Word

The WORD is the Official Student Publication of Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Volume XXV Issue I was released last Monday so I thought I'd give some of my thoughts on this first issue. Before we jump into all the brouhaha, let me just say I'm in no position an expert when it comes to school publication. I'm good at procrastinating though. This review will be based on my own meandering experience as a reader, as a designer wanna-be and the web. The purpose of this review is not to downgrade the publication but it is my hope that this will serve as a help for improvement on the next issue. By the power of grayskull, kudos to all who are involved in this issue to infinity and beyond!

The Word Cover

Before diving into all the details let me give the issue my overall rating - 6! It's not bad but it's not mind-blowing either. More like mediocre. Don't know what mediocre means? Look it up in a dictionary. Don't have one? Google it! You lazy bum! It's like the iPhone 4s. Everyone is expecting a new ground breaking phone but do their dismay it's just an upgrade to the current iPhone 4, no new design and all that. Still don't get it huh? It's like the movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon. It has still the awesome CG animation but the story fails to deliver fans expected. Nuh uh? You're hopeless man, hopeless!

mediocre [mee-dee-oh-ker]

of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate: The car gets only mediocre mileage, but it's fun to drive. Synonyms: undistinguished, commonplace, pedestrian, everyday; run-of-the-mill. Antonyms: extraordinary, superior, uncommon, incomparable.

Layout

I think the layout is great.  If you're like me who don't read first, well, then you are like me.  People don't jump into the contents.  We scan.  It's automatic, we're born with that reflex whenever we have something in print in our hands.  I think the layout gives value and perspective as a whole.

I think it would be best to use more white space.  Remember, less is more.

Spanking

To Train Up a Child

To spank or not to spank?  That is the question but before going futher I suggest you read the previous post, "Training".

Not quite Shakespearian but there has been an uproar from netizens regarding the anti-spanking bill that has just passed first reading.  To give you what's going on, the Positive Discipline Act of 2011 passed the first reading at the House committee on the welfare of children.  The bill is co-authored by Tarlac Representative Susan Yap and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy.   Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy earlier this year urged Aquino to list bill against spanking children as priority.

She authored House Bill 1082 that protects the child from all forms of corporal punishment and threats of physical harm that may be imposed as a disciplinary action by parents, guardians, teachers and elders.

HB 1082 prohibits the imposition of all manners of corporal punishment and other forms of disciplinary penalty, including humiliating or degrading methods against a child.  HB 1082 also promotes positive and non-violent ways of disciplining minors.  Among punishments to be prohibited are pinching (kurot), pulling of ears (pengot) or hair, cutting or shaving of hair, spanking with hand and whipping with belt, among others.