The Augustinian Mirror, December 2011

USA PUBLICATIONS FOUNDED 1928

MARY LESLIE S. EREGIA RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG Editors-in-Chief JOSEFA MARIA A. CASTRO Managing Editor JESANNY I. YAP ANDRE KARL S. FACULIN GENESSA A. BUENAFE Associate Editors Literary Editor FEBRIELYN S. TUMINES Wall News Editor JERSON E. ELMIDO Art Director NICOLE FERNAN L. CAMINIAN Photography Editor KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE Circulation Manager JOHN LOUIE E. ESMAYA Senior Writers Ric Martin L. Liboon, Mia Rose V. Emboltura, Hannah Grace S. Taba, James Marthy M. Esleyer

Model APRIL ROVE B. ERQUITA Back Cover Model MARWIN R. STUMMER Photographer KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE Design RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG Production MARY LESLIE S. EREGIA and JOHN LOUIE E. ESMAYA

ABOUT THE COVER With her eyes closed and head raised, this young lady exhibits an unlikely blend of patience and serenity as she breathes in the redemption she has been longing for.

Staff Writers Charrie Rose E. Duay, Kim Eric J. Del Rosario, Joyce Gem M. Ca単ete Newspaper Apprentice Writers Wilhelm C. Lizada, Marylex G. Sumatra, Joel S. Sastrillo, Kevin Jerrol C. Erebaren, Josel T. Majerano Magazine Apprentice Writers Diane Danica C. Dy, Christine Joy A. Saber, Ayah Danica V. Granada, Rexon Ace A. Amase Gladys T. Confesor Moderator

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR is the official student magazine of the University of San Agustin. It is published by the USA Publications with editorial office at the 2nd Floor, Alumni Building, University of San Agustin, General Luna Street, 5000 Iloilo City. Comments, suggestions, and contributions may be sent to the Editorial Board through the email address usa.publications@rocketmail.com. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission from the USA Publications and the authors.

Photos by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

EDITOR’S NOTE

H

appy endings are not a guarantee in life. There will always be times when our “falls” outnumber our “rises”.

However, it does not mean that when we fall we lose everything. The number of times we stand up is what counts.

In this issue of The Augustinian Mirror, you, our dear readers, would find yourselves immersed in various articles revolving around the theme, “what is lost and regained”: Redemption. Stories like doing a family member in to reclaim honor, and fearsome geckos that are now on the verge of extinction will show you what redemption is from different perspectives.

Enjoy reading. You’re in for a redeeming ride.

CONTENTS 4 OPINION

No more next time

5 INBOX 6 SOCIETY

Child Labor - Child’s Play?

Honor to Kill for

10 RELIGION

Change of Religion: Redemption or Exclusive Salvation?

12 EXPERIENCE

Of Changed Lives and New Beginnings

14 PEOPLE

That Side of Paradise

16 URBAN LIFE

Iloilo City: The Queen Awaits

18 PERSPECTIVES

22 ECONOMY

30 RELATIONSHIPS

26 TRENDS

32 CAMPUS

Pawning: A Chance and A Challenge The Crown of Glory

Tuyang Ermitanya vs. Lady Gaga

28 WILDLIFE

Katakatakang Tuko

Mahal kita, ‘Peksman,’ Magpakailanman

Minsan Nang Ako’y Gisingin ng Balita The Light at the End of a (Very Long) Tunnel Trono ng Hari

OPINION

No more next time RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

RAZOR EDGE

R

eputation is pretty much important for an individual.

With it, a person could get hired or fired. For groups or organizations, it plays an even bigger role. The more achievements the groups have, the more likely it is for them to gain more members. What about schools and institutions?

The more board topnotchers or passers, achievers, linkages, and researches they have, the greater their chances of becoming accredited or even autonomous.

Ta k e f o r i n s t a n c e t h e Philippine National Police (PNP).

Its amateurish handling of the Quirino Grandstand hostage crisis destroyed not only its own reputation but also that of our country and people.

The entire world, especially China, saw how the PNP bungled the hostage crisis.

The PNP gave a lame excuse by saying that it was not prepared for such a crisis and that the media were to be blamed for having been so improperly inquisitive in their attempt to outscoop each other. It tried to end the issue by assuring everyone that the incident would not happen again and that it would conduct emergency response trainings for its personnel. ***** It was just the beginning of a series of PNP screw-ups. A few months ago, I heard of a shootout at SM Pampanga. I did not bother to get the details of it. I just smirked and muttered to myself how a gun could pass through inspection at a mall with tight security as SM has. The shootout issue was eventually resolved, or so I heard. Both individuals

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involved in the incident were dead. But the real story behind that incident would yet surface.

Weeks later, it did. I never got to know any other updates on the investigation until I saw a YouTube video of what actually happened right after the shootout. Thanks to the advancement in technology, I was one of the first people to see the actual events during that unfortunate SM Pampanga shootout. What that video showed made me really doubt the ability of our country’s law enforcers, especially on insuring the security and safety of civilians.

“

Being unprepared is not a valid reason.

”

The video was a bit hazy but its purpose was clear – to tell us that something was really wrong. It showed two young individuals lying on the floor, supposedly dead – but one of them was still actually alive! On the video, I could see the struggle of one youngster trying to get attention, as if saying, “I’m still alive; please help me.” The boy even managed to turn himself over on his back. He and the other boy were not alone; there was a small group of people around them – mall security personnel, policemen, and even a security guard with a first-aid kit sticking out from his behind. What were they doing? They seemed to be simply watching the boys. One man even went closer, not to

help but to take a picture or video with his camera, for Pete’s sake!

Perhaps, he has already posted it on Facebook.

That night, I watched the news. The YouTube video that I had seen was the biggest newsmaker of the night! As expected, many were furious just like me. And why not? Because once again, the PNP had given the same pathetic reason it did for the Quirino hostage crisis - that its men were not prepared for the shootout incident. What they simply did was to call the ‘nearest’ emergency response team that was actually stationed several kilometers away from the mall. They didn’t do anything else because they were clueless! They had no idea on how to respond to emergency situations requiring first-aid or emergency treatment.

The video made me terribly angry. I couldn’t stop thinking that our police and security personnel are so incompetent! They’re supposed to be always ready for emergencies.

They should know emergency procedures. Being unprepared is not a valid reason. When will they know what to do? When will they be ready? ***** Now it will be more difficult for the police personnel to redeem their tattered reputation and integrity. I only hope that they will fulfill their promise to improve their emergency response capability.

Now is the best time for them to shape up and make up for their inexcusable mistake - if they can.

For their sake and ours, I do hope they can.

Graphics by RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

SOCIETY

Child Labor Child’s Play?

Text by KIM ERIC J. DEL ROSARIO With reference from CENSUS.GOV.PH Photos by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

A

ruler, a piece of cartolina, a worn-out textbook, and some pens are among the things scattered on a shabby table (actually a vegetable stand) over which a seemingly undernourished boy is hunched. Despite the cacophony of voices around him, Jayson*, a 13-year-old student at A. Bonifacio High School, remains focused on what he is scribbling on the bright colored cartolina spread before him, acting as though he was in a school library, not in a public market. He is brought back to reality by a customer’s loud, assertive voice. The diligent boy is now back to being a market assistant who helps sell assorted vegetables and dry goods in a dilapidated stall inside the Iloilo Terminal Market. This job is his family’s primary source of income.

“They (children) are not allowed to work here for they would only be a nuisance. Some of the market vendors even drive them away but there are a few who serve as secondary aides since they are the children of vendors and workers themselves,” relates Manong Jo, a fish vendor.

Jayson, being both a student and a storekeeper, sees to it that he keeps things well-organized, from his school assignments to the vegetables he puts on display for sale. Tending the store’s finances,

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he is cautious and meticulous about the money he receives and the exact change he gives, otherwise he has to answer for the deficit. Any mistake that he makes during the sales transactions can be quite expensive for his family because they can hardly even make both ends meet. Working at the family store on weekends and a few hours after school is both his family obligation, as imposed by his parents, and his personal interest.

There are also other children

who spend time in the public market, not as customers or petty criminals but as workers like Jayson. Some would occasionally be ordered to lift heavy loads for their stalls, regardless of their thin, undernourished bodies.

“There are many of us around here. Some are even my relatives.

Just a few stalls away from here are my cousins,” Jayson points them out.

Farther down in the recesses o f t h e w e t m a r k e t , a b oy nicknamed ‘Dodoy’ is carrying a

loaded sack that seems to be twice as heavy as his body weight. “He is a shy one,” says his companion.

He appears to be in his preteen years judging from his size.

Obliged to help out in their family business in the wet market, he has given up schooling.

Similar to Jayson’s story is that of Rigor*, a 14-year old who peddles fishball at schools in Lapaz and the town of Leganes.

Rigor, however, is in a worse state. With a modified trisikad that weighs 20 kilos more or less, he is often seen pedaling on the cracked roads of Jereos Extension in Lapaz up to the late hours of the night before going home to Brgy.

Sinikway also in Lapaz.

Afflicted by poverty, he has stopped schooling; he is supposed to be in second year high school this academic year. He wants to be a future law enforcer but that dream has to take a backseat for a while. He has learned to spurn the material inessentials at an early age to focus on honest labor which is peddling on wheels.

The clanking of a piece of metal attached to his trisikad and the bulb hanging from its roofing, as well as the small frail boy driving it, catch the attention of the evening crowd.

He peddles around the streets, wary of the dangers and, often, the volatile weather condition that accompanies his “business

trips”. He is the eldest son after all, the one who acts as the secondary bread winner in his family, after his father who works as a security guard, “When I peddle in the afternoon, of course, there is the heat. Sometimes, when it rains, it is really troublesome to find shelter. But I never mind the fatigue since it (peddling) is for the profit I can make,” shares Rigor.

“In some cases, I get frightened, most especially when I go home at night, since the streets are dangerous nowadays, but I am persevering in this work.”

At the end of the day (night actually), after counting out his sales, he usually makes a 150peso profit at the very least, from a minimum of six hours of peddling fishballs. Afterwards, he goes to his boss’s house and recounts his sales. Later, he cleans and prepares his pedicab for the next day’s sales trip.

“When it comes to inventories, there should be no scams. Otherwise, I’d still lose if the owner finds out because he will charge the “losses” to my next day’s profit. Even my father is strict with regard to honesty… and yes, my parents are proud of me. They see to it that I don’t lose my moral values,” shares Rigor.

Most often, minors are considered immature and a liability to society. However,

Jayson and Rigor prove otherwise.

They are compelled at a young age to think and act maturely in an attempt to overcome their poverty and insure their survival.

The National Statistics Office data show that, in general, the top three reasons for the out-of-school youth population not attending school are the following: ‘High cost of education’ (19.9 %), ‘lack of personal interest’ (22 %), and ‘looking for work’(30.5 %). In the cases cited, it would seem that employment at an early age is a solution to poverty, a harsh reality confronting the youths and jeopardizing their futures. Sadly, there are still many other ‘Jaysons’ and ‘Rigors’ out there.

Children need to be afforded a decent, unimpeded education at their age. Intervening factors such as work come in conflict with their true function in society – to be in school, to study, to identify their roles – and it is poverty that brings about this conflict.

Despite the tremendous display of maturity by the two boys, the fact still remains that they are only minors, children who are hapless victims caught in the menacing clutches of poverty.

However, despite the early onset of gloom in their childhood, both boys continue with their toils, finding hope in the sweat of their labor that beckons them to a brighter future.

SOCIETY

HONOR TO

KILL FOR Text by GENESSA A. BUENAFE With reference from MEMINI.CO

“D

ear Dad” was all Heshu could write as she held the pen tightly in her fingers.

It has been years since she cried hard in her pink-walled room, surrounded with fuzzy animal toys and dolls, a place she thought was safe. She wrote how she was a disappointing 16-yearold to her family and that deep inside she could never be proud of herself. Finally, she revealed that she would run away that night with the man she loved, escaping her family’s demand for her to follow age-old traditions on arranged engagements. Freedom was a few blocks away until her door opened. With hatred-filled eyes and a knife-wielding hand, her father entered her room.

By the time the police arrived, the goodbye letter Heshu had started to compose was drenched with her blood and her pink room splattered with red stains. But her father thought he could now breathe peacefully at last.

That year, rumors spread throughout school that Heshu Yones, an Israeli teenager, had a relationship with an 18-yearold Lebanese boy. It was utter dishonor to her family, leaving her father only one option - to eliminate her - in the belief that by doing so, he would be acting as an honorable father should.

Heshu’s case was just one among many stories of young girls who had to die to regain the “tarnished” reputation of their families and who fell victim to what is now commonly called as honor killing.

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What you see is what tradition says “These people grow up believing that this is the norm.

So what the child is witnessing is taken as it is. It may also be some sort of modeling,” says Dr. Ma. Theresa V. Castañeda, a psychiatrist at the Iloilo Medical Center, Iloilo City.

According to Jordanian researcher Ferris Nesheiwat, in many cultures around the world, an individual’s identity is closely tied to the family unit. As such, the family’s honor is viewed as a personal reflection on each member of the family so that a strong reaction ensues if any member brings dishonor to the family. It is in this context that the idea of honor killing started.

Certain family cultures in Asia, Europe and even here in the Philippines, particularly among the Muslims, are so strong that the life of a woman who crosses the boundary of tradition may be endangered.

The England-based Independent Home News reports that, every year, up to 17,000 women in Britain are being subjected to “honor”-related violence, including murder. The police say that these killings must end to ensure that the cycle of violence will cease and eventually stop spreading around the world. Such crimes can arise from circumstances such as a young girl talking to an older man, a husband dreaming about his wife cheating on him, a woman having a luncheon meeting with her male boss, and a mother failing to serve a meal

quickly enough.

“It is already in their culture and, without any information or knowledge about other people’s cultures, they wouldn’t take it as something serious. From the Filipino perspective, that is something undesirable and contrary to our religious beliefs,” says Castañeda.

Th e p ra c t i c e o f h o n o r killing leaves the family member without freedom and dignity.

Unfortunately for some women, particularly in Jordan and Pakistan, their going beyond cultural traditions is not even supported by their governments, there being no protection policy or law on the issue. Clearly, family tradition is a much stronger influential factor than a person’s right to live and make free choices.

Preserving honor, teaching violence “Since this is something that they do or think as the usual way of living, children wouldn’t look at it as bad or … inappropriate,” adds Dr. Castañeda.

An average child in one of these families wouldn’t need to switch the channel to watch ‘CSI’ or ‘The Crazies’ when, after all, his living room is already a blood-splattered crime scene with, maybe, his sister sprawling on the floor, his aunt bleeding to death or his battered mother lying still on the carpet. In insuring that the so-called honor killing is known to everyone in this culture, children are allowed to be exposed to violence, not just on television but also in real life.

In fact, these days, violence is shown on TV in high definition, and done at home as well.

Honor killings induce fear.

In their research paper, Pakistanis Gadit, Amin Muhammad, and Sujay Patel say that children who have witnessed or are aware of their family members or other relatives being victims of ‘honor’ killings, are often incredibly traumatized, and face an increased risk for behavioral issues, substance abuse, and repeating the cycle of ‘honor’ killings.

“The children would end

up following the traditions and culture of the family or take it (violence) as something they will look forward to in the future,” adds Dr. Castañeda.

A young boy raised in a family where killings happen will grow up thinking that he can end anyone’s life if the family allows it. His parent’s action now indicates his and his siblings’ future identities as members of their family and serves as basis for their own future decisions that would greatly affect the family and the community where they belong.

Breaking the silence Th e n u m b e r o f c r i m e s involving honor and tradition continues to rise. Just within a few years, as reported in many countries, honor killing has been like a viral infection that quietly but effectively contaminates the victims. As it has been done before, so will it continue to spread its deadly strain although nobody knows where.

Th e P h i l i p p i n e s i s n o exception. Many Filipino families, including the Muslim ones, exercise rituals or observe practices that could bring about this type of violence, and they are not even aware of it.

Castañeda states, “If these people are exposed to other cultures, they would think twice about committing a crime. The best solution then is education and awareness.”

With this exposé, the time for honor killings to stop has come. This issue is now in the hands of activists, journalists, reporters, writers, bloggers, and social networking, civil, and human rights groups to break the silence on honor killings and related cultural issues that generate hatred and fear rather than tolerance and respect.

Blood-drenched letters and anguished cries will become mere memories of the past when every person gets the proper perspective and orientation on their family traditions and cultures vis-à-vis the accepted norms and behavior of majority of the people in the civilized world.

“

FREEDOM was a FEW

BLOCKS away

UNTIL her DOOR

OPENED.”

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

9

Text by JESANNY I. YAP Graphics by RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

C

hange of religion has always been part of the life and struggles of the Church, and for man, part of his search for God, the Supreme Being. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church #27-28 says: The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for: The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence.

The Name Game At present, there are over 270 religions in the world.

As new religions continue to emerge, how can we tell which religion is which?

A former classmate, Anna*, doubted the existence of God. She would always argue with the Theology teachers, though in a nondescript manner, asking the essence of faith and religion in a world full of earthly pleasures.

She added that, for her to believe in God, there must be proof of the existence of such Being.

In the Philippines where religion plays a central role in most families, there is an unwritten rule that the religion of the head of the family must also be followed by the other members of the family. In Anna’s case, growing up in a non-Catholic family meant conforming to beliefs and practices that are different from those of most of the people around her. “My family and I have already changed religions twice. It was hard in

the beginning, mingling with friends and classmates who had opposing religious views. More often than not, they would argue with me over my religion and theirs,” shares Anna regarding her childhood experiences. Like some children, she was caught in a dilemma - which faith to believe in.

Religious groups such as Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), The Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Ang Dating Daan, Protestants, and other sects or denominations, however, have the same thing in common: that only their church or religion gives man the one-way ticket to definite salvation.

Spiritual Suicide Over the years, nay centuries, people have doubted, criticized, dismissed and lost their faith in God and in the teachings of their churches. The term for this loss of faith or abandonment of Christianity or falling away from the truth, is “apostasy” from the ancient Greek word apostasia,

10 | THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011

m e a n i n g “ i n s u r r e c t i o n ” .

Therefore, an apostate is someone who once believed, then rejected, the truth of God. Apostasy is a rebellion against God because it is a rebellion against truth. In the Old Testament, God warned the Jewish people about their idolatry and lack of trust in Him. In the New Testament, the Epistles warn us about not falling away from the truth. Apostasy is a very real and dangerous threat and some people are already blinded because all they have in their hearts is the human side of the Church.

Rev. Fr. Josue Escalona, Jr., the Director of the Diocesan Commission on Family and Life of the Diocese of Kalibo says, “People change their religion because of some considerations; first of all, the human person: with his openness to truth and beauty, his sense of moral goodness, his freedom and the voice of his conscience, with his longings for the infinite and for happiness, man questions himself about

God’s existence. In all this, he discerns signs of his spiritual soul.

The soul, the ‘seed of eternity we bear in ourselves, irreducible to the merely material’, can have its origin only in God. Thus, in different ways, man can come to know that there exists a reality which is the first cause and final end of all things, a reality that everyone calls God”. CCC 33-35.

Man’s senses make him capable of knowing of the existence of a personal God. But in order for man to be able to build a real relationship with Him, God willed to reveal Himself to man and to give him the grace of being able to welcome this revelation in faith.

“Others change their religion because they are misled by others, especially when they are brought to see and be angry at the human side of our faith. …This will lead them to embrace the faith that is not really founded on the love of God,” adds Fr. Escalona.

Thus, St. Paul tells us, “Let no one in any way deceive you,

RELIGION

for it [Jesus’ return] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,” 2 Thess. 2:3.

The Church does not allow such an act (apostasy) but it also cannot let the persons who want to leave remain, if they are not comfortable about living the faith. But as always, the Church is like a mother who will wait for the return and renewal of her children.

“I think it is rare to find someone changing religion with gravely malicious intent. We can observe that, for most, they leave the Catholic faith because they find it reasonable,” adds Fr. Escalona.

In his book,Veritatis Splendor, Pope John Paul II taught that one should give due respect to the “journey of conscience”, and that everyone has a “duty to follow [his] conscience” [par.

31-32]; however, the late pope also said that it doesn’t mean that conscience is the sole criterion of truth. The mere fact that it is the dictate of conscience does not guarantee that it is factually true. Nonetheless, no one can act morally when the act is not in conformity to his conscience.

Change of Heart A n n a , n ow a C a t h o l i c

convert, narrates how happily events have turned around for her family after they entered the Catholic faith, “It is very fulfilling.

You can now actually say that your search has ended, and all you just need to do is complete your purpose in life. My family and I attend the Holy Mass regularly every Sunday and, as much as possible, try to live an upright kind of life.”

L i k e A n n a ’s f a m i l y, the Catholic Church openly w e l c o m e s a n d e n c o u ra g e s adult converts, whether they come from another religious background or from an atheistic or agnostic one. For adults and children over the age of seven, converting to the Catholic Church requires the completion of a program called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). This process involves a number of classes, rites and sacraments. The purpose of RCIA is to provide education, support and structure for adults participating in the conversion process. “ Th e p e r s o n i s f i r s t evangelized. Then he/she is catechized. Then the catechist will recommend the person for baptism if he/she finds the Catechumen (one who is under instruction in the elements of the Catholic Church; a new or young

convert) ready to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. We need to have an informed and a wellformed conscience before getting into a life that needs a lot of faith sacrifices,” says Fr. Escalona.

The Catholic View Years ago, the Catholic Church declared that outside the Church there was no redemption.

But now, the Church cannot absolutely say that because no one can really fathom the depth and breadth of God’s mercy.

Besides, the love of God is not only for those who claim to be His followers. It is the way we live our faith that will truly assure us of our salvation.

For Catholics, it is the Paschal Mystery of Christ that plays a great role in salvation. The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, ... ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin... Justification detaches man from sin ... and purifies his heart of sin. It reconciles man with God. With justification, faith, hope, and charity poured into our hearts, obedience to the divine will be granted us. Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered Himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God, and whose

blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men. Justification is conferred in baptism, the sacrament of faith. Its purpose is the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life.’ ( CCC 1989-1992) Thus, it is not only through our religion that we are saved but also by the very act of God in our lives. The sacraments that we receive are aids for us to be holy and to be worthy followers of His Will. We need faith and good works for our salvation.

God sanctifies some people for them not only to be led to the Church but also to remain in their religion and keep their faith.

Predestined to be saved, not condemned Being Christ’s body, the Church has the mission not to restrict or limit salvation, but to expand it to include all of humanity.

Redemption does not only depend on our belonging to a certain group. After all, the great feast in heaven is reserved for a great multitude of people, not only for the elite because, truly, in the end, we will be judged only on how much we have kept true to our faith and loved God by serving our fellowmen.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

11

OF CHANGED

A

t 10:30 PM, I find myself pouring over my books for tomorrow’s lessons or going online and catching up on the latest updates on Facebook. That night, however, was not one of my usual nights. As I leaned against the wall and looked at the figure lying on the bed, I knew that the pain I felt inside was nothing compared to what she was going through that time. At 10:30 PM, I would have been looking forward to a new day tomorrow as I drift off to sleep.

Instead, at 10:30 PM on the 23rd day of June, I found myself bargaining with God to spare the life I wanted to be lived a little longer. Later at 11:00 PM however, as I walked out of the West Visayas State University Medical Center with a heavy heart, I knew then that the ‘auction’ had come to its final bidding.

Too much to handle Loss is something we have to deal with at some point in our life. The pain of common experiences like forgetting to save your thesis before the power failure, or something much graver such as the loss of a loved one, is enough to teach us that in life, there are some things which are quite difficult to handle.

When my grandmother reunited with our Creator barely six months ago at the age of 77, I found it really hard to go about my usual ‘house activities’ without seeing something that would remind me of her. The smell of the half-burnt tocino in the kitchen? Lola used to prepare my meals before I left the house on weekends. The portable radio in the tiyangge? Lola would always tune in to Bombo Radyo in the afternoons and listen to Kahapon Lamang (an MMK-like radio program). The lit candle on the altar? Lola would put it off at night before she slept. These were little things I usually left by unnoticed until my grandmother passed away. From that moment on, I have wondered how was I was going to go on with my life now that one of my avid supporters has left me onstage when my final performance was still far from over.

1st level: Denial As outlined by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, there are five stages of grief namely denial, anger,

bargaining, acceptance, and rebuilding.

When my grandmother passed away, I convinced myself that she was only sleeping and would soon wake to do her usual routine of asking me how school went while I ate my merienda. As

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LIVES

NEW BEGINNINGS AND

Text by MARY LESLIE S. EREGIA Photo by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

written by Jennifer James in her book Women and the Blues “we will go through familiar rituals and pretend that nothing is out of order.”

2nd level: Anger When my grandmother

died, I felt as if the earth had opened and dragged me towards nothingness. Throughout her interment, I kept asking “Why?” Why now when she could’ve seen me as a successful cardiologist ten years later? Why now when I could heal her in the future

EXPERIENCE James, “As the reality of the loss becomes harder to avoid, you may be tempted to bargain.”

4th level: Acceptance When you lose someone whom you hold close to your heart, be it a family member, a lover, a friend, or a pet, there is no avoiding the awareness and the pain. The full impact of the loss of a loved one is is felt at some point.

Then, the healing process begins.

On the 24th day of June at 12:40 AM, when my grandmother had passed away, many people served as our family’s “shoulders to cry on.” Though our hearts were broken, crying and mourning seemed to pave the way toward an inner healing for each one of us.

The pain served as our gateway to emotional and spiritual freedom.

if given the chance? I took her death very hard, to the point of refusing to eat shrimps though I loved these very much. I have developed a loathing for these ‘sea creatures’ since the 13th of May when my lola became comatose after losing oxygen in her brain

due to the swelling of her neck.

This happened following the eating of shrimps, which triggered an allergic reaction. I was very angry at being hurt so much.

3rd level: Bargaining During my grandmother’s

42 days in coma, I developed the habit of praying to God “Lord, indi lang anay subong, pwede?”

Though I knew the chances of survival were pretty slim, I refused to give up hope that my grandmother would get through unscathed. In the words of Jennifer

5th level: Rebuilding How do we find the strength to move on with our lives now that our loved ones have left us? How do we complete our puzzle called ‘life’ when one piece is missing and will never be retrieved? I guess these questions can be answered by no other than ourselves. Other people can serve as instruments towardmoving on but it is we, ourselves, who can initiate the complete healing we long for. Six months after my grandmother had passed away, I knew that this advice worked for me: Give yourself time to heal. Bringing back what has happened is next to never but we can always do something about the future. I chose to let go little by little knowing that my beloved grandmom was someplace else - happy, at peace, and wishing I could do the same for her.

When we lose a person or an object close to us, grief takes over accompanied by the symptoms of stress: exhaustion, inability to eat or sleep, body aches, swollen eyes. Even losing one’s career or job is enough to drive a person nuts. However, in losing something valuable, we are taught to be strong, to stand up and continue with life, knowing that everything serves its own purpose. In losing, we finally learn that lives do change and that new beginnings can be created.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

13

PEOPLE

That Side of Paradise Text by FEBRIELYN S. TUMINES and AYAH DANICA V. GRANADA Photos by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

M

any a night, Jose Pacuray* would roll back those sepia-colored memories in his head like a film in reverse. If only he had stayed home, then it wouldn’t have happened. If only he had gone to some other place with someone else, then he would not have been involved. Restless and sleepless, he formulated hundreds and thousands of “ifs” although he knew it was hopeless.

Gregor Medina* was a very different man compared to what he was five years ago. But what did happen five years back? He was busily pouring more liquor into his glass when a sudden rush of blood to the head clouded his judgment. He couldn’t remember exactly what he did as he had been in an alcoholic haze back then. It all happened so fast. It had taken him only a minute to realize that his seven-inch fillet knife was stuck deep into his enemy’s ribs.

Gregor tried to run from his crime but then, the tentacles of justice are far-reaching.

Life had been very tough for both Jose and Gregor, for what could be tougher than a life behind bars? Would life have been less harsh if they were outside the prison walls? Is there such a thing as a second chance after serving time in prison?

Case Number One Jose had been counting the ticking seconds, hours, days, weeks, and years inside Muntinlupa. The cell walls had been fading through the years along with his graying hair. The faint light from an upper window shone on his head, revealing limp, thin, graying hair. He had grown old indeed, and he hated this fact. Almost twenty years in prison was enough punishment for a crime he never committed.

Then, after years of serving his sentence, the bars opened like the gates of heaven and the policeman whom he thought was like an angel, told him he’s free. He was very happy indeed but finding his paradise outside the prison walls wouldn’t be

14 | THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011

that easy.

“I had the same problem as the other ex-convicts do - the difficulty to start anew because I don’t even know where to start. Freedom from (jail) doesn’t guarantee (a happy life). The horror of being a 49-year old excon finding a job struck me,”Jose shares.

Prof. Maria Cristy Daguay, sociology teacher of the College of Arts and Sciences, explains society’s role in these cases through the Labeling Theory of Howard Becker, which states that it’s not the act, it’s the who, what, when and where the act was committed.

“It’s how society reacts to the act. If you’re an ordinary person, forget it,” explains Prof. Daguay.

“A behavior is deviant if it has a social stigma attached to it. Once you are accused of committing a crime, whether you’re innocent or not, people will still speculate and make conclusions. You suffer from that stigma for the rest of your life,” she adds.

Case Number Two Gregor felt like he had everything to lose. Everything in his life was almost perfect, but in a blink, it fell apart- his studies, his family, his dreams, his selfworth.

Thankfully, after making complete settlement in the

amount of one hundred thirty thousand pesos with his victim’s family, Gregor was finally able to savor the delicious taste of freedom.

“I hugged my mother very tightly - that was the first thing I did after having been set free at last, not because I was the cry baby type, but because I was so guilty of all the heartaches I have brought her,” Gregor narrates.

He was a third-year nautical student when the incident happened. His parents tried to convince him to go back to school, but he refused because of his prison record, for he thought that any educational attainment would still be useless.

“I didn’t have any choice, my reputation was totally destroyed.

Though I was imprisoned for only two and a half years, I lost almost everything,” he expressed.

“Deviance is difficult to explain. There are a number of theories as to why people commit crimes or other forms of deviant acts. But some social scientists support the theory on relativity of deviance. What is deviant is defined by society and so is what is normal, or rather what is acceptable even in matters of what is criminal or not. But we have universal laws on violation of human rights such as the right to live. This is how functionalists

see deviance. If you kill someone, that is deviant not only in terms of prevailing social norms but because killing does not and will not contribute to the functioning of society. From the functionalist perspective, all systems are geared toward creating members who will live up to the expectations of the society. So if you fail to live up to your role as a functioning member, then you’re not meeting the standards set by society. And if you fail to live up to the norm, you get punished,” Daguay explains.

Cases Closed Jose started selling vegetables in the mercado and later acquired a stall after many years of saving. He put up a store selling school supplies and is presently managing three other stores selling the same goods.

Now, he is enjoying all the fruits of his sacrifices.

“I have spent almost onethird of my life in prison for a criminal act I never committed.

Now I know I’m doing the right thing. Thank God I get to grow old free,” he adds.

Gregor, on the other hand, started to manage his family’s two-hectare land. He worked from the first blush of the sunrise to the last shade of the sunset.

He toiled for four years and in the fifth year, he had finally

been able to move on, thanks to his new found love, Juniper*, a young teacher who, inspite of Gregor’s prison record, didn’t find it a deterrent in accepting his love. Though they have not been blessed with a biological child, they have adopted a son and a daughter. At last, Gregor has found his paradise.

“No matter what, there will be societal influences. People will look at you and maybe talk behind your back but you can never blame society for what happened to you, because it’s your own doing. You suffer the consequences of the act.

But it doesn’t mean there is no more hope. You should have the courage to rise above the pressures. Paradise is not a destination, it’s a journey,” says Prof. Daguay.

Paradise, as the dictionary defines it, is a state of supreme happiness - bliss. A cold cell, a tiny window and grimy walls that seem to accept anyone openly with open arms are the opposite.

Today, however, Gregor and Jose wouldn’t hesitate to bring those memories back, like a film in reverse because, in a way, those images and feelings are now part and parcel of who they are as productive members of society. *Not his real name

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

15

URBAN LIFE

ILOILO CITY: The Queen Awaits Text by RIC MARTIN L. LIBO-ON Photo by RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

S

he tilted her crown and knew that something wasn’t right. With a glint in her eyes, she was compelled to submit to fate rather than to resist it. She tried to hold on to that moment, yet, like sand, it trickled from her fingertips right in front of her very eyes. It was no longer her time. Teary-eyed, she reminisced the era of majestic supremacy where she once sat comfortably on her throne. It was the Golden Age when she, the Queen once reigned. Those were the glorious days of commerce and trade during her heyday when she was crowned the “Queen City of the South” and christened in 1898 as “La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo” – still a loyal and noble city until today, loyal to the Ilonggos and noble in the hearts of many.

A Queen crowned by a Queen Iloilo City boasts of a vibrant history, interwoven in the complex cloth of facts, myths and beliefs. In pre-Spanish times, Iloilo was considered as a national economic force and was starting to build a name in the local scene.

During the Spanish regime, it became a thriving city with the expansion of its economic growth. Name it, the city had it - from ports, aviation, textile and machine shops to warehouses, commercial firms, educational and medical institutions, social hubs and industries - Iloilo had all the support systems that charmed everyone. Iloilo City was second only to Manila in providing residents with a quality standard of living. Having developed the potential which led to the town’s growth and advancement, she was crowned as the “Queen City of the South”.

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As written in “Iloilo, the Most Noble City” by Rev. Fr. Policarpio F. Hernandez, OSA, the loyalty of the Ilonggos to Spain was understandable, as the leaders of Iloilo, Jaro, and the islands of Panay and Negros thought that the uprising against Spanish rule was ridiculous. The development of Iloilo and Negros evolved with Spain which considered them as part of the motherland.

The Spanish Crown did not let the effort of the Ilonggos go unheralded. Queen Maria Cristina issued a special royal decree, dated March 10, 1898, which bestowed upon Iloilo the title, “La Muy Noble Ciudad”.

Her Majesty’s Fate Iloilo City had a difficult time when the metropolis fell into the hands of the Japanese. During the 1940’s, the Ilonggos were introduced to an environment

that oppressed the progress of the town with violence and cruelty.

The Japanese regime tried to win the heart of the Queen yet failed miserably, as with the rest of the country. Economic turmoil made the city helpless and later, uncomfortable in her throne. Through the unparalleled revolutiona r y spi r i t of t he Ilonggos, a guerilla movement was established in the city which was victorious in driving away the Japanese oppressors.

Despite this undertaking, dull spots emerged in the Queen’s crown, indicative of a lackluster reign. As graceful though she was, she tried, but failed, to hold on to her crown. However, she stood by the Ilonggos and gave all that she could with unconscious regality. Thereafter, a new chapter began. The city, in dire help of restoration, tried to rekindle the spirit of her people. It was a slow

struggle, one that has lasted even until today. Well, not really…

The Much Awaited Comeback As they say, don’t hang on too long, but don’t let go too soon. Gradually, we are moving on to a higher level. Despite facing all the daunting odds, Iloilo City remains hopeful and versatile, ready to stand up once again and to prove her critics wrong. “It’s just a title and there is no use trying to “reclaim” what has been “lost”. It’s the brand Cebu City holds at the moment.

What Iloilo can do now is to earn a new brand name which could best describe what she is now and what she is aiming for.

I would like to think that Iloilo City has already set its vision to becoming A PREMIER CITY by 2015 – vibrant, well-governed, prosperous, and resilient”, Iloilo City Tourism Officer, Mr. Benito Jimena, said in an interview with The Augustinian Mirror.

He added that in this vision, two goals were particularly intended for tourism development. These goals are to be a world-class convention destination and a center for culture, the arts, and heritage.

“We shall aim for something that we are distinctly competitive in, in terms of what we have, what we can possibly do best, and where we could be most competent”, he emphasized.

Plans concretized: Premier City by 2015 There are bright prospects f o r I l o i l o C i t y, p av i n g t h e way f o r h e r t o b e c o m e a premiere Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) destination. Mr. Jimena shows us a blueprint of what is in store for Iloilo City. It includes the proposed construction of the P15OM Esplanade along Trenas Boulevard, the groundbreaking of the Megaworld project at the

old Mandurriao Airport area, the proposed Guimaras-Iloilo Ferry Terminal (GIFT) project at the Parola area, the construction of the Diamond Jubilee Cultural Center, the entry of Ayala Land C o r p o ra t i o n ’s Te ch n o - H u b Building at the Boardwalk, and the completion of the ChineseFilipino Friendship Arch at Plazoleta Gay, besides a list of other projects still on the drawing board.

According to him, in terms of festivities, the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival has made a name as the top crowd drawer and most photographed festival in the country after it has been installed in the Hall of Fame of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP). The recognition came after Dinagyang was voted Best Tourism Event for three consecutive years. Its track record in the National Aliwan Fiesta is still unsurpassed.

Dinagyang has become Iloilo

City’s number one promotional vehicle and the best tourism event in the entire country.

In a separate written interview, Iloilo City Mayor, Hon. Jed Patrick E. Mabilog says that his priorities include making Iloilo a prime tourist destination and creating a business-friendly atmosphere that will bolster the economic status of the city.

Nestled in the heart of the Philippines, Iloilo City would like her sons and daughters to prepare for the return of the Queen in her own perfect time.

At the moment, she remains on the sidelines. Meanwhile, let us revisit the past which will enable us to understand the present and to realize our dream of becoming a Premiere City in the near future.

While the past hovers over the present, one thing is sure Iloilo will remain in the hearts of the Ilonggos. Regardless of any title, Iloilo City is still the most regal queen of all.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

17

PERSPECTIVES Photos by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

Let’s give them a better today...

...for a better tomorrow.

ECONOMY

PAWNING: A CHANCE AND A CHALLENGE Text by JOYCE GEM M. CAÑETE Photo by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

“She’s going to be fine. She’s going to be fine.”

T

hose words echoed in her head as Joan* patiently waited for her turn while holding a brown slip of paper bearing unfamiliar medical terms scrawled in a doctor’s hasty hand.

“[Antibiotic]. We have a generic drug for this.”

“How much?”

“328.75 pesos per capsule.”

“I’ll take three,” she feebly said, though she knew very well that she needed 12.

As the pharmacist pushed the drugs across the counter, Joan hesitantly gave her the last of her money.

The next thing she knew, she was in a pawnshop clutching the necklace that her husband had given her as a gift.

“Pirme-pirme ginamasakit ang mga bata ko, kis-a sunods u n o d p a n a s i l a . K ay sa manghulam pa ko sa akon kapwa kag kamag-anak kag indi-an pa ko nila, maglain pa akon buot. May alahas man ako nga pwede iprenda. Ti amo na lang na gamiton ko nga ipabulong sa akon mga bata. Indi na lang ko mangutang,” she sighs.

Joan, knowing she’s safe for now, worries about her next challenge: to recover what she has just given up.

Tracing back In an interview with Mrs. Marites Santos*, branch manager of [a well-known pawnshop], pawning is defined as taking out a loan with personal property

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being used as collateral. This cash-generating method dates back to 3,000 years ago in ancient China during the Shang Dynasty in which short-term loans were granted to peasants. During the Greek and Roman civilizations, pawning had been a source of capital for people in times of need, as well as a means of financing business ventures.

Process exposed The process of pawning is simple: First, the jewelry item to be pawned undergoes the verification process for authenticity , whether or not it is the genuine or real thing; it is then appraised based on its brilliance (in carats) and weight (in grams), not on its brand name or designer’s signature.

Its value will then be computed.

Technically, the item with the greater carat and weight has a higher value. Next, the pawner is asked whether or not he agrees to the appraised amount . If he does, he will be asked to fill up a form for the necessary personal information and to present a valid ID for security purposes.

The information is then encoded into the computer together with the detailed description of the pawned material. Lastly, a pawn ticket containing his

name, address, date of loan, item description and terms and conditions is given for him to sign. Assuming that he is not the only pawner at the store at the moment, he will be asked to wait for his name to be called and when it is, he he is then given the cash equivalent of the appraised value of his pawned item.

In spite of this, there are some instances wherein the deal is not that favorable. Lena, a mother of three, shares that there was a time when she really needed to get P5000 in exchange for her item.

But as bitter luck would have it, the pawnbroker appraised the item for only P3000. She calls it a “no-choice situation” as she was forced to accept the deal because she was penniless.

Why pawn if you can lend?

Cristabel Parcon, a professor of Sociology and Economics at UP Miag-ao, explains that pawning is a fast, accessible, and easy way to acquire money, usually “small” amounts, especially for immediate needs, for example, one or two thousand pesos. In contrast, applying for a loan with the bank requires more processing and bigger amounts, thus, making pawning a hit

among Pinoys.

However, there are other personal reasons why pawning is more preferable, as Lena* points out: “Kung mangutang ka sa iban, may utang ka na gani nga kwarta, may utang na loob ka pa, so masangla ka na lang…wala ka pa may mabatian nga comments.”

As for Joan, it was never that easy to acquire money. She had to borrow from others because she needed the money and so had to bear their harsh comments on the length of time the debts could be

paid back. When fortunate, her days of hard labor and sweat such as house cleaning, doing other peoples’ laundry and the like, pay off, as she is able to save enough for the redemption of her pawned prized necklace.

When things get really ugly One thing that a pawner constantly worries about is the payment of the fixed monthly interest. A month of nonpayment will incur an additional penalty fee making it harder to recover the

pawned material. To make things worse, failure to redeem an item before or on maturity date will result in total loss for the owner of the pawned item because it will be sent to the store office where it becomes part of the inventory for a public auction.

Fulfillment After 4 monthly installments, Joan was finally able to recover the necklace which she considers as one of her most valuable possessions. She is relieved and

feels as if a boulder has been lifted from her shoulders. However, despite the hardships she has gone through, she is still willing to repeat the experience of letting go of a precious jewelry possession; she will not hesitate to spend more days of hard work even if it means being on the brink of a serious need because she knows she has the resource (jewelry piece) and the means (pawning) to get the money. *not her real name

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

23

The Crown of Glory

By ANDRE KARL S. FACULIN With reference from PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER and SOCIAL WEATHER STATION Photo by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

S

corched by the heat of the sun, Oca*, a sari-sari store owner, grabbed a bottle of ice cold soda from the fridge and hastily slurped the icy drink. Having refreshed his dehydrated spirit, Oca never thought that something unexpected would knock at the door of opportunity.

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ECONOMY

The silver metal crown of the bottle he held in his hand caught his eye. With his heart beating fast, Oca slowly turned the crown upside down. What he saw printed on it told him he had finally hit the gold mine.

Push your luck Oca is just one of the millions caught in these gimmicks entailing luck. Unlike winning the lottery, redeeming specially marked crowns in exchange for prizes has become a common p r a c t i c e a m o n g Fi l i p i n o s .

Culturally, one of the traits of Filipinos is the tendency to rely on the “supernatural“ force that brings good fortune. Truly, it is indelible from our consciousness.

“Since I won, I have never stopped joining promos, though I don’t win most of the time,” Oca giggles as he shares his experience.

In spite of the slim chance of winning, remarkably, a large percentage of Filipinos still gamble in the game of life. The data from a May 2005 SWS survey revealed that 53% of all adult Filipinos engage in some form of gambling, defined as any of the following: buying a lotto ticket, gambling at a casino, betting in jueteng and card games, and similar other games.

Oca, however, believes that

redeeming crowns for prizes is purely for fun, and winning is just an incentive. “Wala man ko may i-pirde [I have nothing to lose],” he adds.

Heads or Tails In the case of softdrink companies, “sales promotions through games of chance have always been an attraction for the consuming public”, according to the nationalist and economist Hilarion M. Henares, in his book of essays “Good and Evil.” These offer mutual benefits, giving and taking, whether heads or tails, to both sides—the producer and the consumer.

Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Sarsi are just some of these companies that employ marketing strategies to entice not only thirsty individuals but also the sodaguzzling public hungry for instant perks and prizes. They dramatically increase sales of company products. For instance, Coke’s gameplay involves hidden marks under the crowns that surprise the consumers with all or nothing; thus, winning the jackpot is not easy.

“Coca-Cola offers cash in amounts stated under the crown, as much as P25,000, with multipliers that earn you even thrice the stated amounts.

Sarsi offers combinations of crowns; a mark of two bicycles

plus another mark of one bicycle gives the consumer the prize of one real mountain motor bike…,” Henares states in his column published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

In contrast, Oca believes that the crown was a blessing in disguise. “Mayo gid kay kun wala, nasirado na siguro ang business ko.”

No shortcuts “So easy to join with two ways to win” surely turns our eyes into a peso sign. In just a matter of four easy steps, winning a million bucks is simply one crown away from reality. How? Just drink the soda, look under the crown, redeem free products, exchange non-winning crowns for cards, text the game code and win cash— presto!

H ow e ve r, l i f e i s n o t a shortcut so winning has no shortcut either.

As Oca says with pride, “Sa lima ko di ka-tuig, daw unexpected nga nakadaug ko [In my five years of owning this Sari-Sari Store, it was unexpected that I would win].”

Who’s the real winner?

If one were to read between the caps, er lines, winning seems to favor the companies more heavily. Though the consuming public redeems bonuses or

prizes out of buying a 12-peso beverage, they don’t seem to realize the point of it all.

Economics tells us that businesses never venture into an undertaking without assuring themselves of the profit they will get from it. The public simply get the crumbs while the companies get the slices. At the end of the day, however, the economy grabs the entire pie.

Redeeming and changing lives A single crown was converted into a thousand pesos as Oca immediately rushed to the nearest redemption center. His life was completely rescued from the debts of financial distress, emotional anxiety and social predicaments.

“Nabag-o gid ang life ko in a way nga na-rebuild ko ang business ko kag napabakod ang family ko [My life was changed in a way that my business has been rebuilt and my family strengthened],” he explains.

Amidst adversities, hope never disappears. Problems have an end-point no matter how hot and dry the desert of life is. With the duo of luck and hard work, the oasis where one can quench life’s thirst is marked on the map.

Maybe, a soda and a crown will help you survive. *Not his real name

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

25

Tuyang Ermitanya vs. Lady Gaga Sulat nina CHARRIE ROSE E. DUAY at WILHELM C. LIZADA Mga litrato ng MYTOPARTISTS.COM at PEP.PH

“A

ko si Tuyang Ermitanya, naga-puyo ako sa isa ka kweba….Siling nila…, aswang ako…pero indi ina matuod…Siling pa gid sang sang iban…,buang ako…ahheheheheh..pero layo pa gid ina sa patag…Ako isa lang ka normal nga tinuga nga maluyagon mag-isahanon permi..Hindi ako maluyagon magtan-aw sang TV..heheheh. ani ni Tuyang na hindi sinasadyang narinig ni Lady Gaga kaya’t siya’y tumugon ng, “Don’t hide yourself in regret... Just love yourself and you’re set...I’m on the right track, baby..I was born this way..Ooh, there ain’t no other way, baby, I was born this way..Baby, I was born this way..I’m on the right track, baby, I was born this way”

TRENDS

Ilan lamang sina Tuyang Ermitanya at Lady Gaga na maikukumpara natin sa kasalukuyan na pinalaganap ng kulturang popular. Tila lahat kasi ay nagbago na. Sa pananamit, asal,kilos at maging sa linggwahe ay magkaiba. Naguguluhan ako.

Marahil ang mga kabataan at maging ang mga “tumandok” nating mga Ilonggo ay nakikisunod na rin sa uso at pagbabago ng panahon. Maging ang pagsibol ng panibagong yugto ng teknolohiya ay sinakyan na rin at ang sariling wikang ginagamit ay untiunting tinatabunan, tinatakpan, tinatapalan, dinadagdagan, nawala na ang mga katutubong salitang hiligaynon.

Si Dr. Lelanie Basco ng Department of Languages ng Unibersidad na ito ay nagpahayag na maaaring ang tipikal na dahilan umano ng pagkawala ng deep Hiligaynon ay ang hindi paggamit ng malalalim na salitang ito dahil,ayon sa kanya, sapat na para sa kabataan na alam nila ang mga salita at mga katawagan sapagkat nagkakaintindihan naman.

Kasaysayan ni Tuyang Ermitanya Hiligaynon. Wikang kinagisnan at minahal nating mga Ilonggo, na matatagpuan sa Rehiyon VI. Nagsilbing tulay upang mapagbuklod tayong mga taga-Panay. Tunay na hindi matatawaran kung paano tayo nilibang, pinatawa at binugkos ng wikang ito. Mapa-telebisyon m a n , ra dyo , a t m a g i n g s a internet ay pinamangha tayo ng ating sariling wika. Hindi na rin natin halos mabilang

ang mga Hiligaynon songs na nagpagising sa mga nahihimbing nating damdamin. Marahil nasagi na sa ating munting isipan kung ano ka-dakila ang wikang Hiligaynon,saan nagmula at kung paano ito tinanggap ng ating mga ninunong Ilonggo.Subalit, nakapagtataka na sa bawat may hindi sinasadyang naririnig na usapan ay tila may kumbinasyon na ang wikang ginagamit. Napagalaman kong ang trend na ito ngayon ay “code switching”.

Kaalinsabay ng paglipas ng napakaraming henerasyon ay ang pagbabago rin ng nakilala nating siTuyang Ermitanya. Unti-unting naggiba ang ating diyalektong kumalinga sa atin dati at para bang milya ng “Glacier” na nagugunaw sa madalas na paginit ng mundo. Si Tuyang na dati’y isang nakakaaliw na icon sa midya, ngayon ay isa nang laos na matandang tinakasan ng halina.

Pa-sikat ni Lady Gaga Sa pagkawala ng kagandahan ni Tuyang ay siya namang pagpasok ni Lady Gaga. Siya na halos ang idolo ngayon ng karamihan. Ang kanyang mukha, pagsayaw at lalo na sa pag-awit ng kanyang mga awitin ay halos ginagaya na ng mga kabataan sa kasalukuyan.

“Isa pang dahilan ng p a g k awa l a n g k a t u t u b o n g Hiligaynon ay ang mas pagpapahalaga ng mga kabataan s a m g a d ay u h a n g w i k a .” karagdagan pang sagot ni Dr. Basco Kasabay ng ating pagkamulat mula sa kamusmusan ay ang pag-

usbong na rin ng Mass media.

Lalo nitong hinubog ang ating bokabularyong dayuhan at ang pagsibol ng ibang nakatuwaang wika. Nagkaroon tayo ng ‘gay lingo’(Badingtionary),jejemon, street lingo, at iba pa na na mas tinagkilik sa kasalukuyang panahon. Sa pagsulputan ng mga pagbabagong ito sa atin ay ang pagwawalang bahala rin natin sa ating sariling identidad.

Ganoon na ba ka-hightech ang kasalukuyan na pati mga dila’t panalita natin ay tila apektado na rin ng mga makabagon makinarya?

Si Tuyang, naging si Lady Gaga Sino ba ang makapagsasabing s i Tu ya n g b a l a n g - a raw ay magiging si Lady Gaga o si Lady Gaga ay magta-transforma bilang Si Tuyang? Kay hirap man isipin,ngunit, tayo’y mga larawan ng isang modernong Tuyang Ermitanya na nakalbas mula sa Kuweba, tumira sa siyudad at dahil sa impluwensiya ng mga makabagong teknolohiya ay nagibang anyo na.

Lady Gaga nagbalik -anyo bilang si Tuyang Ermitanya Huwag mawalan ng pagasa,ika nga. Nasa sa ating m g a d i l a n a k a s a l a l ay a n g pagpapanumbalik ng ating wikang kinalimutan. Ang mga Hiligaynon songs ay nagiging instant hit na ngayon sa ating mga kapwa Ilonggo. Isa sa mga pagpapatunay nito ay ang kanta ni Angelkym na “Kung Bal-an Mo Lang”. Nang siya’y aming nakapanayam tungkol sa dahilan

kung bakit hindi na masyadong naririnig sa bibig ng karamihan ang malalim na salitang Hiligaynon, ayon sa kanya, maaring ang dahilan ay and pagka popular ng mga kantang banyaga, pati na ng mga pelikula gawa sa Hollywood na tila may malakas na impluwensiya.

“If people would support Ilonggo music, it’s not impossible that it could play nationwide.

Cebuano songs and other local songs have made it. Even Korean songs with catchy tunes are played or sung even though we can’t understand them. I guess Hiligaynon songs can make it, too. There will come a time that Ilonggos will also be recognized.”karagdagan niyang sagot. ***** Mapalad tayong mga Ilonggo sa pagkakaroon ng sariling kultura. Sariling lalawigan, pagkakakilanlan, at higit sa lahat, wika. Maaari pa nating maibalik muli ang dating yaman ng Hiligaynon. Nasa ating mga dila nakasalalay ang pagpapanumbalik ng ating wika tungo sa kaunlaran ng ating lalawigan.(Mapapalad ang mga bungangang may pagmamahal sa pangunahing wika.)

Ang wika ay nagpapakilala ng ating kultura. Dahil dito, nabuo ang ating sariling pagkakakilanlan. Kayav ang payo sa atin ni Dr. Basco: “Ipagmalaki amg wikang Hiligaynon at gamitin ito. Hindi “corny”ang malalalim na salitang Hiligaynon kaya huwag ikahiya.”

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

27

WILDLIFE

KATAKATAKANG TUKO Sulat at litrato ni JERSON E. ELMIDO

A

gosto 1995. Nagbabadya nang kumagat ang takipsilim. Ayaw pa rin paawat si *Pidong sa paglalaro sa labas ng kanilang bahay. Ngunit sa kabila ng kanyang katigasan, may isang bagay na nakakapagpasunod sa kanya at takot na takot siya tuwing naririnig – ang huni ng tuko. Ang sabi kasi ng kanyang lola, paboritong tukmolin ng tuko ang mga makukulit na bata at kapag dumikit ito sa kanyang balat, mahirap daw itong tanggalin maliban na lamang kung humarap siya sa isang nakatuwad na aeta at siguradong mawawalang bisa ang pagkapit nito.

Agosto 2011. Namaalam na si haring araw. Bitbit ang sako, patpat at tali, tahimik na nagmamasid si Pidong sa kanilang bahay. May bagay kasi siya na gustung-gustong marinig – ang huni ng tuko. Ang sabi-sabi kasi, libu-libo daw ang halaga nito.

Kumukubli lang daw sa mga poste ng kanilang bahay ang limpaklimpak na perang pwedeng kitain ni Pidong sa ilang sandali lang ng panghuhuli nito.

Si Pidong ay isa lamang sa mga nahuhumaling sa talamak na panghuhuli ng Tokay Gecko o mas tanyag sa tawag na ‘tuko’. Bawat gramo kasi nito ay nagkakahalaga ng tumataginting na P1,000 o higit pa. Halimbawa ng kalakalang ito ay ang lantarang bentahan sa mga social networking sites kung saan nag-uusap ang mga bumibili at mga bumebenta ng

28 | THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011

mga tuko. Sa katunayan, sa isang page sa Facebook na ‘TUKO PHILIPPINES’, may umaalok sa 400 grams na tuko sa halagang P1,500,000. Ang 500 grams naman o kalahating kilo ng tuko ay pumapalo mula P3,000,000 hanggang P5,000,000 ang halaga. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga spekulasyong ito, taas-kilay lang ang mga eksperto tungkol sa kabigatan ng mga tukong ito.

Ayo n k ay D r. C y n t h i a Sablon, Veterinarian ng Rebadulla Clinic, naglalaro lang daw sa 100 hanggang 200 grams ang kadalasang bigat ng mga tuko. “ Magagmay gid man specially ang mga gecko nga makita sa mga panimalay which feeds only to insects that are attracted sa lights. Wherein, ang mga tuko in captivity medyo dalagko kay sa wild sila ya pero indi gid magbug-

at asta 300 grams unless pregnant ang tuko which is very rare. “ paliwanag niya.

Ano nga ba meron ang mga tuko at tila ba parang higit pa sa mga artista kung sila ay pag-usapan? Totoo bang nakakapaggaling sila ng mga sakit tulad ng Asthma, Cancer, at AIDS? Si Ana Alatiit, isang maybahay at contratctor ng mga ceramics sa Cogeo, Antipolo. Sa isang panayam sa text, sinabi ni Ana na isa siya sa mga naniniwala sa bisa ng mga tuko bilang panggamot.

Tandang-tanda pa daw kasi niya noong walong taong gulang siya ng aksidenteng mahulog ang isang butiki sa kanyang pinggan at di daw niya napansin nang kanya itong nasubo. “Huli na para iluwal kasi pumipiglas pa ‘yung butiki sa lalamunan ko, kaya nalulon ko. Mula noon,‘yung

hika ko biglang nawala,” sabi niya. Wala daw siyang iniinom na gamot dahil sa mahirap lang sila noon kaya naman laking pasalamat niya nang mawala ang malubha niyang karamdaman. “…kung iyon pa kayang butiki, nakakapaggamot, ano pa kaya iyong tuko?” dagdag niya.

Ngunit pinabulaanan lang ito ni Dr. Ma. Lina J. Navarro, Chief Physician, University of San Agustin Medical Clinic. “As doctors, we have regular seminars to be able to update ourselves in our profession pero wala gid na na touch ang amo na nga issue sa amon lectures. Besides, wala gid ako may na read nga article regarding the medicinal values of these geckos,” panindigan niya.

Sa ibang ibayo, bumaba na si Pidong sa bayan. Bitbit ang sakong naglalaman ng kanyang nahuling tuko, dumiretso agad ito kay *Manong Boyboy, mayari ng isang pet shop. Si Manong Boyboy ay isang broker o yung tinatawag nating middleman. Sila ang tumitimbang ng mga tuko at ini-aabot sa mga buyer. Aminado si Manong Boyboy na labag sa batas ang ginagawa nila kaya naman parang tagu-taguan ang kanilang laro. Ayon din sa kanya, kadalasan daw mga dayuhan ang mga bumibili ng mga tuko. “… laban mga Koreano. Gakadto lang na di sila kag naga-offer, ti, syempre, na-porsyentuhan ko man para may kita man ko,” aniya.

Ang RA 9147 o ang Wildlife Act of the Philippines ay batas na nangangalaga sa ating mga ligaw na hayop at sa likas nilang tahanan. Layunin din ng batas na ito ang proteksyunan ang ating likas na yaman laban sa mga pang-aabuso. Sino man ang lumabag sa batas na ito ay may karampatang parusa na pagbabayad ng humigit-

kumulang P300,000 bilang multa o apat na taong pagkakabilanggo.

“From June to September, only three geckos were confiscated by DENR-PAWCZMS Region 6. It is lesser compare to other regions like in Region VII wherein 15 were confiscated and 29 in Davao region. Maybe,it is because everytime we have information, we mobilize our protection to that particular area,” sabi ni Raul Lorilla, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Province of Iloilo. Ayon pa sa kanya, may mga kaukulang proseso kung papaano nakakabalik sa kalikasan ang mga nakumpiskang tuko.

“As to the release of geckos to their habitat firstly, we identify the species and where it was captured then determine their condition if fit for immediate release or if injured this will be brought to the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center for rehabilitation and treatment until fit for release upon recommendation of the veterinarian,” paliwanag niya.

Samantala, bigong umuwi si Pidong. Hindi kasi umabot sa hinihinging bigat ang tuko na kanyang nahuli. Plano niyang pakawalan ulit ito sa kanilang bahay. Gayunpaman, hindi parin daw titigil si Pidong sa pag-asang makakahuli din siya ng mabigat na tuko balang araw. Ito lang daw kasi ang sa tingin niyang makakaahon sa kanila sa kahirapan.

Nakakapagtakang tuko.

Biruin ba naman, ang dating kinatatakutan, ngayon ay hinuhuli maibenta lang. sadyang kay pait ng kanilang tadhana. Kapalaran ba nilang mawala sa mundo?

Mababawi pa ba natin sila sa tuluyan nilang paglipol?

“Too much gathering of geckos from the wild may cause an imbalance of certain ecosystem.

Since, these geckos play a critical role in the population control of insects and worms. Also, causes depletion of its population especially for the parents stocks and will lead to extinction,” dagdag ni Lorilla.

Kayamanan kung ituring ang ala-ala ni Pidong tungkol sa kanyang kabataan at ang paghuni ng tuko. Sana marinig din ng mga susunod na henerasyon ang paghuni nito.

Paano mababawi ng mga tuko ang panan-awan sa kanila ng mga tao bilang mga nakagagamot sa mga iba’t-ibang sakit? Paano nila mababago ang maling paniniwalang ito sa kanila?

Ang tanong na tayo mismo bilang mga tao na binigyan ng responsibilidad na ingatan ang ibang nilalang ang tanging makakasagot. *Hindi nila mga tunay na pangalan THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

29

RELATIONSHIPS

Mahal kita, ‘Peksman,’ Magpakailanman Sulat ni HANNAH GRACE S. TABA Grapiks ni NICOLE FERNAN L. CAMINIAN

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nti-unting nangilid ang luha sa kanyang mga mata habang binabasa ang sulat mula sa lalaking noo’y inakala niyang nakatadhana sa kanya. Hindi man maikaila ni Ella na may natitira pang pagmamahal para sa binata, hindi pa rin niya maitatanggi ang pangyayari noong minsan siyang iwan nito dahil tutol sa kanilang pagmamahalan ang mga magulang ng binata. Dali-dali niyang sinindihan ang palito ng posporo at minasdan ang kapirasong papel na unti-unting naging abo.

Sa mundo kung saan may mga taong walang ginawa kung hindi ang sumunod sa nais ng mas makapangyarihan, nagiging mailap sa kanila ang pagkakataong magawa ang mga bagay-bagay ayon sa kanilang pansariling kagustuhan.

Labinlimang taong gulang pa lamang noon si Aling Nimfa nang magkakilala sila ni Mang Jesus sa isang lugar sa Bicol. Nagsimula sila bilang magkaibigan at di naglaon ay nagtapat ng pag-ibig si Mang Jesus at nagsimulang manligaw kay Aling Nimfa na tumagal ng limang buwan.

Ng u n it g aya n g tanyag na kuwento “Sa Lumang Simbahan”, may mga naging hadlang din sa pagmamahalan ng dalawa. Tutol ang mga magulang ni Aling Nimfa sa relasyon nila ni Mang Jesus.

“Bata pa raw kami at saka ayaw nila sa mga magulang ni Jesus,”

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ani Aling Nimfa.

Ayon kay Loreta Forte, isang psychologist, ang pangunahing layunin ng mga magulang sa paghihigpit sa kanilang mga anak ay upang protektahan ang mga ito.

“Gusto lamang nilang protektahan ang kanilang mga anak sa bagay, o mga bagay na alam nilang may masamang maidudulot sa kanila,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang bawat tao ay may karapatang gumawa ng kanilang sariling desisyon ngunit mas pinili ni Aling Nimfa na suwayin ang utos ng ama. “Karamihan sa mga magulang mas pinipili ang kanilang mga anak na maging m a b u t i n g t a o k aya n a m a n gagawin nila ang lahat para maisakatuparan ito kaya naman minsan dumadating sa punto na wala nang katwiran ang kanilang pakikitungo sa kanilang mga anak,” ani Forte.

Nagkaroon din ng pagkakataon na niyaya ni Mang Jesus si Aling Nimfa na magtanan.

Subalit nahuli sila ng ama ni Aling Nimfa at ipinakulong si Mang Jesus na umabot ng isang buwan.

“Ganoon naman talaga yata pag nagmamahal, minsan hindi mo na naiisip kung ano ang tama at mali,” pahayag ni Mang Jesus.

Pagkalipas ng isang buwan, l u m aya s i M a n g Je s u s . S a paniniwalang maari pa siyang matanggap ng pamilya ni Aling Nimfa, siya ay nagsumikap.

Tumigil siya sa pag-aaral nang makatapos ng hayskul para magtrabaho. “Oo, mas maraming sideline, mas maraming kita.

Lahat ‘yun ginawa ko para matanggap ako ng pamilya niya,” dagdag pa ni Mang Jesus.

Nagpatuloy naman sa pag-aaral sa kolehiyo si Aling Nimfa at nagtapos bilang isang guro.

Di nagtagal ay natanggap din siya ng pamilya ni Aling Nimfa.

Nagpakasal sila at nagbunga ang kanilang pagmamahalan ng tatlong supling at ngayo’y may pitong apo na.

Sa kasalukuyan, nasa ikalawa nang termino ni Mang Jesus bilang kapitan ng kanilang barangay sa gulang na 57. Si

Aling Nimfa naman ay masipag pa ring nagtuturo sa kanyang mga mag-aaral sa edad na 53.

“Nagpapasalamat nga ako sa Diyos at umabot kami nang ganito katagal. Kasi sa panahon ngayon bihira na lang sa mga magasawa ‘yung umaabot nang ganito katagal,” sabi ni Aling Nimfa.

Marami mang pinagdaanan,

nanatili paring matatag ang pagsasamahan nina Mang Jesus at Aling Nimfa.

Minsan mang nagkahiwalay, naging daan lamang ito upang lalong tumibay ang tiwala sa isa’t-isa. Kaya naman ngayon naniniwala sila na anumang hamon ng buhay ay makakaya nila basta’t sila ay magkasama.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

31

CAMPUS

MINSAN

NANG AKO’Y

Sulat ni MIA ROSE V. EMBOLTURA Litrato ni KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

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alakas pa sa tunog ng aking alarm clock and pagputok ng eskandalo hinggil sa isang kumakalat na video na kinasasangkutan ng dalawang estudyante na tinawag ng mambabalita na “naglalaro ng apoy.” Hindi ko lubos naintindihan ang buong istorya sa likod ng nasabing eskandalo dahil nang tingnan ko ang aking relo, limang minuto na lamang bago ako mahuli sa klase! Hala! Nang ayusin ko ang aking buhok, napansin ko ang suot kong palda. Makulay ito. May mga linyang nagsasalitan na berde at pula at mga paminsan-minsang bahid ng dilaw. Naisip ko, hindi imposibleng mangyari muli ang ganoong bagay sa mga Agustino at kapwa estudyante ko.

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GISINGIN NG

BALITA

Naporma ko ang ganitong ideya dahil siguro sa trend sa kasalukuyang panahon, ang mga bagets ay madaling nauugnay at nahuhumaling sa tawag ng droga, barkada, at alak, maagang pagbubuntis, karahasan sa paaralan, sexually transmitted diseases, kahirapan, paglalayas, pagpapakamatay at tawag ng laman.

Noong ika-27 ng Agosto, ginanap sa Unibersidad ang Cassiciacum upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng kabataan sa modernong panahon.

Kabilang ito sa hanay ng mga a k t i b i d a d e s s a p a g d i wa n g ng Augustinian Youth Day. “Ang Cassiciacum ay paraan upang pukawin ang kabataan at makabalik sa tamang landas.

Sa panahon ngayon, masasabi nating nagkakaroon ng “moral h i b e r n a t i o n .” K a l i m i t a n g ginagawa ng mga tao, partikular ng kabataan ang kung ano ang makakapagdulot sa kanila ng kasiyahan. Hindi na nila iniisip kung ang isang aksyon ay moral o salaula. Kung ginawa na nila ito bago ang isang aksyon/akto, gagabayan sila nito tungo sa isang tiyak na landas,” saad ni Padre

Pederito A. Aparece, O.S.A. Ayon naman sa Obispo,” Ang Kabataan ay dapat maging tulad sa isang bahay na itinayo kay Hesukristo na may matibay na pundasyon. Sapagkat kung walang pundasyon ay guguho ito.” Tinukoy rin niya bilang haligi ang pagpapahalaga, moralidad at ang palagiang reflection o panganganinag sa salita ng Diyos.

Ku n g t u t u g ay g ay i n s a kasaysayan, ang Cassiciacum ay isang villa sa Milan kung saan si San Agustin, kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan, ay nagtitipon para pag-usapan ang pananampalataya at ministeryo. Dito ipinaris ang pagganap ng isang diyalogo sa pagitan ng Santo Papa at ng mga kabataan sa buong mundo at ang ating bersyon - ang Cassiciacum.

Sa Pilipinas, kabilang ang ating rehiyon sa mga nakikibahagi dito.

Ang nasabing Cassiciacum ay isa lamang sa pamamaraan na ginagawa ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) upang gabayan ang kabataan sa mga isyung kinakaharap nila. Dahil sa ipinapakita ng istatistika ng pagtaas ng bilang ng mga kaso ng maagang pagbubuntis,

pagkasangkot sa droga at pagpapakamatay, napapatindi ang kampanya ng simbahang Katolika at CBCP upang ipagpatuloy ang Cassiciacum sa buong Pilipinas.

Pinapakita sa istatistika na halos 30% mga Pilipina ang nagiging ina bago umabot sa edad na 21, batay sa pag-aaral na isinagawa ng University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) at ng Demographic Research and Development Foundation.

Sa taong 2002 naman, umabot sa 26% ng kabataang Pilipino ang umamin ng pagkakaroon ng karanasan sa premarital sex.

Ayon naman sa National Statistics Office (NSO), sa 1.7 milyong sanggol na ipinanganak noong 2004, halos 8% ang ipinanganak sa mga nanay na may edad 15-19.

Nangangahulugang isa sa sampung bata ay mula sa teenage mother.

Ayon pa sa Center for Disease Control (CDC), isang ahensya sa pamahalaan ng Estados Unidos na gumagawa upang protektahan ang pampublikong kalusugan at kaligtasan, pangatlo sa dahilan ng pagkakamatay ng mga kabataang may edad 15-24 ang suicide o pagpapatiwakal. Kinakatakutan naman ang paglobo ng bahagdan

ng pagpapatiwakal ng mga batang nasa edad 10-14 dahil pumapalo na ito bilang pang-apat na dahilan ng pagkamatay.

Sa Pilipinas naman, sa taong 2006 ay umabot sa 60,000 (sa isang pag-iistima) ang mga kabataang nalululong sa droga.

Ibinahagi naman ng Obispo ang pahayag ng Santo Papa- Benedict XVI na ang kabataan ay nagkakaroon na ng amnesia o pagkalimot sa Diyos lalo na sa maraming pangyayari sa kanilang buhay.

“Bilang bahagi ng isang Katolikong institusyon, kailangang malampasan ang pagkalimot sa Diyos dahil sa pagkalihig sa mga materyal na bagay,” diin pa ng Obispo.

Hindi paman lubusang naibabalik sa tamang landas ang lahat ng kabataang Pilipino, nakakasiyang isipin na maraming paraan ang ginagawa ng simbahang Katolika upang ipakita kung ano ang tama at maling gawain. Kaya siguro sa susunod, hindi ko na kailangang buuin pa ang mga istorya sa likod ng mga iskandalong kinsasangkutan ng mga estudyanteng “naglalaro ng apoy.”

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

33

CAMPUS

The Light at the End of a (very long) Tunnel Text by JOSEFA MARIA A. CASTRO Graphics by RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG Line art by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

2000

2002

S

econd Chances. They’re not easily handed out - they’re earned. But what happens when these second chances turn into third, fourth, fifth chances? What happens when you run out of chances? Can someone really run out of chances? These are just some of the questions that will hopefully be answered when we get a glimpse of what life’s like for an ‘O.S.A’.

What comes into your mind when you see or hear the letters O.S.A?. No, I’m not referring to the “Order of Saint Augustine,” I’m talking about those “Overstaying Augustinians.” You know, students who’ve been held back a year or two (or even five) in college because of their dreaded back - subjects, or simply because they never got around to finishing their thesis. I’m sure a lot of students in the University know one or two students who weren’t able to graduate on time. Well, some of them stick-out like fish out of water in a classroom full of freshmen; but before we judge them, let us first get a closer look at what life’s like for them.

Peter* has been in college

34 | THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011

for ten years; yes, ten years. He started out as a student from the College of Engineering and Architecture, but after about two and a half years, the scholastic pressures took their toll on him, so he decided to enrol in the College of Arts and Sciences. He admits to feeling more at home in his new course. After going at a steady pace for a couple of months, Peter began engaging himself in vices that were mostly to blame for his extended years in college.

Computer games like Counter Strike and DotA were also the culprit for his skipping a few classes here and there. Peter also admits that he was very choosy about his teachers and decided not to attend the classes of those

whom he felt were incompetent.

All of his lolly-gagging eventually caught up with him. At first, it wasn’t that difficult for him to accept the fact that he might not be graduating together with his batchmates; but when he was delayed even further, that’s when he started to worry.

When asked about his parents’ reaction to his predicament, Peter simply had this to say “Sermon lang adlawadlaw eh.” Also, the fact that his younger siblings were able to graduate ahead of him made him even more determined than ever to finish the originally four-year course that he had taken up.

His ten years in college weren’t as unproductive as you

2004

2006

2008

might think. He took a lot of sideline jobs such as freelance event organizer, especially during the Univerity’s Patron Saint’s Day and University Week celebrations.

Despite his stumbles, he takes it all in with a smile and never entertains the thought of giving up. Now, with only two subjects left, Peter can finally see the light at the end of his ten-year long tunnel.

Another O.S.A. worthy of recognition is Mark*. Mark was in college for seven years. Although he’s already graduated and has what he believes is a stable job, Mark didn’t hesitate to share his roller-coaster experience.

His first year in college started quite positively. His academic performace was average and he attended most of his classes. Two years into college, Mark started feeling lazy about attending his “irrelevant” minor subjects that he felt would be of no use to his future career. He started skipping one class after the other, only

prioritizing his major subjects.

When he finally got his report card, it was more of a letter, than a list of grades. All the DRP’s and INC’s mixed with a few 3’s and 5’s got Mark a bit worried, but he couldn’t care less. Mark was never the studious type, nor was he ever the trouble-maker. He was more than apathetic about graduating on time.

He continued to stray in his stray, arrogant ways and lay his fate in the hands of “destiny”, as he puts it, and stuck by his mantra of “if it’s meant for me to be, it’ll eventually happen to me”; by this he means graduating. It was only when Mark found out that his long-time crush (and batchmate) was now working for a big company, did he begin to doubt the choices he’d made in the last few years of his life.

Then did he start to think of the things he COULD have done if he had graduated a few years back.

Seeing his parents work day-in and day-out to continue paying

for his tuition is what eventually struck Mark the strongest. “Kapila na ko nila gin hatagan tsansa para maka sige eskwela, pero daw gin bali wala ko lang”, shares Mark.

He worked long and hard, and although it took him two attempts at finishing his thesis, Mark was eventually able to say the words “graduate na ko” with a heavy heart.

Peter and Mark are just two of the handful of students who never backed-down on the challenge of finishing something they have started. While most people would eventually resort to dropping-out of school when they felt that the academic pressures were too much for them to handle, you can’t help but hold out two thumbs way up to the people who just don’t have it in them to simply quit school.The number of failures they’ve met along their rocky journey will eventually be forgotten and taken as lessons learned once they find their place in the real world.

2010

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011 |

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CAMPUS

TRONO NG HARI Sulat ni JAMES MARTHY M. ESLEYER Grapiks ni JERSON E. ELMIDO

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igil hininga kong tiniis ang nakakahimatay na amoy habang umiihi ako sa banyo.

Saan ka ba naman makakakita ng banyo na bago pa lumabas ang ihi mo, eh mauuna ka pa atang masuka? Naglipana pa ang mga lihim na manunulat na gustong magparating ng mga natatagong damdamin mula sa mga sawing pusong pinipilit makalimot hanggang sa katawang naghahanap ng panandaliang init.

Saan ka ba naman nakakita ng palikurang animo’y placard ng mga nagwewelga? Akala ko nga dati freedom board ang kaharap ko, may mga hinanakit sa magulang, sa titser, sa textmate o sa girlfriend. Mayroon pang ilang nagpapatalastas ng number. Ano to?Wall post? Facebook na ba ngayon ang pinto ng cubicle o yung dingding ng banyo?

May mga ilan naming parang mga duling kung umihi. Ang lakilaki na nga ng urinal eh hindi pa maka shoot. Yung iba nga akala sa urinal eh basurahan, kasi may lamang bubble gum, tissue paper at papel. Minsan nga my white notes pa! Sabi ko sa sarili ko, may kumukuha na pala ng test sa loob ng banyo. Astig!

Hindi rin naman naiiba ng kapalaran ng mga palikurang pang babae. Duling din ata kasi nakanganga na nga ng malaki ang basurahan, hindi pa maitapon ng mabuti ang kanilang mga sanitary pad. Dito mo rin makikita ang mga tamad magbuhos ng tubig pagkatapos gumamit. Ano ba naman yung isang tabo ng tubig?

Gaano ba ito kabigat na hindi ninyo makuhang buhusan ang toilet? Pag pasok mu eh parang may patay na isdang ibinurol sa loob ng banyo. Pwede ka pang magpinta sapagkat ang toilet bowl eh parang lalagyan ng water color, may pula, orange, dilaw

at iba pa.

Ang palikuran o banyo ay para na ring salamin o repleksyon ng ating sarili. Kung anuman ang ating ginagawa dito o anuman ang nakaligtaang gawin, eh parang ginawa na rin natin o nakaligtaang gawin sa ating mga sarili.

Sa tuwing susulatan natin ang malinis na pader ng banyo ay para na rin nating sinulatan ng pentel pen ang ating mukha.

O di kaya’y kapag nakalimutan nating buhusan ang toilet, para na rin nating nakalimutang maligo.

Napakadali sana ng solusyon…

Konting disiplina samahan ng konting pangangalaga, eh ayos na sana. Sadya bang napakahirap nito?

Kung magkakaroon siguro

36 | THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR | DECEMBER 2011

ng patimpalak sa pagandahan ang mga palikuran, tila yata kulelat tayo diyan. Mula sa dyaheng amoy, bandalismo ng mga manunulat, hanggang sa kakulangan ng tubig. Ilan lamang ito sa mga putik sa mukhang maituturing ng atying mga kandidatang palikuran.

Kailan kaya makakabawi ang mga palikurang ito?Gayong kung iisipin, ang Mendel CR ay bawing bawi na. Mula sa dating reyna ng mga palikurang pang kalye, eh pang hotel na ngayon.

Bagong pintura, malinis na tubig at malinis na salamin, ilan lamang ito sa mga pambato ng isang kandidatang pang Miss Universe, CR category nga lang.

Gaya na rin sa pang arawaraw natin. Konting disiplina sa

sarili at pangangalaga sa katawan eh ayos na ayos na. Hindi naman sa ganda nasusukat ang pagkatao kundi sa linis at pagdadala sa sarili.

Ngunit sino nga ba ang dapat sisihin? Ang mga estudyanteng hindi marunong mangalaga sa kalinisan ng palikuran o ang maintenance na hindi marunong maglinis ng tama? Hindi ko mawari kung ano nga ba ang solusyon sa problema. Sapagkat sa tinagal-tagal, eh hindi pa rin natapus-tapos. Paulit-ulit na lang nating tinatalakay ang isyung ito taun-taon. Tilá ata hindi marinig ang boses natin o nagbibingibingihan lamang? Sa tuwing uupo tayo sa toilet ay para tayong nakaupo sa ating trono, trono ng hari! Trono nga ba?

Photo by KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE