The Dolphin Magazine Volume 61 No. 1 (Transitions)

about the

COVER

TRANSITIONS

In the 21st Century, people will reach a certain point in life where they will toss a coin to determine their whole being, and while everyone around them holds their breath to see how it will land. At least that’s how most people think how it works. But this is something more than just two sides of a coin, not everything is just heads or tails. Transition is a process: lengthy proceeding influenced by countless factors that force a person to give in to whichever outweighs the other. But at the end of that transit, the verdict will be passed by the defendant himself.

Models (Front Cover) MDPN. ALECK CALATA AND MDPWN. KEZIA CAMILLE TENEFRENCIA Model (Back Cover) GEBRIELLE MHYLES CASTRO Photographer MDPN. MARK JOSEPH ALOVERA Hair & Make-up: MDPN. LUKE PASTORAL Attire:

YET-YET LOPEZ HOUSE OF FASHION

E D I T O R I A L P O L ICY

The Dolphin is published once or twice every semester by the Publication Office of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (Arevalo), Inc., Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City. Publications are carried online at http://www.arevalo.jblfmu.edu.ph.

Articles contained herein are personal views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect official thought or endorsement. These are published to stimulate ideas and provide an open forum for discussion. The Dolphin accepts original articles from students, faculty, staff and department heads. We also solicit comments regarding our issues. All contributions must be submitted to the Publication Office, legibly written, with generous space and margin. You may also e-mail them to thedolphinarevalo@gmail.com. All articles contained herein are considered property of the Publication Office. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or published without prior permission from The Dolphin or the school administration.

Eleven Years of Growth Editor’s Note

I

was ten when I first wrote an article for a journalism competition. Months prior, I sat in a classroom waiting for our math teacher to discuss about finding the area of plane figures. In a four-corner room filled by a certain ratio of boys and girls, who would expect that instead of calculations, our teacher would introduce us to a journalism contest.

Journalism. It was alien to me.

Yet, not long after, I found myself on a stage being awarded first place for Editorial Writing Filipino. Claps roared from the crowed, shouts echoed from my classmates, but above all, a proud look from the same math teacher who became my first journalism adviser.

Eleven years ago, that 10 year-old boy’s journey in the world of journalism

made him grow. He witnessed the transitions that happened to himself and his surroundings. There were ups and downs, but he continue to grow and understand inevitable changes.

In this issue, we wanted to produce stories of change and growth; to write about the journey that happened in-between and how we progress as catalysts of truth, knowledge, and wisdom.

As the eyes of history watch us, The Dolphin expresses our gratitude to our readers. We offer you our latest collaboration. On this issue, we have written stories of “Transitions” – a period of struggles, of possibilities, of hope.

On my eleventh year, I realized that it was not all about me. I grew because of my journalism family.

Mdpn. Anthony Ken J. Bucasas Editor-in-Chief

theDolphin Volume 61 No. 1

November 2021

Mdpn. Anthony Ken Bucasas Editor-in-Chief

Mdpn. John Euclid Parreño Feature Editor

Mdpn. Arron John Mortega Cartoonist

Mdpn. John Rovic Lopez Associate Editor

Mdpn. Daniel Justine Belonio Literary Editor

Mdpn. Francis Baldemor Mdpn. Nicanor Cinco III Layout Artist

Mdpn. Julius Caesar Alfaras Managing Editor

Mdpn. John Francis Babiera Filipino Editor

Mdpn. John Christian Catilo News Editor

Mdpn. Mark Joseph Alovera Senior Photojournalist

Mr. Norman Daliva SAC Publication/Adviser

Acknowledgements: Dr. Ronald Raymond L. Sebastian Capt. Alfred G. Espinosa, Ph. D. C/M Virmari S. Tan, Ph. D. Mrs. Rohena Z. Miranda Mr. Michael Vincent Evidente 3/O Keft Sobredo 2/O Majella Angelie Albances Mrs. Cristine Tapales

D/C Franzesca Mari Bautista Mr. Loween John Seloterio Mr. John Paul Demasu-ay Mr. & Mrs. Regie Vic Lopez Mr. & Mrs. Alan Rey Bucasas Mr. & Mrs. Nicanor Cinco Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Felix Baldemor Mr. & Mrs. Reynaldo Catilo Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Babiera Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Joebert Parreño Mr. Loreal Peligrino Ms. Claire Babes Marie Cadapan Corona Hills Boarding House Mdpn. Euwen John Julit Bagtason Loom Weavers Assoc.

Artivism Iloilo

conte F E AT U R E

08 10 12 15 18

ENVIRONMENT |

Foul Problems Require Foul Solutions C U LT U R E |

A Thousand Yards Patadyong’s Journey in the Fashion Industry TO U R I S M |

The Forsaken Edifice Buds Anew

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DEVCOM |

Jalaur River: Where the Life of Panay Flows I N V E S T I G AT I V E |

Recordando el metro; Iloilo City’s Dynamic Shift of Progress

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HUMAN INTEREST |

The Colors of the Brave

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TECHNOLOGY |

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DEVCOM |

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ART |

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COV E R STO RY |

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H E A LT H l |

Sailing Towards a Greener Future

Grand Estuary: Connecting Origins to Progress Iloilo River’s Development through Time.

Paint Walls to Break Walls The #CityOfLove is #CityOfArts

SPECTRUM: Through the Looking- Glass‑ Narratives of a Transwoman’s Transitioning

Out with the Old, In with the New

ents 40 FILIPINO

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K U LT U R A |

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PAG K A I N |

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K U LT U R A |

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M A K ATA O N G K AW I L I H A N |

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FILM CRITIQUES |

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Sa mga kamay ni Ante Kuwentong Ipinalaglag at Ipinanganak

Balat ng Ibos Istorya ng Lagkit at Ligaya

Tindahang Deklik

Ang Bukas sa Malalim na Kaalaman

L A C S O N I A N N A R R AT I V E S |

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ENVIRONMENT

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Foul Problems Require Foul Solutions WRITTEN BY MDPN. JOHN EUCLID PARREÑO COLLAGE ART BY MDPN. FRANCIS BALDEMOR

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retty much every single human being on earth would want to puke their insides out after just a mere sight of rotting leftover meat or a whiff of putrid decomposing fruit when passing by a trash can filled with the nastiness of human food waste. It’s a torment for anyone. But, for people like Noknok—a 52-year-old Passinhon who is living at an approximately 20-meter distance away from a dumpsite— living with the sight and stench of decaying food waste every single day is already a part of his lifestyle.

This year, the United Nations Environment Programme’s 2021 Food Waste Index discovered that an estimated 931 million tons of food end up in trash annually.

61.12% of that falls under the household waste category while foodservice and retail sectors ledgers for a further 26.21% and 12.67% respectively. Moreover, based on per capita, the average global household throws away about 74 kilograms of food each year, a figure that is generally similar across country income groups that highlight the cruciality of global awareness and improvement.

On top of that, food waste that finds itself dumped in landfills emits a massive amount of methane - a significantly stronger greenhouse gas than the notorious carbon dioxide. The overabundance of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide absorbs infrared radiation and traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere, becoming a catalyst of global warming and climate change.

Picture out how much methane could 931 million tons of food waste could produce. It could potentially turn the world into a giant oven, operated by the same people who live in it but do not seem to care.

With the disturbing facts and statistics concerning food waste and its global impact, is there even a

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way to help reduce its effects? Will people in the case of Noknok ever breathe the smell of fresh air anytime soon?

Luckily, Shandong Qiaobin Agricultural Technology Company in Jinan, China, might just have found a promising solution that can halt the seemingly inevitable apocalypse brought upon by food waste—cockroaches. Yes. The same cockroaches you see in your household. The same insect that prompts people to grab a can of insect spray every time one is found crawling in the kitchen cupboard. As ironic as it may sound, cockroaches can devour a lot of food in seconds if they are in huge numbers.

The agricultural technology company houses a billion—one followed by nine zeros—cockroaches that munch their way into 50 tons of food scraps every day. That means 50 tons of food waste, found itself being digested in an army of gross insects’ abdomen, rather than in a landfill, where they could rot and warm the earth while at it.

The process in this industry is remarkable. Food waste is collected in restaurants and then crushed into a disgusting puree and served to the six-legged customers. The roaches thrive in the warm, humid, and dark environment while being served an eat-all-you-can buffet

of garbage. Moreover, this environment is also perfect for the cockroaches to raise families as the industry can never have too many mouths to feed, thus making cockroaches a renewable resource driven by food waste. And when the unfortunate time comes when the mommy and daddy roaches die, they are given to farm animals as insects such as roaches are a good source of protein.

Aside from the roaches of China, one potential insect here in the Philippines also shows promise in the food waste problem of the world.

In Davao City, Philippines, statistics show that the city has generated at least 600 tons of garbage daily ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Determined to convert that amount of trash into treasure, FiveDOL Upcycling Corporation together with the help of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology starts a program to produce compost and animal feed using black soldier flies.

Peter Damary, FiveDOL’s CEO, said that by harnessing the rapid growth of the flies and their capacity to break down kitchen waste, scientists and engineers have, over the last few years, been able to develop an efficient technology to transform large quantities of kitchen waste into insect protein and compost beneficial to agriculture and the environment.

In the two-week lifetime of a female black soldier fly, it can lay between 500 to 900 eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae consume and transform large quantities of food waste into compost. While turning food waste into compost, the larvae also stuff themselves with protein, becoming viable alternative feed for chicken or pigs.

Given the rapid life cy-

cle of the BSFs, they are also renewable resources driven by food waste like the roaches of China that could potentially put an end to the food waste problem of the world. Lastly, also like the roaches of China, they also donate a huge amount of protein to livestock that could drastically improve the quality of meat in the Philippine meat industry.

The thought of cockroaches and flies helping humanity is undeniably absurd, however, Shadong Qiaobin Agricultural Technology Company and FiveDOL Upcycling Corporation beg to disagree. The insects’ progress in their plants and factories proves that even the most ridiculous plan may surprise those who didn’t think it would work, especially those who distrust cockroaches and flies as they are more commonly known to be harbingers of diseases.

Unfortunately for some reason, these methods still aren’t adopted widely throughout the globe. But just imagine how it could impact the world in every city or municipality has at least one cockroach or fly facility, no doubt the problems that branch from dumping food waste would eventually vanish into thin air - or rather, into an insect’s belly.

Food waste is not just wasting food, it is also stimulating the devastating effects of global warming, and it is also making people like Noknok smell the stench of decay while staying in the comfort of his house. But in these modern times, it is not funny at all to say that the future of the environment lies in the hands—in the six legs rather—of these once-considered pests.

Cockroaches and flies.

What a gross way to save the world.

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CULTURE

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A Thousand Yards Patadyong’s Journey in the Fashion Industry WRITTEN BY MDPN. ANTHONY KEN BUCASAS PHOTOS BY JOEWEN RAY DUCADO

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he, in her eyes surrounded by the wrinkles brought by the aging of time, can be seen a distant past where the sun has not shone the colors of threads, but is revealed by the light from a gas lamp as she chooses what she wanted to use in weaving her new patadyong, a loose-checkered skirt.

She, in her slender arms and shaking hands, marked the scars of the past, brought not by agony, but by the times she would clip her skin in a teral, a loom weaving machine made of bamboo. The melody of taps from the teral and the crowing rooster would be her music. She would taste the smell of coffee mixed in the morning breeze as she pedals her way to produce a yard of tapestry - her art, a thread of her soul.

“I started weaving when I was 10, and every morning my mother, Teodora, would share her knowledge in weaving. It is for us to sell and earn from it. To have something to fill our stomachs for the day,” says Ma. Florita Cadapan, a 66 year-old weaver of patadyong.

Florita is one of the oldest among the 72 members of the Bagtason Loom Weavers Association of Bugasong, Antique.

Back in 2007, the organization started with 15 persons. As years go by, the beauty of their creations paved the way for them to grow in numbers when the textiles became in demand in the fashion industry.

Different fashion designers inside and outside Panay created the doors for patadyong to be transitioned from a simple skirt into bags, gowns, wallets, casual wears, scarf, shawls, handkerchiefs and even face masks.

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The young people of Bugasong became interested in the culture of weaving, thus, increased the number of its members four-fold since 2007.

During the pre-Hispanic times, the people used this as a hammock or a mosquito net. However, the demand declined in the 1960s as Chinese textiles entered the market because it was sold cheaper. But the art of patadyong making was developed in the late 1960’s when the weavers decided to use cotton, polyester and abaca as raw materials producing higher quality products.

In the 1980’s, polyester was used as their new raw material, the production of patadyong increased by incorporating squares, stripes, and a flower design in the middle. The journey of patadyong had gone through a bumpy ride.

According to Mr. Marvin Kyle Rico, Tourism Officer of the municipality, it was through the initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide assistance to inspire and motivate the younger locals of Bugasong to make and sell the native product to preserve the culture that was passed down by their ancestors through generations.

In addition, Mr. Mario Manzano, the president of the organization said that

Ma. Florita Cadapan, 66 year-old patadyong weaver.

trainings were being conducted because of the improved and emergent requests for patadyong. A pili, also known as an embroidered flower design inspired by the national flower and golden abaca fiber was later added to make the products match the current fashion trends.

“The fibers made from abaca were being ordered from Aklan which is known also for their handwoven abaca fabrics. We coordinated also with the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) so that we will have more resources,” Mr. Manzano added.

Fifty-two terals are available for the workers to take turn in using these machines wherein they are being paid per piece and can earn from Php. 1000 to Php. 5000 per month.

Antique’s Representative and Depu-

ty Speaker Inday Loren Legarda, was known to wear patadyong designed outfits. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Antique’s 2021 Miss Universe Philippines Antique, Noelyn Rose Campos, also wore these woven masterpieces.

Last November 10 to 11, 2018, patadyong was featured in the Likhang Pamana Fashion Show at Sheraton Hotel in Hong Kong. Local designer Wilthe Popelo was among the 10 designers around the country invited by the Department of Tourism to join the event.

Through the steadfast advocacy of the fashion designers and the people of Antique to preserve their cultural identity, patadyong weaving will continue to live on and help the people who gave it life.

Antique’s weaving culture was built as time aged; her weavers will always see their distant journey as the sun continues to shine the colors of threads. It may be from a gas lamp or from the light produced by modernization; they will always continue to weave their new patadyong, a new fashion that transitioned from a loose-checkered skirt.

Antique’s weaving culture was built by strong arms and rough hands, not from the scars of agony, but by the times her weavers would clip their skin in a teral. The melody of taps and the crowing rooster will always be music to their ears. The taste and smell of coffee mixed with the morning breeze is a new day of dancing the pedals and produce a thousand yards more of patadyong– an art, a thread of culture, a soul of Antiqueños.

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TOURISM

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The Forsaken Edif ice Buds Anew Conversion of a Once-proud Institution, Now an Attraction with a Sea of Petals PHOTOS AND WRITTEN BY MDPN. JAN CHRISTIAN CATILO

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magnificent structure sits regally atop a hill, imposing its uncanny resemblance with the National Diet Building in Tokyo, Japan – Yamato International School is a private school that once devoted its walls for nurturing young learners located in the town of Lambunao, Iloilo. But it’s all now a part of the past as the main building is now part of the picturesque field budding with the colorful beauty of the diverse blooming flora planted with sweat and passion for people to enjoy.

A Backstory…

New Beginnings

Uncovering Terrains

When I was young, whenever I go to school at 7 in the morning, I would always sit in front of the tricycle right beside the driver, and as soon as we exit the subdivision before the main highway, a loud engine of a blue fat bus with a label that says “Yamato International School” would have its striking appearance as it bolted hastily to pick up its pupils all around town.

It is quite eye-catching because to be one of those pupils, who to be picked up for school and be accompanied back to your home by a big blue bus means that you are quite well off and can afford to go in an international school. But, time seems to not favor the fate of the proud institution as it closed doors after a few years of operation – money problems perhaps, or may be due to the problem of trying to run an international school where there are, umm, no international students.

After a few months after the nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a piece of news flashed around the town about a certain “Yamato Flower Farm” made a buzz among the locals and social media. The first thing that comes into mind is that a flower farm may have been developed near the ghosted Yamato International School but a Facebook post of a friend shows that it’s even better! The fields of the school itself are the flower farm, making it quite a scenery to unfold.

I and my group of friends rushed ourselves to experience the transition of the once unmanned place subject to ghost stories told by elders. There was even a hypothesis of gold and diamonds buried underneath the large structure along the hill where it was erected. Yamato has been the subject of hearsays and creative minds of our fellow kasimanwa (townspeople) years after its closure.

To reach Barangay Cayan, Oeste, where the two-hectare Yamato Flower Farm is situated, it takes a six-minute ride. You can ask the local tricycle or habal-habal drivers to lead the way with a twenty to thirty peso fare depending on the number of passengers that accompanies you to the location.

On the way to the entrance, you know you are near the school when you are passing through rows of marigold flowers along the concrete path up the hill. Meters before entering the field grounds, you need to pay a thirty-peso entrance fee at a small kubo (bamboo house) with a big arc made of wood in front, adorned with carved flowers, hand-painted signs, and a large welcome sign. After few seconds of strolling downhill, you will be greeted with the dazzling iridescent glow of the sun-struck flowers of the farm.

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GRANDEUR. Yamato International School maintains its magnificance through time.

Blooming Varieties

This terrain of vivid flora paints contrasting colors along the field, the farm grows an impressive collection of flower varieties; from simple red, purple, and yellow zinnias, bulbs of cute but spontaneous purple globe amaranth, columns of violet mexican petunias, hints of red and yellow cockscomb together with purple, yellow and red celosia uniformly lines at the sides of the canal, sunflowers that stand proud and high than the other flowers which are lined accordingly right under the foot of the main school building but nothing can beat the bushy field of almost half a hectare wide field of yellow, orange and gold cosmos that reflects the sunshine into a glimmering sea of bright swaying flame.

The elegant and delicate touch of these flowers has us in awe and exhalation as you can roam around freely along the field like a rabbit hopping along with the wide bouquet of various flowers. This flower farm is gorgeous backdrops for photos and Instagram posts together with the high and wide landscape of the defunct international school. The place is wide enough to not be overcrowded and often not that packed with many people, through its vast flower scenery, the farm provides peace and relaxation to its visitors.

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“

I always find joy in the thought of knowing that many people can appreciate our hardwork.

Foresight of a Veteran Farmer

Unbeknownst to the visitors and tourists, there is an old man standing at the foot of the hill, sitting, appreciating the beauty and elegance of the flowers with a proud stature and eyes glimmering with hope while carefully glancing at each of the visitor’s faces as they pose to take a picture.

“I always find joy in the thought of knowing that many people can appreciate our hard work.”, says lolo Amado E. Lutero, still physically fit at the age of 70, a passionate farmer since his younger days. He is one of the core personas who initiated the idea of developing the abandoned school by renting it from the owners. He influenced his family to take roots with the love of farming. Together with his good old carabao, he plowed the dry field of the school while his daughters plant the seeds of the flowers. They all yearned to transform the place into something where people can appreciate their hard-work.

Collective Efforts

Lolo Amado, was not only the mind behind the farm. his children, Analyn Ferrariz, Ailyn Jacinto, Adea Marie Lutero, and Amado Lutero Jr., are actually the ones who primarily thought about the idea of planting flowers over the vacant field of Yamato as they had their share of painstaking effort fueled by the love of farming and patience for the flora’s perfect blossom.

“It is not just an act of pure effort. It was made with the drive of women empowerment as many housewives think that they should only work at home. That is why I said that we, women should find something that we love the most, and for us, we love flowers, so this is what we did.” Adea Marie Lutero said reiterating that we, as humans, always have something that we love.

This is the formula for success behind the Yamato Flower Farm. It was in July 2020 when they started planting the seeds which they reaped the recognition and popularity of their diligent cause.

Hindsight

It was a worthwhile escapade for our group of friends. We get to experience the continuously booming tourism of our local municipality and we even get to know the bright and passionate minds behind the wonderful setting. What truly matters is the bonds that grew stronger through uncovering new destinations; a sudden sprout of feeling to visit the place became a treasured memory for us to keep for the rest of our lives.

If you are considering visiting Iloilo, stop by Lambunao and get to have the taste of pure bliss and relaxation at Yamato Flower Farm. It will create a great meaning and rekindle our love for nature. This is often why flowers are seen as loving gifts from God for the special people in our lives - the reaction of the person receiving the flowers is priceless.

FULL BLOOM. Yamato is given a fresh appearnce after closure.

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DEVCOM

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Jalaur River:

Where the Life of Panay Flows The Construction of the Largest Dam outside Luzon WRITTEN BY MDPN. JOHN ROVIC LOPEZ

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ike any other farmer, his day starts even before the rooster crows. But as he gets up, he knows this early September morning will be different.

Cracked soil, dry ponds, and an anticipated decline in his crop harvest—the drought season warmly greets him.

Nono Latoza still considers himself fortunate that after his years of painstaking work as an electrician and as a farmer, he now owns the 1.75 hectares of land he tills intended for rice fields

alone. The richness of the soil has provided him and his family a source of income and food for over 30 years now.

Several of his children have already graduated with respective degrees, and the family has been self-sufficient in food as their livestock has also flourished.

His biggest setback is always the lack of water resources to irrigate his farmlands and supply water to his animals. That’s why in dry seasons when his harvest is always at stake, he can feel the

common struggle of almost all Filipino farmers.

Nono’s usual harvest of 70-100 sacks of rice is often reduced to only about 30 sacks, depending on how bad the dry season gets. The two culprits to be blamed for this huge loss in Nono’s harvest are the drought and the lack of water supply. The former can be addressed through long-term mitigation. The latter, however, can be alleviated through development programs like irrigation projects.

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Photo Courtesy of NIA JRMP II

A much-needed project

It was in February 2019 when the construction of a multi-purpose utilization of the Jalaur River commenced at Calinog, Iloilo. It was the start of bringing to life the plans that were envisioned for the Jalaur River—the second largest river system on Panay Island.

The Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) is the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) flagship project in Western Visayas. It is the first large-scale water reservoir to be constructed outside Luzon. The project primarily aims to provide bulk water supply, hydroelectric power, eco-tourism, and yearround irrigation to 25 different municipalities in the Province of Iloilo.

For about 30 years, the phase II of this project waited to be undertaken. The first phase was intended for the rehabilitation of the existing irrigation systems that were completed in 1983. Its construction was under the provisions of RA 2651, passed in 1960. The second phase, however, began its construction as the Korean Government funded this Php 11.2 billion project under the contract of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. The funding of this project was taken care of by the Korea Export-Import Bank through an Php 8.9 billion loan with a counterpart from the Philippine government of Php 2.2 billion.

The second stage of its construction involves three (3) components: irrigation development, environmental and watershed management, and institutional development.

ARTIST’S PERSPECTIVE. The Php. II.2- billion Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project II in Calinog, Iloilo.

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“

The employment opportunities of the Daewoo [dam project] mean a lot to us, especially to those displaced workers due to the pandemic.

- Junmar Latoza

A flow of hope

Nono Latoza’s 1.7 hectares of farmland will be part of the expected 31,840 hectares of farmland in Iloilo to be provided with year-round irrigation once the multi-project is complete. And he is just one of the 24,000 farmers expected to benefit from the project.

“The drought is really taking a toll on our livelihood. When there is no rain, our only source of water irrigation is our fishpond. But that also means taking the water supply from our fish like tilapia and pantat,” Nono said.

With problems like this, rice production is always the most affected. With the help of the water irrigation of this dam, the annual production of rice is said to be expected to increase from 140,000 to 300,000 metric tons.

This will sustain the region’s rice self-sufficiency target and contribute to the country’s rice production target of 7.6%.

Farmers like Nono hope for the project to answer their call for sustenance, not only to provide water for their farmlands, but also for their daily consumption. Far-flung communities in mountainous areas of the province often face the same dilemma—lack of water supply.

Upon the completion of this project, 86 million liters of bulk water per day is expected to be supplied to the targeted 25 towns, including Passi and Iloilo City. The project would also provide an additional supply of good-quality potable water for domestic and industrial consumption in the service areas of the Metro Iloilo Water District. This water supply is said to be sustained even for the next 50–75 years. 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power supply is also expected to be generated once the construction is complete. The ample water and power supply will be immensely beneficial communities where access to water is scarce.

In addition, the Jalaur river basin has the highest annual flow in the province and has been responsible for several floodings and overflows in the past, destroying crops, poultry, and property. This is also one of the

major environmental concerns that the dam project hopes to address. It would further aid current efforts towards flooding mitigation provided under the Iloilo Flood Control Program. Selected dams or reservoir areas are also expected to double as eco-tourism destinations.

An economic game changer

According to the Department of Agriculture, the project would benefit livelihood opportunities from inland fisheries and tourism. As the construction progresses, another 17,000 new jobs will be created, amounting to P1.3 billion in basic wages per year.

Junmar, Nono Latoza’s third child, is one of those who will benefit from the project’s job provisions. He provides for his own family from the profit earned as an electrician on-site.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and a two-week work stoppage due to an outbreak among workers and consultants, construction continues to gain momentum. The National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) is optimistic about completing the project as planned by early 2023 as the project’s implementation is reported to be still ahead of its target, with an over-all physical accomplishment of 6.11% more than its target.

For many years, the Jalaur river system has already become a seemingly endless ventricle, pumping life all throughout the heart of Panay. Its main purpose, which is to provide for the inhabitants of the island, is empowered more by programs like this multi-purpose project.

Nearing its full completion, the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project boosts the hopes of many people, especially farmers in the province. For Nono Latoza, this is an answer to their prolonged plea to address the crucial agricultural problem of drought. Once the project is completed, what awaits ahead of them is a brighter day with showers of abundance from the very mouth of Panay’s lifeline.

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INVESTIGATIVE

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Recordando el metro; (Reminiscing the metro)

Iloilo City’s Dynamic Shift of Progress WRITTEN BY MDPN. JAN CHRISTIAN CATILO & MDPN. DANIEL JUSTINE BELONIO

“Iloilo City, now greater than ever, is ready to take back the title of ‘Queen’ once more”

Photo by Felix Laureano

The First Filipino Photographer

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Felix Laureano is widely considered to be the first Filipino photographer. He was born in Bugasong, Antique, but practiced his trade in Iloilo where he started his studios in Calle Iznart but later moved to Barcelona, Spain where he published his book “Recuerdos de Filipinas” which said to be the first and oldest coffee table book about the Philippines. He featured photographs mostly from Panay where shots from the old Iloilo stands

The Lady Patron

Where it began

Iloilo through the 20th Century Lenses

There, she stood proud and mighty atop a dome, a Lin-ay (young lady) made of 18-foot bronze by Ilonggo artist Ed Defensor.

A tribute overlooking the metro Iloilo at high altitude, encompassing the nose-shaped river, an ever thriving port and the bustling city wide progress engraved in history and for more years to come - a symbol of prosperity rich cultural heritage, and the pride of Iloilo City and Province that lies at the center of the Philippine nation.

An image of a native belle, holding a scythe in her left hand, and stalks of harvested rice in her right can be seen. She stands on a pedestal whose four sides are carved to show the major assets of the City and Province – rice, sugar cane, fishing and education.

Indeed, a true beauty. The representation is uncanny to the city once called “Queen City of the South.” Iloilo City, now greater than ever, is ready to take back the title of ‘Queen’ once more.

It was at the middle of the 19th century when Iloilo was opened for world trade at the advent of the Spanish colonialism, Iloilo struck gold for its early advancement than the surrounding provinces due to the onset of rapid production of the sugar industry in the city and province. At that time, Iloilo was hailed as the regional economic center second only to Manila - the capital of the country and the center of the Spanish government.

You can see on the map that Iloilo was a strategic location for commerce and water trade as Guimaras Island became its protector from the gush of bad weather and typhoons. This renders the shores of Iloilo city and its river as an ideal place for a port to operate. As a trading hub, the city became a subject for travelers and visiting mestizos to be attracted that opt them to have a visit.

A few of these are early photographers that captured the glory of Iloilo in the past and made archives for us to remember.

We stumbled upon the webinar talk of Mr. Nereo Luhan, a researcher and writer about the history of Iloilo. He talked about “Photographing Iloilo in the 20th Century”, and said that early Europeans that visited the metro took pictures of the City and sent them to their respective homes outside the country.

Many of these photographs for example are from W.T. Bennet, taken from mid-19th century or before 1865, these photographs are of Ilonggo weavers, Calle principal de Iloilo (Calle Real), Rio de Iloilo (Iloilo River), Arsenal de Iloilo (Iloilo Arsenal ship) and Casa real de Iloilo (Old Provincial Capitol Building).

Mr. Luhan subjected that the port of Iloilo is now called Muelle Loney named from the the term ‘Muelle’ from Spanish which means wharf, and ‘Loney’ named from the British Vice-consul, Nicholas Loney - the man behind the used to be flourishing sugar industry, expanded sugar production and export sugar trade. Iloilo’s international port

DYNAMIC. Iloilo City’s progress through the years.

Photo source: https://the-pr-circuit.blogspot.com

out. Photographs of Calle del Progreso (now Isidro de Rama Street), Calle de Iznart (Iznart Street), Puente entre Iloilo y Jaro (Junction Bridge of Jaro and Iloilo), and the Vista del Muelle y Ria de Iloilo (Iloilo Port).

“It is a delightful read because Laureano does not only let the photos speak for themselves, but he vividly describes the scenes, with some of the essays running to several pages of text, where he very frequent-

ly uses Ilonggo terms and translates them for his readers. Most of the terms are still in common use today”, Mr. Vic Salas wrote in his column in Rappler entitled Ilonggo Notes featuring the work of photography and linguistics of the late Felix Laureano. With his descriptions of people, places, rituals, traditions, and everyday events, it can be considered as a photo album as well as a work of linguistics, geography and anthropology, he added.

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was developed by Loney, who also imported the most up-to-date machinery from Europe.

As a result of his generosity and faith in Iloilo City’s economic development, the efficiency of sugar production increased.

Legacy of the Past

Iloilo used to be a bustling, prosperous city that was abode to grand churches, fine textiles, and vast swaths of sugarcane fields. At least for the hacienderos owning hectares of land and the friars in the churches, renowned families and rich citizens alike, life was prosperous and comfortable. People didn’t seem to want much back at the olden days at the thick of the Spanish occupancy in the country.

However, Ben Jimena, the Iloilo tourism officer, says in an article at Rappler that the harrowing effects of war have stripped the province of its glory, leaving the edifices of power—churches, the homes of the wealthy and other establishments—in either shambles or decay. There were a lot of lapses in development after the war, “So much of our focus was on being content with our current situation. Maybe the Filipino culture isn’t so hungry for progress”, says Jimena.

Ambitions for the Future

Modern Iloilo, on the other hand, wants to change that and reclaim its former glory. Currently, Iloilo City is emerging as a bright spot for trade and commerce.

The business sector is a major employer in the city. Numerous banks, financial institutions, retail giants, and IT companies have invested in the city to help it grow.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) awarded the city a Special Citation in 2020 for being the “Most Business-Friendly, Highly Urbanized City Out-

Photo source: https://thepr-circuit.blogspot.com

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side of Metro Manila”. There’s no doubt that the area is becoming a major economic center in our country.

Iloilo is a very popular destination for both locals and tourists. The city successfully blends the old and the new, with new buildings built next to old Spanish plazas. While progressing, it manages to retain its country flavor. Companies in the information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) industries have set up all around the metro.

Today, Iloilo’s economy is being driven by a wider range of industries including agribusiness, tourism, BPOs, trading activities, and service driven firms, including banks, educational institutions, hospitals, and many others.

Gloria de coronación (Crowning glory)

“The future is yet to come.” Today, the signs for the future are already written in various ongoing projects that are in place.

Freedom of expression, opportunities, homes, experiences and memories worth nurturing, Iloilo is truly a City of Love.

The inhabitants often look back, reminisce and imagine the past, with its neoclassical architecture, vintage feel, wide and clean roads, thriving commerce, and dedication to tradition. However, time changes the flow, the path paved by the predecessors for the successors will continue to be preserved and excel.

The current shifting of the wind will now favor this former Queen City of the South, as the old and youth are the heart that will never falter, always hungry for change. Allowing the past to repeat itself will sully the might of Ilonggos, from now on grandeur will be displayed to honor the past and paint the future.

REGAL. Iloilo Business Park retains the city’s glamour and magnificence.

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A STAUNCH STANCE. Bachoco poses with pride despite the intense cold of Norway.

DEVCOM

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The Colors of the Brave WRITTEN BY MDPN. DANIEL JUSTINE BELONIO PHOTOS BY CHESTER ALAN BACHOCO

T

he great azure oceans have always charmed humanity ever since the dawn of their existence, as it can be furious and gentle because it is where the ruthless and imposing Poseidon dwells, as his realm gave birth to gods, goddesses, and monsters alike. Such as Charybdis who currently endures an unending thirst for the sea, as she creates whirlpools to swallow sailors who are unfortunate enough to get too close to her, thus meeting their horrifying ends, and Scylla who stays close to Charybdis near a narrow strait, vaguely luring sailors into a false sense of relief and then feasts on them. Poseidon’s realm is unforgiving for humans, yet there are brave individuals who will dare venture into his inhospitable domain.

Humans are regarded as the brave ones that come in diverse personalities and in prism colors, they will stop at nothing even if it is a god or a powerful monster blocking their path, they tread on ignoring such entities because they know that they are lucky to be blessed by their presence.

Chester Alan O. Bachoco is one of these individuals regarded as the brave, 24 years young, he is able to face adversities with his head held high as he continues to walk and slay within Poseidon’s realm.

The medium that the brave uses are ships— a top peak product of human creativity, engineering, and craftsmanship. Ships are used for various situations and they differ in design, purpose, and unique qualities. The world of the shipping industry is not for the faint of heart, as it is where time is literally money, as it has been growing steadily for years through trade, transport, and charter. As the backbone of world trade, it is estimated that 80 percent of all goods are carried by sea and it is stated that the value of the global maritime container trade is estimated to be worth 60 percent of all seaborne trade. To put into account, it is worth 14 trillion U.S. dollars in 2019. This is such a huge load and expectations the brave has to carry and keep standard.

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With this steady growth, they require a huge demand of brave or maritime employees, such as deck officers, marine engineers, and ratings. The recruitment process of the companies that employ them is extensive, strict as they may appear but it is for the advancement of the company and the safety of the crewmates who will be their companions for the duration of their contracts.

Enter Maersk Line or Maersk SeaLand, a Danish integrated shipping company, active in both ocean and freight transport services. Maersk has been at service since its establishment in 1904 and has grown to be the largest container shipping line and vessel operator in the world. They have hired 83,000 employees and made revenue of 39.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.

The world’s leading company Maersk must have to employ high-quality employees. This proved to be a hurdle that they need to overcome if they want to continue dominating the world of the maritime industry, as their scope is limited and is holding them back.

In response to this, Maersk developed a policy that will help them conquer this problem, it is called the “Diversity and Inclusion Policy”. As what Maersk said in their Policies and Target “Why would we only hire from 50% of the global talent pool?” and further added, “Increasing the gender representation of the talent applying to work for Maersk means that we are able to hire from the widest talent pool”.

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It served as a symbol of inclusion and diversity boldly sharing with the world the company’s stand on creating a culture where all employees, partners, and customers feel welcomed and can be themselves without judgment.

Chester Alan O. Bachoco’s comment on the Diversity and Inclusion Policy of Maersk.

PROUD HUES. The LGBTQ+ flag flutters for equality and diversity aboard Bachoco’s vessel.

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Diversity and inclusion policy have been showing progress since 2018. As they stated in a section of their Sustainability Report 2019 as to why is it important, that “It is a basic obligation and a core element of our values not to discriminate against our employees. Discrimination bars people from living up to their full potential creates inequality as well less stable and prosperous societies.

We also want to leverage the competitive advantage that diverse teams and inclusive cultures can bring to our business.”

They have done a milestone in the maritime industry, employing 2 women out of the 8 men that are on the board of directors, and more representation of other genders in the senior management. They have further targets in 2023 such as “Three women on the Board of Directors if the Board consists of less than twelve members, and four women, if the Board consists of twelve or more members” and “Target for senior management representation of 1) women and 2) persons from countries that are not in the OECD high-income countries list” these targets symbolize the progress that they have cultivated through their efforts and the value that they truly give to their employees.

Now in 2021, they are further endorsing LGBTQIA such as participating in world pride 2020 and 2021 announcing that they are proud sponsors. Such as painting their containers with the colors of the rainbow flag and will have a tour around the world, this huge endorsement has received a lot of positive reactions online in different communities and in the maritime industry as a whole.

These rainbow containers do not only represent the LGBTQIA community but also represent that the world accepts them for who they are. The employees will have the opportunity to see and sign the units with encouraging words that motivate and empower such as “Stronger together #ALLTHEWAY” written by the employees at NWC – Area Salops. This heart-warming activity really brings us together that we are one and we can overcome our differences together.

Nanneke Visscher, Customer Success Manager in Rotterdam also commented: ‘’So proud to be part of this! ALL voices should be allowed to speak, ALL voices should be truly heard and ALL voices should equally count. Be the change!’’ plenty of employees have been sharing online with their photos of the rainbow containers and their encouraging

words and signatures as a sign they approve, using the hashtag #InclusionAllTheWay.

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I felt the joy, hope, and motivation, the moment I saw that.

Chester Alan O. Bachoco’s comment on the Diversity and Inclusion Policy of Maersk.

This is also a great humanitarian work, as the units were involved in delivering relief and cargo to the hurricane survivors in the United States in the past year 2020. As Maersk clients have shown great interest in the use of these wonderful rainbow containers, these units will be used for a long time to come.

It is humbling to see that these rainbow containers only started with two skillfully painted units in July 2020 join the fleet, now they number greatly as they continue to embark through the Netherlands, visiting the country’s landmarks, as well in locations where participating customers and partners are located, and lower growers Jan de Wit en Zonen, who was proud to participate in the initiative.

Chester Alan O. Bachoco then said “It’s very hard coming true for the first time, there are a lot of struggles that I faced because not everyone will accept you the way you are, still I am grateful to the people who accepted me. As a member of the LGBTQIA community working onboard came with its own set of struggles, especially on mixed crew vessels where some nationalities are accepting and some are conservative, but for me, I don’t care if they accept me or not, as long as you know yourself and doing an excellent job in being respectful and at work, the right people will commend you and appreciate the hard work you have devoted. We are here, we make a stand as a human being and we will prove it to everyone.”

Poseidon appreciates the change in humanity, he will still continue to be ruthless, but with full respect for this accumulation of feelings and devotion of humans thirsting for change, and will be forever grateful to witness such an amazing act that he thought gods and goddesses can only achieve.

STEP UP! Bachoco enjoys the acceptance and inclusivity of his vessel.

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TECHNOLOGY

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Sailing Towards a Greener Future WRITTEN BY MDPN. JOHN EUCLID PARREÑO

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eople who live in the 21st century indulge all the benefits from medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and technological advancements of the both past and the present. For the busy maritime industry, crewless navigation is one step closer in becoming a reality.

Photo Courtesy of Yara International

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Earlier this year, the chemical company Yara International announced that a fully autonomous container ship is set to sail between two towns in Norway before the year ends. Even though that it is not the first autonomous ship to ever sail– as an autonomous ferry made by Rolls-Royce and Finferries sailed in Finland last 2018 – it is actually the world’s first fully electric container ship.

Designed to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its harmful effect to the environment, Yara Birkeland’s zero emission technology is a great catalyst in inspiring and challenging the rest of the maritime industry to lean towards a greener and environment-friendly enterprise. In fact, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), maritime transport is accountable for emitting a suffocating 940 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. They also added that if this figure maintains its pace over the next few decades, shipping emissions could potentially increase between 50% to 250% by 2050, thus warming the earth to unbearable proportions.

The environmental-friendly electric container ship was actually conceptualized last 2017 and was made possible through the partnership with technology firm, Kongsberg Maritime and shipbuilder Vard. According to Jon Sletten, plant manager for Yara’s factory in Porsgrunn, Norway, Yara Birkeland is large enough to carry 103 containers and can reach a top speed of about 13 knots. It will also use a 7 MWh battery, which is “about a thousand times the capacity of one electrical car”, that will be charged at the quayside before navigating to container harbors lining along the coast and then back again.

Aside from helping global conservation efforts with its zero-emission technology, being a crewless ship also means a more cost-effective ship as there is no one to pay and feed while the ship is underway. Instead of a crew to guide the ship while sailing like the conventional container ships, the electric ship’s movements will be closely controlled and monitored from three onshore data control centers.

Furthermore, still according to Sletten, all loading, discharging, mooring operations, berthing, and unberthing of the ship will operate using autonomous technology that also demands for the use of autonomous cranes and straddle carriers.

Actually, Yara Birkeland was initially scheduled to make its first voyage back in 2020. Unfortu-

nately, the COVID-19 pandemic together with logistical obstacles eventually hindered it from sailing at the original date. Yet Sletten is optimistic that the ship will complete its first voyage from Herøya to Brevik before the year ends after transitioning from a hasty fast-track project to a detailed step-by-step approach.

According to Rudy Negenborn, a maritime and transport technology professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, fully autonomous ships like the Yara Birkeland are the future of the maritime industry. However, he furthers that a lot of obstacles are needed to overcome before fully autonomous ships can finally be utilized for the typical commercial sea journeys.

He incites that unlike the usually quiet and calm ports the Yara Birkeland is set to sail into, navigating the heavy traffic in large ports could become a major challenge for these autonomous ships.

“At some point, these ships will have to start interacting with each other so they can exchange information and create paths that are not conflicting,” he emphasizes.

Negenborn also said that without a crew of humans onboard to perform routine maintenance checks, autonomous vessels will have to need builtin self-diagnosing systems with the capability to detect and troubleshoot problems, or communicate for in case there is a need for human intervention.

Aside from these technical issues, he also said that legal implications when crossing territorial waters of each country are also present.

“The Yara Birkeland operates along the Norwegian coast, but if it went further, then it might encounter other territorial regions with perhaps different rules and regulations that need to be met. Who is liable if something goes wrong?” he added.

But despite these problems Yara Birkeland has to tackle, it is undeniable that she is indeed one of the signs that the maritime industry is slowly Innovating in terms of the ships’ mode of fuel. A transition from an environmental-threatening propulsive modality to a greener and definitely safer alternative shows that there is always room for advancement and improvement.

With this grand reveal, it can be expected that other shipping companies of the world will soon release their own versions of an autonomous ship, and the lot of us cannot wait to see what they have to offer. Japan, the world is looking at you.

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DEVCOM

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Grand Estuary: Connecting Origins to Progress Iloilo River’s Development through Time WRITTEN BY MDPN. NICANOR CINCO III

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t was rich and once a center of trade and commerce. Consequently, globalization arose and turned it into an urban cesspool, lifeless and contaminated. Now, it is brought back to life through rehabilitation for sustainable growth and development. The Iloilo River, an estuary located at the heart of Iloilo City, has faced many transitions throughout time.

The Iloilo River is not just a mere body of water. With approximately 15 kilometers of length from the town of Oton at Batiano River, traversing through the districts of Iloilo City, it provides food, water, and livelihood to many Ilonggos. It also has a unique biological feature that can inhabit 22 of the country’s 35 mangrove species and is abundant in fishes, such as milkfish and Tilapia.

However, many years ago, the river has not been consistent in providing the needs of the Ilonggos because of the excessive economic development that caused the river to cease. Despite

that, the river continued to flow. It is a symbol of resilience, a witness to the city’s history and its constant sustainable transformation in the present.

Memoir of the past

During Pre-Spanish colonization, the Iloilo River has already contributed bountiful resources for the natives. It became the focal point of settlement since the river is curving through paddy fields, bamboo thickets, and forests. Traditional dwelling of Ilonggos- a hut made of bamboos and palms are lined-up at the riverside. The river reflected the Ilonggo’s humble way of life.

In 1521, the Spanish colonilalization began when Ferdinand Magellan claimed the islands of the Philippines as the colony of Spain. When the Spaniards settled in Cebu, they experienced a shortage of food. A group of Spaniards traveled out to find food on other islands. Master-of-camp Mateo del Saz, along with two officers and a crew of 70, have ventured and landed at one of the

“

It is why a lot of our waterways are dead or dying and in dire need of being brought back to life.

SUSTENANCE. Fisherman in the city benefits from the river’s abundance.

Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Times

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COMPARISON. Iloilo River’s transformation is evident in the corners of the city.

Photo source: http://mybeautifuliloilo.blogspot.com and https://www.projectlupad.com

villages in Panay. They have seen the richness of the island, specifically along the Panay River.

The arrival of a Spaniard, Juan de la Isla, at Panay in 1570, with three ships and copious Spaniards, marked the beginning of Panay’s formal colonization.

During the late 1800s, Spanish era, the Iloilo River was a trademark, and the city became the center of Philippine trade and commerce, second to Manila. The city was recognized as Queen City of the south under the Spanish decree due to the fast-growing economy and the boom of Negros and Panay Island sugar industry. Making Iloilo River the second major port of call of the country.

As a distinctive natural port, the river has contributed to economic and naval strategy by attracting ships to anchor at the river, especially during a typhoon. Thus, the Iloilo River became occupied by many merchant vessels since foreign and non-Spanish transactions were open during those times.

Cons of Modernity

Time passed and modernity started

to appear. The Iloilo River is still the economic capital of the city, yet many things have changed. Trees along the riverside were replaced by tall buildings, residential areas were prevalent instead of mangrove areas, and natural landscapes turned into landmasses full of business establishments. As the city continued to progress, the relationship of the people to the river became more distant.

From an abundant river, it became a cesspool. Solid wastes and wastewaters from informal settlers, hospitals, commercial buildings, and other establishments polluted the once pristine river. Contaminated and filled with sewage, marine life started to deteriorate and the river almost became lifeless.

“In modern times, these same rivers and waterways have become the sewers of our towns and cities. They have become degraded. We no longer understand the contributions that rivers and esteros give to our cities have and rivers. We abuse them. We clog waterways and pollute rivers. We turn a blind eye to factories and industries exploiting and informal settlements filling them with untreated septage. It is why a lot of our waterways

are dead or dying and in dire need of being brought back to life,” quoted Paulo G. Alcazaren, designer of Iloilo River Esplanade.

Redemption

As modernization has caused the Iloilo River to cease, national and city government, environmental organizations, and other partner agencies have developed a master plan to bring back a once majestic river.

The Iloilo-Batiano River Development Council (IBRDC) was formed and created the Iloilo-Batiano River Development Project to lead and integrate efforts to address siltation, water pollution, encroachment, illegal cutting of mangroves, and informal settlements in the Iloilo River with national agencies, non-governmental organizations, academe, and civil society.

Through collaborative efforts, the rehabilitation of the Iloilo River became successful. The IBRDC was able to release different fingerlings and conduct mangrove reforestation to conserve biodiversity that reduced the siltation and flooding incidents.

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Fish pens, natural and manmade constrictions were removed.

Resettlement of informal settlers, wastewater treatment technologies, clean-up drive, proper septage management, regular monitoring of water quality, and implementing regulations such as no discharge permit, no business permit policy have reduced the water pollution in the river.

Moreover, The IBRDC was able to develop the river as the center of destination amidst urbanized city by generating parks, bicycle lanes, and walkways as an open space and public access to the river, just like the construction of the Iloilo River Esplanade, the longest linear park in the Philippines.

The rehabilitation of the Iloilo River does not only benefited the needs of the Ilonggos, but it also brought pride to the city.

The river clinched the Galing Pook Award in 2018, and the Iloilo River Esplanade was given a Haligi ng Dangal Award in the same year.

Provisions of the water

and most especially, in health security. Despite that, the abundance of the river became the hope for the Ilonggos to adopt in these challenging times.

Among the 4.2 million Filipinos who lost their jobs, Salvador Carmona, a once laborer and carpenter, fishes in his angling spot along the Iloilo river to provide food for his family. On the other hand, Onyok, one of the active local anglers on the river has caught 14.5 kilos of Bulgan (Barramundi).

“Through the years, I have committed myself to establish and create a sustainable and livable city for my beloved Ilonggos with the help of our partner agencies, we have seen clearer and abundant waters,” Mayor Jerry Treñas posts on his Facebook account after he noticed Onyok’s catch.

The Iloilo River Esplanade is a peaceful promenade along the Iloilo river with 9.035 kilometers in length from Carpenter’s Bridge in Mandurriao to Muelle Loney Bridge in City Proper. The majestic view of the river in Iloilo River Esplanade has become the perfect spot

Moreover, due to the construction of the Iloilo River Esplanade, as part of the rehabilitation of the river, and other cycling infrastructures, Iloilo City became the most Bike-friendly city in the country as it was hailed as a Gold Award winner during the 2021 Mobility Award last November 25.

Where there is water, there is life. Just as water continues to flow in the Iloilo River, it provides hope and peace to those who catch a glimpse of it. The city’s seemingly endless clamor does not hold a light on how the teeming life in the Iloilo River affects the Ilonggo spirit. The pandemic has shut down businesses, taken away opportunities, and held back progress. However, the Ilonggos’ sense of resilience permeates whatever walls these challenges build for the community. Ilonggos find ways to provide for themselves by making use of the river’s ecosystem. With the mixture of talent, hard work, and grit, Ilonggos flourish continuously like the Iloilo River.

May this river continue to be the symbol of advancement and prestige of Iloilo

The successful rehabilitation of the Iloilo River has reached its peak of purpose as the Ilonggos face the adversities of time.

The pandemic has afflicted the lives of Ilonggos in terms of economic prospects

not just for fishing, but also for other recreational activities like cycling, jogging, and many more. The Ilonggos were able to find a place for outdoor activities, and at the same time to have fresher air amidst an urbanized city.

for the many generations that will come. What must be done as of now is for the present generation to be consistent so that the drawbacks of the past will not resurface- only then can true transitions happen for this majestic body of water.

OMBRE OF TIMES. Sunrise paints the Iloilo River in vibrant hues; a transition to hope and possibilities.

Photo Courtesy of Marcos Detourista

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We have our new way of speaking up.

Photo Courtesy of Explore iloilo

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ARTS |

HEALTH

Paint Walls to Break Walls The #CityOfLove is #CityOfArts WRITTEN BY MDPN. ANTHONY KEN BUCASAS PHOTOS BY ARTIVISM

Padayon nga Ma-angkon ang Katin-aran It might seem strange to confuse a slow-moving, blubbery sea cow with a beautiful, fish-tailed maiden – mermaids as they call it. Dugongs are called the mermaids of the sea, a completely harmless animal that vacuums the seafloor to find something to eat. Sta. Philomena is somewhat similar to a dugong, a martyr to humanity, abused, ravaged, and tormented - yet remained a virgin.

Sta. Filomena and the Sea by Kyle Dile and Kyle Sarte

Dunang Manggad sa Amon Guin-aman The Ilonggos rely on the abundance of ecosystems and species that have resulted in the thriving life below water. The sea has sustained human civilization and development by providing everything from food and nourishment to building materials and even the air we breathe. We may be the infection, but we are also the cure.

World Wildlife Day 2019 Life Below Water For People and Planet

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HEALTH

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I

t is in the unlikely spaces and local communities that ordinary people are presented to realities of society. Realities which are more amplified not by voices nor by force, but by movements to make a statement and to rally people to one greater cause.

Iloilo City is full of these spaces.

From dull and empty walls, the city has transformed into a panorama of rich sceneries of culture and arts.

Artivism Iloilo, a hybrid of “art” and “activism,” was founded in 2017 with the assistance of the British Council. Ever since, the organization has worked with a number

of local government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and artists’ associations to attain its goal of bringing art closer to the wider populace.

The movement seeks to advance public spaces as significant forums for art and expression, as contrast to the often limited and private galleries and museums

The city of Iloilo is slowly earning the monicker ‘prolific arthub of the country.’

The painted urban walls in streets stand not only for the radiant art scenes in the city but also for the kind of leadership and governance it has. One that is led by someone who appreciates art and an artist himself.

Namat-an sang mga Baganihan It is not just men who have fought in wars; women have done so as equals. Teresa Ferraris Magbanua, an Iloilo-born veteran of three wars, best exemplifies the courage of the Bakunawa. Swallowing seven moons, rebelled against the gods, just like how a school teacher took arms to counter the Spaniards from invading the lands of Iloilo. We must never forget that just like in the Filipino folklore, the women of the Revolution deserve their own place across the sky.

Teresa Magbanua Photo by Atelier Clarious

Puluy-an ka sang mga Dungganon Iloilo is known for its rich cultural heritage and values that has been passed down from generations. Ilonggos have built, fought, and invested in building a paradise of love and smiles for their children. Indeed, the city became a place for the people and its future. Painted in these walls are colors and faces of gratitude that will forever lasts to the memories and hearts of Ilonggos.

Transport of Generations, Photo courtesy of Raprap Dorilag

Guindihon sa Imong Gugmang Bilidhon Nang Maria is 74 years old and the oldest among the vendors of “ibos,” a sticky rice delicacy at the public market of Barotac Viejo. She became a symbol of commitment to strive for her family and for the local economy.

Her silent way of keeping the native delicacies alive should be know to the younger generation of women to keep the culinary culture of Ilonggos alive. She is an inspiration, an unsung hero, a bearer of hope.

Lola Maria on Marka Merkado

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WRITTEN BY MDPN. FRANCIS BALDEMOR, MDPN. JOHN ROVIC LOPEZ, AND MDPN. JULIUS CAESAR ALFARAS PHOTOS BY WYN GALLO

H

e felt his room being spun around. There was a little light leaking through his windows but he could barely see. Countless beads of sweat misted up his forehead down to his visage, and before he could process what was happening, he saw a woman right through the looking-glass. Curious as it seemed, that was usual for Winston.

In the eyes of many, Winston was peculiar. Even he would attest to that. There were times when he felt there was something within him that was struggling to flee like a bird trapped in his rib. There was also a voice he seldom talked to whenever he was alone. It was of a woman—compelling, soothing, freeing. For a while he thought he was suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder, talking and seeing the same woman who seemed to be a part of him.

The woman is in the guise of the name Wyn. And behind her sculpted figure, red lips, and flowing shadow-black hair lies a deep secret.

Wyn was Winston—a woman trapped in a man’s body.

EMANCIPATION. Wyn finally expresses herself freely in spaces that once confined her.

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Blue is for Him

Born the second among his four siblings, Winston Custodio Gallo already knew what path he would take since he was young. At the age of five, he preferred

everything, one could immediately spot on that I am gay. I was attracted to my same sex; always listening to Lady Gaga, and the like.”

Unlike the preconceptions of many in the country, Antonio Gallo, a bas-

the more modest and feminine tasks rather than the laboriously stereotypical man work. That was intensified when he considered her gay uncle’s house as his escape zone from his grandfather’s strict patriarchal rules.

“My lolo wanted us to do what men usually do. During that time, I knew what I wanted. That’s why every time I go to my gay uncle, I play with his stuff.”

In the narrow spaces of his uncle’s closet, he felt free. There was only one thing he always wanted to do—Rampa! Wearing their curtains, his uncle’s pageant stilettos and make-up products, he transformed into the beauty queen of his own universe.

“In gestures, in lifestyle, and in

ketball coach and Winston’s father, broke the stereotype towards fathers of the LGBTQ+ community and did not stop Winston from embracing himself.

“I could notice it already. He liked dolls, Chinese garter, and jackstone. We can’t do anything about it,” said Antonio.

One will never be enough for the Gallo family. Blessed with four children, all of them are in the spectrum: the eldest, Gerson Gallo, is a bisexual. Winston, the second, is transgender. Precious as lesbian. Jan Lester is slowly following Winston’s path as gay. Sonia Gallo, the mother of the family, sees their situation as a blessing in disguise and tolerates them without reservations.

The DOLPHIN | NOVEMBER 2021

Narratives of a Transgender’s Transitioning

COVER STORY

Spectrum: Through the Looking-Glass

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White is for Becoming

Commonly, proper haircut and grooming are a must, especially when enrolled in a state university. As mandated in the guidelines and policies of the university, one must adhere to the prerequisites as prescribed by the rules. Winston, however, constantly finds himself in a point-blank situation. For him, hair is so profound that it defines him not only physically but also psychologically.

“I was struggling to have a haircut. The dean of the university convinced me to have one.

He even offered to pay for me but I still refused.

Although I stood my ground, I was left with no choice but to bind with the university rules.”

The long clash of his hair continued even in his workplace after graduating as a secondary teacher majoring in Social Studies from the said university. Working for three years in a public school with the same pants and polo that wrapped his body, he contemplated the years he struggled with his hair; how he dressed and behaved because he was not the gay he envisioned himself to be. From the sea of thoughts that slowly engulfed him, he was struck with his life’s greatest realization—he is a transgender woman.

“

I am Wyn Custodio Gallo.

I am a woman, in actions, thoughts, and ideals.

According to the World Health Organization, transgender is an umbrella word for persons who have an internal sense of gender that differs from their gender at birth. In the case of Winston, his sexual orientation is that of a male but identifies himself as a female.

Courage, after all, was his battle cry. As he became attached to the familiar hum of the context of his workplace, he decided to resign.

At the age of 24, he began transitioning. Overthe-counter pills had become his daily breakfast.

His dinner was the estrogen hormones he kept on injecting into himself.

Luck became his moral compass after venturing the land where he felt that he was accepted—Thailand. Last May of 2019, he landed his first-ever job as a transgender teacher at Promikiri School in Nakhon Si Thamarat. After a month, however, he decided to fly back home. Now, on a different skin with a different kind of confidence, she transforms.

TRANSPARENT CHANGE. Wyn still recognizes Winston as a part of her.

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“

This is not my story anymore. This is already the story of my community and their pursuit to transcend their everyday battles and struggles.

Pink is for Her

Bowed by the weight of her community’s everyday burdens, Wyn, as an LGBTQ+ advocate, strived to heed the pleas of her fellows. Experiencing their struggles first-hand, made her realize that her transition to womanhood is not in vain. She created an endless ripple of actions by echoing and amplifying the voices of her LGBTQ+ allies.

INFLUENCE AND EDUCATE. Wyn finds joy in raising awareness about the LGBTQIA+ community among her students.

Wyn is consequently the secretary of the Ogtonganon Mask Stewards, an LGBT organization in her native town under the Rural Health Unit of the Municipality of Oton. It is composed of 300 members that started last 2019. During the lockdown, Wyn felt the dire need of her community.

Thus, she spearheaded the Paglaum Hablon Statement Mask. It is a social initiative project featuring the intricate art of the hand-weaving community of Salngan, Oton made by a group of skilled Ogtonganon LGBTQ+ embroiderers and packaged by LGBTQ+ displaced workers due to the pandemic. The proceeds of the program were later on given to the People Living with HIV (PLHIV) as the town of Oton has the highest number of PLHIV in Iloilo Province.

The selfless initiative of Wyn with her fellow LGBT advocates was supported and funded by the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, an international organization. In line with the organization’s objectives, they strive to promote and defend the human rights of LGBTQ+ in various countries in Southeast Asia.

True Colors

Teaching has been Wyn’s resolute passion ever since. As she uttered, she could not imagine doing another job aside from it. She was among the carefully selected 21 instructors for Teach for the Philippines (TFP) 2021, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Filipino children receive a high-quality, inclusive, and relevant education.

“Teach for the Philippines is the very first job that accepted me as a transgender in the country. They did not question my gender as they believe that what is important are your skills and the lessons you instill in the children.”

As a transgender teacher, she loves introducing to young children who they really are. She believes that at a young age, children should be aware that minorities like them, still exist and are still relevant in the society.

A Kaleidoscope

His room stopped spinning. There was a little light leaking through his windows and he could see it reflecting through his looking-glass, giving off a spectrum of colors. Winston stared at the woman in the mirror. In his world of dull hues, he envisioned freedom through the looking-glass. And before he could process what was happening, he found himself underneath the shadows of the woman. Winston vanished.

“Wala siya napatay […]. If others are saying nga ginpatay ni Wyn si Winston, no. Si Winston ang taytay. Siya ang taytay kon ngaa ari ko di subong. Part na ni Wyn si Winston, ari lang na di sa ‘ya. Tungod sang kaisog niya during that time; nagwa si Wyn kag nangin babayi,” (He did not die […]

If others are saying that Wyn killed Winston, no. Winston was the bridge. He was the bridge to why I am here now. Winston has been a part of Wyn and he’s always here. Because of his courage, Wyn breaks through as a woman), Wyn, a transgender woman, testified.

The room where Winston was before, is now painted by Wyn in a spectrum of colors. In the eyes of many, Winston is still in the guise of Wyn. But behind her sculpted figure, red lips, and flowing shadow-black hair radiates a bold transitioning. Over Winston prevails Wyn—nothing less than a woman.

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TECHNOLOGY

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Out with the Old, In with the New

(1)

WRITTEN BY MDPN. JOHN EUCLID PARREÑO POSTER BY MDPN. FRANCIS BALDEMOR

(1)

( )

(1)

(1)

A

n individual’s complex array of organ systems is responsible for keeping his body up and running.

The systems must continuously function with efficiency in order to keep the body in its most optimum state. Whenever certain unavoidable malfunctions occur, the body scans and troubleshoots each system and once it locates the cause or the source of the problem, it induces chemical reactions or natural defense mechanisms to take care of the issue. This way, the human body can autonomously run itself, repair itself, and maintain itself until it slowly deteriorates over the course of time and reach the inevitable.

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DOCUMENTED. Inat, a PLHIV, shares his experiences in the documentary “Sugilanon Sang Alas Singko”.

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ENVIRONMENT

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Film Stills from Sugilanon Sang Alas Singko

by Nicole Charles Caspe

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However, a huge number of both internal and external threats in different forms possess the capability to take an individual a ride forward across time, bringing him nearer to his end. Most of the time, these threats are too complex and foreign that the body has no certain defenses strong enough for them. When this happens, the body can only do so much to protect itself. Without external treatment and intervention, the body will eventually give in to the problem, causing a system failure that will lead to the worst-case scenario of every living creature in the planet -- death.

Take for example the case of a young man named Inat (not his real name). A resident of Iloilo City who became a victim of a crime so heinous and violating, it can take a person’s self-respect and plunge him deep into the dark world of depression. However, Inat’s rapists did not only leave a traumatic experience in his mind, but also a death sentence in the form of a virus coursing through his bloodstream -- HIV.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that targets the body’s immune system, specifically the cells designed to fight infections, increasing a person’s vulnerability to life-threatening diseases.

Over time, if left untreated, the virus will progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), the stage wherein different sorts of complications start to break down his organ systems one by one.

Globally, 79.3 million people have been infected with HIV ever since the epidemic started in June 1981. Unfortunately, 45.76% of this figure (36.3 million) died an untimely death because of AIDS-related illneses (UNAIDS, 2021).

Fortunately, the introduction of a combination drug treatment

tance will be reduced to 0.

Luckily, Excision BioTherapeutics of the United States may have possibly created the elixir of life for HIV patients. Last September 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration granted the said company the approval to start testing their HIV treatment in volunteers with HIV.

Known as EBT-101, this treatment would come in the form of a single dose given intravenously over one to two hours. In this trial, participants will continue in taking ART for three months after getting the dose, then go off the medication.

Excision BioTherapeutics CEO Daniel Dornbusch told Philadelphia magazine that, “The goal, of course, is to find the first therapeutic to create functional cures for HIV.” But, take note that the term “functional cure” is not synonymous to “cure”. Functionally curing a person means that even though a virus remains inside a person’s body, it will no longer be capable in inflicting harm. This means that if a person is functionally cured, viral genome will remain in his body but they will be HIV negative and will not need to take antiretroviral treatments. The opposite of a functional cure is a sterilizing cure. This particular cure will remove every viral genome from an individual.

As much as we prefer sterilizing cure, a functional cure is currently our best shot against HIV if Excision BioTherapeutics’ human trials prove that EBT-101 is successful. If the treatment is deemed successful, EBT-101 will be the greatest medical breakthrough in HIV ever sinc e the introduction of ART.

Aside from Excision BioTherapeutics, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine also offered a path to a functional cure after

known by different names such as”AIDS cocktail” and antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 1995 (Healthline.com, 2019) helped reduce HIV infections by 52% from an average of 3.15 million people diagnosed in late 1990s compared to a figure of around 1.5 million in 2020 (UNAIDS, 2021).

Moreover, still according to UNAIDS (2021), AIDS-related deaths were also reduced by 64% from its peak in 2004 (1.9 million deaths) compared to at around 680 000 deaths in 2020.

As of 2020, Inat is among the 37.7 million people living with HIV. From this figure, 95.5% are adults, 5% are children aged 0 - 14 years old, and 53% of the population living with HIV are women and girls.

The introduction of ART was a revolutionary breakthrough in 1995. However, it is not a cure. ART just keeps the viral load of HIV in the blood to a low and undetectable level. More unfortunately, this certain treatment, when not followed as prescribed, has the potential to create a stronger and drug resistant strain which can limit a patient’s options for a successful HIV treatment. This indicates that the world needs a

supressing HIV infections in mice.

Steven Almo, Ph.D., the director of the Macromolecular Therapeutics Development Facility at the said college, developed synthetic proteins dubbed as synTac (“synapse for T-cell activation”) which are designed to selectively stimulate the immune system’s CD8+ “killer” T cells to multiply and specifically target HIV-infected T cells.

These medical breakthroughs, which are entirely unique in nature, offer different options in rendering HIV in humans useless. In a few years, if human trials deem successful, functional cures will eliminate the dangerous drug resistant strains that will possibly be created by reckless usage of ART.

Functionally curing HIV is a huge step in solving one of the many problem humans are dealing with right now. This will totally save HIV patients and especially victims like Inat from a death sentence unlike the currently existing ART that merely buys time for the people that use it. Functional cures will not buy time, but destroy the very execution

treatment that is not prone to human error so that cases of drug resis-

table that Inat and other HIV patients will eventually lie down into.

The DOLPHIN | NOVEMBER 2021

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KULTURA

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Sa mga Kamay ni Ante Kuwentong Ipinalaglag at Ipinanganak ISINULAT NI MDPN. JOHN ROVIC LOPEZ MGA LARAWANG KUHA NI MDPN. MARK JOSEPH ALOVERA

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amilyar na sa kaniya ang mga mata ng pasyente niyang iyon. Ngunit may bago sa mga tingin nito. Takot.

Pangamba. Paghihinayang. Sa mga panahong iyon, alam na niya ang pinunta ng babae. Hinawakan niya ito sa kamay, pinaupo, at kinausap ng maigi. Matagal na niyang itinigil ang kakaibang pagtulong niya. Matagal na niyang inihinto ang pagpapalaglag.

Bihira na sa ngayon ang umabot sa edad na 93-anyos tulad na lamang ni Manuela Lanaria o mas kilala sa palayaw niyang Ante Awel. Kung tatanungin siya kung ano nga ba ang sekreto sa mahabang buhay, kadalasan niyang sagot ay ang wastong pagkain, tamang ehersisyo, at sapat na pahinga. Ngunit kung bakit siya nagtagal sa ganitong edad na walang malubhang karamdaman ay marahil na rin sa biyaya ng Diyos sa kanya sa pagtulong sa pagpapaluwal ng hindi mabilang-bilang na buhay.

Tumandang dalaga si Ante. Ang tanging karamay niya lamang ay ang kaniyang tungkod at ang pamangking si Joe na nagtatrabaho sa bukid. Hindi man siya biniyayaan ng asawa at anak, maituturing niya pa rin ang sarili bilang ina dahil na rin sa kaniyang trabaho bilang komadrona.

Nagsimula siyang maging paltera o lokal na komadrona sa napakamurang edad

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pa lamang. Naging katulong siya ng kaniyang lola sa pagpapaanak noon kahit na siya’y sampung taong gulang pa lamang. Nang lumaon ay natutunan niya na rin ang tamang pagpapa-anak at mga peligrong maaaring mangyari sa panganganak ng babae. Naging mas pamilyar pa siya sa katawan ng babae. Siyang naging dahilan na kahit nakapagtapos siya bilang guro, ay mas malapit pa rin sa kaniyang puso ang pagiging komadrona.

“Marami na akong natulungan sa pagpapa-anak. Kaya siguro biniyayaan ako ng Panginoon ng mahabang Buhay,” dagdag pa niya.

Nang ‘di nagtagal ay nagawaran si Ante ng sertipiko bilang kasapi ng programa noong Trained Hilots. Dito nya natutunan ang paghilot sa mga buntis. At dahil na rin lingid pa sa kaalaman ng tao noon ang mga bagay tulad ng ultrasound, ipinagkakatiwala nila ang kondisyon ng bata sa loob ng sinapupunan sa

hilot. Sa katunayan, kadalasa’y tama ang pagsusuri ng mga paltera—sa posisyon man ng bata sa sinapupunan o kahit na ang kasarian.

Walang partikyular na halagang sinisingil si Ante Awel sa kaniyang mga pasyente. Kahit pa man sentimo o ilang piso lang ang ibinabayad sa kaniya noon ay tinatanggap niya pa rin bilang pasasalamat. Para sa kaniya, mahirap tumanggi sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong lalong lalo na sa kapwa niya babae.

Sa kagustuhan niyang makatulong sa iba’t-ibang pasanin ng kababaihan, sinubukan niya na ring pasukin ang trabaho ng isang aborsyonista. Kahit pa man alam niya noong mali ito sa batas ng lipunan natin at sa batas ng Diyos, nangibabaw sa kaniya ang awa sa mga kababaihang naging biktima ng maling desisyon at kahit na ng mga pananamantala sa kanila.

“Sila ang kusang lumalapit sa akin.

“ Nagmamakaawa na hindi nila kayang buhayin ang bata at ang pasakit ng pagbubuntis kasi hindi pa nila kayang harapin ang bunga ng kasalanang nagawa nila o nagawa sa kanila.”

Sa kabila nito, hindi raw pumapatol si Ante na magpalaglag kapag may pulso na ang dinadalang sanggol. Tanging dugo pa lang ang ipinapalaglag niya sa paraan ng paghilot o pagpapainom ng napakapait na tabletas at mga halamang tinaggihan niyang pangalanan. Ilang taon ang lumipas at iniwan niya ang ganitong gawain dahil labag ito sa kaniyang prinsipyo at paniniwala. Ngunit, umaasa rin siyang mabigyan ng karapatang magdesisyon at pumili ang mga kababaihan sa mga susunod na panahon.

Sa kabila nito, walang nakikitang dahilan si Ante para hindi magpatuloy sa trabaho bilang hilot o komadrona. Malaking tulong ito lalong lalo na sa mga buntis na malayo sa ospital o sentro, o ‘di kaya’y hindi kaya ang

Masaya ako sa trabaho ko. Kahit na wala akong anak, marami naman akon ipina-anak. Karamihan nga sa kanila ngayon ay mga propesyunal na.

bayarin sa ospital. Subalit, kahit pa man sila ay trained hilots o mga dalubhasa na sa pagpapaanak, binawian pa rin sila ng pahintulot sa pagpatuloy ng kanilang trabaho.

Taong 2008 nang ipasa ang Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Strategy policy o ang tinatawag nilang “no home birth” policy. Nais nitong bawasan ang high maternal mortality rate sa bansa. Sa kabila ng magandang layunin ng patakarang ito, hindi ito nakabuti sa kalagayan ng ibang buntis. Lalo na sa mga malalayong lugar na walang ospital o sentro, at lalo na ngayon sa panahon ng pandemya kung kailan puno ang mga ospital; lumolobo ang mga bayarin.

Sa mga paltera tulad ni Ante Awel, malaki rin sana ang maitutulong nila sa mga kababaihang ito pero sa mata ng batas, ito ay hindi nararapat. Ngunit noong nakaraang taon lang, sa kasagsagan ng pagtaas ng mga kaso ng Covid-19 sa mga ospital, walang nagawa si

Ante Awel kundi ang gampanan ulit ang naging trabaho niya noon.

Sa gitna ng gabi ng Agosto 2020, may lalaking nagmakaawa kay Ante para tulungan ang kaniyang asawa sa panganganak.

Dahil na rin puno ang mga ospital dahil sa mga kaso ng Covid-19, wala nang iba pang naisipang gawin ang lalaki kung hindi ang humingi ng tulong kay Ante. Kahit sa kritikal na kondisyon ang mag-ina, ginawa ni Ante ang lahat.

“Paglabas ng sanggol, wala na itong buhay kasama ng kaniyang ina. Pero sabi ko sa lalaki na gagawin ko ang lahat para buhayin ang kaniyang mag-ina. Sa awa ng DIyos, nabuhay nga sila pareho),” pagsasalaysay pa niya pagkatapos niyang hilutin sa braso ang nanay at pag-revive sa bata. Kung naantala pa sana ng kaunti yung pagdala ng mag-ina sa kaniya, ay hindi na sana sila naagapan.

Ilan lang ito sa mga naging sakripisyo ni Ante Awel para sa mga buntis na alanganin

KAMAY AT LANGIS. Mga kaagapay ng isang hilot sa kaniyang trabaho bilang komadrona.

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WALANG KUPAS. Mula tindig hanggang ngiti,aninag pa rin ang lakas at taglay ni Ante Awel.

ang pagpapanganak. Sa katunayan, ang naging dahilan ng halos pagkabulag ng kaniyang mata, ay ang tatlong gabing magdamag niyang pagpapaanak sa isa niya ring pasyente.

“

Kung kaya lang naman nilang manganak sa ospital, mas mabuti na ‘yon.

Pinapagalitan kami ng ospital at mga doktor kung kami yung gagawa niyan kasi bawal.

Sa buong buhay ng tao, may nagagawa siyang mabuti pero mali sa mata ng iba at may nagagawa rin siyang kamalian na mabuti para sa ibang tao. Para kay Ante Awel, naniniwala siyang ang mga kamalian niyang nagawa ay hindi purong kamalian lamang. At hindi ibig sabihin na ang mga mabuti niyang nagawa ay tama lahat. Para sa kaniya, ang biyaya ng Diyos na mahabang buhay ay dahil sa kaniyang mga ginawang tulong. Tulong sa pamamaraang mabuti para sa iba, at hindi naman pangkaraniwan sa iba.

Sa mga panahong pinahihintulutan pa ang mga palterang tulad niya sa pagtulong sa mga midwife sa ospital, nandoon siya upang umalalay sa babaeng nagtangkang magpalaglag sa kaniya. Nakakapanibago ang mga tingin ng kaniyang pasyente. Wala nang takot at pangamba. Sa mga oras na iyon, napagtanto ni Ante Awel kung ano kayang posibleng nangyari kung tinanggap niya ang alok ng babaeng magpalaglag. Tiyak na wala siyang nasaksihang iyak ng batang lalaki noon. Tiyak na hindi niya nakitang lumaki ang kaniyang lalaking apo. At tiyak na walang magsusulat ngayon ng kuwento niyang ito.

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PAGKAIN

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DARAPUGAN. Inihahanda ni Girly ang kaniyang mga online orders na ibos sa kanilang online store na “Darapugan”.

Balat ng Ibos Istorya ng Lagkit at Ligaya

ISINULAT NI MDPN. JOHN FRANCIS BABIERA MGA LARAWANG KUHA NINA MDPN. JOHN ROVIC LOPEZ AND MDPN. MARK JOSEPH ALOVERA

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rder dito, order doon. Abalang-abala siya sa lahat ng mga mensahe sa Facebook. Patuloy ang pagpasok ng mga text at tawag patungkol sa kanyang sikat na Ibos – isang uri ng kakaning Ilonggo. Patuloy na hinahanap-hanap ng parokyano ang mga luto sa kusina ng Darapugan ni Girly Lopez 43 taong gulang na ina sa bayan ng Calinog.

Tagaktak man ang pawis mula sa paghahanda ng mga sangkap sa pagluluto, hanggang sa pagbalot ng mumunting suman, ay mas pipiliin niyang magtrabaho rito kaysa sa pinapasukan sa ibang bansa – magisa, malungkot at malayo sa pamilya.

“Kung hindi sumapit ang pandemya, malamang naroon pa rin ako sa Lebanon at nagluluto para sa ibang lahi,” ani ni Girly. Sa piling ng kaniyang mga anak, dito ay maaari siyang masimula muli, sa kusina na bumubusog sa kanila. At sa pamamagitan

ng Social Media, mas marami ang naaabot ng kanilang kusina.

Habang nasa ibang bansa, ipinatikim niya ng ang Ibos ang kanyang mga Lebanese na mga amo. Sabi nila nakakaumay rin kapag palaging lutong adobo, sinigang at iba pang tipikal na pagkaing Pilipino ang kanilang natitikman. At dahil, bihasa siya sa paggawa nito, nais niya ring ipakilala sa kanilang panlasa ang linamnam ng ibos. Hanggang kalaunan, ito ay kanilang nagustuhan at patuloy na hinahanap hanap.

Matrabaho ang paggawa ng Ibos, lalong-lalo na sa pagbabalot nito. Kilala ang Ibos dahil sa kakaiba at detalyadong paraan ng pagbabalot – malalaman mong ibos kapag nakatitirintas ng bagong dahon ng niyog. Tinaguriang ito ang Ilonggo na bersyon ng suman dahil sa likas at partikular nitong lasa. Ito ay tinitinda sa isang bigkisan na may lima hanggang walong piraso, – na talaga namang mauubos sa isang upuan lamang.

Mabigat sa tiyan ang ibos. Noong araw, ito ang palaging baon ni Girly papun-

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SIPAG AT SAKRIPISYO. Patuloy na nagbibigay init sa kanilang buhay ang mga lutongbahay ni Girly.

“

Unti-unti nang nakakalimutan ng karamihan ang paggawa ng ibos o suman.

tang eskwela. Sa paggawa ng kanyang lola ng ibos, silang siyam na magkakapatid ay nabubusog sa buong araw sa paaralan. Hindi man siya naturuan ng kanyang lola, inaral niya kung paano gumawa sa pamamasid sa kanilang kusina.

Sa kasalukuyan, ibinahagi niya na rin ang kaniyang timpla sa kaniyang dalawang anak – tumutulong rin sila sa paglalako online.

Kayod. Piga. Sangag. Saing. Di hamak na

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maraming proseso ang pagdaraanan ng ibos bago mapunta sa bawat hapag-kainan. Inaabot ito ng tatlo hanggang apat na oras, hindi pa kasama ang pagbabalot nito.

Mayroong mga araw na kung marami ang mga order mula sa kanilang Facebook Page, isang araw bago ang pagdedeliber ay nagsisimula na sila. Matrabaho man, ito na ang nagsilbing libangan ng mag-iina sa gitna ng pandemya.

Sa pagbukas ng ibos mula sa nakabalot na dahon ng niyog, hindi mawawala ang lagkit ng kakanin sa iyong kamay. Tila kaakibat ito ng karanasan sa bawat agahan at meryenda ng bawat Ilonggo. Kalimitang sinasawsaw ito sa asukal o di kaya sinasabayan ng hinog na mangga. Dagdag sa makabubusog na kakanin ay ang tamis ng asukal– simbolo ng pagiging malambing at karisma ng bawat Ilonggo.

Nakakapagod ang paggawa ng ibos, pero kapag alam mong marami ang natutuwa at nabubusog sa iyong inihahanda, napapawi lahat ng pagod at napapalitan ng lugod at saya. Ang ligayang ito ay nababatid niya sa bawat gintong dahon ng ibos na nakabukas at lalong lalo na sa ngiti ng kanyang mga anak na may asukal sa mga labi.

Kalimitang bukam-bibig ng mga matatanda ang mga katagang “magbasa ka sa balat ng ibos.” Isa itong idyomatikong ekspresyon na nangangahulugang: magbasa ka upang may matutuhan ka kahit maliliit na mga detalye at impormasyon kahit sa mumunting balat ng ibos.

Sa kanyang karanasan, bata pa lamang si Girlie natuto na siya mula sa kanyang lola sa paggwa ng ibos sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagmamasid at obserbasyon. Hanggang sa kanyang pagiging ina, nagagamit niya ito at patuloy na pinagyayabong.

Ang ibos ang naging simbolo ng kaniyang pagkatuto sa bawat araw na dumaraan.

Siya ay naniniwala sa bawat balat ng ibos, mayroon kang makukuha– minsan leksyon, minsan pera. At ang Darapugan na sinimulan sa kanilang maliit na bahay ay patuloy na nagbibigay init. Ang akalaing kakanin na sapat lamang para sa pamilya, ay nakaabot sa sikmura ng taumbayan maging ibang bansa. Ang sinag ng pag-asa na sa gitna ng kulimlim ng buhay, ay abot-tanaw ng kanyang mga mata.

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KULTURA

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Tindahang Deklik ISINULAT NI MDPN. JOHN FRANCIS BABIERA MGA LARAWAN MULA SA www.bogots.com at www. beamstart.com

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irik na tirik na ang araw at at sumisilip na sa mga bintana ang imahe ng bakurang nadiligan kaninang umaga. Hindi ka pa nakaligo ngunit sa bawat oras na lumilipas ay inaantay ang pagdating ang parokyanong nakapulang motor. Kaniyang kabisado ang pasikot-sikot na eskinitang papunta sa inyong kinatitirahan.

Pagdating, ikaw ay kaniyang tinawagan upang kunin ang parcel na nakabalot sa pulang plastic. Iyong inabot ang Php 249 mong dala, ikaw ay kanyang kinunan ng litrato sa iyong damit-pantulog at siya ay lumisan – umaasang makikita kang muli sa susunod niyang pagdedeliber.

Sa pagsisimula ng pandemya, lahat ay nag-aalala kung paano mapagpapatuloy ang buhay. Ang mistulang mga pamilihang kay sigla, ay pinamahayan ng alikabok sa ilang linggong lockdown sa mga siyudad at probinsya sa Pilipinas. May mga produkto at serbisyo sana na madaling mapapasaabot-kamay kung wala sanang mga restriksiyon dulot nga pan-

sa koleksyon ng mga bagay na hindi naman gaanong kailangan ngunit naeenganyong bilhin. Ito ang sitwasyong labis na makikita saang sulok kaman ng bansa.

Ang pagiging birtwal ng mga tindahan ay labis na kapaki-pakinabang sa mga negosyante. Mas lumalawak ang kanilang naaabot. Lalo’t lalo na, sa Pilipinas mo makikita ang pinakamaraming internet users sa buong mundo. Ayon sa tala ng Hootstuite Social Media Management Firm, mayroong 73.91 milyong Pilipino ang gumagamit ng internet nito lamang Enero 2021.

Nasa dalawang katlong (2/3) bahagi ito ng kabubuang populasyon sa Pilipinas – ma-

demya.

Ngunit sa simula rin ng pandemya ay tila napaamo ng mga online shops ang mga Pilipino na parang tutang uhaw na uhaw sa amoy ng kaniyang mga luho. Minsan hindi mo namamalayang inabot ka nang umaga, kadadagdag

sasabing sa bilang na ito malaking parte rito ay nakakikipagkomersyo online.Maraming pakinabang ang pamimili online tulad na lamang ng ginhawa mula sa pag-commute o pagpunta sa mga merkado, at ang laya sa pamimili ng samu’t saring tipo ng produkto. Mas mura rin

Ayon sa datos:

Shopee

54.6 M Lazada

38.3 M beses na pagbisita sa loob ng isang buwan.

Dalawa lamang ito sa maraming applikasyon at website napinagpipyestahan ng mga negosyante at mga mamimili sa gitna ng pagsasara ng pampublikong merkado.

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KULTURA

ang presyo at madaling ikumpara sa mga katulad na produkto.

Isang benepisyo ng online shopping ay ang kawalan umpukan ng tao –isang mahalagang salik kung bakit biglang lumakas ang komersyo sa internet sa gitna ng kwaranten.

Sa kabilang dako ng online shopping, may mga kalugihan din ito. Isang malaking sagabal na hindi mahahawakan ng mga mamimili upang siyasatin ang kalidad ng mga produkto. Maaari silang makatanggap ng mga materyal na depektibo, at hindi angkop ang laki. Nasanay ang mga Pilipino na mahawakan ang bibilhin upang kilatisin ng mga matanglawin ang bawat sulok ng produktong nais bilhin.

May mga kapanahunan din kung kailan natatagalan ang pagdating ng mga order - minsan kasi ay galling pa sa labas ng bansa o di kaya dahil sa border restrictions dulot ng lockdown. Komplikado rin ang pagsasauli ng sirang or maling aytem. Ilan lamang ito sa mga dahilan bakit marami pa ring walang tiwala sa benepisyo ng teknolohiya.

Sa kabila ng mga disadbentahe, mayroong mga reviews na maaring makatulong sa kapwa mamimili. Ito ay nakakatulong sa mga negosyante upang malaman ang mga positibo at negatibong komento ng kanilang mga tagabili. Ito ay labis na nakatutulong sa mga bagong user upang kanilang mahanap ang angkop na produkto.

Kapag maganda ang reviews ng isang online tindahan, ito ay patuloy na binabalik-balikan ng mga suking tagabili. Dito nahuhubog ang tiwala na ang bawat produkto nila ay dekalidad sa abot-kayang halaga. Dahil din dito, mas dumarami ang mga online shoppers dahil sa pag-eendorso ng ibang mga suki sa kanilang mga kakilala.

Ngunit sa kabila ng aliw ng pamimili online, maaari itong maging simula ng adiksyon. Ayon kay Ruth Engs, Health Science Expert, maaaring magkaroon ng shopping addiction ang isang tao, kapag siya ay nahumaling sa kung ano ang nararamdaman ng utak tuwing

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bibili sa internet.

Kasabay ng pagkahumaling at adiksyon ng mga Pinoy ay ang paglago ng ecommerce market sa bansa.

At mapagtatanto talagang mahilig sa social media at online shopping ang mga tao lalo na sa gitna ng pandemya kung saan ito ang nagiging nakababahala. Totong adik ang mga Pilipino sa online shopping. Ngunit sa pagtanggap sa mga mabuting dulot ng teknolohiya, nagbubukas din ito puwang para sa mga napag-iwaman ng sistema

Ang pagsikat ng online shopping sa bansa ay dahil sa mga kinaugaliang sinasalamin at binibigyang halaga ng bawat Pilipino. Sino ba naman ang hindi maeenganyo sa murang presyo at napakamaraming tawad? Isama mo pa ang libreng shipping fee vouchers para sa mga suki at mga bagong users.

Ayon sa pinakahuling Global Digital Report, ang mga pinoy ang pinaka aktibong gumagamit ng internet at laging laman ng ecommerce market apps sa buong mundo. Dulot ng pandemya, mas nagiging aktibo ang kalakalan sa loob ng iskrin.

Totoong kailangan ng interaksyon mula sa nagbebenta ng mga mamimili, ngunit sa panahon kung saan limitado ang paggalaw ng mga tawo, tayo ay napilitang makibagay sa ganitong sitwasyon.

Hindi na maiaalis ang online shopping sa kasalukuyan, at kung ito na ang magiging kinabukasan ng bawat negosyo sa merkado, pinapatunayan nitong sumasabay sa globalisasyon at teknolohiya. Ngunit huwag din kalimutan na maging responsable sa bawat pagbili.

Sa gitna ng pandemya, ang online shops ay ang nagiging aliw natin sa bawat pagscroll. Ang tindahang maaabot sa isang klik ng daliri, ay tuluyang magbibigay ng kaginhawaan sa kasalukuyang panahon. At ang mga merkadong naging balintiyak dulot ng pandemya, ay may pag-asa sa loob ng screen ng bawat Pilipino.

Ang tradisyonal na pamamalengke at pamimili ay hindi mawawala sapagkat bahagi ito ng ating kultura at pamumuhay. At ang tindahang deklik ay patuloy ding lalago kaakibat sa pag-asenso ng bawat Pilipino.

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MAKATAONG KAWILIHAN

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Ang Bukas sa Malalim na Kaalaman LITRATO AT SULAT NI MDPN. JULIUS CAESAR ALFARAS

MGA MATANG NAKAKAPAGPABAGABAG. Malayo ang tingin ni Prince habang pilit na binabaon sa nakaraan ang pangyayari sa gabing iyon.

A

ng sambahayan sa kanayunan ng Mina ay mahimbing ng natutulog nang biglang may nakabubulabog na ingay ang bumasag sa nakabibinging gabi. Isang pares ng mga mata ang nakikipag-tagisan ng talim sa nagniningning na kutsilyo. Ang lahat ay labis na nabahala sa sumunod na pangyayari na tuluyang humiwa sa manipis na hanging bumabalot sa loob ng tahanang iyon.

Sabado—Isang payak na araw para sa mga karaniwang pamilya. Ang isa sa mga tanging araw upang magkaroon ng pagkakataong masulit sa isang linggo ng magkakasama. Subalit sa araw ring iyon pala magsisimulang magbukas ng isang kahon. Isang kahon ng mga mabibigat na dala-dalahing palihim na itinago hanggang sa ang mga laman nito ay kusa nalang bumulwak dahil wala ng lugar na mapaglalagyan pa.

Pabalik-balik sa paglalakad at tila hindi mapakali sa paghahanap sa loob ng bahay ang panganay na anak ni Gng. Dalia Ventura. Tila isang mahalagang bagay ang naiwala nito. Hanggang sa hindi na niya napigilang tanungin ang anak at naestatwa siya ng ilang

segundo nang mapagtagpi-tagpi niya ang nais ng kanyang anak— lagim sa mga mata nito.

Nanlilisik ang mga mata ng 15 anyos na si Prince Xyrone Ventura habang hawak ang matalim na kutsilyo. Nakaukit sa hitsura nito ang labis na pagkagalit dahilan upang magdulot ng matinding takot sa kanyang mga magulang at mga nakababatang kapatid.

“Mabalos guid ‘ko. Du amo na ang nabatian ko sa iya sang gab-e nga nag-wild siya. Ginpang-tago namon ni papa ya ang mga kutsilyo kag iban pa nga mga sharp objects kay basi bala mag-self harm siya kapin pa ginapangita niya gid. Tapos gasinggit na

siya sang mga bad words—nakibot kami eh pati ang mga libayon niya nahadlok man sa iya.”

Ayon kay Gng. Ventura, labis nalang daw ang kanyang gulat nang marinig niya mismo sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon na nagsalita ng mga hindi kaaya-ayang mga salita ang panganay nito. Lalo pa at isa siyang guro at hindi sila umano gumagamit ng mga masasamang salita o trashtalk sa loob ng kanilang bahay. Kaya napapaisip siya kung wasto nga ba ang pagtuturo niya sa kanyang mga anak na makipag-usap ng tama at may galang.

“Damo lang siya may ginapanghambal nga mga bad words inang mga ginaham-

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11 months old kag mga libayon pa niya nga gina-atipan man kag may responsibilidad man ko sa eskwelahan bilang maestra.” Dagdag pa ni Gng. Ventura.

Batay sa pinakabagong datos na inilathala ng United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), tinatayang humigit isa sa pitong kabataang may edad 1019 sa buong mundo ay sinasabing naipasuring mayroong sakit sa pag-iisip. Sa katunayan, pumapangatlo ang Pilipinas sa may pinakamataas na porsyento ng may naipasuring may kinakaharap na problema sa pag-iisip.

Maaaring sanhi ng pataas nito ay ang stigma na mayroon ang lipunan kung kaya natatakot mahusgahan ang mga taong nakararanas ng mga kondisyong mental pati na rin ang kakulangan sa pondo na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan sa mga medikal at pasilidad.

“Na-pressure siya guro sa mga inugpasa nga modyul sa school kapin pa Science Technology Engineering (STE) class siya tapos na-call out pa ang name niya sa mga wala pa kapasa sang activities. Ang style niya abi karun niya lang ubrahon kag nagakadangtan

MODYUL. Dahan-dahang tinutulungan ni Gng. Ventura si Prince sa kanyang mga gawain sa paaralan upang hindi ito manlumo at mahirapan.

bal nila maghampang sang Mobile Legends (ML). Kag du nag-grabe na gid iya wild tungod gina-trashtalk man siya kuno sang mga upod ya nga nagahampang sang ML. Mga kung ano lang ang mga ginapang-wakal niya nga mga terms like ‘bonak, d*p*t* kag iban pa.”

Dagdag pa niya, bihira lang umano makipag-usap si Prince at kadalasang nasa malumanay na boses lamang. Kung kaya kapansin-pansin ang mga pagbabago sa pagsasalita at mga kilos na ipinapakita ng kanyang anak. Na ang dating malumanay na anak ay tila nawala sa sarili nitong pag-iisip. Dahil dito, napagdesisyonan nilang ipasuri sa espesyalista sa pag-iisip ang kanilang anak.

“Hambal ni Doc. Texon base sa behavior, may ara kuno Psychotic Disorder ang akon bata. Siguro nag-flared up gid siya tong napatay si Tiyo ya kag may nag-inaway. Didto guro nag-umpisa kay ang lola ya sadto nadalahig man pag-bulag niya pag-inaway.”

Ang Psychotic Disorder ay isang kondisyong mental na kung saan ang taong nakararanas nito ay kadalasang may proble-

kag naparesitahan sang bulong, nagauba na siya. Indi siya kasaho magsuksok sang bayo kay nainitan siya kuno… siguro nagsaka ang hangin kapin pa pirmi lang siya gina-utot.

Ginresitahan lang siya sang pampatulog nga Olanzopine, Ascorbic Acid kag ang Vitamin B-complex.”

Ang mga resitang gamot na ito di umano ay magsisilbing maintenance niya sa loob ng anim na buwang gamutan. Subalit ang Olanzopine o mas kilala bilang antipsychotic drug na maaaring inumin (ingestion) o di kaya ay sa pamamagitan ng ineksyon (injection) ay ginagamit panglunas sa schizophrenia at bipolar disorder—mga kondisyong dulot ng psychotic disorder.

Ngunit ang pag-inom nito ay may pangalawang epekto sa kalusugan. Maaaring mawala ang pang-unawa at kakayahang intelektwal ng pasyenteng iinom nito kung kaya kailangan talaga ng reseta ng doktor. Mahalaga rin ang tamang oras ng pag-inom at tamang dosage nito.

“Du nagbalik gid sa pagkabata iya nga batasan sang pag inom niya sang bulong.

ma sa pag-iisip nq nagiging bayolente kung hindi mabigyan ng tama at agarang lunas ng mediko-legal.

“Sang wala pa siya nakapatan-aw

Sang una ayawan gid ‘ko kapilit paimnon siya pro maayo lang kay ara ang man ang Amay ‘ya nag-ulo ulo sa iya. Kung ako lang guro naubos na pasensya ko. May bata pa ko nga

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nalang siya tig-alas kwatro sa kaagahon… amo pa lang na pagtulog niya. Kag siguro sa sobra na man ka hampang sang ML tapos gainom pa sang 3 in 1 coffee kag soft drinks amo na guro nagsupot-supot na.” Ani Gng. Ventura.

Bagamat maraming sanhi ng pagkakaroon ng problema sa pag-iisip, mabuting mabigyang linaw ang mga anglo na maaaring magturo sa pinagkaugatan ng mga kondisyong mayroon ang isang tao. Ayon sa mga dalubhasa sa mga karamdamang kinakaharap sa sikolohikal, maaaring ang pagkakaroon nito ay namamana (hereditary), hormonal imbalances, genetics, substance intoxication, adiksyon at hindi magandang ugnayan sa lipunan, pamilya at mga kaibigan at iba pa.

Sa kabilang banda, posibleng maibsan ang pagdami ng kaso ng pagkakaroon ng problema sa pag-iisip. Maaaring makatulong ang positibong pakikipagkapwa-tao, pag-iihersisyo, tamang nutrisyon, sapat na oras ng pagtulog at pag-iwas sa sitwasyon at mga bisyong nakasisira ng utak.

Hindi na bago sa lipunan ang ganitong uri ng karamdaman lalo na at patuloy na bumibigat ang mga dalahin sa buhay. Sino mang tao, ano man ang katayuan sa buhay, bata man o matanda—lahat ay dumadaan sa mga pagbabago na minsan ay nagdudulot ng matinding marka sa kanilang pagkatao.

Markang dulot ng mariin na pagkakatanim ng makabagong pag-iisip sa pagpapayabong ng kaalamang hindi lang sa talim ng mga nagtitirik na mga mata kundi sa lalim ng pag-unawang ang malusog na pag-iisip ay nagsisimula rin sa malusog na kaisipan.

SINEHALAGA FILM CRITIQUES

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FILM CRITIQUES

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Dandansoy’s Unforgotten Melody Antique’s Preservation of Culture through Film WRITTEN BY MDPN. ANTHONY KEN BUCASAS FILM STILLS FROM DADANSOY BY ARDEN ROD CONDEZ

“

P

eople live to move. We move because we have intentions. Most of the time, our intentions are for the people we love. In our case, our wings can only go strong when we still have reasons to fly.

If Antique is being recognized for what it is famous for, it is not only being a land where the mountains meet the sea but also of the rich culture that extends from witchcraft to the stories of “aswangs.” “Dandansoy”, a film directed by Arden Rod Condez, showed both sides of how Antique preserved its individuality. Just like culture, if an “aswang” had no one to pass their “mutya,” it can turn into ashes and disappear forever.

Who would not be sucked up to the beauty of the pristine beaches? Who would not enjoy the exotic chills from the forests?

Who would not enjoy the stories of mythical creatures? If there is someone to be asked of the feeling, it will always be nostalgic for Antiqueños.

Originally, “Dandansoy” is a famous

folk song in the island of Panay that speaks of love and goodbyes. In the film, the grandmother personifies the old culture of Antique, and how her children left her for greener pastures.

But she just can’t die because she grasps her chances to the younger generation for them to contact her children who left her. She wanted to know if she was truly forgotten, but in the end, her broken wings were restored because she found out that she will always be remembered.

The cinematography and musical score of the film have supplemented the rich-

ness of the culture of Antique. Direk Arden reminds us of the importance of why we should preserve the culture that has been passed from generation to generation.

Way back in 2019, Direk Arden introduced us to the modernized culture of Pandan, Antique in his film John Denver Trending.

Jansen Magpusao, the lead actor of the two films executed his role differently but boldly knew the assignment. Direk Arden truly knows how to relate the culture of the past and present society and showed to his films the different struggles that are being faced.

The answer to a bigger question lies within us. A question that challenges our values as a society and as well as our own identity - as a warrior of preservation. Will we let the wings of our culture lose its reason to fly?

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Everything Fleeting but Ceaseless

Digging Societal Realities through the Lenses of Regional Cinema WRITTEN BY MDPN. JOHN ROVIC LOPEZ FILM STILLS FROM LOOKING FOR RAFFLESIAS AND OTHER FLEETING THINGS

BY JAMES FAJARDO

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his is not just a mere film of discovery. In a profound sense, there is more to this plot where characters seem to explore and unravel things that are both spoken and unspoken of. The quaint community is deemed weird per se. At least for people like Darren (Kevin Andrews) who sees the disappearances or murders linking to folktales as peculiar. The presence of rare flowers called Rafflesias, crimes left without a trace of the real killer (save the suspected horse demon), and things that are about to be confronted by a shape-shifting teenage boy, Gubat—all of them have one thing in common: corpses.

Several mysteries are familiar to the residents and some are not. There is magic about this film and some gruesome reality behind it. Lurking in the forests of the town, the film is indeed a Rafflesia— beautiful and awe-inspiring in its way but unpleasant in some ways.

But aside from this are other fleeting things that leave the audience thinking what they really are and if they really are fleeting.

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Looking for Rafflesias and Other Fleeting Things by James Allen Fajardo gives us a film with a long list of important details with a dire need of discussing them over a good cup of coffee. The story is foretold to us by our usual gossipers as their community fears a tikbalang, a supposed to be mythical creature often told in children’s stories but now accused of killing people. Gubat, a professed tikbalang who shapeshifts to a teenage boy becomes so desperate of finding the truth behind the killings. He searches the forests and

Among the many things I love about this film is its aspect ratio. Presented in a 16:9 aspect ratio, the film brings us back to the 90s—an era where things that are partly embraced now were not accepted at all before.

When times were cruel for discussions concerning personal choices and freedom. When people drew attention to gossips more than understanding a bigger picture of society’s misery. The film takes us to a time like we, ourselves, and our peculiarities are not even accepted.

mountains to seek the truth but rather found someone who changes the ways of his pursuit of some things. He meets an American botanist named Darren, looking for Rafflesias. They, later on, explore a new atmosphere of intimacy and self-discovery.

As someone so fond of seeing queer representations in films, stories with a direct manner of projecting social unacceptance do not amaze me anymore. But films like this (where we are confronted by the prevailing social issues in a way of bringing us back to things that we are familiar with like our folktales and culture) must grace our cinema even more. After all, themes like this are supposed to be magical but at the same time, realistic.

This is what I love about this film. It is a coming-of-age story and it is not. It is about one’s liberation but also one’s confining. I love how Gubat covers the Rafflesia after knowing that Darren will eventually leave him once he finds the flower. A poetic way of expressing attachment and intimacy. The ending also gives me more reasons to love this film. With the use of the element of spaces in reminiscing the scenes, and also the metaphors of the rich Philippine folklores (i.e. the rain during a Tikbalang’s wedding), we are magically presented to things that if we refuse to discuss, will continue fleeting.

The filmmakers behind the film make us realize that we are witnesses to the appear-

ances and disappearances of things; unraveling and discovery of truths. Like how much we try to cover the corpse flower, its foul odor will always prevail. But what’s more beautiful about this narrative is it still leaves us questions to ponder: what are the fleeting things?

They might be life and death or personal relationships. They might be the social issues that surround us or the beliefs that confine us. But it surely brings us to a better conclusion: some of the fleeting things we tend to look for remain ceaseless.

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FILM CRITIQUES

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Unveiling the Prism Within WRITTEN BY MDPN. JAN CHRISTIAN CATILO FILM STILLS FROM BLACK RAINBOW BY ZIG DULAY

There

she stood high and mighty, the ground shook, the sky ruptured with a humongous roar as the dark-grey smoke penetrated high altitudes and covered the very essence of Apolaki – the sun god. It rained ash and debris over the foot of Mt. Pinatubo showing her displeasure. Apo Namalyari was mad over the new civilization that evicted her people to their own ancestral place just to exhaust resources and slowly bring death over the lands she cared for thousands of years. Divine punishment shall be executed over to those who have wronged her children and ravaged the earth.

“Apo Namalyari, help me with my studies”, the wishful cries of Itan as he shouted on a cliff echoing the mountainous range of Zambales. He yearned to become a Lawyer someday to protect his land, particularly to understand the documents that gave way for the mining operations that forced them to give up their ancestral land. Itan’s sister, Haya, contrasted his brother’s dream as she wanted to be a goddess herself. They may have different visions, different ambitions but it all runs down to helping their tribe for getting back what rightfully belongs to them.

Black Rainbow– Zig Dulay’s latest work, currently screening at the Sine Halaga Film Festival touches the heart of viewers as the film portrayed an Aeta Boy, Itan who aspired to finish his studies. Reality hits hard for the boy as it kept him distant from the person whom he aspires to be.

Itan needs to accompany his father in planting crops as his family is also saving up for the delivery of his pregnant mother.

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He is not spared from the harsh reality to halt his studies as his father deemed that learning how to read and write is already enough.

Zig Dulay and his team, especially the Director of Photography, Mark Joseph Cosico, created a very aesthetic cinematography with very beautiful color grading to showcase the beauty of the Mountains of Zambales.

The film depicted big cultural and political issues but expressed them in an innocent and child-friendly manner. Highlighting the inequalities experienced by the Aeta people along with their way of life that is inexcusably changing due to dramatic circumstances they are facing. It also portrayed the values of family, education, and the burning passion of youth that is hard to extinguish and sometimes overlaps with the mindset of grown-ups.

The two juvenile actors, Ron King as Itan and Shella Mae Romualdo as Haya, made great performances which exhibited a great and harmonized chemistry of love-hate relationship of

brothers and sisters besides the fact that they are actual Aeta’s themselves.

There is a qualm of inconsistency over the representation of other characters like Ma’am Tess and Uncle Chieftain as it is understandable that they are non-professional actors and actresses but still made a good personification of the characters they embody. I love the metaphor of the “black rainbow” that Haya personally explained. The rainbow she described is the black soothe emitted by the mining operation and burning of trees to excavate mineral resources of the mountainous lands where they are the true owners.

Black rainbow depicts the situation of the silent minority that doesn’t get that much exposure from the streamline media. Unleashing the unspoken stories like the ones of a hopeful child reaching for the stars despite the difficulties within himself, history of his lineage, struggles of his family, and the reality of facing these circumstances at a young age. With an intention to highlight education, featuring

a learner that despite the limitations of familial capability, still finds a way to pursue his learning.

It also encompasses the essence of sibling bonds to support each other, hand in hand despite the bickering and small catfights.

Truly, your own blood won’t forsake you and will understand what your heart resonates with.

They will help you call for a higher power to magnify those pleas and manifest thy dreams.

The conjecture of the film is an overall impressive depiction and narrative of the Aeta People. A story of struggle, hardships, personal crisis, bonds, and hope. An art both contextually and cinematically as it is a film that will make you delve into the fun and childlike perspective of facing life’s struggles. An oxymoron for life that despite the dark bleak downpour of a hard indigenous life, it captivates and rendered a genius depiction in a youthful and colorful sensibility of those who dream and aspire to give justice to preserve their way of a traditional and happy life.

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FILM CRITIQUES

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Sun, Sea, Unspoken Lovers WRITTEN BY MDPN. JOHN FRANCIS BABIERA FILM STILLS FROM MASALIMUOT YA TIGYAGEW ED DAYAT (SUMMER BLUES)

BY JAN CARLO NATIVIDAD ORTIZ

When people believe there are things better left unsaid, should it be felt by action?

Masalimuot Ya Tiyagew Et Dayat, also known as Summer Blues, a short film written by Jan Carlo Natividad Ortiz explores one’s self, happiness, and friendship between two guys recently reunited but coveted by the sea they found comfort in.

The actors Zeiah Mejia as Luis, and Kych Minemoto as Federico provided the perfect chemistry as they portray the characters. Luis, a graduating student from Manila, returns home at the Tondaligan Beach in Dagupan, Pangasinan, to see his close colleagues Federico and Levi. Federico was puzzled and concerned after spending time together on the beach since he began to develop feelings for Luis. However, the characters are open enough to give a bit of their hearts. Federico takes advantage of the isolated setting to express his prohibited yearning to his long-time acquaintance.

The title is a Pangasinense phrase that translates to “Scorching Sun at the Beach” (Mainit na Araw sa Dagat). It was metaphorical for Federico and Luis as they also exposed each other’s burn and desire. The serene beach scene amplified the characters’ unspoken tensions. While the pleasant tone of the picture suited their love and yearning for each other. The beauty of this film is that even they are not speaking, you can still feel them. Their touch and caress are enough for them to communicate the unsaid feelings.

The cinematography - moving underwater and emerging from the waves, assisted in conveying the message. Somewhat you can feel their pure bliss and melancholy as they submerge and float on water. Although it is not common for films to shoot midday, the use of harsh sunlight is playing a vital role in cinematography. It was used in a sense that created its cinematic statement. The underlying narrative of this film makes you feel blue. The film started midday afternoon and ended twilight after dawn. Who could expect that within a few hours of a fleeting moment, a lot took place?

The filmmakers are successful in showcasing and establishing a usual homoerotic friendship between two guys. In the beginning, they already created a dense atmosphere as the camera moved around the two lead actors, with extreme close-ups of their bodies.

When their mouths are not able to speak what they feel, their eyes let their emotions overflow just like staring into the deep abyss of waters. The friendship between them is more than platonic that the events that led up to their conclusion felt contrived. It ended with a punch to depict the bleakness of the scenario.

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In an era wherein timelines of the past, present, and future entangle, one cannot suppress alteration given form.

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LACSONIAN NARRATIVES

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Into the Rough Seas of Life PHOTOS AND WRITTEN BY 3/O MIKKEL DAN ARENGO

I

consider myself as an average student when I graduated high school. I wasn’t at the top of my class.

Everybody knew me as the happy-go-lucky of my batch. The one who is always loud and proud. I didnt have that much achievements also. I was just happy volunteering on every event and if there were some opportunities that I know I am capable, I join.

When I graduated high school, my mind wasn’t actually clear on what to take up for college. I had a lot of thought about it. I wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, politican, a teacher and the least was actually becoming a seafarer. It was the least because I have been only encouraged by other people to consider it and I did my research. Being away from home, vast oceans, rough waves, heavy weather, physically demanding work and mentally stressful environment. Those were the things that I read that made me say “Sige na lang kamo na lang to seaman.” But one day, summer was almost over and the opening of classes was nearing and I still haven’t made my decision. I actually said, “I will see and seek guidance from God. He will give me a sign. (at this point abi ko gaan ko ni God sign ma seminaryo) Hahaha lol,” but it happened. Not directly, but it was that one day I saw and felt something when I thought about “ma seaman nlg ko b? Try ko lg.” Because at the moment, I thought this will help my family, make us live a comfortable life, and I get to go to different places around the world. And it happened, I enrolled at JBLFMUArevalo.

I was actually nervous on my first day at school. It was my first time being on a different environment. But I just braced myself for what’s to come. In a mass gathering of people wearing plain white shirts, maong pants with shined buckle and belt, all in military haircut, I was thinking “Is this the place that im meant to be? Where do I belong?”

Moving forward.

I have met and made a lot of new friends. We have been taught in class that this profession is not easy. Hearing stories from our professor, the trials, chal-

lenges and also the good stuff about it. And actually, I was enjoying my time being here, I thought. Learning new things, having a fixed goal at an early stage. There was one point where I said “maybe this is really where I was guided to be.”

One day, I saw a door of opportunity. Our teacher invited us to join the screening for the Unit Model Cadet Selection. I didn’t know what was a model cadet, how big it was, and even the responsibilities it has. I just decided okay I will try for the plus points.

On the day of the screening, I was asked a question that made me think for some time and I gave an honest and sincere answer. I was asked “Why do you want to become a seafarer” I told the judges honestly that I actually didnt want to become one. But when I entered the school I had a feeling I am at the right place and look at me now I’m enjoying my studies with regards to preparing for the future.

Being one of the Model Cadets of that year opened a lot of opportunities for me. I learned that being one, I have to continue the legacy of those who have came before me and to uphold the Lacsonian values. I was given the chance to represent the university in many competitions, seminars, engagements, and many other more. I gained a lot of experience and knowledge which I can use for the future and of course bringing pride and honor to our university. I have continued my trait as being the happy go lucky person and I believe all the people at school knew that. All the faculty and staff, students, department heads were friends of mine. I get to see all these people daily and in my mind, why not give them some break and have jokes around to lighten up their day because all day they are working hard, and so I did. I can say i have made a bond with all the people made a good impact on my life.

My student life for the past years was a roller coaster ride. I had to cope up with a lot of missed lessons, school works and even exams because of me being away most of the time. I remember also my teachers and classmates saying, “Ay ari ka sbg?”, “Ohh present ka sbg ba,” but they understand that me being away is for the school also and thats why they help and guide me to whatever I missed.

POST DUTY. After a four-hour grind, 3/O Mikkel Dan Arengo captures himself between a massive bollard onboard a ship.

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FILM CRITIQUE

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THE FACE OF EXCITEMENT. Then-Mdpn.

Arengo smiles as the doors towards his career open after his graduation.

Fast forward.

Graduation was nearing. And I had a feeling it was gonna be hard to say goodbye. It was! I got too attached to the school, my friends, dorm mates, classmates, faculty and staff. On the day of graduation, everybody was saying goodbye and taking memorable photos because we don’t know when we will all be seeing each other again. All of us will take our separate paths to reality and be away. In that gymnasium full of cadets, a lot of friendship has been made and the strong bond with each other will even cross the vast oceans and maintain still. I had the chance to say goodbye also to all my teachers, staff and other people in the school community. I went to say my farewell to each and everyone and told them that I will be back from time to time even if I have already graduated.

Another skip.

I was already preparing for my first assignment as a cadet. Literally excited and nervous at the same time. The thought of finally the dream is starting and being nervous because you still dont have the idea of what’s it gonna be like. My first ever joining was literally across the world. I had to travel 25hrs in total just to go to Brazil and join my first vessel there. When I saw the ship i was literally in awe because my dream, the reality of becoming a seafarer has already started. Was it fun? Was it all good? At first, honestly, no. Working in a mixed nationality crew was a challenge.

And also being a first timer I had to cope up fast with the normal operations. I was at a point where while working I was crying because I asked myself, “Why am I here?”, “Is this really what I wanted,” I was having a hard time. They said it was normal because you were still adjusting and it was true. I was treated as a nobody, I didn’t know anything. But that didn’t stopped me. I had people guiding me, helping me, motivating me to wipe off all the tears and do what I must. I learned a lot of things, I experienced a lot and it made me stronger more knowledgable.

After completing a year of being a cadet, I actually had a thought to stop sailing. Because our opportunity to be accepted again in the same company was lost. But I thought why not I just keep going and try to apply back? So I prepared for my exams and few days before the exam, the lockdown due to COVID-19

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happened. I was just in my house contemplating on what was the next move. Should I pursue on another path or keep going. Days passed by and I was thinking lets just keep going. Lets wait for the opportunity to finish all required and return back. I took the brave step of travelling to Manila in the midst of this pandemic and managed to finish all requirements. I really struggled at this part because we were taking precautions on everything with regards to my health and doing my best to study.

What happened after?

The company that said they will not accept us anymore opened up opportunities and I was accepted. The excitement and nervousness was there again! I was going to be promoted and at the same time my first time as an officer was gonna be a rough one. And it is. I was literally the least experienced guy on board but I didnt falter. The crew I was with was very open to helping and guiding me while I was taking my baby steps. I got to cope up quickly, familiarized myself with the duties and responsibilities and act accordingly. Days passed and I was already comfortable with where I am now. Having this responsibility on my shoulders was challenging but I treated it as push to move further. I always keep a good, fun and positive outlook everyday and everything went nicely.

I always tell other people that no matter how hard it gets, you have to never give up on chasing your dreams and ambitions.

These challenges are always there. The low moments, sad parts, and even the thought of giving up. But let it fuel you to go more. Be more.

Keep moving. All of the trials will one day become a happy memory for you, and you will think that you have passed that phase in your life, and you are a better, stronger person than you were before.

To all my fellow lacsonians, may you be a student, a teacher, a staff, an alumni, may my story serve as an inspiration and reminder that all of us have struggles and problems in our every day life. But all of these are normal and what will matter most is our decision to keep moving forward. Padayon nga sabi nila and we really should.

Our dreams, ambitions and goals will come to reality in our time, by our decisions. It is a long and rough road but always remember that the joy, happiness and success will be far more greater than the trials.

I am Mikkel Dan Sinoben Arengo serving as Third Officer at Maersk Line.

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LACSONIAN NARRATIVE

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LACSONIAN NARRATIVES

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BEYOND HORIZONS. O/S Karl Steven Ducasi watches horizons from the deck of a ship, a place he bent over backwards to be in.

Echoes of a Calm Sea PHOTOS AND WRITTEN BY O/S KARL STEVEN MARCELO DUCASI

Plain. Simple. Ordinary.

I

f I would look for a perfect description for myself before I entered the portals of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo, those three words above would come to mind.

Bearing the pressure, coming from an average family, I have nothing in mind but dreams that are yet to be fulfilled. JBLFMU-A is one of the prominent and known universities in Iloilo. Here, young men and women come together to fulfill their dreams of becoming a seafarer. Unlike those who actually want to become seafarers— to cross the vast seas and travel to different continents —I enrolled at the university halfheartedly because deep inside me, I wanted to become a business man. With much thought, I pursued a course which was far from what I had wanted—bearing the pressure of not disappointing my parents.

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ACHIEVER. Mdpn. Ducasi proudly showcases the fruit of his hard work despite all the setbacks.

Practicality.

Growing up with a practical mindset sure is difficult for I need to weigh every single decisions that I make and the consequences that they may bring. But what are the odds? I think being a seafarer was really meant for me because by the time I was pondering and praying hard for an answer, good news came. I passed the medical examination.

Looking back.

Sleepless nights and countless days, my parents had faced yet another problem of where to find money for my tuition. It was a really tough time for I will not be permitted to take my preliminary examination if I am unable to pay the fees required. My parents eyes were filled with worries and they felt helpless.

It was a situation I never wanted my younger sibling to experience. To help my parents with our financial struggles, I looked for some scholarships offered in our university. I was beyond blessed when I was chosen as a PTA scholar for this will surely lessen my parents financial burden.

Battles I conquered.

I conquered every obstacles that had come my way when I was in JBLFMU. Every day was a battle against sleep, my growling stomach, empty pockets, subjects I know little about and grades that are to be maintained to keep my scholarship from being discredited. All of these trials pushed me to do better and persevere in everything I do. So from time to time, I try to recall that situation to find motivation— to do well in my studies, to do well in everything.

New school, new environment.

Enrolling at a totally unfamiliar university, I met different kinds of people with different personalities, views and perspectives in life. When I was still in my freshman year, I joined different clubs and organizations to find something that would suit my capabilities and interests. The next year, I boldly ran as a senatorial candidate for our student council without any experiences or idea of how to handle programs and activities. But with my ‘I can do this.’ mantra and with the help of my seniors and council mates, I became eager and determined to serve the student body.

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“

You should not let your financial struggles limit your dreams.

FINALLY. O/S Ducasi poses on his hard-earned spot after conquering all challenges.

Showering blessings.

Time passed by, all were good and things are going according to plan. Our former president had approached me and asked me if I am willing to run as a president of the student council. That day, I felt scared. Running for a president is no joke. There are piles of paper works and lots of other things to do. But I took courage and decided to hold the banner under ‘Pwersa Marino’ and with the support of the students, I won. Winning as a president was a blessing from above—a lot opportunities had come my way since then. Meeting with the university CEO, administrators, board of trustee and of course, I was given a hundred percent scholarship.

Balance.

My student life was challenging for I need to juggle my life as a student and my life as a president of the council. A lot of things to cope with such as lessons, examinations and deadly dues of projects and research papers.

To fight or flight?

Things get rough and out of control sometimes and I admit there were a couple of instances when I wanted to give up. But when this happens, I always think about the hardships I had gone through just to reach this far. I had this thought instilled in my mind. And so, graduation came, I saw both of my parents cry, shed joyful tears because their son finally received the diploma they all longed for. And so my fight was all worth it.

was not a walk in the park. I shed buckets of tears, wanting to give up.

The truth behind a seafarers smile.

Months after my graduation, I ventured the unfamiliar streets of Manila, I visited every shipping company and agencies that comes into mind disregarding what other people may think of me; the only thing that

Before I boarded the ship, I thought a seafarer’s job is just a cinch, because I have seen them travel the world, take pictures on different land marks and visit fancy restaurants. But guess what? I was wrong for thinking this way. I never really knew what a seafarer’s life is. I have come to experience this hardship first hand and questioned if this is what I really wanted. As I am not born a quitter, I chose to face my hardships head on for the benefit of me and my family as well.

I am proud to say that I am a seafarer and I am proud of my job. I am a proud son who helps my family and a happy person who gets to travel around the world.

May this serve as a reminder to many

I had in mind was I needed a job to help my parents with our financial needs. With my continuous search and perseverance, my journey as a seafarer started when I joined the NYK company. But just like any other jobs, it

that: You should not let your financial struggles limit your dreams. Do not let anyone determine what you can achieve. Dream bigger! Take chances, risk or lose, make use of these opportunities to learn and grow.

Reality outside the four walls of the classroom.

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