The CSB Experience 3: Friday Madness

After rumors have been swirling about the cancellation of the CSB delegation's trip to Singapore for CG Overdrive for few days already, Sir Chino Wasan posted in the MMA Y! Groups a statement which gives strong confirmation that indeed, we're not going to Singapore after-all.

Taken from the MMA Y! Groups


Boys and Girls,

It is with a heavy heart that i bring you this piece of information. You've
probably heard it from someone else, so let me set things straight. The CG
Overdrive 2009 CSB delegation will not be attending the Expo.

If you have been reading recent posts, you should know that a student from the
De La Salle Main campus caused the school to seize operations for 10 days
because of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus. In this light, the CSB community is
taking precautionary measures to veer away from the DLSU case. Last night a
memorandum was sent out, signed by Ms. Vanny Puente, MMA Chairperson and OIC
Dean, Robin Serrano, prohibiting students to attend the said event. Though this
may seem harsh, especially to those who have paid for airfare and
accommodations, we are still coming up with a solution to that. For those who
have paid for the registration fees and the video games live tickets at the
accounting office, your payment shall be reimbursed. I will be updating you soon
via this yahoo group.

As per the above mentioned memo, all blue forms shall be considered null and
void. This means all absences from June 15 to 20 will not be considered
"excused." Another memo (attached), mentions that students who arrive from
another country are required to defer from going to school for 10 days also.
This means a total of 16 days will be missed, 14 of which are school days. This
means you may miss 2 or more meetings per subject, and this is enough for your
teacher to give you a grade of 0.0. If ever you decide to push through with the
trip, there are a few possible scenarios.

First scenario: you go to Singapore, and they find out you're a carrier of the
virus. You stay there, quarantined for God knows how long.

Second Scenario: you go to Singapore, return to the Philippines, and airport
officials find out you have the virus. You will be quarantined for more than 10
days and miss a lot of school work (and most probably fail).

Third Scenario: you go to Singapore, return to the Philippines, you don't follow
the 10 day quarantine requirement and come to school, if you do carry the virus,
you spread it to everyone else in campus and all hell breaks loose!

Fouth Scenario: you go to Singapore, return to the Philippines, be quarantined
for 10 days (write reaction papers for the seminar points), and fail 2 or 3
subjects this term due to excessive absences.

Guys, this is a loose-loose situation. I'm really sorry I helped you get into
this mess. I really feel for you, especially the ones who booked for packages
with a promo rate. The best we can do for now is provide you with a letter for
the travel agencies/ airlines etc. requesting for a refund or a lesser evil,
such as travel for a later date. As your friend, I am frustrated. This is the
first time I was supposed to visit Singapore. As your teacher, I am hopeful that
you do the right thing and choose not to go. As a parent myself, I fear for my
child's safety. I also would want my child to do well in academics and not
choose any event that would compromise her studies or her health. If you have
questions, clarifications or should your parents have inquiries, please feel
free to contact me via 09228244670. Again I apologize for any inconvenience
caused.



Isner Woodrow F. Wasan

Multi Media Arts - School of Design and Arts
De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde

Earlier, Sino Chino called for a meeting at the SDA Amphitheater and broke to the delegates the sad news. I wasn't able to come since I don't have a class on a Friday. I already mentioned in my last blog that because of the hysteria going on since DLSU's virus drama, I'm not surprised if the trip to Singapore would be put into jeopardy (or even the event itself).

Sad that I won't be going overseas after all nor do the 200 or so co-delegates who paid for the registration fees, VGL tickets. Especially those who took CSB's promo package (around Php25,150), including me.

Pray that something good will happen at the end of the dark tunnel of madness.