Hero Me, Hero Not

CENTRAL

TABLEOF

The

CONTENTS

BOARD ECHOEDITORIAL RANIEL C. PONTERAS Editor-in-Chief

EDITOR’S NOTE ................................... 1 EDITORIAL Are words enough? .................................. 2

VIEWPOINT The Politico-Psycho Philosophy of Popular Politicians .......................... 3 On gun control, suicide, and planking .......................................... 3 1+1 .................................................................. 4 Towards Academic Excellence ............ 4 Banooks ......................................................... 6 Chains of Freedom .................................... 7 In the Dumps ............................................... 8

CAMPUS Ad Astra per Aspera: To the Stars through Dif�iculties ........ 9 What would happen to CPU If Rizal were a Centralian? ................ 10 Go going Forward! .................................... 11 Bahandi ......................................................... 12

ENVIRONMENT The Power is Yours! ................................. 13

COUNTRY Money Matters ........................................... 14 COVER STORY Hero me, Hero not .................................... 16

HEALTH The Modern Day Plague ......................... 18

JO JAN PAUL J. PEÑOL Associate Editor AIRON B. BUENVENIDA Managing Editor

DEVCOM Operation Bingka ...................................... 20

REYSHIMAR C. ARGUELLES Feature Editor

YOUTH All Work and No Play .............................. 22

BRYAN ERIC T. CEREBO News Editor

WORLD The Brave Not Breivik .............................. 24

HISTORY Revisiting Herstory: The Beautiful Ilongga Suffragette Pura Villanueva-Kalaw ....................... 26

CULTURE AND ARTS Iloilo’s Ink ..................................................... 28

ALVIN K. TUNG Literary and Sports Editor GLORIA CONCEPCION H. MORALIDAD Lay out Editor SHARMIN GALE S. DEL SOCORRO Photojournalist REA ANGELICA F. VILLEZA ESTHER ROSE A. ROMARATE Advisers

TURISMO Kristo Rojo ................................................... 29

RON ADRIAN A. DIONALDO MEL ARLY Q. PEROL Contributors

FILIPINO Walang Hanggang Paalam ..................... 30

MOVIE REVIEW Ang Babae sa Septic Tank ....................... 31

Printed in Iloilo City, Philippines

By Makinaugalingon Printer and Bookbinder

PANIPLAT Kruhay Go ahead, we will follow Path to nowhere ........................................ 32

THE CENTRAL ECHO

3rd Floor, Dr. Alfonso Uy Student Union Building Anahaw Road, Central Philippine University Lopez Jaena Street, Jaro, Iloilo City Philippines 5000 E-mail Address:

central.echo@gmail.com Visit us at:

www.centralecho.blogspot.com www.thecentralecho.journ.ph Central Echo. All Rights Reserved. Philippines Copyright October 2011 © Central Philippine University

ABOUT THE COVER The cover design is similar to a reversible court card where one can still see the same image even by �lipping the cards vertically. Reversible court cards were produced so that players would avoid cheating.

Reversible court cards are identical.

Comparing it to the real world gives us a pondering thought: Are we seeing what we ought to see? Like twins, they may seem alike; however, they surface out different characteristics.

EDITOR'S NOTE

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

In the

LINE of FIRE is the

PLACE of HONOR.

— Lean Alejandro

T

he annals of history have allowed names to enter its caverns through an entry of �ire. Those who have entered, the likes of Rizal, Sakay, Malvar, Bonifacio, del Pilar, Tandang Sora, Melchora Aquino and others have undergone a series of hell to have their names and legacies engraved in the continuing narrative of history. However, the �lames have cooled down, almost neutralized by the birth of the new trends; such shift brings about a project to bifurcate the essence of the hero: a cleavage between the current and the vintage.

This Central Echo issue attempts to bathe the �lames of history with literary fuel, to act as a mnemonic torch to light the dark cavities of our memories: enamoring us in a beautiful nostalgia, to make us remember the rich tradition of heroism that our forebears embodied: a level of heroism that is distanced with a huge gulf from the current romanticized personalities that we identify as heroes.

Writing has been an institution of heroes. The pen has been instrumental in nurturing the nexus of ideals, hopes, aspirations, and imaginations: from Karl Marx outlining the emancipation of the working class, to Jose Rizal cradling the infant dreams of liberation, to Jean-Paul Sartre challenging a colonial entity - the pen has transformed itself to become the sharpest sword tempered by the burning ideas of an epoch.

Armed with the pen, The Central Echo aims to inspire those who open its pages by juxtaposing vintage heroism with contemporary realism. If our pens are sharp enough to penetrate the Centralian consciousness, then we can say that we have only achieved a minor victory; for the foremost goal of The Central Echo is to enervate the Centralian into action: a heroic action.

May you allow the ink that echoes on these pages resound in your hearts and minds, and together, as a united Central Echo, become an institution fueled by heroism to challenge existing dilemmas and tribulations.

Let us all become heroes and bask in the potential victory that awaits us in the future, then in unison shall we sing the Chilean song of triumph: VENCEREMOS! VENCEREMOS! LA MISERIA SABREMOS VENCER!

RANIEL C. PONTERAS Editor-in-Chief www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

1

EDITORIAL

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Are words enough?

P

residential Proclamation 242 which states the observance of National Teachers’ Month from September 5 to October 5 is something that teachers are to politely thank for; nevertheless, it is but an additional item to the long list of lip services, for it is not accompanied by government actions that uplift and protect the venerable status of the lifeblood of the academe.

The inaction to resolve the lingering demands of the teachers and the nonformulation of a concrete plan to resolve the problems that hamper the school system makes this celebration hollow, thus reducing it to a mere lip service. It is to be noted that the success of any education reform program would be impossible without giving paramount consideration to the welfare of the teachers.

In a statement issued by the Teacher’s Dignity Coalition (TDC), a non-leftist teachers’ society, they did not only express their appreciation for the declaration of National Teachers’ Month, but also asked the government to “halt its token pronouncements and begin doing more tangible programs for

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teachers and the public education system.”

Moreover, according to Luzviminda Ilagan, representative of Gabriela Women’s Party, the Filipino teachers are among the least compensated in Asia. Salaries of teachers in Malaysia, Thailand,

and Japan almost doubled after 15 years of teaching experience while those in the Philippines receive a meager 10 to 15 percent increase.

We should then agree with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano that public school teachers belong to the country’s “poor sector” because their monthly salary of P10, 933 falls below the poverty threshold de�ined by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

With the aforementioned drawbacks, it is not surprising that most of our teachers, whether

in private or public schools, have joined the diaspora of Filipino professionals for better pay. Thus, the country is suffering from a shortage of quali�ied teachers.

Teachers, like farmers and construction workers, produce a societal need. Food and shelter are to name the primary, but it goes the same for education.

They deserve respect which can be translated into just compensation, for like farmers, they plant the seeds of understanding in the minds of the young.

And like construction workers, they build forts that keep out complacency from intoxicating the students' tender minds.

Allowing educators to dwindle in number will cause intellectual famine and regression.

Famines bring about disasters, and the best way to counter disasters and tragedies is through concrete action. If the government does nothing to resolve this issue, then it is willing to push the labor and education sector into a disastrous position.

Celebrating the worth of our teachers with rich words but with empty promises will not protect us from further calamities. Words are not enough.

VIEWPOINT

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

N

otice my awesome application of alliteration in the title?

Damn good stuff.

This is narcissism; and on this episode we will be discussing about the socio-political power of its mnemonic functions speci�ically as an instrument of bringing about the satisfaction of the ego as practiced by our populist politicians, or colloquially known as the “trapos” or (traditional politicians).

But isn’t that a very narcissistic objective? Yes. Because like narcissism, things like these demand great attention and scrutiny. Let us �irst anchor our discussion on a uniform subject: populist politicians, or the trapos (i.e. those who sit in government of�ices and do nothing but the same old recycled politicizing time and time again; Sen. Sotto comes to mind).

To further make a stronger point, let us isolate one trend among the ranks of the trapos. Notice how every one of them, when implementing a project or after erecting a structure, it is surely followed by, for example: “This road project was made possible through the efforts of Hon. this and that.” It’s as if they were the ones who mixed the cement, who laid out all the logistics, and did the manual work! But that’s beside the point — to go back, why such practice?

The political philosophy of this practice presents a case of projecting a cult of personality of oneself through the constant repetition of one’s name (or image). It is some sort of a perverted mnemonic revolution wherein the person of the trapo is ingrained in the minds of the spectators. This rather counts as free publicity for the trapo since, �irst: the materials used for that function is most probably from the government treasury; second: the trapo need not be physically available to have his/ her name �loating in the memories of society.

This mnemonic power would then prove bene�icial for the trapo come election period. And guess what, majority of those who won seats are themselves, TRAPOS! Hurrah!

OBLA DI OBLA DA THE POLITICO-PSYCHO PHILOSOPHY OF POPULAR POLITICIANS RANIEL C. PONTERAS

But – aside from the political bene�it that it entails, there is another – with the help of Jacques Lacan, the groundbreaking French psychologist/ philosopher – phenomenon that

The satisfaction happens when the person sees that its ideal self is being af�irmed, its importance reiterated

deserves a psychological investigation.

Lacanian psychology narrates the development of the “I” with a unique perspective, but also in conjunction with that of Freud’s earlier theories: that development, Lacan calls as the mirror stage. During the mirror stage, the person develops a concept of “I”

A

problem can be as big as an elephant but people can be as blind as a bat!

Our ears and eyes were full of news heard over the last months after three shooting incidents happened in famous malls here in the country.

First of which took place last July 29 where a security guard was killed by a Games and Amusement Board employee inside a restroom in Iloilo City, it was then followed by a lady who killed her husband while working at a furniture store in a mall at EDSA last September 14 for the reason of having another woman. And lately, we have heard of a rare incident which involved a 13-year old boy who shot his 16-year old boyfriend at Pampanga.

Many commentators blamed the mall administration for lax of security while some would focus on confused sexuality. But I guess that’s

when coming in contact with a mirror: a re�lection - what the persons sees, is the ‘ideal’ self, rendering their true selves as inferior to that image.

So the person compares its true self to that of an ideal reproduced image of its self. There is a visual aspect in this diagram: the action of seeing is of fundamental importance.

This characteristic is perfectly manifest in the practice of the trapos, that is the constant placing of their name (the ideal self) on anything that is visible to society: this rather borders neonarcissism.

By placing his/her name in public places, the trapo satis�ies its self by constantly being reminded of his/ her ideal-self, (i.e. seeing their image placed in multiple avenues aside from that of a mirror). The satisfaction happens when the person sees that its ideal self is being af�irmed, its importance reiterated – their ‘I’, being a re�lection from others, considered in a positive light. To the trapo, it is so satisfying that it reaches a libidinous point.

The self-de�inition of the trapo is utterly dependent on the perceptions of others (French philosopher Jean-Paul … continued to page 6

POINT OF ORDER

ON GUN CONTROL SUICIDE AND PLANKING JO JAN PAUL J. PEÑOL

not the main issue.

Why focus on metal detectors and sexuality? Why put the guilt on the malls that are just as much a victim of the brutality in many ways?

How come no one ever talked about GUNS and LOOSE FIREARMS? Why has no one talked about GUN CONTROL or a campaign against loose �irearms?

Malls don’t kill people, GUNS do. …continued to page 5

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VIEWPOINT VERITASERUM

1+1 AIRON B. BUENVENIDA

1+1…

2!! …11!? Equals 2?? Is there a question? Is it a simple statement? Or perhaps, a suggestive expression that compels your mind to think?

Algebraically speaking, it’s a simple process of combining two elements. I didn’t say what is the sum of 1 and 1, or 1 plus 1 is equals to (?), or 1+1 =x, �ind the value of x!

Again this statement by the word itself states only the process imposing a question that no one told you to answer.

To get a clear picture of what I’m trying to articulate, consider also this statement: a+b. Can you give the same response like that of the above stated? Of course you can’t because these are variables not having any value to represent, a reiteration of the process how b is added to a.

Supposedly, a college student who got a taste algebra, trigonometry, calculus and other modern mathematics,

T

he four walls of a classroom whisper those words as if they were narrating memories of a family picnic. The pillars at the main gate are also trying to convey the same idea to anyone passing by, as if greeting students and teachers to another day of scholastic fun.

We go through the gates with the prospect of learning things; things that are supposed to be useful to us in the near future; things that will give us an edge in hunting for jobs; things that will convince bosses to hire us to work in their companies that feed on human talent for them to vomit out cold bucks.

Learning things is but a small part of academic life.

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October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

should not treat 1+1 like a pre-school pupil but we did.

Who are we to blame if young as we were, the utterance of 1+1 has been injected into our minds to solicit a response of a two. My mother also once taught me that way, and I found that it fundamental; but as we grow old, we have to learn and unlearn things. The human mind is not perfect but it should always be open.

There was once a man who supported the idea that the earth revolves around the sun, the latter being stationary. At that time, everyone thought of the very opposite.

Our tongues swiftly react while our brains lamely re�lect; a very sad reality but very true

He was then labeled a heretic by the church and was condemned. Yes, he is Galileo who became the hapless advocate of heliocentricity but was later commended several years after he died. Indeed, anyone can commit a mistake without the exception of the church (with a human mind behind).

We are bombarded with bundles of socio-economic, political, and moral issues on which everyone has their own personal say. Yes, it’s good to have one because it’s a way of exercising our right to be heard; the problem is we remain naïve in �iguring

MINDFUDGE

TOWARDS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

REYSHIMAR C. ARGUELLES

The big picture of us being in school is the opportunities for us to reach the peak of our potentials, or what I would like to refer to as academic excellence.

But excellence does not build itself. It requires hard work, dedication, and

things out. Our tongues swiftly react while our brains lamely re�lect; a very sad reality but very true.

I’ve witnessed some good proposals, programs and hypothetical solutions to mitigate the neverending cyclical problems we have, but because of the ethnicity of our thoughts, beliefs and principles, we remain entangled in the quagmire salivated by our own negative mentality.

"It's not going to work" said those of the closed mind. The pending bills, unsupported programs, boycotted advocacies and worst, our ‘uninvolvement’ suggest how ignorant we are for the so-called growth and opportunities. Think. Decide. Be involved. And if you can't, just keep your tongue inside your mouth. Remember, our country needs our thoughts and actions, not our words.

I guess it’s not too late for us to loosen our oral batteries and install our mental ones. Materialize inputs before outputs. We have �ive major senses �ixated to a common one. Use it.

The education we receive from this University is invaluable. Don't let our learning stay in our auditory canals. Live by it. Above all, lean not on your own understanding as what the Bible says.

So by the next time you hear the statement 1+1, brainstorm, contemplate and re�lect. You’ll then know what to say. Aja!

cash. Of course, construction materials are needed to nail excellence on the buildings as it is necessary to buy wood to make a bridge.

But in the academe, we are not building a bridge: we are not making a path. But it is not actually us paving the way, it is someone else or, to be more precise, someone who is capable of constructing the path with the necessary materials, and authority. We are just the runners or walkers on this path.

And what else must we do other than to race through this path? Watch as other runners dart away into the horizon, striving for a shining, glittering prize at the end? One who is a certi�ied

VIEWPOINT

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

diskartidor would certainly not miss out on such an opportunity, so it is best to set foot on the race; set forth towards academic excellence. Besides, with society going haywire, education is still a good bet for a good future, or so they say.

So there you are on the race towards academic excellence. The �irst few kilometers was just a walk through the mall, and you feel so alive and full of butter�lies thinking that this race is not half that hard. However, as you continue on, lo and behold! Potholes! But it does not matter, you simply walk over them. But as you successfully avoided a possible ankle sprain, you slip; the back of your head made the �irst impact; your bottom aching irritably as you lay there.

You give yourself a breathing relief from the pain. Minutes passed and you realize now that someone oiled the spot where your foot landed. Recovering from the physical ordeal, you grow irritable as you lift your head and see before you thumbtacks scattered arbitrarily about, cracks splitting here On Gun Control… from page 3

Avoiding the issue is the equivalent of giving criminals a green light to go and kill someone with a gun!

Many would seem to forget that any registered, licensed gun owner or a gun club must be complying and under the supervision of existing gun control laws. I believe that a call for real gun control is intended for people who have unregistered guns. Moreover, if someone should be leading the need for gun control, it should be gun clubs and licensed owners so as to stop the criminals from moving around unrestrained and free of charge!

For information, according to GunPolicy.org, the estimated total number of guns held by civilians in the Philippines nearly numbers to 3,900,000, out of this number, only 775,000 are registered �irearms. For the record, our country ranks 20th among the 178 nations for with the most number of Privately Owned Firearms.

The Philippine National Police gave out its reports showing that 99.5 percent of 5,999 gun-related crimes

and there, brick walls built at waist level serving no other purpose than to block the pursuit, and water stations that only have containers and no water.

The walk through the mall has become a journey through hell.

So what does it mean? It means that the path is not at all in tiptop shape.

We are made to run a road that makes

We are made to run a road that makes achieving excellence an impossible feat to accomplish.

achieving excellence seem an impossible feat to accomplish. Let it be known that going towards academic excellence requires hard work and dedication on the part of the individual. It is the individual to choose whether to race or not to race. The individual runs and sweats, enjoying the air and the challenge. But the obstacles that get in the way of progress are not challenges that are to be swept to the side like pebbles. They are an annoyance, and the more we reported last year used unlicensed guns.

Non-Government Organization International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), says the Philippines ranked 10th in the list of countries across the globe with the highest number of gun-related killings.

Teenagers are in a phase where they are constantly seeking approval, trying to �it in and �inding out who they are and where they belong.

Colombia has the highest with 50 deaths per 100,000 people in a year, IANSA said. The Philippines, the only Asian country in the top 20 list, has 9.64 deaths per 100,000 people annually.

On the issue of suicide, “it is always an offshoot of severe depression or profound sadness,” said Dr. Elizabeth Espinosa Rondain, a psychiatrist at Makati Medical Center.

"Suicide will not take place if the person or child is not depressed," added Rondain.

face them, the more we come up with conclusions of demoralizing defeat. The more they present themselves during the race, the more and more runners will be on the verge of throwing their towels in surrender.

The path needs mending, that is, it needs to be cleared of obstacles. If the builders of the path really want the runners to go for the gold, then there is no use for them to put up barricades and scatter thumbtacks. If the builders want it to be a fair race, let them clean the path free from obstructions.

As participants of this race, we should not always stay as participants. If academic excellence is what we aim for, then by all means, let us clear the way ourselves. But if someone tries to stop us and convince us to live with it, then there is no need for us to run the path. We should all stop and spit on the path.

If this continues on, with our passivity and their ignorance, then all hope for academic excellence should be �lushed down the toilet of a PortaPotti that rests on the side.

Typically, the depression has been there for weeks, even months. Among teenagers, depression manifests itself in rebellious behavior such as stealing, using drugs or alcohol, anger, and confusion, or marked changes in behavior, says a study.

Identity confusion in teenagers does not pertain only to issues of gender or sexuality. Teenagers are in a phase where they are constantly seeking approval, trying to �it in and �inding out who they are and where they belong. Furthermore, friendship and relationships are key factors in this age group.

That elucidates why teenagers feel totally about rejection. Family and school problems could also add up to his/her sense of pain and misery.

Here are some things we must look out for if we sense something is going on in our friend’s lives: • A marked change in eating or sleeping habits.

• Withdrawal from friends or barkada, family and regular activities. www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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VIEWPOINT

“

• Unusual neglect of personal appearance and hygiene.

• Marked personality change.

• Persistent boredom, dif�iculty concentrating, or decline in grades or quality of schoolwork.

• Frequent complaints that are related to emotions such as stomachaches, headaches or fatigue.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry stresses that a teenager contemplating suicide will also often complain that he is a bad person who feels rotten inside, gives away his or her possessions as in "putting things in order," or become suddenly cheerful after a long period of sadness.

Statements such as "I want to commit suicide" must never be taken for granted. Try to investigate and �ind out where the statement is coming from. Better to be safe than sorry.

There is nothing wrong with seeking professional help from a counselor, psychiatrist, or psychologist.

If a friend is behaving strangely, or showing signs of depression, seek help from those trained to deal with it.

T

here is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book.

Books are well written or badly written. That is all…

The book which the world calls immoral is the book that shows the world its own shame.” – Oscar Wilde A book is a printed work consisting of pages bound together along one side and bound in pretty covers; a mere medium or a channel of the author’s thoughts and accountability. It serves to delight and reveal to people the tribulations of society that have been blurred by reality.

Over the years, books have been challenged or have been removed from their very shelves because of their content – when people banned them. There are some instances where banned books have been burned for the reason of sexual, religious and social violations like The Golden Compass and the Harry Potter series.

During the old days, possession of such

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October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Deal with the problem. Do not be frightened to ask some questions. In a kind and reassuring manner this will show your friend that you care.

Parents must also take time to know the needs of his/her child. Providing material needs is not enough, instead, the needs of the heart and the spirit must be addressed too.

The home, above all else, must be a safe harbor for every child, or teenager to return to after a tough day charting what can be the rough sea of adolescence.

These problems shall be given immediate solutions. For those people at the House of Representatives, kindly craft more productive laws such as the Gun Control Act and the Citizen’s Protection Act. Likewise to the parents, talk to your child more often to create a more harmonious and creative family relationship – avoiding danger such as suicide and the like.

Hence, I would say, that there are indeed a lot of problems which needs to be addressed than just passing an “Anti-Planking Law.” I know right?!

POP GOES THE WEASEL

BANOOKS

GLORIA CONCEPCION H. MORALIDAD

books has been regarded as an act of heresy, punishable by jail, torture or even worse – death.

The above statement by Oscar

There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book – there is only a moral or an immoral author.

Wilde from the preface of his novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” sends me whirling to my afterlife if whether I will agree to this declamation or otherwise.

The Politico-Psycho… from page 3

Sartre predated this concept of Lacan’s, and posits it as the radical con�lict between the “being-for-itself” and “being-in-itself”). Society’s perceptions of a personality at most times are polarized in the binary of good and bad. A gray area seldom exists. And since it is important for the trapo to be lumped into the positive spectrum; the employment of such mnemonic projects are important albeit conceited.

“I did this.” “I did that.” Yes, these are all lines famously employed – abused even, just for that simple purpose of making the true self similar to the ‘ideal’ self.

But to have your name painted on walls just because it was supposedly made possible through your efforts (what efforts, by the way? This even undermines the efforts of the working class – the ones who really made things possible) is simply narcissistic – and should be even �ined, for that is, in the most basic sense, vandalism.

This lovely article was made possible through the awesome efforts of Raniel C. Ponteras.

Well, truth be told, for six years, ever since I read the novel, I highly agree with Wilde. There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book – there is only a moral or an immoral author.

According to Christian Nevell Bovee, an American author and lawyer, books are embalmed minds.

Every concept pops up from the author’s imagination or a copy from reality itself, no more, no less. Books are just objects composed of papers and inkblots. It sounds illogical to have some of them stripped off and denounced as “immoral”. Why? What are books but mere papers and ink?

They are non-living matters, they cannot act ethically or otherwise – only people can, because they are human beings capable of thinking and conforming to what is moral or not.

It’s like breaking a mirror because one does not like what he or she sees.

Oh denial. What did that mirror do to deserve such fate? Other than that, the thought of even burning immoral

VIEWPOINT

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

books upsets me because setting those papers on �ire is like setting trees on �ire… on Mother Nature…on the human race… whatever.

Immorality or morality takes place within the author’s thoughts —what might be moral to him might be quite unprincipled to others. In addition to that, the �low of words or the story angle highly depends on the skill the writer can execute. If an author wrote a debauched work of art, s/he will send it off to the publisher. Now, publishers have the power to ask the author to improve the worth of the work; change the structure of the craft with their editors, if possible; or decide what

I

have always been fond of watching cartoons or animated movies created most especially for children. Watching such show allows me to break free from the indestructible walls of unforgiving reality. And who would have thought while enjoying my childish moments, my ripened mind would be astonished and my dispassionate heart awakened? It was when the captain of the movie Wall E stressed out “I don’t want to survive, I want to live”.

I re�lected on the essence of living by the moment and I started to think about the theme of Christ Emphasis Week (CEW) “What do you want out of life?”

Answers regarding tangible materials were over�lowing from my head such as car, money, a gigantic house, gadgets, and so on. Things like each one of you would like to have. Then my naïve ideas narrowed down to what I want to do with my life: the profession I wish to take, the things I love to do, and the people I would die to be with. Indeed, like you, I have innumerable desires.

Going back to what the captain of the movie stated, let us talk about the divergence of surviving and living.

Surviving simply means to stay alive while living means to pursue the things that make life worth living – to do what you want out of life. But the problem begins when you become more anxious in pleasing others than yourself because you tend to ful�ill what others yearn for

titles or headlines would suit the piece, before disseminating it to the public.

Of the publisher still continues to circulate such “morally challenged” art piece, people will react.

Publishers will try to keep their hands clean by exclaiming that they do not have to defend the content matter because it’s not up to them to convince the people to be… a little bit more open-minded. That leaves us to the readers. They also commit the very crime. Is it the book’s fault if such readers resorted to witchcraft because they love Harry Potter way too much?

What about Twilight? Vampirism and the occult?

CATALYST

CHAINS OF FREEDOM ALVIN K. TUNG

that you forget about yourself; forgetting that you have a heart and mind of your own. And to be controlled by others is surviving, not living.

In some instances you could merely be a puppet trapped inside someone else’s dreams. But you need not to worry because you are never alone. Most of the decisions we make are in�luenced

The simplest and most honest answer I can give them is found deep within the heart.

It is knowing that inside my heart is a Savior, my Lord Jesus Christ

by our friends, family, relatives, and circumstances beyond human control whether we like it or not. From the things we do to the vices we engage in, the time we can be free, the course we take, even to the separate paths we are to choose in the future. But what settles the differences is the happiness and contentment we feel as we lay our heads

Stephen King has something to say:

“Harry Potter is about confronting fears, �inding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity.

Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend.”

Ouch. Well said, King. Well said.

So call on the writer, not the books; call on the publisher for allowing such unorthodox media on the loose; and most especially, the readers who are willing to take part and breathe in everything the author has stated.

on our pillows at the end of each day.

The obstacle that stands on your way in being able to determine and ful�ill what you want out of life is the in�luence or mandate of other people.

It is essential to note that we will always need the opinions of our friends, relatives and more importantly our parents but never their dictatorship. We need their counsel and guidance but we need to be free in making the �inal say.

Learn to stand on your feet. Learn to aspire for freedom.

It is inevitable for us to fail in our drive in achieving what we long for.

After all, there is no absolute freedom for freedom itself has its boundaries and limitations. In times we might be forced to do things against our own will.

Like they say, we cannot always get what we want. Some would then ask me, “How can you live life to the fullest with several constraints?” The simplest and most honest answer I can give them is found deep within the heart. It is knowing that inside my heart is a Savior, my Lord Jesus Christ, that even when I am bound in chains and shackles, I can still savour freedom which no one can ever take away from me. With Him, I know and am certain of what I want out of life.

God made us not just to exist but to live; not just to endure the blasphemous struggles of life but to overcome them; that upon your last breath you may say “I’ve lived well enough” rather than “I’ve lived long enough”. www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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THIS IS YOUR PUBLICATION. YOU'RE THE VOICE. WE'RE THE ECHOES. Tani tanan nga cr sa CPU may ara complete utilities maskin liquid soap lang or tissue… kag hindi tani paglock ang cr sa OV, NV kag MT… —Mamang aldz Tane considerate man ang mga guards sa students nga ga patay-patay himo projects kag need maggamit electricity kay dako man bayad sa tuition. Para man na sa welfare sang students, mayo kung labay-labay lang.

—Madre Superior Gaylan Ngaa indi ko makwa yearbook ko aw?

Nabaydan ko naman subscription ko.

Nabaydan ko naman account ko during that time before graduation. Just because may payable ako concerning this sem only, it doesn't mean ma-deprived ako to what I'm entitled to kung nabaydan ko naman to ya. SHEESH! Where's the logic?

—Señor Giltan Tani (kag dapat) kay-uhon na ang mga atop da sa kilid UY pakadto sa OV...sa mga benches bla. Kay kung mag ULAN naga tulo!! Manilong ka tni pero, teh basa ka man gihapon.. :)) —Señora Precie Sa guihapun damu japun vandals sa mga CR.. wala na pang kuha..Pero daw malingaw ka man while ga pangihi kag. haha —Alcalde Isanan Tani may college man ang Masscom.

Pareho sa WVSU bla nga College of Mass Communication. Or di man gani, building guid bla. :D —Doña Cadiz

Again gna empahsize ko lng gd ang deep expressions ko sa gna tawag sng university nga "PRESCRIBED HAIR CUT". ky kgna nag pagunting GD ko para lng kma kwa exam bws. Now where's the justice in that? kag isa pa.

To those who made this very important rule,here's a thought, ngaa kung mag lip-ot ang buhok sng tanan nga male students ga-alam kmi haw? there are far more worse things in this world than just having long sir/maam.

—Cabesa Estenor Ano pulos sang reporting sa class kung ang teacher wala gapamati kag gahampang lang sang SOLITAIRE sa likod?? boooooooooooo!!

—Pilosopo Emboltorio Anu Purpose sang UNIFORM NGA GINA TAWAG KUNG KADA COLLEGE KG DEPARTMENT may ALTERNATIVE... dapat dulaun na ang Uniform..ngaa ga alam studyante kung naka uniform aw?

—Gobernadorcillo Solis Ngaa may schedule pa gid ang pagopen kag close sang Gate 8 within the day haw? Tani ga-open 6 in the morning kag ma-close 9 in the evening para ang college students pwede kagwa anytime nila gusto. Budlay nga malibot ka pa pakadto sa Gate 7 ukon masakay sikad pakadto sa Gate 6 if wala sa sched umpisa sang klase mo. Pwede ka man lang gani kaagi sa gate nga ara dira, di bala? Ngaa may sched pa gid? Maintindihan ko man kung may insakto nga rason ako nga mabaton.

—Don Dion

Daw dako man bayad namon sa Library Fee, ngaa gasukot pa sila magcharge sa laptop haw? Kis-a man lang kami gane da gakadto XD —Doña Gaylan Tani makay-o na ang mga buka nga tiles sa L103. Nagkalakakas na ang leather sang sapatos ko kay damu bukbuk nga tiles sa dalom pulungkuan ko and besides I'm not comfortable of listening to my professor while my feet is above my chair. HAHAHAHA —Gat Bueron Until 7pm lng ang internet sa engineering, ngaa ang schedule nga ginahtg sa amon until 8:40pm? What are we gonna do for the remaining time kay need namun internet connection for INFORMATICS. Abi.. paki WI-FI na sng CPU 24/7. OH OUR GAAADDD! LOL —Señorita Garcia Abi kung mag-gamit lang kamo sg room nga wala man kamo class, kayuha nyu man ang arrangement sang chairs before you leave and clean up your mess. Ara lang gid ang basurahan sa gwa room pru.

—Padre Bedona May teacher kami nga pirme gid xa ya 30 minutes late. Hamak mo klase nmon 11-12, ga sulod xa ya 11:30 kag buyan ya kmi ya dayon mga sobra 12:15... siling ya daw may meeting pa xa kay dean, ano na man..pirme nlng gid na ya??!! Hatag man luoy, next class nmon 1pm!

—Aling Agnes

These reactions and comments do not re�lect the overall sentiments of the publication. The opinions herein were sent through the text hotline and through personal correspondence with the Central Echo Editorial Board.

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October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Video capture: Engineering 75th Ann. Video

Ad Astra per Aspera:

CAMPUS

To the Stars through Difficulties

by Mel Arly Q. Perol

“

W

e see farther because we are standing on the shoulders of giants.”

That quotation was used most frequently by Isaac Newton, but Wikipedia also attributes it to twelfth-century philosopher Bernard of Chartres. Both, of course, were right. We now live in an era where what has once been crazy ideas are no longer far from becoming realities. Very smart, creative engineers made incremental improvements and although each one did not seem all that signi�icant to us; it is only in retrospect that we realize how radically the new differs from the old and how our world has been a subject to scienti�ic spins ever since.

The thing is, we have forever marveled the genius of engineers and we thank them for the feats they have shared with humanity.

They may not be superheroes, but they do have the power to reshape the world.

For 75 years now, the CPU College of Engineering (COE) has bred more or less 229 batches of intellectuals whose competence did not only conquer the Philippines, but has extended to reach international standards as well. Since its establishment in 1945, the college has been but a saga of success. What once was a dream for Dr. Harland Stuart, its founder, has now become one of the university’s formidable assets in achieving its goal of providing Exemplary Christian Education for Life and thus producing globally-competitive graduates. For all its worth, the COE by her efforts has survived 7 decades of challenges and turmoil and has eventually turned “Diamond” - a shining achievement, born of extreme conditions.

The pursuit for excellent engineering education might have remained an idea had concrete steps not been initiated to realize it.

As diamonds are naturally formed through a great amount of pressure, movements in the earth’s crust and extremely high temperature; the glory of the College of Engineering did not come too easy. There is no better analogy of the college’s Herculean plight than to an engineering student’s predicament itself in all �ive years of labor and burning midnight candles. True, for only the brave and the bold would have the strength to survive a battery of mathematical dilemma, hardcore instructors and to top them all – mind-blowing examinations.

Even so, all those who remained are like polished diamonds out of pressed stones; precious and priceless. As to the college, whose efforts has been consistent in spite

obstacles, she will not rest on her laurels but will keep on moving forward and continue on reaping good results.

Walking back through the paths of history, the current full-length 3791.6 sq. meter building that we see today surprisingly came from a single petty dream. It rose like a dandelion in the prairie beginning with a general engineering curriculum, then to a comprehensive Civil Engineering degree.

Now, the college offers seven distinguished academic courses: Civil, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Software and Packaging Engineering with the two latter courses holding the distinction of being “�irsts” in the whole Philippines. In all its years of service, the college has brought

Yet inherent in each one of these bright men are the many different forms of genius and creativity of a master... They’re the real stars, the heroes.

out its best and has eventually received awards and citations. As a matter of fact, just recently, it has been reaccredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as Center of Development (COD) in the �ields of ChE, EE and ME after the March 2010 assessment of the Technical Panel for Engineering and Architecture Education (TPEAE). This has been the latest of a series of accreditations the CPU COE has received following 1994, 1999 and 2007. It’s a feat really, for being able to maintain the COD

status for like a number of years is a tough trade. But; just like Edison said, “It's plain hard work that does it,” and the College of Engineering truly gives hard work a good name.

They say it takes a special kind of genius to make people want to think smarter and work harder because they feel that they’re doing a great job. Remarkably true, the genius of an engineer is but an epitome of those who made him. For whatever reason, there are no other men, as much as a genius, who are worthy of honor than the very people behind the college and every engineering graduate of CPU for 75 years.

Engineers conceptualize, design and construct projects whose size and scope inspire awe among people in their culture.

We look at them and we marvel. However, big projects are always team efforts. A composer may be the one to write the symphony, but it’s played-brought to lifeby an orchestra led by a conductor. So goes with the graduates of CPU COE, they’ve bested five years of tribulations and may have reached their stars. Yet inherent in each one of these bright men are the many different forms of genius and creativity of a master – the college and its team. They’re the real stars, the heroes.

With CPU’s unwavering support and COE’s untiring efforts, more geniuses will come and continue to luster. After 75 years of existence, the COE has gone beyond its founders' wildest expectations .

Meanwhile, let the turning of ideas into realities continue.

To infinity and beyond. www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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CAMPUS

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

WHATwouldHAPPENto

CPU RIZAL were CENTRALIAN? if

a

by Ron Adrian A. Dionaldo “

T

ake good care of this child, for someday he will be a great man!”

When Father Collantes breathed life into this prophetic line during Rizal’s baptism, he did not even say it to uplift Don Mercado and Doña Realonda. Nah! He did not even say it out of the obligations of a priest. He was, with the immortality of his words, making a prophecy… a prophecy that shook the entire nation and redirected the indomitable course of history.

Fast forward to 35 years later.

The child, the priest held, was now a full-grown man in his prime. Strong, intelligent, brave. Exceptional as he may be, he was bound in chains and pierced by sword as he walked the last moments of his life on the grassy plain of what we now call Luneta. With one fate-changing command, bullets ripped through his body, and as he struggled to turn around and face the people who were the reason of his life’s toil and trouble, he faced the sky…greeting death.

A great man, indeed, and great was the legacy he left. Blessed is the school that catered to him. Blessed is the education that he embraced. And though wish as we might, history has already �inished the book of his life.

But what if…just what if…Central Philippine University were already built back then? What if he studied in this prestigious school? What if Rizal were a Centralian?

No school will be better �it for a great man than a school as great as he. And should Central Philippine

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University, a great school in its own accord, meet him in his life’s journey, things will never turn out the way they are now.

How? Fides!

CPU would be more than a Christian institution; it would be a Christian movement. It is interesting to note that Rizal’s birth, life, and death has similarities to that of Christ’s. Rizal has been the object of prophecies, and he himself prophesied. His faith is built on a foundation tantamount to the pillars of the earth. This unique faith, plus the bravery and spirit that go with it, when compounded with CPU’s motto “Scientia et Fides” will ultimately over�low. No school will be blessed more than CPU. It will not only plant the seeds of the Christian faith, but also make sure they grow, populate, and grow again, just like Rizal’s undying faith in God. Second, CPU would become a signi�icant landmark in the course of history. It would be rich in culture and philosophy. Where else would future generations come to learn of Rizal but the school where he himself studied?

CPU will be a realia of Rizal. One needs only to enter her golden portals to relive the journey that he undertook.

The school would grow with Rizal’s legacy, and fortunate are the students who tread the same path that he walked. CPU would be a training ground modeled after Rizal. No other school could have incorporated and concretized his works and ideas.

Students would learn more than they expect. Put to the test, they would appreciate history, science, literature, faith, freedom, and patriotism. And when they came out of the institution to meet the challenge of the world, they would say, “We are Rizal’s children.

We carry his legacy. No weapon forged against us shall prevail, for in our veins runs the blood of the First Filipino – he who sacri�iced all for the sake of what he loved.”

Lastly, CPU would uphold and concretize the legacy of the National Hero. In its halls, ideas would �ind their place in reality. On its grounds would be resurrected acts of more than a hundred years old. Instilled in the minds and hearts of its students would be the spirit of patriotism and valor that are inherent in the National Hero. And should time and current trends assail her walls, Rizal’s legacy would be protected by faith, by duty, and by love.

CPU would be a tourist spot. CPU will be a center of history, culture, and philosophy. CPU would be renowned in the Philippines and abroad.

But it would not end there.

CPU would be a legacy. CPU would be action. Within its walls, ideas would be nurtured, fostered.

Outside, these ideas would bring forth movements. From CPU would spring the 'Rizals' of the modern times.

History has been written, and history cannot be changed. But history holds no limit to the ideas, dreams, and fantasies of the vast human mind.

This article won �irst place in the 1st CE Literary Awards Essay Writing Contest.

CAMPUS

Photo credits: cdm.aim.edu and JP Peñol

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

“

W

omen’s chains have been forged by men, not by anatomy."

So, goes the maxim of feminist endocrinologist, Dr. Estelle R. Ramey. Women have always been considered as the weaker gender; most people only see the physical and emotional aspect of the female species.

In the past, the character of women in the military is considered highly controversial. Several arguments rose from those who are against seeing women serving in the army: that the skeletal system of women is a lot thinner than men’s, thus, it can be prone to breakages; women are emotional; women have poor strategic planning skills; and can likely be abused.

It is only recently that women are given major roles in the armed forces like assisting under the technical services; nursing the ill and wounded; and aiding in combat. A rising number of countries have begun to develop the role of women in their armies – and the Philippines is no exception.

In a men-dominated organization, one woman braced her way out of the crowd and became the country’s �irst female army general. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in its 114 years of history, witnessed Brig. Gen. Ramona Palabrica – Go as the current assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel of the AFP based in Camp Aguinaldo.

There have been female generals in the past but all of them served in the Army as technical nurses. AFP spokesperson Col. Antonio Parlade praised Go stating that she is the �irst lady general of the Philippine Army who is a regular of�icer.

Parlade even added that the promotion

GO GOING

FORWARD!

by Gloria Concepcion H. Moralidad

of Go denotes that the AFP “is empowering women, giving more active role for women in the Armed Forces and in the Philippine Army.”

Go, 54, from San Dionisio, Iloilo, holds a degree on Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Central Philippine University, graduating class of 1977 and a holder of master’s degree on Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management.

After graduating from CPU, she joined the military service through the Women’s Auxiliary Corps. Last September 28, Go was the guest speaker of CPU's 106th Foundation Day; she said that she joined the forces out of curiosity and have grown to love it! She was then sent to Australia to take up Of�icer Candidate Course at Women’s Royal Australian Corps School in 1981. A year later, upon her return to the Philippines, Go was commissioned into the service as second lieutenant and was called to active duty. She held key military positions and responsibilities including Platoon Leader of the AFP Women’s Auxiliary corps and Aide-de-camp of the Army commanding general. During her stay in the Army for nearly three decades, Go earned lots of nods counting as well the Outstanding Achievement Medal, military merit medals, and campaign medals.

Other than that, don’t you know that she was the �irst woman to command a �lying unit in the AFP? She took her solo �light on November 1986 on board an Army Cessna 172 Skyhawk trainer plane that took off and landed at Fort Magsaysay Aerodome in Nueva Ecija. Go is also the �irst female commanding of�icer of the Aviation Battalion of the Army’s Light Armor Division, which performed

operations preceding to actual attacks, and handles rescue efforts, disaster relief, and VIP transport. In 2009, she became the �irst female line of�icer to become Adjutant General of the Armed Forces, which assigned to authenticate, publish, distribute and disseminate orders, publications and correspondences.

Truth be told, she’s also a married woman. Go tied the knots with Chinese businessman David Go and has now three teenage kids.

A wife, mother, and a brigadier general of the Philippines. The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes – as what American social activist and leader of Women’s Movement, Bella Abzug believed in.

Before, Filipino women were rather somewhat shy, composed, and reserved.

Now, the country has been portrayed as a nation of strong, independent females – capable of handling responsibilities and tasks as much as their male counterparts.

“Call it courage, the dedication to serve, and the desire to make a difference. Brig.

Gen. Ramona Go entered the profession of arms years ago and proved that in the place of some men, a woman can shine,” Parlade concluded.

ABS-CBN news online. (2011, April 7). Philippine Army has �irst female general. Retrieved August 18, 2011 from http://www. abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/07/11/philippine-army-has�irst-female-general De Castro, C. (2011, April 22). Brig. Gen. Ramona Palabrica Go, First Female General of the Philippines. AJPress Los Angeles.

Retrieved August 18, 2011 from http://www.asianjournal. com/galing-pinoy/59-galing-pinoy/9971-brig-gen-ramonapalabrica-go-�irst-female-general-of-the-philippines.html Pinoy Gigs. (2011, April 7) AFP promoted its �irst female general.

Retrieved August 18, 2011 from http://www.pinoygigs.com/ blog/tag/ramona-go/ www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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CAMPUS

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Bahandi

by Gloria Concepcion H. Moralidad

"BEAUTIFUL

MUSIC is the ART of the prophets that can CALM the AGITATIONS of the SOUL; it is one of the most MAGNIFICENT and DELIGHTFUL presents GOD has GIVEN us…

Next to the WORD of God, the NOBLE art of MUSIC is the GREATEST TREASURE in the WORLD.” — Martin Luther

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Photo credit: Airon B. Buenvenida

B

ahandi, a Hiligaynon word for treasure, is one of Central Philippine University’s cultural and musical groups. With the calling of creating excellence in education through music, this choir has never strayed away from their goal. The Greek philosopher Plato stated, “Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue.” Faithful to their mission since 1978, they still hold the treasure of creating music together for God the Almighty.

The organization of the group has varied over the years. Younger generations have their place in the ensemble to continue the duty of spreading God’s Word. Even Bahandi’s songs have widened, including contemporary music to good ol’ folk songs to the gamut. At certain phases of their singing career, they even

embarked on major nationwide and international tours as well.

Since its humble beginnings, it was stated that no less than “sixty singers have joined Bahandi. It has different artistic consultants, eight different pianists.” According to the Link, a publication of the Of�ice of Planning and Development of CPU, dated November – December of 2001, Bahandi was, at �irst, named ‘Double Quartette.’ Four men and four women, so diverse in disposition and outlook, tried to make melodies together through contemporary songs and hymns. It did not take very long for this double quartette to discover that they were meant for a purpose...that there was a reason for holding on as a group which transcended what CEW needs.“ A number of the choristers have left the group to engage in life’s terms and responsibilities – a few remained,

showing the burning passion of commitment.

In September 11, Bahandi celebrated its 33rd anniversary, holding an Evangelistic Concert at the University Church, with the theme “Experiencing God”. The choir crooned to the audience hymns of praises and worships such as “On My Knees”, “Use Me, Send Me”, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “Speechless”, to name a few.

Bahandi is always open to those who have the enthusiasm to share the values of the ensemble, the dedication, the willingness to undergo the same struggles of the group, and of course talent, for it is the key competitive advantage.

Truly, what holds them together is the continuing fervor of sharing the value of music, creating amazing memories with each other and singing melodies for the Creator of All.

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Photo credits: Ourdailysalt.com and dvd.ign.com

The Power is

ENVIRONMENT

Yours!

by Airon B. Buenvenida

Captain Planet, he's our hero Gonna take pollution down to zero Gonna help him put asunder Bad guys who like to loot and plunder…

T

here are no musical notations inked above but I’m sure you hit the melody right. These were a few lines from the opening song of a cartoon series that was loved by many kids in the past. As the program starts to roll, no matter where you were and what you were doing, this chant-like song will magnetize you to witness how a heroic character saves the earth. Captain Planet is on his way!

Captain Planet and the Planeteers is an American animated environmentalist television program which was �irst aired on television on September 15, 1990.

The program is a form of edutainment and advocates environmentalism.

In the beginning of the series, Gaia, the spirit of the earth, assembles a group of young people in the names of Kwame, Wheeler, Linka, Gi, and Ma-Ti who were dubbed as the “Planeteers”.

In situations that they cannot resolve alone, they combine their powers (coming from their rings) to summon Captain Planet, who possesses all of their powers magni�ied, symbolizing the idea that united efforts of a team are stronger than its individual components.

When summoned, Captain Planet declares, "By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!” After the crisis is dealt with, Captain Planet disappears, and restores the powers to the Planeteers' rings.

Captain Planet usually displays a wry sense of humor in battling the show’s cast of villains. He is always the victor before the show ends; but like any other superheroes, he has an Achilles’ heel. He is weakened when in contact with any form of pollution.

Nevertheless, the good things still prevail over the bad ones.

All these lines, characters, and plots were embraced by everyone; however, we forgot to embrace the central notion of the program- his parting phrase, “The power is yours!” Implying everyone’s duty and ability to continue protecting the environment when he is gone, indeed, the responsibility is left to us.

We can also be superheroes! We can do it by properly disposing our garbage, by planting and growing trees, by conserving all forms of energy, and by imposing discipline within ourselves.

You’ll ask for whom we are going to do these. For ourselves! We need to save ourselves from the perils brought about by our acts.

The real situation doesn’t need any �ictional characters to save Mother Earth. With our powers combined, we can do anything.

Captain Planet has done his part.

The power is now ours!

Captain Planet and the Planeteers, (2011) Wikipedia, July 22, 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Planet_and_the_ Planeteers Date retrieved October 10, 2011

www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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C O U N T RY

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Photo credit: Philmoney.blogspot.com

Money

Matters

by Jo Jan Paul J. Peñol

L

ife continues each day for the rest of our lives, but we sometimes fail to notice the details of some important things, especially those which we keep in our pockets – our money.

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A

side from allowing us to buy our basic needs and sometimes, reward ourselves with our wants, money can be a good way to learn about Philippine history.

Heroes and national symbols have �igured prominently in peso coins, while most of the bills or banknotes we use today have images of the country’s past presidents. But did you know that the design of the Philippine money, as we know it today, was a product of a long history of design changes?

Coins and paper bills are traded day in and day out, yet we barely take the dilemma to read its texts or simply re�lect on their design. As much as I look at it, I would want to emphasize that printing historical icons and events in our legal tender, the Central Bank also known as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), is teaching us to remember our lessons in history. Whether this is effective is another story.

It’s great to think that signi�icant, of�icial events in history make it fossilized.

Most of us marvel how the design of the Philippine Peso came about, and how these

people’s portraits were placed on the said denominations.

Our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal can be seen on the 1 Peso coin not for the reason that he is less admirable than President Sergio Osmeña, who is on the higher denomination 50 Peso bill, or the assassinated Senator Ninoy Aquino who is on the 500 Peso bill. Rizal is on the 1 Peso coin because it is the basic unit of Philippine currency and is commonly used by many. Thus, making Rizal reach the hands of every Filipino.

Now, why can’t we see Lapu-Lapu who battled against the Spaniard Magellan who wants to conquer the Philippines during the 1500s?

Lapu-Lapu used to be on the onecentavo coin. He was previously embossed on the light aluminum coin with his earrings and head gear attached. It was so light that it could even �loat on water.

This coin was formerly used by innovative tailors as “alternate buttons”, until the Central Bank reminded the public that it is unlawful to injure our currency, because making it as a toy carves deep wounds on the heart of our history.

C O U N T RY

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Then these heroes technically vanished from our small denominations.

According to BSP, to save on metal, these coins were even made lighter by a hole.

Think about it. How could we, in clear conscience, pierce a hole through LapuLapu, Balagtas, or Melchora Aquino?

It is high time to comprehend that the actual cost of making these lowerdenomination coins is much higher than its face value! In these times, our country also needs to save money.

Going back to paper bills, the new generation type was unveiled in December 2010 and was tremendously faced by criticism because of its questionable icons printed at the reverse side.

Be that as it may, one of the �irms that assisted in designing this new legal tender recently came forward to elucidate the process that “went into the long and exhaustive process just to create the newest edition of the country’s money,” says Lito Buñag, Design Systemat president.

“Producing banknotes is different from making brochures. In producing banknotes, the reproduction technologies involved from implanting security features to the ‘intaglio’ printing of the visual content is far different from commercially printing brochures in the sense that the complete visual imagery of an object, landscape or a personality is not printed faithfully as in a four-color offset printing of a brochure,” he adds.

Intaglio printing is done after the background colors are printed which makes engraved features of the banknote produce a tactile effect.

Regardless of the criticism that the new bills received from the deafening minority in cyberspace, Buñag expressed his satisfaction and gratefulness as part of the team who made the new generation bills be realized.

Aside from the denominations that we use, the BSP also prints commemorative bills such as the 100,000-peso note to commemorate the Centennial of Independence from more than 300 years of Spanish colonial rule in 1998. Measuring 356mm by 216mm (about the size of a legal paper), the bill is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest legal tender in terms of size. Only 1,000 of these notes were issued. A sample is at the Museum of Money at BSP. So what's new with these banknotes?

• More realistic portraits of former Philippine presidents and heroes

• Tourist destinations and notable animals found in the country on the reverse • New BSP logo and Republic of the Philippines Seal • New euro-like design with large numbers for easy identi�ication.

• Security features are spruced most noticeably the serial numbers which some might �ind weird and the security thread which is wider. A foil-like optically variable device is found in the new 500 and 1,000 peso bills.

• The paper used is "hygienically treated" or has anti-bacterial properties.

What's the same?

• Color schemes were maintained except for the 20 peso bill which I think has a different tone of orange.

• The size of all banknotes appear to have been maintained.

The Central Bank reminded the public that it is unlawful to injure our currency, because making it as a toy carves deep wounds on the heart of our history.

• The same paper made of abaca-cotton.

The BSP considered plastic/polymer before but they might have foreseen some problems with that especially with the way Filipinos crumple, fold, crease, and roll money.

Just this month, I went to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to solicit some answers to your frequently asked questions.

How does the BSP select new designs and security features for our currency?

The BSP has a so-called Numismatic Committee that spearheads new design studies and proposes upgraded security features for consideration by its Monetary Board. Once a choice is made, the Monetary Board sends the “wished-for” new designs of the currency for the approval of the President of the Philippines.

Why is the BSP changing the designs of our money?

As an issue of practice, Central Banks regularly change the designs of their

money - whether coins or banknotes - to guard against counterfeiters. By making it very dif�icult and costly for counterfeiters to produce exact copies of our money, we protect the integrity of our currency against criminals.

What are the design elements of our new banknotes?

Our new banknotes pay tribute to Filipinos who played signi�icant roles at various moments of our nation’s history.

World heritage sites and iconic natural wonders of the Philippines are also proudly highlighted.

Many questions were asked during an interview with a BSP employee, but I hope you agree with me that this one needs an answer:

How do they select heroes?

According to the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA), no law, executive order or proclamation has been enacted or issued of�icially proclaiming any Filipino historical �igure as a national hero. However, because of their signi�icant roles in the process of nation building and contributions to history, there were laws enacted and proclamations issued honoring these heroes.

Even Jose Rizal, considered as the greatest among the Filipino heroes, was not explicitly proclaimed as a national hero. The position he now holds in Philippine history is a tribute to the continued veneration or acclamation of the people in recognition of his contribution to the signi�icant social transformations that took place in our country.

Aside from Rizal, the only other hero given an implied recognition as a national hero is Andres Bonifacio whose day of birth on November 30 has been made a national holiday.

Despite the lack of any of�icial declaration explicitly proclaiming them as national heroes, they remain admired and revered for their roles in Philippine history.

Heroes, according to historians, should not be legislated. Their appreciation should be better left to academics. Acclamation for heroes, they felt, would be recognition enough.

Even without formal education, Filipinos discover historical personages by handling coins and bank notes. They also learn about historical places and landmark buildings by looking at the reverse of bank notes.

Indeed, money is not everything, but it matters! www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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C O V E R S T O RY

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Hero Me

by Gloria Concepcion H. Moralidad

T

he past was lavished with notable mortals who embodied values and attributes which people highly inspired to imitate.

Heroes. That word sprout out in Ancient Greece which means “defender” or “protector”. In popular culture, people tag it to persons with great strength and to those who are said to possess divinity.

But as the years have passed, and along with it, the worsening of living conditions, people have looked for their own heroes and therefore, the identi�ication is now purely subjective.

Each of us have our own portrait of our heroes; our adulation for them has never withered through all these years. As of these days, some of our personi�ied heroes are ordinary men and women who have shown valor.

We also see heroism being shown by people who make pro-life discoveries and dedicate their lives to help the less privileged or to correct social injustices.

Our champions symbolize the qualities we'd like to possess and the ambitions we'd like to satisfy. They are often courageous, capable of leading others in the struggle for a better future. Many people admire this quality in these persons, and are even drawn to follow him or her.

An overlook of America within the 1960's sends bone-chilling moments for the Afro-Americans. They suffered

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humiliation, insult and discrimination as the white's neighborhoods, businesses, and unions almost totally excluded blacks. Society even reveled racist slogans such as "If you're white, you're right; if you're brown stick around; if you're black, stay back,” leaving Afro-Americans with troubled thoughts. One man, who was also an early victim of racism, elbowed out to battle for the rights of Afro-Americans – Malcolm X. Born as Malcolm Little, he was an Afro-American Muslim minister and human rights activist. In the eyes of his admirers, he was the towering �igure with the voice and words that shook the consciousness of a whole nation, and even the world.

Unlike a portion of the nation that perceives the Philippine government a haven of authoritative abuse, one woman proved that politics can further help develop the nation, if “practiced with the highest interest of the people in mind.” As Akbayan’s Representative in the 14th Congress, Risa HontiverosBaraquel has been instrumental in the battle for equal rights, peace, and transparency. As a politician, she has made her mark as a staunch enemy of corruption and she was at the forefront in legislating the socially needed Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extensions and Reforms (CARPER).

“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing

something.” With unshakeable faith, Mother Teresa of Calcutta carried the mission of sharing God’s love for humanity. At the height of the Siege of Beirut, she braved the �ire between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas and rescued more than 30 children trapped in a front line hospital. She became illustrious for her humanitarian advocacy, aiding the less privileged and guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, �irst throughout her own country and then in other nations.

Likewise, the Philippines witnessed another �igure who would battle political perversions and disgraces.

Lean Alejandro, an activist and leftwing nationalist, co-founded the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and would be at the front lines in the parliament of the streets, has long been leading major demonstrations against the most despised Marcos Administration. He showed his distaste for fascism – a governmental system throned by a dictator having complete power – and later was shot by Marcos loyalists. His charisma as a leader in�luenced a generation of intellectuals, including musician Gary Granada.

Heroes let no obstacles prevent their ways from pursuing change. Dark times don't create heroes. It is during those dark times when a hero rises.

What separates true heroes from the heroes of evil are their dedication to serve for what is right with no strings attached.

C O V E R S T O RY

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

H

eroes are fashioned by their deeds.

Let us try to accentuate deeds, for it is inapt to call someone a hero by tracing family roots, or measuring what one knows, or giving attention to spectacular orations.

The villains of history have set their stride as self-proclaimed he roes of their nations. They call themselves heroes by the consent of their ego. It imbued them with charisma and with charisma, considerable in�luence.

In�luence, then, twists the wielder into a scarred behemoth, favoring minions and the self at the expense of great thousands.

The Nazis weighed their dreams upon Adolf Hitler’s shoulders.

They planted their faith upon his speeches and sworn obedience to his “infallible” image. But in the end, they tumbled with Der Fuhrer into antiquity’s dustbin, swimming in the ashes of the fallen; the likes of Czar Nicholas II, Napoleon I, Ivan the Terrible, and Caligula, and their adherents.

The death of Muammar Gadhaf�i is a recent example of misplaced status. Like Hitler, Gadhaf�i was poised to “go down a martyr” instead of surrendering to the rabble. He con�idently told reporters that a large slice of the Libyan nation supported him.

But in the end,

his narrative ended in a drain pipe outside Sirte. His golden gun, the symbol of his iron will over the Libyan people, is now in the possession of the men he once called rats. Victory is in the hands of a nation that suffered a 40-year autocracy.

The ascent to power entails the support of multitudes. Likewise, a hero rises into such a status by the consideration of a mass. But it is preposterous thing that such personality deserves distinction by the writing of anecdotes. Ferdinand Marcos published a book “detailing” his guerrilla experiences during the Second World War. Although much of the information was fabricated, it molli�ied the Filipino people, consequently subjecting themselves to a treacherous oligarchy. Marcos was a hero in his book, but not to the victims of his regime that number hundreds of thousands.

And let us not forget the travesty brought about by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her cash-eyed minions. Stealing the 2004 elections, extravagantly spending taxpayers’ money, and facilitating the country’s most infamous �iscal heists during her term as president have marred our country with labels of corruption and political coercion. Yes, we should owe

her a clap for the infrastructures she built, acknowledging these projects as her own. But are we that stupid to overlook the big chunks of excesses that her friends have scrupulously squandered away? To ignore her part in the anomalies of government of�ices and departments? Ego comes with power, and she is by far a wizard.

Another example is Margaret Thatcher, “The Iron Lady”, the �irst woman prime minister of Great Britain. She did fashion herself a place in the isles’ history, yet her policies that encouraged the reduction of union-powers, the containment of local government, and privatization of public industries induced much of the British workforce into lambasting her at the picket lines. Eventually, she resigned amidst discontent in the ranks of the Conservative Party, citing her arrogance as inimical to her colleagues.

Neither the above mentioned �igures are able to set foot in the mind as heroes. They have done considerable amount of damage to themselves and to their people.

They care only for themselves, held fervently their convictions, and in the end, they burned not as heroes but as infamous traces of egoistic ambition.

Deeds are louder than phrases.

They make someone into something, and into something that is worthy or unworthy of any merit. Thus, we must decide justly who deserves to be called a hero. We must �ind nuances between a hero and a villain.

Let us be wary of those who �ill their guts with idiosyncratic dynamism for the lusting of power.

For a true hero knows not power and fame, but the spark of humanity’s �lame.

Hero Not

by Reyshimar C. Arguelles www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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y a D n r e ode Mg u a Pl

H E A LT H

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

. Tung

K

by Alvin

The

I

n line with the innovations of the world’s modernity is the question of “what can possibly wipe out the human race.” Other than disparaging and unstoppable natural calamities, the next viable answer would be a potent virus capable of spreading from one continent to another. Fortunately for mankind, viruses are immediately being countered by drugs and vaccinations. But one virus which has been destroying lives for decades has not met its cure yet.

The human immunode�iciency �irst seven months of this year, there virus (HIV) is a virus that suppresses are already 1,220 new cases of HIV. a person’s immune system that can The Philippines now has a total of lead to acquired immune de�iciency 7,235 HIV cases and counting. The syndrome (AIDS). Persons with most vulnerable to the virus are sex HIV have weakened immune workers and overseas Filipino workers. systems making them susceptible to Though getting infected is pneumonia, cancer, and other diseases. devastating, knowing the modes of This modern day plague has no de�inite transmission and ways to prevent answer to how it was able to infect and acquiring it can signi�icantly improve manipulate man. one’s chances of avoiding the virus and HIV is known to have come from a disease. virus infecting primates in Africa. How it was transmitted across man has a lot WHAT BODY FLUIDS CAN of theories. The most common theory TRANSMIT HIV? involves hunting and eating of wild Several body �luids of the body animals particularly apes which was including sweat, tears and saliva practised during French colonialism contain the virus but these �luids have in Africa. A controversial speculation insuf�icient concentrations of HIV to also developed that this virus was man- infect others. The �luids possessing made designed for biological warfare HIV that are more likely to cause although this assumption has poor transmission are: blood, semen, vaginal credibility and possibility. �luid, breast milk, and body �luids such HIV can develop into AIDS within as those surrounding the brain and 10 years after becoming infected spinal cord, bone joints, and unborn depending on the health status of babies. Infection can occur when these an individual. Worldwide, people �luids are introduced into circulation acquiring HIV are belonging to younger through any portals of entry. age groups. The dramatic increase of HIV cases in the Philippines is becoming HOW CAN HIV BE TRANSMITTED more alarming. In the year 2009, 835 TO ANOTHER PERSON? individuals were con�irmed positive. In the �irst 10 months of 2010, the positive SEXUAL CONTACT This is the most cases rocketed to 1,305 in which the common way to pass on the virus Department of Health said that four to another person especially when Filipinos acquire HIV daily. And in the done with multiple partners. More

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often, this concept is not thoroughly discussed. It is important to elaborate the speci�ic sexual behaviors for better awareness.

• Vaginal Sex. Majority of HIV cases transmitted via sexual intercourse are of this sexual behavior. The virus can be directly absorbed by the linings of the vagina and cervix. In men, the virus may enter through the cuts, abrasions, or the urethra at the tip of the penis.

• Anal Sex. A riskier behavior than vaginal sex is anal sex. A person receiving the semen is at a higher risk although the one giving out the semen can also be infected.

•Oral Sex. Of the three behaviors, oral sex exhibits the least chances of getting infected by HIV. Transmission

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

MOST COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS • Weight loss • Diarrhea • Unexplained fatigue • Depression usually lasting more than

two weeks • Unusual blemishes (in the mouth, throat or on the tongue) • Burning and tingling of feet and hands • Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin • Opportunistic infection (usually pneumonia)

PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS • The use of condoms can reduce the risk but it is not perfect. The most effective means of prevention in sexual aspect is loyalty to one’s partner.

• Use of sterile needles.

• Universal precaution in the case of health workers. Wearing protective gear when in risk of exposure to body �luids.

• When the mother is infected with HIV, avoid breastfeeding the child.

• Transfused blood coming from a relative is preferred although current blood screenings have decreased the spread of HIV through blood transfusion.

• Education and awareness MYTHS AND FACTS CLARIFIED Mosquito vector. There has been a long debate whether a mosquito that has bitten an HIV positive can pass on the virus to the next person it bites.

But then again, it is impossible for mosquito to transmit the virus because it does not inject blood in biting. The said virus cannot live long inside an insect.

Affection and day-to-day contact.

At the extent of hugging, shaking hands, sharing of food and water, and sneezing or coughing at a person will not cause the virus to spread because it is not airborne or food-borne.

Kissing. To an exceedingly rare occasion, deep “French” kissing recorded transmissions of HIV only because of an exchange of infected blood due to bleeding gums and sores.

On the other hand, closed mouth kissing has no risk of infecting another person.

Human bite. Extremely remote cases have been recorded to pass

Photo credit: google-images

occurs when a person with HIV has blood on his/her mouth from sores or cuts which can enter the organ or the anus of his/her partner. The chance of passing on the virus is also possible when the infected ejaculates at the mouth of the person receiving.

INJECTIONS Transmission usually happens to drug addicts, and people getting ear piercings and tattoos who repeatedly use the needles that might be contaminated with the virus.

In rare cases, accidental pricking in health care workers can be a vehicle of transmission.

MOTHER TO CHILD When the mother has HIV while in the stage of pregnancy, the child in the womb can be infected. In some cases where the mother (without HIV) cannot breastfeed her child, breastfeeding the baby to another mother poses a risk for the baby to acquire HIV through the breast milk of the infected woman.

BLOOD TRANSFUSION Though blood is tested before transfusion, it does not offer 100 percent prevention in HIV transmission. It is advised that blood to be transfused must come from a relative or a friend with known history. This is because HIV cannot be detected immediately after exposure. It may need two to eight weeks or three to six months (in some) for the virus to be detected.

the virus to another person through biting. This route is unusual and the risk is low. Infection may occur only if the tissue is extensively damaged with severe trauma. Since saliva is incapable of transmitting the virus, the saliva of the biting person must contain blood and enter the skin through cuts and abrasions in order to pass on the virus.

Persons with HIV/AIDS appear normal. These people are in need of understanding. In most ways they are not able to infect others and are safe to live with. They are not to be discriminated because they can function almost like a typical person.

Although HIV/AIDS does not have cure, there are medications that enable one to live a normal life. It is also vital to report to the Department of Health (DOH) when you have HIV for statistical records, free medications and counselling.

Since the dominant mode of transmission is through sexual intercourse, oftentimes, prevention is a matter of choice — choice crafted by education and awareness.

Mark Cichocki, RN, Top 10 HIV Symptoms, July 24, 2010 http:// aids.about.com/od/otherconditions/tp/signs.htm, Date retrieved September 2, 2011 HIV Transmission, March 25, 2010 http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/ resources/qa/transmission.htm, Date Retrieved September 2, 2011 HIV AIDS Basics, November 6, 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/ resources/qa/de�initions.htm, Date Retrieved September 2, 2011 Testing Window Period, April 16, 2010 http://www.aids.gov/ hiv-aids-basics/prevention/your-hiv-status/testing-windowperiod/, Date Retrieved September 2, 2011 Chiara Zambrano, HIV Cases Soaring in Philippines, November 25, 2010 http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/24/10/hivcases-soaring-philippines, Date Retrieved September 3, 2011 Philippines detects 172 new HIV cases, May 13, 2011 http://www. abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/13/11/philippines-detects172-new-hiv-cases, Date Retrieved September 3, 2011 www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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DEVCOM

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3 Photo credit: Publicdomainpictures.net

nida

Buenve

by Airon B.

D

Photo credit: Philmoney.blogspot.com

irt in the society.

These were the words that struck my mind while preparing for an interview with the deviants selling their bodies at night. Seconds before the dialogue, inexplicable feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and disgust were battling within my system; but as they opened their mouths, I never thought that their words would sweep away my conception of them and the society forever.

Pink and blue lights We were all equipped for the operation. Pens, notepads, and recorders were all secured.

The problem was we do not know where our exact destination was. So, we considered hiring a taxi cab. Upon describing to him our objective, he jokingly said, “kamo ha,” then everyone laughed.

As we reached the red light district, we were engulfed by the pink and blue �lickering lights at the facade of each establishment. Angst struck.

They were unbelievably numerous.

This picture shows a granule of disappointment to our country for being considered a sex tourism paradise.

In 2009, there were about 800,000 women working as prostitutes - almost the same number with the manufacturing force in the Philippines.

Prostitution is one of the branches of the sex industry. The legal status of prostitution differs from country to country - from being a punishable crime to a regulated profession.

Correct or not, a prostitute without specifying a gender is commonly assumed to be female.

They are women who, for money or pro�it, habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct.

Prostitution in the Philippines is sharply illegal. It is a serious crime with penalties ranging from a �ine of

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Php 200 up to life imprisonment. It is sometimes illegally available through brothels (also known as casas), bars, karaoke bars (also known as KTVs), massage parlors, street walkers and escort services.

As to our operation, we entered a few casas. The sight of them was dreadful, but there was no time to turn our backs. We had to do it, and we did.

Vending of bingkas Indi kami mga nursing kag wala kami diri nagkadto para magconduct sang kon anu-ano dira nga test.

They expressed relief in their faces after they heard those words. These women have become frequent objects of inquiry of students with medicalrelated courses. Tests on sexually transmitted disease are directed to them as if they were housing these viruses. Since they have many sexual partners, the rate of transferability of the virus is really high. Thus, the word prostitution is often associated with STDs. For them, the conduct of tests is quite degrading. They felt like animals being experimented on. Nevertheless, they do not have the right to feel angry because that is part of their job. As long as there is money offered, there would not be any problem.

With regard to STDs, we asked them about the precautionary

measures they take. One of them said that their clients would usually bring condoms, but some customers fail to do so, thus, they make it a point to bring their own condoms which actually have become a part of their professional kit.

These red houses at night are like department stores where clients would go inside looking for the best deal. Then they would bring the objects of their desire outside. For regular clients, of course, they would always go for their favorite.

In this exploitative system of prostitution, bar owners and pimps make the most pro�it while the women are exposed to physical and emotional/psychological abuse which many times end up in trauma. The absence of punitive measures for abusive customers set the ground for them to continue this practice.

The problem is compounded by the fact that society, even the church, discriminates women in prostitution.

Heroines of the Dark Bahala kamo da basta may ginagatas ko.

Without a second thought, one of the interviewees gave this answer when asked of her message to the society. Coming from a mother’s mouth, and being a son to my mother, I knew how transparent these words were.

DEVCOM

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

No matter how reprehensible their acts are, there would always be a deep-rooted reason for it; and for these women, their families were the primary reason.

A mother to her child, a wife to her husband, a sister to her siblings, and a daughter to her parents; these were their surfacing personalities during the interview. They have stories of how they rummaged for money to pay for their children’s education; of how their plunging situation pushed them to be their family’s breadwinner; and, how they save every single centavo to bail-out themselves to somehow and someday step out of their dreadful situation. Indeed, at the end of the night, they are still human beings belonging to a family.

All for survival, these women will give everything to go on existing in this inequitable society. If the society cannot support their children’s education, then who will? If society cannot feed their family, then who will? Everyone has the will to survive; it is just that their means of survival is legally and morally unacceptable for society.

Structural Strain Pigado kami. Elementary man lang tinaposan ko. Ano guid abi ang pwede ko masudlan nga obra?

Being in the lower caste of society suggests that they lack adequate resources. With these, we can say that these women are experiencing a structural-strain. This approach

by Robert Dubin emphasizes the effects of an individual's position in the society and the constraints that the person’s status puts on her perceptions and behavior.

These women who aspired for a normality in economic independence are denied by education, capital, or other means to realize those ends and so they experience strain. Although they continue to accept the cultural value of success, they still employ illegitimate means to obtain money because legitimate means to achieve this end are not available.

It is important to note, however, according to the strain theory that

it is the experience and feelings of anger and frustration from failed attempts at achievement, failure of primary relationships with caregivers, or victimization that leads to the experience of strain. This was the case of one of the prostitutes we have interviewed. She gave up the pursuit of economic success and engaged in this self-destructive behavior. She went in not because of the need for money, but because of the bad experience she had with her partner before.

Society in general - a need for an action Lantawa niyo danay inyo kaugalingon antis kamo magpasilabot sa kabuhi sang iban. Respeto lang sa isa kag isa.

They do not beg for society’s acceptance. They are not that dumb to ask for it. For them, as long as they do not steal, in�lict pain, and cause others suffering, society should not bother about them. According to them, corrupt of�icials are the ones that should be imprisoned. They are the real thieves, the ones causing all our sufferings.

They are right. The United States Embassy in the Philippines states that some of�icials condone a climate of impunity for those that exploited traf�icked women. It was like they were turning a blind eye to the sex tourism trade because it helps promote tourism in the country.

About 40 percent of male American foreigners who come to the Philippines are "here for sex tourism," said US Ambassador Harry Thomas, adding, "That is not something I'm proud of. That's not something Filipinos should be proud of.”

The measures targeting the sex sector have to consider moral, religious, health, human rights, and criminal issues in addressing a phenomenon that is mainly economic in nature. A major obstacle to the formulation of effective policy and program measures to deal with prostitution has been that policy makers have shied away from directly dealing with prostitution as an economic result.

Furthermore, when we circuit every city, we will see establishments.

We know who owns and run them, who are inside it, and what is happening inside at night; but why are we letting this happen?

A concrete action should be done. We should focus on structures that sustain prostitution, not just the prostitutes themselves.

Operation concluded Indi man pwede nga asta san-o mabaligya na lang ako sang akon nga bingka.

At the later part of each dialogue, they all gave a positive outlook on how they will be in the future. For them, the work they were engaging as for now is just a temporary means in achieving their goals for they all answered that later, if they’ll have the chance, they will leave prostitution.

The operation was a success. We were able to get rid of the question marks in our heads, but more to that, these women bene�ited the most. They were able to express all their grudges, disappointments, and pains they used to hide. Funny it was that when we’re asking for an interview, they almost refused to; but nearing to its end, they can’t help asking for more questions.

Indeed, everyone take courage in their means of achieving their goals.

Unfortunately for these women, they took courage the wrong way.

Finally, as the world experiences poverty, the word prostitution will never disappear. Every nation may have different means of dealing with it but the thing that we should always remember is that behind prostitution are still humans.

The writer of the article conducted the actual interview together with Lyndon-Erl C. Beup, John Elly S. Dordas and Jerome L. Alejandro, March 2011.

Chirrgwin, V.,Hughes, D., Mendelsohn, N. & Sporcic, L.J. (n.d.).

Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/philippi. html Prostitution in the Philippines. (2010). Wiki Pilipinas. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index. php?title=Prostitution_in_the_Philippines John J. Macionis and Linda M. Gerber, Chapter 9, Sociology, �ifth Edition Retrieved March 18,2011http://wps.prenhall.com/ca_ ph_macionis_sociology_5/23/6031/1543987.cw/index.html Lin Lean Lim,,Sex industry assuming massive proportions in Southeast Asia, Retrieved July 19, 2011 http://www.ilo. org/global/about-the-ilo/press-and-mediacentre/news/ WCMS_007994/lang--en/index.html www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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    

by Raniel C. Ponteras

M

any remember childhood as the time for dreams, for toys, for play, for blossoming friendships, for study, and most importantly, for growing up. The seeds of experience planted during this time fruits into maturity as the child advances through the stages of life; bringing with him/her the lessons learned and the strength gained from the wounds and scars during childhood: virescit volnere virtus, virtue grows through a wound, says Nietzsche. But in the darkest depths of the world, children are wounded daily not from play, but from harsh labor, tearing up the epidermis and the spirit.

The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 215-million child laborers worldwide. On the local level, a survey from the Philippine Labor Force counts that in April 2010 there were 2.4-million child laborers in the country.

These statistics are gruesome, but they are not yet suf�icient to paint the whole grotesque picture of the daily travails these children face.

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In popular culture, poverty is often times the scapegoat for the existence of child-labor; also, the wide in�luence of bourgeois attitudes obtrude the idea of ostracizing poor parents as incapable agents of care and love. But these myopic conclusions are insuf�icient in understanding the whole framework of world systems, and to adopt this bourgeois opinion reduces the importance of this social issue into a mere bagatelle.

The child-labor work force cover many �ields of work: from domestic work to agriculture, from mining to drug traf�icking, from child pornography to child prostitution, and etc. Work from these �ields expose the child to hazardous and inhumane conditions.

Child labor remains sacrosanct for the bourgeoisie and the capitalists, for they refuse to speak a word about it.

Their mouths are too full from the food these children bring to their plates.

It is best that a point of analysis start with the employment of children by the capitalist.

From a Marxist perspective, employing children is done by capitalists not to enrich or improve the child, but to

gain more pro�it from it. Childlaborers work without the bene�its that regular employees enjoy and child-laborers cannot form unions to help them amplify their voices: these two are prerequisites for more pro�it; spelling-out happiness for the capitalist.

But before the capitalist can employ the child, social conditions have to be set to a low in order to in�luence the in�lux of children into the labor force. Thus, it is but important for the capitalist to reshape the value of the family.

The family that works together, makes pro�it faster Families are primordial forms of social relations; sadly, in the capitalistic world we live in, families are transformed into units of laborers that can contribute to the general end result which is pro�it.

Reducing German philosopher G.W. Hegel’s apotheosis of the family as an ethical institute into what Karl Marx called, “a mere relation of money.”

By being transformed into a monetary relation, the family succumbs to the power of money to exclude, wherein they

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October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Child-labor remains sacrosanct for the bourgeoisie and the capitalists, for they refuse to speak a word about it. their mouths are too full from the food these children bring to their plates.

With age there’s wage–then rage When children come to a certain age when they can muster up their physical and mental faculties to do productive work, they are seen �it and ripe to enter the gates of labor. The earlier, the better, and the cheaper! –says the capitalist.

But what is it to be a wage-laborer?

Marx has the answer: “If a silk-worm’s object in spinning were to prolong its existence as caterpillar, it would be the perfect example of a wage-worker.”

True. For in fact, wage-workers are working with wages that are not emancipatory, in amount, but rather, are only enough, or nearly enough, to keep them alive, since wages are constituted only by “the cost of existence and propagation of the worker.” Absent are

the worker’s development, enrichment, and ful�illment.

Children who have been working for years in the dark chambers of mines emerge not into schools, but to the hospital for being exposed to hazardous conditions, without taking necessary supplements and nutrients and without bene�its and protective gears; being debarred from these necessities by money’s discriminating exclusion.

The environment and the experience that the child is exposed to does not make him/her a better person, but a more ef�icient laborer; in which the labor done does not in any way, contribute to the enrichment of the child’s physical, mental, and social being, but to its regression. The caterpillar in this case has more chances of dying than becoming a butter�ly.

Aside from the stagnating effects of wage-labor that plague the worker, is the permanent relativity of wages to pro�its.

Pro�its increase when wages decrease, and vice versa. This inverse proportionality turns the interest of wages and pro�it forever in opposition against each other.

In the interest of the capitalist to gain more pro�it, the wages of the workers are decreased. Worse, children face the dilemma of not being protected by certain minimum-wage laws, thus capitalists can freely decrease their wages.

Therefore, the child wage-laborer is stuck in the regime of capital.

Held in captivity is its impetus for transformation. A prisoner in the penal system of capitalism that sees not the child as a person of potential – but as an instrument of pro�it.

Child-labor is dishonor The objecti�ication of the child as a mere apparatus of culling more pro�it has been the harsh theme of various world

cultures and societies. All have been pointed out to poverty, but poverty is not a cause, it is a result created by a system.

And like poverty, the enigma of childlabor is also, a result.

These realizations will set the template for a view that junks bourgeois tendencies in exchange for ethical and critical politics that in�luence not to immediately point the �inger, but to scratch the head and think.

Having an attitude and a mind-set bereft of bourgeois inclinations will help make one able to understand and realize how children have been pilfered of their right to a childhood by the fangs of capitalism.

It is up for civil society to provide these voiceless children with the right volume needed to echo out their cries.

In the effort of doing so, multi-sectoral solidarity is integral. Only in the collective action of society, can children be allowed again, to dream.

Photo credits: Me.zorpia.com, Epakistantimes.blogspot.com and Davidpaulmorris.com

are deprived of wealth without money, forcing them to venture on operations that bring money.

Even when money becomes anathema, the poor family must seek means to earn it in order to survive.

From this imbroglio, the family must recognize and subscribe themselves into a relationship with the capitalists, which is called capital: the bourgeois social relation of production.

From this relation, the family must do what they can to further bloat the capitalist’s capital. But since they are excluded from wealth, they have neither the money nor the materials to ameliorate the growth of capital; in the end, they have to sell what they only have: laborpower. This power is the human being’s aggregate physical and mental capabilities to produce utility. It is necessary for the family to sell this power in order to live, and they are being paid with wages.

By working for wages, the family members lose their social identity, i.e. the fatherhood and motherhood of the parents, and etc., but in return gain economic signi�icance as wage-laborers.

Corpuz, Niña. (2011 April 5) Child workers in Philippines number 2.4 M. Retrieved from http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/depth/04/05/11/child-workers-philippines-number-24-m Esplanada, Jerry. (2011 Jan. 1) ‘Worst form of child labor’ reported in PH. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/ inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110121-315713/Worstform-of-child-labor-reported-in-PH Marx, K., Engels, F. (1964). The Communist Manifesto. New York: Pocket Books NY. English trans. by Samule Moore.

Marx, Karl. (2004). Wage-Labour and Capital; Value, Price and Pro�it. New York: International Publishers. www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

23

Brave Not Breivik

The

by Reyshimar C. Arguelles

A

hero is often embodied within a knight. He is an ideal human being: noble, intelligent, pious, respectful, courageous, and upright. Yet, he only resides in the minds of the naïve.

That is the romanticized image of a knight. However, it is not clear if it accurately illustrates the historical knight. Alas, it is much better to say that chivalry had burned itself out and only remnants of it are found in the oh so few. But, one may protest if one refers to history for a more accurate portrait of the knight: So, what was so heroic and chivalrous with massacring Muslims for the Holy Name of Jesus Christ? Why was it considered gallant for them, the crusaders for “Divine Glory,” to scar Palestine with sword and arrow? Why must the knight respect women of Christianity while look down on Islam’s adherents, with spite and spit? This is the so-called romanticism of that age, an age when hypocrites roam the streets of Venice, chanting “God’s kingdom shall come!”

It is simple to make the distinction when our age is compared to the age of the romantic, exuberant knights. If the crusaders of the past fed themselves with faith, the “crusaders” of the present

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devour on dogma for the sake of a certain ideal, or on the basis of observing present socio-political conditions, so on and so forth. Still, the effects of their actions remain constant; dreadful and destructive. But there are some who still retain the faith of the murderous crusader; still it retains its dreadfulness and penchant for destruction. Still, hypocrites roam urbanities, resorting to bullets and dynamite in enacting “divine justice”.

Anders Breivik, whom I would like to call the Butcher of Norway, is more likely a crusader. He has a mission to achieve, and that is to prevent Europe, and hopefully the world, from poisoning itself with ideas; even if it means poisoning the waters of Scandinavia with young blood, and blowing up the Norwegian Parliament.

And we must also bear into mind that Mr. Breivik is a Christian, a devoted one to say the least. He fears that “Cultural Marxism” is replacing Europe’s Christian way of life. He seeks “going

back to basics” as panacea, and laments on the failures of both the Protestants and the Catholics in preserving the values of the Word. He is a Christian, a devoted one, going as far as opposing Islam with extreme fervency. He is a Christian, a devoted one, believing that faith is the real drive towards attaining a perfect society.

For Anders Behring Breivik, the mastermind of the July 22 Utoeya massacre and Oslo bombing, his actions were a manifestation of faith; the same blind, twisted faith that led the crusaders to their deaths in the sands of the Sahara and the Sinai; that impelled the Catholics to color the cities of Europe with the blood of Protestants; that lit the bon�ires charring the skin of women accused of heresy and witchcraft; “cleansing,” manifested in the worst of forms. Like a Spanish inquisitor, Anders Breivik has taken up a mission to purify the world.

His victims were not demons. In fact, they are the ones who should be considered as heroes. Most of them

WORLD

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

a world of their own, an irreligious world. There are those who continue burning heretical books, cursing at Asians and Blacks for being inferior in mind and in body, and spitting in the faces of homosexuals and looking down upon them and their moral weaknesses.

The real enemies in this narrative are not the “heretics” as pointed out by the pulpits, but the hypocrites; the so-called fundamentalists.

To de�ine the word, fundamentalism insists on going back to the principles of the past, conserving them to the point of destroying all opposition. But the past, as we see it, is full of images of bon�ires, of blood-drenched crosses, of pogroms, of concentration camps, of ravens nibbling the skin of hanged heretics. We are living in a more tolerant world, where everything is inclined to the principles of life and liberty, and not dogma, nor faith, blind faith. To revert back to the ways of the past, even if it is a violent past, is to subject ourselves to the cesspool of our own blindness.

Mr. Breivik is not a crusader. He is a “crusader,” one who thinks he is capable of changing society, who thinks he is on this divine mission, and the only way to enact this is by employing violence.

Again, the actions for bringing up the Divine are absurd. They are against the Divine. They draw Hitler’s mustache

on the Divine’s face. And they celebrate blood and the spilling of it.

On the other hand, his victims were not scum. They were crusaders under the banner of the world. They had represented the farmer and the mechanic, the grocer and the teacher.

They had sought a noble cause, and that is to bring the laborers from the fetters of exploitation. Now, is it a divine thing to take up this cause? Obviously, Christ is an altruist, and it is a very altruist thing to help those who are meek and weary, notably those who earn minimum wage, those who toil hard for a living while their bosses (the gods of corporate Olympus) sit all pretty in glass houses, puf�ing Cuban cigars while their gardeners tend the hedges. They were on this campaign for humanity while Mr. Breivik is an extremist in his faith-fueled mission.

Mr. Breivik is never different from the Muslims he scornfully dissent, or the militant Marxists and the Anarchists he spitefully accuse of crime against humanity.

The only criminal against humanity is Mr. Breivik, and the rest of the extreme, “Christian” right.

If there is one thing deadlier than Mr. Breivik, it is blind faith.

Heroes are not blind. They see more than they do more.

Photo credits: Colorfulrag.blogspot.com and Peopleus.blogspot.com

were young people under the Workers’ Youth Alliance, and all of them were members of the democratic socialistoriented Norwegian Labor Party. Mr. Breivik annihilated each one of them.

He committed a crime indeed, but it was for a good cause, as he said so himself. He, however, implicitly points at those young, bullet-ridden corpses as adherents of Christianity’s opposition, criminals even. If these youngsters are guilty of a crime, they are guilty of supporting the cause of the common worker.

Now, who is the real villain in this story? Mr. Breivik may consider himself as the knight; the hero that children may look up to. But he did not slay any dragons. Those kids at Utoeya were barely ferocious to be dragons. If one may look at their pictures taken before the massacre, all that is to be seen are innocent smiles and glowing youth. Mr. Breivik desecrated each innocent face, believing that they conceal Lucifer’s horns.

But it is not to say that the only enemy here is Mr. Breivik. There are those who harbor grudges against Islam, for what they have perceived, Islam is based upon violence. There are those who say that socialists conspire to create

www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

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H I S T O RY

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Revisiting Herstory:

Beautiful Ilongga Suffragette, The

Pura Villanueva-Kalaw

by Raniel C. Ponteras

F

ar from the patriarchal colonial template that Philippine politics have emerged from, is the vibrant, fervent, and dynamic (albeit symptomatic of capitalist crisis) current political climate that recognizes women as an integral part of the system.

For that, we, as citizens of the present day, have to be thankful for one Ilongga who stood out from the pages of history to write a new narrative for women which is to be called herstory: Pura Villanueva-Kalaw, the fearless beauty from Molo who fought and lobbied for women’s suffrage rights.

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Born on the 27th of August 1886, with a delicate mix of European and Asian pedigree, taken from her Spanish mother Emilia Garcia and Filipino father Emilio Villanueva, Pura brought a new glow of hope to the �ledgling community of Molo.

She started her education by attending school at Santa Ana College in Molo. To advance her schooling, she then went to attend Santa Catalina College in Manila for six months. She was at that time, 15 years of age.

It didn’t take long for her to discover her �irst love: writing.

In 1907, she wrote her way to the top by garnering �irst place in an essay writing contest held in Iloilo. From then on, she became fervent with her writings. She became the passionate editor of El Tiempo’s “Women’s Page”. As a journalist, the woman question greatly concerned Pura, and frequent in her articles were pro-feminist sentiments.

But if in 1907 she found her �irst love, the following year, the country learned to love her.

In 1908, she was crowned as the “First Carnival Queen of the Philippines” (which presently translates to Miss Philippines).

But a rewind. Back to 1906.

At the early age of 20, Pura harbored feminist thoughts and developed them. This became her motivation to organize the �irst ever feminist group in the Philippines, the Asociacion Feminista Ilongga Ilongga. Through this group, she was able to propagate her ideals to a much larger mass base; noting that long before 1905 she, “had started preaching the gospel of feminists: What a man can do, a woman can do as well.”

In her effort to enfranchise women, Pura went to Manila, and urged Assemblyman Filemon Sotto of Cebu to pass a bill that would provide suffrage rights to women. The �irst attempt, however, was a failure – but although “gravely disappointed” this did not dishearten Pura, for she had that �iery Ilonggo heart that never allowed her to surrender.

In 1912, with the aid of Mrs. Carie Chapman Catt, an Villanueva-Kalaw, Pura. How women got the vote, 1956 UP Center for Women's Studies. Women's role in Philippine history: selected essays, 2nd ed. 2001

Katigbak, Maria. Legacy: Pura V. Kalaw: her times, life and works.

1983 UP Center for Women's Studies. Women's role in Philippine history: selected essays, 2nd ed. 2001 Philippines National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women.

The Women’s Decade in the Philippines. 1985

exercising suffrage for the �irst time in 1937.”

Aside from her participation to forward women’s rights, Pura also had a happy family life. She was married to Teodoro Kalaw on May 6, 1910 and the couple had four children.

Up to the end of her life, Pura continued to pour all her efforts in helping mold society into a better one.

On March 21, 1954, at the age of 67, she succumbed to a heart attack and died.

Though Pura has physically died, her spirit lives on in the memories of Ilonggos. Her values as an ardent defender of what is right will continue to provide inspiration to the people whom she loved most: the Filipina.

The Filipina who will use Pura’s feminist ink to continue the narrative of herstory.

H I S T O RY

My training convinced me that women suffrage was greatly needed.

Long before 1905, I had started preaching the gospel of feminists:

”

What a man can do, a woman can do as well.

Photo credits: Missosology.info and Manilacarnivals.blogspot.com

American suffragette, the movement was able to recruit more members.

Another prominent feminist then arrived to add more �lare to the movement, Dr. Arletta Jacobs from the Netherlands. These two worldfamous feminists, together with the help of Pura and the local suffragettes, organized the Women’s Club of the Philippines.

As the feminist movement grew in rank and strength, so did the maledominated Philippine Assembly’s opposition who still felt nostalgia for the old colonial macho bearing of men in society. In 1919, Senator Pedro M. Sison’s suffrage bill was passed in the senate. However, in the other legislative body, the House of Representatives, the bill failed to gain ground.

Still continuing the �ight despite the many hurdles, in 1921, the different women’s groups banded together to become the National Federation of Women’s Clubs. Pura, whose prominence in writing separated her from the others, became the group’s Spanish section editor in their publication, Women’s Outlook.

After all the toiling efforts, the long-overdue suffrage bill was passed in 1933 (known as Commonwealth Act No. 4112).

However, the following year, it was annulled by the Constitutional Convention and the convention also required a plebiscite of at least 300,000 women to vote for their suffrage rights.

On the plebiscite day, April 30, 1937, headed by Pura, the women suffragettes managed to amass 447,725 votes for women’s suffrage out of 492,725 women who �illed the polls.

After the long �ight, women �inally “won the right to vote and be voted for,

”

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

27

C U LT U R E A N D A RT S

S

tirring the pen in motion to craft a magni�icent piece of writing for most people is gruelling. But try telling that to a woman with inclined literary brainpower who wrote 36 novels, 122 short stories, 231 short lyrics, eight narrative poems, seven novelettes, �ive corridos, and seven long plays in her lifetime.

One does not need to look far to search for an answer to who this woman is for she is our very own Magdalena Jalandoni.

The dawning of the journey of this incomparable literary craftswoman began on May 27, 1891 in Salog (now known as Jaro), Iloilo City.

her by her mother. Luis, Magdalena’s brother who also possessed the magic touch in handling the pen, was the intended recipient of such skill but died at an early age.

Magdalena’s mother even advised her to stop writing and learn housework instead which she believed to be the suitable skills needed by a lady. Writing was considered by her mother as an endeavor of men.

However, Magdalena did not put an end to her journey towards displaying her superiority in literature showing the world that women are not inferior to men in skills.

It did not take long for her feminist leaning to crash with her mother’s

and manuscripts were submerged in the blazing smokes and �ires. Later, she had her remaining compositions donated to different universities including Central Philippine University, and University of the Philippines Diliman.

In 1962, Pope John XXIII granted Magdalena the Pro Ecclesia Et Ponti�ice because of her immeasurable commitment to the Roman Catholic Church. It is the highest medal bestowed by the Papacy upon the laity.

Due to the blinding luminosity of her career, she received the �irst Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Literature by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 12, 1969.

by Alvin K. Tung

Her education began in a school owned by the Gonzagas where she learned Spanish. Her intellectual capabilities were further enriched in Colegio de San Jose.

At the age of 10, her exceptional gifts yielded her �irst corrido “Padre Juan Kag Beata Maria.” There was no halt in her escalating fervor in writing.

In 1906, she continued her studies at Iloilo High School but decided to stop the following year to dedicate her every breath to her undying vocation.

At 16, her �irst novel, “Ang Mga Tunok Sang Isa Ka Bulak” saw the light of day and was printed in 2000 copies.

Though her vast ideas and imaginations were over�lowing, writing was not premeditated for

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next objection. With Magdalena’s sense in feminism growing on her late 20’s, she joined the Women’s Suffrage Movement which aimed to be the voice of Filipino women.

In her time, women did not have a prominent image in the eyes of the world. They were merely expected to cook, serve the family, and keep the house in order.

Despite the tainted pictures and struggle of women, Magdalena sowed not seeds of hatred in her writings. Her passionate heart and mind produced works wherein almost all had a universal theme —love and goodness conquer and triumph over evil.

By the time of the Japanese era in the Philippines, loads of her works

Photo credits: Prepys.com and Artmight.com

LOILO'S NK

Being a phenomenal writer, it isn’t unlikely for her to dream of an ideal man of great brilliance —our national hero, Jose Rizal. Magdalena desired an embodiment of Rizal. She however died on September 14, 1978 a spinster - not being able to �ind a man to meet the standards of the Filipino icon.

She faced the stage of old age, ever true to her calling, for she continued to create literature by dictating words to her niece. She had an un�inished novel “Ang Pulong Sang Monasterio” at the time of her death.

Magdalena, being a woman of strength and literary acumen, has uplifted the status of women in society —not just being second, but being the best.

TURISMO

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Photo credit: copingmechanisms.wordpress.com

Kristo Rojo

by Raniel C. Ponteras

M

adalas nating iniisip na si Hesu Kristo ay may katangiang banyaga, o di kaya'y mukhang Caucasian. Maputi. Matangos ang ilong.

Matipuno. Kulay dilaw ang buhok, atbp.

Ngunit, sa isang sulok ng Victorias City, Negros Occidental, mayroong simbahang nagtataglay ng isang kakaibang litrato ni Hesus. Sa simbahang ito, si Hesus ay nakalarawang may pango na ilong.

Kayumanggi ang balat. Itim ang buhok. At ang mukha niya ay nagpapakita ng malakas na emosyon. Kaya nga, ito ay sikat na tinatawag na The Church of the Angry Christ.

Ang simbahang ito ay matatagpuan sa loob ng Victorias Milling Corporation (VMC), ang pinakamalaking paggilingan sa buong Asya. Ang proyektong pagpapatayo ng simbahan para sa mga manggagawa ng VMC ay pinamunuan ng mga Kapariang Salesian. Tinawag nila itong The Church of St. Joseph the Worker.

Ang Kristong ito ay ipininta ni Alfonso Ossorio, isang tanyag na pintor na nag-aral

sa Estados Unidos ng pagpinta. Noong 1950, ang mga paring Salesian ay nagkomisyon sa kanya na pintahan ang altar. Pagkatapos ng sampong buwan, natapos ni Alfonso ang pinagawa sa kanya at agad nagtaas ng boses ang mga konserbatibong denominasyon ng Simbahang Katolika.

Ang ganitong tema ng sining ay hango sa isang sikat na kategorya na tinatawag nating Social Realism. Sa mga dekadang 1930s-1980s, naging sikat ang temang ito dahil sa malikhaing pagpapahayag nito ng mga panlipinunang katotohanan.

Anong katotohanan ba ang pinapakita ng imaheng ito?

Kitang-kita sa mga mata ng Hesus sa larawang ito ang malasakit para sa mga taong kanyang mahal. Ngunit, kasabay rin ng pagmamalasakit ay galit; galit sa gawa ng tao sa kapwa niya tao.

Kahit papaano, bukas parin ang mga kamay ni Kristo para tayo'y tanggapin.

Nagpapakita ito na tayo'y kanyang inaanyayahan na makilahok sa kanyang

adhikaing baguhin ang mundo. Gusto Niyang makasama tayo sa pakikipaglaban sa lahat ng mga ligalig. Pero, siya'y naghihintay sa atin; kailan pa ba tayo lalapit sa Kanya?

Dahil si Kristo sa larawang ito ay may katangiang Pinoy, maaari nating sabihin na ito ang mukha ng Pilipinong Kristo.

Pero maling isipin na si Kristo, ay atin lang. Isa lang ang pinapakita ng larawang ito, na si Kristo ay para sa lahat. Hindi siya eksklusibo para sa mga banyaga, para din siya sa atin, para siya sa mga karaniwang tao, para siya sa mga manggagawa at para siya sa lahat na gustong makilahok sa kilusang pagbabago patungo sa Kristiyanong pamumuhay.

Kung kayo'y nasa Bacolod at kung nais ninyong masulyapan at makapiling ang Kristong ito, sumakay lang ng bus na papuntang Victorias City at sabihin sa nagmamaneho o sa kundoktor na dalhin kayo sa VMC. Kapag kayo'y nakarating na, sumakay lang ng tricycle papuntang Church of the Angry Christ. www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

29

FILIPINO

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Walang hanggang

paalam ‌

by Alvin K. Tung

A

ng mga malalaking hampas ng alon na tila mga luha ng karagatan at ang malamig na hangin na parang may ibinubulong na pighati ang kanyang sinasagupa sa kanyang bawat hininga.

Naaalala ko pa ang kanyang unang pag-alis – isang madamdaming pagpapaalam na noo'y hindi ko pa nauunawaan. Ilang araw at buwan pa ang kinailangang lumipas para siya'y makatawag. At sa matamis na pagbati ng kanyang tinig, lagi niyang tinatanong sa akin kung anu-ano ang mga nais kong ibili niya bago siya umuwi.

Ako nama'y sumasagot na may buong kasabikan- lahat ng mga makabagong gadget, tsokolate, at mga laruan. At sa kanyang pagbalik nga ay inaabangan ko ang kanyang unang yapak sa labasan ng paliparan. Sa kanya namang paglabas, ang mga mata kong puno ng galak at tuwa'y bigla na lamang nabibighani ng mga kahong dala-dala niya. Malamang, ganito rin ang mga kadalasang nagiging reaksyon ng mga anak ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Hindi nga siya puwedeng manatili dito ng matagal dahil sa kahirapang hatid ng bansa natin. Kahit ganoon, hindi ko alintana ang kanyang mga pagpapaalam. Naging tampok ang kanyang pag-uwi sapagkat lahat ng mga regalong gusto ko ay dala niya.

Sa paglipas ng panahon, ang kasabikang aking nadarama sa aking pagkabata ay tila naglaho na lamang na parang bula. Para bang bigla na lamang nagbago ang lahat. Dati, hindi

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ko masyadong binibigyang halaga ang kanyang paglisan. Ngayon nama'y ang kanyang bawat pagpapaalam na ang naging tampok ng aming pagsasama.

Tulad ng mga anak ng ibang OFWs, isang ama na ang kinasasabikan ng aking puso. Ibig kong masilayan ang mga magagandang tanawin kasama ang aking buong pamilya. Ngunit, ang nagbabadyang kahirapan naman ang siyang nagiging hadlang sa aking hangarin. May kapaitan mang dala ang kanyang sakripisyo para sa pamilya, ako'y matiyaga pa ring maghihintay sa kanyang pagbabalik na kung saan kami'y makakapasyal sa mga magaganda at masasayang pook ng sama-sama.

Sa may mga mahal sa buhay na nakikipagsapalaran sa labas ng Pilipinas, lagi nating inaabangan ang mga dala nilang mga pasalubong habang sila nama'y hindi magkamalay sa kakaisip ng ating kinabukasan.

Tuloy, halos ipinagwawalang bahala na natin ang bawat sandaling kapiling natin sila. Ang panahong nawala at mawawala sa atin ay hindi kayang ibalik ng anumang bagay. Ang mga ngiting bunga ng pagsasamahan ng buong pamilya ay kailanma'y hindi mapapantayan ng materyal na bagay.

Tiniis nila ang hapdi ng kalungkutan habang tayo nama'y nagbubunyi gamit ang kanilang mga pinaghirapan. Hayaan naman natin na madama nila ang ating walang hanggang pagmamahal at pasasalamat.

Kung sa anong paraan man, bawat isa sa atin ang dapat mag-isip niyon.

MO

Babae sa Septic Tank Ang

F

VIE

REV

IEW

by Gloria Concepcion H. Moralidad

ilms don’t always create another world; they also show reality and its manifestations. What’s captivating about this craft is its corroborative characteristics- from writing to directing, to costume designing to lighting, sounds, editing and song composing. Integrating these elements into one and letting the power of the reel to stir the public’s emotions is quite challenging, of course.

But that kind of challenge is what pushes people to the bounds of their creativity.

That's where the fun begins. No wonder why there are people who are willing to venture this craft.

One Filipino indie �ilm dominated the 7th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival last July – Ang Babae sa Septic Tank.

It is a story of three hopeful �ilmmakers who want to make a name for themselves.

They conceptualize different versions for their desired screenplay entitled, “Walang Wala” — a story where a mother, out of hopelessness, sells her child to a pedophile, starring Miss Eugene Domingo as Mila the mother. Director Ranier sees the movie as a chance to show the world the truth – that poverty still reigns. However, their producer, Bingbong, perceives the �ilm as something that gleans golds and awards.

They �irst envision their motion pic with long shots and highly characterized by long silences. Afterwards, they propose the story as a documentary, where they interview real people in the slum area and stalk a mother and her child. While on the way to meeting their actress, in the open road, the trio's Production Manager, Jocelyn, dozed off and dreamt her own vision of the �ilm – a musical, complete with �ine dancing.

When the three arrived at Miss Domingo's house, the four of them

brainstormed, in what seemed to be in a very humorous way, and the actress shared her own vision of the �ilm; characterized by more talks and high drama.

Four versions. One storyline.

After the trio's discussion with Miss Domingo, they went to a dump site to behold their chosen location. As they plan to go back to their car (they just left it somewhere), they found out that there were men trying to break into it and steal their stuff.

Yes, the three �ilmmakers ended up frustrated and depressed as the men got away with their belongings. However, that did not hamper down their aspirations. In the end, they still kept their reels going...and Miss Domingo...accidentally fell in a septic tank. Really.

The movie bagged 5 trophies during the 7th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival last July including Best Film in the New Breed category, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.

In addition to that, the movie is Philippines’ entry to the Foreign Language Film category of the 84th Oscars.

Yes, the movie is kinda humorous and I �ind it “refreshing” to see an indie �ilm with a storyline that depicts on 'how to make an indie �ilm' – considering the fact that it makes fun of Philippine independent �ilms in general.

I �ind Eugene Domingo's performance here quite versatile. From plain acting to singing to...willing to dived in a septic tank (I wonder if that was a real septic tank).

The portrayal of Kean Cipriano and JM de Guzman as the director and producer, respectively, was quite good actually. With the former, acting like as a less-assertive type of director and the latter as someone who can voice out his opinions easily. Cai

Cortez as the Production Manager did not speak the whole time in the movie, however, it was like she can pull off to make her presence being felt.

Humor was there in the movie, but, it would have been better if they also delved in the nature and status of Philippine indie �ilms.

I was anticipating something special in the �ilm when it comes to the storyline and the narrative part. Why is porn a favorite topic in indie �ilms? Is there anything we can do about it? Why are indie �ilms, nowadays, are driven just to reap awards? There were some scenes which, seemed to me, a little bit dragging. Important storylines appeared to be cut off so that jokes can be thrown over.

Yes, I was expecting a little bit more.

What's in the �ilm that makes people talk about it? What made the movie won 5 (�ive) awards in the Cinemalaya?

Still, I say it's a good �ilm. It's a satirical re�lection of the position of indie movies in our society today. Good casting covered some �laws and the humor tickled my funny bones.

I give the movie a rating of 6.75 out of 10.

www.thecentralecho.journ.ph www.centralecho.blogspot.com

31

PA N I P L AT

October 2011 • Volume CII No.3

Kruhay

Sharmin Gale S. del Socorro

Go ahead, we will follow Jo Jan Paul J. Peñol

Path to nowhere

Gloria Concepcion H. Moralidad

Far mer, R

ueben Ma

Little

gsicap

y III Jr. eral, King Ko

Gover nor-Gen

Boy, B

udy Spanish S Enrique B oldier, aTungbak

al

r, The Farmer’s Daughte p ica gs Ma -ól Bu y ha Kru

mbayan

naldo Bagu

Rey The Rebel,

The B

oy, G o Jun Pyolo

The Cr ying Lady, Do

ña Salvacion Resurre

cion Rivera y BaTung

bakal

Send your entries to central.echo@gmail.com before December 10, 2011.

The best entry will be published in the next magazine issue.