Lumina

istoriUM | Blessings Become Standards: Hedonic Treadmill Theory

There was a time when the things we have today were once our greatest dreams.

The phone in our hands was once something we wished for. The achievements we now overlook were once goals we worked hard to reach. Even the people in our lives were once those we prayed would stay.

Yet after some time, the excitement fades.

Psychologists call this the Hedonic Treadmill Theory—the idea that people quickly get used to good things and return to their normal level of happiness. A new phone feels exciting at first, but eventually it becomes ordinary. A promotion brings joy, but soon we begin wanting another one. Even major achievements lose their spark with time.

It is like running on a treadmill: no matter how fast we run, we remain in the same place.

This leads to what we may call the inflation of happiness.

Just as inflation reduces the value of money, constant success and pleasure can reduce the feeling of happiness. What once made us happy is no longer enough. We start wanting something bigger, better, or newer.

The dream becomes normal.

The normal becomes expected.

And the expected becomes insufficient.

This is why some people have everything they once wished for, yet still feel incomplete. Happiness that depends only on achievements, wealth, or possessions keeps moving farther away, like a finish line that never stays in one place.

The problem is not that humans dream or strive for more. Growth is part of life. The problem begins when we forget to appreciate what we already have while chasing what we do not.

The Hedonic Treadmill Theory reminds us of an important truth: lasting happiness does not come only from gaining more, but also from learning to value the present.

Because sometimes, the life we complain about today is the very life our past self once dreamed of living.

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑼𝑴𝑻𝑽𝑵𝑩𝑺𝐱𝑳𝑼𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑨
𝑾𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎, 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒘𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆.

×××××
✍️: C.A. Sangco
🎨: K. Lazaga

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐔𝐌 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 || UM Panabo Breaking Barriers Through Its No-Entrance-Exam Policy

By: Carl Ace Sangco

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲?

Entrance examinations defeat the purpose of free access to education because they undermine the goal of educational equity. When entrance exams become the main gatekeeper to higher education, opportunities are often reserved for those who already possess strong academic advantages, making it harder for others to showcase their talents, potential, and capacity for growth.

𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

Through its affordable tuition and no-entrance-exam policy, UM Panabo proves that quality education should be accessible to every aspiring learner, regardless of their starting point in life.
The reality is that entrance examinations continue to leave many deserving students behind. Studies on higher education in the Philippines show that disadvantaged students often struggle to access quality colleges and universities because of unequal educational opportunities and strict admission policies. Instead of measuring potential, entrance exams frequently reflect differences in access to resources, preparation, and academic support.

Many people also assume that UM Panabo is expensive because it is a private institution. However, education should not be viewed merely as an expense but as an investment that can transform lives and create opportunities for a better future.
Critics may argue that the absence of entrance examinations lowers academic standards. On the contrary, UM Panabo implements exit examinations that help prepare students, particularly those enrolled in programs requiring licensure examinations. 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁.

For 80 years, UM Panabo has remained committed to educational excellence. The institution has produced competent graduates, achieved remarkable board examination performances, and earned recognition through national topnotchers in various professional programs.
Affordability is another reason why accessibility matters. While private universities in the Philippines can charge anywhere from ₱40,000 to more than ₱100,000 per year, many students continue to struggle with educational expenses despite government support programs. Recent reports from the Commission on Higher Education show that more than 2.3 million Filipino students benefit from free higher education, proving that access remains a major concern nationwide.
Compared to many private institutions, UM Panabo offers a more affordable alternative, with tuition costing approximately ₱25,000 per semester.

The university also provides scholarships that help reduce the financial burden on students and their families.
Beyond affordability, UM Panabo offers flexible schedules that benefit working students and those balancing education with personal responsibilities. Quality education becomes more attainable when learning adapts to the realities of students' lives.

As Nelson Mandela once said, "𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱."
But how can education transform lives when opportunities remain inaccessible to many deserving students? Should quality education be reserved only for those who can afford expensive tuition fees or pass highly selective entrance examinations?
Should one examination decide a student's future?

UM Panabo's answer is clear: opportunity should never be measured by a single test score. True education recognizes potential beyond numbers, opens doors for those willing to learn, and creates opportunities where barriers once stood.
𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑼𝑴𝑻𝑽𝑵𝑩𝑺𝐱𝑳𝑼𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑨
𝑾𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎, 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒘𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆.

×××××
✍️: C.A. Sangco
🎨: H. Hemota

!

📰 𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 | Safety First Amid Earthquake

Following the earthquake that occurred earlier today, June 8, 2026, classes at the University of Mindanao Panabo College (UMPC) Summer Class Program are hereby suspended to prioritize the safety and well-being of all students, faculty, and staff. While today marks the beginning of another academic journey for our Summer Class students, the safety of every UMPCian remains the University's utmost concern during this time.

We encourage everyone to stay vigilant and remain alert for possible aftershocks. Let us continue to look after one another and prioritize safety above all else. Keep safe, UMPCians

📞 Emergency Hotlines:
• 0930 238 5937 – Ambulance/CDRRMO
• 0928 458 7586 – BFP Panabo
• 0906 171 7420 – Coast Guard Substation
• 0919 057 3572 – Davao Light and Power Co.

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑼𝑴𝑻𝑽𝑵𝑩𝑺𝐱𝑳𝑼𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑨
𝑾𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎, 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒘𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆.

×××××
🎨: H. Hemota
✍️: Choi