Cebu Normal University
THE OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION & GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
BA Comm Updates College of Arts & Sciences Congratulatory News

CNU dominates inter-school publication, talent tilts

October 4, 2020 • BA Communication

Despite the physical barriers and connectivity issues, communication students from Cebu Normal University bagged the top awards in the digital publication and Campus Got Talent contests held in connection with the celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week this year.

“Behalf” magazine, the school’s entry, earned the collective nod of the judges to cop the award for Best Overall Publication, besting the entries from the University of San Carlos (The Trailblazers) and Cebu Technological University (The Vanguard).

Behalf was also adjudged Best in Editorial for “The Light in a Terrifying Reality” and “Arvin and John Dale,” which tackle the need for the media to be more active in pursuing the truth for readers in this time of health crisis and the pandemic’s impacts on students and pupils going through blended and online learning. The accompanying editorial cartoon was also hailed the best among the entries.

The magazine also won Best Feature for “The Day Edita Contracted COVID-19,” which narrates the experiences of veteran nurse Edita Sanchez when she got the virus, and Best in Creative Writing for “The Foreigner,” a story about a mysterious woman from China who kills an entire family in just months, only to be killed by her supposed last victim in the end.

It also emerged as the Best in Graphic Design and won second and fifth places in news writing for “Go digital, media outfits urged” and “Priest to journos: Press freedom is freedom to do good.”

Behalf’s staff was composed of Devey Joy Gaviola, editor-in-chief; Kyle Sarona, associate editor; Danica Ulbata and Loreine Kyra Lebumfacil, news writers; Rhina Mae Tabada and Arcel Macan, feature writers; Jonas Raymond Tatoy and Leonel Quillo, creative writers; Harold Regodos and Hannah Mae Paler, layout artists; Patrisha Cabahug, illustrator and cartoonist; and John Destacamento, publication adviser.

Gaviola said she was happy that despite it being the first time for the team to come up with a magazine in about five days, all the hardwork still paid off in the end.

“I’m elated and still kind of surprised with the outcome. I’m happy that I was able to produce results despite being a newbie with editorials. I’ve only written them twice for a subject requirement, which was why I was really nervous that I might disappoint everyone and tarnish CNU’s straight-A records when it came to journalistic contests,” she said.

Gaviola said the team was thankful to Destacamento, a faculty of the department, for guiding the team all throughout the competition.

Destacamento, who also works as assistant news editor in The Freeman newspaper, attributed the victory to teamwork.

“From the very beginning, our goals were clear. One was to make CNU proud and the other was to make people realize that Cebu is still teeming with young, aspiring journalists who are ready to defend press freedom,” he said.

The contest was judged by Rappler journalist Ryan Macasero, UP Cebu professor Januar Yap, and Cebu Literary Fest organizer Hendri Go.

TALENTED, TOO

Meanwhile, the collaboration between VCLEF and Offbeat bands, composed of CNU communication students, together with fellow Normalite Brigida Gerzon, resulted to the original song “COMMbati,” which won first place in the Campus Got Talent.

Gerzon said they wanted a song that would make the people understand the crucial role of the media during these tough times.

“At a time where transparency is needed the most, duty na nato mga journalist to seek and provide information for the people,” she said.

Another Normalite, Hoehnferdz Gonzaga, also finished second with his original composition and interpretation of “Diyaryo.”

COMPETENCE

Dr. Joseph Elvir Tubilan, chairman of the CNU Department of Communication and Media Studies, said the recent feats once again showed the competence of CNU students.

“For the last two years, we were the back-to-back champion in broadcasting competition and this time we are the over-all winners in Digital Publication and CFJCS Got Talent. This proves that our students are doing well and competent not just in one specialization, but also in other aspects in the field of journalism plus we have multi-talented students,” Dr. Tubilan said.

“I am so proud and honored for this feat that gives pride and prestige to CNU as one of the State Universities and Colleges. I hope that this will eventually pave the way for CNU BA Communication to become one of the leading journalism and communication programs in the country,” he added. (Leonel B. Quillo, BA Comm. – Journalism – 3)

Cebu Normal University
PRIVACY POLICY

Policy Statement

This Privacy Policy is adopted in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173), its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), and other relevant issuances of the National Privacy Commission (NPC). The University is committed to protecting and respecting your personal data privacy. We process personal information in accordance with the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality. This Policy informs how we collect, use, disclose, store, protect, and dispose personal information of our data subjects.

Definitions

Personal information refers to any information, whether recorded in a material form or not, from which the identity of an individual is apparent or can be reasonably and directly ascertained by the entity holding the information or when put together with other information that would directly and certainly identify an individual.

Sensitive information is a type of personal information with the risk of discrimination against the Data Subject. These are about an identifiable person’s racial or ethnic origin, marital status, color, and religious, philosophical, or political affiliations. It is also, about an individual’s health, education, the genetic or sexual life of person, or any proceeding for any offense committed or alleged to have been committed by such person, the disposal of such proceedings, or the sentence of any court in such proceedings; Issued by government agencies peculiar to an individual which includes, but not limited to, social security numbers, previous or current health records, licenses or its denials, suspension or revocation, and tax returns; and specifically established by an executive order or an act of Congress to be kept classified.

Privileged information refers to any and all forms of data which under the Rules of Court and other pertinent laws constitute privileged communication.

Information We Collect

The University may collect personal information in the context of its regular functions — including but not limited to the following categories:

  1. Students: contact and enrollment details, academic records, health or medical records, accommodation records, student-activity participation, and related data.
  2. Staff and job applicants: contact details, employment history, qualifications, employee-related data.
  3. Alumni profiling: contact and demographic details.
  4. Visitors, volunteers, and other stakeholders: information collected through sign-in forms, CCTV or security monitoring, photos or recordings during official events, surveys, and feedback forms.

Collection may occur by any medium, including: paper forms, electronic forms, email, website or online platforms, CCTV or video/photographic capture, surveys/questionnaires, and other lawful means.

Purposes and Uses of the Data Collected and Processed

Personal information collected may be used for:

  1. Administration of admission, enrollment, employment, alumni relations, and other official functions.
  2. Maintenance of student and employee records, including academic, health, and administrative data.
  3. Provision of University services such as counseling, scholarship administration, placement, library access, facilities use, laboratory access, security, parking, and accommodation.
  4. Internal research, quality assurance, performance monitoring, and institutional planning.
  5. Compliance with statutory obligations (e.g. reporting to government agencies when required).
  6. Security, safety, and campus management, including CCTV monitoring.

Legal Basis / Lawful Criteria for Processing

All processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with the legality, fairness, and lawfulness requirements under the Data Privacy Act and IRR.
Where applicable, processing is grounded on consent, contract, legal obligation, legitimate interest, or other lawful bases recognized under the law. The choice of lawful basis depends on the nature of data, the purpose of processing, and legal or contractual requirements.

Manner of Collection and Processing

Personal data may be collected through physical forms (paper-based), electronic forms, online or web-based platforms (e.g., registration portals, email, institutional website), CCTV or video/photo capture (for security or surveillance), event sign-in sheets or registration forms, surveys or questionnaires, or other legitimate and lawful means.

Processing may include collection, recording, sorting, storing, retrieval, use, updating, modification, blocking, destruction or other operations as allowed under the law, consistent with declared purposes.

Disclosure of Information

The University does not disclose personal information except under the following circumstances:

  1. Internal disclosure within authorized University personnel, only when necessary and appropriate for legitimate institutional purposes.
  2. External disclosure only when required or permitted by law (e.g. statutory obligations), or when the data subject has provided valid consent.
  3. Sensitive personal information or privileged information is processed and disclosed only in accordance with relevant legal provisions.

Risks, Safeguards and Security Measures

The University recognizes that processing of personal data entails certain privacy and security risks. Accordingly, we implement appropriate organizational, technical, and physical security safeguards to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data — whether in electronic or physical form. Such measures include (but are not limited to):

  1. Access controls (both digital and physical) to restrict access only to authorized personnel
  2. Use of secure storage: locked filing cabinets or secure rooms for physical records; password-protected systems, encryption, secure servers, firewalls for electronic data
  3. Secure transmission of data (when shared or transferred), secure printing and disposal protocols, and safe deletion or destruction of data when no longer needed
  4. Classification of data and periodic review of security protocols, to ensure adequacy in light of the risks presented and sensitivity of the data processed

Rights of Data Subjects

Under the Data Privacy Act and its IRR, data subjects have the following rights:

  1. Right to be informed — you have the right to know whether personal information about you will be, is being, or has been processed; the purposes of processing; the personal data to be entered; and the scope and method of processing.
  2. Right to access, correct, or update your data — you may request access to your personal information, ask for rectification of inaccuracies, or request updates.
  3. Right to object or withdraw consent — when processing is based on consent or legitimate interest, you may withdraw consent or object, subject to legal limits.
  4. Right to data portability — where applicable, you may obtain a copy of your personal data in a secure and portable format for transfer to another controller.
  5. Right to erasure or blocking — if personal data is incomplete, outdated, unlawfully obtained or processed, no longer necessary, or processing is unauthorized, you may request erasure or blocking, subject to legitimate grounds for retention (e.g. legal obligations or defense of legal claims).
  6. Right to damages — you may seek indemnification for damages resulting from inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, unlawfully obtained or unauthorized use of your personal data.
  7. Right to lodge a complaint with the NPC if you believe your data privacy rights have been violated.

Requests for access, rectification, objection, portability, erasure or complaints may be submitted in writing to the University’s designated Data Protection Officer (DPO) or Data Privacy Office.

Security, Retention, and Disposal

The University implements appropriate organizational, technical, and physical security measures to safeguard personal data — whether in paper or electronic form — against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Such measures include: secure storage (locked filing cabinets or rooms), restricted access to authorized personnel only, use of locked screens/screensavers, secure transmission (sealed envelopes or secure electronic transmission), secure printing and disposal of documents, and safe deletion or destruction of data when no longer needed.

Personal data will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the declared and legitimate purposes, or as required for legal obligations or defense of legal claims. When no longer needed, personal data will be disposed of securely in accordance with University policy and relevant data-protection guidelines.

Consent, Notice, and Legitimate Processing

Where required by law, consent will be obtained from data subjects prior to collection or processing of their personal or sensitive data. In other cases (e.g. CCTV monitoring, legitimate interest), the University will inform data subjects through appropriate notice mechanisms before or at the time of data collection. Privacy notice(s) will accompany data-collection forms or be posted in conspicuous campus areas, and on the University website. At all times, data processing is based on legitimate purpose and proportional to the need.

Data Subject Access and Contact

To exercise your rights or if you have any inquiry, concern, or request regarding your personal data, please contact:

Omar B. Roma

Data Protection Officer
Email: dpo@cnu.edu.ph
Phone: 09422041421

Changes to This Policy

The University reserves the right to update or amend this Privacy Policy as necessary to reflect changes in applicable laws, regulations, regulatory guidance, or its internal data-processing practices. Updated versions will be posted on the University’s official website and, where appropriate, communicated to data subjects.