Franz Lenard Torres 
One amazing thing about eras in the span of human existence is that they are hallmarked by one signature thing. Said ‘thing’ is designated to represent that specific moment in time. For example, we have the Renaissance; age of enlightenment, the rise of advancements in wisdom and technology. Usually, paintings would come to mind when we think of this grandiose era. Another example is the Industrial Age; an age of establishing industries, spearheading changes in economic and social statuses. Steam and engines are iconic symbols that epitomizes this bubble in the age of humans. However, if we were to assign one thing, symbol, or feeling to the today we grace our vast presences with, what would it be?
Heat. The rising temperatures we know and fear signaled by the villain we perceive and abhor; Climate Change or worse, its evolved form; Climate Crisis.
Countries near the equator are much more vulnerable to this hike in temperature as they are the ones more exposed to the heat of the sun. One of these countries is the Philippines, a tropical country made up of more than 7,000 islands. As a sun-soaked nation, it should be obvious that the people living in said nation should be “used” to the heat. They are; however, temperatures are reaching record-breaking numbers interrupting multiple sectors in the territory. Among those intervened on is education, resulting in face-to-face class suspensions, and schools opting for asynchronous classes.
One buzzword that has seemingly took the masses by storm due to its relevance and echoing throughout multiple media outlets is “heat index.” To put it simply, heat index is a measure of how hot it truly feels outside, when humidity and other factors are taken into account alongside the temperature. And Catbalogan is certainly not a stranger to this term. With the heat not going under 40 degrees Celsius and expected to land to temperatures up to 50 degrees celsius, Catbaloganons are left with no choice to remember the term so that they can plan out the day with the heat in mind.
However, it’s a whole new narrative when it comes to college students it seems. Normal classes are still in session for Tradesmen everywhere, leaving students crawling under the blazing sun. Students are advised to stay hydrated and stay under the shade because of the living purgatory we are witnessing before our very eyes. Despite this, students retain a speck of normalcy as they are still required to wear complete uniform, otherwise facing the doom of not getting inside university premises.
With warmth and humidity wreaking havoc, like the faculty and presonnel, students of Samar State University should also be allowed to wear other items of clothing than just uniforms. This is to guarantee safety with regard to the extreme heat conditions.
To put it into perspective, uniforms are usually layered with some opting for undershirts under their uniform polos or blouses, therefore adding more insulation to the body which keeps more heat inside, inadvertently furthering risk of health-related complications. Reminders of hydration and going under the shade is important, yes. However, it should also be considered that not all classrooms come equipped to handle the heat, with classrooms failing to have proper ventilation or even facilities o cater for the students’ welfare during this time. Reminders should go hand-in-hand with practical solutions for the best odds against the massive risks at hand.
Additionally, the school year is yet to finish with the school calendar trudging through May which is the peak of the sunny seasons, with temps not going down until July or August. Other state universities and colleges (SUCs) have settled for this route, prioritizing the community and their health. For this reason, it’s safe to say that suspending mandatory uniforms for now is the safest bet to ensure the safety of people within school grounds.
Nevertheless, students should not abuse this possible memo. The university should permit this convenience in the condition that students abide by school dress code policies. Through this, a flexible mandate could be crafted that benefits the school and keeps its constituents’ content, satisfied, and not sacrificing the well-being of anyone.
The global climate crisis is still a fairly new concept we are facing. We are still somewhat in the very first stages on how we cope through a phenomenon that affects the world at large. Nonetheless, we should factor in the multifaceted nature of each problem that are in front of us so that holistic solutions and approaches are made to combat the ill effects of what is faced by the commune and begin a culture of cooperation and collaboration on matters that concerns one race, the human race.
