The CEFIzen Gazette

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | CEFIzens Compete in VOYAGE 2026 ASEAN Competition

Delegates from Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc. (CEFI) are representing the institution in VOYAGE 2026 (VOices of Young ASEAN Global Engagement): The CHED CALABARZON ASEAN Festival of Talent and Culture, held at Batangas State University in Lipa City, Aug. 24.

Representing CEFI in the ASEAN Quiz Bee are Alaiza Nicole L. Rey (BSEd English), Bern Andrei E. Gooc (BS Nursing), and Jeriko A. Mabasa (BS Psychology), under the guidance of their coach, Mr. John Paul Cagadas.

Nicole Joyce L. Rogel (BS Psychology) represents the institution in the ASEAN Poster-Making Competition, while Wyncie Jred M. Ramirez, Deniesse-Ann M. Delos Santos, and Alfhonso Miguel S. Oabel (BS Hospitality Management) compete in the ASEAN Culinary Competition under the guidance of Mr. Sergeyevetz P. De Las Alas.

The delegation also includes the CEFI Cultural Presentation Team, composed of Mary Cris Fevidal, Louise Sydney Atega, Jean Henri Canzon, Rain Anthony Chua, Leugim John Briones, Jayvhee Niña Lacsamana, Mary Joy Retardo, Axcel Zanjoe Reyes, Rommel Roces, and Andrea Chelsea Par.

✍️ | Miguel Iñigo Lacerna
📸 | Mr. Errol Torres

𝐀 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐲 𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐲

Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. entered public service at a young age and became one of the youngest mayors in the country before eventually serving as a senator. Beyond his career, he was also known for his determination, confidence, and ability to communicate with people. His experiences in journalism and public service shaped the way he understood the responsibilities that came with being a Filipino leader.

His life took a difficult turn when he was imprisoned and later spent several years abroad. Despite being away from home, he continued to maintain connections with his family and country. On August 21, 1983, the Philippines witnessed a moment that would forever change the course of its history: the senator and one of the country’s most prominent voices for democracy returned home after years of exile. He knew the risks that came with his decision, yet he chose to return because he believed that his country was worth coming home to.

Upon his arrival, Ninoy was assassinated at the Manila International Airport. His death became one of the most remembered events in Philippine history and profoundly affected the country.

Today, Ninoy Aquino Day gives Filipinos an opportunity to pause and remember the life of a man whose story became intertwined with an important chapter of our nation’s past. Beyond the events surrounding his death, his life reminds us of the value of service, courage, family, and having the conviction to follow what we believe is right.

As we remember Ninoy Aquino, may we also remember the importance of learning from the people and events that shaped our history—and carrying those lessons forward with understanding and respect.

✍️ | Mariam Camacho
💻 | Wendcel Garcia

𝐒𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

A city does not become what it is in a single day. Long before streets became familiar and buildings defined its skyline, Lucena was already slowly finding its place, carrying stories that would become part of the identity of generations to come. Becoming a city was not the beginning of Lucena's story, but one of the most important chapters in a much longer one.

Before Lucena became the bustling city that Lucenahins know today, it was once a barrio of Tayabas, then the capital of Tayabas Province, now known as Quezon Province. Its location along Tayabas Bay also shaped its development, particularly through Cotta and its coastal activity and trade.

On November 5, 1879, the settlement was officially named Lucena. On June 1, 1882, it became an independent municipality, beginning a new chapter in its political history. In 1901, the provincial capital was transferred to Lucena, strengthening its role as Quezon's administrative and commercial center.

On June 17, 1961, Republic Act No. 3271 established Lucena as a chartered city, giving it a distinct city government while retaining its role as the capital of Quezon Province. On August 20, 1961, its formal inauguration and the induction of its first city officials marked the beginning of its life as a city. This milestone became the foundation of what Lucenahins now know as Araw ng Lucena.

This year, Lucena celebrates its 65th Charter Anniversary. Yet 65 years does not mark the age of Lucena itself. Its roots reach much further back—to the barrio of Tayabas, the municipality that built its own identity, and the generations that shaped the community through every transition.

For years, Lucena has also been regarded and officially classified as a Highly Urbanized City (HUC) by Philippine Statistics Authority and other government agencies, remaining the only HUC in CALABARZON. However, in 2026, its HUC status has come under scrutiny over questions surrounding its conversion and the absence of a plebiscite.

Perhaps that is what Araw ng Lucena asks its people to remember: not simply that Lucena has been a city for 65 years, but that it has been becoming one for generations—and the story of what it becomes next will always belong to the Lucenahins who come after.

✍️ | Sophia Perlas
💻 | Julian Dolosa

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐍 | Awake but Late

My morning alarm is a tyrant, its shrill cry demanding that I trade the warmth of my bed for the chill of a new day, yet I obediently rise and march to school like a soldier reporting for duty. But what happens when the government officials who decide on school suspensions, while commanding our punctuality, fail to reciprocate, leaving us stranded after a draining and treacherous commute, only to be told our efforts were for nothing? This is the cruel irony of being awake but late—wide awake and ready to learn, yet the very system that drilled punctuality into me shows none of that same respect.

On August 17, Malacañang announced alternative arrangements beginning at noon for government offices and schools in the National Capital Region and several provinces, while some local governments had already announced their own suspensions. Earlier in the week, Malacañang also announced a suspension effective at 3 p.m. on August 13 due to continuing heavy rainfall. These decisions may be made in response to rapidly changing weather conditions, but for students and teachers who have already left their homes and braved the commute, a late announcement offers safety only after the risk has already been faced.

The primary victims of these tardy announcements are us students, who are like arrows meticulously aimed and released from their homes, only to hit a target that has already been moved. According to the Khaleej Times report, Amihan Mabalay was among the thousands of parents stranded by the widespread flooding in Metro Manila’s streets this Monday morning, taking to social media to vent her disappointment at their city’s mayor for the late suspension of classes. “Late actions have dire consequences,” Mabalay fumed, noting students and their parents were trapped because of the late class suspension.

This inefficiency breeds resentment, especially for us students from distant areas who sacrifice sleep and brave long commutes. Our journey— that chaotic ballet of jeepneys and tricycles—becomes nothing but a show for an empty theater, as the suspension is announced only after we have already reached our destination. A simple announcement sent earlier could have saved us from this exhausting and pointless voyage.

The frustration is not limited to students and parents, as even educators find themselves caught in this administrative chaos, like captains whose ships have already sailed into stormy waters. In the same Khaleej Times report, Professor DC Alviar expressed disappointment on social media, saying he was already near the university where he teaches when the late announcement finally came through. “Now, they are telling us to teach the students they just sent home online. But we are already stranded,” he said, highlighting the ridiculousness of expecting productivity from people already trapped by circumstances beyond their control.

Even the supposed safety net of blended learning fails to solve this problem, like a bandage applied to a wound that requires surgery, as it introduces its own set of challenges. Students from disadvantaged households struggle with unreliable internet connections, making sudden shifts to online classes an exercise in frustration rather than a genuine educational opportunity. Our teachers, who are already stranded and exhausted, are then expected to deliver lessons through a digital platform, creating a half-hearted learning experience.

The cost of lost learning is not merely theoretical. Findings from the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) show that every additional day of school closure can lower a student’s achievement by up to 12 points in mathematics and 14 points in science. The data further suggest that losing just 10 learning days can cause a student’s science score to fall from 500 to below 380. When a single delayed announcement can turn a regular school day into a wasted one, these numbers make clear that the consequences can extend far beyond one missed lesson.

While students and teachers suffer inconvenience, the impact on school vendors is even more devastating, striking at their very survival like a sudden storm that scatters the fish before the fishermen can cast their nets. These micro-entrepreneurs—street food vendors, canteen staff—prepare perishable goods based on the assumption of a normal school day. When the government announces a suspension late, their inventory spoils, and their daily bread crumbles into nothing but wasted expenses and lost income.

The root of this recurring problem lies not necessarily in the absence of guidelines, but in the continuing challenge of making timely decisions and communicating them effectively, like a single umbrella trying to cover a province with vastly different weather patterns. The Department of Education's revised guidelines under DepEd Order No. 022, s. 2024 already provides procedures for suspending classes during tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall, flooding, and other emergencies. Yet recent incidents show that having guidelines is only part of the solution when announcements come after students and teachers have already begun their journeys. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) has also highlighted the learning losses caused by frequent class suspensions and has joined government efforts toward a more unified, timely, and science-based framework for suspension decisions.

In this digital age, where news travels across the globe in seconds, the endless excuses for these delays ring hollow, like a weatherman waiting for the rain to fall before issuing a storm warning. We are told the decision is "still being finalized," a phrase that has become a hollow shield for a lack of foresight and planning. This creates a chaotic environment where students desperately refresh their phones while vendors watch the sky, both praying for clarity that never comes soon enough.

MY FINAL VERDICT is clear: the system of being awake but late is a glaring failure of timely communication that endangers students, frustrates teachers, and impoverishes vendors alike. While we understand the complexities of monitoring weather, the safety of our children and the livelihoods of small entrepreneurs should never be left to a last-minute gamble. It is time for decision-makers to wake up to the consequences of their delays, because a timely announcement is not a favor—it is a basic duty they owe to every family, educator, and vendor who depends on their judgment.

✍️ | Sherelou Merene
💻 | Wendcel Garcia

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐋. 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐳𝐨𝐧

Before the Philippines found its voice, a young boy from the quiet town of Baler carried a vision larger than himself. He dreamed of a nation united by language, identity, and the courage to stand on its own.

Born on August 19, 1878, Manuel Luis Quezon grew to become a soldier, lawyer, statesman, and the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

From 1935 until his death in 1944, Quezon helped lay the foundations of the Commonwealth government. His administration pursued policies concerning public education, social welfare, labor and tenancy issues, and national defense, reflecting his vision of a stronger and more self-reliant Filipino nation.

Quezon believed that language could help bridge the distance between the country’s many islands and cultures. The 1935 Constitution directed Congress to take steps toward the development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages. In 1937, Quezon approved Executive Order No. 134, adopting Tagalog as the basis for the national language. For his role in advancing the national language, he is remembered as the Father of the National Language.

Republic Act No. 6741, approved on August 4, 1989, declared August 19 of every year a special working holiday throughout the Philippines, except in the provinces of Quezon and Aurora and in Quezon City, where it is a special non-working public holiday. The law commemorates the birth anniversary of former President Manuel L. Quezon.

As we remember the man who helped shape the nation’s voice, may his vision continue to remind us that the strength of our nation lies not only in its history, but also in the people who carry its ideals forward.

✍️ | Colleen Manangat
💻 | Julian Dolosa

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒 | The College of Business and Management – Hospitality and Tourism Management Department held its Student General Assembly at the JVC Theater, Karunungan (KRU) Building, on August 15.

The event began with opening remarks from College of Business and Management Dean Christian John P. Formaran, CPA, MBA, followed by the official uniform and professional attire showcases, student intermission numbers, raffle draws, and the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected organization officers for S.Y. 2026–2027.

✍️ | Miguel Iñigo Lacerna
📸 | Quin Povie Gutierrez

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | CBM- HTM Opens General Assembly 2026

The Hospitality and Tourism Management Department of the College of Business and Management (CBM) gathers its students and faculty for the General Assembly at the JVC Theater, KRU Building today, August 15.

The assembly welcomes new and continuing Hospitality and Tourism students into the CBM family, as faculty members outline academic policies and upcoming activities for the school year ahead.

✍️ | Miguel Iñigo Lacerna
📸 | Quin Povie Gutierrez

𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Pax Silica: An Experiment Called Progress

Something big is coming. Pax Silica—a U.S.-led initiative for an AI-centered hub—is promising the Philippines a ticket to the future. But is it progress, or merely an experiment cloaked as one?

According to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the Philippines became the 13th nation to join the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative in April 2026 and may sign a framework agreement with the United States by November. The partnership aims to strengthen supply chains for semiconductors, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and other strategic technologies, while supporting the country’s growing data center and high-tech infrastructure sector.

During his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. promoted Pax Silica as an ecosystem with artificial intelligence at its core—one envisioned to house data centers, chip manufacturing facilities, and mineral processing plants working toward the development of AI. Eventually, it is expected to attract investments, create quality jobs, and support the country’s emerging AI industry.

But beneath all the glitz and glimmers lies an uncomfortable truth.

Alongside the initiative came plans for a massive industrial hub within the Luzon Economic Corridor, covering roughly 4,000 acres—or about 1,620 hectares—in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. Such development raises serious concerns about land conversion, displacement, and resource exploitation, particularly for farmers, Indigenous peoples, and rural communities.

Some landowners are reportedly being offered as little as ₱30 per square meter—or roughly ₱300,000 per hectare. If these figures accurately reflect compensation for land affected by the development, the issue is not simply about investment. It is about whether the people who bear the costs of development are receiving a fair share of its benefits.

Then there is the question of water.

As reported by Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, a single data center can consume an amount of water comparable to the overall consumption of approximately 1,100 households. Rainwater harvesting has been suggested as a more sustainable alternative, but one question remains: will rainwater actually be enough?

And if it is not, where will the additional water come from?

As climate change intensifies and water resources become increasingly scarce and unpredictable, relying on rainfall as the primary solution may itself prove unsustainable. A technology-driven future cannot be considered truly sustainable if it places additional pressure on resources that communities already depend on.

Because what happens when the rain no longer comes, but the data centers still need water?

At that point, the question is no longer simply about powering the future. It is about what we are willing to sacrifice to sustain it.

At the same time, it would be difficult to deny that the Philippines continues to lag behind in a world increasingly shaped by rapid technological innovation. Pax Silica could potentially give the country a stronger position within high-value international technology networks and industries. If the government's commitments are genuine and implemented effectively, the initiative could provide the Philippines with an opportunity to pursue a new form of economic and technological development.

But potential is not the same as progress.

Whether Pax Silica will translate into meaningful and inclusive development remains uncertain. Many important details concerning its implementation, environmental impact, land acquisition, resource use, and distribution of economic benefits have yet to be fully established.

That uncertainty matters.

An initiative can promise billions in investments while still leaving ordinary Filipinos with higher environmental costs, displaced communities, depleted resources, or jobs that do not match the value of what was sacrificed to create them. Economic growth means little if its rewards are concentrated among those who already possess economic and political power while its costs are passed down to those with the least ability to bear them.

For now, what the Philippines urgently needs is not merely promises or ambitious projections. It needs a concrete and convincing demonstration that this gamble will genuinely improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

Let the Philippines pursue technology. Let us welcome investment. Let us compete in the global economy. Let the investors bring their billions. Let the engineers bring their brilliance. Let the technology bring its infinite possibilities.

But let us not confuse being part of the future with being experimented on for it.

Because the Filipino people and our land should never be the test subject of an experiment called progress.

𝐘𝐔𝐇𝐎𝐎! 𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍

The wait is finally over! After a rigorous selection process, The CEFIzen Gazette, the official collegiate student publication of Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc., welcomes 20 new staffers, for this year’s application process.

To everyone who took the leap and answered the call to serve the CEFI community, thank you for your time, courage, and passion for journalism. To all successful applicants—congratulations, and welcome to the team!

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒 | Students and faculty members of the College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Education (CLASEd) gathered for their departmental General Assembly on August 7, featuring the reporting of each program's accomplishments for A.Y. 2025–2026, a student orientation, and intermission performances.

The afternoon session was canceled after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake was felt across the city and nearby provinces to ensure the safety of students and faculty members.

✍️ | Charmaine Ordillano
📸 | Anisha Bautista