vol. 4
no. 1 1
Benildean The The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 1
5/2/2018 12:18:56 PM
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 2
5/2/2018 12:18:56 PM
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
BENILDEAN PRESS CORPS AY 2017-2018 EDITOR IN CHIEF Brian Castillo
WRITERS Gianna Abao, Sace Natividad,
ACTING ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR PRINT Thea Torres
Marlon Ecalnea, Jose Marie Taylo, Mark Sarile,
ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR DIGITAL MEDIA Mark Baltazar
David Tongol, Bianca Arellano, Marga de Lemos,
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nash Cruz
Rigel Estabaya, Isa Lazo, Ricardo Yan,
MANAGING EDITOR Francesca Federizon
Regina Tamondong, Eia Collantes, Manolo Tan, Joshua Lapid, Noel Mendoza, Lace Solis, Gab Torres
PULSE OIC Mark Baltazar ABLAZE EDITOR Jan Renolo
PHOTOGRAPHERS Kyle Bustos, Patricia Oliveros,
BLIP EDITOR Mac Fabella
Kel Santos, Lourde Aeron Unas, Ricardo Yan,
KARILYON EDITOR Symon Lao
Mac Ypon, Eia Collantes
PLATFORM EDITOR Thea Torres ART AND DESIGN EDITOR M.j. Ronquillo
ILLUSTRATORS Isa Hilario, Andi Osmeña, Jazz
LAYOUT EDITOR Alexei Trajano
Solomon, Miko Fernando, JC Aujero
PHOTO EDITOR Sace Natividad DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR Koy Mico
LAYOUT ARTISTS Kristen Alimbuyuguen, Tricia
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS OFFICE HEAD Mr. Juan Miguel Lago PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Ms. Dayanara T. Cudal STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING COORDINATOR
Guevara, Annel Ramones, Jazz Solomon, Yumi Usui, Sonya Valino, Kitty Jardenil MANAGERS Kyle Punongbayan, Agatha Ramos
Ms. Rizalyn Lagman-Manalili OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Ms. Catherine Bucud
DIGITAL MEDIA STAFFERS Marlon Ecalnea
THE COVER
is the official magazine-journal of the
students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB). No part of this magazine-journal may be reproduced whether by photocopying, scanning, or by any other means without written permission from the Student Publications Office (SPO). Copyright 2018. For inquiries, visit the SPO at 2F Miguel Febres Cordero Bldg., DLS-CSB, 2544 Taft Avenue, Manila.
photographed by LOURDE UNAS designed by NASH CRUZ
3 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 3
5/2/2018 12:18:57 PM
C O N T E N TS PULS E Waging a territorial war
8
Manipulating democracy through fake news
11
Peace and order under Duterte: a promise or simply rhetoric?
13
Literacy for Filipinos: unraveling K to 12 (in)competencies
15
Dethroning the king of Philippine roads
18
Hindered by Belief
22
Peryodismo bilang tagapagpanatili ng demokrasya’t katotohanan
24
Ethnic faux paus
26
A people-pleaser’s penance
28
The nature of pain
30
KA R I LYON Nabubura ba ng globalisasyon ang Pagka-Pilipino?
33
Mga natatanging bantay ng kagubatan
36
Dulang Walang Hanggan
38
4 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 4
5/2/2018 12:18:57 PM
ABLA Z E Another spin for the century-old vinyls
41
Sports in the new millennium: a death sentence for traditional Pinoy sports?
44
Unorthodox ways of healing
46
No meat? No problem
48
B LI P Inside the Flat Earthers’ ‘world’
53
Zero waste, zero consequences
55
The reality of a neglected fantasy
57
A vanguard of Filipino heritage
60
P LATF OR M I Am All and None
65
Around Nowhere
66
In fleeting memory
68
Spirit’s pyre
70
Aviated abstracts
78
A testament to the steady symphony of Philippine texts
80
P R O FI LE S Banaue Rice Terraces: a hand-made marvel
75
5 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 5
5/2/2018 12:18:57 PM
EDITOR’S NOTE Narito na nga ba talaga ang pagbabago? Ito ang malaking katanungan na lagi nating ibinabato sa ating sarili sa pagkahalal ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para pamunuan ang isang bansang uhaw sa pagbabago noon pa man. Ngunit malaking palaisipan pa rin kung tunay nga bang dala niya ang ginintuang pagbabagong inaasam-asam ng bawat Pilipino na magpapaiba sa takbo ng kanilang buhay. Subalit, salungat ang tanawin na ating nasasaksihan sa mga ikinikilos ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. Sa katunayan, lalong mas nakababahala ang pag-ayon ng iilan ukol sa mga polisiya at mga desisyong maaring magdala sa atin sa kapahamakan. Kasabay ng paglipas ng araw ay ang samu’t saring mga katanungang nangingibabaw kung tayo nga ba’y magpapatuloy sa pagbabagong walang kasiguraduhan. Sa takbo ng mga pangyayari, tunay kayang maisasakatuparan sa loob ng kanyang anim na taong panunungkulan ang mga binitawang matatamis na salita noong kanyang kampanya? Ngunit mas malaking katanungan kung hanggang kailan mananatiling tikom ang ating bayan sa mga pangyayaring walang hustisya. Kaya pa bang magbingi-bingihan ng mga Pilipino sa bawat alingawngaw ng baril sa kalsada? Kaya pa ba nilang magbulagbulagan sa bawat bumubulagtang inosenteng indibidwal sa mga eskinita? Kaya pa ba nilang panuorin na mapapasakamay na ng dayuhan ang mga teritoryong binansagang Perlas ng Silanganan? Kaya pa ba nilang isugal ang pamanang demokrasya kapalit ng pangakong pagbabago na tila’y walang kasiguraduhan? Saksihan sa panibagong isyu ng The Benildean ang mga kakaibang tampok na kwentong nakatoon sa pagpapanatili o ‘preservation’ na pinanday gamit ang talento at talino ng bawat miyembro ng organisasyon. Isang babala bago tumuloy sa pagbuklat ng mga pahina: wala kaming paumanhin sa pagsasabi ng katotohanan.
BRIAN PAOLO CASTILLO Editor in Chief
6 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 6
5/2/2018 12:18:59 PM
7 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 7
5/2/2018 12:19:00 PM
PULSE
In these trying times, we are confronted with the harsh realities of the world. Questions need to be asked as much as they need to be answered. How necessary is change? How do we face them head on? Solutions are offered, but this requires that the status quo be challenged. We pray that the following stories may spark critical discussions, while defending what is right and condemning the wrong.
EDITED BY Mark Baltazar
NEWS ANALYSIS + EDITORIAL + OPINION
8 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 8
5/2/2018 12:19:00 PM
Waging a territorial war WORDS BY MARLON ECALNEA. ART BY ANDI OSMEÑA Construction advancements continue to happen in developed cities like Makati; but in a time of rapid commercialization, keeping one’s own territory is akin to playing a losing game.
9 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 9
5/2/2018 12:19:00 PM
With the number of new commercial establishments increasing by the day, developers now face a challenge more damning than just limited space: the local residents themselves. Gentrification is generally defined as the upscaling of old or deteriorated urban neighborhoods in order to attract wealthier residents resulting to an increase in rent and property values; the displacement of poorer residents against their will; and changes in the area’s people, businesses, and culture.
As a response to alleviate this problem, the government proposed several relocation policies, mainly the “Balik Probinsiya” program or residential re-settlements. Families who voluntarily take part in the programs are given financial assistance such as transportation and relocation allowances, as well as capital for start-up businesses in their respective provinces.
So, how did a once undeveloped swamp like Makati start its journey towards gentrification? From being merely a vast grassland prior to World War II in the 1940s, the city now known as Makati experienced rapid development until the late 1990s. The thriving postwar development of the area resulted in a significant spike in real estate values, with old industrial zones converted into residential and commercial areas to accommodate the influx of foreign and local investors.
“The government should revive the ‘Balik Probinsya’ program to encourage informal settlers in Metro Manila to move to their own provinces. Those informal settlers who will be affected by the clearing operations of waterways and easements should be given priority,” Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Information, said in 2012.
In the 1950s, the Ayala Corporation, the country’s oldest and largest conglomerate, established Makati’s first four communities: Bel-Air, Forbes Park, San Lorenzo, and Urdaneta. In the latter half of the decade, the first office buildings were built in the area now known as the Makati Central Business District, becoming the commercial and financial center of the country.
However, such a program appears to be a mere band-aid solution offered to the victims of gentrification, and the government is not at all subtle which side it supports.
But while Makati’s fast-paced growth comes at a price: the displacement of the city’s poorer residents.
While gentrification aims to revive distressed neighborhoods through new investment in buildings and infrastructure, increased economic activity in the area, and better security to reduce crimes, this development happens at the poor’s expense.
A residential war
Developed cities for everyone
Capitalism plays a notable role in this issue, as emphasized in Architect Maria Lourdes Alampay’s research entitled “The Process of Gentrification: The Case of the Community Around the Rockwell Center, Makati City, Philippines”.
Gentrification can provide benefits to everyone involved. The way to manage the situation, according to Roberta Gratz in her 1989 book, “The Living City: How America’s cities are being revitalized by thinking small in a big way”, is “to welcome new middle to high-income residents while access to decent affordable housing is not lost to current residents who cannot afford the luxury of movement by choice. They are part of the upgrading process rather than dislocated by it.”
According to Alampay, residences constantly need maintenance or replacement as they deteriorate over time. Yet, such maintenance is unlikely when there is low capacity for residents to pay. In effect, unkempt or dilapidated homes or establishments drive away potential wealthier clientele that do have the capacity to pay, making the owners lose potential profit. This causes some developers to put up luxurious and expensive residences and stores around an undeveloped area, making it harder for the residents to keep their homes and small businesses.
Gratz also mentioned the spectrum of techniques to solve this problem is broad and includes land-banking of abandoned housing for designated use, subsidized rehabilitation of government-owned buildings for low-income tenants, tenant management and/or ownership, inclusionary zoning that guarantees provision of lowincome units in any new project, and other creative tax policies that moderate quick turnover and high profit-taking.
Eventually, poorer residents are left with no choice but to leave their homes to resettle in a more affordable area. As the number of these residents decreases, property values increase and owners will be able to raise rent or lot prices. Landlords will then gain an excuse to evict low-income residents in favor of wealthier tenants who can afford higher rent.
Development in all forms, whether in technology, behavior, political systems, and real estate, should never be a reason for certain social classes to be oppressed. In the issue of gentrification, residents living in the cities have a right to own territory and no price tag should take that away.
10 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 10
5/2/2018 12:19:00 PM
Manipulating democracy through fake news WORDS BY MARK SARILE. PHOTO BY KEL SANTOS From fictional origins, the murky world of fake news and fake accounts on social media has seemingly become a haunting reality.
With such controversial headlines, research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2018 showed fake news is 70 times more likely to be shared on social media than verified stories.
In 1974, the New Mexico Civil Liberties Union released a series of public service announcements (PSA) warning about the misuse of technology. During its short run, the campaign targeted increasingly pervasive surveillance and attempts to manipulate the public by government and private corporations. Its director, cult filmmaker Godfrey Reggio, cautioned society would be reduced to mindless automatons and puppets to authoritarianism. More than 30 years after Reggio’s PSA, has mankind heeded the warning?
In the Philippines, accusations of fake news remain a hotly-contested topic surrounding President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Indeed, a quick rundown of recently-exposed fake and unverified news websites released by Wikipedia, revealed at least eight that explicitly cater to Duterte supporters, among these are dutertedefender.com, dutertetrendingnews. blogspot.com, du30newsinfo.com, dutertenewswatch. com, and others. Worse, however, is how Presidential Communications Operations Office Asec. Mocha Uson herself has been repeatedly called out for sharing fake news stories on Facebook.
During Reggio’s time, this idea might have sounded far-fetched, but when reports emerged of Russian influence in the 2016 United States (US) elections with targeted Facebook ads and armies of fake accounts it’s time for mankind to ask how close it is to a technological dystopia. While Facebook’s data breach scandal in the US and the #FakeNews hearings in the Philippines are still largely inconclusive, one thing is for certain: the public cannot afford to remain ignorant any longer. Data is power and he who wields it is king.
In February 2018, Dr. Jonathan Ong and Dr. Jason Cabañes, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Leeds (U.K.), respectively, published an insider study of fake news and fake troll social media accounts in the country. The 12-month research, entitled, “Architects of Networked Disinformation: Behind the Scenes of Troll Accounts and Fake News Production in the Philippines,” came to the conclusion that fake news and political trolling is a massive industry in the Philippines—and everyone is in on it.
Is fake news hurting fake democracy? Since Buzzfeed media editor Craig Silverman outed over 140 proTrump fake news websites registered in Macedonia in 2016, “fake news,” which Silverman loosely coined in 2014, became a popular trend in mainstream media. The websites, according to Silverman, systematically produced and circulated headlines on Facebook engineered to go viral like “Pope Francis Shocks World, Endorses Donald Trump for President” or “FBI Agent Suspected in Hillary E-mail Leaks Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide.”
The industry’s unseen operators spread black propaganda, smear campaigns, and attacks on political dissenters on social media, while echoing the message of their own candidate/s. They work in highly hierarchical organizations directed by local public relations firms. Without naming any parties, the aforementioned study pointed at evidence of “systematic manipulation of political discussions on Facebook and Twitter by various players across the political spectrum.”
11 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 11
5/2/2018 12:19:01 PM
Technology, at its purest, is good. But, the purposes to which man employs them is a reflection of society.
No easy fix The cure to fake news might be worse than the disease. Senate Bill 1492 or the “Anti-Fake News Act of 2017” by Senator Joel Villanueva, which seeks stiffer punishments for fake news, may not pass because it seemingly curtails the right to freedom of speech. Civil society groups called the bill dangerous because the Philippine government has not agreed on a definition for fake news in the first place. In a forum at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in October 2017, journalism professor and VERA Files fact-checker Yvonne Chua warned that additional legislation could make matters worse, pointing out how laws have often been unjustly used against the media. “If you examine the history of these laws, while they can be used, of course, on a person, because it doesn’t have to be media, it has often been used on the media,” Chua said in the forum. The dilemma now becomes evident: if fake news has not been properly The dilemma now becomes evident: if fake news has not been properly defined, who is to say what is fake or not? Technology, at its purest, is good. But, the purposes to which man employs them is a reflection of society. If society does not value transparency and honesty, no number of fake news hearings will solve the problem. Is democracy still truly free while fake news manipulates unwilling victims? As for Reggio’s PSA, they may not have been fully appreciated in his time, but the message rings truer today than it ever has before.
12 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 12
5/2/2018 12:19:01 PM
Peace and order under Duterte: a promise or simply rhetoric? “We will strive to have a permanent and lasting peace before my term ends. That is my goal, that is my dream.”
WORDS BY JOSE MARIE TAYLO. ART BY ISA HILARIO
These exact words were uttered by President Rodrigo Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2016. However, for an administration that conspicuously tolerates fake news, neglects lapses by the Philippine National Police (PNP), supports the dubious extension of Martial Law in Mindanao, and condones attacks on Philippine media and the opposition, the Mindanaoan strongman seemed to be manifesting the contrary.
Even the Devil himself can quote scripture for his own purpose; so what makes Duterte any different?
Duterte has been applauded for being “a man of his word” by many of his colleagues and supporters. Favoringly enough, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar in his new radio show called Radyo Pilipinas in January 2018, four out of five of the President’s major promises for the Filipino people— mainly to address poverty, corruption, eradicate criminality, and the chance for peace and order—are evidently gaining momentum towards their respective desired accomplishments, with federalism the only one remaining. Mementos of his promises According to Andanar, Duterte successfully fulfilled his promise to address poverty by signing Republic Act 10931 or “the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” granting free tuition to students of state universities and colleges (SUCs). Under this law, over 51 billion pesos will be allocated for the free tuition that will cover 112 SUCs nationwide. Similarly, through the signing of the Tax Reform Program for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Malacanang said majority of the country’s workforce will be exempted from income tax, which means a higher take-home pay. The law also includes the expanding of the Value Added Tax (VAT) and the imposition of higher excise tax on petroleum products, new automobiles, and sugar-based beverages, which Andanar also
13 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 13
5/2/2018 12:19:02 PM
said will enable the government to provide better public services and infrastructure projects, justifying how the benefits of the VAT increase will outweigh higher consumer prices.
United States of America proclaimed Duterte a ‘regional threat’ in Southeast Asia because of his rhetorics in suspending the Constitution, declaring a ‘revolutionary government,’ and imposing nationwide martial law. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has also announced their initiative to conduct a preliminary examination of the President’s alleged crimes against humanity—an action that challenges the legitimacy of his leadership.
Correspondingly, Duterte’s promise to curb corruption in the country is an ongoing effort, with the firing of government employees and officials such as Marcial Amaro III, former administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairperson Terry Ridon, and Dangerous Drugs Board chief Dionisio Santiago due to allegations of their “excessive” and “unnecessary” foreign trips.
Truth or excuse? Despite the flak, support for Duterte remained strong, backed by an 80-percent approval rating, suggested by Pulse Asia in December 2017. His supermajority in Congress and the strong support from the military are also a concrete fortification that confidently secures his presidency from collapse.
In addition to these sacked officials, the most senior and recent of them was Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who counteracted the decision by resigning early. Aguirre, a known staunch Duterte supporter, was discharged due the controversial dismissal of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and alleged drug lord Peter Lim. Also, the destruction of smuggled luxury cars is a display of the government’s commitment to reduce corruption in all forms.
For Surigao Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDPLaban) President and former governor Robert Lyndon Barbers, Duterte has already achieved “a certain level of peace and order in this country.”
Between all these, Duterte’s campaign to combat criminality and illegal drugs and the pursuit for peace and order have been the most prominent words that exhibited momentous progress. However, such was interpreted both with positive and negative remarks due to the very unorthodox methods used in addressing these promises.
“At this point in time, in his (Duterte’s) administration, and compared to the previous administrations, I think we have attained a certain level of peace and order in this country. I would say that not because I’m a supporter or a member of PDP-Laban of President Digong, but on personal experience,” he said.
As of April 2018, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) records showed that there have been 4,075 people killed after allegedly resisting arrest during police operations. The report also stated over 100,000 arrests. Other reports by reputable local and international media organizations included 16,355 homicide cases all in connection to illegal drugs, as well as over 1.3 million people who turned themselves in.
When asked about the issue of tolerating the inadequacies of the PNP, Barbers said “he’s very strict with [regards] to the discipline aspect of uniform personnel...Ayaw niya ng mga abusado, ayaw niya ng nang-aapi. Unlike before, sa mga previous administrations, nakikita natin existing ‘yan, lantaran.” On the ICC’s preliminary examination of Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity, Barbers defended the president. “That’s bullsh*t!” he said. “[The] International Criminal Court, they can conduct an investigation; but then again, for them to be able to file a case against President Digong, you should gather evidence. Are there—or is there at all— [pieces of ] evidence that President Digong has done something illegally while he is in office? It’s just the way he is, that’s [how] he [ruled] his Davao City when he was mayor, and now the country: with an iron fist.”
Raising the doubts In an exclusive interview, The Benildean sat down with staunch Duterte critic Etta Rosales, former Commision on Human Rights (CHR) Chair and former Akbayan Representative, about peace and order under the Davaoeño’s leadership. “Right now, mahirap ma-achieve ‘yung peace and order because magulo nga, very chaotic ang situation,” Rosales said. “But there is always a possibility to achieve it. If you want to achieve it, you’ll have to undergo very radical measures that are contrary to what is on going right now— summary killings on going all over the place, so how can you have peace and order?”
Peace and order are vital factors for a country’s sustainable development, whether be politically, economically, or socially. The Martial Law era under former dictator Ferdinand Marcos is one clear example of how the lack of peace and order can pose serious consequences to the Philippines’ stability. Consequently, Duterte’s administration is no stranger to disorder, evident in the five-month long conflict in Marawi City between the government and the ISIS affiliated-terror group Maute where such occurrence compelled Duterte to declare and extend martial law in Mindanao.
Asked if she would consider herself a mere ‘destabilizer’ to Duterte’s promise of peace and order when she filed the case versus Duterte in his extension of Martial law in Mindanao, she said, “I guess he and I should agree with each other [in] what we mean by peace and order, because if he means peace within his premises but violence in the slum areas, that’s not peace and order to me...If it is peace and order within Malacanang because what he says goes and nobody speaks against what he has to say, that’s not peace and order.”
Ultimately, the goal is peace and order for all Filipinos, and it should be achieved without having to resort to any form of violence or justification of wrongdoings. After all, most Filipinos look up to this administration for its ability to create tangible change. Government should not disappoint.
In the international arena, Duterte isn’t short of critics from all fronts. He seems to be the only Filipino leader that has drawn much condemnation from all over the world since he rose to national power in 2016. Last February, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the
14 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 14
5/2/2018 12:19:03 PM
Literacy for Filipinos: unraveling K to 12 (in)competencies WORDS BY GIANNA ABAO. PHOTOS BY KYLE BUSTOS Is updating the traditional school system the solution towards better education?
As one of the last three countries to use a 10-year pre-university cycle, the Philippines opted to change its educational system into a K to 12 program in 2013. In light of the country’s poor quality of education as its primal concern, which curriculum nurtures and addresses its education system’s strengths and deficits better?
15 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 15
5/2/2018 12:19:04 PM
In May 2013, the K to 12 curriculum was signed into law by then President Benigno Aquino III in an attempt to reverse the deterioration of the educational sector, reflected in the declining performance of students in the National Achievement Test (NAT). According to the Department of Education (DepEd), “Many students who finish basic education do not possess sufficient mastery of basic competencies. One reason is that students do not get adequate instructional time or time on task.” With claims of inadequate preparation of high school graduates for the labor industry or higher education by the Basic Education Curriculum (BEC), the Philippines needed to craft a new strategy to ensure a competent labor force. The DepEd justified that students who graduate within a 10-year basic education cycle are “too young to legally join the labor force or put up a business.” They believed a shift to a 12-year education program will better provide students with the necessary skills and empower them to confidently enter the labor market. To illustrate, the legitimacy and competence of overseas Filipino workers was often put into question because of our 10-year education program. This is just one example of how the former education system failed to meet international educational requirements. In fact, the Bologna Accords and Washington Accords require 12 years of basic education for university admissions, as well to be able to practice one’s profession in European countries. Even with public criticism against the new program, the Aquino administration remained assertive on implementing a massive education reform to make Filipino graduates at par with foreign counterparts under international standards. “With the K to 12, we identified the four curriculum exits which are the higher education, middle school’s development, entrepreneurship, and employment. And among the four, students can now choose what they want to pursue after basic education,” Mr. Mark Anthony Bercando, a Supervising Education Program Specialist from the DepEd’s Bureau of Curriculum Development, said in an interview with The Benildean. Many, however, have voiced out hesitation of the new system due to its abrupt implementation. Parents and teachers
from Manila Science High School, the first science high school in the Philippines, were only some of the many critics who argued how the K to 12 system has weakened the special science curriculum in the said school. Accordingly, party-list representatives from ACT teachers, Bayan Muna, and Kabataan, among others, have argued that the technicalvocational-livelihood track of the new system may increase the rate of cheap labor and the promotion of the country’s export labor policy. Another issue is budget allocations for infrastructure and manpower. Critics believed that the government should have first prioritized building more facilities for senior high school students, and trained teachers on the new K to 12 curriculum. The shift also revealed a serious threat to employment of tertiary educators, faculty members, and other employees. With this, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as well as other Higher Education Institutions and school administrators, are finding ways to mitigate the possible effects. A study by Imee Acosta and Dr. Alexander Acosta, professors from the Commonwealth University in Qatar and the Technological University of the Philippines, identified solutions in order to minimize the impact of the K to 12 program on college faculty. These solutions include course streamlining, staffing guidelines, and alternative programs. Lack of awareness about its benefits and pocesses is another factor that contributes to the public’s apprehension over the new program. Many parents see it as an additional financial burden to their families. There is also and lack of substantial quantitative research that can prove that additional years lead to more effective education. In fact, a study conducted by University of the Philippines educators, Abraham Felipe and Carolina Porio points out there is no valid basis of improving educational development by prolonging the educational cycle calendar-wise. Decongesting the former curriculum But according to SEAMEO INNOTECH, an organization that dedicated to providing solutions for education issues, the 10-year curriculum was indeed too congested, with too much allotment towards redundant or “non-practical” subjects and competencies. The study said that the old program focuses on the improvement of basic skills, selfreliance, and patriotism, and on setting learning standards and “develops passion for work and lifeline learning”.
The K to 12 program, on the other hand, is a learner-center program that helps students not only understand concepts, but apply these concepts in real-world examples and situations. The INNOTECH study goes on to explain how K to 12 holistically develops students and equips them with “21st century skills” for either employment, business or higher education. To avoid what the study claims as “nonpractical”, duplicates or redundant subjects at the college level, the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was tasked to decongest the existing curricula across primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Literature subjects are example of a “nonpractical” subject removed by the K to 12 program from the college curriculum and integrated into a new “Purposive Communication” course. But how did the current and previous administrations craft K to 12 as the “most comprehensive” education system of the Philippines to date? Government agencies like DepEd, CHEd, TEDSA, the Department of Labor and Employment, and other experts members of the academe, among others, participated in the development of the K to 12 curriculum, teacher training, and capacity building for practical education and more experiential learning. Aiming for global recognition Education must go beyond the four walls of the classroom, enabling students to immerse themselves in practical and experiential learning that can help them in their own respective fields. So, when we talk about the K to 12 program, it is essential for us to consider how a shift in our educational system can provide it and its end users a much-needed boost in efficiency and productivity. But the challenge that government still needs to tackle is the overfocus on technicalvocational and livelihood tracks in the new program that may result in an oversaturation in the skilled labor market; and an underfocus on overall educational wellbeing and development. At the end of the day, government has to balance quality over quantity if it wants to advance its citizens’ education in its pursuit for economic development.
16 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 16
5/2/2018 12:19:05 PM
17 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 17
5/2/2018 12:19:06 PM
18 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 18
5/2/2018 12:19:06 PM
Dethroning the king of Philippine roads WORDS BY MARLON ECALNEA & SACE NATIVIDAD. PHOTOS BY SACE NATIVIDAD Jeepneys have always been a representative of Filipino culture, but in the unrelenting race of technological advancement, the race for the boundary pushes farther away.
Back-to-back class and work suspensions brought upon by continuing jeepney strikes have somewhat triggered a growing annoyance from students and workers alike. This annoyance from both the lack of transportation and the increased traffic have seemingly been reduced to mere inconveniences by the government. But behind the scenes of the traffic and class suspensions, the transport strike is rooted in a highly complex, political, and societal issue. The streets of Manila witnessed the birth of the iconic jeepney after World War II in 1945. From war jeeps abandoned by Americans, local Filipino mechanics reinvented them to accommodate more passengers. Hence, the jeepney archetype the Philippines has come to love was born, paving the way for transportation after street cable cars were destroyed by bombs. According to the Mega Manila Public Transport Study of 2007, there are 48,366 operating jeepneys and only 2,944 buses, making jeepneys accountable for 40 percent of public ridership in Metro Manila. Jeepneys are also the cheapest mode of transportation, compared to cabs, buses, or trains. With these evident factors, it is no wonder why the jeepney is a signature component of the ordinary Filipino’s everyday life.
19 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 19
5/2/2018 12:19:07 PM
The jeepney replacement Despite its cultural significance, the government decided to scrap the iconic jeepney and replace them with newer models. In June 2017, DOTr released the controversial Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, more commonly referred to as the “jeepney modernization program,” which aims to replace old jeepneys with “adequate, safe, reliable, efficient, and environment-friendly Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs).” One of the government’s arguments for pushing the jeepney modernization program is the jeepney’s negative impact to the environment. It postulates jeepneys are the major source of air pollutants in the country among all public transports, emitting 37 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and almost 50 percent of hazardous particulate matter in Metro Manila. And with some jeepneys averaging 34 to 47 years old, the engines are deemed outdated based on the Euro 1, a set of European emissions standards introduced in 1992 that regularizes emissions that a diesel and petrol engine can produce. With the aim of introducing and fuel efficient and eco-friendly versions of the recognized Filipino icon, the proposed PUVs are said to be more beneficial to the environment by using updated Euro 4 engines that comply with the Clean Air Act of 1999. With this innovation alone, the proposed jeepneys are objectively a step up from the local “dyip” Filipinos know, as such engines produce as little as 0.5 grams of carbon monoxide per kilometer, a far cry from the older models and engine that emit 2.72 grams of carbon monoxide per kilometer. Apart from the engine upgrade, this modernized jeepney replacement will also feature advancements such as a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, free wifi, closed-circuit television, automatic fare collection system, speed limiter, dashboard camera, and even fire extinguishers. But before saying yes to the idea of the new jeepneys, one must also ask: beyond the financial, what is the real cost, especially to the millions of jeepney drivers and their families?
20 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 20
5/2/2018 12:19:08 PM
already preparing for the change brought by jeepney modernization. Over the following years, the company will widen their market by also catering to the new PUVs.
Jose Abay, a Sarao veteran manager and technician
The striking reason Various transport groups, led by Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operaytor Nationwide (PISTON), have continuously taken to the streets to express their opposition towards the jeepney phase out. From jeepney drivers to operators and commuters, these strikes have garnered nationwide attention , using the hasthag #NoToJeepneyPhaseOut online to develop more momentum. These transport groups aim to have their voices heard not only by the government, but also by the general public. With more than 1.7 million registered jeepneys in the country, commuters who rely on these jeepneys will be greatly affected by the strikes and the phase out. According to Sarao Motors Inc., one of the leading automotive manufacturing companies in the Philippines, the cost of owning a jeepney starts at Php 800,000. In addition, under the Fleet Management Program, a part of the jeepney modernization scheme, jeepney operators will be forced to surrender the management of their jeepneys to a fleet management corporation. Failure to comply will lead to the revocation of an operator’s franchise. Anakbayan, BAYAN
MUNA, and several transport groups called the program “anti-poor” because buying a new vehicle will cost around Php 1.3 million to Php1.6 million per unit. In an interview with The Benildean, Jose Abay, a Sarao veteran manager and technician for 38 years, most drivers cannot afford to own a jeepney and depend on the daily boundary that costs between Php 800 to Php 1,200. With miscellaneous expenses considered, jeepney drivers are left with an average net daily income of Php 400.
With the lack of reliable mass transport alternatives that can match the affordability of the jeepney, the Department of Finance estimated a Php 1,500 annual increase in total fare spending per household brought about by more expensive commuting costs with the modernized jeepneys. For transport groups, the program is simply a corporate take-over of the public utility sector that could result in to the closing down of operations and massive loss of livelihood of transport workers.
To alleviate the repercussions of the phase out, the government is offering several financial loan schemes, with a subsidy of up to Php 80,000, to help drivers pay for the cost of the new jeepney units. The Development Bank of the Philippines will provide loans to operators, but it does not guarantee immediate loan approval since its availment will be determined by an operator’s capacity to pay.
For Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, it is best to consider subsidizing engine maintenance and rehabilitation of old jeepney units, and provide support to local assemblers. He also recommends the creation a more comprehensive program for nationalized mass transport system that is beneficial to drivers, operators, and the riding public.
But with on the average take-home pay of jeepney drivers, as well as the financial situation of companies like Sarao, the program may leave both drivers and operators drowning in debt.
With the frequency of jeepney strikes, it clearly paints an image of what the streets will look like when the used-to-be icons of the Filipino streets are no longer present, enough to create a call for Filipinos to rethink about the importance of these drivers in the society— once a single brick in a pyramid is removed, the whole pyramid topples down.
Despite this, jeepney manufacturers face the lesser evil in comparison to what drivers have to go through. In fact Abay said that Sarao is
21 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 21
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 22
Hanging on to the idea of tradition can be seen as a form of upholding the country’s culture, but when it reaches circumstances of curtailing progress, it’s best to let go of the past.
HINDERED B Y BELIEF
EDITORIAL
22
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
Well-known for its religious affinities and persistent faith, the Philippines is a boiling pot of conservatism. The Church plays a powerful role in the country, almost equal to the government’s authority. Bishops and priests lead by communicating strong homilies and interpretations of the Bible, banking on majority of Filipinos’ deeply-rooted faith and trust in the institution that is the Catholic Church, which they follow without question. Indeed, in the Philippines, conservatism is still a force to be reckoned with. Conservatism, as defined by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, is a political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices in the face of external change. It is also often critical of proposals for radical social change. With this, change becomes a distant concept and progressive science a mere idea, if not an enemy. With a belief system that preaches that homosexuals are sinners and women have lesser function than men, the Philippines has long ascribed to these flawed concepts, but has recently been challenged by an increasingly modernizing generation. Between two sides It is true that tradition plays a significant role in the formation of a country’s identity, and the Philippines is no stranger to tug-of-war between traditional beliefs and more progressive ideas. The battle between Church and State has resulted in polarizing arguments. This was seen during the debates over the Reproductive Health Law, where the Catholic Church and anti-RH lawmakers argued based on their religion and their own interpretations of biblical teachings, denouncing the law as a precursor to abortion, divorce and promiscuity. In a sense, in a democratic country like the Philippines, the law’s liberal roots seem to clash with the conserative ideas most of its citizens have been accustomed to. These oppositing perspectives have created a battle for the Filipino’s identity, and the government and the Church are at the forefront of it. Many Filipino Catholics are now seemingly caught between two sides and subscribe to a split-level Christianity, in which they select and adhere only to teachings and scripture they personally prefer. In fact, a global survey by US-based TV network Univision found that Catholics are more open to the idea of divorce and contraception, with 78 percent of the more than 12,000 respondents supporting. Similarly, the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed around 5.5 million Filipino contraceptive users in 2015 — around 44 percent. In addition, annulment cases filed with the Office of the Solicitor General have already reached some 10,000 cases in 2016, from 1,094 cases in 2008. From a gender perspective, Filipinos are also seen to be more tolerant of homosexuality in general society, with the entertainment industry composed of a handful of renowned openly gay personalities like Vice Ganda, Pooh, and Boy Abunda. In addition, there are a number of movies centering on LGBTQ+ themes, such as the internationally-acclaimed “Die Beautiful,” a movie about a transwoman vying to be a beauty pageant queen, and the mainstream, box-office hit “Praybeyt Benjamin,” a comedy about a gay dance teacher joining the military. However, the same Filipinos who enjoy Vice Ganda’s jokes and Die Beautiful’s message are also the same people who denounce gay marriage and are closed to the idea of artificial contraception just to protect satisfy their own personal or religious sensitivities Push for progress The Catholic Church is bound and beholden to the teachings of the Bible and the cathecism presented by its conservative leaders who, because of their humanity, may be prone to imperfection, bias or even error. This, perhaps, may be the biggest reason why the Church seems very critical of non-traditional, non-conformist, and non-conservative ideals. But it is these kinds of concepts and perspectives that allow society and individuals to grow, excel, innovate and adapt. Conservatism is the belief that the fear of sudden chaos looms over scientific or technological innovation, or intellectual paradigm shifts. Although conservatists see tradition as a means of protecting social norms and morality, it may do more harm than good—causing intolerance and even ignorance. The idea of conservatism recalls the dangers of an age when inequality and injustice were the norm, when women were viewed as sexual objects, when even the idea homosexuality was ousted, when children with abusive parents had to survive just to keep the sanctity of marriage, and when people fought wars to protect religion. We have reached a generation that is more aware of their rights, social responsibilities and more in tune with their personal beliefs, which they are able to stand for and fight for. And the best way to perhaps marry both tradition/ religious and liberal concepts is to follow one’s conscience, and find the common ground and morality behind both schools of thought.
23 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 23
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
24
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 24
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
Sa larangan ng pagbabalita, hindi mahihigitan ang pamantayan na sinusunod ng mga peryodista kumpara sa mga bloggers. Sa kabila nito, kapansinpansin ang dami ng bloggers na itinalaga ni Duterte, lalo na sa Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) sa anyo ni Asec. Mocha Uson na kilala sa kanyang pagpapalaganap ng pekeng impormasyon sa maraming pagkakataon.
“Bloggers” sa pulitika
Sa pagpasok ng teknolohiya sa makabagong panahon, kapansinpansin ang pangagampanya sa online at social media dahil na rin sa dagsa ng taong gumagamit nito na maaring makatulong sa kanilang pagkapanalo. Noong nakaraang taon lamang, si Duterte mismo ang umamin na nagbayad ang hukbo niya upang depensahan siya noong panahon ng kampanya. Dagdag pa ang pag-aaral ng University of Oxford na nagsasabing halos 10 milyon ang ginastos ng kampo ni Duterte upang kumuha ng mga tinawag na ‘trolls’ para palaganapin ang kanilang propaganda at direktang atakihin ang mga bumabatikos o oposisyon. Nakakaalarma rin ang iba’t ibang anyo ng kanilang pag-atake; mula sa diskrminasyon ng pagkatao at paniniwala hanggang sa banta ng pagpatay o panggagahasa sa taong tinutuligsa.
Ngunit, paano humantong sa ganitong estado ang peryodismo sa bansa?
Ayon sa ulat ng Freedom House, isang non-government organization sa Estados Unidos na nagsasaliksik ukol sa demokrasya, pampulitikang kalayaan, at karapatang pantao, kabilang ang Pilipinas sa 30 na bansa sa mundo kung saan mayroong malawak na anyo ng pagmamanipula upang baluktutin ang impormasyon sa online kabilang na ang mga social media sites. Dahil dito, kahit ang mga lehitimong organisasyon o samahan ng mga mamamahayag ay tila naiipit at inaakusahan ng pamahalaan sa maling gawain ng pagpapakalat ng pekeng balita na umabot na sa puntong pinapasara na sila.
Ngunit hindi lamang sa panahon ng diktador na si Marcos nalagay sa alanganin ang peryodismo; sa patuloy na pag-arangkada ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, palaisipan ang kalayaan ng katotohanan bunsod ng kabikabilang propaganda at pagpapakalat ng pekeng balita upang depensahan o pagtakpan ang gobyerno. Maging ang ordinaryong mamamayan ay tila lito na rin kung ano o sino ang tunay at dapat paniniwalaan dahil sa mga nagsulputang mapagpanggap na lathalain sa social media.
Saksi ang bawat Pilipino sa hindi matawarang gampanin ng midya upang maghatid ng katotohanan sa publiko. Marahil ito ang dahilan kaya’t binusalan ng mga administrasyon, partikular ng rehimeng Ferdinand Marcos, ang mga mamamahayag upang maisakatuparan ang baluktot na layunin. Dahil sa kapangyarihang ng midyang magmulat ng kaisipan, tinuturing silang kalaban ng mga taong umaabuso sa kapangyarihan.
Tunay nga bang nasa bingit ng masamang kalagayan ang estado ng katotohanan sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte?
COLUMN
25
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 25
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
Minsang naging kapalit ang dugo’t buhay para matamo ang demokrasya’t katotohanan sa tulong ng peryodismo. Ang hamon ngayon sa bagong henerasyon ay kung paano mapapanatili ang naturang kalayaan.
Ito’y malinaw na pag-usbong sa makabagong anyo ng pamamahayag sa bansa at baluktot na sistema sa mga peryodistang kritikal sa pamahalaan. Kailangan pa lalong maging mapanuri ng bawat Pilipino at mag-ingat sa bawat impormasyong dumadaan sa mga palad. Katulong ng katotohanan ang mga lehitimong taong nagpapanday nito.
Hindi pa tapos ang isyu ay sinigundahan naman agad ng panibagong atake kay Pia Ranada, miyembro ng Malacañang Press Corps at mamamahayag ng Rappler, matapos siyang pinagbawalang makapasok sa Malacañang at sa mga lugar na pagdadausan ng kaganapan ni Duterte. Dagdag pa ang kamakailan lamang na paghain ng kaso ng Bureau of Internal Revenue ng P133.84 milyong tax evasion case laban sa Rappler Holdings Corp.
Noong nakaraang Enero, ipinag-utos ng Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) na bawiin ang rehistrasyon ng Rappler sa kadahilanang lumabag ito sa Anti-Dummy Law na nagsasabing pagmamay-ari umano ng banyaga ang nasabing kumpanya. Ngunit giit ng pinuno ng Rappler na si Maria Ressa, simula noong maitatag ito, ito’y para sa Pilipino at pagmamay-ari ng Pilipino. Nakakapagtaka rin ang “timing” ng pagpapasara sa Rappler dahil kung tunay man na lumabag ito sa anumang batas, noon pa lang dapat ay nakita at inaksyunan na ito ng SEC.
Ito ang maanghang at tahasang sinabi ni Harry Roque, tagapagsalita ng pangulo, patungkol sa pagpapasara ng Rappler dahil sa ‘di umano’y hinahawakan sila ng banyagang kumpanya para patakbuhin ito. Sa simula pa lang ng halalan, naging kritikal na ang online at social news network na Rappler patungkol kay Duterte lalo na sa kanyang kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga, kaya’t hindi na rin nakagugulat ang sinasapit nito sa kamay ng palasyo.
“Peke na nga ang balita ng Rappler, peke pa rin ang pagiging Pilipino nila. Ayusin muna nila ang dalawang bagay na ito bago sila sumigaw ng kalayaan sa pamamahayag.”
Pagkitil sa alagad ng katotohanan
Sinasadya man o hindi, ang mga pekeng balita at maling impormasyon ay maaring magdulot ng kalituhan sa mambabasa at higit na walang pananagutan ang mga bloggers kumpara sa mga mamamahayag tungkol sa bagay na ito. Dapat pinaghahandaan, pinag-iisipan, at may ethics (tulad ng Universal Code of Journalism Ethics), na sinusunod tuwing naglalabas ng mga komentaryo o lathalain bago ito ipakalat sa madla.
Kapansinpansin din ang kakaibang hakbang ng Malacañang na gantimpaalan ng akreditasyon ang ilang bloggers para magbalita sa mga kaganapan ng pangulo na ang Malacañang Press Corps lamang ang may pribilehiyo. Tila isa itong akto ng administrasyon para gawing lehitimo ang mga tagasuporta ng pangulo na nagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon.
Isa pa si RJ Nieto ng Thinking Pinoy na kasalukuyang social media consultant ng Department of Foreign Affairs. Nakilala si Nieto sa kanyang tahasang pagmumura at pambabatikos sa mga kritiko ng pangulo, pati na ang direktang pagmumura nito sa mga miyembro ng mga lehitimong peryodista ng Malacañang Press Corps at tinukoy pa nito bilang “the f*cking Malacañang Press Corps.” Dahil may responsibilidad ang bawat opisyal ng gobyerno na bigyan ang kanyang nasasakupan ng beripikadong impormasyon, tila mahirap na pagkatiwalaan ang mga may masamang reputasyon sa paglalaganap ng pekeng balita.
WORDS BY BRIAN PAOLO CASTILLO
Peryodismo bilang tagapagpanatili ng demokrasya’t katotohanan
26
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 26
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
What one chooses to wear is an expression of their identity; be it through smart casual attires or maximalist outfits, fashion shows a meaningful trademark of one’s personality. The same goes for minorities who have their own garments that express a significant meaning to their cultural identity. The glaring difference is that these minorities have a history of being victims of social injustices, poverty, or microaggression, and have used their clothes and accessories to emphasize their unity and strength in the face of the hardships they have gone through.
Despite the cultural background of the minorities’ traditional pieces, there has been a recurrence of these items being used for commercial gain. During their 2012 fashion show, women’s lifestyle company Victoria’s Secret received backlash for having their models take the runway while sporting Native American props with lingerie, while Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear collection was called out for designing models’ hair with dreadlocks, a trademark of African-American culture that was used as a symbol for the Rastafari religion.
From outfits to hairstyles, fashion and merchandising always craves something unique; the usual denim jacket looks better with a few ethnic patterns, a hairstyle seems more stylish with a makeshift hijab, and a tattoo with an ethnic design certainly adds a ‘cool’ factor.
Fashion in the wrong
The Philippines is composed of numerous tribes and different religions, such as the Ifugao tribes, who boost their economy by making clothes, blankets, and other textile products using the patterns they create from weaving. For practicing muslims, hijabs are essential to Islam while Kalinga tattoos are badges of honor given to those who have fought and protected their people. With these items being out in plain sight, the mistake of using them for personal use is just around the corner; one could be casually wearing clothing from the Mt. Province meant for the dead, textiles which Cordillerans use for rituals and festivities could accidentally be regarded as table covers by consumers, while some teenagers could be sporting an ethnic tattoo with symbols they do not even understand. Unfortunately, these trademarks of a minority culture are also victims of cultural appropriation.
According to Cambridge Dictionary, cultural appropriation is the adoption of the elements of a culture that is not one’s own. Meanwhile, in a 2017 interview with CNN Philippines, Marlon Martin, chief of the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement and founder of the Ifugao Heritage School, further expounded on it by simply defining it as claiming and disrespecting a culture different from one’s own, while being unaware of its it ethnic and historical context.
Beyond the visuals of art and design is the culture that was able to create thhem. From the knowledge and history of a local heritage, minorities and their people continue to uphold a commemoration of systems, traditions, and beliefs by turning them into distinct designs and styles passed from generation to generation. Yet, without context about these creations, the act of disrespecting their culture can easily end up as one’s cross to bear.
With the Philippines being home to various minorities, it can be easy to unconsciously disrespect the rich culture behind traditional creations.
COLUMN
27
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 27
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
Filipinos, as an international minority, still have the tendency to disrespect their own national minorities, groups, and tribes who exemplify and contribute to the Filipino legacy, by reducing their artefacts to commercial trends. However, once properly researched, anyone can be the bridge between the traditional and the modern, and reinvigorate the art of indigenous cultures for what they are truly meant to be—a symbol of the people’s identity.
What seems to be mere prints on a shirt or abstract shapes on a bag are threaded by a rigorous and meticulous process made specifically by that culture. From the blood, sweat, and tears that originated these culture’s products, there is no doubt how the simple act of respect and caution is well-deserved. Studying about the various cultures and understanding the hard work behind each cultural piece is one easy step to avoid cultural appropriation that leads to a more well-informed and just society.
Buying their products for the culture’s promotion, and not for aesthetic purposes, helps their people thrive by having their products appreciated by the public with its intended function. By collaborating with the locals through development projects, this can further enhance and spread awareness to their craft.
Some may say cultural appropriation can easily be excused as drawing inspiration from these Filipino artefacts. However, there’s a fine line between the two, separated by upholding traditional heritage. When the usage of these artefacts is to preserve art and history, the culture is promoted and the minority’s legacy lives on. Through educational purposes, like school festivities or dedicated museums, Filipinos can learn to respect the traditional customs and, consequently, act on supporting it.
Change by learning
With all these common ethnic faux paus, is the current fashion scene suggesting that culture can be sacrificed for its sake? Short answer is no; and it’s time to do something about it.
Wearing indigenous attires as a fashion statement or a mere decoration is the same as pretending to be part of a race or culture completely unaffiliated with one’s own. One should not simply sport ethnic tattoos and already act like they themselves have gone to the wars the natives have gone through. It’s similar to stealing from their beliefs and traditions, and disregarding their given purposes. By using a people’s culture without succinct knowledge beforehand, it creates a pseudo-understanding a person has about the said culture, which forges an idea that these items can be used for one’s own personal gain while also belittling the history and ethnic identity of the minority groups.
“We are very proud of our ethnic origins as a people and we value our cultural heritage that in all the undertakings of our local government, we see to it that our tribes are not offended and neglected,” Constantino stated. The blouse was from the Tagakaolo Tribal Museum and was used by the fashion brand without consulting the locals. It was merely marketed as a fashion statement, disregarding its ethnic significance to the Tagakaolo tribe and locals of Malungon.
The controversy of cultural appropriation was recently magnified in April 2018 when an article published by print and digital newspaper Philippine Star on local fashion brand Filip+Inna’s summer collection featured a model wearing a bikini partnered with a traditional blouse from the Tagakaolo tribe of the Municipality of Malungon in Sarangani. This received negative reactions from the locals who regard the tribe as one of the municipality’s founders and as a result, Mayor Tessa Constantino posted her sentiments about the matter on Facebook.
WORDS BY THEA TORRES
Ethnic faux paus
28
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 28
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
For one, it’s physically unhealthy; having to squeeze into a body size not meant for everyone or being peer pressured into the overindulgence of vices. Various studies have shown that alcohol
Working so hard to preserve one’s near flawless self-image by donning on several masks is toxic in more ways than one.
To simply be “ideal,” one forces himself to fit into society’s mold. A quick scroll through social media nowadays exposes anyone to unrealistic body standards, hate speech, and whatever’s deemed cool and trendy at the moment—all of which people unconsciously adapt into the way they act and perceive the things around them.
It can become almost instinctive to wear a different mask for different people. To be the “perfect” son or daughter, especially in a conservative country like the Philippines where close family ties have long been embedded in society, one might blindly practice the religion of parents or rarely speak up to defend what one truly believes, especially if it against the opinion of one’s parents.
An ideal image
However, is the pursuit of perfection really for one’s self or for the favor of others?
It is often said perfection is overrated and it’s true because no one or nothing is perfect. Despite this universal truth, there’s an incessant ringing in everyone’s heads, convincing people the need to please everyone for the sake of being accepted, loved, and happy—the tripartite of anyone’s ultimate goals in life. These then beg the question of why people strive for perfection, or at least a pretense of it, in the first place.
The third season of British anthology series Black Mirror opens with Nosedive, an episode that pokes at people’s obsession with superficial perfection on social media. In its pastel colordrenched, dystopian society, everyone is a slave to a one-to-five star scale, donning masks of chiseled perfection complete with wide synthetic smiles and daily practiced laughter. Scarily hyperrealistic that even without the eye implants and advanced mobile devices the characters have in the sci-fi series, humans have long chased after that ever unattainable seal of perfection.
Always quietly lurking in the background, a mere figment of perfection can become one’s most lethal enemy.
COLUMN
29
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 29
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
Often simplified and overlooked—even as Filipino society so often denotes as “nag-iinarte ka lang”—this issue of perfectionism lies much deeper than the surface. It takes patience and understanding to accept and cope with the complexities of the issue, but the reward of a peace of mind and self-confidence at the end is truly worth it.
There should also be a shift in how people encountered are treated. No matter how cliché, it all trails back to the golden rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If a person imposes unrealistic expectations on others, then that same person cannot expect others to accept him for his true self. To counter this, people must develop open minds to embrace change and diversity by adapting a more positive outlook on life, making new friends, tearing down stereotypes and prejudices promulgated in society through educating others, and forming fruitful relationships. These are just a few, simple steps one can choose to take but will gradually and inevitably inspire the rest of society to do the same.
Pursuing something as subjective and as intangible as perfection is useless, so perhaps the only possible solution is a reality check. It begins when people truly accept the permanence of imperfection—that the happiness associated with perfection is as fleeting as everything else in this world.
Unfortunately, it’s the individual who suffers the consequences of this pursuit for perfection. Somewhere along the way, carrying the burden becomes a personal choice. Hence, it’s only logical that learning to overcome this situation is a choice by oneself as well.
Going back to the question of who this struggle for perfection is for, perhaps one’s efforts to preserve their self-image begin with awaiting the approval of others. Humans are, no doubt, inherently social beings, and as fundamental as the need for food and water, they desire to belong. For Filipinos in particular, social units like the family, friends, and romantic partners are among the top factors that determine the happiness of Filipino men and women, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board’s Philippine Happiness Index in 2010.
Remedies to the restless mind
Lastly, it’s detrimental to one’s sense of identity. With the need to please different sets of people, it’s likely to develop multiple versions of oneself—each one a mere fraction of one’s true self. Amidst all this, it can be a struggle to know who one really is without the layers of compromised personality.
Aside from eating disorders, Canadian psychologists Dr. Paul Hewitt and Dr. Gordon Flett have found links of self-oriented perfectionism (the internally motivated desire to be or appear perfect) to mental health problems. Although not a disorder itself, self-oriented perfectionism is a vulnerability or risk factor for psychological problems. Just as it is harmful for the body, it is also mentally destructive.
Moreover, researchers, particularly professors at City University London, reported a correlation between peer pressure and eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia in a 2013 study, naming peer culture as one of the significant causes of these life-threatening illnesses.
consumption and cigarette smoking are the most common practices teenagers take up due to peer pressure—both of which can eventually lead to a string of health problems, which range from damaging one’s own vital organs to creating an unsafe environment for those around them.
WORDS BY MAC FABELLA
A peoplepleaser’s penance
30
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 30
5/2/2018 12:19:09 PM
Take the mental shift, using the mindset that pain isn’t something that should be put on the back burner, but recognized as a signal of constant progress; that it’s actually making you stronger. Eventually, you’ll be glad you turned the pain into something you used to improve yourself.
Interestingly enough, the concept can also be applied in a mental aspect. Let’s admit it, the things that are the most painful to as are those most important to us: high-stake decisions, life’s proverbial detours, and the people we care about the most. It is the feeling of pain that reminds us that we are entering an important decision-making process. There is no avoiding pain and it is much more apparent if one is in pursuit of an ambitious goal. Only by facing it will you start to see things in another perspective. You will see the critical role that pain plays in the decision-making process and leaning on to it puts you head on with your goal. Confronting pain provides clarity to the obstacle you’ll undertake.
Take cycling for example. As you push one kilometer after another, your legs start to get sore as the lactic acid kicks in. Only if you keep doing it will it start to get more painful, but you go on until the end zone anyway, because you know it’s something that makes you constantly stronger. The more times you do it, you’ll be able to cycle longer before the pain starts.
In his book Principles, Ray Dalio wrote, “Nature gave us pain as a messaging device to tell us that we are approaching, or that we have exceeded, our limits in some way. At the same time, nature made the process of getting stronger require us to push our limits.”
It can be difficult, or even daunting, to think that the feeling of pain can make one stronger, but the best thing that one can do is to accept it as a part of life. By constantly acknowledging pain as an opportunity to improve, one can harness it.
Kundera’s thought implies that pain, whether emotional or physical, truly is an inevitable part of humanity. Its nature practically consumes one’s thoughts, causes regret, and takes away the joy in life, and replaces it with the darkness of sadness, anger, and remorse.
Putting the concept of weight and opening one’s self to the nature of the world in the foreground, it is the mere weight of the world on our shoulders that make us human, after all. “The heaviest of burdens is […] simultaneously an image of life’s most intense fulfillment. The heavier the burden, […] the more real and truthful [our lives] become,” the novel’s narrator indicated.
Czech writer Milan Kundera’s 1984 novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being employs a strange yet interesting recurring paradox on the concepts of lightness versus weight, where the former is characterized as to having a free spirit, in-the-moment approach to existence. Weight, on the other hand, is existing to carry the weight of human emotion, investing in what they experience and in what they feel thus opening themselves to the idea of being hurt. The question now is: does life’s meaning only come to those who pose weight?
In the general scheme of things, humans come across their daily lives with various experiences that lead them to feelings, and it is highly inevitable that, in one way or another, it all leads to pain.
WORDS BY MARK BALTAZAR
The nature of pain
COLUMN
31 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 31
5/2/2018 12:19:11 PM
KARILYON
Ang mga samu’t saring kwento at karanasan sa ating buhay ay parte na ng nakaraan at hindi na mababago pa, ngunit importante pa ring alalahanin ang mga ito. Ang mga kwentong mababasa sa mga susunod na pahina ay siyang mga kwentong may mahalagang papel dahil sa nailimbag na aral sa ating kasaysayan.
EDITED BY Symon Lao
CULTURE + TRAVEL
32 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 32
5/2/2018 12:19:11 PM
Nabubura ba ng globalisasyon ang PagkaPilipino? SULAT NI DAVID TONGOL. LITRATO NI KYLE BUSTOS Dapat bang isakripisyo ang pagkakilanlan upang makasabay sa pandaigdigang merkado? Hindi maikakaila ang pagbabago ng Pilipinas sa pagsibol ng globalisasyon sa nakaraang siglo; ang pagiging konektado sa pangkalahatang mundo ang nagbigay daan upang yumabong ang ekonomiya, kaisipang pampulitika, at maging sa sosyo-kultural na aspeto ng pamumuhay sa modernong panahon. Ngunit sa pagyakap sa kulturang globalisado, tila unti-unting binibitawan at nakakalimutan ang pambansang pagkakakilanlan. Tuwing may Pilipinong napupuri, nananalo sa isang kumpetisyon, o nagiging usap usapin sa kung saan man, paniguradong may #PinoyPride na pagbati sa social media. Ngunit, lingid sa kaalaman ng nakararami, ang kultura kung saan lumaki ang isang indibidwal ay mas nakakaepekto sa pagkakakilanlan kumpara sa dugong dumadaloy.
33 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 33
5/2/2018 12:19:11 PM
Ayon kay Bret Weinstein, isang propesor at espesyalista ng teorya ng ‘evolutionary biology,’ mas nakakaapekto ang kultura ng isang tao kaysa sa ‘genetics’ ng indibidwal. Ang pag-arangkada ng pandaigdigang merkado sa nakaraang limang dekada dahil sa globalisasyon ang siyang nag-akay sa pagbabago nang kulturang maka-Pilipino patungo sa mas globalisadong oryentasyon. Dahil sa natural na heograpiya, ang iba’t ibang mga pamayanan ng sinaunang Pilipinas ay nanatiling magkakahiwalay sa isa’t isa noon pa man. Dahil dito napatibay ng iba’t ibang komunidad ang kanilang pang-etnikong kultura at pagkakakilanlan na hiwalay sa isa’t isa. Ayon sa pag-aaral noong 2004 ng political analyst na si Dr. Rommel Banlaoi, na Executive Director din ng Board of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence, and Terrorism Research, sa simula’t sapul ang Pilipinas ay mayroon nang mahinang pagkakilanlan bilang isang estado. Dagdag pa niya, ang Pilipinas ay nabuo dahil lamang sa pangkolektibong pag-aaklas kontra sa Espanya, at hindi dahil sa pagbigkis pangkultural. Ang desparidad ng pagkakaiba ng kultura ng mga lugar sa Pilipinas ay lalong lumayo dahil sa iba’t iba nitong kaosyoso sa pakikipagpalitan o trade. Ang Luzon at Visayas ay madalas na nakikipagkalakakalan sa mga Indyano, Intsik, at mga Hapon, habang ang mga Malay at Arabo naman ang madalas na kapalitan ng mga komunidad sa Mindanao. Hindi lamang produkto galing sa ibang lugar ang naibibigay ng pakikipagkalakal, ngunit pati na rin ang kultura, lenguwahe, at relihiyon na kalakip nito.
Paglipat sa kaisipang hegemonya Sa modernong panahon, ang pagbagsak ng Soviet Union sa pagtatapos ng dekada nobenta ang nagbigay daan upang lumaganap sa buong mundo ang idelohiya ng imperyo ng Estados Unidos na nakasentro sa demokrasya, liberalismo, at kapitalismo. Ayon kay Alexis De Tocqueville sa kanyang librong Democracy in America, ang resulta ng paglaganap ng idelohiya ng liberalismo’t kapitalismo ang nagbigay ng balangkas sa kaisipan ng bawat indibidwal na kung saan nasa kamay nila ang direksyon ng kanilang mga buhay, kung kaya naman indirektang nasisira nito ang pagkakakilanlan at kultura ng isang bansang mas binibigyang halaga ang pangkolektibong aspeto ng pamayanan kaysa sa pang-indibidwal na pakinabang. Ang resulta ng pag-adapt ng Pilipinas sa pandaigdigang merkado ay may kakaakibat na pag-arangkada nito sa pang ekonomikong aspeto, sa kabilang banda naman nito tila nabubuwag nito ang pagkakilanlan ng isang bansa, lalo na sa aspetong pangpamilya. Sa modernong panahon mas prayoridad ng makabagong Filipino ang kanilang karera sa trabaho kaysa sa paglinang ng pagbuo ng isang pamilya, na malinaw sa pagbaba ng population growth ng bansa ayon sa Philippine Statistic Authority.
34 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 34
5/2/2018 12:19:12 PM
Reaksyonaryong pagaksyon Sinusubukang aksyonan ng gobyernong Pilipino ang problema sa pagkakakilanlan sa modernong panahon. Isang akasyon ay ang pagakda ni dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa Republic Act 10066 (o ang National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009), na layuning ipreserba ang mga artepakto, museo, establisimiyento, at iba pang mga bagay na may importansyang pangkultural. Sa isang panayam ng Philippine Tatler kay Charles Salazar, puno ng National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) on Cultural Heritage, ang pinakamainam na paraan ng pagbabalik tanaw sa kasaysayan ay ang pakikinig sa naratibo ng nakakatanda sa pamilya at pagbubuklat ng mga dokumento at litrato. Sa ganitong paraan ang pagbabalik tanaw sa pagkakilanlan ay mas subyektibo’t personal upang lubusan maramdaman ang importansya ng kasaysayan. Bagama’t sinusubukang punan ng gobyerno ang mga puwang sa pagkakilanlan bilang isang bansa, ang kulturang globalisado ay kasama na’t nakahalo sa pagkakakilanlan ng modernong Filipino. Negatibo man ang resulta ng globalisasyon sa pagkakakilanlan, ito ay kapakipakinabang sa pangkalakhang estado. Ayon sa meme theory ni Charles Dawkins, isang ‘evolutionary biologist,’ ang kultura ay nariyan upang magsilbing tagapangasiwa ng ebolusyon—mula sa etniko at pakikipagkapwa hanggang sa genetiko ng bawat indibidwal. Ang pangkalakhang kultura na sumasaklaw sa ekonomiko, politiko, at etniko ay nariyan upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng buhay ng isang populasyon. Ang pagkakaangkop nito sa pagiging mas globalisado ay isang hakbang upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng buhay sa modernong panahon upang makasabay sa kompetisyon ng pandaigdigang malayang merkado. Hindi na mapipigilan ang pagkiling ng kultura sa pagiging mas globalisado dahil sa pagbabagong nararanasan sa kanyang mga karatigbansa. Negatibo man ang resulta nito sa aspetong pangnasyonalismo, partikular sa prayoridad sa pagbuo at paglinang sa kanya-kanyang pamilya, ito ay kinakailangan upang makaligtas ang mga Pilipino sa modernong panahon ng pandaigdigang merkado.
“Negatibo man ang resulta ng globalisasyon sa pagkakakilanlan, ito ay kapakipakinabang sa pangkalakhang estado.” 35 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 35
5/2/2018 12:19:12 PM
Maliban sa pagiging karakter sa mga sinaunang kwento, maari pa lang makatulong ang mga ‘mythological creatures’ gaya ng mangmangkik at palasekan sa konserbasyon ng kagubatan.
Mga natatanging bantay ng kagubatan
Lingid sa kaalaman ng nakararami, ang kababalaghang dala ng mga mythological creatures ay ang maaaring susi sa pagkonserba ng mga natitirang kagubatan sa bansa. Panahon na para malaman ang kanilang papel sa konserbasyon para kung makasalubong mo man ang isa, imbis na ika’y matakot, aba! Magpasalamat ka! Ayon sa Philippine mythology at folklore, nagsisilbing tagapagbantay ng kagubatan ang iba’t ibang mga nilalang tulad ng tikbalang, dwende, kapre, at iba pa. Ngunit imbes na makita sila bilang mga tagapagbantay, tila naging negatibo ang pananaw patungkol sa kanila dahil sa depiksyon sa mga pelikula, palabas, komiks, at marami pang uri ng midya. Maliban dito, limitado ang kilala ng mga Pilipino dahil paulit ulit lamang na manananggal, tiyanak, at tiktik ang nabibigyang pansin. Ngunit, sa katunayan, maraming rehiyon sa bansa ang may kanikanilang bersyon ng mga mahikal na nilalang.
SULAT NI MARGA DE LEMOS. DIBUHO NI MIKO FERNANDO
36 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 36
5/2/2018 12:19:12 PM
Para naman sa mga mamamayan ng Agusan del Norte at Agusan del Sur, ang mga maliliit na nilalang na parang duwende ay tinatawag na ‘dayamdam.’ Bago mamitas ng mga prutas o pumutol ng puno, kinakailangang magpaalam muna sa mga dayamdam.
Mga nilalang ng kagubatan Ayon sa Aswang Project, isang educational site na nangongolekta ng mga impormasyon ukol sa mga naturang nilalang, ang mga Ilokano ay naniniwala sa ‘mangmangkik,’ isang espiritu na naninirahan sa mga puno ng Ilocos Norte. Noong sinaunang panahon, may kinakantang mga berso ang mga katutubo bago nila putulin ang mga puno: “Bari Bari/ Dika agunget pari / Ta pumukan kami / Iti pabakirda kami.” Sa Tagalog, ang translasyon nito ay “Huwag ka sana masaktan kaibigan, pinuputol lang namin ito dahil kami ay inutusan.” Naniniwala rin ang mga Iloko sa ‘mangmangkit,’ isang nilalang na tila sumasama ang loob kapag pinutol ng walang pahintulot ang kanilang puno.
Samantala sa mga bulubundukin ng Sierra Madre, maaring marinig ang espiritu ng ‘palasekan.’ Sila ay naninirahan sa mga mapupunong komunidad. Tinutulungan nila hindi umano ang mga magsasaka at binabalaan ang mga manlalakbay kapag may parating na panganib sa pamamagitan ng pagpito (whistling). Subalit, kapag pinutol ang puno na kanilang tinitirahan, dapat ay maghanda na ng alak mula sa katas ng tubo para sila’y mapayapa. Dahil sa madalas na negatibong paglalarawan sa mga nilalang, nakakaligtaan ang tunay na rason sa pagkatha ng mga mitolohikal na tauhan; hindi para gambalain ang mga tao kundi para ipaalala na mayroong mga naninirahan, nagbabantay, at nag-aalaga na mga nilalang sa paligid, lalo na sa kagubatan. Mula sa samu’t saring nakabibighaning kwento, sumasalamin ang malalim na pagrespeto ng mga Pilipino mula sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa sa mga nasabing nilalang. Marahil ay kinikilala nila na ang mundong kanilang iniikutan ay hindi lamang umiikot para sa kanila, ngunit para sa lahat ng namamalagi sa balat ng lupa.
Isa pang pinapaniwalaan ng mga Ilokano ay ang ‘batibat,’ isang matanda at matabang nilalang na namamalagi sa mga puno. Naghihiganti sila sa mga pumuputol ng puno kung saan sila nakatira, pati na rin sa mga umuupo sa kanilang kama na gawa sa nasabing puno. Ang parusa nila ay pananakal na maaaring takasan sa malakas na pagpindot sa hinlalaki sa paa ng biktima. Mula naman sa paglalarawan ng manunulat na si Isabelo delos Reyes sa kanyang libro na El Folk-lore Filipino, ang ‘litao’ ay maliit na lalaking anito sa katubigan na tinuturing na asawa ng sirena. Kadalasang nagpapanggap sila bilang normal na tao ngunit amoy masangsang tulad ng isda. Sa Vigan, naninirahan sila sa mga puno ng kawayan sa tabing ilog tuwing sila’y nagaanyong tao. Ayon sa mga kwento, sinusumpa nila sa pamamagitan ng sakit o karamdaman ang mga pumuputol ng kawayan nila.
Sa pamamagitan ng pag-unawa sa ating kultura ng paggalang sa mga ‘di umano’y namamalagi na nilalang, nawa’y maisapuso sana natin ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng pagrespeto sa ating lupang ginagalawan. Buhat nito, madadala ng bawat tao ang likas na pagmamahal, pagaaruga, at paggalang sa kalikasan.
37 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 37
5/2/2018 12:19:12 PM
SULAT NI BIANCA ARELLANO.
Dulang Walang Hanggan
Sa pagtatanggol sa mga tiwaling desisyon, pabago-bago ang nagiging tanaw sa kasaysayan. Mababawi pa ba ang tunay at totoo?
DIBUHO NI JOHN CARL AUJERO
Isang lumang tanghalan ang buhay, kung saan komedya’t trahedya’y nagbabangayan
Kabutihan at kasamaan ay maglalabanan, kahit ikatlong kinabukasan ay walang katiyakan
Bawat dula, Tila paghamon sa nakalipas:
kung ang pag-aaway ay mananatiling may saysay sa kuwento o banghay
Maskara sa maskara, mga tapal sa kamay na namumula’t hinuhugasan ng luha ng iba,
kung ang pataasan ng mga tronong bakal ay lihim na nangangalawang.
Mga sandatang pilit nananaksak sa nakaraan na para bang ito’y higanteng may bihag na kalugurang hindi naibahagi ng mga datu at hari.
Hinagpis man o halakhak ang balak ng tanghalang ito, o sindak, Kurtina’y ‘di man babagsak sa indak ng sinuman, ito’y kailanma’y humahanap ng saysay sa kasaysayan.
38 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 38
5/2/2018 12:19:13 PM
39 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 39
5/2/2018 12:19:14 PM
ABLAZE
Taking refuge in the abstract dimension of the mind might seem like a solution to the pressuring realities we face everyday. As we contemplate the present, it is also useful for us to look back at the path the world has taken to get to where it is today. And then we will see truly how the future is connected to the past.
EDITED BY Jan Renolo
SPORTS + TECHNOLOGY + FITNESS
40 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 40
5/2/2018 12:19:14 PM
Another spin for the century-old vinyls WORDS BY ISA LAZO. PHOTOS BY RICARDO YAN Through an enduring format of music, the vinyl record resonates with music lovers both young and old.
41 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 41
5/2/2018 12:19:16 PM
In this digital era, music can easily be streamed on the internet. Whether it’s in the comfort of one’s own room or travelling to the next scheduled meeting, millennials live in a world where technology makes things freely accessible. Despite these conveniences, old-school vinyls and turntables are once again becoming a popular way of playing music, even appealing to the generation of iTunes and Spotify users. Before the age of boomboxes and walkmans in the early 80s to 90s, the earliest form of music playing came from box-shaped record players known as turntables (originally called phonographs in the late 1880s). These players would spin flat disks called vinyls containing their own variety of musical genres. The anticipation of the needle dropping to play the record is a rush of excitement for music consumers as they appreciate their favorite song through the raw sound of a turntable. It eventually became a groundbreaking form for music lovers, as the experience of collecting records leads the way to a timeless culture of vinyl playing. As the world modernized technologically, the culture of collecting vinyls and playing them on turntables went on a demise as tapes, compact discs (CD), and eventually MP3 streaming sites on the internet, took over the music industry. Despite this, the charm of vinyls, passed down from previous generations, would lead to a constant revival. The format’s current revival especially became popular with millennials, who have branded themselves as a nostalgic generation, growing up in a transitional era of from analog to digital. A millennial’s two cents The Benildean sat down with 23-year-old vinyl collector Kurvine Chua, a Digital Filmmaking alumnus and part-time worker at popular vinyl records store Satchmi as a music consultant, who shared his experience on the old format.
ETHEREAL. Chua shares how vinyl records offer an out-of-thisworld listening sensation.
“It’s nice that people are starting to discover the physical format, not just with vinyls but also with CDs because I actually started with CDs and what really bothered me since before was how people would just easily dismiss the physical format as something that could be just thrown away, so I’m really great that vinyl came into the picture today,” he said. When played on proper equipment, vinyl records sound unfiltered, one of the many elements the format takes pride in. Through vinyl recording, the music in a room could sound just as it is if played live. “You can put them on and you’re not tempted to press the next button because there is no next button. You’re actually gonna listen to the entire record and then from there it’s just something really hypnotically pleasing staring at the platter spinning,” Chua added.
42 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 42
5/2/2018 12:19:19 PM
However, many beginners in the hobby usually make the wrong choice of buying cheap suitcase type record players or retro-based designs. As trendy as they may look, such designs are made without the engineering knowledge of previous turntable designers, eventually becoming a rip-off. As Chua would describe it, the sound of a record player demands attention––different from a Spotify playlist that continuously plays in the background. “What really attracted me to [vinyls] was [how] it entails all the five senses. [Because] with something that’s just digital, you’re just limited with a certain kind of sense directly; but with records, you have everything,” he emphasized. “I think vinyl records are god sent. It’s so amazing how we have these big black circular disks that we can just put on the platter and then music comes out of it. It’s old technology but it gets even more magical as the years pass,” Chua added. In this day and age, despite it being old technology, the future of vinyl will live on as people crave for a tactile experience, making them connect to their music in a personal way. Although the evolution of music playing has drastically changed throughout the years, the old format will always be sustained as it holds a deep part of the music industry. Through the centuries since the creation of vinyls, the act of listening and engaging with music from the raw sound of a turntable is, and always will be, an experience a computer file could never replace.
43 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 43
5/2/2018 12:19:21 PM
WORDS BY RIGEL ESTABAYA. ART BYJOHN CARL AUJERO 44 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 44
5/2/2018 12:19:22 PM
Sports in the new millennium: a death sentence for traditional Pinoy sports? Coexistent relevance
Even if the world is already embracing technology, it should not be the cause of death for traditional sports, especially the Philippines’ very own.
Have the good days of playing tumbang preso, sipa, and patintero in the streets become a mere memory nowadays? Up until the early 2000s, children would go out and play tumbang preso, sipa, and patintero with neighborhood friends and display youthful competitiveness. However, because of modern technological advancements, more people have become content with playing gadgets indoors rather than breaking a sweat in the streets. Change of generational mentality Tumbang preso, sipa, and patintero— these are some Filipino sports that were famously played from up to the early 2000s. Unfortunately, the childhood games of older Filipinos are in danger of extinction in today’s youth due to technological marvels such as video games, seducing players with state-ofthe-art graphics. This further encourages kids to be more involved in the world of e-sports rather than physically playing traditional Filipino games. In the year 1990, the Gameboy, a portable gaming device that can be taken anywhere and everywhere, was invented. From this, more popular devices were created, such as the PS4, XBOX One, and the Nintendo Switch, which have garnered a very avid fan base, with 12.4 million Filipino gamers contributing 11 percent to the total worldwide revenue, as of 2014. With the rise in popularity of digital games, along with competition from internationallyrenowned sports such as basketball, volleyball, and football, it is no surprise that traditional Filipino games have been forgotten by some. Fortunately, these are not completely disregarded, as some devoted practitioners still try to continue to pass on the legacy to the newer generations.
In an interview with The Benildean, 67-yearold Filomeno Buena, Benilde’s Arnis Team coach and a recognized grandmaster of Arnis, shared Filipino sports can still be relevant in a world seemingly dominated by e-games. “There has to be a meeting of the minds among our leaders, especially in education. That when you teach...the real principle behind the art must be taught,” Buena said, adding how some instructors seem to lack ‘heart’ or ‘vision’ for the said sports. Buena also noted how these should be given due importance by incorporating them in the educational system through creating policies, emphasizing how such sports contribute to the holistic formation of Filipino identity. “Filipino sports should [reflect] cultural heritage...and serve as a vehicle for the development of a disciplined, upright, and productive citizen,” he said. Meanwhile, for EJ Balane, a Game Design and Development senior and team captain of Benilde’s Arnis team, the thought of preserving such sports is just as important. “Just as long as we can preserve the idea of the traditional sports, for me, that’s the important part. We shouldn’t forget the sport, even though we aren’t playing them anymore. If the idea of the sport is still there, the sport will not die,” Balane said. As long as the idea of a sport is intact through education and constant practice, even by selected players or hobbyists, it will live on to evolve through generations to come. Although it may take more time than usual for the resurgence of Filipino sports, rest assured, their renaissance will arrive soon enough.
45 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 45
5/2/2018 12:19:22 PM
Unorthodox ways of healing WORDS BY JAN RENOLO. ART BY ISA HILARIO An unusual combination of mysticism and religion make up traditional Filipino healing practices.
46 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 46
5/2/2018 12:19:23 PM
Hundreds of years ago, Filipino forefathers relied on traditional healing methods to cure diseases, heal wounds, and recover from sickness. The unusual combination of mysticism and religion will always make traditional Filipino healing practices a fascinating topic. To the majority, it seems magical, but in fact, it stems from a deep understanding of life and a developed system of operating the human body.
remedies for illnesses even without formal education and licenses. Some of them sell their own products they exaggeratedly claim as very effective in treating ailments and diseases in order to scam the masses. Some claim to have secret formulas which cannot be obtained from drugstores while some utter vague prayers or incantations while treating their patients.
Rise of traditional healers
Luckily, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), one of the five sectoral councils of the Department of Science and Technology, is coming up with a set of guidelines that will introduce non-formal health practitioners into the mainstream medical practice. This will give legitimate traditional healers accreditation, help the government ensure an evidence-based healthcare practice in the country, and protect the public from falling into the hands of quacks.
With approximately 110 ethnolinguistic groups, the Philippines is no stranger to unique cultural identities, as each one varies from the other due to different influences. These distinctive qualities are what then molds the the fabric of traditional health and healing practices. Traditional medicine, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), “is the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.”
Additionally, Republic Act No. 8423, or the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997, aims “to improve the quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipino people through the development of traditional and alternative health care and its integration into the national health care delivery system.”
Therefore, traditional healing is part of the Filipino culture that has continually been practiced especially by people in far-flung barrios and barangays, who have passed the practice down through many generations. Historically, the Babaylan, aside from their main role as a religious leader, also spearheaded healthcare operations to all members of a community, regardless of gender and social status. It was from the Babaylan that traditional healers now operate under various names: albularyo, manghihilot, magtatawas, and faith healers.
This law also aims to “encourage scientific research on and develop traditional and alternative health care systems that have direct impact on public health care, and promote and advocate the use of traditional, alternative, preventive, and curative health care modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost-effective, and consistent with government standards of medical practice.” With traditional healing being an integral part of human development, its evolution in the Philippines proves to be a rich practice founded on religion, mysticism, magic, superstition, and more. As modern healthcare evolves, the recognition of the relevance of different forms of medicine and healing rooted in culture and history continuously increase as well.
Although it had been subjected to several challenges, traditional healing practices survived the brutal repression of the Spanish colonizers. It was then introduced to the foreign medical system during the American occupation and to the present predicaments brought about by globalization. In fact, these historical experiences have made the existence of diverse blends of the native and foreign healing arts, superstitions, beliefs, and practices possible.
“The use of herbal remedies can provide a practical and inexpensive way of alleviating illness in countries like the Philippines that is rich in natural resources and has a fecund pool of indigenous healing practices,” the National Ethical Guidelines for Health Research 2006 by the PHCRD read.
Currently, the country has emerged into different departments and compositions in the way of healing; general doctors, pediatricians, psychologists, surgeons, etc. But in this period, Filipinos can still associate with traditional folk doctors. For centuries, healing involved the act of touching the part of the body that is affected, an action popularly called as the ‘healing touch’ which was made popular by manghihilots.
According to WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan at the International Conference on Traditional Medicine for South-East Asian Countries in February 2013, “traditional medicines, of proven quality, safety, and efficacy, contribute to the goal of ensuring that all people have access to care. For many millions of people, herbal medicines, traditional treatments, and traditional practitioners are the main source of health care, and sometimes the only source of care.”
“Hindi man lang ako hinawakan,” or “Ano ba ‘yun? Inhale-exhale lang ginawa tapos, tapos na!” This mentality is evident in the common complaint received by modern doctors; not about their lack of medical knowledge, but rather in their lack of concern for the patients.
“This is care that is close to homes, accessible and affordable. It is also culturally acceptable and trusted by large numbers of people. The affordability of most traditional medicines makes them all the more attractive at a time of soaring health-care costs and nearly universal austerity. Traditional medicine also stands out as a way of coping with the relentless rise of chronic non-communicable diseases,” she added.
Quacks versus recognized traditional medicine Although traditional medicine is still practiced in the country particularly in rural areas, the healers have been replaced by the doctors as the face of health in the Philippines. However, despite the likes of albularyos and manghihilots being belittled today, it is best to remember that they are the ones who set the standards of healing in the country.
Although Western and modern medicine are widely accepted and highly regarded, Filipinos and their trust in the neighborhood manghihilot and albularyo remain strong, and for good reason. Traditional healing practices reflect the Filipino psyche that includes culture, development, and more. Undoubtedly, it deserves to be respected and protected, not to be mocked by quacks and disregarded by the modern healing system.
Normally, the duties of Filipino traditional healers are to maintain the balance of elements in the bodies through making herbal medicine that do not aggravate any organs or complex natural processes in the body like acidity, alkalinity, cleansing, etc, there comes the rise of “quacks,”— people who perform healing procedures or prescribe
47 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 47
5/2/2018 12:19:23 PM
N O M E A T ? N O PROBLEM WORDS BY REGINA TAMONDONG. PHOTO BY PATRICIA OLIVEROS Veganism: a lifestyle that saves you, the animals, and the planet.
48 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 48
5/2/2018 12:19:23 PM
49 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 49
5/2/2018 12:19:24 PM
Over the past years, veganism has become a growing movement in the Philippines. It’s a lifestyle that is more than just a diet wherein what one thinks also matters as much as what one eats. Considering the number of sacrifices that comes with this meticulous lifestyle, the benefits of veganism are far more significant than one might expect even if people can easily be intimidated to try it out. Veganism is defined as an ideology wherein those who practice this lifestyle, vegans, do not consume meat, dairy, or any animal product that involves cruelty and injustice to these creatures. In the Philippines, veganism can be considered a modern leap because it’s an unconventional lifestyle for Filipinos, especially since it is common Pinoy culture to love meat, seafood, and even animal products. However, not many Filipinos truly understand what this lifestyle entails. According to The Manila Times in 2014, those who practice veganism have been very accepting of the said lifestyle due to the belief of it improving health consciousness, heightening environmental activism, and promoting a humane and caring environment. Consequently, this contributes to the seemingly increasing number of vegans, as it has come to attention that choosing this kind of lifestyle allows one to help animals, the environment, and most significantly, themselves.
Somehow unique in the Philippines Veganism is considerably a challenging lifestyle, but being a vegan in the Philippines is a whole new level of difficulty. Filipinos enjoy consuming meat, dairy, and even use animal products, which perhaps is one of the reasons why vegans are considered peculiar and having a shift in diet is much harder for Filipinos.
A vegan’s ups and downs
Practicing veganism is also exacting because of how costly it can be and how hard it is to find products that are non-animal or by-products. Gathering information on veganism is also tough considering there are not many vegan practitioners especially in the Philippines. However, against the challenges, Patricia Ong, a Filipino vegan for three years and a Digital Filmmaking student in the College, has been a firm advocate of the lifestyle and has influenced many to give veganism a try.
One of the most frequently asked questions by aspiring vegans is “What happens to your body when you turn vegan?” According to research found in PubMed Central, “a free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine,” plant-based diets help in preventing chronic health problems and lowers the risk of cancer, arthritis, and other common ailments, as well as help in cholesterol levels and blood pressure profiles. Additionally, by practicing this diet, inhumane activities done to animals will be lessened too, with the help and attention given by vegan activists and groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
“Veganism is demanding at first, but after a while, you get used to it and it becomes a lifestyle that benefits both the animals and the environment,” she said in an interview with The Benildean.
However, it is not guaranteed that the benefits of veganism would be 100 percent effective to those who do the diet. One of the most common results that occurs is weight loss, as vegans no longer eat fatty and oil-based food. Although this lowers the risks of diabetes, it surely makes a vegan’s body mass lower than non-vegans. This leads them to experiencing fatigue more often due to the lack of certain vitamins like iron and calcium caused by completely dismissing the whole dairy food group. Lastly, vegans will experience the need to go to the bathroom frequently. Having a plant-based and fibrous diet will aid in ameliorating digestive functions that are good for excretion, but still causes vegans a great deal of inconvenience as well.
With the support of her peers and family, Ong is able to adapt easily to veganism and has greatly helped her with having a cleaner body, both inside and out, as well as having a more understanding view towards caring for the environment. Notably, despite not being vegan, some people still do what they can to prevent or lessen the harmful effects to animals and the environment. As challenging as the vegan lifestyle is, it is fulfilling for those who practice it. Hence, it is advisable that when shifting to veganism, one must do it in their own pace. With a number of vegan groups in the Philippines, like Vegans of Manila and Vegetarian Club, it’s more accessible for others to learn more about its benefits.
With both good and bad sides of becoming vegan, the choice to engage in such a lifestyle is up to the person, taking into consideration their own health concerns and dietary preferences.
It may be a tough choice to make, but veganism is all about preserving one’s health and the environment in the long run.
50 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 50
5/2/2018 12:19:24 PM
51 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 51
5/2/2018 12:19:25 PM
BLIP
With change as a force that never seems to stop, will we embrace it or shun it? Learn through other people’s testimonies and lives. As you flip through the following pages, you will be transported within the inner workings of the human mind and his understanding of preservation, or the ever-evolving innovation and development in trends and human behavior.
EDITED BY Mac Fabella
LIFESTYLE + INTERESTS + PEOPLE
52 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 52
5/2/2018 12:19:25 PM
Inside the Flat Earthers’ ‘world’
WORDS BY GIANNA ABAO & MANOLO TAN. ART BY JAZZ SOLOMON
53 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 53
5/2/2018 12:19:26 PM
For believers, a “flat earth” is not just about the spherical nature of the Earth, but also a matter of belief in God. With both societal and technological developments affecting the traditional way Filipinos interact and think in modern times, the common Filipino fanaticism over conservatism doesn’t stop at all things moral, but also crosses over to the scientific realm. Despite being confronted with detailed facts, some devoted Filipinos choose to follow one belief about the planet they live in: that the Earth is flat. As a result of years of primary education, most people accept the world is round. However, a devoted group of people who believe the outdated idea of a flat Earth works tirelessly to instill the motto of “FLAT EARTH MEANS GOD IS ALIVE” into the belief system of those doubtful of the spherical nature of the planet. According to Flat Earth adherents, their idea was motivated by the ancient Hebrew conception of the universe, originating from the Babylonians who believed the Earth was hollow in shape to provide a room for the underworld.
Understanding the backward thinking Perhaps the denial of the Earth’s scientifically-proven shape is aggravated by the lack of awareness of its supporters and ignorance towards scientific facts and observations, as seen in their refusal to heed the teachings of duly-certified experts in the concerned scientific fields. Dubbing themselves as a “diverse and multi-belief system group,” they casually invite anyone to take part in their discussions. Some Flat Earth subscribers even seem to have a bad habit of jumping on the bandwagon, wherein they choose to be influenced by ideas commonly believed by hardcore believers of the movement and the group’s local founders.
The seemingly-outlandish belief of the “Flat Earth” movement has gained popularity insofar as it has extended over the Philippines. In January 2018, a number of Facebook groups, including the ‘Philippine Flat Earth Society (PFES)’ and ‘Flat Earth Philippines’ have convinced quite a few people. Filipino netizens were making noise on social media platforms and have given their mixed reactions. The largest one of these Flat Earth groups now hosts more than 2,500 members on Facebook and is actually teeming with buzz, in which they aim to exchange their own “scientific” theories and arguments to collectively work against “round Earth conspiracies.”
Facebook has been weaponized to swap photos, articles, or other Flat Earth conspiracy materials that will suffice their theory, with most Flat Earth society constituents arguing how the earth is truly flat due to the horizon being perfectly flat instead of curved. Due to the open nature of the debate on Earth’s shape, this theory is distorting into a form of entertainment for members who do not take the movement seriously. Admittedly, some Flat Earthers only choose to join and stay in the groups in order to satisfy their daily humor and see it as comic relief, turning the said belief into a subject of mockery.
The Bible as truth With the Bible as their infallible basis for their belief, Flat Earth Philippines wants Filipinos to “Believe your Bible. It’s the only TRUTH there is in this world,” and that the Earth is truly flat due to “the four corners of the world” as stated in Revelation 7:1. Even the books of Genesis, Psalms, and Ezekiel are only a few of the exhaustive list of basis for Biblical cosmography that champion their theory. On the other hand, their literal interpretation over the planet’s shape tests the views of other members on biblical doctrine. Religious Flat Earthers are too quick to reject a spherical world due to doctrinal constraints, housing themselves in their fortress of scriptural truth. However, harboring extreme mistrust for scientific findings leads to these Filipino Flat Earth adherents to being ridiculed as irrational and even delusional.
In this question of Flat Earth factions, the real question remains to be: how does this active denial of the truth hinder a society’s progress? While this debate is stimulating much sparring among Flat Earth adherents and science advocates, it is unquestionable that there are many ways to prove the spherical nature of the planet without sending oneself to the outer space. Further convincing oneself into one’s own standard of rightness may in turn make one susceptible to be entrenched with an incorrect and outdated mindset of society.
While the Flat Earth adherents continue to embody the concept of backward thinking, rejecting factual and constantly updated scientific findings may become an impediment towards a nation’s progress altogether.
Filipinos, Flat Earthers or not, must always choose to remain critical and self-aware about information gathering to ensure not only one’s personal growth but for society’s development as a whole.
54 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 54
5/2/2018 12:19:27 PM
Zero waste, zero consequences WORDS BY EIA COLLANTES. ART BY MIKO FERNANDO
55 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 55
5/2/2018 12:19:27 PM
Mother Nature’s rent is free of charge; the least people can do is sustain what she gives. Zero-waste living: it’s an overwhelming term and the usual persona who comes in mind is a hipster vegan addicted to metal straws and fitting months’ worth of trash in a large soft drink bottle. Though the stereotype may be partly true, this label only touches a surface of the reality of the said lifestyle. Despite the negative connotations, these people are actually concretely helping to conserve the planet while others remain apathetic about the issue of waste management.
Ignoring warning signs
It’s easy to scroll through one’s timeline and avoid articles warning people about how polluted the earth is getting but remaining apathetic would just do more harm than good. In a comprehensive study by Asian Development Bank on the solid waste management in Metro Manila, the Philippines is third on the list of highest trash-collection rates having 6,700 tons of trash generated per day, in which 720 tons can only be recycled or composted. In other words, Filipinos produce enough nonbiodegradable trash enough to fill up nearly 15 average-sized tennis courts.
The main philosophy of the zero-waste lifestyle is to reuse different resources or simply use these at the bare minimum through eco-friendly alternatives. Going zero waste can be as simple as offering coffee baristas one’s own tumblers rather than having them sacrifice another plastic cup. Though these simple acts are enough to make Mother Nature proud, fully committing to the greener lifestyle is another level of dedication.
If these statistics are not alarming enough, the same study also found out that a whopping P3.54 billion is spent yearly on waste collection and disposal, but seemingly no concrete and effective waste disposal or recycling system is available to the country, evident in mountains and seas of trash in both the metro and provinces.
The cost of convenience
In the battle between what is convenient and what’s good for the planet, convenience often wins. While having things packaged conveniently with durable material for consumers makes life easy, it should always be kept in mind that every plastic-wrapped package bought will end up in the trash, and later on, in landfills or the ocean (with an alarming amount of 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean as of 2015 according to National Geographic).
Admittedly, it can be unmotivating to practice a zero-waste lifestyle knowing that small efforts appear seemingly meaningless as majority of people continue to consume nonbiodegradable goods. Trying to live green while watching others carelessly litter and waste plastic is frustrating but that should not be an open invitation to join the bandwagon of destroying the planet.
While big manufacturers can be blamed for a lack of ecofriendly options, refusing to purchase anything packaged with unnecessary layers of non-biodegradable material is always something people should opt for. Fortunately, according to an article by Huffington Post in 2012, the movement for companies to offer eco-friendly options is being spearheaded by large-scale electronics brands such Hewlett Packard, Dell, Philips Electronics, IBM, as well as other companies like Nike, Johnson and Johnson, and Yahoo.
Though living the lifestyle seems daunting, it would no longer be once it becomes habitual. Living zero-waste does not entail heavy spending or any tedious work but only requires some patience and an openness to change. The road to a greener lifestyle begins with reusing or, better yet, finding alternatives. The simple switch from plastic to metal straws, as well as sporting reusable tote bags instead of plastic bags, are other simple alternatives.
At the end of the day, if there are no consumers, then production will stop and big companies would think of alternative ways to package goods. If people during the plastic-free years of the early centuries could survive with only reusable cloths, paper bags, and reusable glasses, then so can people today.
At the end of the day, people are dependent on the resources Mother Nature provides, and the least everyone can do is pitch in their own ways to keep her alive.
56 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 56
5/2/2018 12:19:27 PM
The reality of a neglected fantasy WORDS BY ISA LAZO. PHOTOS BY KYLE BUSTOS & KEL SANTOS Not all fairytale kingdoms have happy endings. Once upon a time in Bavaria, King Ludwig II instructed his subjects to build a castle as a retreat house and eventually his home. With its medieval architecture and 19th century style, little do people know that Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle is also located in the outskirts of Metro Manila—as its replica, of course. Once upon a dream Positioned in Lemery, Batangas, “Fantasy World” is an actual castle with its own local history. The tourist facility was primarily developed to become a club for private members. As developments were ongoing, it was later designed to be a theme park that would open to the public and ultimately be comparable to the fairytale magic and flair Disneyland brings to families. However, in 2001, the future of Fantasy World and the amusement it would bring to Filipinos came to a halt when its development underwent financial issues. With more than one source of ownership, it is rumored that the Japanese businessman behind the idea of Fantasy World had no choice but to abandon the structure due to its lack of funding. Reports from one of the nation’s leading newspapers, Philippine Star, claimed the project was initially done by the Filipino-owned corporation ECE Realty & Development led by Emilio Ching, the owner of said company. With further investigations, the corporation failed to comply with the Security and Exchange in Commission’s requirements for Fantasy World to be registered as an amusement park. Ching’s neglect of cooperating then led to an abrupt halt which all boiled down to the developers as they were scrutinized for their lack in credibility. But despite the unforeseen problems, construction for Fantasy World was approved by the Department of Tourism (DOT), which managed to put up an archaic-themed castle with towers, a main gate, and access roads prior to its discontinuation. Elevated on top of a hill and surrounded with lush greenery, the castle’s facade, with its crumbling paint and crippled design due to its abandonment over the years, adds a mysterious and medieval vibe. Statues of dragons at the entrance, throne rooms, and tree houses that give a generous view of Batangas are also accessible thanks to the local homeowner’s association that maintains the park to this day.
57 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 57
5/2/2018 12:19:31 PM
Workers’ unfair conditions One worker from Fantasy World’s groundskeeping department, who has been working in the amusement park for 13 years since 2005, said it required a great deal of effort on his part to work there, as he and his fellow workers are tremendously short-staffed. “Kapagod din kasi sa clubhouse ako lang mag-isa, sa garden mga 13 lang [kami], lahat ito pababa, araw-araw,” the elderly man, who refused to be identified, said. Fantasy World, which is estimated to be 30 hectares, and with only 13 groundskeepers, results to an unfair treatment of their employees. Even if Fantasy World in itself is inoperative, the importance of maintaining the property’s physical aspect is necessary for everyone who pays it a visit. But to the worker, the themepark’s worth in terms of preservation is nothing more but a job. “Yun lang trabaho namin,” he added. Despite being seemingly mishandled, Fantasy World still manages to attract visitors, as guests have an entrance fee of P1,000 for every 10 people. Mostly visited by families and groups of friends, varied age groups from different parts of the country, ranging from millennials to seniors, claimed to have known about Fantasy World thanks to social media. Unfortunately, the moniker “Philippine Disneyland” reference is somehow inaccurate for anyone who sees Fantasy World personally. In a visit to Fantasy World, The Benildean interviewed guests from all walks of life. Married couple Raffy and Maiden Balagtas, both 34 years old, said the theme park would not be good for tourism, adding “hindi [ito] makakatulong. Locally, oo, pero foreigners hindi. Hindi nila ‘to pupuntahan, kasi sa kanila mas maganda, pero sa atin [for Filipinos], this will do.” Meanwhile, Nestor, 60, and Nely Tribunsay, 56, who drove all the way from Tayabas, Quezon, talked about the wasted opportunities Fantasy World could have brought to Filipino families who cannot afford a plane ticket to the nearest Disneyland, which is in Hong Kong. “Pag pinaganda ito, para rin ito sa mga hindi afford makapag-travel para masabi na lang na “Ay nakapunta na nga ako” [sa Disneyland],” they said. With every piece of struggle Fantasy World went through from the day it was constructed to present time, one can still wonder the point of it all. For some locals, it doesn’t matter that the theme park barely runs; in reality, Fantasy World will only ever be appreciated for its fortification. But the fact remains that despite its abandonment, some Filipinos still consider it a great deal that the castle is well taken care of, as it brings an out-of-the-ordinary experience to behold for those who pay it a visit. A real “Philippine Disneyland” may not be attainable soon, but just as long as Fantasy World remains open, with a little bit of imagination, its grandiose structure is enough to impress those seeking for a fairytale-like scene.
58 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 58
5/2/2018 12:19:32 PM
59 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 59
5/2/2018 12:19:34 PM
A vanguard of Filipino heritage WORDS BY THEA TORRES. PHOTOS BY MAC YPON & LOURDE UNAS Through an almost literal trip down memory lane, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar takes the Filipino’s past and rebuilds it to fit the modernized era. As the country forges its ascent into a modernized haven, the city of Bataan, rich with its significance in Philippine history, backtracks to the authentic heritage of the country’s most notable features of the past. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, nicknamed Las Casas, a 400-hectare open-air museum and heritage village located in Bagac, Bataan, provides locals and tourists alike the complete experience of life during the country’s Spanish colonial period. Venturing into Las Casas emits the impression of travelling back in time, evident in its features that are meant to resemble the Spanish rule in the Philippines. Replicating the notable accesoria of the Spanish era, the houses are decorated with European columns and stained-glass windows matched with antique furniture and massive chandeliers, providing anyone who enters these houses that ever-grandiose and Illustrado sense of royalty. Spearheaded by Mr. Jose “Jerry” Acuzar, Las Casas’ 62-year-old owner and current chairman of real estate development company New San Jose Builders, Inc., the construction of Las Casas began as a way to preserve the country’s past and embed it permanently up to the future. Currently on its eighth year of operation since it was opened to the public in 2010, the heritage and convention center is most popular for its collection of restored Spanish-Filipino houses that were originally built between the years of late 1700s to early 1900s. According to one of the site’s tour guides, Roy Gray Madrid, Las Casas houses a total of 57 mansions, with 36 of those still using 40 to 60 percent of its original material and structure. Casa Baliuag and Casa Hagonoy from Bulacan, and Casa Jaen from Nueva Ecija are a few of the mansions taken from their former locations and rebuilt in Bataan. The rebuilding stage is a rigorous process of marking and labelling scaffolds, bricks, furniture, and other items to accurately follow the original model of the houses. With the slogan, “Pride in the past, hope for the future,” the famous tourist site draws all attention to the beauty and craft of the SpanishFilipino architecture and lifestyle, while catering to the interests of the current generation.
60 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 60
5/2/2018 12:19:35 PM
61 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 61
5/2/2018 12:19:37 PM
Immersed in the Filipino culture Living up to the site’s physicalities, the all-out, authentic Filipino culture thrives in Las Casas. The tour guides, dressed in barongs and baro’t sayas, are adept with a passion for the country’s heritage. Through their knowledge, various questions, from how the preservation of the mansions are maintained to the specific names and artists of the statues that decorate the site, can be answered. A day tour allows one to experience notable Filipino festivities, with the tour guides and staff encouraging visitors to join a game of hampas palayok, in which the player tries to spike a clay pot filled with treats while blindfolded, as well as place a bet during a round of sabungan (cockfighting). Visitors can also watch a short musical play on the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal, as the site also houses a replica of the national hero’s childhood home, Casa Biñan. Additional features include mansions with exhibits on World War II and monumental churches in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Cusina ni Nanay Maria, a delightful restaurant that offers meals based on the original recipes of Acuzar’s mother, offers authentic Filipino cuisine as well. Included in the menu are the classic Filipino meals such as Sinigang na Bangus sa Bayabas and Adobong Pusit, and Gabi ice cream for dessert. Non-profit art collective, Bellas Artes Projects’ contemporary and experimental art installations can also be found inside the Villanueva Mansion built in 1867, which was then converted into the Philippines’ first art school and is currently preserved in Las Casas. For relaxation and leisure, visitors can spend a day by the site’s beach and catch a stunning view of the sunset. With no venue losing its touch of Filipino culture, recreational activities, such as carabao racing and bamboo climbing, occasionally occur by the beach for people to watch and participate in. Brick by brick Every detail in Las Casas is crafted with precision and behind this are the undoubtedly hardworking and talented artists, builders, and workers that turn sketches and blueprints into reality. Though all of it could be easily accomplished through modern machinery, the Acuzars chose to maintain the traditional method of work. From the foundational structure to the artistic decorations, the production of Las Casas is accomplished through manpower. Not only does it uphold the site’s culture, but it has also provided hundreds of job opportunities to the locals of Bataan. By gathering people who center all their skill and talent to one goal, Las Casas has become a tight-knit community. In addition, the employees are encouraged to stay in houses provided by the Acuzars themselves that are just a walk away from the site. Not only has this ignited a sense of camaraderie and kabayanihan among them, it also sheds light on the positive Filipino values that Acuzar himself promotes. “Kung andito si Mr. Jerry, aakalain mo isang turista lang din siya. Naka-shorts at polo lang, napakasimple. Tapos pumupunta siya dito sa warehouses palagi para kamustahin ‘yung mga manggagawa,” Madrid said, reflecting how Mr. Acuzar’s humility shines through every time he visits the site. As a symbol of the Philippines’ pride in its past, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar continues to imprint a crucial message of the significance of heritage and remembrance for future generations. With the country’s rapid modernization catching up, Las Casas holds firm ground on the roots the Philippines’ rich history and reinvigorates the Filipino culture.
62 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 62
5/2/2018 12:19:40 PM
63 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 63
5/2/2018 12:19:41 PM
PLATFORM
In turning trifling seconds into points of history, let conspicuous identities break through the barricade of being forgotten. As the spotlight settles on remnants of the past, stories of long-lived personas and incessant ideas are told through this issue’s take on the visual and literary arts.
EDITED BY Thea Torres
LITERARY + ART + DESIGN + PHOTOGRAPHY
64 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 64
5/2/2018 12:19:41 PM
I Am All and None ARRANGED BY GAB TORRES. ART BY TRICIA GUEVARA. A piece that celebrates the oneness and the multiform of self, told in the thousand shapes of words, drawn from mouths of shape-shift poets. I am: a collection of my fragmented selves; there is not only ‘I’: I am what you speak of, and yet, I am not also that. I am a constant impermanence, the evolving wind, and so ‘I am’ made alive! —Gab Torres I stand amid the roar Of the heart where I have roots: Shape without form, shade without color, Sunlight on a broken column— On the back of the wind, And dares to claim the sky— A free bird that thinks of another breeze—
Poems used: A Dream Within A Dream by Edgar Allan Poe If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda The Hollow Men by T.S. Eliot Caged Bird by Maya Angelou Animals by Frank O’Hara Don’t Go Far Off by Pablo Neruda somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond by E.E. Cummings Clown in the Moon by Dylan Thomas As I Grew Older by Langston Hughes Ariel by Sylvia Plath Sleeping on the Wind by Frank O’Hara I felt a Funeral, in my Brain by Emily Dickinson I’m Nobody! Who are you? by Emily Dickinson
(Have you forgotten what we were like then when we were still first rate and the day came fat with an apple in its mouth the whole pasture looked like our meal.) I am the smoke that roams looking for a home nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands as I, Yet: I think that if I touched the Earth, It would crumble Into a thousand lights of sun, Into a thousand whirling dreams— Then the substanceless blue Pour of tor and distances: The eyes roll asleep as if turned by the wind and the lids flutter open slightly like a wing. And I dropped down, and down And hit a World, at every plunge, And Finished knowing—then— I’ll wander mazily over all the earth, asking, “I’m Nobody! Who are you? Are you – Nobody – too?”
65 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 65
5/2/2018 12:19:43 PM
Around Nowhere WORDS BY JOSHUA LAPID & NOEL MENDOZA. ART BY ISA HILARIO. Two friends reunite and rekindle after many years. Yet, as both are plagued with anxiety for change, they uncannily discover what it takes to preserve their own identities.
“Is this seat taken?” “No, it’s free… Hey! I know you! James!” “Ah! Easily surprised as always. I see some things never change. Bartender, one whiskey please!” “I see you’re drinking whiskey now, Mr. Bigshot. What are you up to these days?” “Balconies to ports, here and there. I can’t believe it’s been five years since I last saw you! That was our graduation, right? I haven’t heard anything from you ever since.” “That’s the way the river flows, I guess. You’ve been busy, I’ve been busy. Everyone’s always busy.” “How about you? When was the last time you composed songs or written stories? What’ve you been up to, man?” “I’ve been jumping from job to job, giving out my music samples. No one can hear genius, man, I tell you.” “Wait, what? Why didn’t you call me? You know I’d be there to help. Just like old times.” “Yeah, I thought we’d see through this together, but I see you’ve been working for some company now. What do you do now? Are you an accountant or something?” “Well, let’s just say I found my way and—hold on for just a sec, I have to check this text.” “You mean sold out?” “I’m sorry? Of course not, nothing was ever given to me on a silver plate. I had to start from the lowest, man. It wasn’t easy for me but I never stopped trying.” “You didn’t stop trying to be some pencil pusher at some desk.” “What does my job have to do with you?” “It has nothing to do with me, in fact you don’t have anything to do with me.” “Well, look at you! Same old person, nothing over the top, still that kid from the country...” “Look at you, you’re wearing a suit and tie in a bar! I see you’ve been checking your phone a hundred times yet you never seem to reply to any of the messages I left.” “Pete, we lost contact after graduation when you left, remember?” “I wouldn’t say I left, but everyone just quit. Out of everyone, Mikey, Charles, me, you, everyone seemed to just move on or whatever.” “Don’t you think that’s the point of life? To move forward? Sure, we drifted apart, but growing up is like that, right? Instead of just sitting around here waiting for anything.”
66 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 66
5/2/2018 12:19:43 PM
“I don’t buy that. You mean to tell me the right way to live is to just give up? You have got to be kidding, right?” “I never said “give up.” It’s never wrong to aspire and actually be a better person.” “What do you mean, James? How can you move forward without leaving things behind?” “It’s the same dreams and aspirations that kept me growing until I became who I am right now. I just did what made me happy.” “Life is better if we stay grounded to what we used to. Too much change makes you forget your past.” “Yes, I’ve changed, but I’m not completely different. I’m not a bad person, Pete.” “I didn’t say you were. I never thought of you as a bad person, James. I mean what are we doing man? What’s with all this arguing?” “I don’t know with you! You cut me off and shut me out all of a sudden. Look, I came back to town after years of working and I see my best friend alone at some bar—so I came to you.” “What? So you’re going to pin this on me? After leaving me behind?” “Wait, I have to take this call again.” “Yeah, yeah, whatever floats your boat.” “Seems like I gotta get going.” “Already? But we still have so much to talk about.” “Like you said, it’s the way the river flows. Let’s do this again sometime. Please don’t be a stranger anymore.” “I’ll try not to.” James rushed out the door. Pete, left alone at the bar, finished his beer, drowning in the late, Friday night chit-chat.
67 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 67
5/2/2018 12:19:43 PM
68 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 68
5/2/2018 12:19:50 PM
In fleeting memory WORDS BY LACE SOLIS & THEA TORRES. PHOTOS BY EIA COLLANTES.
childish faith with). Truthfully, we never actually cared for Church, so we used that Sunday hour to only play by the pews or catch some more sleep. By college, we stopped attending mass; maybe because mom wasn’t there to remind us anymore. And the Banaba tree remained a part of our childish prayers.
When youthful bliss loses its grip on the present, the musings of old age catches up. “In fleeting memory” is a story of contentment and melancholy told through excerpts an old man scribbled in his journal.
But the older you get, the more you search for moments of prayer. It returned to me in whispered wishes, in declarations of desperation, and cries for help. When my daughter became too busy being a mother, the Church kept the loneliness at bay. At Church, there are subtle buzzes of life everywhere; children dress their Sunday’s best, choir’s melodies urge everyone to sing along, and the priest plays a raconteur’s role. I’ve never been a devout Catholic, but I’ll always be fascinated by the blind power of religion—how strangers gather in one house to sing praises and listen to stories, and find refuge in someone who could merely be a historical character.
Microwaved bagels and a cup of store-bought coffee take the place of morning hikes to the mango farm. I sit on the chair I made when I was 21 and I’m reminded of all the things I swore I’d do and all the places I hoped I’d go to. Now I’m 72, wrinkled and old, and I’ve done all the things I swore I’d do and I’ve been to all the places I hoped I’d go to. January 23, 2008, 10:00 AM It’s finally stopped raining here in Seattle. The sun has come out and its soft rays are making the dewy grass glisten. It’s the perfect weather to spend the day with my granddaughter at the park. I sometimes forget she’s not three years old anymore but 12—what a number; Bella’s 12 and, like most young ladies her age, she’s obsessed with her new iPhone. On our way to the park, she was busy tapping away on that little device. I walked quietly beside her, hands in my pocket, remembering the last time we went to the park together when she asked me to hold her hand as she skipped cracks on the pavement.
March 5, 2008, 5:40PM Bella invited me to go to the park this morning. This time, Bella left her phone at home. In front of us is the horizon, hues of red and yellow clamoring over fleeting clouds. A while ago, she asked me why I left the Philippines. I told her it was a decision I made in my youth—to press the refresh button with my only daughter who was just three at that time, after her mom chose to stay far away from us. There wasn’t anything special in the Philippines for me anymore. “It was boring,” I finished, trying to get a laugh out of her. She just stared at the sun as it lost its rays. After a while, she told me that people run away when things get too predictable.
Bella and I sat side by side on a bench in silence. While the empty swing danced to the beat of the wind, Bella’s playing a game on her phone, the one with a bunch of tiny animals racing around in colorful cars. I don’t know how kids today call it, but to Bella, it happens to be worth ignoring the rare view of the cloudless, vibrant sky above us. If I were her age, I’d be causing a ruckus all over this park. Except, not to the fullest—the trees here are trapped by ropes that hung “Do not climb” signs.
“Easy can be unsettling,” she answered casually, no air of pretension. Bella doesn’t realize she’s growing up too fast. March 20, 2008, 8:12PM My brother called me today and told me a house in the Philippines was waiting for me. We finally had enough money to pay for the house and lot that was planned to be our family’s little compound for us older relatives. By next month, I’ll be settled back in the Philippines for good. Mom was right; prayers do go a long way.
January 23, 2008, 5:00PM While eating ice cream by a pond, I told Bella about the summer when I was 12. I’d wake up at five in the morning to see the sunrise with the fishermen who lived by the coast. Summer days in the Philippines looked exactly like how they look in postcards; sunny and clear. I wish the postcards could carry the scent of the salty coastal air and the sound of lapping waves.
April 24, 2008, 8:02AM I have to stop tightening my seatbelt and ignore the newspaper headlines about plane crashes pulsating under my eyelids. I always believed I feared flying but I realize now the imminent fear is falling into the sky, consumed by gravity.
I told my granddaughter I learned how to swim with the currents by tagging along with the fishermen. She chuckled and said, “Lolo Ernie, there aren’t even any currents in the pool I take swimming lessons in. It’s blue and still, there aren’t any waves to tug on my ankles and the sunlight only touches my skin through the thin glass window panes.”
Before the sun gives way to night, I’d be back home. I’d finally get to see the bluest seas and touch the tree barks I used to scale barefoot. I’ve lived in many homes throughout my lifetime but the Philippines was the home that I never left behind, oceans and miles in between considered; the Philippines stayed with me.
It made me laugh. It was true, there were no currents in indoor swimming pools and the sun had to snake its way through the windows.
“Please take your seat and fasten your seatbelt. Make sure your seat and folding tray are in their full…” crackled through the plane’s PA as I put all my strength in my weatherworn hands to clutch onto the armrests.
February 24, 2008, 3:46 PM “Prayer coupled with perseverance will help you achieve your dreams.” I could still hear my mother’s soothing voice when I was a boy, with her gentle gaze and a soft grip on my shoulder; this was her daily reminder to me and my brother growing up in Leyte. Kuya Emman and I prayed to own the only Banaba tree in the neighborhood (to whom we were praying to was no more than a name we started these litanies of
If there ever was a situation that called for a prayer, I figured it would be this. “God, let me come home.”
69 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 69
5/2/2018 12:19:51 PM
WORDS BY JOSHUA LAPID. PHOTOS BY LOURDE UNAS & MAC YPON.
Spirit’s pyre A spark of inner fire ignites the embers of a weary soul. From the incandescence of a waning coal, it slowly grows to the anger of a raging conflagration. Seething flame from within erupts as everything is now scorched, then silenced. The roar of a furnace coats the world in ash. The impregnable spirit stands alone in barren glory.
70 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 70
5/2/2018 12:19:51 PM
71 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 71
5/2/2018 12:19:53 PM
72 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 72
5/2/2018 12:19:54 PM
73 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 73
5/2/2018 12:19:55 PM
74 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 74
5/2/2018 12:19:57 PM
75 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 75
5/2/2018 12:19:58 PM
76 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 76
5/2/2018 12:20:00 PM
77 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 77
5/2/2018 12:20:02 PM
Aviated abstracts WORDS BY GAB TORRES & BIANCA ARELLANO. ART BY M.J. RONQUILLO Words plainly said castrate imagination. Sometimes, it is in the obscure where the most vivid fantasies take form, leap, and fly. INSTRUCTIONS: The mind is erroneous as a memory-generating machine, as it is meant to wonder, create, and deviate. Take a guess on what curio each piece elicits. Abandon logic and free your imprisoned curiosity.
78 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 78
5/2/2018 12:20:03 PM
the sprites by the lily sprouts rejoice on my command: silver threads of the skies, trembling fingers of space, unsound, glazing Williams’ red wheelbarrow. answer: rain a pretty posh fish, on a sacred swamp-swim; thin thought-thimble: a wimpy, wan whim. you have Lice, with sties though Everything is a disguise, like a sigh of a fly missing an eye. answer: a lie I live in the fountain Unfound, By searchful hearts That never arrive;
A complex feeling this attraction that buds from friendship, Twisted into grotesque definitions until what is left is To paint it thickly, beginning with strokes of sweet words: metaphors to be twisted into lies, or long lives. Answer: loving
I am all the time You took molting away Behind technicolor shadows
I have lost myself
In the drunken Indigo streets, Shut eternally In the tombs Of dusk, Unresurrectifiable, Or remaining Without pulse.
Halfway through. Ending, ending, Returning to my birth Everything clearer now.
Within the wordy spectra I chase the meaning, interim
Answer: self-actualization
Here is where you left me. But I may have Never Left you:
Flights of fancy, a-wasting What-could’ve-beens Sweet, then an aftertaste Of a crime, though a mistake
I can be the shapeshift Smoke that lingered in Your lungs Since 15.
Never satisfying the jury Of one: of you, or heart
answer: youth
Answer: regret
Otherwise, live in the lie.
79 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 79
5/2/2018 12:20:03 PM
A testament to the steady symphony of Philippine texts WORDS BY LACE SOLIS. PHOTOS BY LOURDE UNAS. Volumes of Filipinos’ history, ideals, and thoughts continue to echo resoundingly within the four, white walls of Solidaridad Bookshop. Amidst the steady stream of daily commute through the side streets of Ermita, a quiet testament to the Filipinos’ love for literature and the arts lie in 531 Padre Faura, Solidaridad Bookshop. A fixture since 1965, Solidaridad has remained unassuming with its uncomplicated facade—clear glass, behind which peek books from decades past and present, and a white sign with red letters that spell out “Solidaridad.” Just a stone’s throw from Manila’s red-light district, the bright lights and the raging storefronts surround the tranquil bookshop like a halo of incendiary flames. Opening its door for readers in 1965, Francisco Sionil Jose (F. Sionil Jose as he is more known) transformed a generation of Filipinos by having homegrown titles available to the public. As a National Artist for Literature, F. Sionil Jose penned several of the books on Solidaridad’s shelves, most of which have stories that revolt against injustices of the Philippine society under the too-firm clasp of the Spaniards and Filipino life in poignant hues of suffering under dictatorship, but also of triumphs of those who refused oppression. Being the fourth book shop to have ever been opened in Manila’s historical timeline, Solidaridad sets itself apart by its armory of book selections, the majority of which are creations of Filipino minds. What may seem to the unseeing eye a quaint shop that’s very representative of Old Manila, Solidaridad proves to be much more. Some sights Solidaridad offers are ridges of Filipiniana books, speckled with foreign titles, and some telephone address books that date back to 1992, as well as an island of yellowing books and old periodicals piled on top of each other, separated from the shelves and labeled “On Sale: 300 for 2.” While perusing the pages of the marked-down books, it might do one good to look up. The walls and high ceilings are embellished with timeless pieces from F. Sionil Jose’s vast collection of paintings and artworks. Undoubtedly, being inside Solidaridad is like going on a pilgrimage through Philippine history. Although the three-storey bookshop has witnessed Manila longer than some of the members of its five-person staff, it has also seen cathartic accounts and stories beyond Manila throughout the years.
80 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 80
5/2/2018 12:20:04 PM
81 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 81
5/2/2018 12:20:05 PM
The 54-year-old bookshop houses numerous paperbacks from the many regions of the Philippines such as Edilberto K. Tiempo’s To Be Free, which was first published in 1972 and recounts a story of strife and revolutionism in Nueva Vizcaya during World War II. As if suspended in a past reality, F. Sionil Jose’s works where the poor farming Samsons and the mestizo Asperri family bleed through the Spanish siege to the American reign, the Rosales Novels are ever present, a looming reminder of the political history of the previous century seen through the eyes of Pangasinenses. Not too far away is N.V.M. Gonzales’ The Bamboo Dancers, whose story dances around Filipinos who hopped in and out of the country during the American colonial period. While the volume of books on the past political and social issues is staggering, it’s a complete miscalculation of Solidaridad to say that it’s all they bring to the table. Unlike Filipinos who were (and are) constantly fighting to have their voice heard amidst the deafening brutalities of conquest, Solidaridad lends an audible roar from writers of contemporary fiction, religion, and art. The myriad of genres is truly a sight— joining the ranks of hardbounds and periodicals on Tibetan Buddhism, faith, and nonreligion; reads and satirical commentary on current events such as Condé Nast’s The New Yorker are graphic Filipino novels and comic books, some of which are published independently. Yes, Solidaridad also listens to the voice of self-published creators, giving them a chance to pitch their books for a spot on the shelves. Weathering the lapping tides of time and the billowing blows of change, Solidaridad has kept its integrity and remained a stronghold of Filipino literature. Circumstance would deem the bookshop a fantasy but despite of big bookstores and other competitors pulling at its seams, Solidaridad took circumstance by the hand and strode with it, bringing with it the history and the future of Philippine luminaries. Solidaridad puts itself in a unique position where it’s both a depository and reservoir of local literary talent. It remains orchestrating the chorus of Filipino voices through providing writers with platforms and readers with pages of Filipino composition.
82 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 82
5/2/2018 12:20:07 PM
83 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 83
5/2/2018 12:20:07 PM
PROFILES
Some two millennia ago, ancient Cordillerans dedicated laborious hours for the completion of the Rice Terraces, a majestic wonder of extreme human effort. However, recent societal developments are now calling the same extreme human effort to maintain the cultural heritage site.
84 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 84
5/2/2018 12:20:08 PM
Banaue Rice Terraces: a handmade marvel WORDS BY MARK BALTAZAR. PHOTOS BY SACE NATIVADAD. 85 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 85
5/2/2018 12:20:09 PM
In the Philippines, the Banaue Rice Terraces is regarded as a cultural gem and a testament of the ancestral, indigenous people’s architectural and agricultural genius. Believed to be carved by hand with minimal equipment into the mountains of Ifugao, it is approximated to be 5,000 feet above sea level and is fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. This wonder of architecture was once deemed to be one of the Eight Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); but unfortunately, not anymore. Fast forward to today, local Ifugao farmers continue to use the irrigation system developed thousands of years ago, usually using the crops for trade or for personal consumption. Another primary source of income for them is the local tourism industry, with travellers from all corners of the globe flocking the northern province of Ifugao. However, recent developments in tourism made way for commercial establishments to be built around the proximity of the rice terraces. Younger generations of the indigenous people turned to the lucrative tourism industry, resulting to countless little buildings flocking the site of the terraces from a viewpoint, unlike the barely commercialized and well-maintained Batad Rice Terraces. From El Niño-induced drought ravages and the gradual erosion of the iconic “steps” that constantly need inspection and care, such misfortunes took its toll on the terraces. Fortunately, as of April 2017, the Department of Agriculture has indicated a funding of one million pesos for the development and rehabilitation of the Banaue Rice Terraces. Aside from the rehabilitation efforts for the heritage site, the project also aims to introduce livelihood projects such as backyard dairy production for the involved families in the rice terraces. But in a series of interviews with The Benildean, Banaue locals indicated they are yet to feel the promises of the government and instead took matters into their own hands in an effort to conserve their ancestors’ legacy for generations to come.
86 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 86
5/2/2018 12:20:09 PM
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 87
5/2/2018 12:20:10 PM
Melo Chorhangon, Tour guide
Margie Poligon, Souvenir shop proprietor
“Bilang isang katutubong Ifugao ay responsibilidad naming gabayan ang mga turista sa kanilang pagdaan dito sa palayan namin. Ginagawa lang din naman namin ito hindi lang para sa aming kanya-kanyang pamilya kundi para [rin] mapanatiling malinis ang inihandog ng mga ninuno namin sa amin. Wala [rin] namang ibang makakatulong sa amin kundi kami-kami [rin] naman.”
“Naisip namin na bilang isang paraan para mapanatili ang aming rice terraces ay ihandog namin ang mga produktong tatak Ifugao sa mga dayuhan dito sa aming probinsya. Dasal lang namin na sana maintindihan nila na buhay namin ang mga terraces na ito at sana bigyan ng tamang paggalang tulad ng mabuting pakikitungo na ibinibigay namin sa kanila.”
Noel Balenga, Native and owner of Hiwang Native House Inn & Noel’s Antique Collection Viewdeck “Lalo na kaming hindi nakapag-aral, kami ang nagcontinue mag-maintain ng terraces. Hindi naman kasi lahat kami natutulungan [ng gobyerno] dito upang mapanatilihang malinis ang aming anihan. Mas maganda kung lahat nagtutulungan kasi hindi lang naman ito para sa aming mga Ifugao lang, pero para sa lahat ng mamamayang Pilipino.”
Meanwhile, the idea of preservation also extends to the people of Sagada, which is located just a few hours from Banaue. The effects of modernization have seemingly affected their daily living as well. Beyond the physical representation of a people’s legacy, it is also crucial to uphold traditions and cultures.
88 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 88
5/2/2018 12:20:12 PM
Pinky Comicho, Native shop owner “Kapag hindi namin mapanatili ang inihandog ng mga ninuno namin sa aming mga Ifugao mula sa makabagong henerasyon ay tiyak na ito ay isang pagbigo sa kanilang dugo’t pawis na inilaan sa pagtayo ng mga rice terraces dito.”
Marc Kiethley Aranduque, Sagada weaving shop proprietor “Para sa akin, mas maganda ma-preserve natin ang ganito (weaving) kasi it is who we are and where we started. Dito kami nagsimula and we want it to stay that way. Hopefully maintindihan ng mga kabataan na mahalin ang pinanggalingan.”
Lester Abuen, Ganduyan Museum owner and curator “What’s ours is ours and it is our responsibility to protect what is entrusted to us by our elders. We are a developing community and we are quite happy to do this for ourselves. We don’t want our treasures to be taken from us. We feel much safer this way.”
89 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 89
5/2/2018 12:20:15 PM
STA FF
P H OT O Kyle Bustos, Carlos Galvez, JR Hernandez, Tim Lubid, Patricia Oliveros, Dana Santos, Kel Santos, Lourde Unas, Ricardo Yan,
P ULS E
Mac Ypon
Jose Marie Taylo
B LI P
ART + DE S I GN JC Aujero, Vancris Balanon,
Gianna Abao, Sam Aquino,
Isa Hilario, Alyssa Maac, Andi Osmeña
Eia Collantes, EJ Lanuza, Isa Lazo, Hans Lim, Manolo Tan
L AY OU T
A B LA Z E
Kristen Alimbuyuguen, Tricia Guevara,
Isis Davadilla, Jhey De Leon, Rigel
Solomon, Yumi Usui, Sonya Valino
Kitty Jardenil, Annel Ramones, Jazz
Estabaya, Sarah Muñoz, Mark Sarile, Joab Uson
DI GI TAL M E DI A
KA R I LYO N
Miggy Añover, Ann Cajucom,
Jennifer Agarpao, Adi Cabañero, Lois
Regina Tamondong, Bea Tan
Marlon Ecalnea, Raphael Reynon,
Ruth Evardone, Marga de Lemos, David Tongol
M ANAGI NG
P LATFO R M
Dianne Consignado, Angelica Guardian,
Bianca Arellano, Joshua Lapid,
Kyle Punongbayan, Agatha Ramos,
Noel Mendoza, Lace Solis, Gab Torres
Zeilina Tandoc
Miguel Infante, Chelsea Nicole Pineda,
90 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 90
5/2/2018 12:20:16 PM
more exclusive content at
thebenildean
91 The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 91
5/2/2018 12:20:18 PM
The Benildean Vol. 4 Issue 13.indd 92
5/2/2018 12:20:19 PM