𝗖𝗘'𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗴 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝟱-𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿

The Civil Engineering (CE) Women's Table Tennis Doubles team of Juliene Rose N. Balasta and Clarissa Jane B. Mantes captured the silver medal at the Nexus Arcana: The Engineering Week 2026 (NAEW 2026) today, March 25.

The CE duo engaged in a grueling five-set championship battle against the Electrical Engineering (EE) delegates. After trading victories in the first four sets, Balasta and Mantes narrowly missed the gold in a tense deciding set, concluding the match with scores of 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 3-11, and 10-12.

The pair's hard-fought podium finish added a valuable 50 points to the CE department's total tally for the overall championship.

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𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | 𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗔𝗘𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀

Rey B. Alvarez III of the Civil Engineering (CE) department has secured the gold medal in the Men’s Table Tennis Singles at Nexus Arcana: The Engineering Week 2026.

Yesterday, March 25, 2026, Alvarez completed his undefeated journey after dominating his final match against the delegate from Electrical Engineering (EE). He took three consecutive sets of the five-set match, scoring 11-3, 11-1, and 11-3.

Alvarez’s gold-medal win earned the CE department 70 points toward the overall championship race.

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