The GUIDON - October 2014

T HE OFFICI A L S T UDEN T P UBLIC AT ION OF T HE AT ENEO DE M A NIL A UNI V ER SI T Y

VOLUME LXXXV, NO. 5 · OCTOBER 2014

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SPORTS Ateneo Tankers make history with the triple crown.

BEYOND LOYOLA Examining the noble profession

FEATURES Surfing—more than just your typical water sport.

INQUIRY Trans discrimination in the Aegis dress code

VANTAGE The five books you must read before you graduate

OPINION Passing the baton

The GUIDON GUIDON The

Decision for Salomon’s petition still undisclosed

By Joline S. Acampado and Ennah A. Tolentino THE AEGIS Editorial Board (EB) and the Aegis Administrative Board (AB) have reached an official resolution regarding transgender representation in the yearbook, but they have not yet disclosed it to interdisciplinary studies senior Rica Salomon, said Aegis EB Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Kristine Estioko.

Salomon started an online campaign to allow transgender students to appear in the gender they identify with in the Ateneo yearbook, Aegis.

The petition addressed to the Aegis AB was created on September 4 and has 507 signatures as of press time.

Aegis is an organization that manages the creation and release of the annual yearbook; the Aegis AB is comprised of Loyola Schools administrators who approve the plans of Aegis’ student arm, the Aegis EB.

Estioko also said that Aegis is still deliberating if it is necessary to publicly announce their decision.

“However, because it has been elevated to a discussion that involves the entire Atenean community, we seem to be leaning towards making a public statement about it,” she added.

According to Salomon, her petition was in response to Aegis imposing that students should appear as their biological sex instead of the gender they identify with in both the casual and toga photos.

Salomon was concerned that she would have a similar experience as her transgender friend who was asked to wear a polo and tie in the 2014 yearbook despite her hair and makeup being feminine.

She said that whether the school is aware of it or not, there are people affected by the said rule.

MORE INSIDE Ateneo student groups organize Martial Law commemoration week news, 3

Senior bags Ambassador Award in World Korean Speech Contest news, 4

New office created to oversee campus safety and mobility news, 4

Progvar teams nab top spots in national competition news, 5

The context of policy opinion, 6

The illusion of an Ateneo degree opinion, 6

A tradition in transition sports, 10

The ladies can ball sports, 9

A tradition in transition sports, 10

FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY. Rica Salomon says that her petition for proper transgender representation in the yearbook is not just for her; the petition also promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender awareness.

Decision for ›› 3

Serving the two-year residency sports, 10

PHOTO BY ANDREA D. BELDUA

Ateneo adjusts to new 6 awardees lauded Katipunan traffic scheme during the Special Academic Convocation

By Samantha O. Subida

DUE TO the installation of traffic lights along Katipunan Avenue, several modifications have been made to the Ateneo internal traffic system.

The traffic lights were installed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) after closing down the U-turn slots along Katipunan Avenue on September 13.

Prior to this, the Campus Safety and Mobility Office (CSMO) released a memorandum on September 10 to inform the Ateneo community that a two-way traffic scheme will be implemented from Gate 3 to the corner of Fr. Arrupe Road.

In another memorandum released by Vice President for Administration Nemesio Que, SJ on September 17, Masterson Drive in front of the Church of The GUIDON Visit our online accounts.

the Gesù was also converted to a two-way road.

CSMO Director Marcelino Mendoza, however, clarified that the t wo-way traff ic scheme will only be utilized for Masterson Drive.

Mendoza said that the implementation of the two-way scheme for the said road is still subject to changes as CSMO continues to improve the internal traffic route.

The CSMO is a newly created office designed to overlook traffic management and security in the Ateneo campuses.

As of press time, the most recent adjustment to the campus traffic was the opening of Gate 3 Annex, which now serves as an exit for vehicles on the Diversion Road.

The cha nge wa s made effective on September 29, the same day the MMDA mandated Ateneo adjusts ›› 2

Official website theguidon.com

By Bianca N. Martinez A SPE CI A L Ac adem ic Convocation was held on September 16 at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater to honor six awardees who exemplify excellence and have greatly contributed in their chosen fields.

The six honorees include Ozanam awardee Teresa Fernandez, Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi awardee Agnes Locsin, Government Service awardee Conchita Carpio-Morales, Bukas Palad awardee Orlando Quevedo, OMI, DD, Parangal Lingkod Sambayanan awardee Delbert Rice (posthumous) and Lux-In-Domino awardee Mari-Jo Ruiz, PhD. In an interview with The GUIDON, University President Like us on Facebook fb.com/TheGUIDON

Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ mentioned that the manifestation of the Ateneo values in the awardees’ work is a unifying characteristic present in all of them.

The Special Academic Convocation is an annual event that celebrates the recipients of the traditional university awards.

The awards

The Ozanam Award is given to those who emphasize the goodness of Catholics and other Christians while embodying the social teachings of the Church.

This award was bestowed upon Fernandez for her efforts in fighting against domestic violence, advocating women’s rights and her exemplary service

LIFE SERVICE. Orlando Quevedo, OMI, DD receives the Bukas Palad Award which is bestowed upon religious leaders who embody the Catholic and Ignatian ideal of generosity.

6 awardees ›› 2

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Editor: Ennah A. Tolentino · Editorial Assistant: Samantha O. Subida Layout Artist: Ian B. De la Cruz

LEGACY. The Special Academic Convocation recognizes people whose works have left a lasting impact in the Philippines.

PHOTO BY ISABELLA OLIVARES

6 awardees... to the poor and the oppressed.

The Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi is awarded to those who work toward propagating Filipinism and the Filipino identity through cultural channels.

This award was given to Locsin, a choreographer, for her work in incorporating indigenous culture into her ballet productions, thus showcasing Philippine history.

The Government Service Award is given to those who have held a position in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government, and have worked towards the common good of the people.

Carpio-Morales was lauded with this award for her admirable public service and for devoting 40 years of her life to government work.

She played a key role in the impeachment trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona (AB '70) in 2011. ‹‹ 1

The Bukas Palad Award, meanwhile, is given to those who exemplify the Ignatian spirit of generosity and have committedly served the Church.

This was awarded to Quevedo for his contributions in attaining peace between Muslims and Christians in Mindanao.

Quevedo is a co-founder of the Bishop-Ulama Conference of the Philippines, which is comprised of Catholic and Muslim peace workers, as well as advocates from other faiths, that aims to end religious conflict in Mindanao.

The Pa ra ngal Lingkod Sambayanan honors those who have given outstanding public service that complements the work of the government.

Rice, who passed away last May, was posthumously awarded for his efforts on sustainable upland development and education for indigenous peoples, among others.

Finally, the Lux-In-Domino

Award is presented to those who uphold the Ateneo way of living and the values of the Ateneo.

This award is given to university alumni and alumnae only.

Ruiz, the first female awardee, was recognized for her outstanding academic leadership and for investing 47 years in the Ateneo as a mathematics teacher.

Ruiz has been published locally and internationally for her work and was one of the pioneers of the Management Engineering program of the Ateneo.

old traffic scheme instead of the current one.

“Instead of being able to go through Katipunan swiftly, we now have to spend more time waiting on the road rather than actually moving,” Lu said.

Mendoza said that the CSMO is regularly meeting with the MMDA to discuss the Katipunan Avenue traffic scheme vis- à-vis the Ateneo’s. “ We a re con s t a nt ly coordinating with the MMDA to increase amount of traffic signal time for entry and exit of vehicles while we continue to find means to improve traffic flow on-campus to address this,” he said.

The campus traffic scheme had undergone several rerouting since the installation of the traffic lights.

Along with the opening of the Gate 3 Annex, Gate 2.5 was closed to traffic and Gate 3 was dedicated to entering vehicles only.

Moreover, Favis mentioned that the campus’ infrastructure hinders the accommodation of a large number of cars.

“Our infrastructure really can’t handle [the traffic], so it will [really] build up, and we told MMDA that this is [going to] happen,” she said.

Based on the CSMO’s internal data, there are about 12,000 cars entering and exiting the campus daily; this pertains to the car flow, and not the individual number of cars inside the campus.

In addition, Favis said that the new Katipunan Avenue traffic scheme has resulted to an extended clearing time of vehicles along the avenue and inside the campus.

“Normally before, clearing time along Katipunan is 7:45 [PM]. So, by 8:00 [PM], it is already cleared. Here inside [the campus], by 7:15 [PM], it should be cleared already,” she said.

Favis said that at the onset of the new traffic scheme, clearing time is “a bit much later in the day” and that sometimes, the roads are almost always at full capacity.

Bestowing of awards

During the convocation, the awardees expressed their gratitude to the university and to those who have guided them in their work. Moreover, the recipients shared what drove them to move towards excellence in their respective fields.

In Fernandez’s speech, she thanked her community partners who have helped her in

championing women’s rights.

Fernandez described her community partners as selfless in “sharing their last centavo” to help the abused.

Locsin, on the other hand, performed a dance instead of a speech to express her gratitude in receiving the Tanglaw ng Lahi Award.

Quevedo said that the Bukas Palad Award should remind everyone of their common mission to proclaim “God’s reign of salvation,” which has always been his own focus as a priest and bishop.

“To be Christian is nothing more and nothing less than to be [a] disciple in mission. To be a missionary disciple is to tell the story of Jesus,” said Quevedo during his speech.

After being awarded, CarpioMorales said that she is delighted that the Ateneo is committing itself to good governance through its promotion of justice,

integrity, and transparency and accountability in public service.

She added that eradicating corruption is imperative in giving Filipinos the full measure of a “robust economy.”

As for Rice, his daughter, Flora Gerdan, received the award for him. Gerdan said that she views her father’s life as a “lifetime of faith, love and service.”

“This award is a fitting farewell tribute to a man who dedicated 58 years of his life to uplift the lives of people…. He lives in our hearts and that is enough to keep us going in our own journey in this life,” said Gerdan.

Finally, Ruiz said that her work has always been done out of her love for mathematics, her students and the Ateneo, and that she was never in pursuit of any awards.

“I am here in the Ateneo because this is where He led me. This is where I am meant to be,” said Ruiz.

Choosing the awardees

University President Villarin said that the deliberation for the awardees is a year-long process, involving many individuals within and outside of the Ateneo.

He shared that the purpose of the Special Academic Convocation is to affirm those who try to live out the ideals upheld by the university. He said that the event is a reflection of what the Ateneo represents.

“What do you mean [by menand women-for-others]? It is a general statement. I think, every now and then, we need to see what that means in the flesh,” said Villarin.

Additionally, Villarin said that even after the affirmation of the awardees in the Special Academic Convocation, he believes that they would still continue their exemplary service and selflessness.

With reports from Carlos L. Arcenas

Ateneo adjusts... the switching off of traff ic lights from 6 to 9 AM and from 3 to 6 PM on weekdays; traffic enforcers are assigned to man intersections during the said times.

In an interview with The GUIDON, Campus Sustainability Program Director Abigail Favis said that the new traffic scheme by the MMDA is a way of addressing the traffic situation and safety issues regarding truck lanes in Katipunan Avenue.

“If you have a truck lane along Katipunan, it might become a safety issue [to] cars shifting lanes… So to [the MMDA], the best solution there is for everyone’s safety is to remove the U-turns and install the stoplights,” said Favis.

Favis said the MMDA aims to help, but “it might be too soon to tell if [the new Katipunan Avenue traffic scheme] is effective.” ‹‹ 1

Effects

The new Katipunan Avenue traffic scheme has received mostly negative feedback from the Ateneo community.

Management engineering junior John Lu said that he would rather revert back to the

Possible resolution

One of the measures being explored by the CSMO to ease on-campus traffic is the creation of an exit point in La Vista Subdivision located near the Ateneo High School.

However, a concern is that the exit point will only be accessible to those with La Vista car stickers.

The plan has been considered to allow the Ateneo community

FIXING THE FLOW. The Ateneo has been reordering the traffic flow on-campus in response to the new Katipunan Avenue traffic scheme.

PHOTO BY RAQUEL A. MALLILLIN

members who live in La Vista to travel easily to campus.

Moreover, Fav is a lso encou ra ges t he Ateneo community to avail of the shuttle services inside the campus to lessen the number of cars.

On October 1, new units of

electronic vehicles have been deployed on new routes inside the Ateneo.

In light of the traffic scheme adjustments, Favis requests for patience and cooperation from the members of the community “Let’s give MMDA a shot

because it’s not just Ateneans using Katipunan. Let’s also recognize our own impact on Katipunan. I know a lot of us have been complaining and has been affected… but let’s try to cooperate and see the bigger picture,” she said.

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The GUIDON October 2014

#ATENEANSNEVERFORGET. The initiative aimed to instill a deeper sense of understanding among the student body on the topic of Martial Law.

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PHOTOS BY ANDREA G. BELDUA AND ANGELLI J. AQUINO

Ateneo student groups organize Martial Law commemoration week

By Vince M. Estrada and Jin U. Lampasa SEVERAL ATENEAN student groups, spearheaded by the Analysis and Discourse Cluster (ADC) of the Council of Organization of the Ateneo (COA), created a week-long program of events to boost Atenean awareness of Martial Law. The Martial Law week initiative, under the theme of “#AteneansNeverForget,” was held from September 22 to 26.

According to ADC Head Iesous Hernandez, the event aimed to contribute to instilling a deeper sense of remembrance and understanding among the student body on the topic of Martial Law. The event included a campuswide campaign of wearing black shirts, a series of cafeteria raids in Gonzaga Hall courtesy of the Ateneo Enterteynment para sa Tao, Bayan, Lansangan at Diyos, and a prayer vigil titled “Liwanag sa Karimlan: A Martial

Law Memorial Interfaith Prayer Vigil” hosted by COA’s Faith and Formation Cluster.

The School of Socia l Sciences (SOSS) Sanggunian, in partnership with the Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN), held a Martial Law awareness exhibit at the Manuel V. Pangilinan Center for Student Leadership Roof Deck.

A separate Martial Law exhibit was also held by The Ateneo Assembly and Grids at the fifth floor of the Rizal Library.

CYAN is a non-government youth organization that provides a platform for youth involvement in political and social matters.

Moreover, the Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement and the Movement for Ignatian Initiative for Transformative Empowerment held the forums “Rooted: Martial Law and the Challenges of Sociopolitical Formation Among the Youth” and “Pelikulaktibista,” respectively.

The initiative

Student Rights,” she said.

While current Aegis documents do not state any rules regarding transgender representation, a memorandum on the Aegis 2011 website states that there should be “absolutely no cross-dressing.”

The memora ndum wa s signed by Aegis 2011 EIC Elijah Segovia and contained guidelines for a student’s creative shot for the yearbook.

Estioko said that the Aegis EB discussed the matter and decided that it was a concern that needed to be discussed with the Aegis AB. The Aegis EB then advised Solomon to write a formal letter to the Aegis AB. The board is composed of Office of Alumni Relations Director Kit Bautista, SJ, Aegis Acting Moderator Christopher Castillo, Assistant to the

Associate Dean for Student Affairs for Student Services Cholo Mallillin and Associate Dean for Student Affairs Rene San Andres.

Estioko said that she also suggested to Salomon that she make a written petition “so that the board can see that her stand isn’t only representative of herself but is supported by a community.”

Once the Aegis EB received the letter and petition, they informed Salomon that that they would forward her concern to the Aegis AB and open a discussion about it in their approaching meeting.

However, Estioko said that the Aegis EB was unaware that Salomon would launch an “aggressive” public online petition.

She explained that the initial

Hernandez explained that plans for a Martial Law awareness campaign began when the ADC attended a courtesy call with Vice President for the Loyola Schools John Paul Vergara, PhD, who urged them to conduct a more active response to matters regarding Martial Law. “He wanted us, as organizations, and [as the] Analysis and Discourse Cluster, to be able to, perhaps, lead the way, or coordinate various student organizations [in having] a response as students [on the] challenges that we face when remembering Martial Law,” Hernandez said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The ADC conducted several meetings with various student organizations, as well as the Office of Student Activities, on how to improve the social formation of students in the Ateneo.

Hernandez stated that the objective of the campaign was to help raise awareness around the campus. He also noted that

it was a statement to affirm that the student organizations have not forgotten Martial Law. “First of all, there is the reality that there are pro-Marcos people on campus and there are some people—maybe people who want to move on because [Martial Law] doesn’t concern them. But what we wanted to say [is] that us, the student organizations, haven’t forgotten yet,” he stated.

In addition, SOSS Sanggunian Secretary-Treasurer Mikee Defensor said that the initiative was also organized to remind the general public that Ateneans are still able to react to political issues.

“Of course, I think that the reason why [the organizers] wanted this initiative to happen is to remind the Ateneans.

That’s why the hashtag is ‘#Atenea n sNeverForg et ’— it’s to stress that even after [Martial Law] happened... It’s not something that we condone as students,” she said.

Hernandez said that the initiative was partly inspired by

controversy over the presence of former First Lady Imelda Marcos at an Ateneo Scholarship Foundation, Inc. event.

“It started there but it became a larger discourse. As Ateneans, how do we remember? How do we answer to history?” he asked in a mix of English and Filipino.

In an interview with The GUIDON, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ said it is important to remember the past.

“You know, we took it for granted. I took it for granted that people knew [about Martial Law]...

We need to again remind ourselves because we do forget,” he stated.

Villarin encourages Ateneans to continue to hold rituals, such as the Martial Law commemoration week, “to remind ourselves that ‘never again.’”

phrasing of the petition implied that the petition was addressed to the Aegis EB and wrongfully used the official logo of Aegis this school year.

“It gave the impression that we, the EB, had already leg islated a rule that is discriminatory in nature when, in fact, we were just about to clarify its existence with the Aegis board,” she said.

dialogue demands the respect of due process and deliberation,” she said.

As for Salomon, she said that the petition is a concrete action regarding issues that people of the LGBT community experience.

“The Aegis team said that I was the first to be vocal about this kind of concern; I guess it’s a good thing because it invokes change,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Dollhouse President Nikki Riel said that the petition is not merely about heterosexual or transgender representation in the yearbook, but a “matter of respect to the person and the person’s self-expression.”

Dollhouse is a support group for Atenean students who are part of the LGBT community.

Remembering the past

At the conclusion of Martial Law week, both Hernandez and Defensor were in agreement that the event was a success, taking into consideration the overall

participation of Ateneans.

Hernandez declared that the goal of the initiative was reached, based on online reception and the number of people who participated during Martial Law week.

“For us, our main goal was to raise awareness and for people to remember that we… remember [what happened during] the Martial Law [period]. And from the online buzz, I think the people received it well,” Hernandez said.

Defensor, on the other hand, was satisfied with the turnout of Ateneans during the week, noting in particular the apathetic reputation of Ateneans when it comes to political issues.

“I realized that Ateneans, once you give them something to fight for, and once you remind them of the things they should be fighting for, they respond, and the campus really responds,” she said.

Decision for...

“I want my petition to be sort of what starts LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) awareness in Ateneo and also to serve as a catalyst for people to accept people in the LGBT community,” said Salomon. ‹‹ 1

Aegis rule

According to Est ioko, Salamon’s concern was coursed through Aeg is Creatives Director Krizia Lim on June 23.

Estioko said that the Aegis EB was not aware of the rule that Salomon was inquiring about.

“It does not exist in any of the documents that have been passed down to us by the previous Editorial Board, nor does it exist in the university’s student handbook and Magna Ca r t a of Underg raduate

Rights and awareness

Nevertheless, Estioko said that the meetings with the Aegis AB members have revealed that “healthy, collaborative discourse” regarding matters such as transgender representation in the yearbook is welcome and encouraged among members of the Atenean community.

“More importantly, such

“Times are changing, and I believe it’s about time to make this happen. I’m hopeful and I’m very optimistic about this petition being approved,” Riel said.

“If approved, [the petition] will open doors not only for Rica, but also [for] the present and future transgender community in the school,” Riel added.

Moreover, Sanggunian Seniors’ Alliance Representative for Aegis Ray Santos said that it is everyone’s right to represent themselves with the gender they identify with.

The Sanggunian Seniors’ Alliance serves as a liaison bet ween the Ateneo administration and this year’s graduating batch.

Santos said that Salomon’s “brave move” will urge other members of the Ateneo community to speak up for their beliefs.

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Senior bags Ambassador Award in World Korean Speech Contest

By Macneil A. Mendoza APPLIED MATHEMATICAL finance senior Mary Lai Salvaña received the Australian Ambassador Award during the 19th World Korean Speech Contest held in Sydney, Australia on August 23.

The Australian Ambassador Award is a special honor given to a participant of the non-native Korean speaker category who was able to deliver a persuasive speech.

Salvaña qualified for the world competition after winning first place in the regional round, the 2nd Philippines-Korea Speech Contest, held on July 26.

Prior to this, she also competed against nine non-native Korean speakers during the elimination round on July 12.

Salvaña is currently a Basic Korean 3 Language and Culture (FLC KOR3) student and a recipient of the Korea Foundat ion (K F)-Soga ng University Korean Studies Grant from the Ateneo Initiative for Korean Studies (AIKS).

The KF-Sogang University Korean Studies Grant aims to support undergraduate students from the Loyola Schools (LS) who are interested in pursuing Korean studies through tuition fee subsidies, Korean language fellowships, and research and training grants.

Strengthening relations

Throughout the competition,

Salvaña delivered her selfw r it t en s p e e c h , “ F i ve Senses, Two Countries, One Friendship,” in Korean.

In an interview with The GUIDON, Salvaña said that her speech expressed how both Filipinos and Koreans can strengthen their relations through the five senses.

“We use our [senses] of sight, smell, and taste for delicious Korean food. Before our stomachs get filled, our eyes and our noses relish the visual and the aromatic feast. [Our] sense of hearing [applies] for the Korean language, which is very much phonetic, [including] the popular K-pop (Korean pop) songs,” said Salvaña.

Finally, she emphasized that the sense of touch plays the most important role in fortifying relations between the Philippines and Korea.

She illustrated this point by mentioning Korea’s “helping hand” through the medical personnel who immediately helped Super Typhoon Yolanda victims in the country last year.

“Korean doctors, nurses, aides and soldiers held the hands of our orphaned children, embraced weeping mothers and cared for our sick survivors. Korea’s kindness should forever be etched in our memory,” Salvaña said.

With the world competition being televised by the Korean Broadcasting System, the country’s national broadcaster,

Salvaña said it was inspiring to have reached a wider audience.

Training and impact

Salvaña was trained in writing and delivering her speech by Modern Languages Visiting Lecturer Bae Kyungmin, who started teaching in the LS in 2012.

Acccording to Kyungmin, Salvaña was training for almost two to three times a week after class to pass the preliminary screening.

Upon qualification to the world contest, Kyungmin said Salvaña had “more intensive practice because she wanted to sound like [a] Korean.”

AIKS Director Sarah Jane Domingo-Lipura also shared that professors and students alike of the Korean Language and Culture classes showed Salvaña moral support.

“We organized a simple despedida for [Salvaña] and it was attended by Korean Language and Culture students. The main objective for that was not only to send her off, but also to share her experience to current students learning Korean and to inspire them,” Domingo-Lipura said.

According to DomingoLipura, Salvaña is the first Atenean to join and win in the world speech competition.

She emph a si ze d t h at through Salvaña’s victory, the universit y’s initiative to promote Korean-related activities has been more recognized.

STRONGER TIES. In her speech, Mary Lai Salvaña says that a stronger relationship between Filipinos and Koreans can be built through the five senses.

PHOTO BY RAQUEL A. MALLILLIN

New office created to oversee campus safety and mobility

By Joline S. Acampado IN A memorandum released on September 1, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ announced the creation of the Campus Security and Mobility Office (CSMO) under Vice President for Administration Nemesio Que, SJ. According to the memorandum, the office was created in view of the growing demand for safety and security in the four Ateneo campuses located in Loyola Heights, Pasig, Rockwell and Salcedo.

The responsibilities of the CSMO include the managing of and developing programs for campus safety and mobility for all Ateneo campuses.

The memorandum further stated that the CSMO will serve as the university’s conduit to government and external agencies concerning campus welfare, and will ensure the university’s compliance with government mandated environmental and occupational safety and health requirements.

The recommendation of the Ateneo Traffic Group to have a central authority in managing traffic and enforcement of rules and regulations was also considered in the creation of the CSMO. The Ateneo Traffic Group reviews the university’s policies and systems on traffic management, identifies areas for improvement and proposes solutions to issues.

Proactive measures

In an interview with The GUIDON, CSMO Director

Marcelino Mendoza said that, because the office is relatively new, they want to focus more on profiling, auditing and collecting various data to serve as their baseline information.

The information will be used to formulate a comprehensive plan covering security, occupational safety, health, environmental compliance and mobility.

The plan includes inspecting buildings, and a safety security and risk assessment.

With regard to traffic, the CSMO will focus on a road network audit in terms of capacity and physical condition, a vehicle volume count and an assessment of conflicts such as the intersections in Katipunan Avenue.

CSMO Assistant Director and current Head of Campus Safety and Security under the Facilities Management Office Josephy Almosera explained that the CSMO is coordinating with their counterparts from the school units to ensure alignment of standards related to safety, security and mobility.

These school units include the Office of Administrative Services, the Office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and the Basic Education Facilities Management and Security Office.

In line with this, the CSMO is working closely with Megaforce Integrated Security Agency (MISA) in requiring security personnel to regularly attend trainings for emergency response, crime prevention, traffic management and enforcement, and safety and customer service, among others.

MISA is an external security agency that is currently being

CAUTION. People without Ateneo identification (ID) cards are asked to present their IDs at the gates as a security protocol.

PHOTO BY ISABELLA OLIVARES

hired by the Ateneo.

According to Almosera, the CSMO also coordinates with various agencies to implement peace and order, traffic management, environmental compliance, fire safety and disaster response within the campus.

These agencies include the Barangay Peace and Order Council, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Bureau of Fire Protection Mendoza said that the CSMO also wants to strengthen their intelligence network by regularly communicating with the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Future projects

Mendoza and Almosera also

outlined the long-term plans of the CSMO. According to Mendoza, the CSMO wants to further ease traffic congestion by reducing the volume of vehicles on campus through constructing bike lanes and encouraging students and parents to participate in the school service and carpooling system.

Furthermore, Mendoza said that the CSMO plans to align safety and security standards in the Ateneo campuses by focusing on “combined man- and technology-based preventive and impact mitigation measures.”

The said measures include utilizing a closed-circuit television system and car park automated access control system.

He added that the CSMO is planning to implement a comprehensive emergency response and management program.

Almosera explained that this entails identifying risks and vulnerable areas based on the population, facility profile and nature of operations in a particular building.

Response procedures, such as the establishment of an emergency response team, will then be crafted based on the identified risks.

There will also be recovery procedures such as stress debriefing for victims, reconstructing damaged facilities and media management.

Traffic management

In light of the new Katipunan Avenue traffic scheme, the CSMO is working with the MMDA and other school units to ease traffic congestion on and off campus.

The new traffic scheme has received negative feedback from

the Ateneo community since its implementation on September 13.

Social sciences senior AJ Palad, who drives a vehicle to and from school, labels the scheme as “very bad and ineffective.”

Palad expects that the CSMO will properly address the growing traffic problems inside the Ateneo, especially in creating strategies to improve entry into the campus.

Almosera said that based on the data they gathered, the CSMO has made several adjustments that could alleviate traffic problems.

These changes include the shifting of Masterson Drive in front of the Church of the Gesù into a two-way road, closing Gate 2.5 and opening the Gate 3 Annex to decongest vehicles, and creating more strategic stops for the new electronic vehicle operation system.

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The GUIDON October 2014

RISING. The Progvar team is continuously training to improve. Team Manager Mercedes Rodrigo, PhD says this is the strongest the team has been.

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PHOTOS BY ISABELLA OLIVARES

Progvar teams nab top spots in national competition

By Carlos L. Arcenas FOUR TEAMS from the Ateneo Programming Varsity (Progvar) squad took top spots at the national level of the Association for Computing MachineryInter nat iona l Col leg iate Programming Contest (ACMICPC) held at the Ateneo de Naga University on September 6.

Team Fuchsia Moth, comprised of sophomores David Cuajunco and Rico Tiongson, and junior Kyle See, earned first place in the competition, while Team Operator, composed of junior Jaren Rex, and seniors Job Bangayan and Gabriel Sanchez, came in at second place.

Team Carmiel, formed by seniors Amiel Reveche, Camille Ruiz and Charlene Tolentino, and Team Bumblebee, with juniors Hadrian Ang, Miguel Palma and Vermille Saw, finished at fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Progvar revolves around “problem solving through code,” explained Assistant Team Manager Jessica Sugay.

The ACM-ICPC bills itself as a “multitier, team-based programming competition” with universities from across the world sending teams to compete in regional contests and the world finals.

Participants of the contest solve problem sets spanning from traditional pure mathematical exercises to modern real-life applications, with this year’s competition including a problem on rain warning signals.

“This is the strongest we’ve ever been… We’ve made an effort to train these teams regularly, and we’ve become more strict with recruitment… I think these have helped us get back on

top,” Team Manager Mercedes Rodrigo, PhD said.

The teams’ ranks earned the Loyola Schools the Top Performing School title, besting 12 other schools from across the country.

Top team

Team Fuchsia Moth was the youngest among those sent to compete in Naga.

Despite their age, each team member has had significant experiences in Progvar such as competing individually at the University of the Philippines Java Cup. Aside from their previous experiences, the team underwent extensive preparation.

“O u r pr a c t ic e of t e n involves us either learning new [ prog ra m ming a nd mathematical] concepts or working on problem sets often from past competitions… We spend around nine hours in scheduled practice for these events each week,” Cuajunco noted.

The members also solve problems in their free time.

“I have fun programming, so for me, [solving problems] refreshes me at the end of day and clears my mind… I really enjoy doing it, even outside of [scheduled practice],” said Tiongson.

In the national contest, teams were given five hours to solve 10 problems of varying difficulty.

The teams were then ranked based on the number of problems solved and the time taken in solving each problem.

The time taken to solve all problems is based on the time elapsed since the beginning of the competition to the time of solution submission, with 20 minutes added for every incorrect solution submitted.

Solutions are programs created

by the team to solve a given problem; the solutions are then run and checked by judges to validate adherence to the guidelines set out by the problem.

Fuchsia Moth solved all 10 problems provided in just 537 contest minutes, over 640 minutes less than the second place finisher.

In real time, the team took only two hours to solve the entire problem set.

For nine of the 10 problems they solved, Fuchsia Moth was the first to pass a solution.

Progvar primer

Each Progvar team is composed of three students with skills ranging from pure mathematics to different programming techniques. They often specialize in a certain field.

“Imagine a three-member basketball team, where one person’s the center, another’s the forward and the last is the guard. That’s how a Progvar team is formed, based on their specialties,” said Sanchez.

In the case of Fuchsia Moth, Cuajunco specialized in mathematics and computational geometry, See in dynamic programming and Tiongson in graph-related problems.

Sugay added that not all Progvar members hail from computer science.

“We’re (Progvar) actually pretty open to students from all majors. Some members of the teams we sent to Naga are from different courses, such as physics and applied mathematics in finance,” she said.

“Every new member goes through a ‘beginner’s edition of Progvar,’ Progvar Lite, to help them learn the ropes and prepare them for competition,” she added.

Future competitions

Even though taking pole position in the nationwide contest does not guarantee participation in the world finals, Rodrigo sees it as a signifier of “how far the teams have come.”

Both the nationwide and regional editions of the contest are open to the country’s universities; however, only wins at the regional stage are counted on a team’s journey to the finals.

Sugay said that despite the fact that the national contest “was not a stepping stone to any further edition,” their participation allowed the teams to gain experience.

Rodrigo expects the teams to face significant hurdles in subsequent competitions as they have gotten tougher over the past 20 years of her involvement with Progvar.

Despite this, Rodrigo feels that the Progvar teams will be able to reach heights last seen in the late 1990s, when Ateneo’s Progvar squad sent two teams to the ACM-ICPC World Finals.

“We sent two teams to the world finals back then; they did not train as hard as the teams are now, and the teams [like Fuchsia Moth] haven’t encountered opponents at the regional stage yet,” Rodrigo said.

In light of Fuchsia Moth’s success, both Rodrigo and Sugay note that Progvar will send the team to the regional editions of the ACM-ICPC at Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, from October 31 to November 1 and November 14 to 15, respectively.

The teams who take top positions at the regional level will advance to the 2015 ACMICPC World Finals to be held in Morocco.

Team Fuchsia. L-R: David Martin Cuajunco (2 BSM AMF), Jose Enrico Tiongson (2 BS CS) and Kyle Stephen See (3 BSMS CS)

Team Operator. L-R: Job Eliezek Bangayan (4 BSMS CS), Jaren Ryan Rex (3 BS APS-ACS) and Gabriel Alberto Sanchez (4 BS CS)

Team Bumblebee. L-R: Miguel Jesus Palma (3 BSMS CS), Vermille Ann Saw (3 BS CS) and Hadrian Jules Ang (3 BSMS CS)

Team Carmiel. L-R: Camille Marie Ruiz (4 BS CS), Jan Amiel Reveche (4 BSMS CS) and Charlene Kate Tolentino (4 BS CS)

6

Opinion

VOLUME LXXXV, NO. 5 OCTOBER 2014

The GUIDON Founded 1929 by Rev. Frank O’Hara, SJ First Editor-in-Chief, Manuel C. Colayco, AB ‘30

PURPOSE To serve as a record of Ateneo history in the making; to serve as an organ of journalistic expression; to serve God and country.

Mara Alyssabel D. Cepeda, AB COM ‘15 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Vernise Allison L. Tantuco, BS COMTECH ‘15 ASSOCIATE EDITOR

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY JOSEPHUS T. NUGRAHA

Katherine Mary E. Pearson, AB SOS ‘15 MANAGING EDITOR

Jan-Daniel S. Belmonte, BFA ID ‘15 DESIGN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

The context of policy

Ennah Faye A. Tolentino, AB PSY ‘16 NEWS EDITOR

Ignacio Gregorio C. Razon, AB PSY ‘15 SPORTS EDITOR

Roxanna May Y. Ramirez, AB COM ‘16 BEYOND LOYOLA EDITOR

Pia Josefina H. Posadas, BS COMTECH ‘15 FEATURES EDITOR

Lyssa Minette A. Marquez, AB POS ‘17 INQUIRY EDITOR

Santiago Jose J. Arnaiz, BS LM ‘16 VANTAGE EDITOR

Catherine Margaret C. Quintos, BFA ID ‘15 GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR

Arthur Jarred D. Tan, BFA ID ‘16 MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Karen Therese Romina G. Sison, AB HI ‘16 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Julie Diane T. Lim, BS ME ‘15 EXTERNALS MANAGER

Ma. Josephine C. Unas, AB COM ‘15 ONLINE MEDIA MANAGER

NEWS Samantha O. Subida, Editorial Assistant; Joline S. Acampado, Carlos L. Arcenas, Joff D. Bantayan, Katrina M. Bonillo, Vince M. Estrada, Bianca N. Martinez, Jin U. Lampasa, Macneil A. Mendoza SPORTS Robi R. Andres, Editorial Assistant; Lorenzo C. Aycardo, Joseph J. Bautista, Raizza P. Bello, Faith R. Decangchon, Jeremias Esguerra, Beatrice T. Go, Gian Y. Go, Jaime Katigbak, Noelle M. Recio, Vincent D. Soliven, Cedric B. Teng Ampo BEYOND LOYOLA Regine D. Cabato, Editorial Assistant; Pamela P. Baluyot, JC A. Beltran, Alexa B. Fontanilla, Cristina A. Gadiano, Kyle N. Mitschiener, Ina M. Morales, Janella H. Paris, Chynna A. Santos, Frances P. Sayson, Aaron M. Tanyag FEATURES Benny G. Tañedo, Editorial Assistant; Marguerite R. Andrews, Ishbelle L. Bongato, Patricia C. Concepcion, Marco G. Dayrit, Tricia T. Lao, Raf S. Nakpil, Isabel A. Rodrigo, Jasmine P. Ting, Andrea V. Tubig INQUIRY Eugene G. Ong, Editorial Assistant; Alex A. Bichara, Nicolo A. Fortuna, Uriel N. Galace, Nathan V. Javier, Mivan V. Ong, Jairus I. Paul, Van T. Siy Van, Vicah P. Villanueva VANTAGE Katrina Pimentel, Editorial Assistant; Paul G. Alcantara, Deany R. Cheng, Dre L. Chua, Rissa A. Coronel, Gaby Gloria, Belle O. Mapa, Ashley Martelino, Matthew K. Olivares, Andre Orandain, Carlos A. Quiapo PHOTOS Arielle A. Acosta and Raquel A. Mallillin, Editorial Assistants; Tynie Asprec, Andrea G. Beldua, Francine A. Bharwani, Joshua E. Cabalinan, Alexis A. Casas, Alexandra L. Huang, Pia R. Nicolas, Isabella Olivares, Chi D. Punzalan GRAPHIC DESIGN Diana F. David, Editorial Assistant; Paulina L. Almira, Angelli J. Aquino, Ian B. De La Cruz, Colleen P. De Luna, Czarina B. Dycaico, GM A. Espeleta, Ellan T. Estrologo, Josephus T. Nugraha, Joey D. Ochoa, Therese M. Pedro, Tommi G. Principe, Nikki G. Solinap MULTIMEDIA Alfonso G. Abaya, Annie O. Coronel, Miguel Feria, Denise G. Fernandez, Princess T. Flores, Sam F. Ganzon, MV Isip, Igi A. Maximo, Angelo M. Mendoza, Arianna Z. Mercado, Thurees Obenza, Tin S. Sartorio, Shaira A. Mazo, Jillian C. Subido, Nikki C. Vesagas TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT Mariel A. Arboleda, Managerial Assistant; Andrea G. Guevarra, Hannah Guinto, Ysabelle D. Lebrilla, Pepper P. Limpoco, Enrique G. Lopez, Kimiko C. Sy, Ven G. Tan, Eli P. Uy EXTERNALS Isabella Naguiat, Managerial Assistant; Kristi de Asis, Patrick L. Balisong, Sabina Co, Gio L. Cruz, Anica G. Gomez, Jus G. Lazaro, Marcy A. Miniano, Mika O. Reyes, Jeric Santos, Sam C. Tacondong, Jelena Tiu ONLINE MEDIA Lea O. Bolante, Gayle G. Carabeo, Alexander V.C. Collado Jr., Carmel Ilustrisimo, Kian L. Paras, Henna O. Yu COPY EDITORS Frances P. Sayson and Benny G. Tañedo

Ruel S. De Vera MODERATOR

The controversy caused by the Aegis Administrative Board’s policy to disallow transgender students from dressing as they identify in their Aegis photo shoots provoke questions about the validity of some rules that are observed in the Loyola Schools (LS) community. Although this rule is only unrightfully subsumed under the “no crossdressing” rule, it is still institutionalized discrimination. This is just one example of policies in the LS that are too conservative for the changing times.

A review of the policy-making process: Administrators propose policies, and, ideally, these policies should serve to reflect and propagate values that the LS espouses. However, we see that a disparity exists between the times when the policies were proposed, and the times when they are implemented. The Aegis

dress code, for example, could have been created at a time when discourse on transgender rights was not so apparent in the LS yet.

One of the exemplars of a discrepancy between policy and current social situation was the LS’ move to allow women to study in the Ateneo in 1973.

The shift to coeducation was controversial—a step forward for some, unwelcomed by others: At the time, some male students had voiced their disapproval. Eventually, the community accepted women’s place in the Ateneo, and today, women outnumber men in the LS. Besides the Aegis dress code, there are other rules in the LS that seem to have been institutionalized at a time when its values were different from those we uphold today. Two of these are the retirement policy and the LS dress code.

The retirement policy has

been criticized for being ageist.

Professors are given their retirement pay at the age of 60 and are given two opportunities to get rehired. The first time will last for three years, while their second contract will last for two. If they are rehired after the age 65, their workload will drop from 30 units to 15 units.

Their salaries will drop as well.

Despite the criticism the policy receives, the administration remains firm on their stand on the issue. The policy works well for the school financially and it is efficient in terms of transitioning the younger members of the faculty. But are these enough reason to discourage driven and passionate professors from pursuing their craft? Veteran professors see teaching as a way of giving back to the school. Setting restrictions because of their age discourages this practice.

The LS dress code also came under fire, especially on the Ateneo de Manila Secret Files Facebook page. A lot of posts on the page expressed disgust over seeing so many women on campus wearing “short shorts” and otherwise showing skin. Even more pronounced than this disapproval were the myriad women who commented on these posts, arguing that they had the right to wear what they want to wear. The LS dress code, then, becomes questionable: Is it necessary, given that people should be able to wear what they want to wear? Is it oppressive, given that it propagates a culture in which people are taught to think a person is respectable based on the clothes he or she is wearing, rather than his or her personhood?

All of this goes to show that some rules and policies

implemented in the LS are not just outdated, but also counter-progressive. While the LS student body moves toward a future that is more tolerant and accepting, and more liberal about certain aspects of society, it seems that the student handbook is not quite there yet. Consequently, students of a progressive time— students who live in a culture that encourages people to be more socially aware and tolerant—are forced to adhere to rules written during more conservative times.

Perhaps the LS administration ought to consider a compromise between upholding Ignatian values and adapting to the times, in the hopes that LS’ rules will not only guide the Atenean to conduct himself or herself correctly, but also to guide the student body towards progressive thinking.

Guest Column

CHALK MARKS

The illusion of an Ateneo degree

By Michael B. Syson An Ateneo degree is worth less than you think. The best it can do is to get you to the door of your dream grad school or dream company. However, what keeps you there won’t be the diploma or the added title in your name.

It will be something else.

I assure you, it won’t also be your grades. It won’t be those letters you are so proud of—or may not be so proud of—printed on a piece of paper we call the Transcript of Records. So stop worrying about them so much.

Blasphemy!

Is it?

When I was in Japan, I found that almost nobody there had ever heard about the great Ateneo de Manila University. They know about elite universities in their own country, but not necessarily the so-called prestigious universities in other countries, like the Philippines. However, I soon realized that if you, a foreigner, can demonstrate an ability to speak Nihongo, the Japanese language, fluently and cleanly, they will come to the realization that, “Ah, this person is intelligent. This person is educated.” Because

Japanese people believe that their mother tongue is so subtle, so intricate, and therefore so difficult to learn and then master, you must be really smart to be able to speak and write it so well.

It’s the same thing in Hong Kong. If you can speak fluent and correct Mandarin there, you’ll find that the people there will have a much higher regard of you. Why? It’s because the masses there speak Cantonese.

For the most part, only the people who were privileged enough to have been able to go to school, and have taken the time to learn Mandarin, can actually speak it. So if you, a foreigner, can pronounce the words in the correct tone, can read and write Hanzi, the Chinese characters, and can understand and appreciate Chinese culture, so that you are able to essentially communicate, then you must indeed be educated.

So now we come to the word “educated.” A degree does not automatically equate to being educated. Neither do your precious grades automatically signify that you are educated.

So what does being educated actually mean?

It means that you have applied what you’ve learned in school, or wherever, in your life. The way you carry yourself, the way you communicate, the way you interact with people, how you form human relationships, how you perceive yourself and the world around you, and the kind of decisions you make every single day: These speak loudly of the kind of education you have achieved, and are the things that differentiate one who is educated from one who isn’t.

I believe that there are two essential things college should teach you, and if you have these two things, no matter which school you went to, you’ll go far.

These are love for learning, and the ability to learn how to learn.

There are people who naively and mistakenly believe that learning ends after graduation.

The truth is, learning doesn’t stop even after graduation. The world is such a dynamic place that the only thing we know that is constant is change.

Whether it involves little incremental improvements or moon shot advancements, by

the time you graduate, a whole new set of skills will have emerged to improve on existing processes, or to completely replace what has become obsolete. The ability to quickly and effectively learn these new skills will enable you to become a driving force that can tackle big and pressing issues facing our society. Therefore, as you join the workforce, do not be surprised if you’ll be put into situations where you’ll be tasked to do things that you may not even know anything about. You have to figure out how to learn on the job, using technology to magnify your capabilities.

Yet even if you know something about such tasks, the dynamics of the new environment, the workplace, will challenge you to think on your feet.

There, you’ll encounter people, who may or may not share with you the same upbringing, the same background, or even the same values. How will you interact with these people?

Will you be kind and humble, or arrogant and condescending? Will you choose conformity or individuality? These

are questions that you have to continually struggle with, and must learn how to answer through the choices you make and the actions you do every single day. It is a continuous process of learning and making mistakes which only those who have learned how to learn will be able to go through worthily.

Of course, the prerequisite is that you have to love learning.

You have to enjoy the experience of discovering things, learning how things work the way they work, and questioning why things are the way they are, instead of blindly accepting them as infallible truths.

So yes, an Ateneo degree is worth less than you think. It is worth less, because more than the diploma, the title, or the letters on a piece of paper, what’s more important is how you’ve actually applied what you’ve learned in your everyday life.

Michael B. Syson is a lecturer at the Japanese Studies Program and the Chinese Studies Program.

The GUIDON October 2014

Cornucopia Mara D. Cepeda mcepeda@theguidon.com

Right of passage Roughly a month ago, visitors of Robinsons Place Dumaguete were in for a surprise: By one of the entrances of the commercial center was a foreigner lying on the floor beside a Golden Retriever, the man in silent protest because they were both denied access to the mall. Most private establishments in the country do not allow the presence of animals within

Great Places Vernise L. Tantuco vtantuco@theguidon.com

A question of consent A couple of months ago, nude photos of Jennifer Lawrence were leaked online.

Naturally, the photos caused an uproar: The quirky, down-to-earth actress had seemed impervious to gossip, until now.

Much closer to home, a sex tape of former Atenean AJ Ramos and Abby Santiaguel found its way to the

Brainrose Mint A. Marquez mmarquez@theguidon.com

On #HeForShe Some time last month, scrolling through my Facebook news feed had me running into the same video again and again. It was Emma Watson’s #HeForShe speech at the United Nations headquarters.

Suddenly, my feed was filled with friends who “agreed completely” with her points about the experience of feeling silenced and policed, expected to act certain ways because of her sex. Suddenly, more people

Reverie Roxie Y. Ramirez rramirez@theguidon.com

Occupy the streets The people of Hong Kong are angry.

On Wednesday, September 26, a number of student groups took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest against Beijing’s plans for the 2017 Hong Kong elections. While peaceful demonstrations are not uncommon in the city, things began to escalate when protestors—a majority of them university students—began to occupy the streets

Paradox Meg C. Quintos mquintos@theguidon.com

Sakay na Jeepneys have been imbedded in the Filipino culture in more ways than one.

With regular routes and trips, accessibility and affordability, jeepneys have been a popular mode of transportation for Filipinos. They have also served to symbolize our national identity, representing both the country’s art and culture

their premises, but to Mark Cohen, his four-legged friend is more than a pet— Happy is his assistance dog.

According to a story by Rappler, Cohen is suffering from a “neurological disorder with variant symptoms similar to epilepsy, Parkinsosnism, and sensitivity to changes in the environment such as temperature and intensity of light.”

With the help of Happy, Cohen is able to mitigate the effects of his disability and go about his day-to-day activities.

This incident in Dumaguete caused an uproar on social media, after photos of them captioned in protest of the situation went viral on Facebook. Cohen was soon able to patch things up with the mall’s management after the latter was duly informed that Happy is in fact a certified assistance dog; the two were eventually allowed to enter the mall.

Problem solved? Not quite.

Cohen’s case is not an isolated one, and it opens up the discussion on whether the current Philippine society has fully grasped and accepted the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) or not. One does not even need to consult academic journals to see how Filipinos view PWDs in general. Place a person on a wheelchair or someone using crutches in the middle of a crowded street, and passers-by would undeniably stare and even immediately jump to the conclusion that he or she is a beggar.

This is a sentiment shared by Joon Baltazar, a quadriplegic street performer whom I met over the summer for a story I was working on for my internship. Baltazar says he has grown accustomed to people whispering behind his back whenever he’s out in

public places. “I’d really hear it from my peripheral hearing, ‘Dapat sa bahay na lang ‘tong naka-wheelchair na ‘to eh!

Lumalabas-labas pa! Masikip na nga!’

(I’d hear people say from my peripheral hearing, ‘This man on a wheelchair should stay at home! He goes out when there’s no space anymore!)’”

Luckily, Baltazar is resilient and continues to advocate for the rights of the PWD community in his own way: He says street performing not only allows him to pursue his passion in music and earn a living, but it also gives him a chance to work in an environment physically conducive for PWDs and allows him to break the permeating negative stigma on PWDs. He currently performs in the Bonifacio High Street, and tagged photos on Baltazar’s Facebook wall show that he is loved and appreciated there.

The Philippines does have Republic Act No. 9442 or the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, and for Other Purposes,” which, among other things, gives PWDs the right to access public spaces and public transportation. The law also mandates PWDs to have identification cards detailing certain privileges, including discounts to most services and access to government assistance projects like scholarships and livelihood opportunities.

Beyond the implementation of the law, however, perhaps the challenge that individuals like Cohen and Baltazar pose for us is to see them not for their disabilities but for the simple fact that they are human beings like us. Only with this mindset can we truly recognize that everyone deserves an equal chance to an independent, joyous and fulfilling life.

Internet in early October, prompting the hashtag “#ADMUScandal” to trend nationwide on Twitter. While it hasn’t been confirmed whether the video was released with consent or not, the two have taken action towards privacy by deactivating their Facebook accounts.

At a time when we are bombarded with sexual images everyday, incidences like these still shock us. We can’t help but talk about them, use them as material for gossip.

But beneath this surface-level reaction is the reason behind our discomfort: The blatant invasion of privacy. As Lawrence says of her situation to Vanity Fair, “It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime.”

Perhaps it’s because of the very pervasiveness of sex in media that causes us to take these incidents lightly. Sex scenes in movies and

on television, for instance, have become increasingly explicit; they’re unavoidable. For example, in spite of last season’s incestuous rape scene— and other seasons’ general uncensored sex scenes—I, together with Game of Thrones’ millions of viewers, am still going to watch all its future episodes.

The fact that many have turned their own sex tape scandals into career-making moves may have desensitized us to sex tapes and nude photos as well. Case in point: Kim Kardashian (and her family) shot to fame in 2007, after her sex tape with her then-boyfriend was released without her consent. In the local context, Hayden Kho’s three sex videos leaked in 2009 put the actor and doctor in the spotlight.

It’s the commodification of sex that has led us to forget that the people on

our screens are just that—people. We forget that when explicit photos and videos are released without consent, rights have been violated and a crime has been committed. In her leaked photos, Lawrence wasn’t just a character in a television show, she was herself.

It’s confusing when, in the same issue of Vanity Fair that she called out what was done to her as a crime, Lawrence posed for a topless photo, her breasts floating above water. Here, we have two instances of Lawrence naked. The difference between her nudity in a magazine and her nudity on her phone is consent. She may be in the entertainment industry, but as Megan Garber of The Atlantic said, “Lawrence wants us to look at her—on some level, she needs us to look at her. But she wants us—and she needs us—to do our looking

in the way that she specifies.”

While the authorities are currently investigating Lawrence’s case, that of Ramos and Santiaguel is unclear. Hard facts about whether they had mutually consented to release the video would be impossible to acquire at this rate, but I’ve already resigned myself to this being a rumor-mill situation. What is more disturbing, to me, is that in spite of the hashtag, the tweets that accompany it are more amused than scandalized.

It bothers me that there is a possibility that the release of the video could have been non-consensual on someone’s part, and no one seems concerned. We have been desensitized to sex, and it has made us belittle violations of privacy.

It appears that it has also caused us to see these violations as a joke.

in my friends list sympathized with the feminist cause.

It is no wonder that the surge of feminists came about when, in her speech, Watson highlights how only women are called to stand up for gender equality. She shoots down the notion that only women are supposed to be feminists, and she asks, “How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?”

She goes on: “Men, I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation.”

This is where the problem in the #HeForShe campaign lies. It has noble intentions—it wants to make the feminist movement more inclusive. It wants to show that feminism is something that also concerns men and how they are “imprisoned” by gender stereotypes.

What is happening in the video is: Watson is framing feminism through the male point of view. Of course, there is definitely nothing wrong with telling men that they can be feminists—men (and those of non-binary gender identities) are very, very welcome to be feminists.

But this is what is happening: The #HeForShe campaign is making it look like the movement rallying for the empowerment of women has to be validated by men who can sympathize with the oppression of women through their own oppression.

We should not need to have to be directly affected by an issue in order to sympathize with it. To convince a man to be a feminist, is it not enough to say that (a little more than) half of the world’s population is systematically oppressed to be subordinate to men? Isn’t the need for feminism already demonstrated when

we feel the need to justify feminism by saying that it is not enough for a movement to only serve to alleviate women’s oppression—it must work to alleviate men’s oppression, too?

Of course, in the end, this is what feminism does. It wants to address gender issues to ultimately attain equality. By no means am I saying that feminism does not work to address men’s issues: Today, a lot of people seem to think that boys cannot be victims of domestic violence.

Today, boys are still taught that they cannot cry, that they must pay for their dates’ meals. These are all ideas that are effects of the patriarchy, and because feminism wants to dismantle the patriarchy, then it also works to correct these ideas. By no means am I also saying that feminism does need boys to believe in it, otherwise—as Watson implies—change may never be attained.

What I am saying is that the burden to be more “inclusive” should not rest on feminism—it should rest on the people who believe for whatever reason that feminism is not the answer to gender inequality. It is. Whether or not “he” is really “for she” because he can, all of a sudden, relate to her problems, it is.

The #HeForShe campaign tries to show that you don’t have to call yourself a feminist in order to actually be a feminist, because “feminist” is not an inviting word—the “fem” already goes to show how one-sided the ideology is. Watson says, “We are struggling for a uniting word but the good news is that we have a uniting movement. It is called ‘HeForShe.’” In truth, it is called feminism. We should not try to dress it any other way, and we must understand that “he” should have always been “for she” before Watson even tried to convince him to be.

of Hong Kong’s main financial district.

Hong Kong police began to crack down on the protestors, shooting rubber bullets and releasing tear gas on the streets—a scene reminiscent of the demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri last August.

When Hong Kong was handed over to the People’s Republic of China in 1997 by the United Kingdom, the city was allowed to keep its autonomy, resulting in a policy called “one country, two systems.” This meant that although the city is still sovereign to China and its government, they were allowed to have their own government (although their leader, the chief executive, is still appointed by a pro-Beijing committee), have their own judiciary system and their own financial system. Hong Kong residents also enjoy rights that their mainland counterparts

do not, such as the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, and the right to assemble and demonstrate.

Also in 1997, the Chinese government promised that in 2017, the people of Hong Kong could vote for their government leader in a democratic process, which Hong Kong residents called their right to “universal suffrage.”

Many have doubted China’s ability to keep that promise. And true enough, in August of this year, the Chinese government announced that while Hong Kong citizens will vote for their leader in 2017, candidates will have to be approved by a special committee, a process that is eerily similar to how Hong Kong’s chief executive is picked now.

It is understandable why the citizens of Hong Kong have decided to take to the

streets. Hong Kong residents want the freedom to choose their own leaders, leaders who are not tied down to the Communist Party of China. Aside from the fact that the democracy that they were promised almost 20 years ago seems to be no more than a false one, residents also fear that the rights and freedoms that they enjoy in their city may be easily taken away by Beijing.

These protests are not just a fight for democracy; they are also a fight for freedom. Hong Kong is fighting for the freedom to choose whom they want to be ruled by and how they want to be ruled.

But Hong Kong’s fight for democracy will not be an easy one. China’s government is notorious for cracking down on dissidents, whether they are protesting on the streets of Beijing or on social media.

History has proven, however, that these types of demonstrations have been successful. There was the Arab Spring, wherein several leaders from Arabic countries were ousted and national elections were held.

There was the Occupy movement, which was a series of demonstrations around the world for social and financial equality.

And of course, there was the People Power Revolution of 1986, which ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and brought back democracy to the Philippines.

But it is doubtful whether China’s government will listen to these protestors, considering their track record. Still, I am hopeful. I am glad that Hong Kong residents have decided to take matters into their own hands, to take to the streets to fight for the democracy that many of us have started to take for granted.

with their colorful and varying designs.

On the other hand, jeepneys have also been blamed for Manila’s heavy traffic and road congestion, and this image is what has been prevailing for most citizens. Just this year, claims have been made on how jeepneys are already outdated. Several people have continuously pointed out how jeepney drivers lack discipline in observing traffic rules. Moreover, the lack of properly placed terminals has been causing several complaints as well. These claims are nothing short of true because, as can be observed by any regular commuter, jeepneys tend to crowd the streets.

However, we cannot entirely blame the jeepneys, because commuters tend to disobey rules on proper loading and unloading areas for passengers themselves as well. Jeepney drivers also de-

veloped the bad habit of stopping and waiting for passengers anytime and anywhere on the road. Additionally, there will always be other concerns, like car volume, that we cannot totally control because the number of people and vehicles naturally grows over time.

In light of these escalating concerns about our public transportation, one could question the ability of our government to implement actual and valuable measures. This year, several units of the City Optimized Managed Electric Transport (Comet) were released primarily in an attempt to replace the 24seater public utility vehicle.

Jeepneys accommodate a lot of commuters at any time of the day and through almost all possible routes around Metro Manila. These electronic jeepneys with

seemingly less seating capacity wouldn’t suffice. Each electronic jeepney also prides itself with its free television and Wi-Fi access; however, these additional features don’t necessarily address the problems that justify our continuous search for new public transport systems. It could be the next step to technological advancement, but not necessarily a step towards improving traffic flow and commuter experience.

However, there could also be positive sides to this new electronic transport. First is its provision of a new and “hassle-free” way of payment by using the GETPass’ “Tap-in, Tap-out” system.

Second is that the new designated stops could ease the flow of traffic in the roads.

Third is that the vehicle itself received several modern adjustments, thus reducing noise and smoke emission.

Looking at it, the Comet is very promising because of its new technology, but there is a huge danger that it will only cause more trouble and traffic, especially with the first wave of its introduction.

This is because of possible system failures and the need for a lot of units to accommodate a lot of passengers. Even the improvements that are beneficial could still be problematic if its implementation is not carried out well and if other factors, like commuter volume and behavior, are not taken completely into consideration.

In the end, jeepneys serve their purpose.

But the truth is, we have to improve on a lot of things, and Comet’s promise of taking the roads of the Metro to the future still has a long way to go before it effectively help solve the current traffic problem.

8

News

Atenean Voice “Do you prefer the old traffic scheme in Katipunan Avenue over the new one? Why or why not?"

Gabriel Querubin 3 AB IS

Camille Biscuña 3 AB MEC

“[I prefer the] old [traffic scheme]. The new one causes tons of problems, especially in the streets surrounding Katipunan Avenue and even within the schools [along] Katipunan Avenue—Miriam College and [the] Ateneo de Manila University, to be exact. Dagdag hassle lang para sa mga estudyanteng nagmamaneho kasi kailangan din problemahin 'yung nakakadismayang bilis ng mga stoplight at ang ‘di makatarungan na trapiko.”

“It doesn’t really affect me because I don’t have a car; but then for me, as a commuter, it’s difficult, because the tricycles don’t want to bring people to Ateneo because it’s traffic; it’s difficult for them to get anywhere. So for me, I had to adjust my schedule that I have to commute until Regis only and I’m going to walk to school, so it’s kind of more stressful for me. They also moved the pedestrian lane [near] Leong, and that’s also kind of inconvenient, because if you wanted to go [to] the library, you have to go around. I’d give it time, but right now, it’s an inconvenience.”

Anton Chua 2 BS MIS

“I think I prefer the old one, because I've not really sensed the traffic improvements around the time I commute to and from class. I experience huge waiting times of greater than four minutes at the intersections while the traffic lights cycle through all the directions. The diversion of traffic through [the] Ateneo itself is also somewhat lengthy, and generally, it's more difficult to travel by cab because I pay more for [the] waiting time and for the greater distance traveled.”

Christina Monica Sibug 4 AB EU

“I prefer the old one. As a commuter who takes all types of transportation to get to school, the new traffic scheme made getting a tricycle at 7-Eleven near the LRT station very difficult. Many of the tricycles shake their head when you say that you want to go to Ateneo as they want to avoid the traffic of Katipunan and inside Ateneo. Also, if you do manage to find a tricycle that goes to Ateneo, they'll ask you where inside, and if it’s far, like Gonzaga or Bellarmine, they'll instantly say no.

I was lucky enough to get tricycles that go to my destination—JSEC and Bellarmine, but I've seen lines as long as 15 to 20 people vying for a tricycle during rush hour. I've also heard from my friend that her friend was charged P50 by a tricycle driver in compensation for the hassle and traffic of getting to Ateneo. Furthermore, with this new traffic scheme it's become imperative for me to leave even earlier for school—I leave at 9:00 AM for my 10:30 class as I live in Makati—and the consequences of this new traffic scheme, as many people have already experienced, is that we [become] late for our classes.”

Rosa Paula Cuevas, PhD Part-time lecturer, Biology Department

Nikki Bonuel 1 AB COM

“I am not loving the traffic scheme with the traffic lights because the traffic lights, I think, are red way too long, given the traffic volume coming to Ateneo from the south. The U-turn slots ensure that traffic is moving continuously albeit slowly. The main issue is traffic volume, and for people traveling from the south via C5, public transport is too inefficient to be an option. And Ateneo’s only accessible for cars via Katipunan, right? I think a possible solution to this—and I’m thinking outside the box again, so this may not be acceptable—is for [the] Ateneo to open a gate that isn’t on Katipunan Avenue. That, I think, will distribute the traffic volume coming from the south.”

“I’ve experienced the new traffic scheme for around four days, and I’m not sure if I’ve been on the road at the ‘right time,’ but I like how it’s going so far. Just last week (before the new traffic scheme), I was late to my first class because I was stuck in traffic for two hours as I was coming from Commonwealth; now I got to class in around 20 to 30 minutes. I hope I’m not speaking too soon.”

Community Calendar

Camille Palomares 1 BS ECE

“To be honest, I don’t like the new traffic scheme because it didn’t really make any difference in the traffic. Because no left turns are allowed, the U-turn slots are now very far. It becomes a hassle for the drivers, plus the trucks are all out at the same time, especially during rush hour. It’s not a solution to the traffic.”

Edgar Cammayo Security personnel, Megaforce Integrated Security Agency

“Para sa akin, hindi [ako pabor sa bagong traffic scheme] kasi [malaking] epekto ‘yong traffic flow dito sa loob ng Ateneo. Naranasan ko ‘yan nung Tuesday, nung nag-conduct kami ng traffic. Kapag 7:45 [AM] or 7:30 [AM], normal na [nandito na] kami sa loob ng Ateneo. Eh ‘yun, umabot kami ng pasado alas-8 [AM]. Kaya marami [sa aming] na-late dahil lang doon sa traffic sa Katipunan. Kaya hindi ako pabor.”

Bugsy Bairan 4 AB IS

“To be honest, nung una, iniisip ko, walang mangyayari or walang kuwenta kahit anong traffic control sa Katipunan, kahit baguhin ‘yong traffic scheme, kasi sobrang dami talagang nagdadala ng car sa schools in Katipunan, kaya walang way para ma-control ‘yong traffic. [Datapwa’t] napansin ko na ‘yong traffic, heavy lang sa mga papasok and lalabas ng schools, pero ‘yong mga cars na dumadaan lang talaga ng Katipunan, mas naging okay ‘yong flow nung traffic kasi na-control [ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)] ‘yong galaw ng cars sa bagong left turns na ginawa, instead na mag U-turn ‘yong mga papasok ng Ateneo. So, for me, mas okay ‘yong bagong scheme kasi hindi mas nabigyang attention ng MMDA ‘yong mga dumadaan lang talaga ng Katipunan. Tingin ko kaya lang naman sobrang pangit ng feedback ng mga tao sa new traffic scheme kasi people from inside schools lang ‘yong mga tinatanong. Kung titignan sa perspective ng mga normal na taong dumadaan lang sa Katipunan and hindi pumapasok sa school, malaking tulong ‘yong new scheme.”

Acee Leonardo 2 BS MIS

“Honestly, I prefer neither the new nor the old traffic scheme. The heavy traffic is still terrible [anyway], often causing me to arrive late at school.

However, ever since the new traffic scheme was implemented, traffic at [the] intersection going to [the] Ateneo campus and to Cubao seems worse.

I've noticed that instead of riding tricycles to Ateneo from the terminal station, Ateneans have opted to walk instead because it'll save more time.

Maybe it's because everyone's still adjusting so the new scheme [that’s why it] doesn't seem to be effective. But really, whether it's the old traffic scheme or the new one, it seems that there will always be heavy traffic in Katipunan.”

Carlo Pascual 3 BS CS

“I do not, because I come from the south. Even before the scheme, the traffic from the south was pretty bad. This traffic scheme made it worse.

From around 10 to 20 minutes, it started to take 30 to 50 minutes to traverse Katipunan. In my knowledge, they used to have a stoplight scheme, and they scrapped it in favor of the U-turn because [the stoplight scheme] didn’t work. Now that they brought it back, it seems like it’s doing more harm than good.”

Naomi Senga 3 BS ME

“I definitely prefer the old traffic scheme. In fact, my friend and I were just talking about how the traffic situation was already getting better two weeks before they even changed it. Now, it takes me about 30 to 40 minutes to get to Ateneo from Katipunan, northbound, whereas it only took about 10 to 15 minutes before. The new scheme also caused traffic inside Ateneo, and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get out from Gate 3 due to having only a 30-second-long green light. I understand that, theoretically, this scheme was implemented to alleviate the Katipunan traffic problem, but based on my experiences, I don't think it improved at all.”

Glimpses Ateneo moves up in QS world rankings

Start of Second Semester Classes November 10

The Ateneo ranked 461-470 out of 800 universities in this year’s Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, rising from its 501-550 spot last year. It remains the second top university in the country next to the University of the Philippines-Diliman, which ranked 367. De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas also made it to the list, ranking in in the 651-700 and 701+ ranges, respectively.

The QS World University Rankings have been released annually since 2004. The rankings are based on each university’s academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty and international students. Katrina M. Bonillo

Deadline for Load Revision Forms November 15 2014 National Social Entrepreneurship Conference November 20 to 21 Escaler Hall Titled “Social Enterprise and Innovation: The Roles of Universities,” the 2014 National Social Entrepreneurship Conference will discuss the involvement of the academe in educating and training social entrepreneurs. A registration fee of P3,500 applies.

For inquiries, call 4266001 local 5506 or send a message to natlSEconference@gmail.com.

Bonifacio Day November 30 Non-working holiday

The Areté receives naming pledge The Learning Innovation Wing of The Areté will be named after Metrobank Group Chairman George S.K. Ty after he pledged P120 million for its construction. Ty signed a memorandum of agreement on August 14, along with turning over the first tranche of the donation to the Ateneo. The Learning Innovation Wing will serve as an academic area that will house non-traditional classrooms, creative spaces, performing arts studios and the Ateneo Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute. Located in the Loyola Heights campus, The Areté is a creativity complex envisioned to be a center of innovation for students. Katrina M. Bonillo

Atenean participates in Asean University Network Program

The five books you must read before you graduate FR. JETT VILLARIN, SJ

vantage.theguidon.com

Economics-honors senior Kevin Bruce Que was selected as a delegate to the 2014-2015 Fostering Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Future Program. Hosted by the Asean University Network (AUN), the program offers full scholarships for 20 undergraduates to participate in cultural and academic activities at Daejeon University in Korea for one academic year. Que traveled to Korea on August 31, and here he will also be undergoing his internship at a prestigious firm in Seoul. AUN is an association of 30 universities in the 10 Asean countries. It aims to strengthen solidarity among member countries and to hasten the development of the region through its leading universities and institutions. Katrina M. Bonillo

Sports

The GUIDON October 2014

99

MAJOR IMPROVEMENT. The Ateneo Lady Eagles escaped the bottom end of the standings with their 7-7 win loss record.

TEAM FEATURE

PHOTOS BY ALEXIS A. CASAS

The ladies can ball

By Vincent D. Soliven THE ATENEO Women’s Basketball team improved their record from a single win last season to finishing with seven wins and seven losses in this year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The Lady Eagles just missed out on their aim of a Final Four berth, placing fifth behind the National University, De La Salle University, the University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University.

Starter Therese Aseron and Mythical Five member Danica Jose led the Lady Eagles to their improved standing. Aseron was the team’s top sniper from beyond the arc as she made the most three pointers for Ateneo in the entire season. Jose had another stellar year as she averaged a double double of 14.8 points per game and 13.6 rebounds per game.

The Lady Eagles finished third in the league in terms of field goal percentage with 34.8%, while placing third in bench points production with 24.2 points per game. They also ranked second in the league in terms of fast break points as they tallied a total of 118 in the season.

Despite their much-improved performance, the Lady Eagles have no plans in settling as they set their goals high for the succeeding season.

Preparations

The tea m’s presea son preparation was key, as both Aseron and Jose identified it to be important to the squad’s improvement. The Lady Eagles endured scheduled trainings twice a day over the summer, focusing on improvement in conditioning and physical prowess through weights training. Additionally, the team played preseason games in Davao for the players to gel together on the court and for the rookies to get exposure.

A lot of time was also invested in mastering the team’s playing system. The team had to adjust longer due to the rookies and the new coaching staff. The

seniors credited Head Coach Erika Dy for tweaking how the team played. She integrated other systems and different plays, which helped maximize its personnel on both ends of the floor.

Jose also explained that the transformation of the team’s system was based on the roster.

With a bevy of guards in the team, the Lady Eagles changed into a more fast breaking force, which was one of their reasons for focusing on conditioning.

This allowed them to outrun and outlast opponents.

Seniors’ guidance

Jose and Aseron both admired their rookies, as they made a huge impact in this season. The newcomers were able to fill in different roles and play as effective backups to the team’s more senior players. Jose commended backup point guard Mariella Lamar, sharp-shooting Jollina Go and power forward Nicole Cancio.

Aseron praised her own backup, Hazel Yap, whom she said found her confidence while playing in preseason games in Davao.

Aseron explained, however, that it was inevitable for rookies to transition without getting jitters playing in the UAAP, where the intensity, level of competition and physicality is much higher than it was in high school. The seniors took the responsibility of helping the newcomers adjust to the UAAP, a tough but necessary challenge that every collegiate athlete must go through.

It was the same experience that Jose and Aseron went through as freshmen when they looked up to their seniors, who left before Season 76. “Nagulat kami na parang tayo-tayo na lang (We were surprised that it seemed like it was only us left),” says Aseron on their seniors graduating. The veteran players’ leaving created a hole in the leadership of the team.

This may have had an impact on their win record last season.

“We lacked the experience on the court; the maturity,” recalls Jose in a mix of English and Filipino.

“We weren’t used to not having [the seniors] around. We weren’t able to fully fill their spots.”

These battle-tested players credited their evolutions, from freshman year to the present day, to experience. In their rookie season, both Jose and Aseron were still trying to find themselves, their style of play and their roles within the team.

But through continuous play, they were able to become the leaders they have blossomed into this season. Along the way, they also made it a point to help the rookies transition in the style of play of the college ranks. “Hindi puwede na, ‘Bahala kayo, [rookies]. Pinagdaanan rin namin ‘yan’ (It can’t be, ‘You take care of yourselves, rookies. We went through the same thing.’),” says Aseron as she mentions that everything is a team effort.

Looking forward

Next season, with only backcourt players Bee Bellarmino and Sara Bo-ot leaving, seniors Jose and Aseron expressed that they didn’t want to end their Ateneo basketball careers just yet. They, along with the other four seniors in the team, have all decided that they are playing out their fifth year of eligibility.

“I don't think I can end my basketball career like this.

There’s no closure. I still have a reason to stay after what happened. I’m still hungry for that championship,” said the Season 77 Mythical Five awardee. Aseron followed up by emphasizing that next season would be their last year and that they’re aiming for a championship. “Ito na talaga.

Wala na kaming ibang iisipin (This is it. We’re not going to think of anything else).”

A f ter t ra n sfor m i ng a lackluster season into a near Final Four berth, the Lady Eagles are determined to take their success up a notch. The standards are only getting higher for the team and anything short of their ultimate goal will be a disappointment. “You can end your basketball career with an almost, getting there, whatcould-have-been kind of story,” says Jose. But she claims that that’s not going to be the way they’ll finish their career. “You can’t end a chapter that way.”

10

Sports

The GUIDON October 2014

SPORTS FEATURE

A tradition in transition

By Robi R. Andres “FABILIOH. HALIKINU. Sis Boom Bah.” These incomprehensible words have been chanted for generations by men and women who have witnessed the triumphs and struggles of those who have donned the blue and white since the days of Moro Lorenzo. Yet, despite this rich tradition inherited by today’s generation of Ateneans, the state of the school spirit has been in decline, a result of the changing times that the Ateneo’s own Blue Babble Battalion has struggled to adapt to.

“If I’m being honest, I don’t think the current student population has embraced the old cheers yet,” says Blue Babble Battalion Program Head Ralph Aligada. “It’s an unfortunate fact that the other cheers like ‘Fabilioh,’ ‘Halikinu’ and ‘Rhumba Yell’ are not as immersed in the current student population, unless you’re from the high school or the grade school. If you’re here for just college, you probably don’t know [the cheers].”

Changing times

The reasons behind this lack of awareness have not been a matter of mere apathy, but rather, a cumulative effect of the various changes made in the Ateneo. Aligada cites the discontinued practice of teaching the cheers during freshmen and sophomore Physical Education (PE) classes as one of the reasons behind this kind of culture.

Aligada’s predecessor, former Blue Babble Battalion Program Head Ivan Claudio, laments the situation: “All PE classes had to go through being taught of the cheers; that was part of the inculcation. It went hand in hand: If you’re saying school spirit was part of the Ateneo culture, then why shouldne, it be taught in Intact (Introduction to Ateneo Culture and Tradition), an introduction to Ateneo culture?”

Despite having fewer avenues for teaching these cheers, the Blue Babble Battalion looks forward to the annual Cheer Rally as a way to keep the school spirit alive. Still, Aligada expresses his disappointment with the crowd: “Students don’t really feel like going to cheer rallies. You feel it and you see it. Even when the event isn’t finished yet, when you say it’s from 4:30 PM to 6:00

PM, by 6 PM flat, they go.”

The frustration of the Blue Babble Battalion towards the apathy of Ateneans could be traced back to earlier decades. There was a time when Ateneo sports were, quite frankly, dead. “I come from a time when I was a cheerleader in the early to mid-here, and that was a time when we didn’t even [get the chance to] enter the Final Four. You’re talking to a guy who, in his old college life, the champion team was [the University of Santo Tomas]. Those were the dark ages,” shares Claudio, who has proudly been part of the Blue Babble Battalion tradition for 22 years.

The recent overhaul in the school’s sports program, however, caused an influx of championships unseen by the Ateneo since the school’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) days from the ‘20s to the early ‘70s. “The team had the new recruitment system and the team reemerged as a force. And so there was a renewed school spirit, so to speak,” says Claudio.

He adds that Ateneans must not get complacent when supporting the school: “We are also a victim of our own success. We got a little spoiled.

Everyone expected [Ateneo] always to be winning.”

Fanning the fire

The present state of school spirit may seem disheartening, but Claudio remains unfazed.

“Despite of the limitations given today, both physical, technical and whatever you may, it doesn’t mean that we’ll stop. To babble is literally ‘to go on.’”

Aligada mentions that the Blue Babble Battalion has recently been trying to come up with innovative ways to reach out to the student population. Social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube have been used over the years to reach out to students. He also says that he has been in contact with the various departments within the Loyola Schools (LS) to try and persuade them to start teaching the cheers to students again.

Although the appeal has yet to be actualized, Aligada does appreciate that the LS has taken some steps in keeping the school spirit alive: The “Blue Eagle, the King” anthem, now on its 75th anniversary, has noticeably been playing on campus in the morning.

It’s important that Ateneans know these cheers by heart

since the Blue Babble Battalion’s process of which cheer to choose isn’t just a matter of preference. The decisionmaking of our cheering squad is a careful balance between emotions and timing.

“How the Babble approaches things now is very scientific.

We cannot cheer for volleyball the way we cheer for basketball. We cannot cheer for football the way we cheer for volleyball and basketball,” Aligada shares. The crowd must be ready to cheer with all of their might on whatever beat the drums echo throughout the arena.

Importance of spirit

Although the cheers are mostly gibberish, they take on a more symbolic importance for the community. According to Miguel Lizada, an English Department instructor and an avid fan of Ateneo sports, “I think [cheering] is the collective voice of support and our investment in the game.”

In a way, cheering becomes the link between fans and the players. “I think players will tell you that the things that they hear, or do not hear, actually matter,” Lizada adds. “We can’t

step in and steal the ball for them, but we can cheer them on and enable them to concentrate.”

Beyond the symbolism, however, Lizada acknowledges the practical value that school spirit has. The games, for him, have helped forge friendships with fellow alumni who are decades his senior. He fondly mentions one of his friends who graduated in the ‘70s as a part of the last Blue Babble Battalion batch, just when the Ateneo left the NCAA. Unfortunately, the exact meanings of the cheers have been lost in history. “I think the publicized meaning is [that it is] gibberish,” says Claudio. “That’s about it. Then from there, every batch of Babble has its own interpretation.”

But, in a way, it is precisely the mystery of these chants wherein their true value lies.

They become renditions made by the current generation, making the Ateneo culture and tradition that much richer.

Aligada pointedly says, “Look, cheering is supposed to be fun.

It’s supposed to be non-sense. I mean, La Salle has a Strawberry Shortcake cheer, which is nonsense. We have Fabilioh and Halikinu.”

FRUSTRATED YET COMMITTED. The lack of enthusiasm from the crowd does not dampen the Blue Babble Battalion's spirit.

PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG

Ateneo Cheers RESEARCH BY Robi R. Andres

Artillery Yell BBB

O! Ready on the Left!

Ready on the right!

Target:

Crowd

<Name of opponent>!

BBB

Range:

Crowd

<Name of opponent>!

BBB

Ready, Aim, Fire!

All

Boom Chika Boom, Boom Chika Boom, Boom Chika Boom Chika Boom Chika Boom!

Boom Chika Boom! Rah Rah Rah! Boom Chika Boom! Sis Boom Bah (3x, getting softer) Ooooo Boom! 'Teneo! 'Teneo! 'Teneo!

Locomotive Yell All

A! Rah, rah, rah T! Rah, rah, rah E! Rah, N! Rah, E Rah, rah rah Ooooooooooooo! *Repeat, getting faster

Blue Eagle, the King

RICH IN TRADITION. The Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion's cheers are deeply rooted in the Blue and White's history.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG

Fly High!

Blue Eagle fly And carry our cry Across the sky!

Cast your shadow below, Swoop down on the foe, Then sweep up the fields away!

Fly high!

Over the trees Make known through the breeze Our victories!

Spread wide each wing For you are the King Blue Eagle, the King!

For the Eagle’s the King of them all And his blue feathers never will fall!

For the Blue and the White And the Eagle in flight Ateneo will fight Today!

Fly high Over the trees Make known through the breeze Our victories!

Spread wide each wing For you are the King Blue Eagle, the King!

Sports

The GUIDON October 2014

11

GALLERY OF EAGLES

World class Atenean martial artists These Atenean Martial Artists represent more than just the Blue and White in competition.

PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG

Thea Bermejo

By Joseph J. Bautista “SMALL BUT terrible” is an understatement when describing Jins rookie Thea Bermejo. The younger sister of former Blue Jin and former Philippine team representative Red Bermejo has made a name for herself with the number of awards she’s racked up.

She has already proven to be a veteran fighter due to international competitions in taekwondo she has participated in, making one of Ateneo’s reliable players. When Bermejo was in high school, she garnered a gold medal from the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Taekwondo Federation Championships in Myanmar in 2013. She also represented the country in the 7th Asian Juniors Taekwondo Championships in Jakarta last June 2013, where she finished

with a bronze medal. To follow up the multitude of awards she has received, she was also awarded with the gold medal in the 6th World Taekwondo Culture Expo in Korea held last 2012.

Last March, the computer science f reshma n bagged the silver medal for the 42kg weight division at the 10th World Junior Taekwondo Cha mpionship in Ta ipei, losing the gold medal during the sudden death round to Abigail Stones of the United Kingdom. “It was a great experience, especially facing opponents from other countries.

It was a privilege actually. “ Bermejo bested international athletes from countries such as Egypt, South Korea, Iran and most notably, Thailand, where taekwondo was known to have originated from.

Her prior experience at the

Aaron Agojo international stage proved its worth as it paved the way for her silver medal win at the recently concluded University Athletic Association of the Philippines Taekwondo Championships with a 4-2 record.

With the 2015 Southeast Asian Games looming, she says that she will try to make it to the final team’s lineup. But with her record being nothing but top-notch and excellent up to this point, it would not be a surprise to see her with the rest of the national athletes next year.

When asked if she is gunning for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the long run, she answered, “That is something I don’t know. It’s too big, but why not?”

Whether or not she does make it to the Olympics on time, this young gun is sure to win for the Ateneo and the Philippines for years to come.

By Joseph J. Bautista TALENT AND hard work got Blue Jins Aaron Agojo to compete in a lot of places in the world. It has reached a point where consistently performing for the country at the international stage has become nothing new to him.

He’s one of the elite in his class with his recent gold medal at the 2014 Student World Championship in Mongolia last August, and his silver medals at the 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and 2013 Asian Championships at Myanmar and Indonesia, respectively. He also garnered the gold medal at the Korean Open back in October 2012.

As the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea move in closer, Agojo continues to train and work hard to represent the

country in this future meet.

Despite his padded résumé, he understands that there’s no room to relax. “This Asian Games will be a very challenging fight since some of my opponents are veterans and Olympians.”

Aside from the 2014 Asian Games, Agojo is also gearing up for the 2015 SEA Games.

His previous experiences have driven him to continue to train harder after last year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines season, to prepare for the next competition.

He expressed that it was also his 2013 SEA Games experience that brought out the best in him, with a rigorous twice-a-day training.

While the 2015 roster has yet to be finalized, Agojo isn’t holding back on constant improvement.

With the competition getting tougher every year, the veteran fighter shares that he’ll be ready

to step up for the Philippines given the opportunity.

With the standards set high for Agojo, he seeks to eventually reach the peak of competitive sports. Agojo sees the upcoming 2016 Olympics at Rio de Janeiro as the greatest stage that will fully test his capabilities. He states that it’s the ultimate destination for any athlete and that he’s working hard to get there.

“Being qualified for the Olympics is a long process.

You need to gather points in different competitions. I also hope that I can join the Asian qualifying tournament and win a medal because it is one of the major [qualifications] to compete in the Olympic games.”

With his massive performances in and out of the country in the past few years, don’t be surprised if the name “Francis Aaron Agojo” flashes soon on the podium at Rio de Janeiro.

Tinelle Palecpec

By Joseph J. Bautista BEING NEW to the world stage is not an excuse for Arnis player Tinelle Palecpec. The psychology junior won a silver medal in the Thang-ta Championship, an Indian martial art that uses swords and shields, at the recently concluded World Martial Arts Festival in South Korea.

Palecpec was not alone in her journey as fellow Ateneans also attained success in the competition. Literature sophomore Raelene Tang and Echie Hernandez (BS COMTECH ‘11) were both able to secure bronze medals while alumnae Hannah Donato (BS COMTECH ‘12) and Georgia Uy (AB COM ‘13) were able to accompany Palecpec on the podium with a second place finish.

Palecpec’s successful debut in international competition with her teammates gave her newfound motivation and the drive to train harder and perfect her

craft. “We’re gonna join again next year, and then hopefully we could do better next year because now we know what the judges are expecting,” Palecpec shares in a mix of English and Filipino.

Being an Atenean studentathlete and balancing it with national team training takes a toll on a person, especially when he or she has to leave school to compete. Despite this being her first time participating in a competition abroad, Palecpec made sure that her academics were not neglected. She says that she wanted all of her work accomplished in order for her to be fully focused on her competition. She emphasized how there was no room for distractions in the world stage because of the importance of representing the country. “I just did the preparations before we went to Korea. I did everything I had to do for that week.”

With Arnis being the national sport of the Philippines, she

aims for more people to try it and become more aware of it.

“I hope the sport itself, rather the martial art itself, gets more known to the public.”

Besides competing, the Arnis national team also has done their part in spreading awareness of the sport through talks and conferences regarding martial arts appreciation. Physical Education Director Richard Gialogo, PhD led the country by presenting his research on the role of Arnis in the Philippines during the World Martial Arts Festival.

Palecpec shares in a mix of English in Filipino, “You really feel the Philippine pride because we’re really representing the Philippines for what it’s supposedly known for.”

With the way her training and mindset are directed, it’s only a matter of time until she and the rest of the Ateneo’s Arnis program’s products will be one of the faces of the national sport.

PHOTOS BY ISABELLA OLIVARES

Editor: Chino C. Razon · Editorial Assistant: Noelle M. Recio · Layout Artist: Nikki G. Solinap

Sports

10 THE LADIES CAN BALL The Lady Eagles improved with a 7-7 win loss record

TRIPLE CHAMPIONS. The Fast Ateneo Swimming Team (FAST) made history with the triple championship sweep of Season 77 of the UAAP. PHOTOS BY MAX V. AUSTRIA, ALEXANDRA L. HUANG AND RAQUEL A. MALLILILIN

First semester roundup

By Beatrice T. Go and Faith R. Decangchon THE FAST Ateneo Swimming Team (FAST) wrapped up the first semester by completing a triple title sweep in the 77th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). For the first time in history, the Blue and Lady Tankers, along with the Juniors team, were crowned the champions of the UAAP Swimming tournament in the same year. In addition, the high school team also bagged their 10th straight first place finish.

The Blue and Lady Tankers swept the competition with an outstanding total of 62 medals consisting of 33 gold, 22 silver and seven bronze. They also set 22 records and managed to get all the special awards in each division.

The FAST Program stood out among all the Atenean teams in the first semester sports with their championship sweep.

Among those who represented the Blue and White in the first semester were the Basketball, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Cheerdance and Judo teams.

Optimistic and determined

Although the student-athletes of Katipunan blessed the Ateneo community with victories and success, there were also the inevitable cases of struggle from the Blue and White.

The Blue and Lady Beach Spikers along with the Taekwondo, Table Tennis and the Blue Babble Battalion were cellar-dwellers in their respective UAAP tournaments. This season proved to be a testing ground for these teams as they fielded in a roster full of rookies coupled with revamped systems.

Despite failing to make a podium finish for Season 77, there’s no question that

the effort that these athletes sacrificed for the school was unmatched. As what Blue Babble Battalion Team Captain Kailee Arce-Ignacio shared after their competition, “I just hope that people understand that we did try our best and we had fun with it. We really dedicated a lot, we invested a lot and we are determined to do even better.”

As these teams remain gritty and continue to pile up experience, maintaining their focus for the upcoming years will lead them nowhere else but up in the near future.

Inches short

Moving on from the struggling teams, Team Ateneo also had its share of heartbreaks. The Blue and Lady Shuttlers were led by the duo of Pawee and Justin Natividad for the men’s team and Dia Magno and Bianca Carlos for the women’s team. These Atenean badminton specialists fell short of their title defense as the men’s team failed to qualify for the finals, while the women’s team was two games short of a three peat. The men’s team bowed out to the De La Salle Green Archers while the women’s team lost their finals matchup against the University of the Philippines (UP) in two games.

The Atenan Judokas suffered a similar fate as the Ateneo Judo Association (AJA) rallied out a pair of first-runner up victories, falling short of a double championship. The Blue Judokas tallied 43 points, while the Lady Judokas notched 32 in their second place finish. The men’s and the women’s teams were able to garner a total of six gold medals as they won three out of the seven divisions. Unfortunately for the Blue and White, the distribution of points of the bronze and silver medals from across the other schools came off as an advantage to the eventual champions, the University of Santo Tomas.

Despite the heartbreaking

loss, coach of the AJA Ali Sulit expressed how proud he was of the effort and fighting spirit exemplified by his team. “It was more than heartstrong. I was awe-inspired and awe-struck by what these guys have shown.”

For the men’s and women’s basketball teams, on the other hand, the season proved to be a successful rebound from the previous lackluster year.

The revamped women’s team led by Danica Jose came close to entering the Final Four as they clinched a total of seven wins at the end of the elimination round.

Although Far Eastern University sneaked a victory against them

both rounds of their elimination campaign with the top spot, securing a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four matchups. Although they came up short of a finals showdown after succumbing to National University in the semifinals, certain members of the team excelled throughout the year.

The Blue Eagles most notably excelled in individual honors, with Team Captain Kiefer Ravena securing the Most Valuable Player award and rookie standout Arvin Tolentino garnering the award for Rookie of the Year. Ravena also earned a spot in the Mythical Five

Hopefully by next year, we'll be doing a triple defense. It's a big responsibility, but I have confidence in this team.

— ARCHIE LIM FAST Director

in their last match to deny the team a Final Four berth, the Lady Eagles proved that they have progressed much from the previous season.

From struggling with a one-win stand in season 76, the team ranked fifth overall and was able to survive comeback after comeback against UP, the University of the East, Adamson University and the University of Santo Tomas. Team Captain Jose was also awarded a spot in the Mythical Five for the second consecutive year.

The men’s team showed to many that last year’s fifth place finish was merely a f luke. The Blue Eagles ended

alongside graduating senior Chris Newsome.

FAST domination

With the other teams falling short of their ultimate goal, the Ateneo Tankers dominated the competition as they breezed through their entire season. The Blue Tankers finally brought themselves back to the top from last year’s land on the third best spot of the podium. They garnered a total of 540 points, 11 records, 18 gold, 15 silver and five bronze medals.

For the women’s side, they finally achieved their goal of reclaiming the championship

after five years of ceding the crown to UP. The Lady Tankers garnered a total of 468 points, 11 records, 13 gold, seven silver and bronze medals.

With an outstanding haul of seven records and gold medals for all the seven events he joined, Jessie Lacuna was awarded, with no question, the Seniors Men’s Most Valuable Player award of the championship.

“From last year’s performance, I saw the big improvement of the college team and how they worked everyday,” says Lacuna in a mix of English and Filipino. “They really inspire me, that I can still improve.”

Freshman Aldo Batungbacal was named the Rookie of the Year in the Seniors Men’s division. He was also awarded Rookie of the Year during his first year in the UAAP Juniors division, and has been a consistent podium finisher and recordholder throughout the years. His case as the season’s top rookie was solidified, as he broke an 11-year old UAAP record in the men’s 200m breaststroke as he clocked in the time of 2:24.23.

Like Lacuna, Hannah Dato’s impressive haul of seven records and medals led her to be awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Seniors Women’s division.

“Hindi ko akalain na magagawa ko ito (I didn’t expect that I would be able to do this),” says Dato. “Nakita ko ang teamwork at mas lumakas ang loob ko.

Dahil sa aming lahat, kaya kami nanalo (I saw the teamwork and I found strength in myself.

We won because of everyone on

the team).”

Another stunning rookie from the team was awarded the Rookie of the Year of the Seniors Women’s Division. Lady Tanker Ariana Herranz hauled a total of 80 points and five medals in the whole duration of the championship.

Aside from the swimmers, both the men’s and women’s coaches of the Ateneo’s program clenched their respective awards. Sherwyn De La Paz won the Coach of the Year recognition for the men’s team, while Candice Esguerra was awarded for the women’s squad.

The Ateneo Swimming Team strongly believes that their victory would not have happened if it weren’t for the help of fifth year swimmers Roanne Yu and Celina Gonzalez, as well as the impressive bevy of rookies in the competition.

Most of the swimmers stepped up from the previous season’s lackluster performance and are now more determined to defend the triple championship title.

“I am so happy for this experience. I’ve learned so much and I want the swimmers to remember this moment,” says Ateneo Sw im m ing Program Director Archie Lim. “Hopefully by next year, we’ll be doing a triple defense. It’s a big responsibility, but I have confidence in this team.”

The Blue and Lady Tankers have definitely capped off the last UAAP competition of the first semester with a great victory for the Ateneo community.

Visit the sports site of The GUIDON: http://sports.theguidon.com/

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Editor: Roxie Y. Ramirez · Editorial Assistant: Regine D. Cabato · Layout Artist: Joey D. Ochoa

Beyond Loyola

02 HELPING HOLIDAY Is voluntourism really helping those it's supposed to help?

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSEPHUS T. NUGRAHA

A teacher's pledge Every October 5, World Teachers’ Day celebrates the role of teachers in progressive education. Established by the United Nations in 1994, it reaches out globally to organizations that put the teacher in the limelight.

By JC A. Beltran and Ina M. Morales

B

ESPECTACLED, SOFTSPOK EN, clad in a blazer and black trousers—Geminiana Pacheco is a 57-year-old public school teacher who has taught young and eager pupils for 36 years.

The teaching veteran has gone through the tightrope, disciplining rowdy students around the clock while teaching multiple subjects ranging from mathematics, science and English to pupils of Grades 3 and 4 at Batino Elementary School.

“Maliit pa ako, pangarap ko nang maging teacher. ‘Pag naglalaro kami, gusto ko lagi nasa school, mga ginagawa sa school (I was young when I dreamed of becoming a teacher. Whenever we played, I always wanted to be in school and do the activities in school),” reminisces Pacheco,

who taught in schools at Quiapo and Bagumbayan prior to Batino.

Some Ateneans have followed along a similar path as well.

Sabrina Ongkiko (BS BIO ‘05), best known for her TEDxADMU talk entitled Our Return on Investment, was on her way to medical school when an invitation to teach made her reassess her career choices. She is now on her sixth year of teaching at Culiat Elementary School.

Pacheco and Ongkiko are just few of the many educators who choose to serve public schools.

More than a form of public service, teaching has spawned opportunities that seek for better education in the country.

But being a public school teacher is no easy task as there are still clear problems within the local educational system.

Education situationer

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(Unesco), the number of students per class in the Philippines averages at 43.9, nearly three times the ideal class size.

Students are forced to crowd into science laboratories, libraries and corridors to address the shortage of proper classrooms.

While Pacheco was lucky with the decent classroom conditions in her district, she laments the congested classrooms in Congressional District 1 were due to its high number of enrollees. “That’s hard. It’s noisy and hot. [There is] no learning will,” she says in a mix of English and Filipino, citing the areas of Payatas, Novaliches and Commonwealth.

With nearly 21 million children enrolled in public schools across the Philippines, the alarming ratio of teachers to students is also a vital point of concern. The average teacher to student ratio is 1:36 and 1:35 in elementary and secondary

schools, respectively. According to a study by the Center for Public Education, the ideal ratio should be around 15 to 18 students per teacher.

In an article from The Philippine Star, Unesco reports that the Philippines remains in the top 10 countries with the highest out-of-school population at 1.46 M. Ongkiko cites poverty as a prevalent issue that affects learning, and attributes to absenteeism and dropouts.

Due to adverse economic conditions, these children enter the workforce instead.

As a teacher and a government employee, Ongkiko clarifies that it is not easy to implement reforms in a big bureaucracy such as the Department of Education (DepEd). She emphasizes the need for all levels of the agency to collaborate in making the DepEd responsive to students’ needs.

A teacher's ›› 4

Angara sheds light on ALS in new bill

By Pamela P. Baluyot and Chynna A. Santos

F

OR THE past months, awareness about a myot rophic latera l sclerosis (ALS) has grown, with the ALS ice bucket challenge going viral on Philippine social media last July. The challenge, wherein the participant has to dump a bucket of ice water over his or her head, aims to promote awareness about ALS and to encourage donations towards research about the disease.

Even various television personalities and politicians joined in on the trend. In support of the fight against ALS, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara took part in the campaign, posting a video of his ice-cold shower online. Furthermore, as a declaration of his advocacy for rare diseases like ALS, he filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2383 or the Rare Diseases Bill of the Philippines last August 28.

One of a kind

ALS is only one of the many rare diseases looked after by the Institute of Human Genetics of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-University

of the Philippines, Manila.

According to Dr. Mary Ann Abacan, consultant geneticist and metabolic specialist at the institution, they have been actively managing patients found with these illnesses since

She adds, “Due to the rarity of these conditions, they have been ‘abandoned’ or ‘orphaned’ by research and drug companies.”

There is also a lack of health practitioners in the country with expertise regarding rare diseas-

This is why we are hoping that the Rare Diseases Bill will become a law.

This will help to provide comprehensive medical care for our patients.

— DR. MARY ANN ABACAN Consultant geneticist and metabolic specialist, Institute of Human Genetics of the National Institutes of Health

1991, under the leadership of Dr. Carmencita David-Padilla and Dr. Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz. Abacan explains that different countries have a variety of ways to define what rare diseases are, saying, “In the Philippines, we define rare diseases as those occurring in one out of 20,000 live births. Rare diseases are also known as ‘orphan disorders.’”

es. “The nature of their illness is hardly known due to lack of information and only a handful of medical professionals in the country are aware of these disorders, and know how to diagnose and address these conditions,” says the Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders (PSOD) on an article in their website.

Based on a statement given

by Angara to the press last August, the government has also shown little support for rare disease patients and research centers in past years.

There are currently 227 cases under observation by the PSOD, covering around 48 diseases.

NIH is currently handling some 350 cases. The most common of these diseases is the maple syrup urine disease—caused by the inability of the body to process certain amino acids—and mucopolysaccharidosis II—caused by the absence of a particular enzyme. The two diseases have 126 and 49 listed patients with the PSOD, respectively.

Common goal

The NIH and the PSOD are considered to be the leading authorities when it comes to rare diseases in the Philippines.

The NIH introduced newborn screening to the country in 1996, making early diagnosis and intervention possible. Although the institute is currently only screening six diseases in newborns, future expansion hopes to detect as many as 28.

On the other hand, the PSOD is, according to Abacan, a nonprofit organization “comprised Angara sheds ›› 4

AN ICY CHALLENGE. After taking part in the ALS ice bucket challenge, Senator Sonny Angara filed Senate Bill No. 2383, also known as the Rare Diseases Bill.

PHOTO BY CESAR TOMAMBO/PRIB

Beyond Loyola

2

Displaced indigenous peoples in the Philippines RESEARCH BY Frances P. Sayson ILLUSTRATIONS BY Paulina L. Almira SOURCES ethnicgroupsphilippines.com, hrw.org, ilo.org, internal-displacement.org, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, ncca.gov.ph, newsinfo.inquirer.net, peoplesoftheworld.org, piplinks.org

Helping holiday

By Alexa B. Fontanilla and Cristina A. Gadiano

W

ITH THE Christmas break just around the corner, more and more people are seeking alternative ways to spend their holidays rather than the usual traveling around popular vacation hotspots.

A number of tourists have been choosing to engage in more meaningful activities, such as tree planting efforts and livelihood training workshops that actually benefit rural communities—all while enjoying the beauty of their chosen destinations.

This rapidly growing concept of traveling and helping out is tagged as “voluntourism”—an amalgam of volunteerism and tourism. Its history can be traced back to 1951 through the works of Herb Feith, an Australian who volunteered for the United States Peace Corps and who became a translator in Indonesia. The Peace Corps, established in 1961, sent volunteers abroad, assigning them to projects in different fields such as education, agriculture and health, based on their skills and knowledge However, t he Nevada Board of Tourism coined the term “voluntourism” in 1998

MANGYANS Mountainous regions of the Mindoro Island Factions of the New People's Army have been active in the island since the 1980s, leading to frequent clashes with the military. During these encounters, many Mangyans are forced to evacuate and are sometimes prevented from returning due to security reasons.

They still remain in the mountainous regions of Mindoro as their displacement is often temporary. Dialogues have also been made with the military in order to raise cultural sensitivity and to address certain military practices that the people have found offensive.

IBALOI Southeastern Benguet in the Cordillera Administrative Region Numerous Ibaloi families were displaced more than 50 years ago when their landswere used for the construction of the Ambuklao and Binga dams.

As the lands were cleared in the 1960s,the government sent the Ibaloi to Palawan, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Palawan. However, the displaced community has resettled in Itogon, Benguet.

Some live in Binga, Bagadjao and Banao in the North.

LEGEND

Originally from

Old location

Reason for displacement

New location

Current location

to attract local residents to volunteer for the purpose of supporting rural tourism in remote locations of Nevada.

In the local context

In the Philippines, some travel companies are also encouraging engagement in voluntourism.

One example would be Kawil Tours, founded by Guido Sarreal (BS COMTECH ‘10) and partners Jun Tibi, Renlee Cubello and Elee Bulantano, which is advocating for responsible travel.

Kawil Tours offers tours to Culion, an island located in Palawan that is still considered

untouched, being a former leper colony. What sets its brand of tourism apart from the usual tours is the connection built within the community. Boat rides contribute to the income of local boatmen, partner families prepare meals served on the island, the residents manage hotels and inns, and the tour itself provides livelihood for the locals.

Aside from experiencing Culion cult ure, specif ic voluntourism activities are also offered by Kawil Tours. The first was held last October 2013, wherein voluntourists collected patches of garbage floating

AETAS Settlements in the northern part of the country, including mountainous regions in Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga. In particular, the slopes and forests of Mount Pinatubo have provided them a home and subsistence for thousands of years.

Aside from the exploitation of their lands for natural resources, the Aetas were severely affected by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which ruined their villages and agricultural lands.

Resettlements and communities in Zambales and Pampanga that include privately donated lands and lands reclaimed under the Ancestral Domain Law; urban areas in Luzon.

The GUIDON October 2014

around the waters near Culion.

Now, they are starting to engage in mangrove planting.

All these activities are done under the guidance of the locals. Sarreal explains that engaging the community and the voluntourists is essential to the success of the trip, which is why they strongly encourage the interaction of the two entities.

Even a f ter t he t r ip, voluntourists continue to communicate with the locals through social media. When Super Typhoon Yolanda struck Culion in 2013, they were the first ones who responded to the needs of the island. Funds were raised for the repair of damaged boats, which were the major sources of income for the locals.

The repaired boats, then, were used for relief operations around the island.

Student engagement

Atenean students are also actively engaging in voluntourism, with the Loyola Mountaineers (LM) being a prime example.

Zhiela Santillan, a management senior and Environmental head of the group, explains that aside from mountaineering, LM sets time to push for its environmental advocacy, especially towards indigenous people.

An annual flagship project of the group, the Citizen’s Action for Reforestation, is geared towards improving the physical environment and to foster understanding among local communities. This year, their main activity was to plant and monitor seedling growth through collaborative effort with the Dumagat Tribe. This was not their first interaction with the tribe, as they have annual visits to Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija.

But it was through this continuous engagement that the organization determined that tree planting was no longer the utmost priority in the area.

“Instead, our interaction [with the locals was] a way for LM members and applicants to tune themselves with the Dumagats of Gabaldon—sharing history and a vision of sustaining a living natural sanctuary in the area,” Santillan explains.

Considering alternatives

Today, different parties are questioning the implications of voluntourism. An article from The Guardian states, “An entire industry has sprouted out of voluntourism as it increases in popularity, possibly equal to the increase in global inequality.”

Given the fact that voluntourists

Anne Collantes (BS MGT ‘13), is one of them.

Alvarez explains that instead of focusing on learning about the culture and identity of the people, the voluntourist’s mindset becomes, “What does the community lack so I can donate after the trip?” which is far from what Kultura Kamp is advocating.

“We also think that voluntourism—in our context, just specifically for [Kultura Kamp]—has a danger to send the wrong message to both the participants and the locals: That the kampers are going to the communities to save the locals,” Alvarez adds.

We also think that voluntourism— in our context, just specifically for [Kultura Kamp]—has a danger to send the wrong message to both the participants and the locals: That the kampers are going to the communities to save the locals.

— ARVIN ALVAREZ Founder, TriboCo. Kultura Kamp

are from socioeconomic positions that are vastly different from the people in the communities visited, a negative connotation is associated to it—a wider gap between the rich and the poor.

Hence, some travel companies are veering away from voluntourism and leaning towards alternatives such as communitybased tourism. TriboCo. Kultura Kamp, a brainchild of Arvin Alvarez (BS MGT ‘13) and Mary

Because of these reasons, Alvarez says that voluntourism is not the best approach for their company.

What makes Kultura Kamp’s community-based tourism different from the usual voluntourism is the concept of tourists going into the community as students to learn from the locals’ culture. Also, the locals themselves dictate what the kampers are allowed to see, experience and participate in.

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Looking up and ahead

Even though voluntourism is faced with criticism regarding its negative consequences towards local communities, companies such as Kawil Tours are still finding ways to make the experience more meaningful.

“We hope that voluntourism would aim to find solutions to the problems [of the community],” Sarreal says.

One proposal is volunteerm at c h i n g , wherei n t he expertise and competency of a voluntourist would match the needs of the local community.

“We want to get the right kinds of people,” Sarreal explains.

Both Alvarez and Sarreal agree that keeping an open mind is essential to the success of their tours, especially those involving indigenous people.

When asked about the changes in the community since the voluntourism trips started, Sarreal speaks with utmost enthusiasm. “[The locals are] becoming hopeful, and they’re having bigger dreams. They have this sense of wanting to give back to the island,” he says.

Santillan agrees with these sentiments. “Voluntourism appeals more than just the value of sights,” she says. “It’s unique because not only [are you] able to tour new landscapes and frontiers, but you are also able to create a relationship with the community.”

For Sarreal, the most important output for both the community and the volunteer is friendship. “When you join Kawil Tours, you go on a journey with the community. You’re not a tourist, but a traveler. A tourist, when he goes home, it’s over.

However, when you’re a traveler, you’re part of the journey,” he says. “You’re still part of it, even when you go home.”

BADJAO Coastal areas of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan and Zamboanga del Sur Clashes between the military and rebels such as the Moro National Liberation Front have forced many groups to evacuate. It has also been reported that the government has been prohibiting the tribes to return to their homelands for the same reason.

They have been relocated to evacuation camps across Mindanao, particularly in Zamboanga. In the last few decades, many have also migrated to Sabah, Malaysia, and the islands Sulawesi and Kalimantan in Indonesia.

LUMADS Lumads collectively refer to 15 indigenous tribes in Mindanao, including the Manobo, Bagobo, T’boli and Mandaya groups. They are found in around 17 towns and cities across Mindanao, including Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Dipolog.

Development projects for hydroelectric plants and the like continue to threaten to displace the Lumad tribes. More strikingly, the constant clashes between the government, and the New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have caused numerous short-term displacements.

They still remain in their settlements in Mindanao as most return after their numerous, short-term displacements during military encounters.

IPRA: Stalwart WRITTEN BY Frances P. Sayson

ON OCTOBER 29, 1997, then-President Fidel Ramos signed into law the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) or Republic Act No. 8371. This became the country’s first comprehensive law intended for the rights of an estimated one-fifth of the population.

Also known as the Ancestral Domain Law, the IPRA was modelled after the provisions of the United Nations (UN) Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a document completed in 1993. The Declaration was later adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007 as a non-legally binding instrument under international law. IPRA was also intended to follow provisions in the 1987 Constitution that promoted “the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development” (Article II, Sec. 22) and created “autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the Cordilleras” (Article X, Sec. 15-19).

According to a policy brief by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), the IPRA upholds the rights of indigenous peoples (IPs) to ownership of their inherited lands, selfgovernment, social justice, human rights and cultural integrity.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) was thus created under the provisions of the IPRA. According to its website, the commission is the primary government agency for the creation and implementation of programs for the welfare of IPs and indigenous cultural communities. All ancestral domain claims were transferred from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the jurisdiction of the NCIP. Informed consultation and written consent by IPs became required prior to mining projects on tribal lands. Indigenous groups were also given the responsibility of preserving the ecosystems of their domains.

The IPRA was met with triumph across the nation’s 95 indigenous tribes. In the words of the IAG policy brief, there was a “common understanding” that a law for the rights and welfare of IPs “has come at last.” However, it was soon met with numerous criticisms.

Conflicts with other existing laws were cited. One such law is the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. While the IPs’ ownership rights to their ancestral land are recognized, all minerals found in the country are, by law, owned by the government. Through the 1995 Mining Act, the activities of foreign and local corporations were welcomed. According to a report by the IBON Foundation, more than three-fourths or roughly 1.4 million hectares of Cordillera land has been overrun by mining operations. Other conflicting laws include the National Integrated Protected Areas System Law of 1992 and the Fisheries Code.

The NCIP has also been censured for its implementation of the IPRA. It has been accused of entertaining fake tribal leaders, favoring mining companies over indigenous communities and superseding laws to benefit big corporations over the welfare of IPs. Despite the criticism, the IPRA remains as the only comprehensive law in the country for the welfare of IPs. As Raymundo Rovillos, PhD, chancellor and former dean of the College of Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines, Baguio, pointed out in an online UP forum article from 2012, “the IPRA is a very powerful, very progressive law.”

Currently, there are a number of Senate bills intended for the welfare of indigenous peoples. These include the Ethnic Origin Act of 2013, which aims to include ethnic origin in the national survey of the National Statistics Office, and the Anti-Ethnic or Racial Profiling and Discrimination Act of 2011.

PHOTO FROM TENG-AB.COM

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Beyond Loyola

The GUIDON October 2014

ISIS expands recruitment, gets allegiance of PH insurgents

By Kyle N. Mitschiener and Janella H. Paris

O

N SEPTEMBER 18, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a Sunni militant group that is currently expanding its territory in the two war-torn states, released a propaganda video from Al Hayat Media Center, the group's media wing.

Roughly a minute long, the video was rife with footage of simulated explosions targeted at American troops, United States (US) President Barack Obama and the White House. It was released around a week after Obama vowed “to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group” in an address to the nation on September 10.

The group’s campaign was made apparent to the global community after its current leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was declared caliph and “leader for Muslims everywhere” in June. According to Al Jazeera, “a caliphate [is] effectively an Islamic republic led by one leader, regardless of national boundaries.”

ISIS has left tens of thousands dead and displaced, and has captured a number of cities, including Mosul and Fallujah in Iraq, and Raqqa in Northern Syria, to name a few. In August and September, the group released execution videos of American and British hostages, raising alarm outside the Middle East.

Unconventional warfare

“This is no longer a conventional warfare [between] states,” says Gino Trinidad, lecturer for the Political Science Department. He points out that there are many actors concerned in this “networked” conflict.

The US launched its aerial campaign in Northern Iraq in early August at the request of the Iraqi government, keeping ISIS forces from seizing the Mosul and Haditha dams and allowing the Iraqi army to boost its offensive against the terrorist group.

In his September address, Obama promised to degrade the group through air power and support for partner forces on the ground. “It will not involve American combat troops

fighting on foreign soil,” he said, urging people to understand that the effort will be different from the war in Iraq in 2003.

Involved in the ground offensive against ISIS are the Peshmerga, the military faction of the Kurds, an ethnic group in Iraq, and the Free Syrian Army, an army of moderate rebels against the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Recruitment tactics

In a written analysis of ISIS's tactics, Michael Knights of the Washington Institute for Near East policy says, “[ISIS] had been steadily strengthening and actively shaping the future operating environment for four years [leading up to June 2014].” According to Knights, this allowed the group to strategically weaken its enemy forces and also expand its militant force.

CNN reports that around 20,000 to 30,000 militants could be fighting for ISIS. “The group is a magnet for militants from around the world,” writes Thanassis Cambanis in a New York Times article in June, pointing out the group’s use of Twitter and other social media sites to showcase its international fighters. ISIS launched an Arabic Android application called “The Dawn of Glad Tidings” that boosts the frequency of the group’s hashtags on Twitter.

According to Trinidad, that “the war has evolved into these forms (social media)” implies that the conflict is more ideological than physical.

It is an ideological conflict that is spreading to the Philippines.

In July, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) released a video of senior leader Isnilon Hapilon swearing allegiance to al-Baghdadi and the movement. The ASG, listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US, is a notorious militant group that has been a constant threat in Jolo and Basilan.

Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) alleged that they are in direct mobile communication with ISIS. BIFF was formerly a part of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front until they split from the group due to disagreements regarding the peace process

with the Philippine government.

Both the ASG and BIFF continue to push for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao that would adhere to sharia law, a set of guidelines for the Muslim way of life. When practiced strictly, the criminal justice aspect of sharia may include punishments such as beheadings.

T r i n id a d t h i n k s t h a t resou rces a re t he ma i n reason behind ASG and BIFF’s alleg ia nce. ISIS capt ured and resumed production in oil fields in Syria and has been reselling the electricity produced to the government—a scheme that has made the group the wealthiest terrorist organization in the world.

However, Trinidad believes that the movement remains to be decentralized. He adds that this decentralized nature is one of the cracks that governments against ISIS can capitalize on.

Trinidad also underscores the importance of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). He says that the BBL gives the government “a fighting chance to quell [the movement] for the people not to buy in on the ISIS-inflected ideas.”

A localized approach

As of August, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) considers ISIS’s threat “out there [in the Middle East], in the conflict areas and not here.” The AFP says they are still confirming the claims that Filipino jihadists have been sent to fight in the conflict areas.

Inah Robles, president of the Ateneo Debate Society, believes that having a more localized approach could prove beneficial to quelling the violence.

According to her, “The Kurds are at the best position to mediate peace. They have been shown to be tolerant towards the minority and people of different religions.”

Bas Claudio, vice president for Public Relations of The Ateneo Assembly, agrees with this, saying that Middle Eastern countries with Sunni majorities would be crucial in putting a stop to the conflict. “ISIS can only be crushed when actors from regional governments, to states, and finally, local forces work in unison,” he says.

Angara sheds... of advocates and parents of children with rare diseases.”

Both organizations are hoping for the passage of the bill to make the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases easier and more accessible to the public.

“The diagnoses of rare diseases also come at an expense because we need specialized tests,” Abacan says. “This is why we are hoping that the Rare Diseases Bill will become a law. This will help to provide comprehensive medical care for our patients.”

‹‹ 1

More on the bill

In the event of the bill’s passage, the NIH will be in charge of maintaining a national database with information on the rare diseases, as well as a registry of patients. The database is meant to aid research.

Passage of the bill would also prompt the Department of Health to create an Office of Rare Diseases. This office will deal mainly with research and development of treatments and cures. It will also assist the NIH in the creation of the rare disease registry.

La st ly, t he of f ice w ill conduct programs to educate the public on rare diseases and will help them understand the needs of patients.

Ot her law ma kers have already shown their endorsement of the campaign for rare diseases. On October 21, 2013, Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago initiated SBN 1868 or the Pediatric Rare Diseases and Conditions Research Act, which “mandates the NIH to conduct research on pediatric rare diseases and conditions.”

Similarly, Sen. Pia Cayetano filed SBN 2098 or the Rare Disease Act of 2014 in February to support the cause, with Cagayan 3rd District Congressman Randolph Ting doing the same in the House of Representatives through House Bill No. 3896. Sen. Cynthia Villar and Sen. Lito Lapid also share the advocacy, setting off bills 2279 in June and 2407 in September, respectively.

The mentioned legislations, along with Angara's SBN 2383, are efforts towards giving patients aff licted by orphan disorders the adequate medical

care they need, and these are all still pending in the Committee.

Participation by awareness

Aside from filing the bill, A ngara also promised to donate US $100 to the PSOD every month for the next year as part of his fulfillment of the ice bucket challenge.

“Definitely, this ice bucket challenge craze would eventually die down,” he said. “There is a need to integrate public educational and informational campaigns in the current programs of the Health Department to identify persons afflicted with rare disease and help the public understand the special needs of such persons.”

Abaca n welcomed t he popularity of the ALS ice bucket challenge, especially the curiosity it sparked in social media users who have watched the videos.

“The curiosity these events generate leads to awareness,” she said. “By being aware that rare diseases do affect Filipinos, we are able to actively participate in making a difference in the lives of these patients.”

SOCIAL MEDIA WAR. Aside from using it for recruitment, social media is also being used by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria to share execution videos of American and British citizens.

PHOTO FROM ABACA PRESS

A teacher's...

The biggest education reform to date is the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) program, which aims to adjust the country’s general curriculum to meet globalized standards. The K-12 is notably “part of an umbrella of reforms called the Basic Education [Sector] Reform Agenda (Besra),” Ongkiko explains. Besra is a package of policy reforms aligned to systematically improve the educational system in all aspects.

Delfin Villafuerte (BS ME/ AB Eco-H ‘13), who teaches at General Roxas Elementary School, agrees with the plans of the K-12 program, but he observes that it was not as standardized as he had expected. He also questions its preparedness, saying that lesson guides and other materials in his school remain incomplete for the school year. “As with most apprehensions of people about it, it always boils down to the question of execution,” he says.

In spite of these problems, some believe that a strong rapport between teachers and supporters of educational reform is a good foundation for progress. “The students should be our central focus. Conversations in schools should be about our students and not just about compliance to policies,” explains Ongkiko. ‹‹ 1

Social catalysts

Of ten because of t he debilitating state of public school education, many individuals and organizations have dedicated their lives to paving the way for sustainable progress through acting on their love for teaching.

Alay ni Ignacio (ANI), the student arm of the Ateneo’s Pathways to Higher Education, “aims to form leaders among talented but financially-challenged public high school students, envisioning that they not only get into good universities, but more importantly, that they become the nation’s progress-bearers,” says its president, senior physics major Denz Del Villar.

Having been a physics tutor for two summers, Del Villar feels that he can attest to the students’ diligence and enthusiasm to learn. “ANI’s job is to let them develop and make use of these—in ways that they could not get from their schools—to become good leaders,” he shares.

Today, some of the students who Del Villar taught during his freshman year are studying in the Ateneo. Most of the ANI

members are former students who want to “pay it forward.” “I think it would greatly help if there are more people who will dedicate their time, effort and expertise in order for the gap between public and private schools to be minimized,” Del Villar remarks.

Ongkiko was also an active ANI volunteer herself. Passionate for her advocacy in education, she became a spokesperson for a DepEd campaign named "Greater Opportunities! Education (GO! Education)." “It’s a campaign to spread the reforms that are happening, what DepEd has been doing, and to encourage people to take part in the reforms,” she explains.

Ongkiko also believes that there is ongoing progress towards change. “Honestly, a lot of things have improved—less [shortage], how the system is run, even salary

smart because he could not read. Today, KC has overcome his learning disadvantage and has reached out to his classmates as a leader.

“It's fulfilling that we never expect to see immediate fruits from what we teach, but sparks like these, changes in such a short span of time, make you realize, ‘Maybe I'm doing something right.’ If I could change at least one life, then maybe it is still worth it,” he says in a mix of English and Filipino.

Moreover, Ongkiko believes in building a community of educators while synergizing the efforts of both public and private sectors in education. “There should be a communal sense of ownership for the things that we do in education. Huwag na umasa sa iisang bayani o iilang bayani na iniisip nating mag-aayos ng mga bagay-bagay para sa atin (Don’t

It's fulfilling that we never expect to see immediate fruits from what we teach, but sparks like these, changes in such a short span of time, make you realize, ‘Maybe I'm doing something right.’

— DELFIN VILLAFUERTE Teacher, General Roxas Elementary School

[increases]. [But] there are still a lot of things to be done. Reforms should be felt on the ground,” she says.

Bayanihan spirit

After Villafuerte graduated from the Loyola Schools as batch valedictorian, he did not just go to a public school to teach mathematics across six Grade 3 sections; he also returned to his alma mater, but this time as a Business Statistics lecturer.

For Villafuerte, his decision was not about the desire to teach but the need to utilize his talent and skill in order to serve the country.

“I wanted to do something with young people, something youthoriented, and I have a deep sense of nationalism,” he explains.

Villafuerte recalls one of his Grade 3 pupils named KC, who once believed he was not

depend on a hero or group of heroes whom you think will fix these things for us),” she adds.

Pacheco stresses that one must accept and commit to teaching as a vocation because the inability to do so will lead one to nowhere, in both one’s career and in inspiring change. “'Pag nagustuhan mo [ang pagtuturo], tanggapin mo nang buong puso. Dapat talaga bigay-todo rin.

(Once you have grown to like teaching, accept it with your whole heart. You should give your all),” she advises.

Villafuerte adds that passion alone will not suffice without skill and dedication. “Passion is something very intangible, and if teaching in a public school is a way to concretize your passion, then you have to make sure you’re doing it wholeheartedly and for the right reasons,” he explains.

Editor: Pia H. Posadas · Editorial Assistant: Benny G. Tañedo · Layout Artist: Nikki G. Solinap

Features

04 LOST IN TRANSLATION In fashion and media, various cultures are often in danger of being misinterpreted.

Sun's out, boards out

THE GETAWAY. Wherever the surf forecast is at its best, surfers from all over the Philippines strap their boards to their cars and disappear for the weekend.

By Marguerite R. Andrews and Tricia T. Lao

“

They say you never forget your first!” exclaims legal management senior Asia Wy as she fondly recounts the first time she faced the roaring waves of La Union. This past summer, she, along with her cousin and their friends, decided it would be a good idea to learn how to surf. Upon arriving at the beach, Wy remembers feeling intimidated by the size of the waves; their surfing instructor quickly reassured them that they were perfect for beginners like themselves.

In spite of the sore arms and the dehydration she felt by the end of that afternoon, she knew this wouldn’t be her last time out in the sea. “I told myself that [this wasn’t] the last time [I would] be surfing,” she shares. “I won’t let it be just a summer fling.”

For many surfers, both amateurs and professionals, this water sport has come a long way from being just another pastime by the beach. While the surfing community is still an emerging one, surfing seems poised to become the next must-try activity on everyone’s vacation bucket list.

Slow and steady

In a country teeming with sandy beaches, it is surprising that the local surfing community has taken this long to develop. In a 2012 interview with Rappler, Paolo Soler, the founder and president of the Philippine Surfing Academy (PSA), recalled that when he began surfing in 1997, there weren’t many like him. “Even if there were already

surf spots where foreigners have decided to settle, there were only a handful of us in Metro Manila who would actually venture out to La Union to try to pick up this sport,” he said.

In 2008, Soler decided to open PSA. “When I went to Bali, Indonesia and I witnessed for myself the surfing industry there, I realized there was a big, big potential for the industry to grow here in the Philippines,” he told Rappler. Accredited by the Academy of Surfing Instructors Australia, PSA employs Red Cross-certified coaches to teach novices the proper techniques to master the sport.

“The surf community is slowly growing,” remarks Stoked Inc. Teamrider Carla Sebastian, though she concedes that it has yet to become as large as it is in places like Bali or Australia. In fact, it was only in the last decade that companies like Stoked Inc. began to sponsor surfers in competitions here, resorts were built to cater to people driving up to the beach and festivals were staged at top surf spots.

These days, more people are beginning to appreciate it as both an art and a lifestyle, as seen in festivals like the La Union Soul Surf where sun, sea, sand, music and friends come together. “I think the Soul Surf festival is a way to get the local community of the venue growing in terms of economy and tourism,” shares Sebastian. “It also makes people more aware of our country’s hidden gems. A great adventure is just waiting by the next bus stop.”

The perfect trip

The country’s tropical climate makes it ideal for beach activities, and when it comes to

surfing, most agree that the best time is from September to March when the waves are at their highest and strongest. Save for the flat waves, those itching to take their surfboards out can count on it being surf season in at least one place at any given time of the year.

For newbies, surfing is immediately associated with La Union. Despite the grueling four-hour drive from Manila, the fun party atmosphere, friendly locals, large surfing community and year-round waves entice even the most unskilled of surfers. “If you go to La Union, you’re going to think you’re in Australia because they just fixed everything up so properly,” Soler told Rappler.

Besides La Union, surf aficionados also frequent Baler, Zambales and Siargao. Both Baler and Zambales are great alternatives to La Union because being three to four hours away from Manila makes them ideal for quick surfing weekenders.

Those seeking a true getaway, however, can head to Siargao in Surigao del Norte. The oldest and most popular surfing destination in the country, it has been dubbed the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines” by the Department of Tourism. “You really get the island lifestyle,” says Sebastian.

“The air is fresh, the nature wild and free; it’s a tropical paradise.”

If a road trip doesn’t fit into the budget or schedule, Club Manila East has wave pools, which Soler called “the ultimate surfing treadmill.” These generate uniform waves and provide a controlled environment for surfers to master the basics of surfing before immersing themselves in the ocean.

Testing the waves

The stereotype of the surfer is easygoing and relaxed; he walks around with his trusty longboard tucked under his arm.

“They say that surfers are always high, but no, they aren’t always high,” jokes legal management senior Jan Resurreccion. “[Surfing itself ] gives you a different kind of high—even if you fall off right after riding a wave, you’re just happy.”

Behind their laidback exterior,

when there’s a storm that exits at that direction,” she recalls. “It seems dangerous to us, people from the city, because we experience storms differently from how [surfers] experience it.”

For competitive surfers like Sebastian, who has participated in the Stoked Inc. Philippine Wahine Classic, the Manila Surfers Association’s Siege of Baler 2 and the 8th Odyssey Waves Nationa l Surf ing Competition, surfing entails

[Surfing itself] gives you a different kind of high—even if you fall off right after riding a wave, you're just happy.

— JAN RESURRECCION 4 BS LM

surfers know that this sport can mean serious business. Safety, for one, is an utmost priority.

“You never know when there’s an undertow in currents,” Resurreccion warns. “[When] the seabed changes and suddenly gets deeper, one of the major dangers is the board itself. If you don’t know how to handle it, you can get hit, fractured or unconscious.”

Some rules may surprise nonsurfers, at least according to Wy, who says storms actually bring good swells for surfers. “I remember my instructor telling me to keep track of the weather forecast and come to La Union

great dedication. “[Competitions are] definitely a lot of pressure, but it’s all about staying calm and focused on doing your best,” she advises.

According to her, even beginners can apply these same principles: “Surfing is easy to learn but hard to get good at—I say this not because you have to be born with the skills but because to get good at surfing, you have to be determined and committed.”

Floating on

From Resurreccion’s perspective, the community of Atenean surfers isn’t well established yet. “It’s more of a barkada of

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG

surfers—graduates and superseniors,” he remarks.

While a surfing organization similar to Loyola Mountaineers and the Institute of Skin Divers Ateneo may still be a long way off, Wy is hopeful one will come to fruition. “If only I fell in love with surfing earlier, not on my senior year, I really would have thought of creating a surfing org,” she says.

Resurreccion thinks that there would certainly be a market for it among Ateneans. “There’s a current trend that I’ve noticed all over social media that people are getting into surfing and going to Baler,” he adds. “I think people would join and be interested.”

While Resurreccion sees this hypothetical organization as one that will promote environmental awareness, social sciences sophomore Choco Arucan has already envisioned the more practical side of it. “I want to set dates when I can go [surfing] with friends, so it’s easier to connect all surfers,” he explains.

Perhaps their task now is to get more people engaged, whether they are Ateneans or not. After all, the future of surf is looking bright. With fun new hostels like Flotsam and Jetsam in La Union and festivals like La Union Soul Surf and Summer Siren Festival beginning to attract droves of urban folk to the beach, it’s no longer farfetched to hope for surfing to become more of a mainstream activity in the Philippines.

The best way to get people convinced, it seems, is for them to get their feet wet. “In some small way, you can conquer nature,” says Resurreccion. “I can’t explain it to you, you have to experience it.”

Features

2

Playback history Much like their predecessors, today's musicians continue to shape the landscape of local music.

PHOTO BY ANDREA G. BELDUA

By Isabel A. Rodrigo and Benny G. Tañedo

S

eptember was the month for local music that no one expected it to be. It began with waves of ‘90s nostalgia brought about by the release of the new Eraserheads singles in collaboration with Esquire Philippines and ended on a thrilling note with She’s Only Sixteen’s sixth anniversary gig.

A month flanked by these two acts, which arguably represent two distinct eras, inevitably raises the question of what came in between. Today, the local scene is vibrant: A lot of music is being made locally, be it by underground acts like CRWN or mainstream names like Daniel Padilla or Sarah Geronimo.

However, fully appreciating today’s sounds entails looking back at the past as the very mention of local music brings about the subject of Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Much has been said about what it is, how we ought to remember it and, as the musicians themselves can attest to, how it has definitively evolved over the years.

Source of sound

Jim Paredes (AB COM ‘73), a member of the renowned Apo Hiking Society, recalls how the sounds of his youth were mostly replications of Western music.

“Everybody wanted to be called ‘The Elvis of the Philippines,’ because [it was easy to] sound like Elvis,” he recalls.

This mindset was turned upside down when the likes of Apo, Hotdog, Willy Cruz, Freddie Aguilar and George Canseco sought to make their own music and to tell stories

using their own language. It was nothing short of daring for them to perform at gigs armed with a largely Tagalog repertoire instead of the timetested English lineup that most crowds back then could relate to.

The risk eventually paid off, winning the hearts of many.

As Paredes puts it, “In the ‘60s, you could define the whole movement of music as mass followed class. In the ‘70s, the opposite happened—class followed mass.”

These songs performed in the local language were originally referred to as “Manila Sound.”

A few years before the ‘80s, however, Danny Javier, another member of Apo, coined the term “OPM” to aid the identification of this then-emerging strain of poprock music. The term stuck as a kind of collective and unspoken agreement; after all, bands writing their own material and artists singing about the ordinary Filipino were the “zeitgeist of the time,” Paredes says.

This growing milieu wasn’t sustained for long though, at least according to Paredes’ experience in the industry. He mentions how the reformatting of radio stations resulted in a stricter access to the local limelight, while piracy also began to be a serious problem.

Along with this came the advent of music videos from abroad, which shifted most people’s attention back to foreign icons.

By the ‘90s, Paredes began to notice a clearer departure from this initial grassroots stage.

While it did breed the likes of the Eraserheads and Rivermaya, it also spawned the question on the continuity of this OPM. Still, Paredes wouldn’t hesitate to call these then-emerging acts OPM.

“When we coined it, it was a very inclusive term,” he says. “OPM is any music done by Filipinos.”

Present tense

Ask anyone involved in the underground side of things— from Route 196 along Katipunan Extension to SouthRock Indoor Skatepark of the Lag una hardcore punk scene—and they visibly shirk the label OPM. Ask electronic artist BP Valenzuela and she quickly defines it as an

so they’re still trying to cash in on the sound of that golden era that has long passed,” he says.

Valenzuela, who has set her sights on releasing an album by March of next year, has high hopes for the future of local music. “I wish radio stations were more open to having local music in their daily playlists. I wish people were more open to hour-long sets,” she muses.

“I wish it wasn’t a competition between local and international, as people normally think it is.”

Dated discussions

Everybody listened to the Eraserheads at one point in their lives... Saying that a lot of local bands since then were influenced by them is an understatement.

— JP DEL MUNDO Guitarist, Never the Strangers

umbrella term, one that she feels is outdated since it refers to the musician’s being Filipino rather than the sound of the genre.

The 19-year-old Valenzuela, who, in between papers and classes, released a self-produced extended play last March, calls her music ambient electropop—a far cry from the alt-rock boom of the ‘90s that she feels is typically associated with OPM. The association is strong among those who see the Eraserheads era as local music’s last golden age. “Everybody listened to the Eraserheads at one point in their

Charting the changes

BY Patricia C. Concepcion ILLUSTRATIONS BY Meg C. Quintos

From the Eraserheads to Up Dharma Down, the evolution of modern Filipino music reflects both the rise and fall of genres and endurance of local talent.

lives… Saying that a lot of local bands since then were influenced by them is an understatement,” JP del Mundo (BS MIS ‘12) says.

“It was inevitable,” Valenzuela says of the decline in the popularity of mainstream local music. With the rise of the Internet and the slow decay of the regular avenues of local music, discovering acts from abroad became much easier.

“The demand for local music kind of spiraled down into a

"Ang Huling El Bimbo" The Eraserheads (1995)

more niche audience, since it’s harder to make it [big]— especially now that success for musicians doesn’t nece ssarily mean getting signed.”

In his senior year, del Mundo and his alt-rock band Never the Strangers, for which he still plays guitar, were signed to Warner Music Philippines before del Mundo veered into an experimental hip-hop solo project under the alias John Pope.

“Local music became stagnant because the major labels would only put out artists they knew would be a hit with the masses,

Partly inspired by the childhood of the band’s lead singer, Ely Buendia, this song tells a story about youth, first love, and the tragic realities of growing up and growing apart using the El Bimbo, a popular dance from the ‘70s, as a metaphor. It is arguably this highly influential band’s most iconic hit, especially since it won the International Viewer's Choice Awards for Asia at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.

The larger development of local music definitely doesn’t follow a smooth path, but it helps to consider the distinct contexts of each genre when imagining the sounds of then and now. Between the ‘70s and the ‘80s, the emergence of OPM was rooted in a radical shift in emphasis from globally recognized figures onto local, homeg rown talents—away from the “American junk,” as Paredes sharply sang it. What was at stake here was not just the devotion of audiences; the artists of the time saw that a sense of national identity was on the line.

These sentiments, however, don’t exactly apply to the way OPM is seen today. Yagi Olaguera, the moderator of the Ateneo Musicians’ Pool, contemplates how people “attach a false sense of nationalism to the whole [use of the term].” He continues, “I would understand if there’s an actual sound or style that’s recognized around the world as Filipino, but there isn’t one.”

In a way, this echoes the wideranging discussion that surfaced around a year ago on social media and blog sites. Here, the controversy was focused on singer-

"Hallelujah" Bamboo (2005)

songwriter Rez Toledo’s Facebook note that talked about how the term OPM no longer applies to today’s music. The arguments were met with both agreement and criticism, emphasizing how, with the differences in musicians’ and audiences’ opinions, there still isn’t a clear-cut consensus of the term OPM. For del Mundo, however, it all comes down to how we define it.

“When it’s defined as the era in the ‘90s when a particular sound was really popular in the mainstream, then of course [OPM] is dead,” he says. “Then again, what counts as OPM when defined as music made by Filipinos has changed so much since the Eraserheads were active.” Discourse on its connotations come only after this recognition. For Valenzuela though, the controversy behind the debate tends to get in the way of music-making. “The whole discussion takes away from the music and just makes everyone uncomfortable.”

Ola g uera sha res t h is sentiment, adding, “People should stop talking about OPM or the definition of OPM and start talking about music.

Better yet, stop talking about it altogether and just make music.”

For now, local musicians have been doing exactly that and more—the scene is nothing short of vibrant as niche scenes are becoming more and more prevalent with the likes of Valenzuela and CRWN. Although it may take some time before the next major mainstream development, Olaguera’s hope is that people will only continue to make music: “There was a time in the ‘80s when it was uncool to be a musician. I hope that never happens again.”

This song captures the raw intensity and nationalistic bent Bamboo became famous for. It starts slow before building up to a catchy chorus; its lyrics are a powerful battle cry rallying Filipinos, especially the downtrodden, to collectively rise up against oppression.

The GUIDON October 2014

3

Beyond rhyme and meter

By Ishbelle L. Bongato and Marco G. Dayrit

E

legance and simplicity: These two words come to mind when one looks at the woman sitting across the table, her effortless smile complementing her easygoing personality. Her eyes wander as she pauses thoughtfully from time to time; here, seated in the Fine Arts Program, she seems completely at ease.

For Mookie Katigba kLacuesta (AB COM ‘01), writing came just as naturally. Coming from a “literary family” that encouraged her to read and write, she first realized she wanted to write poetry at the age of 12. This interest proved to be the start of a very fruitful career later on; her work can be found in several publications and she even came out with two of her own collections of poetry, The Proxy Eros (2008) and Burning Houses (2013).

Today, Katigbak-Lacuesta is a three-time Palanca Award winner, most recently having won first place for her collection of poems entitled “We Won’t Be Tending Gardens” at the 2014 Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. While many only know of her as an award winner, there is much more to Katigbak-Lacuesta’s story than meets the eye.

The poet’s tale

Most writers describe what they do as a calling, others, a love affair. Katigbak-Lacuesta is more partial to the former,

having never outgrown her love for the written word. “I had my very first poem published [in Heights Ateneo] when I was a freshman, when I was about 17,” she says. “Heights published it even if it was phenomenally bad, but for some reason, I think the editor was quirky enough to see the potential—not the product, but the potential.”

Straight out of college, she pursued her Master of Fine Arts at the New School University in New York. When asked about her choice of school, she laughs.

“I found out my favorite writer was teaching there. When you’re young, your reasons are so simple,” she explains. “I wasn’t [stalking the writer], but I liked the work.”

The atmosphere was a creatively challenging one. “[Once, we even had to] write a poem [as if we were] Wallace Stevens mimicking Gertrude Stein. It really blew my mind!” she exclaims. Unorthodox lessons such as this showed her that there was more to poetry than metaphor and “organic unity”—one could simply experiment and have fun by combining the poetic styles of various writers.

Over the years, KatigbakLacuesta has incorporated these tips and tricks into her writing. Still, she is quite modest about her accomplishments, adding that her work has been published “here and there.” In reality, she has already earned her literary bragging rights by getting published in the likes of the Philippine Graphic and the University of the Philippines’ literary journal Likhaan.

It is this wealth of experience that Katigbak-Lacuesta brings to the classes she teaches at the Fine Arts Program. “Initially, she came off as someone who is quite confident about herself, someone who had a very powerful personality,” recalls philosophy senior Russ Caynap, who took her poetry workshop as an elective because he had been impressed by a poem of hers in high school.

As intimidating as she may sound, Caynap adds that she was never one to take herself too seriously. “She may seem stern at times, but she is actually a very funny professor. Sometimes she makes us think she’s serious about a certain remark, but she suddenly laughs about her own sarcasm.”

Serendipitous beginnings

When one looks at the timeline of Katigbak-Lacuesta’s life, it is easy to assume that her life was very career-oriented. Even she admits that upon reflecting on her past decisions, “I was very one-track minded, very monomaniac. It was all about writing, writing, writing, that’s it.”

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since writing wasn’t just confined to her professional life. For instance, after returning home from New York, she found herself joining a band called The Big However. “[The band] found out that I was a poet, so they gave me music to listen to,” she recounts.

Turning poetry into lyrics and forming melodies were her contributions to the band’s work, on top of being its vocalist. “I would write my own songs, sometimes I would adapt from poetry, like

Dr. Benilda Santos’ work, to make a rock song based on ‘Bago ang Wakas’ or based on ‘Kundiman’ by [Emmanuel] Lacaba,” she explains. “We’d sing the songs in various bars and we got paid in viands like barbecue.”

The story of how she and her husband met is no exception. She remembers randomly wondering one day if she should watch French films “for the nuances.”

At a party that same night, she met Sarge Lacuesta, now a multiaward winning fictionist and Esquire Philippines’ editor-atlarge, who coincidentally struck up a conversation with her about French movies. “I wasn’t ready for a relationship [at the time], but a year after, we met again,” she shares with a smile. “The rest is history.”

According to an article

by Alfred Yuson in the The Philippine Star, the couple was hailed as “the Brangelina of Philippine literature” by the guests at their wedding in 2009.

Katigbak-Lacuesta considers him not just as her life partner but also as her ultimate mentor. “[He] told me to break away from [my comfort zone] and try new avenues of expression, new subject matters. He’s my first critic, so when I write something, I show him first.”

She put her writing on hold for a few years after getting married to attend to other responsibilities, first as a wife then later as a mother. She notes how being married lets her share her experiences with the people she loves. “Writing is solitary…

You’re just in your own world.

Being married forced me to go

INSPIRED VERSE. When she isn't busy winning Palanca Awards or writing poetry, Katigbak-Lacuesta teaches poetry classes in the Fine Arts Program.

PHOTO BY CHI D. PUNZALAN

It's not a nine-to-five job where if you do your best, you get promoted. [Even] if you put in the hours, it doesn't mean you'll be a celebrated writer.

— MOOKIE KATIGBAK-LACUESTA Lecturer, Fine Arts Program

out of that world, to really share my love, not just live for myself but live for other people.”

The creative process

DIASPORA. Katigbak-Lacuesta received her third Palanca Award on September 1 at the Peninsula Manila Hotel for "We Won't Be Tending Gardens," a collection of poetry about migration and western exoticism.

PHOTO BY SHAIRA A. MAZO

"Liwanag sa Dilim" Rivermaya (2005)

Often referred to as the “banda ng bayan,” Rivermaya was among the pioneers that helped define the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) scene of the ‘90s. This song serves as an anthem of hope, most recently when Japanese visual kei rock band UchuSentai:NOIZ covered it to spread awareness about the plight of the Super Typhoon Yolanda survivors.

"Oo" Up Dharma Down (2006)

Breakups may b e a common topic, but Up D h a r m a D ow n d o e s heartbreak like no other.

W hen this song was released, it was unlike typical OPM songs of the time. It was highly experimental in terms of style, deviating from the familiar verse-chorus formula and blending emotional lyrics with electronic instrumentals.

Being a successful writer entails commitment—writer’s block strikes at the most inconvenient of times and one too many rejections can take their toll. These discourage even the best of writers, but KatigbakLacuesta has certainly persevered. “It’s not a nine-to-five job where if you do your best, you get promoted. [Even] if you put in the hours, it doesn’t mean you’ll become a celebrated writer.”

As a writer, she believes that her biggest accomplishments thus far have been her two collections of poetry, as they reflect just how unique the creative process is. “There is nothing there, then you create something. You have a project or an individual poem, then it just grows and grows.”

Her poems have grown into beautiful works indeed. Inspired by a visit to the University of Santo Tomas Museum of Arts and Sciences, “We Won’t Be Tending Gardens” is a collection of poems that embodies the themes of mi-

gration. “In my poems, I write from the perspective of people, mostly writers, in Philippine history, people who are part of the diaspora,” she explains.

The title is “a kind of Hollywood ending” for Filipino migrant workers. “You won’t be doing this forever, you’ll move on to greater things,” she adds. It also reflects a lot of what she was experiencing in her personal life, which was a desire for a calmer lifestyle that she had envisioned herself as already having at this particular time in her life.

As much as she loves poetry, Katigbak-Lacuesta acknowledges that she eventually wants to explore other types of writing, especially since she has been so focused on poetry for so long. “It’s such an intense area of study, and I kind of want to veer away from that for a while,” she admits. “Maybe I’ll write a script, maybe I’ll write a musical.

Maybe I’ll just write a newspaper article, maybe it won’t be a big thing that won’t be so amazing.”

Her admirers need not worry, however, as Katigbak-Lacuesta makes this promise: “I will go back to poetry, no matter what.”

ERRATA •

In the September 2014 issue of The GUIDON, the pull quote in the article “Turned tables” was misattributed to Carlo Atendido. It should have been attributed to Miguel Santillan.

In the same article in the September 2014 issue of The GUIDON, it was mentioned that DJ Carlo Atendido took on some of the country’s top DJs, including DJ Ace Ramos, to win the title of Red Bull Thre3style Philippine Champion. This is inaccurate; Ramos did not participate in the competition.

The GUIDON apologizes for these oversights.

4

Features

The GUIDON October 2014

The cultural calamity From Taylor Swift to the UAAP Cheerdance Competition, "cultural appropriation" has become quite the buzzword.

By Jasmine P. Ting and Andrea V. Tubig

P

eople in the arena cheer as a group in red and gold Muslim-inspired garb exits while a team wearing costumes emblazoned with the yin-yang symbol takes the floor. Later, another group creates a spectacle, not just with their flawless stunts but also with their braided pigtails, feather headdresses and streaks of blue face paint.

The annual Universit y Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Cheerdance Competition (CDC) has always been an occasion to experiment with themes. This year, however, the Muslim, Chinese and Native American motifs used by the dancers from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Far Eastern University (FEU), National University (NU) and University of the East (UE) triggered a social media uproar regarding the issue of cultural insensitivity.

One might wonder what the big fuss is all about when it comes to cultural appropriation, the act of taking certain cultural meanings from their original context and applying them to another. However, as similar complaints made about today’s fashion trends and music videos prove, it can often lead to the broadcasting of warped depictions of specific cultures.

unfamiliarity, of seeing a group whose ways of transacting with the world and of seeing differ from ours. To put it colloquially, may aliw factor,’” he explains.

Things become a lot less amusing, however, when only the surface elements of a culture carry over. On the subject of the costumes of the UST, FEU, NU and UE teams during the UAAP CDC, Ty remarks, “You’re basically using an entire culture, reducing them to their image and then putting it on as if it was just a matter of style rather than something with deep cultural meaning.”

Several American celebrities are guilty of this too. In 2013, Lady Gaga wore a hypersexualized version of the traditional Islamic hijab or veil, and encouraged her fans to take pictures of themselves in similar outfits using the hashtag “#burqaswag,” in reference to the outer covering used by Islam women. At this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Sarah Hyland and Kendall Jenner were spotted sporting the bindi, a decorative mark worn by Hindu women on their foreheads that has great religious significance.

In cases such as these, where songs, dances, rituals or icons with rich symbolism are exoticized and appreciated based only on their aesthetic merits, Ty laments that “it becomes a masquerade. It becomes empty.

It becomes superficial.”

Inappropriate appropriation

Although most think cultural appropriation is harmful, social sciences senior Clinton Balbontin has an alternate perspective.

“Cultural appropriation, for me, is celebratory. It can be a root for a sense of identity. In the realms of cultural heritage, an outsider using an element of your culture can create a sense of pride.”

As for why people do it,

Sugar and spice

According to Vergara, “The main venue, whether we like it or not, for cultural appropriation is media. Our media is built on imagery and impressions. Just as much as there is a lot being said, there is even more being unsaid.”

As of late, cultural appropriation has been making headlines as songs and music videos have

I believe [the reason cultural appropriation has been a part of pop culture for so long] lies with the relative novelty of unfamiliarity.

— PAOLO VERGARA, 3 AB COM

Andrew Ty, a media studies lecturer from the Communication Department, says, “I think it’s partly because of the recognition, ‘Hey, there are other available cultures out there,’ and a certain kind of curiosity: ‘What are these other cultures?’” The motives fuelling cultural appropriation aren’t always malicious, as some see it as a way of immersing themselves in a culture other than their own or creating awareness about sensitive issues.

Paolo Vergara, a junior communication major specializing in media studies, agrees with these sentiments. “I believe [the reason cultural appropriation has been a part of pop culture for so long] lies with the relative novelty of

been stirring up controversial debates regarding stereotypical views on race.

For instance, Taylor Swift drew criticism when she released the music video for her new single, “Shake It Off.” Dressed in a leopard-print top, short shorts and gold accessories, Swift crawled under a row of AfricanAmerican women twerking for the camera. According to a The Daily Beast article written by Amy Zimmerman, “A barrage of online backlash has taken issue with Swift’s sweet, quirky appropriation, pointing out that not all white, female dancers are ballerinas and not all black ones exclusively love to twerk.”

Swift was hardly the first artist to be accused of cultural appropriation. Pop rock princess Avril Lavigne’s music video for “Hello Kitty,” which commodifies Japanese culture, appears to have been inspired by the Harajuku Girls, the four Japanese dancers who served as Gwen Stefani’s entourage while she was a solo act.

She also cannot be credited with being the first white girl to twerk—this distinction is reserved for Miley Cyrus, who is quickly becoming one of the most controversial celebrities of her generation. According to Ty, Cyrus took a dance move that was traditionally associated with African-American subcultures and used it in the “We Can’t Stop” music video to prove that she had graduated from her “goody-goody Hannah Montana days.”

Swift, Lavigne and Cyrus may have intended to pay homage to certain cultures, but because of their ignorance or unfamiliarity with these cultures, they caused offense instead. The problem lies in their use of stereotypes to represent the specific culture they chose to explore; in the process, these cultures were simply generalized instead of appreciated in their entirety.

Debate and discourse

In her essay, “Eating the Other: Desire and Resistance,” American author and acclaimed feminist Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name bell hooks, writes, “Within commodity culture, ethnicity becomes spice, seasoning that can liven up the dull dish that is mainstream white culture.” This captures exactly what has been going on in pop music, as various ethnic groups have been placed on this so-called spice rack to give flavor to the Top 40 hits.

Cult ura l appropriat ion becomes equally dangerous when it prevents the members of a culture from developing their own identity. Balbontin points out that much of mainstream Filipino media has been engaged in this, long before it became a buzzword. In Filipino dramas like Maria Flordeluna (2007), Ina, Kapatid, Anak (2012) and Maria Mercedes (2013), for instance, viewers can see a strong Latin American influence.

“Telenovela is an appropriated format of a television show from Latin America,” Balbontin notes. “But, for Filipinos, [Latin American] sensibilities may be hard to digest as a whole. So, instead, we adopted its elements and created our own version that matches our own tastes.”

He adds that because of this phenomenon, we lose the opportunity to define the Filipino identity—we end up becoming “manggagaya” or copycats.

In a globalized world where most of us have access to a wide spectrum of cultures, it seems cultural appropriation may be unavoidable. “To a certain degree, it’s somewhat necessary for cultural appropriation to take place,” explains Ty. “But what I think should happen alongside this is we should also be cautious about the way in which these things play out.”

Ty adds that although cultural appropriation is indeed

problematic, it is not entirely negative. For instance, the use of an originally offensive word such as “nigger” is now used by African-American groups as a term of empowerment, or as a name that subscribes to their kinship or brotherhood. “As long as there’s dialogue about it and people learn about different cultures through the dialogue, then it’s okay.”

To do the appropriated culture justice, a certain amount of care must be taken so as not to convey the wrong idea. Ty suggests answering the question of why before deciding to include cultural objects that could just as well be unnecessary. As Balbontin says, “You can never use another culture as your own unless you fully understand it.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ELLAN T. ESTROLOGO

Editor: Mint A. Marquez · Editorial Assistant: Eugene G. Ong · Layout Artist: Therese M. Pedro

Inquiry

02 INSIDE THE MIND What concerns plague the Atenean psyche?

Redressing identity The Aegis dress code controversy raised questions about the treatment of the transgender community in the LS.

By Alex A. Bichara and Vicah P. Villanueva

O

n September 4, an online petition began making its rounds in the Ateneo community. It was only a few lines long: “To allow transgender students to appear in the gender they identify with.” This was in protest to a rule implemented in the photo shoots for Aegis, the student yearbook of the Loyola Schools (LS), which does not allow transgender students to dress as the genders they identified with.

Below it, the student who filed the petition, senior interdisciplinary studies major Rica Salomon, wrote that the rule was “highly discriminating to one’s gender identity.” In addition, she defined transgender individuals as “people whose gender identity is incongruent to the sex and physicality that they were born in.”

For Salomon, the petition was a public move toward changing the treatment of transgender students in the LS. For the Aegis Editorial Board (EB), it was not what they wanted to wake up to first thing in the morning.

In a memorandum released on the same day as the petition, Aegis Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Kristine Estioko clarified that the Aegis 2015 EB does not “legislate any discriminatory rules against any particular student groups.” The memo went on to say that the Aegis Administrative Board (AB)—composed of directors of selected administrative offices, a Sanggunian representative and the Aegis EIC—is the body that legislates the rules and regulations that the Aegis EB must abide by in the production of the yearbook. Thus, Salomon should have addressed the petition to the Aegis AB instead of to the Aegis EB as she had done initially.

Some transgender students argue, though, that the dialogue about Salomon’s petition should not even exist, under the basis that respect for one’s gender identity should have already been a “no-brainer.”

So the buzz over the petition snowballed. It picked up speed, and, throughout the university as well as outside of it, the discussion on the treatment of the transgender community began.

Opposing sides

In the days following Salomon’s petition, there was an outpouring of support from sympathizers of the transgender community. As of press time, her petition has received 507 signatures. National media outlets have also contacted Salomon for her statement on the issue, but she has declined all requests in order to wait for the Aegis AB’s official decision on her petition, which will be conveyed to her through a formal letter.

What is puzzling is how a decades-old organization like Aegis has found itself in the sticky situation of being called discriminatory. Considering that everything goes through several stages of approval from the EB and the AB, it seems unlikely that a rule such as this can slip through and persist, and yet it has.

According to Estioko, when she went through official

filed against it in the past, she had heard of stories about the photo shoots.

Riel and Salomon had friends from the upper batches who were able to appear as the genders they identified with in the yearbook. Instead of filing a petition as Salomon had, they came to the photo shoot in the clothes they wanted to wear and bargained with whoever was in charge, telling them, “No one will know.” Last year, a transgender student was able to dress as the gender she identified with in her casual shot, but was asked to wear a polo and tie as well as tie up her hair in her formal toga shot.

There is no mention of females who identify as male running into trouble with the rule. “Eh medyo mas madaling makatakas [kapag] girl, ‘di ba? (It’s a little easier for a girl to get away with it, right?) You have a fuller, wider

If [the LS community] were accepting [of the transgender community], then this petition wouldn’t even be an issue.

— JOSE MENDOZA 4 AB COM

school documents and the Aegis archives, she did not find any mention of the rule that Salomon was talking about.

Office of Student Activities Director Christopher Castillo says the same thing, adding that he felt Salomon’s petition was premature as it was brought immediately to the public setting before any dialogue had occurred between her and Aegis.

No matter how much Aegis insists that no such rule existed, in print or in any form, the fact remains that there are still those in the LS community who were affected by it.

Queen Mother (QM) Nikki Riel of the Dollhouse, an Atenean lesbian, gay, bisexual a nd t ra nsgender (LGBT) support group, says that the dress code was “assumed knowledge.” Though she is not aware of any petitions

range of outfits,” Castillo says.

“It’s a good time if they also speak up on their (lesbians) behalf. But we haven’t heard any such request from individuals.”

To the transgender students, it was clear that the rule was made by Aegis. Aegis, however, found no evidence of it in their records. Neither side, it seemed, could quite explain how and when the rule came into being.

Origins of the policy

In a memo posted on the Aegis 2011 website, signed by then-EIC Elijah Segovia, there were 11 guidelines set for the creative shot. “Absolutely no cross-dressing” was the eighth guideline. Although transgenders’ dressing as they identify is not a mere matter of cross-dressing, these students are still of the biological sex in their legal documents to

But due to insufficient awareness of non-binary gender identities, [the Aegis dress code] became a rule that cultivated transphobia among those who implemented it.

those who are less tolerant of non-binary gender identities.

To them, dressing according to gender identities may appear to be cross-dressing.

This could have been where the issue began, and is most likely the reason why transgender students keep referring to a certain policy. On the outset, the guideline might have only been meant to ensure that the students looked respectable in their shots. But due to insufficient awareness of non-binary gender identities, it became a rule that cultivated transphobia among those who implemented it.

Castillo, however, says he does not recall having seen or reviewed any such document.

The memo does not contain his signature or the signature of any member of the Ateneo administration. Additionally, Estioko says that whatever was posted on the 2011 website stayed in the 2011 website.

While Estioko is right in saying that the guidelines made by previous iterations of Aegis are not the same as the guidelines made by the current board, the policy did not just stay in the 2011 website.

For whatever reason, it was also enacted in the years following Aegis 2011, until 2014, when Salomon decided to speak up.

The members of the 2015 Aegis EB, for their part, have done as much as they can to help voice Salomon’s and other students’ concerns to the AB. Although at first taken aback by how public Salomon’s petition was, and discomfited that Salomon had initially used the Aegis 2015 logo in her petition— further implicating this year’s board in the issue—the EB is still in constant communication with her regarding her appeal.

Estioko only wishes that Salomon had not been so quick to be on the offensive. She adds that all Salomon needed to do was to approach the EB, wait for their decision and respect the due process.

According to Salomon, the Sanggunian also offered to act as her formal institutional representation. They contacted her when the petition began to receive attention from national media outlets, including an article published in The Philippine Star.

Salomon asks, “Why now? Why Redressing identity ›› 3

Inquiry

2

Inside the mind The Loyola Schools Office of Guidance & Counseling ensures the psychological well-being of the Atenean.

By Eugene G. Ong and Van T. Siy Van

T

hese days, students in university have a lot on their plates. In the Loyola Schools (LS), the average student has to balance studying for demanding subjects and fulfilling his or her equally demanding responsibilities to his or her student organizations. However, there is another struggle that Ateneans deal with that are not so visible on the surface: Issues of mental health.

St ud ies publ i shed i n Psychology Today and by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) show that instances of depression and suicide in young adults have increased because of the times in which they live. To combat these problems early on, counselors and psychiatrists try to identify, diagnose and talk about students’ mental health concerns.

In the LS, this translates to the projects of the LS Office of Guidance & Counseling (LSOGC).

Guidance tests, counseling sessions and drug talks help determine how students think and feel, eventually helping them act on their problems and achieve resolutions. The LSOGC, then, is an intervening body that tries to ensure the mental health of Ateneans—although, sometimes, they are rife with their own issues.

Up in the hill

Studies, including those published on NIMH, cite several common causes for college students’ mental health concerns, which Dr. Peter Gatmaitan, director of the LSOGC, agrees with. These causes include, but are not limited to, financial problems, family issues, academic pressure, low self-esteem, the “age of narcissism” and the transition from secondary to tertiary education. Though they seem lofty, these same problems plague students of the Ateneo today.

Gatmaitan states that these problems have been observed as early as 40 years ago by associations of college counselors in the United States (US), and

that the number of students experiencing these problems has also been increasing.

Perhaps the increase in number can be attributed to the social pressures that they feel. The advent of social media and other forms of technology put people under a microscope, making them feeling like they are being observed and scrutinized. Students, who, more often than not, take part in social

Coping mechanisms

Foremost, students deal with their problems by talking to their families, friends or significant others. But Gatmaitan believes that these can sometimes become the problem.

When asked about loved ones becoming an added stress, Gatmaitan replies, “I believe that they can, particularly since family, significant others and our grades are very close to

Though the mental health issues are seen across the board in local and foreign universities, Gatmaitan has observed that there are uniquely Atenean ways of dealing with personal concerns. media, then feel that they must behave differently to meet social expectations—this causes stress.

The increase in the number of students who experience sadness and anxiety is also said to be caused by pressure to adhere to standards set by parents, something that Gatmaitan has seen in students of the Ateneo.

According to Gatmaitan, stress happens in instances when students are made to enroll into degree programs that they have little interest in but study anyway, because their parents want them to. The mismatch between what they want and what they have causes anxiety and unhappiness.

He also thinks that standards imposed by the parents are at times even higher than the school’s. “[Family pressure] makes graduating from college and performing very well that much harder, to those who’ve been stressed in the form of having to meet a specific grade-point requirement of the parents—not only passing but reaching [a] specific grade,” he says.

our hearts, and occupy a very unique and important space in our lives. When things aren’t going very well in these three areas, there could be a higher likelihood for feeling sad, and it tends to be so,” he says.

Though the mental health issues are seen across the board in local and foreign universities, Gatmaitan has observed that there are uniquely Atenean ways of dealing with personal concerns. The secret is in the education.

“I’d like to think that the Ateneo education teaches us that the current generation, of which you’re in, oftentimes— and I don’t subscribe to this at all—gets a bad rap in terms of its purportedly being a narcissistic generation,” he says. “I think the Ateneo does its best to try to help students to go beyond the self and not only learn more about themselves but learn more about themselves by helping others, and I think that’s what makes it a little more unique.”

The way Ateneans combat the

feeling of pressure on themselves is by focusing on other people.

Their exposure to subjects such as philosophy and theology help them think critically and openly about their situations. Despite the pressure they may face, being able to see the situations faced by other people helps them deal with stress from academics and disputes with loved ones.

Gatmaitan comments that the Ateneo education fosters critical thinking, seeing events through multiple perspectives, and adding a “spiritual perspective” to life, as well as teaching students to value positive events and circumstances.

Helping hands

Talking about the psyche of the Atenean, of course, will invariably involve the LSOGC itself. After all, it is the office responsible for the guidance tests students have to take every year. Apart from this, however, the LSOGC also does guidance counseling at the request of students, as well as offers help to identified troubled students.

To some students, it may seem that the evaluations are irrelevant, as most people just take the tests and never hear about it again.

However, Lito Nillo, the psychometrician of the LSOGC, assures that the tests conducted are relevant, helpful and accurate. These tests, as it turns out, are standardized ones used not only in other universities, but also in other countries, especially the US. However, the office’s psychologists also assess the questions and counselors to ensure that they are applicable in the Atenean context. “The guidance tests are researchbased tests that have studies that support their reliability and validity,” Gatmaitan asserts. “It is considered best practice to use these instruments.”

The stigma against these tests and the office in general, nonetheless, is one that it recog nizes. “I know that there’s a long way for us to go,” acknowledges Gatmaitan.

Gatmaitan, who has been in office for only a year, is keen

to emphasize how hard he and the office has been working to reverse the perceptions. In fact, he has made it a point to listen to feedback wherever it comes from—even from the Ateneo de Manila Secret Files entries on Facebook.

True enough, some very noticeable changes have happened since he first assumed the directorship of the LSOGC. The past months saw the implementation of a radically different guidance testing system— one that was administered online entirely. Doing the tests online allowed for faster scoring—which, in turn, allowed the office to help students with various concerns as quickly as possible. Apart from that, Gatmaitan claims, the move to online testing reduced testing times from four hours to just 30 minutes.

The focus of the tests, too, has changed, says Nillo. While the past examinations were designed to test for personality, the new tests sought to determine the socioemotional needs of students, hence the emphasis on coping, social skills and self-efficacy evaluations in the present battery of tests.

Another of the LSOGC’s goals is to try reach out and be more approachable to students.

In this year’s annual guidance orientations for all undergraduate students, the office took a different approach. During the orientation, the office presented a variety of videos to advertise their services instead of the traditional talks, in an effort to make the orientations more casual and enjoyable.

Unpolished edges

These changes, however, does not mean that the office is now free from problems.

Issues persist, for instance, with many of the required activities. Although the online guidance testing did partially fulfill its intent to reduce testing times, the testing policies and plans were heavily criticized, especially when they were first announced. Some targeted the need to complete the tests only at certain times at certain venues; others worried how those without Internet-capable

devices would be able to take the test. The reaction was so severe that the office had to release a document containing frequently asked questions to clarify the system and respond to concerns.

The new guidance orientation format, on the other hand, received a warmer reception. As with the online guidance testing, however, some questioned why it was required for the activity to be done on campus, given that the entire event only involved watching videos.

Throughout the interviews, both Gatmaitan and Nillo seemed apprehensive about going into details about the LSOGC’s systems. The office turned down requests for even the most generic of psychological statistics. Nillo explains that it is university policy not to disclose such information.

However, the non-disclosure is also the consequence of the confidentiality agreement signed by the students during the tests.

The LSOGC interprets this agreement to include even data that is not personally identifiable and only derived from the results—so even numbers like the percentage of Ateneans with bipolar disorder, for instance, are off-limits. The motivation for this conservatism is obvious: To protect students. “We really have to be careful,” says Nillo. He notes that even information like mere scores could already produce stigma against students, since others may attempt to characterize a person based on the scores.

In contrast with his unyielding stance on disclosing information, h o w e v e r, G a t m a i t a n ’s administration is committed to introducing even more changes to the guidance programs in the coming months. “We are trying new and exciting ways of helping all students through our brand new programs,” reads an email sent to financial aid and athletic scholars informing them of the changes to the required guidance interview program.

Whether things turn for the better or not is, at this point, an open-ended question. What is clear, however, is that these support services are more relevant than ever.

Stressing stressors WRITTEN BY Eugene G. Ong and Van T. Siy Van ILLUSTRATIONS BY Angelli A. Aquino

Although causes of anxiety and depression for college students vary from person to person, there have been trends of general stressors in college life. The following are five common situations that have concerned the Atenean throughout the years.

Broken family dynamics

Academic pressure

Troubled, unbalanced and broken family dynamics are often the root of students’ anxiety and depression. How much attention parents pay to their children plays a prime role in their psychological well-being. The absence of support and attention, which is usually caused by both parents working or working abroad, leads to students feeling alone and without anyone in whom to confide. On the other hand, a surplus of attention leads to pressure to live up to parents’ expectations, which may make students often feel inferior and stressed.

Not surprisingly, grades factor in in many students’ psychological well-being. Grades are linked with likelihood of employment and success. For students, factors such as degree program retention requirements often affect their performance when taking examinations. Parents may also set a standard higher than the retention requirement, leading to additional emotional stress and anxiety.

It is important to note that families do not need to be of the traditional father-mother-child structure for this to apply. Loving and supportive caregivers, and neglectful or overbearing caregivers affect their children similarly. Both scenarios cause anxiety in their children.

Academic pressure not only comes from external factors but also from the students themselves. Studies have shown that students are becoming more and more competitive because grade inflation has grown more pronounced in this generation.

The premium given to tertiary education and those who manage to complete it add to the stress of excelling amid other students.

The GUIDON October 2014

Ideal guidance counselor-to-student ratio:

Actual guidance counselor-to-student ration in the LS:

1 : 550 to 1 : 620

Bodies of intervention

3

1 : 1,000

RESEARCH BY Eugene G. Ong and Van T. Siy Van INFOGRAPHIC BY Jan-Daniel S. Belmonte

The Loyola Schools (LS) Office of Guidance and Counseling (LSOGC) offers guidance counseling services for students who wish to avail of them. Guidance counselors make it a point to show students that they are approachable, trustworthy and able to direct students to solutions to their problems. However, according to statistics that LSOGC Director Dr. Peter Gatmaitan disclosed, it seems that the LSOGC is quite understaffed.

LEGEND:

= 1 person

= 10 persons

LEGEND:

Number of psychiatrists in the Philippines:

= 10 persons

Budget and expertise

Psychiatrists

This problem, however, is not restricted to the LS. According to an article published on Rappler, the country as a whole suffers from the lack of mental health personnel. Additionally, only a pittance of financial resources is dedicated to mental health.

= 1 person

490

Less than 5% of general medical practitioners in the Philippines can adequately diagnose and manage mental problems.

Philippines' estimated population

Of the nearly P90,770,000,000 in the budget of the Department of Health, only about 5% is dedicated to mental health.

100,000,000

Redressing identity not before, when it wasn’t popular pa?”

She speculates that the only reason they acted was because her petition became a nationwide issue.

Riel and Salomon both emphasize that, though everything seems quiet, the petition is moving. In a statement made by Estioko, the Aegis EB has agreed that Salomon may be allowed to dress according to the gender she identifies with.

Meanwhile, the Aegis AB’s next course of action is to elevate the discussion to the LS administrative level. Both sides are now currently awaiting the final decision of the LS administrators.

Salomon’s petition, however, is but one of the many movements by the LGBT community to gain respect for and end discrimination against its members. ‹‹ 1

LGBT efforts

The LGBT community’s latest efforts for awareness and progress in the Ateneo have not gone unnoticed.

In December of 2013, the School of Social Sciences (SOSS) Sanggunian School Board, in partnership with Ateneo Peers, organized “Spectrum,” the university’s first LGBT Pride Week. Unfortunately, the LGBT Pride Week’s Cross Dress Day, wherein students were encouraged to wear their “most fabulous attires,” was criticized as “being campy.”

In a previous interview with The GUIDON, English Department Lecturer Miguel Lizada said “being campy” is synonymous to being “transgressive,” which is contrary to transgender efforts. These only promote, instead of break down, the social boundaries set for the LGBT community.

Dollhouse also came under fire last year for claiming to be the LGBT representative of the Ateneo. In a previous interview with The GUIDON, thenDollhouse QM Gelo Echon clarified, “We’re a barkada.”

Communications management

technology senior Rence Uson, a current Dollhouser, says that their events are “just an excuse for [Dollhouse] to make noise, and gather as one big group.”

Although the Sanggunian organized the LGBT Pride Week, Salomon continues to question their motives for recently offering to strengthen her petition. If the Sanggunian c a n n o t b e c a l le d t h e Atenean LGBT community’s institutional representation, then the feminist Atenean student organization Gender Equalit y Societ y (GES) is usually expected to be the other option. Salomon says, “I talked to them during [the League of Independent Organizations Recruitment Week], and I asked, ‘What do you think about transgender rights?’ Tapos wala silang alam (They didn’t know anything).”

On the contrar y, GES President Dionne Co says that they support Salomon’s petition to include non-binary genders

in the yearbook. They believe that “insisting on the traditional notion of the male-female binary caters to heteronormative thinking—a perspective which reinforces stereotypical gender roles and excludes other people who deviate from this narrow definition of gender.”

Nuanced

Most members of the LGBT community classify the Ateneo as generally tolerant of their gender identities, but not yet wholly accepting. “If it were accepting, this petition wouldn’t even be an issue,” Jose Mendoza, a communication senior, says.

Yet a not her p oi nt of contention is that the Aegis A B’s rules and g uidelines a re illega l. According to C om m i s sion on H ig her Education Memorandum No. 9, series of 2013, every higher education institution’s Office of Student Affairs is supposed to have gender sensitivit y guidelines to protect the rights

of students. Ateneo, directly or through a body such as the Aegis AB, cannot issue rules which inf ringe upon t he rights of transgender students and curtail their freedom of expression.

In addition, the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 gives students total independence as regards publications, including yearbooks. Thus, the Aegis AB should not even exist in the first place, as by this act, it is an illegal school body.

“We have to see that independence as also nuanced,” says Castillo. He argues that both parties have to consult with each other for proper progress and development.

As for discrimination against transgender members within the university, Mendoza says that he has heard of transgender friends being met with negative reactions from people in women’s bathrooms. “I don’t know why you’d feel that there would be any malicious intent,” he says. “A

transwoman naman is not going to do anything to you.”

Salomon uses the women’s bathroom as well, but she makes it a point to enter the bathroom when it is empty or when she is accompanied by a friend. Uson avoids these situations altogether and says, “I use [the] [bathroom for the] handicapped.”

Although discourse about gender identities is not often encountered in the Ateneo, members of the LGBT community, including its transgender students, continue to try to promote the issue through class projects, discussions and visibility through the Dollhouse barkada.

While there is still a lot of dialogue to be had before a decision on “cross-dressing” by the Aegis AB is released, Salomon’s petition has definitely garnered enough interest and attention to set things in motion for the acceptance of the Atenean transgender community.

Relationship stress

Financial problems

The age of narcissism

Depending on how valued they are and how involved they are in a student’s life, a person’s friends and significant others play a role similar to the role that family plays. In college, students are mid-to-late adolescents and one of the most important things they learn is how to socially interact with their peers. It has been observed that forming relationships with others, having friends and being with them are important to a college student’s life.

Friends, though, exert their own kind of pressure, forcing people to conform in exchange for the friendship. Between seeking companionship and struggling for their own identity, students can become stressed by a conflict of roles. Peer pressure may lead to confusion and anxiety, general discomfort and unhappiness.

Although the Ateneo is seen by most to be a school of privileged kids able to spend large sums of money without qualms, some students do come from less wealthy families. In fact, there are students whose families struggle to pay constantly increasing tuition fees. Others have to contend with the costs of running the family business, especially those whose mother or father (or both) have already passed on. Financial pressures can become particularly debilitating, considering that so much of the lives of students—from school to meals—depend on stable finances. Financial problems can also exacerbate other sources of psychological stress: Poor finances can, for example, strain family relations and further compound the pressure to do well in school. On another level, financial disparity—especially in the context of the Ateneo—can cause feelings of exclusion, where one feels like he is unable to relate to the sentiments of the majority of wealthier students on campus.

Psychologists around the world use the term “narcissism” not to denote vanity, but to refer to the increased exposure young people today have to the rest of the world, and vice versa. The Internet, particularly social media, makes it appear as though there is an omniscient being watching students. The feeling of scrutiny puts a lot of pressure on students not to make mistakes and to behave according to what is socially acceptable. Though many of the so-called watchers are virtual, they are very real to many students and they may struggle in light of those expectations. The gratification of online approval is easily offset by the censure during failure.

4

Inquiry

The GUIDON October 2014

Of cats, men and policy

By Nathan V. Javier and Jairus I. Paul

T

he entire Ateneo de M a n i la Un iver sit y campus is home to around 150 cats. These feline creatures are familiar personalities to the students. Some cats are known by their size (Gonzaga Hall’s famous Garfield, for one) or their location (like the Kostkats). While the cats play no integral role in the Loyola Schools (LS) community, they are still a part of Atenean culture.

The article “Of cats and men,” published in the October 2013 issue of The GUIDON and written by Alex A. Bichara and Roxie Y. Ramirez, how the Ateneo overlooks animal welfare was discussed. Until recently, it has been observable that the protection of animal rights is not the utmost priority in the Ateneo.

In the past, it seems like how the Ateneo treated cats was little more than pest control.

Josephy Almosera from the Campus Safety and Mobility Office (CSMO) says that they would trap the cats and turn them over to the city pound.

The cats may have been sent to the city pound in the hopes that the pound would care for them. However, Anna Cabrera, director of the Philippine A nima l Welfa re Societ y (PAWS), says that once you send animals to the pound, “you’ve basically shipped [them] off… to be euthanized.”

However, this is not the only unsettling practice in the Ateneo when it comes to how the cats are treated. Last year, rumors of a janitor arrested on the grounds of animal abuse circulated.

Almosera clarifies that the janitor who had gotten arrested was part of the Ateneo Multipurpose Cooperative, and that the violation he had committed was putting the cat in a sack.

“That, I think, is an isolated case,” Almosera says.

Yet, it is this treatment that the LS community seems to be working to correct these days.

Feline friends

Cabrera shares that the Ateneo administration has mentioned to her that they have spent so much on vaccinations for students who get bitten by cats. She says that they, at PAWS, find it puzzling why students get bitten. “Cats don’t attack unless you are in close proximity to [them] and you attempt to touch [them],” she says. They will “generally just run away unless you’ve cornered it…

So, the chances of you getting bitten by a cat is medyo off-thecharts unless you go out and look for it yourself.”

The presence of stray cats in campus, Cabrera adds, is due to many factors. The Ateneo campus gives cats access to food—from garbage cans and from hands of students. She also says that the non-spaying and non-neutering naturally contributes to their growing numbers on campus. She explains that the reproduction rate of cats can get out-of-hand, since cats give birth three to four times a year when not spayed or neutered.

Quoting from dog trainer Cesar Millan, Cabrera says, “If a mountain climber climbs up the mountain and then he falls off the mountain, it’s not the mountain’s fault because the mountain’s just being a mountain.” She uses this analogy to explain that the cats on campus are simply being cats.

In an effort to make the campus a safe place for both the students and the cats, the university has sought the help of PAWS. Cabrera shares that during the first meeting she had with university administration, they were “receptive” to the proposition of the Trap-NeuterReturn (TNR) program.

TNR, Cabrera explains, is a program that ensures that stray cats will be neutered to prevent the rise in population. However, PAWS proposed this with some conditions: That the cats should be fed once a day when students are not around in an off-site away from students and in appropriate portions, and that the university not send the cats to the city pound.

Lastly, Cabrera explains that PAWS has already sent the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to the university. While there has been talk of setting specific programs in place, the MOA has not yet been officially signed. This means that as of this writing, the school has no obligation to comply with the standards that PAWS sets.

However, CSMO Director Marcelino Mendoza emphasizes that “in principle, [the university has] already been enacting it.” He explains that they are still in the process of reviewing the MOA and are finalizing the coordination with PAWS before they can resolve the issue with finality.

It is important to clarify however, that the MOA given to the school was not drafted for the Ateneo. As of this writing, PAWS has given Ateneo a copy of their MOA with Barangay Quirino 3-A. Almosera says that they will have to consult with their legal team and check if there are any other necessary provisions.

Student initiatives

It is not just in the administrative offices of the LS where a premium is being put on animal welfare. Students can also be seen at the helm of efforts pushing for the protection of animal rights.

In 2010, a petition called “Save the Cats of the Ateneo” was made.

The petition was set on stopping the mass deportation of cats to the city pound. Unfortunately, the petition was not successful and was overlooked by the university—but fortunately, the petition’s failure did not discourage students from pushing for change.

Presently, many organizations in the Ateneo advocate for the welfare of animals. These efforts include, but are not limited to, activities like raising awareness, partnering with animal welfare organizations outside the campus and fundraising.

One such organization is Ateneans Guided and Inspired

by Love for Animals (Agila).

On the beginnings of Agila, President Alex Bichara, shares, “We realized that many LS students are animal lovers and also share our passion for

animal welfare.” She says that there were many LS students who were working solo or in pairs, promoting animal welfare.

Bichara points out that their members come from “disparate backgrounds and courses but get to work in subgroups of their choice” while forwarding their common course.

Agila’s primary objectives— which Bichara points out to be “simple and achievable by us”— can be divided into three points.

First, Agila wants its members to educate themselves on animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, and relevant laws and rules.

Next, the organization wants to

shares, “BOX has had almost yearly collaborations with PAWS and other animal welfare organizations.” These collaborations, she says, have culminated into the very successful Animal Welfare Week, held last July 28 to August 1, in partnership with PAWS, Compassion and Responsibility for Animals, and the Bureau of Animal Industry.

“For wildlife, BOX has raised at least P30,000 for various conservation groups, particularly Balyena.org,” Garces says, “for supporting animal conservation efforts and research.”

In line with their competencies, Garces claims, BOX has elected

I just want to show the school that the cats are just as much a part of Ateneo as the students and the faculty.

— ANA BATILLER Administrator, "Cats of Ateneo" Facebook page

raise awareness of these things, beginning in their spheres of influence: Their own homes, among theirs friends, at school and even beyond. Finally, Agila wants to prevent the abuse, maltreatment, and cruelty and exploitation of animals, seeks not to neglect or abandon animals and aims to properly care for them.

The “Adopt an Ateneo Kitten” program, one of Agila’s projects, started January of this year and has then since rescued, cared for and found new homes for 12 kittens. The program, however, is only limited to the care of kittens because they are too young to be spayed or neutered.

Agila, on the other hand, is not the only organization that incorporates animal welfare and protection in its thrusts. The Ateneo Biological Organization (BOX) includes the protection of both domestic and wildlife animals in their core competencies.

BOX President Jhoana Garces

animal welfare ambassadors who are tasked “to bridge the LS community to animal welfare organizations outside the Ateneo campus… and provide ample opportunities for volunteers to participate in the activities of the promotion of proper treatment and the wellness of animals, especially in the Philippines.”

The growing popularity of animal welfare advocates in the LS is not limited to the student organizations, however. Last May 20, the Facebook page “Cats of Ateneo” was created.

The page, inspired by the “Humans of New York” Facebook page, provides an avenue for members of the Ateneo community to appreciate the cats on campus.

According to “Cats of Ateneo” Administrator Nikki Solinap, the page aims to share cat stories from Ateneans and “hopefully inspire people to love and take care of our cats even more.”

For Ana Batiller, another administrator of “Cats of Ateneo,” their page is a way to make the cats’ presence felt by the school.

For her, “Ateneo wouldn’t be the same without them.” She also shares, “I just want to show the school that the cats are just as much a part of Ateneo as the students and the faculty.”

Steps

Today, the Ateneo is no longer a stranger to discourse on animal welfare and animal rights. This year has seen many developments in the cause: It was in January when the independently-organized Ateneo Animal WellFair—an event to raise awareness on animal rights, welfare laws and responsible pet ownership—happened. It was in July when Agila was formed. BOX, Musmos, the Ateneo Environmental Science Society and other student groups have also recently been proactive in their pursuit of animal welfare. Now, the Ateneo is trying to work with PAWS to enact the TNR program.

Clearly, awareness and action for feline and animal welfare has significantly grown more widespread over the past year. However, there are many who question if these efforts are enough.

Until an official policy with a clear written agreement can be in place, the welfare of the campus cats remains uncertain. While the students’ efforts have been strong, they can only go so far.

The welfare of the Cateneans is a multifaceted issue. There are many things to consider. It is an economic issue (with thousands of pesos spent on vaccines and neutering), an administrative issue (with layers of bureaucracy to hurdle for a policy to be approved) and a feasibility issue as well.

Needless to say, the Ateneo is taking the issue one step at a time, with each step getting closer to a campus that is safer for both cat and Atenean.

Editor’s Note: Alex A. Bichara is a writer for The GUIDON Inquiry staff. Nikki G. Solinap is a member of the Graphic Design Staff.

PHOTOS BY TYNIE ASPREC