NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | PAGE 1
VOLUME 31 ISSUE 2
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIñAS NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016
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UNITY IN RAGE. Martial Law veterans and student activists gathered for the Black Friday protests as the old generation passed the torch to the new generation to continue their fight for the country and their opposition against the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 25 during the “National Day of Unity and Rage” protest at Luneta Park, Manila.
Photo by Kathelyn Ann Bravo
Tutorial classes to ‘open for all’ next sem by Jazmine Estorninos The Office of the University Registrar will offer tutorial classes for freshman students taking their major subjects next semester, as per University Registrar Marialita Esberto. From the previous academic years (AYs) until AY 2016-2017’s first semester, tutorial classes were only available for transferees, shiftees, and irregular students. “Next semester, i-o-offer na sa lahat [‘yong tutorial classes] dahil kawawa naman sila (freshman, transferees, shiftees, and irregular students). Halimbawa, dalawa lang out of 105 freshmen ang BS Tourism, at need nila ng Tourism major [subjects], so sino na lang ang makakasama nila doon [kung hindi sila bibigyan ng tutorial classes]?” Esberto said.
She furthered that the administration decided to offer tutorial classes for freshmen next semester as preparation for the possible conflicts that may arise in the future. “Matagal na talaga naming napag-desisyunan ‘to dahil alam naming mangyayari ‘yan (fewer freshmen to take major subjects). So we planned ahead,” Esberto added. Regarding tuition, she mentioned that the tutorial classes for the qualified students may cost approximately only half of the actual tuition.
A maximum of 10 students and a minimum of one student can be accommodated for each tutorial class, as confirmed by Esberto. “Students can petition for a subject kung may mga gusto pang kumuha, kahit hindi frosh basta pumasa ng pre-requisite [ng] subject nila,” she said. Enrollment process Any qualified student interested for a tutorial class must
first apply through manual enrollment wherein a tutorial form, provided by the Records Evaluator, is required. “Sila (Records Evaluator) ang magbibigay ng tutorial form na i-fi-fill out. Pagkatapos ay ipapa-sign sa lahat ng concerned faculty or staff assigned at ine-enroll ‘yon,” she explained. The tutorial form will then be returned to the Records Evaluator who will arrange and encode the student’s enrollment in tutorial classes.
ROTC scholarship program restructured this AY by Jazmine Estorninos The administration decided to restructure the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship program from a percentage basis to a fixed amount due to the few ROTC enrollees this academic year (AY) 2016-2017, says National Service Training Program-Civic Welfare Training Service (NSTP-CWTS) Coordinator Neil Villanueva.
Color in History. DLSU-D alumnus and Cavite-based artist Ivan Bilugan held a photo exhibition entitled Color in History: Colorized Historical Photographs at Museo De La Salle’s Galeria Oriente (East Gallery) in the CTHM Building from October 28 to November 28, which has been extended until December. The artist revived sepia and monochrome historical photos through digital art to return color to images of indigenous people, Philippine presidents, World War II, old Cavite, and much more.
During the previous AYs, percentage basis was used wherein the Fourth Class will receive a 25 percent tuition discount, the Third Class with 35 percent, the Second Class with 50 percent, the First Class with 75 percent, and the Corps Commander with 100 percent. However, regarding the fixed amount this AY, Villanueva said,
“We (administration) patterned it to the Performing Arts Group that instead of percentage [basis], we give exact amount.” According to Villlanueva, Fourth Class will receive P9,000, and First Class with P18,000, while Corps Commander with P27,000, since the ROTC doesn’t have Second and Third Class officers for this AY.
Photo by Justine Bea Bautista
News feature
features
Villanueva mentioned that the administration weighed and balanced the tuition fees of every member and chose the average tuition of every course. Currently, the ROTC scholarship fund costs approximately P63,000 compared to AY 20152016’s fund of P200,000. The number of ROTC See ROTC SCHOLARSHIP | page 2
Literary
sports
The Trump card
A comical cure
Malatandang
Coach Arnold Oliveros
page 4
page 11
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NEWS
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | PAGE 2
Dasma Gov’t widens bridge due to ‘worsening’ Gate 3 traffic
ROTC SCHOLARSHIP from page 1 enrollees is the main basis for the scholarship fund as it depends per semester, wherein a higher number of ROTC enrollees may increase the scholarship funds and a lower number of enrollees may decrease the fund. “Noong bago pa magpasukan, akala talaga namin, ‘di na kami aabot sa 200 enrollees but we’re lucky dahil naka-228 pa kami. Projection namin sa una, 115 enrollees lang compared sa almost 1,000 enrollees noon,” Villanueva said.
‘Footbridge to be demolished’ - Barzaga by Yna Marisse Sodoy In order to “solve” the worsening traffic near the DLSU-D Magdiwang Gate (Gate 3), the Dasmariñas City Government has initiated the bridge widening construction along Congressional Road, as per Dasmariñas City Mayor Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga, Jr. “Four lanes ‘yung road ‘di ba … e pagdating sa bridge, nagiging two lanes lang kaya nagkakaroon ng traffic,” he said. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) granted the Dasmariñas City Government approximately P50 million to build two additional lanes on the bridge beside Gate 3 in order to widen the road. Since the bridge widening construction is a project of DPWH, Barzaga said the funds used for the expansion did not come from the Dasmariñas City Government. “Ang nag-pondo niyan National Government … alam
ko mahal ‘yan, mga P50 million ‘yan,” he mentioned. Barzaga furthered that the two footbridges beside Gate 3 will soon be demolished due to the bridge widening construction. However, he assured that a replacement will be constructed beside the new expansion, wherein a separate lane will be built exclusive for pedestrians. Gate 1 loading and unloading area After the business establishments were demolished in front of Magdalo Gate (Gate 1)
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due to illegal business permits, Barzaga said the construction site beside the road will serve as a loading and unloading area for commuters, especially for DLSU-D students. As construction nears completion, Barzaga shares that he plans to construct two waiting sheds for the loading and unloading area. Barzaga mentioned that he has further plans for the infrastructure of Dasmariñas City; however, lack of funds prohibits him from doing so, “Lagi naman tayong may plano e. Iisa lang ang problema—funds.”
Other’s welfare With the aim to financially help the NSTP-CWTS office, ROTC Corps Commander Emmanuel Quibal voluntarily donated his fixed
amount scholarship to the office. “Tsaka mas naisip ko, mas kailangan ng office ‘yong dapat na scholarship ko, so binigay ko sa kanila. Mas maganda ‘yong magiging takbo ng office kung may karagdagan siyang funds dahil malaki din kasi ‘yon, P27,000 so malaking tulong din ‘yong kung i-gi-give way ko,” Quibal added. Quibal said they expected that the ROTC scholarship would either be restructured or removed right before the deliberation last August. “Hindi na kami nagulat kasi in-anticipate na namin ‘yan last semester pa (AY 2015-2016 second semester) … Ang in-assume namin, wala kaming scholarship, pero sinabi sa’min na may scholarship pa rin, pero bababa lang, kaya naging mas OK na
‘yon kasi kumbaga, we assumed for the worst,” Quibal explained. Moreover, Quibal mentioned that they have fully accepted and understood the administration’s decision since it is also for the benefit of the succeeding batches. “Hindi naman pumasok ang officers for the scholarship e kung hindi for the service, so small part lang ‘yan ng pagiging officer ang scholarship. Hindi habol ng isang officer ang scholarship niya, kahit wala siyang scholarship, magse-serve pa rin siya dito,” Quibal said. Meanwhile, Villanueva said their office appreciated Quibal’s sincerity in joining the ROTC and offering his own scholarship to the NSTP-CWTS office.
ICTC, GSO seek ‘immediate’ Gate 1 turnstiles repair Defective turnstile allows anyone enter without tapping IDs by April Ciaralei Cenedoza The Information and Communications Technology Center (ICTC) and the General Services Office (GSO) urged for the “immediate” repair and maintenance of the RFID turnstiles installed at the Magdalo Gate (Gate 1), as confirmed by ICTC Director Kristina Miciano and GSO Director Edwin Bunag.
HOMEGROWN ARTISTRY. De La Salle University-Dasmariñas hosted Cinema Rehiyon 8, a week-long film festival by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) from November 28 to December 2 to present 100 local films from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with the theme of “Creating Cinema Communities, Celebrating Cultural Legacies.”
Miciano expressed hope that the said turnstiles will be operational by next semester. The two turnstiles installed at Gate 1 are temporarily closed, while one of the turnstiles is malfunctioning as it allows anyone to enter the campus without tapping their identification (ID) card on the said turnstile. Due to the conflict regarding the response of the turnstile providers, Miciano asked for a “little time” to repair the turnstiles with RFID readers. “‘Yon kasing previous supplier natin [ng turnstiles], medyo may problema tayo
[because] usually, kapag nagkakaroon ng technical problem, matagal ‘yong response [nila]. What we did is we looked for other suppliers na puwedeng mag-repair,” Miciano mentioned. Bunag said the turnstile providers are companies who are experts in providing security through information technology. In an article issued on the H e ral d o F il ipin o Volume 28 Issue 4, the RFID systems at Gate 1 and Magdiwang Gate (Gate 3) were activated in June 2014. Former GSO Director Eduardo Rubi II said the RFID machine, which costs
approximately more than one million pesos, is intended to recognize the entry of enrolled students only, depending on the records given by the Registrar’s Office. Miciano said that the turnstiles’ mechanism and hardware are the usual problems of the RFID systems as the said supplier needs to replace parts rather than repair the turnstiles alone. Since the turnstiles’ repair and maintenance is a joint project of the GSO and ICTC, Miciano said the ICTC is responsible for providing technical support and maintenance while the
Photo by Angelica Aludino
See TURNSTILES | page 3
R e ac t President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign an executive order that plans to ban cigarette smoking in public places nationwide, both indoors and outdoors, with the exception of some particular smoking areas. DLSU-D students share their opinions on the nationwide smoking ban’s expected implementation. Sobrang in favor ako sa pag-i-implement ng public smoking ban kasi hindi na mapeperwisyo ‘yong mga taong hindi naman naninigarilyo. At the same time, male-lessen na ‘yong pollution sa public places.
I am strongly against smoking especially in public places. I think it would not only lessen pollution, but also reduce the risk of lung cancer to smokers and avoid secondhand smoking. In another aspect, it is saddening to know that the factories producing these cigarettes would likely go bankrupt because of the loss of income, especially for the farmers raising tobacco plants.
I’m very much in favor of the executive order kasi first, it will provide discipline for Filipinos and pino-promote [ng smoking ban] ‘yong benefits ng hindi pag-smoke at mababawasan ‘yong pollution kahit papaano.
Paulo Cabatbat Third year Human Biology
Danielle Lavyrle Marcelo Second year Tourism Management
Kintine Lacasandile First year Criminology
I would be very elated for that. Imposing the nationwide smoking ban will be very beneficial to the general public and it will contribute to the betterment of the nation, not only economically nor physiologically, but holistically as well.
Maganda [na may ganitong batas] kasi non-smoker ako. Nababagabag [ako] kapag may mga naninigarilyo kung saan-saan kasi hindi mo maiiwasan makalanghap [ng usok] lalo na kapag nasa jeep. Wala ka namang choice kahit pumwesto ka sa dulo o harap [ng jeep], damay [ka] pa rin.
Harlene Delgado Fourth year Broadcast Journalism
Princess Arugay Fourth year Broadcast Journalism
For me, kahit ako kapag nag-smo-smoke ako in public, ayaw kong napupunta sa iba ‘yong usok ko kahit [na] ‘yong kasama ko nag-smo-smoke din. Kasi ako mismo na nagyoyosi, ayaw kong napupuntahan ng usok ng iba[ng smoker]. I find it disrespectful kasi eh. So for me OK lang naman ‘yon na i-ban ang public smoking dahil may designated place [naman] kung saan puwede magyosi. Maria Coreza Tapia Fourth year Broadcast Journalism
I disagree, because people in public vehicles or public places are using smoking as a way of avoiding nervousness, stress, and depression. This becomes a way to release what they feel inside them as well.
I disagree with the public smoking ban because people are used to smoking in public places already, and they may not control themselves properly anymore if it is implemented, even though smoking may have bad side effects on their health and on the people around them.
It would be great if the law will be implemented. Smoking itself is bad for our health even if there are warnings on the boxes. For me, it is kind of useless since they are still telling the cigarette products and it is also benefitting for those who are no fond at cigarette likewise.
Michael Arthur Vergara Second year Psychology
Klarjere Pantaleon Second year Marketing and Advertising Management
Alyssa Angelica Datiles Second year Tourism Management
NEWS
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | PAGE 3
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Admin to change GDO classrooms into offices next sem BFMO building to be renovated into new classrooms by April Ciaralei Cenedoza The administration is planning to transfer the Buildings Facilities and Maintenance Office (BFMO) to the GDO building located below the DLSU-D Grandstand to convert the current office building into classrooms, as confirmed by Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services Belinda Narvaez.
GATE 3 ROAD EXPANSION. In order to reduce the inconvenience of the worsening traffic near DLSU-D’s Magdiwang Gate (Gate 3), additional lanes are being constructed on both sides of the bridge near Gate 3, as decided by the Dasmariñas City Government.
Photo by Jean Quinto
COEd tuition increase possible next AY COEd freshman enrollees drop from 166 to 7 this AY by April Ciaralei Cenedoza
“Sa assessment ko, the [GDO] classrooms are OK, well-ventilated, ‘yon nga lang medyo malayo from other classroom buildings, so we [will] try [na] dalhin lang sa mas malapit and assign that portion (GDO building) to BFMO as their office,” Narvaez added. The BFMO building, located beside the Information and Communications Technology Center (ICTC) building, will be transferred to the GDO next semester to start the BFMO building’s renovation for classrooms. Narvaez admitted that the conversion of the BFMO building into a classroom
building will require funds to cover dividers and other various repairs. Meanwhile, BFMO Director Dennis Pontanilla affirms the relocation plan of the administration as long as it will benefit the Lasallian community. Pontanilla said the BFMO is still not yet fully informed regarding its possible relocation date. He mentioned that they can adapt to their new working area, but they will also need to renovate the GDO building since some of its facilities are not designed for electrical workshops, mechanical welding, and other facilities
intended for buildings and facilities maintenance. Pontanilla furthered that the GDO building does not have the usual classroom-type rooms. “Obviously, nasa ilalim ng Grandstand [ang GDO building], adjacent sa mga sports facility natin. Designed siya (GDO building) specifically to accommodate the needs of a sports facility like dug-outs, locker rooms, shower areas, storage ng equipment…” he explained. As of press time, the administration is yet to determine whether the Senior High School students or college students will use the classrooms in the old BFMO building.
TURNSTILES from page 2 Due to fewer freshman enrollees caused by the K to 12 program implementation, the College of Education (COEd) eyes a “70 percent possibility” of tuition increase next academic year (AY) 2017-2018, according to COEd Student Council (COEdSC) 2016-2017 Vice President Jimbo Caraan. In an article issued on the H eraldo F ilipino Volume 31 Issue 1, University Registrar Marialita Esberto confirmed that the number of freshman enrollees dropped from approximately 3,478 last AY 2015-2016 to 105 this AY 2016-2017. Meanwhile, a total of 166 freshman students enrolled in COEd in AY 2015-2016 compared to the only seven freshman enrollees this AY 2016-2017’s first semester. “I don’t see any way that we can stop the said [tuition] increase. I don’t have any idea
how much or what amount would be, maybe 10 percent [tuition increase] is enough,” he said. Furthermore, he mentioned that other colleges may also face tuition increase due to fewer freshman enrollees this AY. On the other hand, if the tuition increase for COEd will be approved next AY, he said the COEdSC will have sufficient funds for the council’s proposed events and projects. In an article issued on the H eraldo F ilipino Volume 30 Issue 4, the administration
implemented a 2.35 percent tuition increase for all levels this AY. For COEd, the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEE) and Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) practicum fees increased to P200, while the Bachelor of Physical Education (BSPED) practicum fee increased to P300. As of press time, COEd is still the only college eyeing the possibility of tuition increase whereas the six other colleges have not yet expressed their interests on the said possible tuition hike.
‘Ayuntamiento construction prolongs due to lack of donations’–Admin GMH to serve as ‘student’s center’ upon completion by April Ciaralei Cenedoza To complete the construction of the Ayuntamiento de Gonzalez building, DLSU-D will need to collect more external donations, according to Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance Belinda Narvaez. “I can’t tell the [exact] date of completion, but we (administration) want to finish [the Ayuntamiento construction] as soon as possible if only we had the resources,” Narvaez said. Based on an article issued on the Heraldo Filipino Vol. 27 Issue 2, the building which started construction in 2005, only relies on donations to fund its construction, as per former Vice Chancellor for Finance Epifania Anfone. Meanwhile, Narvaez mentioned that the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Mission, External Affairs and Advancement is responsible for managing the University’s resources and collections of external donations. For this academic year 2016-2017, the administration plans to focus on the Ayuntamiento’s reroofing construction, which already began on November. As of press time, Narvaez said they will need more resources to supply electricity around the building.
‘Student’s center’ Upon completion of the Ayuntamiento construction, the current administration’s office building at Gregoria Montoya Hall will be called the “student’s center” to provide more facilities to students and other various student organizations. Meanwhile, the Ayuntamiento will be used as the administration’s new offices once the said construction is done. According to Buildings Facilities and Maintenance Office Director Dennis Pontanilla, the Ayuntamiento will also house gallery exhibits, conference rooms and seminar halls. In honor of the late Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC, former Brother President of DLSU-D, the building was named Ayuntamiento de Gonzalez. The building, patterned after the Ayuntamiento Hall in Manila, is located in between the Paulo Campos Hall building and College of Science building.
GSO is tasked with the purchasing of turnstiles and managing the security processes within the campus. Bunag clarified that a portion from the ID fee is used to fund the maintenance and repair of the turnstiles. Meanwhile, Miciano furthered that the ICTC has not received any complaints from the students who feel inconvenienced from using only two turnstiles in Gate 1.
As of press time, the ICTC is waiting for the submission of quotations from the four bidding information technology and security companies for their respective estimated costs in repairing the turnstiles, Miciano and Bunag affirmed. “Kapag nakita ko ‘yong proposal, siguro from there, tingnan natin kung sino talaga ‘yong magpo-provide ng magandang service [repair],” Miciano said.
DLSU-D prepares for Cavite’s groundwater depletion in 2018 ERMaC reinforces STP usage by Yna Marisse Sodoy
As part of DLSU-D’s preparation for the supposed Cavite groundwater depletion in 2018, the Environmental Resource Management Center (ERMaC) has started reserving water by utilizing the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), as confirmed by ERMaC Director Marlon Pareja. The STP refers to the act of conserving the University’s recycled waste water for industrial purposes by using the Activated Sludge Process (ASP), wherein good bacteria consumes bad bacteria to ensure prevention of any possible diseases that may arise. “Sa ngayon, kailangan natin magtipid ng water … kaya we have to find ways kung paano natin mare-recycle ang water at malinis siya. STP is one,” Pareja said. As part of the STP, ERMaC uses aeration process, which applies oxygen to the waste water and also serves as a disinfectant. In the last part of the process, chlorine is applied to waste water. “‘Yong chlorine, siya naman ‘yong pumapatay ng bad bacteria bago mo siya i-release sa environment,” he explained. Pareja mentioned that the University uses septic tanks to collect and store waste water. However, the tanks are starting to overflow as the University’s population reached almost 15,000 in AY 2015-2016.
“Dati ‘yong overflow na ‘yon (from the septic tank), diretso sa river and that is unethical kasi ‘yong dumi natin even though na-purify o nalinis siya in some ways, hindi pa rin siya nagko-conform sa (government sanitation) standard,” he mentioned. Pareja asserted the STP usage assures that the University complies with government regulations and standards by tracking the quality of recycled water before returning it to the environment. Moreover, STP conserves water in the University as it utilizes recycled water rather than ground water, Pareja said. Previously, ERMaC used enzymes to recycle waste water. Despite its eco-friendliness, the process produced unpredictable effects on waste water and cost more than STP. Due to the disadvantages, ERMaC switched from utilizing enzymes to STP worth P13 million. Class C water Out of all the different classifications of water with Class AA as the cleanest, the
University aims to recycle waste water into Class C water that can be used for industrial uses such as watering plants. Pareja said the University’s waste water is under Class D or E since it is evaluated as yellow, grey, or black water. “We consider it (waste water) as either yellow water o urine, grey water kapag pinaghugasan ng sabon, black water kapag dumi. Most likely, Class E ‘yon,” he explained. Other classifications of water are Class AA and Class A, which are both consumable. Still, Class A has to be cleansed by chlorine to be regarded as safe enough to drink, while Class B, is non-consumable, but can be used for bathing or cleaning purposes. In AY 2012-2013, ERMaC established STP as a substitute for enzyme usage in recycling the University’s waste water. As of press time, after speculations of Cavite groundwater’s possible drought, ERMaC reinforced the use of STP to use the recycled waste water for University purposes.
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The Trump card The aftermath in a world divided by Anri Ichimura and Bianca Isabelle Lariosa Illustration by Lynoelle Kyle Arayata On November 9, the Canadian immigration website crashed—just moments after Donald Trump won the US presidential elections. The next morning, the front pages of newspapers around the world were splattered with headlines such as “The Trump Apocalypse,” “American Psycho,” and “What Have They Done?” Suffice to say, Trump’s unexpected victory against all odds shocked the world and upended every sentiment of stability regarding US relations with other nations—including the Philippines. Although our nation is half a world away from the United States, this distance won’t protect us from the impending reign of President-elect Trump. In a world that gravitates around the directions of the West in economics, education, and democracy, the Philippines will be pulled into the change initiated by Trump—and it’s time to prepare for the best and the worst. Economic woes Given that Trump is a businessman, the economy ought to be skyrocketing—yet just hours after he was announced the presidential race’s winner, the US Stock Market prices dropped while gold value rose. The near collapse created a butterfly effect that left a dent in the global stock market— including that of the Philippines—however, the worst is still yet to come according to Jeremy Cook of UK foreign exchange company, World First. Our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are on shaky ground as Trump’s isolationist, populist, and “Americans first” campaign is strongly in favor of anti-immigration laws in order to “take back” the American jobs lost to immigrants. For the Filipinos living and working abroad, the impending tightening of immigration policies may negatively affect the OFW remittances that account for 10 percent of our GDP, with 43 percent of that coming from the US. With Trump encouraging the so-called “selfdeportation” of immigrants, OFWs will certainly be affected, especially as Guo Yu, Head of Asian Research in The Independent says that Trump’s sweeping promise to take back his countrymen’s jobs spells trouble for Asia, as we’re considered the world’s main manufacturing hub. Proving his priority on domestic policy, Trump called it a “terrible deal for United States” to approve of the TransPacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries including the US and the Philippines. As for investments, his recent stated rejection of the TTP may truly affect the nation’s business process outsourcing industry that gains 70 percent of its earnings from the US. However, Philippine Stock Exchange COO Roel Refran assures that there are certain “risk mitigates” in place to protect us from the worst of Trump’s potential policies. On a sour note, University of Santo Tomas Political Science Department Chair Dennis Coronacion predicts that due to the election of Trump, the Philippines may be cut off from the US as it closes its economy to foreign competitions and limits US companies from setting up factories in labor-cheap developing countries. This will inevitably lead to little growth in the Philippine economy that the US invests in greatly, particularly the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. A basic lesson in economics is that international trade benefits all—and restricting trade generally reduces the welfare of the world. With the world’s largest economy no longer paying attention to the global market and potentially lessening investments abroad, the developing world—including the Philippines—may very
well suffer under the little growth. Should this pattern continue, America’s new “blanket protectionism” mentality will eventually prove unprofitable for their nation—and ours. Relations on rocky ground Aside from anti-trade platforms, the US Presidentelect’s anti-globalization platform may derail foreign policy despite his years riding high on the benefits of
globalization atop the Trump Tower in New York. Although President Rodrigo Duterte has already given the go-signal for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the US and the Philippines despite his obvious opposition, it’s still unclear if the agreements between the US and the Philippines will continue given Trump’s election. His “isolationist” repudiation of TPP does not just spell trouble for the economy, but of globalization as a whole—a stark shift from incumbent US President Barrack Obama’s “internationalist” perspective, according to political analyst Leloy Claudio. In contrast to Obama and Hillary Clinton’s military investment in Southeast Asia, Claudio predicts that Trump won’t share the similar sentiments regarding the US administration’s pivot to Asia. As for the issue in the West Philippine Sea, an isolationist attitude of America might lessen tension in the area if they retract their forces, according to political analyst
Gilbert Remulla. “If that happens, definitely there will be less tension in the South China Sea and I think that’s a good thing for the Philippines at one point,” he explained. However, Richard Heydarian, political analyst and assistant professor of De La Salle University – Manila, shared that this “could mean the country will be more on the mercy of China.” Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Diliman’s professorial lecturer of Asian Studies Eduardo Tadem says that the face of the world’s leading nations may change as
the US cedes their role to the likes of China and Russia. “Welcome to the United States as a third-rate world power, which may not be such a bad thing for the rest of the world,” Tadem said. With America’s new inward-looking policy with Trump at the helm, their focus on their own issues might lessen their position as a world superpower, potentially driving the countries that depend on them into the arms of the likes of Russia and China—just as the Philippines did. Trading caution for change One cannot forget the moment Trump lumped the Philippines along with other terrorist countries last August, proclaiming us a threat to his homeland that should be banned from the US. His resounding words “We’re dealing with animals” speaks multitudes about what kind of discrimination we are to face under his future reign. Ironically enough, the mercurial and populist similarities of Trump and
Duterte “could strike an unlikely bromance between them,” according to Heydarian. The silver lining of Trump’s election is that “Americans will better understand the rise of Duterte in the Philippines” as the two nations experience extreme polarization of values and expectations, according to Segundo Romero, professorial lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University. Given the negative media coverage of the Philippines in international media, it might be a blessing in disguise to have Trump as the nation’s future leader as he “doesn’t seem to have a significant concern about human rights issues, so under a Trump administration, there could be less tension over President Duterte’s drug war,” says Heydarian. Apart from the obvious, we can see one resounding similarity between Duterte and Trump: two outsiders who, according to Claudio, “[are] fundamentally different from the persons inside and more similar to the working classes or the masses or whoever—can come up, shake things up, and completely turn the world upside down.” Claudio calls Trump’s win a sign of the global resurgence of populism—a vote for the masses and potentially a vote for the far right, a far cry from the call of the progressives. Reflecting on this sudden change, Claudio said, “For some reason, in this period in world history, that message is extremely appealing and people are willing to throw caution into the wind in order to have change.” And change has certainly taken effect as just days after Trump’s presidential win, the world has heard and spread his words of xenophobia and racism. His authoritarian impulses reflect the traits of a schoolyard bully, with his example already cultivating the youth of US. Numerous cases of schoolyard racism have already been witnessed just days after the declaration of his presidency, from middle-schoolers shouting “Build the wall” to street graffiti appearing with the words “Black lives don’t matter—neither do your votes.” Hillary Clinton campaigned that love trumps hate, however she didn’t expect the fact that in times of uncertainty and desperation for change, change trumps love—regardless of whether the change promised is for better or worse. This is a lesson the Philippines has already learned. *** The stars are aligning, but not in the way Filipinos want. The truth is undeniable: when America falls, the world will tremble in its wake. For all our calls for independence and nationalism, we can’t ignore the fact that we’ll be affected one way or another. While we expect the worst and hope for the best, it’s time to brace ourselves for the aftermath that will change the face of the world as we know it. Sources: www.vox.com www.washingtonpost.com www.reuters.com theindependent.com www.rappler.com www.inquirer.net www.cnn.com www.cnnphilippines.com
More than just numbers After pulling an all-nighter highlighting and memorizing every single word in your textbooks for the upcoming hell week, you’re now hopelessly anticipating for your grades to be encoded on your portal. Then you start contemplating, thinking of every possible what if— what if you’re screwed and end up with a grade lower than what you aimed for, what if your days of being a constant achiever is over, and what if you didn’t meet your parents’ expectations. Days pass and voila—a notification pops up on your smartphone and upon clicking it, you see the lowest grade you’ve ever had in your entire life; and the future of your GPA hits you right in the face—pretty damn hard. *** Grades don’t measure intelligence—that’s what we all say. But while grades might not actually matter in the real world, being brought up in a family filled with the highest academic expectations is an entirely different story. No, I didn’t write this column to rant about my family’s expectations—I love the way my parents served as my first
teachers at home and it has never been a problem with me. But for me, all those memes and quotes you see online post-exam period stating “grades don’t matter” aren’t always a hundred percent true. I was a first grader back then when my parents held me before I stepped inside the classroom full of innocent children chasing one another during the first day of an unwanted battle. “Dapat ikaw ang reyna ng klase, ah,” they said. Even though I know those words were nothing serious, it certainly pushed me to do better and strive harder in every class. Until today, I continuously live with this principle, and dealing with it is pretty challenging since I allow myself be drowned by books, handouts, and endless notes—all while trying to keep myself calm whenever my grades do not meet my standards. From the word itself, grade consciousness refers to becoming overly mindful about your grades, wherein you have to strive hard to get high scores or else end up feeling below par when you get average scores. But really, grade conscious people are usually those who are easily judged. Sometimes, they are known as the great memorizers but poor learners or people who treat grades like they’re everything—and that’s the saddest and most terrible part of the judgments thrown at these people. Considering myself as one, I find it rude when others often see this trait only as toxic alone.
While it is undeniable that low or average grades sometimes result in anxiety and lower self-esteem, it is also as true that grades are more than just numbers served by your professors.
These numbers may not measure one’s intelligence, but this shouldn’t be an excuse for you to just take them for granted Because in the interest of fair play, grade consciousness still became a way for me to make my college life even more challenging. Amid the unpredictable ups and downs of college, these numbers taught me how to carefully manage my time, keep my grace under pressure, enjoy torturing myself for seeking challenges, self-learn the lessons we can’t find in books, and most importantly, accept one’s imperfections—because there will come a time when you’ll realize that you won’t always be one of the best. Well, I may still haven’t totally perfected how to manage time, control pressure, and understand certain life lessons that this world teaches, but I must say, this common
principle—grade consciousness—isn’t toxic at all as long if it’s used constructively. And it would only be harmful if one becomes desperate for it: exceeding the limitations by doing unjust acts due to bad intentions. These numbers may not measure one’s intelligence and morality but this shouldn’t be an excuse for you to just take them for granted, because paying approximately P50,000 per semester to stay in school is no joke—especially to your parents. To excel academically is quite tough, and disappointments are just around the corner, especially when you’re grade conscious. But failing to meet others’ expectations and your own standards should be a reason for you to take it as a challenge to strive harder next time. As American politician Robert Kennedy once said that “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” *** When your GPA hits you right in the face, get ready to apply the remedy: the power of acceptance and application of all lessons you learned along your way. So the next time you open your portal, you’ll no longer be dissatisfied—because at least you did your best. And the next thing you know, you’re one step closer to overcoming the thought of what ifs that slowly haunt you in the midst of all the pressure and grief.
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | PAGE 6
O P INI O N
VOLUME 31 ISSUE 2
EDITORIAL
Passive-regressive A life-threatening disease by the name of passivity is eating away the minds and backbones of the many young Filipinos. It would be easy to just dismiss this as a fatal millennial flaw, but truth be told, passivity is just a smaller part of the spectrum. It’s not that the youth doesn’t care—it’s just that, too often, we’re held back by the crippling thought that we are not of use. Although there are instances when we’re slowly and surely defying these expectations, the sad truth is that in a University wherein free speech is not so easily accepted and the “pangsarili” mentality is regularly practiced, our development as people of society is hindered. Considering that—excuse the clichéd line—the future of the world is in the hands of the youth, simply being a bystander in the ever-changing world and community has become an inexcusable sin. Just like when the Philippine National Police van reportedly rammed into protestors in front of the US Embassy on October 19, awareness and the wide dissemination of the injustice surrounding the Lumad people only took place after our fellow Filipinos had been injured in the process. Whether we admit it or not, there is a dark cloud called the bystander effect that has taken over how we live our lives. It’s easy to be affected by this dangerously tempting disease—to just watch the world go by without saying a single word. Unfortunately for us Filipinos, this can be the go-to habit to simply flip on the news and watch the faith of the country be manhandled by those in charge. However, the shattering effects of serving as a stand-in for your true inner convictions is not only an insult to the person you are, but also a great burden for the people around us. A real-life example of this would be the 18-year old architecture in Taguig City who was student stabbed to his death on the way home from school. Reportedly, people had heard his screams, but out of fear, failed to help. Through it all, even if we try so hard to be decent people—at least most of us—and try to lessen our wrongdoings, we often overlook the fact that by staying put and allowing injustices to thrive, we orchestrate our own fall from grace. We are not entirely at fault for being this way, because more often than not, repression also plays a huge part in whether or not we choose to speak out. In a community like our University that envelops continuity, sweeping things under the rug has been the go-to action. The forgive and forget mentality has been going on for so long that it’s come to a point that even when we are no longer happy with what’s happening in the campus—and that happens often— our response is to shrug off the disappointment and proceed to forget how we feel and how we can make things better. To fight and eventually finish the bystander effect inflicted on us, we must see beyond our horizons and face the fact that sooner or later, we will be the ones in charge of the system. We must open our eyes and see the world for what it really is: not a big bad system out to corrupt us and take away our souls, but a canvass in which we must paint a meaningful streak—and eventually create our own image for the future. If we continue to be shackled by the idea that our community has been prewritten for us, then we are the ones responsible for the passivity in the first place—the main reason we backtrack as a University. *** When the system is spoiled, we’ll have nothing to feed our minds with and no fuel to spark our fire to speak. Even though the easiest thing to do is feign numbness to the outside world, we must not let this disease of passivity eat us away. At the end of the day, the world is vastly a much bigger place than where we choose to quarantine ourselves in. Where we are right now as a nation will never determine where we will eventually go—and if we never move, there’s no saying how worse it can get.
End of the world party One of my professors once asked the class, “What’s your advocacy?” Surprisingly, I was stumped. It seemed like such a simple question, but it got me more tongue-tied than I dare admit. Until I broke the question down in my mind and asked myself, “What do you fight for?” The answer came without hesitation: well, everything. Now, wait—before you judge me as holier than thou, let me explain. *** Being a quasi-grown-up, I’ve started thinking about the world in the way an adult does—and a headache typically results. Marcos getting a hero’s burial, Trump in the Oval Office, Putin buddying up with Assad, and the UK splitting from the EU—it’s as if the world has gone to hell, and we’re none the wiser to stop it. Let’s not forget the war in Syria, extrajudicial killings, and police brutality plaguing our homeland. I could go on and on with this string of nonstop tragedies to the point that I’ll only end up feeling hollow. And “hollow” sums it up quite nicely, because just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it does. Comments like “faith in humanity lost” or something else along those lines have been spamming the traffic of tragedies on my newsfeed. Truth is, comments like that are pretty much spot-on most times, especially when a dictator’s given a hero’s burial, a misogynist is
Editorial Board AY 2016-2017
SENIOR STAFF Queenee Manaog, Jose Mari Martinada, Nishtha Nigam, John Chesleigh Nofiel, Alphonse Leonard Topacio, Mikaela Torres JUNIOR STAFF Rose Kristine Amarillo, Marco Belarmino, Chandler Belaro, April Ciaralei Cenedoza, Lexzene Dela Cruz, Jeff Treat Dimaano, Casvel Teresa Lopez, Glazel Ricci Noceda, Yna Marisse Sodoy, John Zedrick Simeon, Camille Trinidad Mr. Mark A. Ignacio, Adviser The HERALDO FILIPINO has its editorial office at Room 213, Gregoria Montoya Hall (Administration Building) De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines 4115. Telephone: +63 2 8447832, +63 46 416 4531 local 3063 Email: officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com Website: www.heraldofilipino.com Contributions, comments, suggestions, and signed letters should be addressed to the Editor in Chief.
The ongoing Hotel Rafael renovation will provide larger laboratory facilities for Hotel and Restaurant Management students.
Might as well fight for it point, the White Helmets in Syria, a group of fearless Syrians who run towards destruction to rescue civilians from the rubble, guided by the Quran’s words, “Whoever saves one life, saves all of humanity.” Another hero that comes to mind—albeit fictional—is Madaya Mom, the character of a digital comic by ABC News and Marvel that details the harrowing life of one Syrian mother and her everyday battle to keep her family alive in war-torn Syria. A storyteller of heroes, Molly Crabapple has also led the way for the new generation of artist-journalists drawing at the frontlines of wars to “rip art right out of that ivory tower and bring it back into the mud and the blood and the streets of the world.” Let’s not forget our own homegrown everyday heroes who do simple things like giving out black ribbons to fellow students in the JFH kubo, the silent anti-Marcos walk of protest on
campus led by our chapel, or the thousands of millennials taking to the streets for the Black Friday protests against the Marcos Burial. These are ordinary people with hearts of gold who understand that even though there are times we can’t prevent the storm from coming, there must never be a time that we let it get us down. As President Obama said moments before Trump was elected, “No matter what happens, the sun will rise in the morning.” And it did—the sky won’t fall once Trump sits in the Oval Office, just as the earth won’t shake now that Marcos is buried in its sacred soil. So, before you all throw an end-of-theworld party, take a moment to consider that even though we can’t prevent terrible things from happening, we should never give up without a fight. The end only begins when we let it—when we lose faith in humanity that is not yet lost despite this messed up world of ours. So, we might as well fight for it. *** To answer my professor’s question a little more surely, my advocacy is this: the advocacy to have an advocacy—to fight for something, anything, especially in this passive generation that’s a little too quick to forget that these problems that make them “lose faith in humanity” will be theirs to inherit one day. Perhaps being so young, these optimistic thoughts about the world come easy for me. Perhaps when I’m older, and the skepticism sets in, I’ll change my tune. But for now—call me preachy—this a fight I’ll never get bored of or lose faith in.
Pulang marka
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Anri Ichimura, Editor in Chief Fernan Patrick R. Flores, Associate Editor Ricardo Martin O. Cabale, Managing Director Naomi Lane T. Tiburcio, In charge, Copy editing Kristine Mae H. Rebote, Office Supervisor Jazmine N. Estorninos, News Editor Ma. Bianca Isabelle C. Lariosa, Features Editor Rochelle G. Rivera, In charge, Literary Ezekiel A. Coronacion, In charge, Sports Lynoelle Kyle E. Arayata, Art Coordinator Kathelyn Ann M. Bravo, Chief Photographer Camille Joy D. Gallardo, Graphics and Layout Director Christian F. Mateo, In charge, Web
now the world’s most powerful leader, and that barbaric show of police brutality a few months ago made human rights, in that moment, just words. But before I joined the online torrent of comments “giving up on humanity,” I got a stark reality check. This is hardly the time to lose faith—because if the world is going to shit, then you might as well fight for it. As often as these “end-of-the-world” news plague our newsfeeds, I’m also reminded that as bad as things can get, there are still those who remember what it means to be human—and to not give up once the going gets tough. Case in
Bukod sa ma-fall sa taong hindi ka naman gusto, ang ma-fall (bumagsak) sa isang subject (lalo na kung major subject) ay ang isa sa pinakamasakit na pangyayari na puwede mong maranasan sa iyong buhay kolehiyo. Pero hindi ka masasaktan kung hindi ka nagpakita ng effort na matuto o sa kabilang banda—kapag walang effort ang pagtuturo ng propesor. Hindi naman sa kailangan nating sisihin ang ating propesor sa bagsak na marka, pero may ilang pagkakataon lang din akong napansin na hindi naman karapatdapat na bumagsak dahil minsan hindi rin karapat-dapat ang paraan ng pagtuturo nila. Sa mga panahong sinusulat ko ito, kasabay ang aking pagluluksa dahil sa nakuha kong marka sa prelim na mas mababa pa sa peso value ni Sergio Osmeña. Napawi nang kaunti ang aking lungkot dahil nalaman kong hindi ako nag-iisa sapagkat karamihan (higit sa 80 porsiyento) sa aming klase ay nakakuha ng bagsak na marka. Inaasahan ko na ito dahil mayroon din akong ilang pagkukulang dahil nilimitahan ko ang ang aking sarili sa pagbabasa ng binibigay na powerpoint lectures ng aking propesor imbes na magbasa ng ilang libro patungkol sa subject. Ngunit sa kabilang banda, maaaring nagkulang din ang mga propesor dahil trabaho nilang maituro nang maayos ang mga lesson upang lubos na maintindihan ng mga
estudyante ang kanilang pinag-aaralan. Siguro hobby din ng ilang propesor ang pagmarka ng ekis ng mga papel na ginamit ng estudyante sa pagsusulit dahil nagbibigay saya sa kanila kapag karamihan sa mga estudyante ay hindi natuto. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganito ang konsepto ng ilang guro dahil ayon sa isang Canadian English Professor na si Ken Eckert, hindi maganda sa pakiramdam ng isang guro na
Hindi ko sinasabing mali lahat ng propesor dahil pati ang mga estudyante ay may mga pagkakamali rin maraming estudyante ang bumabagsak sa isang klase. Idinagdag pa ni Eckert na kapag seryoso talaga ang mga estudyante sa pag-aaral pero halos lahat ay bumagsak pa rin, nagsisimula na siyang mag-isip kung mayroon bang mali sa kanyang teaching strategy. Pero sa aking mga karanasan, sa tuwing napapansin na ng ilang propesor na marami ang bumabagsak sa kanyang klase, wala pa ring pagbabago sa pamamaraan na kanilang pagtuturo. Sa apat na taong kong pag-aaral sa kolehiyo, isa sa napansin kong hindi nag-i-improve na estilo ng ilang propesor sa pagtuturo ay ang kanilang pagiging malupit tuwing pagsusulit. Kumbaga,
The lack of lighting at the West Campus at night questions the safety of students with late classes.
1+1 sa lecture, tapos 2 x 2 sa quiz, tapos find the value of x when y = z tuwing exam. Oo, dapat ituro lamang ng propesor ang framework ng problem solving at estudyante na dapat ang mag-explore ng ibang problems upang mas malinang ang kanilang pagkatuto; ngunit minsan dumadating sa punto na hindi naman naturo sa klase ang mga lumabas sa exam kaya ang mga nasayang na oras sa pagaaral ay napupunta lamang sa pagnganga at pagtulala sa oras ng pagsusulit. Hindi madali ang buhay sa kolehiyo dahil hindi na ito parang elementary o high school kung saan tutulungan ka ng nanay mo na sagutan ang mga homework mo. Nasa kolehiyo na tayo dahil hinahanda na natin ang sarili natin sa tinatawag nilang “real world,” pero tila hindi naman real ang matutunan sa world ng ilang propesor na hindi makatarungang estilo ng pagtuturo. *** Para sa akin, walang tinatawag na “good professors” at “good students,” ngunit mayroong tinatawag na “good education.” Hindi ko sinasabing mali lahat ng propesor dahil pati ang mga estudyante ay may mga pagkakamali rin. Sabi nga ng isa kong kakalaseng nakatanggap ng pulang marka mula sa isang propesor, wala raw siyang sama ng loob sa pagbagsak kasi siya ang nagkulang at hindi ang maayos na pagtuturo ng propesor niya. Sa likod ng mga pulang marka, maaaring nagkulang ang mga propesor sa pagtuturo; ngunit kung iisipin, maaaring nagkulang din tayo bilang estudyante.
A special screening of the film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” was held at SM City Dasmarinas on November 18, organized by DLSU-D for the benefit of the De La Salle Senior Brothers.
O P INI O N
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | PAGE 7
Color blind Mocha Uson—the renowned celebrity Duterte supporter behind the infamous Mocha Uson Blog. Known for her bold campaign and intense defense for the president and his endeavors, Uson continues to take on the world—even as petitions try to shut down her Facebook page. Her one-sided, interminable, and headstrong attacks against so-called “anti-Duterte” people and groups that are unhappy with the president’s undertakings has earned her cronies—yet mostly enemies. It all started in her interview with Bloomberg— as with anyone in my place, I was intrigued to watch the interview. In her statement, she said the country’s Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights needed to step down from his position because of his bias as a “yellow” or an Aquino supporter, and thus, an “anti-Duterte.” For someone who hadn’t yet read Uson’s blogs, I was left in disbelief considering her only justification in wanting the human rights chair to resign is that he belongs to the many allies of the Aquino’s. How’s that for a quick argument? Some strong-willed adherents like Uson are deemed by the Filipino public as partisan—excuse
me for the word—retards, affiliated with one of the two main political parties in our country, both claiming to be on the right track and both calling the other as a leftist. As the two teams continue in their aggressive word war against each other, they scornfully call one camp Dutertards, the Duterte defenders; and the other Yellowtards, the Aquino allies. For as long as I’ve observed, it’s always been this way as competition and partition are essentially a part of politics; but with social media and the ease it provides in communication and criticism, political
Partisan colors are simply colors, and not lines designed to divide supporters gain more power to scuffle against the other. And this fight is starting to get pretty messy—a mess we can no longer afford to ignore. When you scroll down your Facebook news feed, not a single week will pass without encountering a chain of debates between partisans in the comment section of a news article about a Duterte or Aquino ally. Sadly though, we’re too confined by the tradition that partisans are supposed to be rivals and trigger-happy supporters are meant to wage war against one another, mindless of the fact that virtual words can cut deeper than knives.
WITBREAD
So it’s no longer a surprise why some Filipinos find it hard to express their opinion because of their fear of being misunderstood or merely terrorized online. Now, how can we freely express ourselves, in this generation which advocates freedom of speech, if political defenders crouch in the different corners of social media, waiting for someone to oppose and torment? It’s time to realize that political parties are made to create alliances, not nemeses. And there’s a limit on how much we should embody our support for political groups—and this is not to a point where we should turn on our inner Mocha Uson to any opposition. Because remember, whether you provoke someone of doing an act you consider as “galawang dilaw” or “pula,” partisan colors are simply colors, and not lines designed to divide individuals, political groups, or the nation as a whole. In the end, the government sees no political party and the Philippines sees no political colors after the circus of campaigns. Just as elected officials take on their positions, we need to settle down on ours too: not as pro-Duterte or proAquino, but as pro-Filipino. What will matter most in politics is not competing against each other, but working together for the good of the country—where service is color blind.
Hindi na darating si Santa Naloko na rin ako diyan. Basta’t pagpatak ng hatinggabi tuwing bisperas ng pasko, isa ako sa libu-libong mga batang gabi-gabi kung mag-abang sa pagkalampag ng bubong o kaya’y ng pintuan. Umaasa akong may mananaog na higanteng balot na balot sa mabalahibo’t matingkad na pulang bestido mula sa kisame. Pigil ng kaliwa niyang kamay ang sakong nakasabit sa kanyang likod— siksik, liglig, at umaapaw ng teddy bears at barilbarilan. Ang problema, gagayak na sa bente ang edad ko at wala pa ring Santa ang sumandali sa mga balita sa dyaryo o telebisyon. Hindi pa ba sapat na pangakit ang bukambibig sa mga balita na tayo ang may “fastest-growing economy” sa Asya? Mayroon akong iilang teorya kung bakit laging nilalaktwan (o baka naman naka-ekis na) ang Pinas sa listahan ni Santa. 1. Ang tanging butas na malulusutan ni Santa ay ‘yong diretso ang daloy papunta sa kanal. Kung tutuusin, mapapalad pa ‘yong mga walang malulusutan, dahil ang iba naman ay walang mga bahay. Kung sakaling magpumilit si Santa na makapasok, wala pang isang minuto’y siguradong hihiyaw na ang mga kapitbahay ng “Akyat bahay!”
at uuwing duguan at bugbog sarado si Santa pabalik sa North Pole. 2. Saan naman kaya ipa-park ni Santa ang kanyang dala-dalang karwahe? Hindi na rin nakapagtataka kung maipit siya sa nakamamatay na daloy ng trapiko lalo na sa Maynila. Baka tapos na ang selebrasyon ng pasko, hindi pa rin natatanggap ng mga bata ang kanilang mga regalo. 3. Tiyak na mapaghihinalaan siyang drug pusher. Sa haba ng kanyang balbas, laki ng kanyang tiyan, at kaduda-dudang bitbit na sako, walang pagaatubili siyang tatamo ng mga bala ng baril. Pati na rin si Rudolph at iba pa niyang dalang mga usa. Ipapatong sa kanyang dibdib ang kardbord na
Baka naman matagal nang naideklarang persona non grata si Santa sa bansa natin. minarkahan ng “Drug pusher ako. ‘Wag tularan.” Samantalang nakahanay na ang kanyang mga reindeer sa pamilihan ng mga karne—pang noche buena. 4. Magtataka si Santa na baka siya ay nagkamali ng tingin sa mapa—aakalain niyang nasa Amerika pa rin siya dahil napakarami pa ring
nananahang US military troops sa Pinas at mas pinagsisilbihan pa ng PNP ang US embassy kesa kapwa Pilipino. 5. Baka naman matagal nang naideklarang persona non grata si Santa sa bansa natin. Nakakakompetensya kasi niya ang mga politiko, lalo na sa paskong ilang buwan bago mag-eleksyon. Nadadaan sa pamimigay ng mga supot na may nakadikit na dilaw, pula, at iba pang mga kulay ng sticker, depende sa kulay ng panig. Kadalasan, dinadaan din sa pag-aabot ng malulutong na pera—pareho pa namang hatinggabi kung mag-alok ng regalo sina Santa at ang mga politiko. Nakakatawa pero paminsan-minsa’y umaasa pa rin akong parang batang nakatanghod sa bintana. Posibleng matagal nang napadpad dito si Santa at ngayo’y sa bilibid na nagpapalipas ng panahon. Naisip ko rin na baka nasa Malacañang at isa na siya ngayon sa mga nakaupo sa Kongreso ng gobyerno. Pero maaari ring nakasalubong na natin siya na palakad-lakad sa pampang ng Manila Bay—gula-gulanit ang bestido, ang balbas ay singhaba na ng sa ermitanyo, at pigil pa rin ng kanyang kaliwang kamay ang sakong dating siksik at umaapaw ng mga laruan, pero ngayo’y pinuno na lamang ng mga boteng walang laman.
Patuloy ang ikot ng plaka Kung gaano kadami ang mga taong in denial sa kanilang feelings, ganoon din kadami ang mga taong hindi sumasang-ayon sa katagang “OPM is not dead.” Katulad na lang ng ilang independent at mainstream Filipino musicians na fina-follow ko sa Twitter, hindi sila maka-move on sa argumentong “OPM is not dead” at tila ba naging forever na ang kanilang pagtatanggol para sa musikang Pilipino. Samu’t saring mga komento ang nabasa ko mula sa kanila pero hanggang ngayon, ang argumentong ito ay hindi pa rin natutuldukan dahil may mga Pilipino pa rin ang naniniwala naglaho na ang tunay na musikang Pilipino. Sa totoo lang, hindi naman talaga patay ang local music industry ng Pilipinas o Original Pilipino Music. Madami lang sigurong nakikitang dahilan kung bakit nauuwi sa ganito ang opinion ng isang Pinoy. Isang dahilang na naiisip ko ay kinain na tayo ng sistema na minsan kapag nakakarinig tayo ng isang kantang gawa ng Filipino artist, naiisip agad natin na baduy, walang kuwenta, at ordinaryo lang para sa ating mga tenga. Pero kapag narinig natin ang mga kanta ng mga foreign artist, maganda kaagad ito kasi iba ang lahi ng kumakanta. Cool pakinggan.
Mayroon akong isang teoryang naisip tungkol sa nangyayari sa ating music industry: rebranding. Tipong hindi naman talaga nawala sa eksena ang musikang Pilipino, nag-e-exist pa rin siya, nasa ibang anyo nga lang. Maaari kasing iniba ng mga millennial ang pangalan ng OPM ngayon. Hindi na ito ‘yong mga kantahang Nora Aunor, Imelda Papin, at kung sino pang jukebox kings and queens pero ito na ang mga kantahang Yeng Constatino, KathNiel at kung sino pag musikero
Hanggang may isang taong pumupunta sa mga gig, mabubuhay at mabubuhay ang local music industry ng ating bansa kuno na maririnig mo sa radio, nationwide. Kasama sa mga artist na nagre-rebrand ng ating music industry ay ang mga musikerong bukod sa pag-ibig, ay gumagawa rin ng mga kantang may mas malalim pangkahulugan at maituturing na may “advocacy”. Madalas, walang nakaka-intindi ng mga kanta nila dahil may pagka-experimental ang kanilang, kumbaga ay genre; mga kantang sa tingin ko, minsan ay ang mga kaibigan, pamilya at mga
Although there are specific cleaning schedules, some close-by CRs are cleaned at the same time, making students and staff spend more time searching for other available CRs.
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taong banda o mga taga-indie o taga-independent music industry lang ang kanilang tagapakinig. Sila rin ‘yong tipo ng mga musikerong ang layunin ay gumawa ng mga musikang hindi pilit at nasa puso. Sila rin ‘yong musikerong tutugtog kahit walang bayad, maibahagi lang nila ang kanilang musika dahil ang tingin nila sa musika ay craft na hindi dapat pinagkakakitaan. Nakakalungkot kasi hati ang music industry ng ating bansa na dahil hindi dapat sila kinukumpara ng ganito na parang magkaiba sila dahil parehas naman sila na gusting patibayin pa ang kulturang Pilipino, makaiba lang siguro ang atake nila. Ang isa ay “makamasa” samantalang ang isa naman ay hindi iniisip ang masa kung hindi ang sining ng musika. Sabi nga sa isang kanta ng Ang Bandang Shirley, “tama na ang drama, tama na ang luha” kasi hindi talaga matatapos ang argumentong ito dahil ang totoo? Hindi naman talaga nawala sa eksena ang OPM, mas lalo nga itong humuhusay, hindi nga lang ito napapansin dahil sa ang mga panggulo na “singer” kuno na pinagkakakitaan lang ng mga record companies. Iiwan ko nalang siguro ang aking punto sa isang tweet na mula kay Ely Buendia. “There is nothing wrong with people enjoying old music, baby. Just don’t say [OPM] is dead. It negates everything the pioneers have fought for,” at hanggang may isang taong pumupunta sa mga gig, mabubuhay at mabubuhay ang local music industry ng ating bansa.
Schoolbook updated its design as well as its log-in function which now offers an Office 365 option.
Not my hero by Juan Felipe Dela Cruz It doesn’t matter where you bury the body—the dead will remain dead. It will not revive him from life or absolve him of his sins. Even if you bury his body in the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (LNMB), the truth will never be buried along with it. The Supreme Court decided and the President supports it—Marcos has been buried in the LNMB. I know there is no way for us to change this—and we shouldn’t try to. Let them bury him wherever they want—a hundred years from now after more wars, it’ll be the same as it is now: nothing more than soil. Lands will change and bodies will decay—the LNMB might not even be there centuries from now. But even if the soil will erode, the memory won’t—because we make history, and history makes the future. Thus, the story we make of former President and Dictator Ferdinand Marcos will mean everything. If we want the future to not be fooled into thinking that he’s a hero, then we need to start as early as now to commit to memory all the burdens he placed on the Filipino people. After the decision of the Supreme Court justices, several netizens reacted saying “Lupa lang naman ‘yan e.” They’ve got a point, but others take it to mean they can bury all the wrongdoings he did—which can happen if we don’t keep his terrible legacy alive as a lesson for the future. One that will refuse to be lost along the historical revisionism mission of the Marcos. One that will refuse to glorify a dictator. Some people might be furious that Marcos is now buried as a hero. But what makes me even more furious is the idea that years from now, a child sitting in a classroom might be learning
So let us not forget, never forget, that to forget the dead is to kill them a second time. history in a way that we didn’t—in a way that declares Marcos as a hero despite the millions of innocent lives lost by his hands for daring to protest against what was wrong. The history books might remember him as another body in LNMB, but we can’t let a burial bury the memory of the millions who suffered under his rule. Laying to rest in respected ground one body cannot, in any way, erase the thousands of missing bodies during the Martial Law that were robbed off their dignity when they weren’t given a proper burial for themselves. Now those bodies, I think, are the ones who deserve a hero’s burial. So let us not forget, never forget, that to forget the dead is to kill them a second time.
WRITE FOR THE HERALDO FILIPINO We are accepting contributions for Witbread, the opinion section of the broadsheet open to all students, faculty, and staff in the DLSU-D community. Send them via email to officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com Contributions are subject to selection and editing of the editorial board and should not have been previously published in any way.
Less than a hundred students, faculty, and staff partipated in the silent protest on November 25 against burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, questioning the social involvement of the DLSU-D community.
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government, and even society. Comedy as a weapon, specifically satire, strives to function beyond being humorous, but also to serve the greater purpose of constructive social criticism. However, the effects of satire aren’t necessarily measured by the immediate social transformation it causes, but rather “by provoking and challenging comfortable and received ideas, by unsettling our convictions and occasionally shattering our illusions,” says author Dustin Griffin. On the same token, satirical form of expression no longer simply confronts public disclosure like in the past. Currently, millennials swim in a culture pool filled with irony and snark that also spark social and moral change. Comic symbols that expose problems do not fail the job of imposing change in societal ills or even interpersonal quarrels; and if not, on the least, demanding for change and voicing out the call for development.
Sixth sense secrets Humor and its hidden powers by Kelsey Telo
Photo by Camille Trinidad
We all envy that one friend—a clown in disguise—who can pull off wit in almost every situation. They fill every moment with loud laughter, as each hangout turns into a sitcom. Behind their hilarious gags are the unspoken powers that come from an extra sense that not everyone is fated to have—a sense of humor. However, effectively using the sixth sense isn’t as effortless as it seems as there’s more to unveil beyond the surface when it comes to the power of play—because it is and always will be more than just plain humor. Persuasion propeller Little do we know, the use of comedy has greatly contributed to shape the world. The role of humor impacts through the use of imposing opinions and influencing others—only proving that a humorous person takes it to the next level when it comes to the context of persuasion, whether it be simple or groundbreaking. Humor has been powerfully used in bringing messages to people in the fields of business, education, and everything in between. Its effectiveness is a result of how humor induces positive regard to people. According to Jim Lyttle of Schulich School of Business in his study entitled The Effectiveness of Humor in Persuasion: The Case of Business Ethics Training, those
who are in a good mood are less likely to disagree with a persuasive message. With its ability to alter moods, humor does not necessarily lose the sharpness of judgement; it simply softens its edges and lightens its tone—easily capturing hearts and eventually imparting what needs to be said and what can be done. Warfare weapon While it can uphold influence, another benefit of humor in affecting people is the subtle but solid way of attack. However, its bullets do not hit to purposely tear down, but in contrast, to build. Satire has fulfilled the coveted need of debunking vices, intentionally shaming deserving individuals, the
Bridge of bonds More than meets the eye are the connections and horizons that humor can create and expand. A humorous person can ideally establish interpersonal relationships through the comfortable and fun interactions they make, along with the intimacy of self-disclosure. This is how a person can earn a good circle of friends—both in quality and number. Similarly, a person’s humor can also impact other people’s bond through the laughter they share together. Author and journalist Hara Estroff Marano said that laughter can be an effective catalyst in building—and restoring—relationships. On the other hand, Alan Gray of University College London states that a person’s willingness to open up can be influenced by the bond simply made by laughing. This can be the reason why most people are comfortable in opening up to humorous people or a group of people whom they have fun with. Laughter encourages the development of relationships and deepening their meaningful bond— not to mention the happiness it evokes from others. Truly, humor’s unique way of building teams is no trust-fall game—it’s a positivity-driven bond that is founded on authenticity itself. Tension slayer Without laughter, a workplace can be monotonous, unproductive, and dreary. The Harvard Business Review supports this, stating that laughter is essential in a work environment since it can boost collaborative productivity and encourage creativity. This applies to every environment that can ignite tension between people—most especially in places where complex work needs to be done. University can be a perfect example for this as boiled up stress can be inevitable in all aspects of learning. Luckily, humorous fellows can always ease awkward situations and lull intense ones. With this, humor can contribute to our well-being as it
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alleviates both personal and interpersonal collisions and brings about a cycle of optimism. The positive vibe brought about by humor can be passed on to others through emotional contagion—or the idea that moods and feelings are contagious. Though it should be remembered that humor is no grand cure for conflicts, yet it can be an equally essential stepping stone in patching up the awkwardness of inevitable clashes. Lenient leadership Former United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said that “A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.” In line with harmony, some forms of leadership just stick to the societal norms and uphold the typical serious and monotonous type of leadership. Meanwhile, leaders with a good sense of humor might just make an entire arena of members fueled with enthusiasm—not to mention happiness. Being humorous as a leader emanates various advantages and exceptional effectiveness in understanding boundless perceptions, cultures, and beliefs of a diverse set of people. Robert Half International, an American human resource company, conducted a survey which found that 91 percent of executives believe that a sense of humor is important for advancing their career. Meanwhile 84 percent of them feel that people with a good sense of humor can do a much better job in the field. Take for instance, how professors can use humor to catch their student’s attention and make them listen and follow. To be a good leader is to regularly practice empathy. Components of resilience are important when it comes to the aspect of laughter and play amid complex times. A sense of humor ranks up with the ability to think fast and to communicate with various types of people—a sixth sense that all good leaders must acquire. *** From laughter comes power—yet one does not simply acquire wit for it takes a lot to tickle people and to make sad eyes shine once more. Humor advances the game for those who are gifted with it. This gift wrapped with positivity that is essential for every day also comes with social and personality perks within the package—the package that won’t invite itself on your doorstep unless you know how to keep up with all the sixth sense secrets.
SOURCES: www.bbc.com www.academia.edu www.psychologytoday.com www.helpguide.org
Th e h f r a d a r by Glazel Ricci Noceda, Casvel Teresa Lopez, and Christian Ralf Dugan
BOOK Bream Gives Me Hiccups ( 2015 )
Author: Jesse Eisenberg Read if you enjoyed: Bossy pants and satirical short stories with a personal twist “Maybe that’s what life is about—finding families in different places.” For young individuals, innocence marks the simple way we perceive reality as time enables us to be equipped to embrace commitment as adulthood approaches— these aspects were captivated through the literary piece Bream Gives Me Hiccups with its unique episodes of a person’s walk through life. Divided into various short stories, the novel showcases a casual glimpse of ego in different circumstances. Each chapter in this book presents personal narratives about the quirkiness of various characters—from comprehending diverse family situations and redubbing historical conversations to replaying peculiar college dilemmas and breaking language barriers. Apart from his already captivated audience, the Academy Award-nominated actor and playwright Jesse Eisenberg diverts his skills in acting to a new path in writing. His genre of narration focuses on relatable stories that entice readers to learn from his characters’ actions and decisions that reflects the reality. He also manages to make the stories flow naturally, connecting one scene to another in different but similarly humorous angles. Attacking personal lives with satirical stories that fascinate the inventive mind, Bream Gives Me Hiccups provides not only the humor that tickles our minds, but also life lessons that are relevant in our daily cycle. From the typical dialogue to the unusual plots, we can perceive how the stories correspond societal concerns as the book sheds light on the opposite sides of reality—leaving ideal passages that are situated for broader understanding and appreciating the people around us.
MOVIE
3 Idiots (2009)
Director: Rajkumar Hirani Starring: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, and R. Madhavan Watch if you enjoyed: Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire, and entertaining Bollywood movies
A far-off benchmark from the typical Hollywood Hills movie scene, Bollywood showcases different facets when it comes to making movies. The Indian film industry is known for its simplistic storyline, heavy melodrama, extravagant dance numbers, and slapstick humor—all of which epitomizes blockbuster entertainment. A humorous film containing all these essential ingredients—and whole lot more—dominated the box-office back in 2009 and continuously hooks viewer’s eyes in witnessing the endeavor of 3 Idiots. The film revolves around the lives of three brainy misfits: Farhan (R. Madhavan), Raju (Sharman Joshi), and Rancho (Aamir Khan) who decide to study at the Imperial College of Engineering, one of the best colleges in India. The three are fated to realize that their futures aren’t written in a mathematics book nor found in a prestigious university. 3 Idiots comically unfolds into a tale of epic proportions as Raju and Farhan revisit the dawn of their college days and recall all the good memories from their friend Rancho, who gave them a new perspective about the purpose of living. Rancho’s outlook in life imparts inspiration for Farhan to pursue his love for photography and for Raju to take a job in the corporate world. Given the film’s serious theme of self-actualization, 3 Idiots provides witty and wild lines that create a generally light tone despite the heavy dramatic reversals. Underlying all the warm and whimsical aspects of the film is the bold depiction of India’s rude and crude education system— the scary reality that can happen within a college institution. At its core, 3 Idiots leaves us with the sentiment that it’s perfectly normal for us to struggle in confusion while finding our purpose in life. But along the way, we’re bound to discover what we really seek for within ourselves.
Delving into the realm of modern catastrophe and revolution, Sam Esmail creates a subversive show resonating today’s prevalent issues of a socially corrupt society. In response to the intense political turmoil and severe division among social classes, Mr. Robot projects a distorted reality of rebellion conveying the menace of toppling the capitalists who control and overpower the people—making them the world’s most powerful enemy in the history of human civilization. A far cry from the typical romance and comedy themes of American television, the show revolves around the life of Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) and his everyday battle with clinical depression and social anxiety. Suffering in various cognitive dissonances, Elliot works as a security engineer at AllSafe Cybersecurity in daylight and as a vigilante hacker when the sun sets. Trying to function independently, he detaches himself from the disarrayed outside world by confining himself inside his murky apartment, normally in front of a bright computer screen, hacking lives and exploring the world through intricate computer codes. Malek, an Emmy Award winner, employs versatility in portraying people fighting various mental illness in the show. In the story’s progression, Elliot finds himself talking to a total stranger, known as Mr. Robot, about trying to overthrow one of the biggest conglomerates in the world by joining a group of hackers Mr. Robot and activists—the fsociety. Despite the show’s complexity, Mr. Robot (2015- Present ) promises intensity in every episode, revealing compelling and mindCreated by: Sam Esmail blowing clues leading to unexpected conclusions. Given the stimulating storyline and astounding character Starring: Rami Malek, Christian development, Esmail incorporates in his psychological and technoSlater, Carly Chaiklin, and Martin thriller masterpiece a manifestation of human manipulation and Wallström the gruesome effects of capitalism in people’s mindset. Flagging its Watch if you enjoyed: Fight Club, third season this 2017, Mr. Robot reveals a collective bond among The Eternal Sunshine of Spotless oppressed people, and how change can start from someone small Mind, and mind-boggling TV series yet so imperative—and that is you.
TV SHOW
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Breaking down orthodox walls Hailing in the new Catholic by Casvel Teresa Lopez Photo by Jose Mari Martinada
A comical cure
Because the world could use a good laugh by Paolo Lorenzo Salud
Graphic art by Mikaela Torres
Once upon a time, in a land far, far deprived from humor, a man named Aristophanes sat in a theater watching satyr plays—where half-human-half-goat creatures did kinky stuff onstage. Satirical as could be, he probably pondered what other form of entertainment would be more interesting than a bunch of barnyard animals getting at it, and eventually came up with something avant-garde that would last for millennia—comedy. Some of you might be thinking, “Oh, I know all about comedy—my whole life’s been a big joke,” but there’s a lot more to comedic entertainment than The Chronicles of a Stressed College Kid—also known as the early-adulthood part of your autobiography. In actuality, humor plays a huge role not just to crack us up, but also to patch us up. History of hilarity Comedy as a literal form of treatment began as early as the 13th century. In an effort to distract their patients from excruciating pain, surgeons used humor. “Hey, I’m cutting your stomach open—but never mind that! Wanna hear a joke?” And it actually worked, seeing that this became a common practice back in that particular time. From this, we can derive that laughter has proven to be a viable sedative as the patients were literally smiling through the pain. Fast forward to the 1960s, when Dr. William Fry Jr., a psychology professor at Stanford University, recommended that laughter would be a suitable field of study in his research about the scientific effects of laughter. He filed a report entitled A Classification of Emotive Laughter Responses, but this report— along with all the other research projects during the Vietnam War—sadly weren’t given any priority due to financing. Now, we can’t predict the many responses Dr. Fry might have had due to this unfortunate turn of events, but laughter certainly was not one of them. Despite the huge setback, he stuck to his guns and advanced his study, with or without research funds. Dr. Fry’s efforts later bore fruit as he became the first-ever, self-proclaimed gelotologist—from the Greek word gelos, meaning to laugh—in other words, a laughter specialist. Yes, there’s actually a term for that and if at this point you’re still wondering
I’ve always found it a challenge to take myself seriously. As much as it pains me to admit, there have been way too many times in the midst of everyday life when the tiniest of voices in me would emerge to belittle myself by throwing a jab in my way. It’s not that I’m out to be my own worst enemy; on the contrary it’s just that being left to my own devices as an only child has given me the gruesome privilege to spend nineteen years discovering how to be my own best friend, and ultimately—learning how to laugh at myself. *** It’s evident that the tendency to examine ourselves into oblivion is very much alive in this age of digital introspection—from our Twitter followers to Facebook likes. More often than not, the introspection often seen with most people is the negative kind wherein days upon days are spent scrutinizing flaws and what can be done to be renewed in the eyes of others. Almost as if it’s such a grave mistake to be brutally honest by being themselves. I find this to
whether or not your life being a joke qualifies you as a gelotologist, the answer is probably not. As for comedy, another breakthrough during the 1960s is the story of Norman Cousins, who miraculously recovered from a fatal illness by laughing it off—literally. Cousins, an American political journalist, author, professor, and world peace advocate reportedly countered his pain induced by ankylosing spondylitis: a form of spinal arthritis—with IV therapy of Vitamin C and 10 minutes full of hysterical laughter from watching Candid Camera, a gag show about practical jokes. The anesthetic effect of laughter gave Cousins at least two hours of pain-free sleep. DISCLAIMER: This article highly discourages the practical application of this particular “laughter therapy” in academics. No amount of Vitamin C and especially TV shows will make the pain—your schoolwork—disappear. What does the doc say? To scientifically support the concept of comedy therapy—and the testimony of The Comically Cured Cousins—research scientists have studied and discovered many benefits from laughter both in mind and body. As a common expression when laughing hard, people often say that they can “feel a six pack coming on,” and this is actually true. Dr. Guslan Sethi, head of cardiothoracic surgery in Tucson Medical Center, says that laughter activates the body’s natural relaxation response. “It’s like internal jogging, providing a good massage to all internal organs while also toning abdominal muscles.” Here’s an idea: try to impress your crush with six-pack abs—but try not to creep them out because you’re laughing for no apparent reason. Awkward abs aside, the mere suspense of something humorous is apparently enough to send positive vibes throughout the body. Dr. Lee Berk, a
be one of the greatest tragedies of having so much information surrounding us every day—we often lose ourselves in the idea of achieving perfection. On the other hand, there are people who stand right back up when life hits them and lounge and laugh on greener pastures when they’re kicked in the shins. By some unusual force of nature, they’ve actually accepted their imperfections—and are actually okay with it. Take the naturally smart person in your class who never lets grades define his intellect. Whether we admit it or not, there’s a certain air of charisma swirling around these people, the ones who are so rightfully sure of who they are that they’re often the first ones to ridicule themselves and laugh at trials right in the face. Let’s face it, there’s nothing as rare as true selfawareness. We all can’t be like Dumbledore and Yoda who can manage to master their craft all while staying completely Zen and poised. Although, we’re not entirely to blame for being mere mortals, since according to neuroscientists, there’s a lower part of our brain called as the reptilian mind that takes over in times we devour an entire pizza, stalk our exes on social media, and fight back when we’re hit. Since our reptilian mind emphasizes on the primitive and instinctive parts of ourselves, under it’s control our self-awareness along with our emotional intelligence takes a mighty hit. On the other hand, a higher state of consciousness saves us from this type of dread, as
medical researcher specializing in neuroendocrine and immune effects of positive emotions, proves this in his landmark paper entitled The Anticipation of a Laughter Eustress Event Modulates Mood States Prior to the Actual Humor Experience—which kind of acts as both the title and summary for the study. When watching something funny, we sometimes subconsciously smile even before the punchline or whatever elicits laughter from the audience. Just by doing that, our mood improves a great deal. In other laughing matters, there’s a comparison of the similarities between a comedian and a psychotherapist, as explained by Dr. Allen Cornelius, a psychology professor at University of the Rockies, Colorado. According to Dr. Cornelius, one theory of why we find things funny is incongruity or inconsistency. “A joke has a setup that leads us to expect one outcome, and then the punchline gives us another outcome incompatible with our expectations,” he added. He then explained that stress works in the same fashion. The role of humor in terms of dealing with stress is to shake things up, and similar to how a punchline goes beyond what we expect, humor makes us see things in a different and refreshing perspective. However, Dr. Cornelius also gives a word of warning, saying that therapeutic humor should be approached with due caution because of its severity. These statements from experts on physical and mental healthcare tell us that contrary to popular belief, comedy isn’t all fun and games. The trick is to find something to laugh about—a well-executed joke, an old embarrassing story, even your grades—and let it brighten up your day. In doing so, your overall mood and health improves by a considerable margin. Also, don’t forget the abs. Abs are important. Altering the status quo “The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter,” Mark Twain once said. So fellas, if you’re vehement on making a difference in today’s society, your best bet might be the power of comedy. It’s non-violent, ingenious, and altogether, a more civilized approach to social
Me-martyrs
being more aware of ourselves fares for a less-rocky road in life. There are times when we can go overboard as well, as it can be hard to draw the line between practicing honest introspection and downright shoving ourselves down the drain of despair. It’s true that falling on our own sword can be a noble act, but it should be remembered we still die in the process— we’re not aiming for seppuku after all. Unbeknown to most, self-awareness is both a luxury not everyone
Self-awareness is both a luxury not everyone can afford and an obligation not all can achieve can afford and an obligation not all can achieve, mostly because there’s really no pragmatic way to achieve full introspection. Like learning how to ride a bike, a few bumps and scratches definitely come along the way—and it can be awfully difficult to go through all of that without learning to laugh at your faults every now and again. Though laughing at funny situations already comes as second nature to us, it’s a different tale when it comes to laughing at ourselves, like using self-depreciating humor. In the first ever-
change. So keep away your hand grenades, and put that nuke away—seriously. Although, the sad fact is that being humorous about social issues only garners disapproval for the most part. “The media fixates on comedy controversies where comedy has been deemed to be problematic or offensive,” says Dr. Sharon Lockyer, Director of the Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR). True enough, making jokes about controversial issues—take Charlie Hebdo, a notorious French satirical weekly magazine, for example—will only result in countless insults being hurled at you, mostly by people you don’t personally know. At least this is modern society’s idea of public condemnation, which is a good downgrade because in Biblical times, they simply stoned people to death. On that positive note, some comedy experts do still wish for you to retain your morally-questionable sense of humor. Rob Gee, a psychiatric nurse and a comic, claims that while every joke has a target and the potential to be cruel or hurtful, it can also have an opposite effect. To prove this, Gee has been trying to use comedy as a tool for therapy and to teach people social skills. Gee finds that the best students of improv comedy are nine year olds, because they’re creative, unafraid, and savvy. As a remarkable method for realizing social change, comedy being instilled in the minds of children will undoubtedly revolutionize the views of future society to be more accepting of aggressive humor. *** Yes, comedy is old—for all we know, the original joke might’ve been “A Neanderthal and a dinosaur walk into a bar…”—but the fact that the concept still survives to this day tells us that comedy is still alive and kicking, useful not just in the field of entertainment, but also in the areas of medicine, psychology, and society as a whole. For the main character in The Chronicles of a Stressed College Kid, comedy is one of the best medications you can take—it’s right up there along with a good night’s sleep, a reply from your crush, and a miraculous 4.00. The bottom line is, the power of comedy is an indispensable remedy for everyone—and it doesn’t take a gelotologist to figure that out.
phenomenological study of its kind, researchers from the University of California in Berkley conducted an experiment on self-awareness in terms of humor. In their study, the researchers found the unspoken link between humor and humility, concluding that people who often laughed at themselves or preferred selfdeprecation weren’t too keen on laughing at the misfortune of others. Once we become aware and comfortable with who we really are, then that would be the greatest achievement in the society that falsely scrutinizes us on its own—though it shouldn’t stop there. It’s true that self-awareness is a valuable step, but the final and most difficult step is one that many tend to overlook—self-acceptance. Self-acceptance is like the hidden armor against our self-doubts and society’s own demands; and it’s true that Tyrion Lannister said, “Once you’ve accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you.” *** Honestly, I don’t think there will ever come a day when I won’t throw a jab or two—or a hundred— at myself. I’ve come to accept that the tiny selfdeprecating voices in my head mean well and they’re here to stay. At the end of the day, no matter how serious we act or how high we think of ourselves, the universe is still a very cold and unforgiving place. The most humane thing we can do is to give our all, find the humor, and hope for the best.
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Since you were a kid, you were taught to be tough and brave. Many times in your life, you have been told, “Get out of there and explore.” Not even sure if the “there” they’re referring to is just your bedroom or every spot you choose to comfortably stay still, doing your own thing—but the safe answer is both. Back in high school when you were about to join a club, instead of choosing the ever popular ones like the dance or glee club, you signed up for literature appreciation where there were only five members. Now in college during film production, instead of wanting to be the actor, you said you’d rather be behind the cameras, doing the screenplay. So they branded you as a shy person who doesn’t like having the spotlight pointed at you. You started having these thoughts that maybe you’re not really living your life to the fullest—that maybe you didn’t join the dance club back then
because you were afraid of too many people, too afraid of having an audience, that maybe you didn’t want to play the main character’s role because you thought you just weren’t good enough for the part. Then you realized you also seldom went out because you’d rather read books in your quiet and peaceful room, you had a few friends but was never in big groups or circles, and you may know Shakespeare’s sonnets by heart but know not a single thing about social events. Suddenly, you felt your world was too small and suffocating, and you have this urge to get out of there and explore. *** You’ve probably read so many articles about how you should get out of your comfort zone, along with six reasons on why you should do it. But this column is not one to tell you that cliché notion, because the ever controversial zone socially treated as a hindrance for one’s growth is not made of glass that one needs to break—it is in fact, expandable and meant to be as big as your world. Then again, the belief to get out of the comfort zone is actually backed by science. Psychology explains that this zone offers nothing but the average: regular happiness, low anxiety, and reduced stress. That is why self-proclaimed risk-takers seek breaking out of it all
The C-Zone
their lives. However, psychology is only one way to see it. To look at it philosophically is another story. Imagine that you are inside a small snow globe with beautiful things inside. I was once told that in order to grow as a writer, I have to break out of that snow globe so I can bring out the beautiful things in me. That I need to leave that globe and explore the bigger world. At first, I welcomed the idea like it was perfectly right.
The important part isn’t what one’s comfort zone is, but what it is made of But on second thought … If the snow globe is the comfort zone that everyone says to break or leave, why does it contain beautiful things? Simply put, the comfort zone is called exactly that because this is also the place where you’re best at—in terms of work. You may have chosen the literature appreciation club instead of the dance club because that’s your interest and line of expertise. You may have chosen to write the screenplay instead of appearing on-screen because that’s the role where you can be most effective. You
VOLUME31 31ISSUE ISSUE22 VOLUME
may have known more Shakespeare sonnets than social events but that doesn’t mean you’re antisocial. You just have that deeper connection and understanding for words than parties. Why would you break or leave such a place where you can be your best self? The main goal of leaving the comfort zone is to explore and try new things. Looking at it through a different angle though, one can still explore and try new things without entirely breaking and leaving it. There is no one-rule for this. Let’s get back to the snow globe—those flakes that glitter down a nice landscape of colorful candy town and trees represent your unshaken skills and certainty to be good at doing something. It would be a waste to break it, wouldn’t it? It seems like we are missing one point here: that the important part isn’t what one’s comfort zone is, but what it is made of. So while everyone’s thinking this beautiful snow globe is made of glass that must be broken, mine’s made of stretch fabric—expandable and flexible. I say another way to explore the world is to carry the snow globe with me and stuff in it all the new things I’ll find and learn beyond—until it stretches wider, bigger, and infinite. Until the whole world becomes my comfort zone.
Abracadabra By Jason Christopher Paz
The stars were shining brightly as Dan looked up at the sky. The stars reminded him of his journey, a star leading to another star—and then it was sucked straight into a black hole. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding—a breath of proof that magic doesn’t exist. Dan works as a magician on different events such as birthday parties. One day, a certain town invited him to perform in a festival, and he excitedly broke the news to his loving wife like he was going to perform in Vegas. Rachel congratulated him and said she’d be there to support his act. On the day of the festival, Dan performed his usual tricks with cards, turning paper into birds and making a flower disappear and reappear. He was able to guess a kid’s card number because that chosen card was intentionally shorter than the other cards. He turned paper into birds and made flowers disappear and reappear by hiding them in his cloak. Rachel smiled as he called her to the stage and hid herself in a box covered with a black cloth. They were about to carry out a disappearance act. Once Dan swung his wand and uttered “Abracadabra!” Rachel should have crawled out of the box to the backstage to make the audience think she has disappeared. With another swing of his wand, she should have been back like nothing had happened. And so, as Dan covered the box with black cloth, promising Rachel to reappear, he chanted “Abracadabra!” twice grinning like he was the first magician to perform such an act. But when he took the black cloth off, Rachel wasn’t there. Dan laughed nervously, thinking that maybe she just didn’t hear him say their cue for her to crawl back inside the box. He covered it again with the black cloth and chanted the same magical words. When he pulled the cloth the second, third and fourth time, Rachel still didn’t reappear. The audience, whose attention was now engrossed with Dan’s magic trick, began to get alarmed. Dan made a quick glance at the backstage, but Rachel was nowhere to be found. The audience started to fret and shout, “Where is she? Why can’t you make her reappear?” The hosts of the festival went up the stage to calm the audience while they give Dan the time to find his wife. The night stretched infinitely as the festival ended in ruins of speculation and fear. News about a failed magic trick spread like wildfire on the Internet,
followed by stories about the supernatural—that Dan might have said the wrong incantation, accidentally sending his wife in a parallel universe. Six months had already passed and with the police searching everywhere for witnesses, not a single person at the festival saw Rachel leave the stage during the disappearance act. This paved the way to satisfy the people with more supernatural speculations that they began to get inside Dan’s head. He started thinking that maybe for once, this magic trick has finally worked, and he has to find a way to bring back his wife wherever she might be. Dan decided to research about the dark magic. He searched far and wide from the most visited to the strangest of towns. He talked to self-proclaimed witches and sorcerers, and desperately tried whatever they told him to—he shed his own blood on a full moon, cast a spell and drew symbols he didn’t even understand, killed lambs as offerings, and summoned different gods and goddesses. And though several full moons had passed, not a shadow of his wife was seen. Dan, who now grew thick moustache and a long beard, looked much older than his age. He avoided people and didn’t want to talk to anyone except for those with supernatural powers who could help him find Rachel. Many concluded he had gone mad. Four years had passed and still Dan didn’t give up. One morning, he came to visit another fortune teller who just moved in from Siquijor to Quiapo. He heard many stories about this fortune teller who even had the ability to raise the dead. As he entered her house, Dan figured this could be the most terrifying out of all he has ever come into. There were real internal organs placed in jars, illustrations of angels with horns, and black candles that glimmer even in the light of the day. But what stood out among these was the big white box placed at the altar with written label of “DONATION/WISH BOX” on it. Dan snatched a hundred pesos from his pocket, slipped it on the box and whispered a wish. Then an old woman who had the longest hair that reaches down to her heels, wearing all sorts of amulets from head to toe, welcomed and greeted him. They sat and held hands on a rounded table and the old woman started to chant unintelligible words. After a while, she opened her eyes and told Dan his wife is trapped in a different dimension and that there is no way to bring her back.
Dan, whose heart couldn’t possibly be more crushed, gave the woman his remaining cash and left. As he was walking blankly on the marketplace, he saw a woman holding a kid in one hand and carrying a much younger child in the other. The younger one was crying furiously, while the other was busy sucking his dirty fingers. A tall man who could have been her husband appeared from her back and scolded her for not selling enough. The woman who wore untidy dress, continued to jingle on the dried fish she was selling. Dan looked closer until he was face to face with her—for this woman looked unbelievably like his wife. His heart throbbed like an engine suddenly fueled into motion. The woman smiled at him and asked if he wanted dried fish but stopped in the middle of her sentence. They both recognized one another despite how different they looked now. And Dan was so sure this could only be a result of dark magic—mystifying and breathtaking. Dan realized not a single thing about his life had anything to do with magic or the supernatural. That day when his wife disappeared turned out to actually be a trick his wife had planned all along—to run away from the cheap life he had provided her. Indeed, just like the fortune teller had said, his wife is trapped on a different dimension and that there is no way to bring her back. But finally, he could be at ease, now that he was able to get a glance of that dimension. The stars were shining brightly as Dan looked up to the sky. The stars reminded him of his journey, a star leading to another star—and then it was sucked straight into a black hole. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding—a breath of proof that magic doesn’t exist.
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VOLUME 31 ISSUE 2
Inkless By Hannah Fernandez
“9,” I said, counting nine fingers from my hands upon seeing the person in front of me, one of them stating how they died. “I died from a car accident.” I raised both of my hands into the air, careful that I didn’t lose count of my fingers, until I proudly said “10!” “I, too, was a victim of a car crash.” I panicked from the sudden statement as my eyes continuously shifted from my left then into my right hand. Do I take off my shoes and start counting my toenails as well? I shook my head from the thought. I already skipped a count! “I—” Different thoughts of digits that go after the number ten circled around my mind, thinking of other ways to count without using my fingers again. I heaved out a deep sigh as the list of people saying how they lost their lives continued. “I lost count for another time,” I said in a plangent voice, like the sound of a child who broke his long-time favorite toy. I wandered around the park and inhaled the smell of its freshly-cut grass. There were park benches painted in white, along with the deep blue lake which reflected the bright color of the sky. The encompassing mango trees mirrored the calming waters of the lake. The sun bounced off its surface, making it glimmer whenever the wind blew. The little sunflowers adore the sun as they all turn to
face it. Nostalgia and a familiar feeling of which I couldn’t explain crept inside me as I walked. They said that this is heaven, where people didn’t have a name, and were only called by something which distinguished them. Muddy was what they called me here, a child recognized by my bare feet covered in dirt and mud. I searched for a better spot to stay, apart from the growing mango tree which gave me comfortable shade earlier, when I saw Pen sitting on a bench two feet away from me. I sat beside him, but he didn’t seem to notice. He kept on scribbling over his journal, with an inkless pen in his hand. He was always like that, hands that seemed to be writing but really without anything to write. He sat comfortably. His filthy left leg and foot, which looked the same as mine, rested over his other thigh. I was gently trying to imitate the way he sat because that was how a real man should sit, when he suddenly asked me, “How did you die?” His strained voice gave off words that stabbed my heart like a thousand knives. The atmosphere of the peaceful park disappeared, and was replaced by the darkness of a confined room filled with mirrors all around. As familiar faces appeared, I saw my reflection not as a kid, but as Pen, a teenage boy stuck in his euphoric childhood memories. Soon after, other memories rushed back like strong currents of the sea—unwelcoming and savage—and I was left drowning in its depths.
I remembered how excited I was when I found out Mom and Dad bought me a new car for my graduation gift. With Angela sitting on the passenger seat and Mom on the back seat, I kept on bragging about how good I already was at driving. As I raced with other cars along the road, a motorcycle suddenly approached. I tried to avoid it, but I accidentally drove into the truck lane and smashed into an incoming trailer truck. Then there came the thunderous bang of the collision, making me deaf for a moment with the sudden tingling sound in my ears. The car spun a couple of times before it hit a tree. The airbag burst, which was the one thing that saved me, as the screens shattered and the metal parts of the car fell apart bit by bit. The next thing I knew, Mom and Angela stayed still, unconscious and covered in blood. I was shaking heavily, shouting their names as loud as I could when an ambulance came and rescued us. I managed to look around the place while I was lying down on the stretcher. The trailer truck stood out of place in the middle of the road—windows broken, and two people inside thrown about like rag dolls, while three passers-by stuck lifeless under its wheels. The man riding the motorcycle, together with a pregnant woman and a kid, also lay in the middle of the road, their blood splattered all over the concrete. “I died from a car accident,” said my sister, Angela, who had always been a nature-lover. I
remembered how she loved going to the park to paint while feeling the vibe of calm nature. I remembered the way she threw tantrums whenever I disturbed her from working, and then my mom would give me an inkless pen so I could pretend I was writing. But, my last memory wasn’t Angela painting green trees, but of blood stains covering her body after she pleaded with me to control my speed. “I, too, was a victim of a car crash,” said Mom. I remembered her holding a broomstick, running toward me as she saw me playing in the dirt without my slippers on. But Mom’s scolding wasn’t the thing I was reminded of the most, but how I heard her helpless cries telling me she wasn’t ready to die. “I—” I remembered every single thing like a movie on repeat. The heavy weight of the scene of the car crash seemed like a hundred rifle bullets shot all over my body, and I was dead on the spot. Every clear and deafening scream played non-stop in my head. For the last time, I let myself be swallowed by the guilt and agony of Angela and Mom’s image lying inside a coffin, and of the other innocent people doomed in the misery that I created. Like a child counting from one to ten while playing hide and seek, I counted backwards before I let my neck find its resting place on the tight rope that hanged on the ceiling.
Malatandang By Ranica Meralpis
One fateful night during the Japanese invasion, Niña, a dainty young girl with long black hair and hazel brown eyes, was wandering near the shore when Japanese soldiers assaulted and brutally raped her. They also robbed the coins she earned from selling fish earlier that day. The Japanese soldiers carried Niña to a cave near the sea and left her there to die. But when she was about to lose consciousness, a bright figure emerged deep within the cave. Niña was beyond terrified upon seeing this bright light, but she was too weak to run or even scream. She was in tears when she suddenly heard the bright figure speak, “Child, what is it that you desire the most?” The voice sounded beautiful as if it was a voice of an angel. Niña gathered her remaining strength to answer, “Justice,” before letting herself be devoured by the darkness. Earlier the next day, she woke up on the beach where she was raped, fully dressed with new clothes. Niña realized that the bright figure who spoke to her that night saved her from inevitable death. She immediately ran back home to tell her mother and father about it. She told them what happened that night, and her mother cried with gratitude, vowing to stop by their small town church to offer fruits and flowers. However, her father’s expression was blank with fear. “You called the Malatandang and it answered,” her father said shaking. Upon hearing this, her mother’s face turned pale and beads of sweat started to trickle down her forehead. Her eyes turned wide open as her lips trembled, trying to hold back screams of fear from her mouth. “’Nay, what’s wrong?” Niña asked. Her father was about to answer when they suddenly heard someone yelling outside their house. “Four severed bodies of Japanese soldiers were found in the cave!” Niña ran outside their house and followed the crowd heading to the dead bodies of the Japanese soldiers. The gruesome scenario she saw made her flinch in disgust—the blood of the severed soldiers splattered across the shore. Their bodies seem to be scratched by some big animal that tore their limbs apart, making them almost unrecognizable. Niña stepped back and rushed to embrace her mother and father who stood still, trying to look away from the vicious scene.
“I’m scared,” she said repeatedly between sobs. “Let’s go home. You need to hide,” her father said in a stern voice of composure, trying to hide his trembling fear for his daughter’s life. They walked home not uttering a single word. They clung together, thinking that if they let go, Niña might slip away. When they reached the house, her father boarded every possible entrance, even the tiny holes in their walls. He used the planks from the unfinished table he was making, and bolted the doors and windows with chains. Niña looked at her father bewildered, “What are you doing?” Her father stopped as he furiously pounded his hammer on the walls, “You called the Malatandang. The Malatandang is a gigantic rooster-like creature with gold scales of fish. It has gills on its neck with eight human-looking eyes on its face. The Malatandang lives deep beneath the ocean. It lives in a hidden city under the sea,” his father said almost shaking. “The Malatandang an-swers the plea and desires of the hopeless, especially those who suffered terrible injustice by aveng-ing them. But in return, it seizes that person in its home as its prisoner. No one knows what happens to the people it takes. All we know is that they never return.” Her mother, who once witnessed the futile efforts of the other victims of the Malatandang, felt the anxiety slowly devour her as the miserable fate fell upon them. Hearing her father’s words made Niña’s blood run cold and so that night, she slept with her parents. When dawn was about to break, the couple was awakened by a loud cackle that echoed in the empty streets of their town. Then they discovered a wet log filled with barnacles where Niña was supposed to be sleeping. Despite the efforts of Niña’s father, the Malatandang still managed to seize her using its unexplainable power. The next day, the town was awakened with the screams and cries of Niña’s parents, begging desperately to the Malatandang. *** It was said that the Malatandang takes its victim under the ocean where it lives. No one knows what the Malatandang does with its victims. But some people, who have seen the underwater city where the Malatandang resides with engkantos, claim that it is a city of ebony and gold. It has unexplainable architecture that shines under the sea. The fishermen of the town bore witness that during a storm, one can see the underwater city where the Malatandang lives. There was speculation that its invisible barrier which hides it from human eyes weakens when there’s a disturbance in the sea currents. And sometimes, if the sea is calm and silent, one can hear the cries of the people the Malatandang stole who wish to go home.
SPORTS
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | PAGE 14
VOLUME 31 ISSUE 2
Mara Galicia: Soaring beyond the net by Djoanna Nikole Javier
Photo by Angelica Aludino
They say “good things come to those who wait,” but practically speaking, better things come to those who work hard to achieve what they want. For a certain 20-year-old student-volleybelle, being composed while hustling inside the court helped her jumped at the opportunity once it knocked on her door again. After putting patience and hard work together, five-foot-four Mara Galicia proved that even she can spike over the tallest volleyball nets.
Road to a lifelong dream Entering her dream school, Galicia surprisingly opted not to play for the Patriots during her first year in college. Despite being given the opportunity to be a Patriot volleybelle, she didn’t want to play as a libero for the team at first as Galicia knew that the University women’s volleyball roster was already jam-packed with fierce players when she was invited to tryout. Testing her luck, she also tried out for Adamson University women’s volleyball team but as she expected, she was too small to soar high for the Soaring Falcons. Digging for another opportunity for a different school, Galicia finally decided to enter St. Scholastica’s CollegeManila (SSC-M) where she took up Bachelor of Elementary Education Early Childhood Education (BEEd) and was able to become part of the SSC Scions volleyball team as an open spiker. In her one-year experience in SSC-M where she played as an open spiker, Galicia was awarded as the best attacker and also grabbed a spot in the mythical six of the Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) as a Scion volleybelle. After unleashing spikes with the SSC-M squad for a year, Galicia received an invitation from DLSU-D to try out again—this time as a spiker. Without hesitation, she finally accepted the invitation, pushed her luck, and hoped to find herself wearing the green-and-white jersey. Because of her exposure in the collegiate league, Galicia didn’t waste another opportunity to play with the DLSU-D Patriots. Fulfilling her longtime goal, Galicia decided to live the dream
of spiking, setting, and diving for the University’s volleyball team. “Siyempre matagal mo nang gustong pumasok dito sa school (DLSU-D) na ‘to [kaya] gagawin mo ‘yong lahat para lalo pang humanga sila [coach] sa ‘yo.” Aside from her successful attempt to finally be the team’s wing spiker, she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education major in Physical Education (BPE) in her last year in the University. The loaded roster With enough experience under her belt, Galicia knew that being part of DLSU-D’s volleyball team would mean she’d be lined up along with other talented players. As a result of the coaches’ trust, “na-motivate ako lalo kasi no’ng nag-try-out ako nakitaan na agad ako ng [potential] ng coaches.” During her first years in the green-and-white team, she wasn’t a part of the starting six but that didn’t stop her from performing well and displaying determination whenever she got a chance to play during the actual competitions. Galicia also used the motivation of being inside the court with her seniors to exhibit her perseverance to keep up with the pace set by her seniors. The lefty spiker made the best use of her capacity that eventually brought her to the starting lineup to play consistently for the team. Galicia’s current head coach Joven Racelis also shared that ever since high school, Galicia was already a skilled and dedicated player. Aside from her talent, she’s also diligent to make sure that she uses all of her capacity in order to deliver for the team. “At yung pagiging left-handed
niya ay isa na sa dahilan talaga para [maging] advantage niya sa larangan ng volleyball. Bibihira makakuha ng player na gano’n at mataas pa tumalon.” Racelis added. Setting the team’s pace Now that her seniors Iumi Yongco, Maribeth Lara, and Cherry Nunag have already finished their playing years, she still holds hope that the team will be able to retain their crown in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) as well as reaching the nationals stage of Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) where they finished third place last year. Galicia believes that if they use the routines their previous seniors implemented, they will be able to continue the legacy their seniors left for the Patriots. With the team’s aim to level up their coordination, Galicia also added that she and team captain Justine Navidad try to make sure that everyone participates in the team during trainings. “At ito na ‘yong time na ‘yon. Isa siya sa inaasahan ko na malaki [ang] iaambag sa team..” coach Racelis shared. Through the unity within the team, she also believes that they will be able to perform consistently, defeat setbacks, and reach the championship stage. *** Keeping the ball alive, Galicia didn’t just imagine achieving success— she also worked hard for it. For students who aspire to unshackle themselves from only dreaming of their goals, the saying goes “dreams don’t work unless you do,” and that’s exactly what Galicia did, using her motivation to accomplish her ambition.
Sigawan, sagasaan, at saklolohan Noong bata ako, palagi kong tinatanong ang aking nanay kung bakit kailangang magrally ng mga tao na napapanood ko sa TV kung kadalasan ay magkakasakitan lamang sila ng mga pulis. Ngayong tumungtong na ako sa kolehiyo ay tinanong ko ang aking sarili kung karapat-dapat bang saktan ng pulis ang mga nagpoprotestang naglalayong maipahatid ang kanilang layunin dahil sa kaguluhan na maaaring gawin ng ilan sa kanila. Para sa isang katulad ko na hindi pa nakakasama sa kahit anong rally, hindi siguro ako karapat-dapat upang manghusga ng mga ralyista at maski ng mga pulis. Ngunit dahil sa katako-takot na pangyayari na naganap noong ika-19 ng Oktubre kung saan napanood ko sa Facebook na inaararo ng police van ang mga katutubong ralyista, hinahambalos ng baton, at sinasabunutan ang mga protestanteng gustong putulin ang ugnayan ng Amerika at Pilipinas, ay minabuting kong magsalita. Nagulat at natakot din ako sa nilalaman ng comments section na itinuturing kong toxic dahil sa pagiging palaban ng kapwa Facebook users na ayaw magpatalo sa
kanilang pinaniniwalaan mapatama man o mali. Bilang isang student journalist, mahirap tantyahin kung alin sa dalawa ang dapat paboran: ang mga pulis na nabahiran ng dugo ang asul na uniporme o ang ilang ralyistang nanlaban at nagmistulang hysterical. Ika nga, there are always two sides to every story, kaya’t mahirap husgahan kung alin ang dapat paboran dahil ikaw mismo ay wala sa pangyayari. Nagbigay komento din ang magkabilang kampo gaya ni Pia Malayao, spokesperson ng Katutubong Igorot, na nagsabing pinilit daw nilang maging payapa ang kanilang hanay ngunit naghagis daw ng tear gas ang kapulisan at sunod nang nangyari ay nasagasaan siya at napailalim sa police van kasama ang iba pang katutubo. Samantala, nagsalita din ang sinibak na Manila Police District Deputy Director for Operations Police Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo na hinihinalang nag-disperse sa kapulisan para buwagin ang kumpulan ng ralyista. Ayon sa kanya, nag-pep talk lamang siya sa mga pulis at taliwas sa sinabi ni Malayao, simula’t sapul ay nanggulo na raw ang mga ralyista kaya’t kinailangan ng mga pulis na ipagtanggol ang kanilang sarili. Bagama’t pangkaraniwan na sa bawat bansa ang paggamit ng excessive force ng mga pulis, isa sa pinakamalaking isyu ng
kapulisan ay ang power tripping o paggamit ng kapangyarihan para sa maling gawain. Ayon nga kay Robert Brown, awtor ng The causes of police brutality: Theory and evidence on police use of force, isa sa kanyang teorya kung bakit nagiging brutal ang pulis lalo na sa mga mahihirap at racial and ethnic minorities ay dahil sa iniisip nila na mataas ang kanilang katayuan sa lipunan. Imbis na ituring ang kanilang sarili bilang kalasag ng
Kung ano man ang ginawa ng bawat panig ay naniniwala akong ang bawat isa ay may pagkakamali rin na dapat nating husgahan kapayapaan bagkus ay nagiging mapagmataas sila. Kaya’t paano na lamang maituturing na bayani ang kapulisan kung sila mismo ang umaapak sa mga taong dapat nilang protektahan at sa halip ay natatalsikan ng dugo ng mga inosente ang kanilang uniporme? Naniniwala ako sa kasabihang walang silbi ang walis ting-ting kung mayroon lang itong isang
piraso, dapat ay isang bungkos ito upang magamit. Ito ang layunin ng mga ralyista na kadalasan ay nasa Mendiola at nakasuot ng pula—ang bumuo ng matayog at matingkad na boses upang maiparating sa gobyerno ang kanilang layunin. Bawat ralyista ay may karapatang humiyaw subalit sa paraang mapayapa at walang masasaktan. Ngunit kadalasan dumarating sa punto na nagiging agresibo ang mga ralyista at nagiging sanhi ng mass hysteria na minsan pa’y nagkakaroon ng mala-giyerang awayan. Mawawalan ng silbi ang paghiyaw upang maiparating sa kinauukulan ang iyong boses kung ikaw mismo ay gagawa ng krimen. *** Pulis mang maituturing, ralyista man kung tawagin—hindi rin sila maituturing na mabuti kung ang bawat isa sa kanila ay lumalabag sa karapatang pantao. Kadalasan, nakakaligtaan ng bawat isa ang mga importanteng detalye na maaaring magbigay kalinawan sa mga malalabong suliranin. Kung ano man ang ginawa ng bawat panig ay naniniwala akong ang bawat isa ay may pagkakamali rin na dapat nating husgahan. Sa huli, maaaring hindi ko masasabi kung sino sa pulis o ralyista ang tama, pero maitatak sana sa isipan ng bawat isa na ang problema ng bayan ay mareresolba lamang kung ang bawat isa sa atin ay kikilatisin ang bawat detalye ng isyu at titimbanging mabuti ang tama sa mali.
SPORTS
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | PAGE 15
VOLUME 31 ISSUE 2
Coach Arnold Oliveros: New hopes from new hoops by Rose Kristine Amarillo
Photo by Justine Bea Bautista
Behind a team’s powerful offense and unbreakable defense is a lot of hard work and teamwork—yet it takes a lot of careful study and examination for a coach to achieve a team’s successful tricks and tactics. Swinging from trainer to head coach of the DLSU-D men’s basketball team, Coach Arnold “Oli” Oliveros shared his insights about the transition and his new system for the green-and-white Patriots. Heraldo Filipino (HF): How is your relationship with the basketball team so far? Coach Oli (CO): Noong nag-start ako rito(sic) sa team, nagkaroon na agad kami ng team building. Nag-contact ako ng mga kakilala ko sa North (La Union), ‘yong (son of the) Governor doon (city councilor Paolo Ortego) is my former teammate when I was playing sa San Beda College. Nagkaroon kami ng mini-tournament and bonding. HF: What were the adjustments you faced in your transition from being a trainer to being the head coach of the basketball team? CO: Since I started last July, unang-una ko talaga [na problema] is ‘yong pagkuha ng tamang players para mag-fit doon sa system ko. Siyempre, alam kong naninibago ‘yong players sa system ko ‘tsaka nag-a-adjust sila and at the same time, ako rin nag-a-adjust sa kanila. Ako kasi ‘yong coach na more on defense. So kailangan ko ng players na talagang driven [and] aggressive. Ngayon, ang tina-target ko is more on recruitment kasi paano ka magbi-build ng champion team kung hindi ka magre-recruit ng gano’ng players (driven and aggressive) at saka ‘yong magfi-fit do’n sa system. HF: For you, how will the players adjust?
CO: Siguro kailangan makinig sila, magseryoso sila sa practice, ibigay nila ang cooperation [nila] every practice [and] every training. ‘Yon lang dapat ang gawin nila. HF: How are you adjusting as a coach? CO: Ako, ang ginagawa ko ngayon [ay] talagang naka-focus ako sa kanila (players), nakatutok ako detail by detail talaga. Tinuturo ko talaga kung ano ‘yong gusto kong ma-achieve sa practice [at] sa game, talagang dine-detalye ko sa kanila ‘yon. HF: What characteristics are you looking for in recruiting? CO: Number one doon is the aggressiveness of the player, ‘yong talagang gustong-gusto niya dumepensa, [at] ‘yong nagpapakamatay sa loob ng court. So ‘yan ‘yong mga hinahanap ko sa players kasi ‘yong offense dadating ‘yan eh, at natututunan pero ‘yong defense pina-practice talaga. HF: Do you think that the players possess those characteristics? CO: So far, nakukuha nila pakonti-konti pero nag-a-adjust pa rin. Nasa adjustment stage kami ngayon so pare-pareho kaming nag-a-adjust. ‘Yong iba nanggaling sa iba’t ibang schools, different systems kaya naninibago sila. Ako rin nag-a-adjust
TRACKSTERS from page 16 contestant Patriot Marimar Manzano settled both at the fourth spot with 12.90 and 26.67 seconds, respectively. In the track and field men’s division, spearing past the silver medal last year, veteran Patriot thrower Ralph Gesulgon pierced the bull’s eye. Governing the javelin throw competition, Gesulgon impaled a 55.42-meter aim and snagged the gold medal.
sa kanila pakonti-konti. Siguro after ilang months, makukuha rin namin [‘yong system]. HF: Are there any struggles or challenges that you face? CO: Struggle ko siguro ‘yong pagkuha ng players kasi gaya ng sinasabi ko, ‘yong ibang players ay nag-a-adjust pa talaga sa system. Medyo [may] struggle ako doon kung paano sila i-convert doon sa system na gusto ko. Siyempre sanay sila doon sa coaches nila dati especially kapag galing high school. So ‘pag high school, more on zone lang ‘yan. Hindi pa ‘yan gaanong natuturuan during high school days nila kaya ngayon, tinututukan ko talaga sila individually. Team defense din ang tinututukan ko sa kanila. HF: For you, did the transition bring positive effects to the players? CO: Yes. Unang-una, at least kahit papaano, lahat sila may discipline na especially sa ‘pag kondisyon nila. Ngayon, medyo nakita ko ‘yong changes nila. ‘Yong iba, kung dati nagpupuyat sila, ngayon nagdadalawang-isip na sila magpuyat kasi sa hirap ng ensayo namin. Kailangan one hundred percent mentally [and] physically prepared [sila]. HF: What do you think are the advantages of the change you experienced?
CO: Siguro ang naging advantage para sa amin is in shape sila at kaya nila sumabay kahit sinong team. Kung running game ‘yon at may kalaban kami, at least makakasabay kami ng tempo sa game. HF: What are the disadvantages? CO: Minsan, masyado kang pressured sa court, nandiyan ‘yong minsan napapagod ‘yong players namin. Siguro every players kailangan one hundred percent in shape talaga para ma-minimize namin ang ganoong sitwasyon. HF: Are there any upcoming events for the basketball team? CO: Ang wino-work out ko ngayon ay ‘yong tournament (National Capital Region Athletics Association) namin sa Manila, next year pa. Magstart ‘yon sa January. Magandang experience para sa amin ‘yon for preparation sa main tournaments (Private Schools Athletics Association in February) namin. HF: How are you preparing the team for the upcoming tournaments? CO: Sa ngayon, isa sa mga program ko is ‘yong weights program. Pound for Pound (Gym) is our sponsor, so free ‘yong players namin doon. So doon kami nagpapa-kondisyon.
WOODPUSHERS from page 16 Establishing a silver medal finale once again, graduating hurdler Robert Francisco sealed a 15.23 record in the 110-meter hurdles. Meanwhile, placing at sixth spot, rookie Christian Valdenarro’s run clocked a 11.77 seconds time in the 100-meter run. Trackster coach Villarube shared that the UniGames experience
SPORTS COMICS
will help in the upcoming Private Schools Athletics Association (PRISAA) – Regionals. “Ang target talaga ng mga bata namin [ay] PRISAA … Ang pinaka-weapon nito para sa PRISAA [ay] ‘yong lakas nila at exposure. At saka malalaman talaga namin kung saan [kulang]. At saka malalaman natin kung ano ang kakayahan nila (athletes).”
Lindsay Mendoza was mistakenly awarded a bronze medal. This also happened with DLSU-D woodpushers Paula Blanca Manalo mistakenly receiving a gold medal and John Paul Españo mistakenly acquiring a bronze medal instead of the silver medals they were supposed to be given. DLSU-D chess coach,
Roderick Nava immediately noticed the miscalculations, “Napansin namin na mali-mali ‘yong decision or mali-mali ‘yong tally score no’ng mga organizer … mayroon kasi talagang computer-generated system na ‘yon dapat ang pang-pairing.” Discovering the inaccuracy, UniGames officials confessed that they did not follow the
guidelines and rules of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation) as expected and instead reverted to an old system of rules last minute without informing the players. The faults were immediately amended by the committee, and the correct tally of winners was announced shortly after.
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | PAGE 16
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016
VOLUME 31 ISSUE 2
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interview Coach Arnold Oliveros page 15
SPORTS COMICS Empty Bleachers page 15
Sports Feature Maria Galicia page 14 Leap to Gold. Patriot Felyn Dolloso flies high over her opponents in the long jump and triple jump competition, securing two gold medals during the Philippine University Games (UniGames) held in the Macias Percides Coliseum, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, October 26.
Photo by Jose Mari Martinada
Patriot tracksters pull off 5-medal finish in 21st UniGames SDO Director Fidel Rojales clarifies late proclamation issue by John Zedrick Simeon Despite their short training period, the Patriot tracksters still walked home with three gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the Philippine University Games (UniGames) athletics tourney at the Macias Percides Coliseum, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, held on October 26 to 28. Contradicting statements Despite a victorious campaign for the tracksters, the late announcement of the games concerned the team due to a limited amount of time for training. Sports Development Office (SDO) Director Fidel Rojales clarified that the reason was the sudden change of decision of teams to send based on the number of players in their line-up. Rojales furthered that he originally planned to send the DLSU-D basketball women to participate in the games, but eventually decided against it due to the few number of players who would have worn themselves out given their lack of manpower.
Only six of the ten Patriot tracksters were sent to the UniGames, since some of the other varsity tracksters are school transferees and a one-year stay in the school is required to be eligible to join the games. Regardless of the player number issues, Rojales still chose the tracksters due to their reputation of gaining medals in tournaments just as they did at the UniGames. On the right track swept aside her opponents in the long jump and triple jump competitions women’s division, catching two highflying gold medals. Dolloso’s 6.02 meters in the long jump
category topped her opponents from University of Santo Tomas (UST), Rizal Technological University (RTU) and University of the Philippines – Diliman (UP-D) by .53 meters or more. Prevailing at the triple jump competition, the Patriot brushed-off the same opponents by .55 meters or higher. Returning to the track, Patriot Jasmin Martinez grabbed the bronze medal at the 12.53 second mark in the 100-meter run. However, Martinez’s great start failed to snatched her second medal in the 200-meter run, finishing at sixth place in 27.04 seconds. Failing to seize a medal, fellow 100 and 200-meter run See TRACKSTERS | page 15
Medals acquired by Patriots in 21st UniGames
4 9 2 Reaping Success. Garnering a total of 21 medals, the Patriots stole the show in the 21st Philippine University Games (UniGames) athletics and chess division held in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on October 26-28
Infographic by Camille Joy Gallardo
Knight of the board. Patriot woodpushers ranked overall 1st runner up in their Philippine University Games (UniGames) debut in the chess division held at the Negros Oriental Convention Center, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, October 25 – 26.
Photo by Jose Mari Martinada
DLSU-D woodpushers rank second overall in UniGames debut Chess awarding mishap immediately amended by Ezekiel Coronacion Launching their UniGames career as overall 1st runner-up, DLSU-D woodpushers bagged one gold, eight silver, and one bronze medal in the 21st Philippine University Games (UniGames) men and women’s chess tournament at the Negros Oriental Convention Center, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on October 27. Curtain-raising performance Despite the Patriot woodpushers’ newbie status in the UniGames, they proved to dominate the robin once and for all. Declaring DLSU-D chessers’ triumph in the men’s division, Board 5 Genrech Lalas easily snatched a gold medal after a default win against his opponent. Meanwhile, Patriots Board 1 Somel Eraño Chan, Board 2 John Paul España, Board 3 Clinton Paulo Andres, and Board 4 Genten Lalas
(twin brother of Genrech) all bagged silver medals in the competition. On the other end of the table, Patriot woodpushers women’s division pushed through the tourney as Board 1 Paula Blanca Manalo, Board 2 Lindsay Mendoza, Board 3 Christine Hernandez, and Board 4 Angelique Mendoza were awarded silver medals in the bout while DLSU-D rookie Kate Columna grabbed bronze. “May momentum ako talagang nakikita, actually first time lang namin
sumali sa UniGames. Hindi lang biro ito … tinatangkilik talaga ito ng champions sa ibang leagues,” DLSU-D chesser coach Roderick Nava expressed. Off the mark Dousing the fire of the Patriot chessers’ supreme triumph, the UniGames chess committee Jose Dante Albao inaccurately declared the lineup of winners, inciting protest from the coaches and athletes. Instead of grabbing a silver medal, Patriot See WOODPUSHERS | page 15