Vol.XXXI Issue No. 6
We are not white like other races. God made every one of us unique and distinct from others in many various aspects. Aside from the physical attributes that we possess, what distinguishes us, Filipinos, from other people around the globe is our brown skin complexion. This has been our trademark. If basing on folklores, our race is in fact the best handicraft of the gods. It is said in the stories that the people were made from baked clay. The gods overcooked the first molded silt. The result was a dark product. The gods breathed the clay into life. The burnt clay then became the dark people in Africa and the States. In the second clay were meat stew, it was rare. This resulted from the gods’ anxiety on making an obra maestra. The outcome was undercooked white clay. The gods breathed life to the clay and gave life to white men. After the two unsuccessful attempts, the mythical beings made sure that they would bake a perfect one. And they did! The last man they baked was
August 10–28, 2013
created in perfect timing. Like well-cooked bread, it was brown in color. But the scientific community also has their own reason why Filipinos possess a sun-kissed skin. According to historians, Filipinos are products of mixed races which started hundreds of years ago. We belong to the Malay Race with attributes of brown skin tone, large noses, thick lips and a height of 4’10” to 5’2”. But nowadays, we can observe Filipinos buying whitening products in order to enhance their skin complexion. A certain mother from Palawan, whose name is Phoebe Prajenog, wanted to use whitening products to improve her appearance. What made her desire to use such products is connected to the following reasons: During the Spanish times, being fairskinned means that you are a prominent person. In Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel El Filibusterismo, a character named Donya Victorina portrays an epitome of a woman who wants to conceal her true identity. She hid her real identity and pretended like a European aristocrat. She denied her being Filipina by putting heavy make-up on her face to mask her “Indio” skin. Colonial mentality is also another reason why Filipinos desire to get fairer. They have a feeling of inferiority towards European people to the extent that they attempt to copy their fashion sense and ways of living even if it doesn’t readily suit them. Truths behind whitening products In a study conducted by Procter and Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., it has been found out that more than 71% of the cosmetics sold in the Philippines are actually whitening agents. For every ten Filipinas, five are using these products. Unfortunately, based on tests conducted by visiting Chicago-based scientist Dr. Joe DiGangi, the whitening products sold were found to contain up to 28,600 parts per million (ppm) of mercury—way above the Philippine regulatory limit of one ppm. Materials containing high levels of mercury are said to pose health risks to
humans. Too much mercury ingestion could actually damage one’s kidneys and other organs as warned by the Foods and Drugs Administration. Prajenog, as mentioned earlier, actually used glutathione tablets and eventually noticed that effect of the product. She achieved her desired skin color, so she continued using it. Back then, she didn’t know that it could have tremendous effects to her health. One day, she suddenly felt tumults inside her stomach that she couldn’t bear the pain any longer. Her doctor found out that there were several masses or cysts developing inside it. The culprit was actually the whitening products she maintained that caused the tumors inside her body. She needs to undergo an operation. Otherwise, she will suffer the excruciating pain throughout her life. Now, aside from spending large amount during her operation, Phoebe has now returned to her original skin complexion. See what happens when we try to alter God’s unique design? We end up destroying His magnificent creation and unknowingly WHITE IS THE ...to page 6
and disturbed student, he was so naïve on what to do.An 84-point something in one subject could not make him step on the stage.He did not reach his academic expectation. Depression?He tried suicide but falling on the floor meant he would not do that foolish escape again. He shifted by getting another scholarship, but dropped all his subjects in the latter. He stayed home.Purposeless. Bored of life. Her younger sister was looking for her mother`s memoir and then saw Angelo Alipe`s birth certificate. “Yes, it is you and he is not your father--,” her mother confessed after he asked, crying, “I am sorry son that I hid the truth.” He looked his father in Cebu, and found him, but he was introduced as a cousin to his half-siblings. He wanted to understand, however, hurts and disappointments followed. Although his parents had different says about their tragic love story, it would boil down to the poor-versus-richlove affairs` theme. (If you know what I mean.) He enrolled again, seeing that he should not dwell on the expectations of others.He took up Education, and strove hard for his allowance by doing part-time works online. He harbored sleepless nights ,if he did not have his class, by
critiquing students` research works, tutoring Math, and almost those freelance writing stuffs. He unchained everything in a manner of forgiveness from God.And he still loved his family,realizing there are no perfect parents and relationships.He is thankful to God for using his university teachers who understood students` realities, his friends` stories that molded him to move on, and for his SMCI family for the lasting influence to become a person in the best way possible.He feels very nice to be in the center of God`s will — forgiveness,enjoyment,hope,faith ,and love. After all, why give this story to you? The reasons? First, it is a heart-call for all teachers that not all students are privileged to sit down in their chairs, attending classes,and study. To some students, they have to make money for their daily and school needs. Second, it is a wake-up call for those students to be thankful of the opportunity to have a collegian`s life, and therefore they are to rise up from academic mediocrity towards the pathway to excellence. The LCD? Never up, give your best and God will do the rest. Visit my blog at thegenteelparadigm.blogspot.com.
LES MISERABLES... from page 2
yellow paper, telling his grade-one teacher that he is Rujonel F. Cariaga, was his birth certificate for school. It was the only thing that his mother has left him through the old woman named Lola Melia.The grade teacher told the older , “This kid has a good interest in academics,you better look for his parents.” Homesickness?He still survived for years of not seeing them.He was left with no choice but to go on with his life.He topped in the class,one thing that made the kid’s caretakers proud.One day ,his distant uncle told him that they were doing ‘treasure hunting (gold)’, and thought his parents were dead due to a landslide somewhere in Negros. “You go with her because she is your mother,” Lola Melia told the kid, crying. And it was four years after the mother left. He was a consistent first honor by the time he graduated,got his valedictory speech in highschool ,and entered college through a scholarship. He did well ,but one day he received a call, telling his father having a stroke. So, he went and attended him at home, for two weeks. He was back in school tired but also disappointed, he could not have make up exams. As first year
3
I always thought that games are played only by children on the streets. But this is not so. Sometimes, games are played by people in order to escape a situation. I am Reverie. And I will share to you a story. The night of the 18th of January was tiresome. Though the stars in the sky twinkled in their glory, I did not bother to revitalize by watching them. So I went to bed at nine, hoping I could shut my eyes and recharge through sleep. As I begin to close my senses, my cellular phone sounded many times. I knew those were messages. Since I have this attitude of being impatient, I never thought twice of reading. Upon scanning my inbox, I had known that three boys texted me. Three annoying boys who had nothing to do but talk about pervert stuffs. Three hopeless romantic boys I did not like to be associated with. I did not like the flooding of messages they made that night. I had this petty grudge with them since the slumber I was in thirst of ended up a failure because of their doing. After the hassling night, I shunned away from their not-so-nice countenance. However, they never stopped showing their attraction for me. The three men courted me. And it’s just gravely disgusting! Since I did not like the feeling of being snatched away by three beaus, I hatched a plan to get rid of them. I then said yes to Boy number 1. Crazy as I was, I commanded him to tell Boy number 2 to leave me. Maybe because he had that intense affection, he obeyed me. As a result, the two boys had a deep conflict. Boy number 3 liked me so much. I knew that for quite long. Hence, I used his affection to spurn him away. I asked him to walk with me in one of the city’s recreational places, and said to him frankly, “Never in this life would I like someone your type.” After I said those ruthless words, it was poignant that he was hurt. Though his heart was in pain, he stood up with strength and told me that he still wants me. He uttered with a hoarse tense voice, “I’ll do everything you ask me, so you would like me; just say it.” But there was nothing that stopped me from sending him out of the chapters of my life. So, I uttered these words with authority and force, “There’s nothing you can do. If you really want to, just stay away from me!” Then, I left him alone. For the finale, I called the man whom I falsely committed. I dragged him from rest in one of the student lounges, and subsequently said my farewells to him. With a mean tone I said, “I don’t really like you. I just used you for the others to stay away. Let’s just break up. Goodbye!” And there was peace after the series of lies and confrontations. I thought I had perfect clemency. I thought I was liberated from the yoke of awkwardness and disturbance of my classmates who scorn me because of my three suitors. But I was wrong. Instead of liberty, I felt the chaos brought upon by guilt. As my conscience dictated, I asked for an apology to Boy number 1 and 3. To my joy, they accepted my sincere sorry. However, Boy number two is too far to give an apology. I do not know how to contact him whatsoever. As of this time, whenever his memory comes rush back to my psyche, my inner self envelops me with pity. Though I have given all my efforts to blast off men who liked me, and succeeded, I truly did not win. I hurt people. I made memories that forever will lambast their emotions. I was careless of my actions. I should have thought of better ways than the gamble I’ve done. *Reverie (not her real name) is a girl who’s easily confused. She makes reckless decisions when pressured.