Anong Balita (October 2013)

Table of Contents 1

October

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Horoscopes

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First General Meeting

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Pilipino American Heritage Month

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x

November Birthdays

Fil-Am Artist Workshop

Pilipino American Heritage Month (cont)

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Lumpia Night

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Fall Fashion

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Friendship Games XXVIII

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Pilipino Mythical Creatures

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Spotlight Members: October

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Alumni Corner

28

Fall Fatties

29

Memes

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O C T O B E R

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N O V E M B E R

Designer: Lydia Lei

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Horos Aries

Taurus

Gemini

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The right people will show up at the right time to open doors you neverthought possible. Don't be afraid to reach out to your contacts and let everyone know what you have to offer. And be confident in asking for any support you might need to further your cause. Although you are the epitome of independence, we all get by with a little help from our friends -- even you, darling Ram. Uranus continues to energize your stars and promote the rebellious side of your nature. You refuse to dance to anyone's beat but your very own. By mid-year, you'll have the power of Jupiter working to expand your life from the ground up. You may be looking for a bigger home or just ready to take your life to a new level. There is a reason the Sun shines most brightly in your stars.

Jupiter will continue to bring miraculous opportunity to your financial arena until June, so take advantage of this lucky influence by expanding your current horizons. Don't be afraid to invest in yourself and a brighter future instead of always anticipating the rainy day. Jupiter thinks big and is not afraid to take risks if it means greater gains. Where do you need to take a chance in order to tap into greater freedom, success and possibility than you have allowed yourself in your work and career? Is it because you are afraid? Put those fears to the test before June, and you just might be pleasantly surprised. Plus, you're never one without a backup plan, or two. It's not about doing something reckless but it is about doing something deliciously daring, Taurus.

Saturn, the cosmic taskmaster, is taking up long-term residence in your zone of health and work until 2015. The more energy you put into your current projects and daily duties, the greater the reward.

You’re learning the value of patience, perseverance and hard work.

Finding the proper balance between work and health is also a theme that comes into sharp focus. How well are you taking care of yourself? You may find yourself drawn to a more austere, sensible and -- yes -- healthy lifestyle now. Eating to live, instead of living to eat, becomes a viable theme. In order to keep up the energy to support the heaps of projects you’ve got brewing (as per usual), you’ll need to make sure your health and vitality are top notch. Embracing a healthy lifestyle makes everything possible and keeps your life run-

scopes designers: Carlo Nepomuceno, France COrdova

Get ready for a year of fabulous expansion, sweetness and love galore, Cancer. This summer, lucky Jupiter is moving into your constellation to bring amazing opportunity and expansion to your world -- all the way into 2014! You’ve been preparing for the breakthrough and surge in success, so you’ll be more than ready to take your rightful place in the limelight. All areas of your life receive the benefits and blessings of Jupiter for the second half of 2013. Your confidence is sky high and you feel more optimistic about life and your future than you have in ages.

All of the suffering, heaviness and loss of 2012 will quickly become a thing of the past as you embrace the amazing opportunities being showered upon you in 2013.

Get ready to dig deeply in 2013, Leo. You’re going into a phase of complete and total metamorphosis. This will require considerable self-analysis and probing into your past patterns, but all the work will be more than worth it. You’re on the verge of discovering just how powerful, strong and resilient you are at your very core. If you have ever doubted your strength, after 2013 you’ll never question your resourcefulness again. Saturn, the great karmic lord of trials and tribulations, will be camping out at the base of your horoscope until 2015, so you’ll have plenty of time to delve into the depths. Family issues and psychological patterns inherited from your parents will come to the surface this year, making your more aware of -- and able to avoid -- negative patterns. Wake up, Leo! Get ready for a major rebirth.

2013 brings you sweeping change and intensity, Virgo. The biggest transformation takes place in the realm of the mind. Communication, correspondence and courses of new study carry great importance.

Saturn, the cosmic taskmaster, is spending a good chunk of time in the sector of your chart ruling the mental realms and communication.

If you’re not already a powerful public speaker, teacher or writer, get ready to discover your latent potential to sway the masses with your power of speech! You’re also hungry for knowledge in 2013, and will want to strengthen your skill set and beef up your resume with even more knowledge than you possess naturally.

Cancer

leo

Virgo

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Libra

scorpio

sagittarius

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You’ll continue to break out of any codependent relationship ruts with the ongoing influence of Pluto and Uranus sparring in the cosmos. You’ve certainly learned how important it is to value your authenticity and independence in all of your dealings with others. No longer will you fall prey to being too nice. You see how crucial it is to set your limits, draw your lines in the sand and commit without wavering. Saturn taught you to get off the fence and take a firm stand.

This is how you gain respect. Your diplomacy and charm will always serve you well, but you realize now that they must be backed by the iron fist in the velvet glove.

This could easily be one of the most exhilarating and spiritual years in a long time, Scorpio. Jupiter supports your quest for deep change and self-awareness by working on the Eighth House (Scorpio sector) of your horoscope until June. Delve into your own secret depths and discover how powerful you really are. Few are as tough and resilient as you are. It’s actually your sensitivity and vulnerability that make you strong. At the end of the day, you may be the most emotionally courageous sign there is. You heal others by showing them that it’s safe to confront their own darkness as you have done. This is the greatest gift and strength you’ll be sharing with many in 2013.

If there was ever a time in your life when you wished for a very extended vacation, it’s 2013, Sag. The longing for a break from the rat race and constant hustle has never been so overwhelming. You started having fantasies of what it would be like to live your life totally surrounded by tranquility, nature or, better yet, 24-hour room service in a posh hotel. The idea of being taken care of is ridiculously enticing as Saturn and the North Node of the Moon take root in your retreat zone this year. If you can’t totally break away from the responsibilities of life, at least plan to book as many moments in solitude as possible. You’ll need regular getaways to cope.

Get ready for the deepest structural changes of your life -- ever. You’re becoming the master at tearing down the old and rebuilding from scratch, and yet you may be amazed to discover there is indeed another, much deeper layer to uncover. Just when you thought your world could not possibly survive yet more gutting, along comes the mutual reception between Saturn and Pluto directly impacting your sign. Pluto rules irreversible, you-are-never-going-back change, while Saturn (your planetary ruler) is all about death, rebirth and total transformation. On the other side of the wrecking ball is a beautiful life in total alignment with your true value system making the necessary sacrifices more than worth it.

You have nothing to fear, because all of the changes will pave the way to such profound improvement, you’ll look back and wonder why you ever held on to such a sham of a world in the first place.

Capricorn

The pleasure cruise that began last summer will continue straight through until June as Jupiter continues to bless your love zone. Romance, creativity and sheer joy are in great abundance during the first half of the year. Use the good fortune of Jupiter in your love house to spend most of your days doing what you love most with those you adore most. If your life feels more like play than responsibility, you’re living well and in accordance with the stars. You can get down to business during the second half of the year when Jupiter shifts houses and brings the bounty to your work and health house in June. The latter part of the year will keep you

Aquaris You still have the generous influence of Jupiter working the base of your horoscope for the first half of the year. If you were planning on expanding your home or upgrading, now’s the time. Your luck with real estate is exceptional until June, so take advantage of the first half of 2013 if you were planning any kind of major relocation or home improvement project. The second half of 2013 switches the focus from family and home to pleasure and romance. Your love and creativity zone will receive the big gifts of Jupiter starting this summer. Pleasure is on the rise from June until next January as you prepare to live a life of proper leisure. Your inner romantic will be amazingly satisfied for a change under this most auspicious influence. Love letters, poems, films, music and every other form of love-inspired medium will be calling you. Surrender to the sweetness and let yourself dwell in your chosen form of pleasure during the second half of the year.

Pisces

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Writer: Kelsey Estrada, Designer: Irina Evangelista

P A H M

ilipino merican eritage onth

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article Marian

Tamayo design Paige Gutierrez

long with all the good things that October brings—cool weather, cozy sweaters and Halloween—we jumpstart the year by celebrating our roots in our month-long series of workshops that aim to not only reconnect us to our history as a people, but also rekindle what our cultural identity as “Pilipinos” mean to us, the present generation. This is a tradition that we keep in recognition of the month of October as the Pilipino-American Heritage Month (PAHM). It commemorates the first mark that Filipinos made in American history as sailors on Spanish fleets during the exploration of northern California one eventful October day in the 16th century… First of the many things that I learned!

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Opening Ceremony

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n October 3rd, Culture Chair Juli Pineda and Dream-E-board formally initiated PAHM through the Opening Ceremony. Recurrent and new Barkada members, as well as anyone interested in learning about the Filipino culture alike, got a warm welcome the Filipino way—through dance and lots of fun. The highlights, as always, include the Barkada’s Cultural Dance Troupe (CDT) performances. Tinikling of course never fails to impress, especially for those who see them working that bamboo magic for the first time. Aside from that, our lovely hosts express to us the point of celebrating PAHM to promote cultural awareness and build that bridge between the traditional Filipino-American way and our modern generation. We also learn about all the different workshops that will be held for the month.

Know History, Know Self & Fil-Am Artist Panel T 9

he following week we had the Know History, Know Self and the Fil-Am Artist Panel workshops. The first workshop was discussion-based and centered on sharing personal experiences, growing up as 1st/2nd/nth generation Filipino-Americans. It is very nostalgic as we all talked about memories, and what we have learned from our parents, grandparents and family about our culture and how we identify ourselves in these terms. It is sur-

prising and also comforting, hearing all these stories from another and knowing what we have in common as well as appreciating our differences. Later on in the week, our honorary guests Christopher Castillo, Abe Pagtama and Manila Ryce reinforce this idea of cultural identity as they shared with us all what inspires them as artists and how their experience as Filipino-Americans are expressed through their work in their various fields.

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FEATURING...

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So if you don’t know what PAHM is, it stands for Pilipino American Heritage Month. On October 10, we held a Fil-Am artist panel as one of our workshops. We welcomed Christopher Castillo, Abe Pagtama, and Manila Ryce as our guest speakers for the night. Chris Castillo is a director who just finished his latest feature film “The Diplomat Hotel”. Abe Pagtama is an actor both in the Philippines and the United States. Manila Ryce is a painter who works with Propeopleyouth KmB, which is a progressive organization that teaches youth in Los Angeles to respond to community issues in the United States as well as the Philippines.

They basically told their stories of their experiences in their respective arts, and how they got started.

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Christopher Castillo, Abe Pagtama and Manila Ryce

Written by Oliver Rafols

Interview with Manila Before coming into this PAHM event, were you expecting anything?

Since this was an artist panel, I was expecting most audience members to be students who were pursuing art as a career. However, after we did a round of introductions it became clear that most everyone was not an art major. I actually prefer to see that kind of diversity because art should be something that everyone is involved in, not just us so-called professionals. We’re taught to specialize in one particular field so it’s encouraging to see young people expanding out of that institutional construct.

As an artist, what were you trying to share through this workshop?

I hoped to share my post-college journey as both an artist and organizer to show that people rarely follow a straight path or desire to accomplish the same goals they had set for themselves as a student. It’s important to stay flexible and open to learning, even once you are formally done with your education.

What did you think of the whole event?

The event as a whole was very informative and inspiring. I was previously unaware of the work of Abe Pagtama and Christopher Ad Castillo, so it was great to meet them, see their work, and hear about their experiences in the entertainment industry. It was also exciting that we had such a lively Q&A session after our presentations because that means people were actually interested and hopefully took something away from the event.

Lastly, what is one piece of advice that you would give to these college students?

My advice would be to maintain the ties you have with the Filipino community after you graduate. I believe the best way to do that is to start organizing within a community organization, such as KmB, even while participating in your student organization. I hear regularly from graduates who were involved with student orgs that they now feel isolated without the support and sense of community they had in college. As an underrepresented and underserved group, it’s important that Filipinos continue to push forward, not through the successes of one or two people but alongside each other as a whole. Organizations such as KmB exist for that purpose. Utilize them.

At the end of the workshop, I was pleased with what I had learned. Being an enthusiast of the arts, it was very refreshing to have people talk about the importance of arts, especially the presence of Filipinos and Filipino-Americanscultivating their own living through their passions in the arts. In my opinion, I feel like anyone has a sense of creativity, and through this workshop, hopefully people took something out of the importance of art in Filpino-American culture, as well as being inspired to explore the depths of art themselves.

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RJ Reyes

says

I thought it was pretty cool being able to see the three different artists and their works. Seeing the preview of the Diplomat Hotel really got me interested in watching it mostly cause I love horror movies and the fact that it’s in a hotel in the Philippines got me even more interested. The one that really caught my eye though was manila ryce. His works are really creative and cool to look at. The piece that I thought was pretty interesting was his book carving where he basically cut into a book and used it’s contents to make an image which also inspired his later work for a cd cover of Bambu’s music. One of them also said that it was ok to fail but I hope no one took that in the context of your classes because no, don’t do that.

Fil-Am History& Lumpia Night

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fter these ‘warm-up’ workshops, Barkada worked in collaboration with SCPASA on a night that we had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Norma Austin, the woman who started it all. As the FPAC founder, she encouraged us all to embrace our culture and to take pride in it. She told us many fascinating stories about her young adulthood, living in Los Angeles in the 90’s, and how it led her to start-

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ing the annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), one of our biggest cultural events of the year. She was awe-inspiring to say the least, and we all saw her profound passion in rallying the Fil-Am community to be immersed in the traditional arts. The next day, we had the Fil-Am History workshop. XPO then provides us with a brief but insightful historical background about our Fil-Am forefathers, the lives that they lived away from the homeland—and the significance of knowing our past in order to understand the impact that we potentially have in the present. Then we culminate the week at Paige’s house for a more light-hearted workshop (Lumpia Night!), where we gathered to learn, complete with a demonstration, and finally (and most importantly) eat freshly cooked lumpias while hanging out.

From this night on, it is never acceptable to mix up The Lumpia with the eggroll.

Heart to Heart with Lolos + Lolas

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& Folk Story Night

nd finally, as October came to an end, we have the most heart-warming learning experience yet in our Heart to Heart with the Lolos and Lolas. We heard these elders talk about their struggles as immigrants, their involvement in the Second World War, and how times have changed between then and now. These Lolos and Lolas are among those who fought for the United States but were never recognized for it—one of the many battles that the Fil-Am community is still fighting to win. However, they also taught us many

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things about life and love, and one of the most interesting things that they talked about was the seemingly longgone ways of courtship, and how an old-fashioned, respectful kind of love is still one of the best kinds out there.

To top it all off, Barkada celebrates Hallow’s Eve through Scary Stories Night, where everyone gathered to share personal and folk stories. Just because some of us just enjoy scaring ourselves when the occasion calls for it.

And thus this concludes your

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LUMPIA NIGHTS! The most anticipated and biggest PAHM event! What makes this event so popular? Probably the lure of FREE FOOD! Who could resist? Especially the lure in coming out to learn how to make traditional dishes, helping make them, and then eating what you made. This event was not only the most popular of the PAHM events, but it was the yummiest as well. A lot of new members came to learn how to make lumpia, and a lot of old members returned to enjoy the food! All in all the night was a huge success! But you don’t have to take my word for it, a lot of other members agreed as well! Here are some of the new members who enjoyed Lumpia Nights!

1. What made you interested in coming out to Lumpia Nights?

2. Have you been to any other PAHM workshops? Which?

3. Did you make new friends? If so, who?! :D 4. Did you learn anything new?

5. What was your favorite part of the night?

Shaugn Mallari 1. “Other than the fact that I love to eat, everyone has been telling me how huge of an event Lumpia Nights is and that everyone always has the greatest time during the event, so that’s probably one of my main reasons for going.

Another is because since I am new to this school, I wanted to mingle and make friends, and I thought this would be a great opportunity for that to happen.

2. “The only other PAHM event that I went to was the one where Norma Austin was the guest speaker. They were both great and very foretelling about Filipino history and culture in general. The Norma Austin event was more of an intimate setting and it dealt with many serious matters concerning our heritage and struggles. For example, Norma spoke about the passing of AB 123 and other serious issues that truly affect the Filipinos and the Filipino youth. Lumpia Nights was more of an informal setting and though its main point was to learn more about culture, it was a lot more interactive and less “formal” of an event. All in all, they were both very informative and I was really glad I went to them.”

3. “Yeah, everyone was really friendly and easy to talk to. Other than the people I’ve previously met from other events, I got a chance to talk to and know a little about Hannah, Kate, Denise, Ariane, Danielle, MK, Nathan, Kyle, and Julia. And of course Paige and Sam, the people that actually live there. I know there were more people that I got a chance to talk to, but I just can’t remember anymore.”

4. “I learned how to make lumpia, that’s for sure. So I guess I’ll be having a few less hungry nights. I also relearned what the three stars on the Filipino flag represent. That one kind of got away from me in my old age.”

5. “I love to eat, so I’m gonna have to go with the part where I devoured the food. Don’t worry, being in the presence of you guys was a very close second.“ Celeste Banaag 1. “I wanted to learn how to make lumpia and adobo and meet more people in Barkada.”

2. “Sadly, no. I usually have class, that’s why. If I could go to one I really wanted to see the guest speaker.”

3. “Yeah! Hmm…Brandon, Marion, Warjay, Maya, Sean, and Ronnel. Oh, and Bryan and Jeremy!”

4. “I learned how to make lumpia and adobo. My favorite was learning how to make lumpia. It’s kind of like making a burrito but smaller, and the wrap is much thinner.”

5. “I really like the social aspect of it. We all hung out and bonded over our deformed lumpia.”

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Bryan Naguit 1. “Well, what first peaked my interest, other than the fact that there would be free lumpia and adobo, was my love for Filipino food. I mean, I love it mostly because my parents and family have been cooking it for years, but it occurred to me that I actually didn’t know how to cook any of it. Being away from home and submersed in a new environment has really made me miss eating Filipino food a lot, so when I heard about Lumpia Nights, I knew I had to go.”

2. “I’ve been to all of them! But my favorite was the workshop where Tita Norma Austin spoke to us about her story and the struggles in becoming who she is today.”

3. “I met more of the first-years, like Marion Barleta and Celeste Banaag, as well as older members like John De Guzman and Jocelyn San Luis!”

4. “I learned how to cook the food that I’ve been eating for so long and never really appreciated.”

5. “Eating of course! But what really made it meaningful was being able to do so alongside people I pretty much already consider my family.”

Carlo Nepomuceno 1. “The reason I came out to join this event was because I wanted to learn how to make lumpia. Also, my family had always made lumpia for special occasions, so I thought I might as well learn.”

2. “I have only been to one other PAHM workshop, and that was when Tita Norma came to tell us her life story of struggle and success.”

3. “I’ve made tons of new friends! I’ve befriended pretty much all of e-board, a lot of second-years, fellow new members, and just a lot of people!”

4 “I learned an innumerable amount of things, but the main things I learned and kept to heart were spirit, pride, unity, and friendship.”

5. “My favorite part of the night was being able to spend it learning how to make a cultural dish with good company.

Making envelope-shaped lumpia, laughing with friends, and just being around people I enjoy.”

Nathan Garcia 1. “Well, honestly I wanted to learn how to cook lumpia because I love to cook. It was also a good chance to meet new people because it was the first event I ever went to.”

2. “I went to see Tita Norma speak about her adventure in America.”

3. “I did. I met Warjay. My future ading.”

4. “I learned how to make adobo from scratch.”

5. “I enjoyed playing the icebreaker because I was a princess.”

written by Carissa Cespedes designed by Bryan Naglut

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FRIENDSHIP GAMES 19

HYPE NIGHTS THE ROAD TO FRIENDSHIP GAMES

Energetic. Exciting. Crazy. Fun. These are words used to describe the Hype Nights that took place shortly before Friendship Games. ‘Hype Nights’ is the term Barkada uses to describe the week-long excursion we take into the world of spirit, pride, unity, and friendship (SPUF). In this time, Barkada lives, breathes, and sleeps SPUF. As we grow to understand SPUF, it becomes our fuel—our drive to thrive at Friendship Games.

written Brandon Evangelista designed Roderic SUarez

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WHAT IS SPUF? SPUF stands for spirit, pride, unity, and friendship. For most people, the broad definition of SPUF is entirely subjective. But regardless of personal interpretation, SPUF has been the medium through which friends have been brought together.

Instead of trying to create one definitive answer—here are a few member responses to the question—“What is SPUF to you?”

“Out of the four words in S.P.U.F, Pride and Unity stand out the most. We as a club come together to show others of our pride as Filipinos and as a unit.

To think that so many schools from all over the state congregate in one place to do the same is just incredible. SPUF is a feeling that to me is essential to the club. Because if you’re not enthusiastic about Filipino culture, about making friends, then I don’t believe BARKADA would exist.”

– Karima “Kay” Reyes

“I really don’t have a set definition of what SPUF is to me, but all I can say is that they can be used in our everyday lives. We need that sense of spirit and pride in ourselves to push through the day. Unity and friendship can help our days better. To put it in my little perspective, I think SPUF really is just something positive that goes beyond Friendship Games.”

– Oliver “Oli” Rafols

“SEXY PEOPLE UNDRESSING FAST” – AARON LUCELA

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“To me, SPUF is a lot more than just the acronym. It’s how those words are used in combination throughout Friendship Games. It shows through our interactions with other schools, during games, and even with other members. Spirit is shown by our exchange of chants with other schools. Pride is shown through our representation of our school and club through our chants, “this [club] is Barkada, B-A-R-K-A-D-A,” all the while not being ashamed of what we do. Unity is shown as we walk and chant together, and end the interaction with a newfound friendship with the club we’ve SPUF’d with.

Through the games, SPUF is again seen. We show high spirits in spite of our ranking. Even if we get last place, we take pride in it as we chant “LAST PLACE! LAST PLACE!” We show unity by working together to accomplish the goal, and friendship through our bonding while playing.

Lastly, SPUF is shown through us as members of Barkada as the day progresses. Even if we get tired throughout the day, we keep each other’s spirits up. We keep each other positive and push each other up to keep us going. We represent Cal Poly Pomona Barkada and we show them how much heart this club has. We stand united as a whole from the beginning to the end—From the convoy to the DJ Booth. And in the end we know that we have formed a friendship with our fellow members, and in some regards, have found a new family.”

– Sean Fabros

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WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP GAMES? Taken directly from Fullerton’s Friendship Games page, “Friendship Games began in 1985 and features over 40 Pilipino American Student organizations from college campuses representing California, Nevada and Arizona that participate in a day of friendly but competitive picnic games, performances and to celebrate “S.P.U.F” – Spirit, Pride, Unity, and Friendship.

Schools compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies. The school that shows the most S.P.U.F is awarded an 8 foot tall trophy.”

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Reading that might lead one to believe that Friendship Games is a dull affair; but it’s far from it. Friendship Games is a place where you get swept away in a torrent of SPUF. Rarely will you ever experience the sort of solidarity that you’re blasted by at Friendship Games.

Between the driving roar of “We got spirit yes we do! We got spirit how ‘bout you?!” or the harmonic consonance of “Friendship—Friendship— Friendship!” participants will inevitably find themselves in a state of constant adrenaline and bliss.

WORDS FROM THE SOCIAL CHAIR “I am so happy and so proud of everyone who came out to Hype Nights and Friendship Games with Barkada. I hope you all had an amazing time, because fucking I sure did. You all proved that Barkada is THE baddest club out there. Even if we didn’t take home the trophy, you’re all winners- I’m serious, I’m not just saying that to be cheesy and to make us all feel good about ourselves. Within this past week, I’ve seen each and every one of you SPUF your hardest, & I’ve seen so many new friendships form, it’s beautiful. It warms my crusty black heart to know that spirit of Barkada is very much alive within each of you members. Now, let’s keep on going and have an amazing rest of the year!!!”

– Mark Ruidera

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Pilipino Pilipino Mythical Mythical Creatures Creatures writer Mark Ruidera

designer

Before the Spanish came to the Philippines and spread Christianity throughout the country, most Filipinos were pagans- they worshiped several different gods, and believed that various spirits and monsters dwelled within nature as well as among people. Although most Filipinos today aren’t pagans, we still tend to be a really superstitious bunch- “Don’t walk in odd numbers at night or ghosts will take one of you away to make your group even.” “Always ask permission from the spirits when you walk through a forest/jungle, or they’ll put a curse on you!” Both of my parents were Catholic, but they would always tell me about all the strange and frightening creatures that lived in the Philippines. If ever you visit, here are some you might want to watch out for:

Miguel Cuyugan

Aswang

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The Aswang is one of the most well known mythical creatures of the Philippines. They are shapeshifting monsters who live among civilization as humans during the day and transform into animals at night, usually into some kind of dog. In their animal form, they hunt down their victims, usually small children, or pregnant women- in order to eat their unborn fetus. The Aswang’s favorite body parts are the heart and the liver. They sometimes produce a ticking sound (called the ‘Tik-tik’) that gets louder as the Aswang is farther away and softer as it get close in order to confuse their victims. One sign that a human may be an Aswang is if their eyes are always bloodshot red during the day- because they’re always up all night hunting. Like vampires of western culture, they have a strong aversion to garlic. Lastly, most Aswangs are female- although I did read an article once that said some exist in the form of a handsome gay man (watch out I’m really an Aswang...just kidding.) Regardless, watch out for this bitch- hide your kids, hide your wife- your pregnant wife.

Manananggal

The Manananggal is similar to our homegirl, the Aswang in that it is also a vampire-like creature that is usually female. This woman, however, does not shapeshift. During the day, the Manananggal is a beautiful woman, unlike the Aswang who in her human form, is usually ugly and old. At night, the Manananggal hides herself usually in a field of tall grass or inside a hollowed out tree trunk, grows wings, and detaches from the lower half of her body. She then proceeds to fly through the nearby town (again, like the Aswang) and feed on unborn fetuses. She does this by slipping her super long, thin, proboscis-like tongue into a sleeping pregnant woman’s V and sucking up the fetus like a Jamba Juice smoothie. In order to kill a Manananggal, you must find the lower half of her body and sprinkle salt/rub garlic on her stump of a torso. Doing that will make her unable to reattach to her lower half before dawn, and when the sun comes up, she will die. Sorry ‘bout it.

Kind of interesting side note: At this point we can totes start a full on discussion about the sexist implications in Filipino mythology and their negative depictions of strong independent females. But save your thoughts for the next SCPASA collab, because I’m moving on.

Kapre

The Kapre is a giant. They are invisible to most people, but to those who have seen one claim that the Kapre is a hairy, bearded man, standing around 7 to 9 feet tall, smoking a large pipe. For the most part, Kapres are harmless, although they do enjoy playing pranks and scaring people. It is said that if you see a tree swaying even if the wind isn’t blowing or if you see/smell cigar smoke, you may be near the tree in which a kapre lives.

Duwende The Duwende are magical little dwarves. Cute right? No. They live in trees, bushes, and anthills within the forests and jungles of the Philippines, although they also are believed to live in peoples’ houses. They are the reason, among other magical creatures in the Philippines, that older Filipinos always tell you to ask permission before passing through a forest. “Tabi-tabi,

po!” The Duwende are very territorial and will place a curse on you if you intrude into their domain without warning. Suddenly falling ill without any reason is one sign that you may have been cursed by a duwende. The duwende are also very mischievous- according to superstition, never leave belongings such as clothes on a clothesline out to dry after sunset or the Duwende will steal them (if regular people don’t steal them first, lol).

Tikbalang

The Tikbalang is another creature of the forest. It’s like a centaur in that it’s half horse, half human. However, it’s head and feet are that of a horse, but it’s long, and lanky body is that of a human’s.

Kind of like the minotaur in Greek mythology... but like, a horse. Like the other creatures of the forest, it likes to play tricks on humans who pass by. It is able to cast a spell on humans, making them disoriented and lost. If you’re ever walking through a forest in the Philippines and you suddenly find yourself inexplicably lost, it is said that turning your clothes inside out will break the Tikbalang’s spell and you’ll be able to find your way. Some say that the Tikbalang will rape human women in order to reproduce more tikbalang. According to superstition, however, if it rains on a sunny day, it means that two Tikbalang are getting married. I like to think that those married Tikbalang remain monogamous, reproduce and have little Tikbalang babies.

Monsters raping humans sounds terrible.

These examples of Filipino mythical creatures are only a small handful among many different spirits/monsters/demons/etc. that supposedly exist in the Philippines. If you ever want to learn more, it’s easy! Just find your nearest Filipino mom, dad, lolo, lola, tito or tita. Many of them are sure to have some really interesting stories for you.

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Writer: Michael Belicano Designer: Irina Evangelista

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featuring

Favorite Memory of Barkada

Although my two years on e-board have blessed me with such great memories. I will always remember my first year in Barkada. Being a 3rd year, I was skeptical about joining so late in the game. It wasn't until Christie Gonzales and Brian Kintanar introduced me and told me to come out to their annual Christmas Party at the DC house. My first memory was walking into a LOUD house, and watching them exchange gifts during white elephant. Honestly, although I did not know many people, the atmosphere was contagious. For the first time I felt like I found my home away from home.

most embarrassing moment in Barkada I would have probably been at the beginning of my 2nd year of e-board. Being president of Nast-EBoard, I felt the pressure to be this CRAZY, OUTGOING, and CONFIDENT leader. Although I knew that they were all qualities I possessed, I found it necessary to prove myself. During UCI Kababayan’s first general meeting, Barkada was making external announcements. We were promoting our upcoming “Shooters Fundraiser.” And in the heat of the moment, I stood up, pretended to be “Barkada’s External Hype-Woman” and yelled at the top of my lungs, “sh-sh-sh-sh-SHOOOOTTTERRRS.” It actually had a negative affect. The room grew silent, and moments later Kevin Hsu, followed by the rest of my e-board, bursted out in laughter. Even though I can laugh looking back on it now. I went home that night and cried myself to sleep, mortified that I would never be able to face my friend again. HOWEVER, that’s the great thing about Barkada... Through all crazy/embarrassing/ life-changing moments, they come through for you in the end. And that year was the best year I’ve had in Barkada to date!

Advice?!

Stay focused and be prepared. Although Barkada may be a great resource in finding friendships and learning about your culture. School is still your priority and it should not take the back burner. Barkada has definitely provided many opportunities, but I would not be where I am today if I did not put school and my life’s goals first.

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Writer & Designer JD Pabon

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MEMES

By AJ Lucela

for dayz.

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