TC Holiday Edition

Established 1965

UNIVERSITY OF GUAM STUDENT MAGAZINE Triton’s Call is published by the Division of Communication and Fine Arts in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and is funded in part by student fees. Reporters and editors participate in the newspaper as journalism students or as contributing writers, photographers, and designers.

Contents

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Simbang Gabi: A Christmas Tradition Bringing Families Together A Beloved Tradition is Passed Down for Generations

07 Top 10 Christmas Movies 11 The Book Market

PHONE: 735-2224 FAX: 735-2721 E-MAIL: UOGTRITONSCALL@GMAIL.COM

Publisher Dr. Aristides E. Pereira Editor Jasmine Stole Assistant Editor Ashley Chua Staff Candice Ananich Ashley Chua Phillip Blas Levanna Eugenio Enrique Baza Jacqueline Guzman Ariel Buccat Vanessa Malumay

COVER PHOTO BY THE CRYSTAL KIDS

Simbang Gabi: A Christmas Tradition Bringing Families Together With Christmas just a few weeks away, many are busy with shopping for gifts or planning and attending parties. But for Filipinos worldwide they prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ by sacrificing their mornings to attend the "Simbang Gabi". Although the name when translated literally means mass at night, the Simbang Gabi is series of nine early morning masses beginning on December 16 and ends on Christmas Eve with the "Misa de Gallo" (rooster's mass) during midnight.

For individuals like Carmela Vi, she says waking up before dawn to attend mass is worth it in the end. "Waking up at 4 in the morning for nine days straight is always hard, but I always find it worth it when I see everyone else who had to make that same sacrifice like me," says Vi. After mass she likes to catch up with friends who she hasn't seen for awhile and that to her is a reward in itself.

Attendance in the nine-day novena of masses is meant to show their devotion to God and the anticipation of the birth of Christ. For Vi and other devotees, completion of the nine-day novena is important because of the popular belief that by completing all nine-day masses a wish or prayer will be granted.

22-year old Vi says she's been attending Simbang Gabi for as long as she can remember. "My family is very religious so from a young age we were taught the different traditions of the church. And I've been trying to keep those traditions alive as I get older," she says.

The beginning of Simbang Gabi marks the official countdown to Christmas and for Vi and her family it is when they get the sense that Christmas is fast approaching.

One of the traditions after Simbang Gabi is the breakfast feast that follows. On Guam, the parish serves light breakfast to those who attended mass. In the Philippines, food stalls await the churchgoers offering them with native delicacies such as bibingka , puto bumbong, and suman, all forms of rice pastries. On Guam or elsewhere, the partaking of breakfast as a family is a common tradition after Simbang Gabi.

Simbang Gabi is celebrated worldwide by Catholic Filipinos. "Whether i attend the Simbang Gabi mass here on island or if i attend it while i'm vacationing in the Philippines, i get a sense of one community because i know that there are many other families taking part in this tradition around the world," says Vi. " Simbang Gabi has been a tradition since the late 1500s. According to the Manila Bulletin, "The Filipinos’ Simbang Gabi dates back to 1565, when Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi celebrated the first Feast of the Nativity." This practice, however, originated in 1587 by the Spanish friars to allow farmers to attend mass before going to work in the fields.

"To me, Simbang Gabi is one of the best traditions I take part of during this time of the year, and my Christmas season would not be complete without it," says Vi. story / Levanna Eugenio photos / Crystal Kids

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story / Candice Ananich photos / Crystal Kids

It all starts with a simple promise.

One of the most beloved Chamorro traditions is called the Nobenan Belen, which translates to the Novena of the story of Bethlehem. It is also referred to as the Nobenan Niño, this means, Novena to Baby Jesus. It is a practice that includes the creation of a replica of the nativity scene, with a nine day devotional of prayers in honor of the birth of Christ.

These prayers highlight milestones of events leading up to what Catholics believe to be Jesus’ birthday.

The expression of joy for the event is celebrated by singing songs like “Silent Night” and “Come All Ye Faithful.”

A basic nativity scene consists of an image or representation of the infant Jesus lying atop some hay in a makeshift cradle. As long as the image of baby Jesus is present, a proper Nobenan Belen can be conducted. More elaborate reproductions of the scene include images or statues of Mary and Joseph, the North Star, an angel, the three kings, the magi, a shepherd boy, stable animals, such as an ox, donkey and sheep strewn throughout the scene.

The only difference with a traditional Chamorro nativity scene is that it consists of natural foliage of jungle moss, called lumot, and other local plants believed to have healing or medicinal qualities that can be found on Guam. Every aspect of a traditionally Chamorro Nativity Scene has some type of representation or symbolism with a connection to our culture; and is incorporated into the scene as a reminder to all who kneel before it in worship of the coming of Christ.

Also part of this tradition is the firm belief that if one is in dire need of a special favor or a requested special intention of healing, safe journey or salvation from sin or any other personal plea for help or blessing, then a promesa or promise is made to offer this annual tribute in appreciation and great expression of love. This is usually a lifelong commitment that is passed down from one generation to the next when the originator passes away or is too sick and no longer able to be the techa, or be the facilitator who recites the prayers.

With very few written record of Chamorro history, according to an article from, www.paleric.blogspot.com, posted on December 21, 2011, this tradition is believed to have begun in the 1920s, because prior to this, “Chamorros prayed mainly in Spanish until that time” until Pale’ Roman Maria de Vera, a Catholic Missionary who was on Guam from 1915 to 1941, began translating prayer books into Chamorro.

Mr. Anthony Ramirez, an employee from the Department of Parks and Recreation has a beautiful way of sharing his late mother, Josefina Sablan L.G. Ramirez’s promesa, which she began in 1933, in dedication for her family’s well-being.

Since her passing in 1982, her daughter Josephine Barbara L.G. Ramirez continues their family tradition.

Mr. Ramirez, a techa himself, honors the tradition by conducting his own annual Nobenan Belen. He has also been the creative force behind the Cathedral Basilica’s Nativity Scenes since he has

taken over for his dear friend, the late Father Tony Perez who died in 2009. It is his pleasure because it is his way of preserving an important aspect of Chamorro culture, remembering his mother and sharing his love and admiration for Jesus.

Like Mr. Ramirez’s family, many other Chamorro families continue this annual tradition, whether on Guam or abroad, as do the Fernandez family all the way in Godwin, North Carolina. Mary Ann Fernandez will soon take over the tradition from her mother-in-law, and although she is still more comfortable reciting it in English, she has already begun learning how to recite the prayers in Chamorro. “It makes me feel good that I’m praying for my family. I feel better whenever I can pray for them because I know Jesus can hear me,” she affectionately shares.

Although each family has their own personal reason for the promise, and each have their own unique design or style of a Nativity Scene, the basis of keeping this profound tradition alive is to show homage and love of the true meaning of Christmas.

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reviews / Vanessa Malumay

1. A Christmas Story (1983): A great coming of age film set in the Christmas season of the 1940’s. Jean Shephered narrates as the adult version of main child, Ralphie. All he pleads for is just one Christmas gift, a Red Rider BB gun. However, adults from parents, his teacher, to even shopping mall Santa, warn him of the dangers of shooting his eye out. Director, Bob Clark, captured the hardships of Ralphie’s days counting down to Christmas morning like his days at school, his family life with a frustrated father, and even his social life with his two best friends, Schwartz and Flick. Even if the scenes depict Ralphie’s troubles, Clark allows the characters centered on him to grow with him.

A Christmas Story is indeed one of the must see movies for the Christmas season. The appeal of the story and the experiences of childhood will be able to hit the audience of all ages close to home. Whether it is the yearning to get that specific Christmas gift, the fear of adults not understanding, or even having crazy imaginative solutions of a freak accident, adults will sure have a laugh on how ridiculous their minds use to work and children would possibly get ideas the next time trouble comes their way. It shouldn’t be forgotten that this Christmas movie also is about adapting. Many stressful things can happen around the Holiday season. While this film creates some exaggerated disasters like a dog ruining Christmas dinner or the disappointment of Santa saying he won’t get that gift asked for, it doesn’t pull a fast one and gives a Christmas miracle ending. It gives real life solutions and expresses what parents do to give unexpected surprises to their child. All in all, the simple and pure form of this film is sure to be filled with memorable and hilarious scenes the whole family will love.

2. Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): When Halloween invades a Christmas fantasy, both worlds are in deep trouble. Rather than keeping up with scary tricks and treats, Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, tries his hand on a Christmas theme for Halloween. However, a sewn zombie,

Sally, warns him of the danger he will cause not just for himself but for the whole Halloween world.

Tim Burton brings the quirky dark humor yet again with the help of director, Henry Selick. The film is full of musical numbers every two to ten minutes of the film. Songs like “What’s This” and “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” are for sure to get stuck in your head for a day or two. Those who have seen Burton’s work in Batman (1989) or his most recent animation Frankenweenie (2012), the quirky style will be all too familiar with it’s twisted dark characters with heart.

Audiences who haven’t seen this film before won’t have to feel nostalgic for this 90s’ animation. The movie doesn’t look to be outdated at all for this generation. The good thing about Burton is that he has a specific look for his animated movies.

Children of the new millennium wouldn’t even notice that this film was made before they came into the world since he stays consistent with the big trademark eyes and funky dark set designs. This nightmare is not much of to fear for Christmas, but it takes some pokes here and there at the joyful holiday.

This film is an original take of combining two of the closest holidays celebrated mostly by children that if you miss the Halloween spirit, Nightmare Before Christmas will comfort with it’s humor and a touch of whimsical Christmas cheer.

3. Home Alone (1990): Before Skype and before G4S or MCV’s security system, human’s had to MacGyver their way to protect their homes.

Thanks to 80s’ film icon, John Hughes, Home Alone gave us a child Kevin McCallister. The black sheep of the family is accidently left at home as the rest of the family fly off to France for Christmas. Coincidently, two crooks try to burglarize his home, leaving it up to him to protect his territory with Holiday traps and quick wit.

Hughes is known for creating smart characters throughout his career, this is yet another example. For those familiar with John

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Hughes’s work, Kevin McCallister would be like a childhood version of Ferris Bueller. Kevin is a wise talking kid who is confident on his words but also confident into fooling two adults. For the fans of Hughes, there will be some homage to his past films like having mannequins fool adults as Ferris Bueller did with his parents, Hughes’s funnyman, John Candy, making a cameo, and let’s not forget the setting taking place in Chicago. In the case of this Holiday movie, Hughes tackles the topic of fear and loneness, much like his earlier film, Sixteen Candles. This is typical John Hughes when he now has the character resolve his fears and fights back as Kevin’s booby traps are the scenes to watch for once the crooks slip into them. Unfortunately it will take a while to see some burglars get pulverized by contraptions an eight-year-old boy creates. If you don’t mind a film that leaves you with some anticipation and ideas to outsmart some idiots, then Home Alone is one of those classics to catch. It even gives some tips to protect your home this Christmas season, that’s if you don’t mind losing some decorations.

4. Die Hard (1988): Seems odd to find this one on the list, but there is an explanation. Die Hard is indeed a Christmas flick since it takes place on Christmas Eve. Visiting Los Angeles for Christmas, NYPD’s John McClane struggles to saves his wife and other hostages from German terrorists. This is basically Home Alone, but for the tough enough men and women who want to see Bruce Willis half naked.

Die Hard, is one of the ultimate guy flicks right next to the Terminator and Rambo. Bruce Willis bring the action, cockiness, and of course the explosions. Willis is not only the action star, but also the scene stealer with his crazy antic lines and crazy style to get even the LAPD on his back. Alan Rickman is always great portraying bad guys, but kids before he brought Professor Snape to life in the Harry Potter franchise, he played great terrorist leader, Han Gruber. Definitely Rickman plays off the menacing villain nicely; however, his German accent

would most of the time disappear as he delivers his lines. But no guy would let that bother him since the film is full of stealth,explosions, and shootings. Ladies, if the men in your life have watched most of the family oriented Christmas films with you and the kids, give him the two hours to himself and his friends for some violent action while keeping the Christmas spirit.

5. Polar Express (2004): Tom Hanks brings to life, Hero Boy, a child who boards a magical train that goes to the North Pole. He befriends Hero Girl and Lonely Boy as they set off for a ride of adventure and wonder. The film gives you a journey to the North Pole full of childhood antics, accidental moments that are fixed by chance, and one frustrated conductor. It’s basically Daddy Day Care mixed with the Breakfast Club. To be honest, this family animated film tries to restore the childhood memory in every adult who believed in Santa, while increasing the possibility for every child imagination in the magic of the North Pole.

Polar Express does have a limit to audience members. The film would divide the audience members from kids to adults.

Children would indeed enjoy the ride full of adventures and belief of the North Pole. They would also enjoy other characters such as nerdy kid, Know-It-All, with his voice and movement that can leave the kids in stitches. Another exciting moment would be having them follow through the story trying to find the meaning of each ticket message the Conductor gives. However, adults may have a hard time accepting the film. It’s sometimes found irritating since Hero Boy, to them, is most of the time the cause of the problems that happen on the train, while an annoying Know-It-All steals the scenes in the wrong way. Despite the animation of the character’s not being as realistic, the story still contains heart and belief towards the end where they all make it to the North Pole. After all, the holiday season is about the times shared with the family. Polar Express gives audiences that feel of quality time, a break away from the school and office days to come.

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6. The Santa Clause (1994): When divorce father, Scott Calvin, accidently kills the big fat man in the red coat, he magically is unexpectedly recruited to be the next Santa Clause. The movie progresses throughout his transformation as he gradually gains weight, grows a white beard, and is called by the elves of the North Pole. As he gets to grips that he has to be Santa, he tries restoring his son’s belief and their relationship as father and son. The Santa Clause still gives Tim Allen the opportunity to bring out his comedic skills, giving it’s “feel good” moments from the unfunny subjects of divorce and reality.

Like many Christmas fantasy stories, The Santa Clause, is mainly about restoring the belief in Santa and bringing back the Christmas spirit. The unique idea of now having a business man, a non believer, take on the role of Santa gives it its challenge to restore the true meaning of Christmas. It also brings the moral in all Christmas stories with the child always being right. The son, Charlie, tries his best to convince his father that being Santa would be the best adventure they could have as father and son. That riding around the sleigh and hanging around with the elves would be more fun than just the average fishing trip. This is yet another jewel meant for the Christmas collection, believing in the impossible and appreciating the spirit of Christmas together as a family.

7. Elf (2003): A tale of mistaken identity sprinkled in comedy. After being raised by elves in the North Pole, Buddy is sent back to New York to be reunited with his father, Walter. Walter agrees to take him in once he finds out that Buddy’s really his son and is believe to be mentally ill from being abandoned as a baby.

Buddy is seen throughout the movie bringing back the Christmas spirit to his father’s home and a department store where he falls for a girl named, Jovie.

The story focuses around Buddy being a fish out of water as

he adjusts to the real world. Once he enters Walter’s life, he begins to change the entire atmosphere of the family like over decorating the apartment, helping half brother, Michael, win a snowball fight, and lightening up the mail workers of his father’s company. With most movies dealing with father and son dysfunction, Elf is roughly the same with restoring a father/son relationship, but with a touch of Holiday cheer. Like John Hughes in Plans, Trains, and Automobiles, director Jon Favreau captures that need for tolerance as mannered Walter puts up with Buddy and his mannerisms brought up from the North Pole. But in the end, it’s all about acceptance in Walter’s side as he sheds his neurotic behavior and supports Buddy. Will Farrell’s energy gives the movie it’s Christmas spirit that is sure to keep audiences entertained.

8. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989): If you took Christmas out of the title, you most certainly will get the same movie back in 1983. Chevy Chase returns as family man, Clark Griswold, as he struggles to create a great Christmas day with his obnoxious relatives. As he bares the relatives and returning brother in law, Cousin Eddie, Clark prepares his anticipation for his bonus from work in order to install a swimming pool. The film is guaranteed to keep you laughing with the quintessential bad boy humor that National Lampoon can give. Another John Hughes Christmas goodie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation brings the comedy with it’s slapstick and clumsy scenes.

As you peel through those scenes, Hughes’s perceptions of spending Christmas with family members is something that audiences will truthfully relate to. Like Home Alone, gave much years later, Christmas Vacation as well revolves around chaos, leaving one character alone and hoping it’ll stop.

Hughes reminisces with the audience with moments in which Clark and his family can’t stand their extended family guest with their disgusting behavior and constant complaining. With their kindness to accept these relatives into their house, kindness comes back to them in an unusual way. Towards the

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end as Clark loses his patience, Cousin Eddie repays for his intrusion by kidnapping Clark’s boss and demanding his bonus check. He gets his check and finally gets the Christmas he wanted for his entire family. So if you yourself dread the time where family relatives start knocking at your door to spend Christmas with you, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will help you laugh through your day and night’s worth of insanity.

9. The Holiday (2006): If Die Hard is the all time men’s choice for a Christmas movie, The Holiday would be one of the women’s pick for the season. The film tells a story about two women from different countries looking for a change in scenery from their lack of luck with love. They switch homes and begin falling for local men. As they dabble in potential romances, they find out more about why they decided to do this switch and start the process of fixing both their broken hearts. Though the film does try to give both Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet equal amounts of screen time, it’ll look like to audience members that Diaz got more of the top billing in this film along with Jude Law as their story line goes through more hurdles than Kate shares with Jack Black. However, Kate did have an interesting story as she befriends an old screen writer and lifts up his spirits as he lifts hers in return, making it just in time for Jack’s character, Miles, to step in.

Nancy Meyers is known to many women to give romantic feel good stories that are sure to make women envy and be a bit spontaneous. The Holiday is another gem of hers that can indeed be every woman’s best friend. Typical of Meyers, it’s one of those films that have women wish could happen to them in real life. She gives us these two individual women that every woman can relate to. It also can have women praise as they follow both women’s independence and courage to start all over and to finally be happy for a change.

So if Die Hard can excite a man this season, The Holiday will empower the women that can take them through the next

year.

10. Gremlins (1984): Gremlins teaches us what happens when a cute furry Christmas pet can change a family’s life, for the worst. The movie is about a boy, Billy, who gets a “Mogwai” as a Christmas gift from his inventor father. With that gift, there are instructions; not to feed it after midnight, keep it away from bright lights, and to not give it water. Unfortunately Billy does all these things, by accident, leaving it to multiply and become dark creatures known as “Gremlins”. This then put his family, the town, and girlfriend, Kate, in danger.

A dark comedy on it’s own, Gremlins takes the Christmas spirit and eclipses it with dark rock n’ roll humor courtesy of these monstrous creatures. It can surprisingly satisfy both the guys and girls with the girls falling in love with the cute Mogwai named Gizmo, and the guys enjoying the funny humor of these demonic Gremlins. The film gradually transitions itself well with horror as the multiplied copies of a Mogwai become Gremlins. It also balances the dark and the lighter sides to this film with one Mogwai not transforming creating the good versus bad theme and the Gremlins taking over a movie theater later on calming down and enjoying Snow White. It’s considered a Christmas movie not just because of where in the season it takes place in, but also shows how the Christmas season can have a cold and dark side when it is eclipsed by tragedy and chaos. Not one Christmas miracle in this film here, Gremlins is all about trying to fix a huge mistake or in this case several mistakes, while trying to recapture the light heartedness that Christmas can give to those who have lost it.

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The Book Market The next school year is just creeping up behind us students. Most of us would be a bit frugal due to tuition cost, so we will defiantly need a bit of help going through the year. One help is the constant advertising of used text books on the first week.

We students always see the ads for used books. They all promise to be in good conditions, and half the price that the student store can’t provide. As a new batch of freshmen enter into the University of Guam, attending students who have been through buying and selling share some advice. Junior and secondary education student, Alyssa Malinao, advises on what to look for in text books, “I compare the prices from other sellers whichever is cheapest I get I don’t really care about condition as long as the content is legible.”

It is best not to be so spontaneous when looking for books. It’s best to give yourself at least the second day of school to compare prices and to get ready to start acting like the nicest person on earth for the sake of getting a valued book.

Now, not all the books you need are going to be easy to find. This is when freshmen have to accept that not all majors are equal.

However, Senior and English/Secondary Education student, Russel Cortez, tells future students not to give up the hunt, “Use the bookstore as the last resort and keep on the look-out for cheap sales.” Malinao also mentions using the web to help, “Well we already have a website called collegeguam.com and that's where I usually look up to purchase my books.” If all else fails, it won’t hurt to shall out a bit more cash for one or two books at the student store. Well, maybe just a little bit on your bank account.

As the years go by, the consumer now becomes the seller as books from their general classes go on sale. First time sellers do have to be careful in determining their prices. Sellers don’t have to rush on being the first student on the bulletin boards for their books to be out of the way. Once she became a seller, Malinao learns what to look for before she gets rid of her books, “I determine prices by what others are selling their books by.” That way many buyers are sure to be interested, making it faster to sell those books and even receive a good pay. Another piece of advice comes from Senior and Business Major, Jermaine Dahilig, “Be realistic and rational when it comes to setting prices and buying.” Make sure the quality matches the pricing. May the condition not be at it’s best, some students wouldn’t mind as long as the price is affordable and the book can make it through a whole semester.

With the used books, comes the decent pay. The cycle repeats as the buyer becomes the seller yet again. It’s wise choice to rather spend that money on the books you’ll need for the semester than wasting it on your personal pleasures like clothes or gadgets.

However, students who have some money left over wouldn’t even have enough for the pleasures. Food and gas would be the main things to buy with that money as college life would mostly take from place to place while leaving you hungry from time to time.

The efforts of buying and selling books could be like a sport for UOG students. Students place their prices on the walls and others race to get the book, in the end it’s either a win or lose situation. Remember to be cautious and patient as a buyer and be fair in value as a seller. That way it would look as if everyone wins while getting the stress out of trying to find what is needed for that specific class. It is another way for students to save a lot more of their money and at least help them make it through a semester. story / Vanessa Malumay photos / Crystal Kids

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