The Augustinian Mirror, May 2014

13-14

usa publications editorial board & staff

Art by Anne Catherine D. Malazarte

editors’ note

time bound in search of prospects and anticipating outlooks

Photography by Daniel P. Abutas

While the past hovers over the present, tomorrow beckons human experiences that are yet to come and will eventually unfold before our very eyes.

A revealing peek of what the future holds, this issue of the Augustinian Mirror gives you a glimpse of how precious time is; carrying within its pages the wondrous essence of what has been, what is, and what has yet to come.

The USA Publications created this issue to encourage you, our dear Augustinians, to listen beyond the ticking of a clock and to take a momentary pause from our busy lives.

There is always a time for everything.

Indeed, a second can be as consequential and epic as a single day and an eternity can

seemingly be measured with moments.

You are your future. We each have our own choices. We either live in the past or find comfort and hope in what tomorrow brings. At the end of the day, only you can decide.

Time obliterates. It destroys and sometimes its effects can be life changing and at the same time, can be strangely destructive.

Leave footprints that are invincible that even time can never defeat.

These are your stories. Delve into the future.

Take up and read.

editor-in-chief

adrian_attacks@yahoo.com

editor-in-chief

ric_liboon@yahoo.com

We either live in the past or find comfort and hope in what tomorrow brings. At the end of the day, only you can decide.

into the future

contents opinion

campus the sky was never the Limit 26

05 rh republic

STEPHANIE KAYE L. URQUIOLA & ROCHELLE LOUISE D. DOROMAL

RI C M A R T I N L. LI BO -ON

06 how irrational People think

Fashion and Glamour 28

RAY A D R I A N C. M A CAL AL AG

ED RYL L E G . COF RE ROS

society

More than What it seams 30 AYA H D A N I C A V. G RANADA

07 yolanda: our superwoman C HR I ST I N E J OY A . SA BER

10 Community: Amity

Amidst Calamity

AYA H DA N I CA V. GR ANADA

12 the Man who Died RI C M A R T I N L. LI BO -ON

14 A Future they Can’t Afford JOY CE GE M M . CA Ñ ETE

16 extending the Deadline JESA N N Y I . YA P

religion 18 social Media Papacy

JER E M I A H J O H N P. VARDEL EON

20 this side Up

As easy As one, two and three 32 about the covers

Eve, the first woman to walk the face of the Earth, invites her sons and daughters to venture into a modernday Eden. The future springs the genesis of a new era. The wife of Adam calls all of humanity to journey into hereafter’s realm.

MODEL

Kriezel Justine D. Mata PHOTOGRAPHY

MA RYL EX G . SU M ATRA

2014 UsA Alumni 35 Achievement Awardees the College Conquerors 36 W I L HELM C. LI Z ADA

Drowning Chalks with 38 Digital Connections W I L HELM C. LI Z ADA

Daniel P. Abutas HAIR AND MAKE-UP

Jo Moses R. Beramo PRODUCTION

Wilhelm C. Lizada Marylex G. Sumatra Jesanny I. yap Ric Martin L. Libo-on

JOE L S. SA ST R I LLO

sci-tech the Augustinian App Master 40 R AY A D R I A N C . M ACALALAG

food & lifestyle Dare to be a Mad 42 Food scientist?

culture

J ER S O N E . E LM I DO

22 Making sense of the sixth sense

21st Century Food tourism 44

S T E P HA N I E KAY L. UR QUIOL A

S E U LG I J. H AN

24 business or Pleasure?

reviews

RAY A D R I A N C. M A CAL AL AG

the A-List 47

b o o k a n d Mo v i e rev iews AYAH DANICA V. GRANADA VICTORIA JADE V. ESTRADA HYACINTH GRACE T. PALOMA RESTY JOHN L. PALETE ROCHELLE LOUISE D. DOROMAL WILHELM C. LIZADA

MODELS

David James A. Corro Isabel B. Weithoff PHOTOGRAPHY

Thongenn Lanz B. Patiam COMPOSITION

Josefa Maria A. Castro Ray Adrian C. Macalalag HAIR AND MAKE-UP

Edd Vincent B. Cortuna PRODUCTION

Jerson E. Elmido Joel S. Sastrillo

EXPERIENCE THE FUTURE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Scan this code with your compatible device and start reading this magazine along with past issues anytime, anywhere.

VOLUME LXXX, NUMBER 2 • MAY 2014

Responsive • Developmental • Research-based The Official Student Magazine of the University of San Agustin • Iloilo City, Philippines rAy ADriAn C. MACALALAG riC MArtin L. Libo-on EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR is the official student magazine of the University of San Agustin. It is published once every semester by the USA Publications.

Comments, contributions, and suggestions may be sent to the editors.

joeL s. sAstriLLo

No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission and approval from the USA Publications and the authors of the articles.

MANAGING EDITOR

jerson e. eLMiDo WiLheLM C. LiZADA jesAnny i. yAP ASSOCIATE EDITORS

AyAh DAniCA V. GrAnADA LITERARY EDITOR

Anne CAtherine D. MALAZArte ART DIRECTOR

thonGenn LAnZ b. PAtiAM PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

jerson e. eLMiDo CIRCULATION MANAGER

joseFA MAriA A. CAstro MODERATOR

SENIOR WRITERS

Stephanie Kay L. Urquiola Jeremiah John P. Vardeleon Joyce Gem M. Cañete Rochelle Louise D. Doromal

OFFICE ADDRESS

2/F Alumni Building, University of San Agustin, General Luna Street, Iloilo City, Philippines 5000

STAFF WRITERS

Edrylle G. Cofreros Seulgi J. Han Marylex G. Sumatra Christine Joy A. Saber PHOTOJOURNALISTS

Daniel P. Abutas Mara Elaiza A. Flores Mary Johsyen E. Pabalinas APPRENTICE WRITERS

Hyacinth Grace T. Paloma Victoria Jade V. Estrada Therese Mae F. Billones Resty John L. Palete

PHONE NUMBER

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

(+63-33) 337 48 41 to 44, local 189

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com

EMAIL ADDRESS

REAL-TIME NEWS WEBSITE

usa.publications@rocketmail.com

www.usa-publications.journ.ph

COLOPHON

This magazine was artistically done in Adobe InDesign CS5, Adobe Photoshop CS5, and Adobe Illustrator CS5. Typefaces used here are Avant Garde, Caecilia, Gotham Rounded, and Orbitron to whip up a modern minimalist look.

MAGAZINE LAYOUT DESIGNER

Ray Adrian C. Macalalag

mirror reflections

this magazine that you are holding presently is a brainchild of your 86-year old publications. after a few programmed cell deaths, viral shedding and loads of coffee, we humbly present to you, our dear augustinians, this timepiece with an unknown unit of measurement. With our collective fingers crossed, we hope that you are all with us in our futuristic frequency. the augustinian zombies-slash-harbingers would like to extend our utmost gratitude to the people who are one with us in our quest to deliver only what’s best for all of you. to our dear moderator Nang Joey, thank you for amiably accepting our request to be our moderator and for your insightful editing. to panorama printing, inc. especially to Nong elmer, Nang narly and Ma’am terry, not just for providing the metallic foil for our cover but for your patience, time and dedication. to all of our interviewees and credible sources, we will be forever grateful. to our production staff, photographers and makeup artists, our heartfelt thanks. to all of our models who are all beautiful both inside and out, thank you.

We’d also like to thank all of our parents, teachers, augustinian friars and to every person who supports the usa publications in everything that we do. in virtus et scientia, to god be all the glory!

[4]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

opinion

RH RePubLiC

Art by jerson e. elmido

Our Patron Saint Augustine once said, “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.” However, the recent birth of the Reproductive Health Law has brought a timely challenge for a predominantly Catholic and conservative society that is the Philippines.

After fifteen years of deliberations, rallies and debates that practically split our nation, the Supreme Court finally upheld and unanimously declared the constitutionality of republic act no. 10354 or the responsible parenthood and reproductive health act, but struck down eight provisions including its implementing rules and regulations. the core provisions of the controversial law were preserved including the free distribution of condoms and birth control pills; sex education, euphemistically called as “ageappropriate” reproductive health education, to adolescents in all schools; introducing family planning to public health workers and the legalization of post-abortion Medical care. during their summer session, the supreme court declared void certain provisions such as section 23, which “penalizes health workers who fail or refuse to disseminate information on reproductive health programs regardless of religious beliefs” and Section 3, which defined “abortifacient” as only contraceptives which “primarily” induce abortion. in a nation that is ensnared between the lesser and the greater of two evils, the country’s legislators came up with a compromise to cater both christian principles and government strategies that affirmed the right of its citizens to have equal access to health goods, services and information.

The road to achieving the final version of the rh law was plagued with many obstacles. the law was strongly opposed by our church leaders and catholic hardliners pointing out the possible creation of a bad precedent that can do more harm than good. Yet, in this modern time and age, are we willing to shed the protective layers that society has built in order to uphold our catholic faith and its teachings? the church has never gone blind in seeing the needs of the people, but it continues to

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

bedazzle the nation with issues on morality rather than addressing our country’s problems head-on. in the midst of this law, the church has to make a decision. the rh law is an essential piece of legislation in our country. It is beneficial to marginalized women who lack the financial means to enjoy their rights to reproductive and sexual health. these rights have long been celebrated by women who can afford access to information and reproductive health instruments to help them come up with options for family planning.

With the enactment of this long-overdue law, it can empower women coming from the lowest classes of our seemingly “elitist” republic. reproductive health is a fundamental right that must be afforded to every person, much like our freedom of speech and right to education. for several decades, this right has been denied to our country’s less-fortunate citizens who have no access to medical care, commodities and services. We have no time to lose; the rh law must be implemented now more than ever. as for the church, the bride of christ must continue to teach what is right, prudent and moral. the institution must persist to proclaim the beauty, grace and holiness of every human being. instead of nit-picking everything that is open for criticism with the rh law, they should transform into an empowering body that will guide us to our holistic development as christians and as stewards of his creation. truly, as the catholic bishops’ conference of the philippines (cbcp) president archbishop socrates Villegas puts it, “We cannot see eye-to-eye with our pro-rh brethren on this divisive issue, but we can work hand-in-hand for the good of the country. let us move on.”

iMpetus By riC MArtin L. Libo-on Email ric_liboon@yahoo.com

For several decades, this right has been denied to our country’s lessfortunate citizens who have no access to medical care, commodities and services.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[5]

opinion

HoW iRRAtionAL PeoPLe tHinK

raZor edge By rAy ADriAn C. MACALALAG Email adrian_attacks@yahoo.com

Patience is the key to this PDAF scandal.

It is prudent to be patient in this kind of case.

[6]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

Art by jerson e. elmido

In the recent unfolding of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal, the alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles has revealed the names of nearly a hundred politicians involved in the scandal. This includes Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile, Bong Revilla, and Jinggoy Estrada who were the top grossers, according to reports. With the ongoing trial, “lists” came out. Various versions of the lists containing the names of the politicians allegedly involved in the PDAF scam came to be known as the “Napolist” and the “Luystahan”. ever since the “lists” were shown to the filipino people, the politicians listed are now being virtually and verbally condemned by the public. each politician had an opinion on the allegations made against them, but an opinion will remain an opinion unless that opinion will be supplied by sufficient proof to support their claims. truth comes in all shapes and sizes. as these truths are passed on to other people, it becomes a disease – a disease so diverse that these truths evolve into new strains faster than the Mers corona virus. because of all the corruption our government is going through, our country appears weak in the irrational eyes of bigger nations. thus, the philippines becomes more vulnerable to economic discrimination by foreign investors because of trust issues. how can they trust the filipinos if its government officials are corrupt in the first place? This is exactly how irrational people think. before the names of those involved in the pdaf scandal were released to the public, department of Justice secretary leila de lima was placed in the eye of public criticism as to why the handwritten list of napoles was not immediately released. aware of the heavy consequences, secretary de lima needed to take her time. Yes, there is a possibility of tidying the napolist, she can even be forced to

come up with another list if the government wants to pin other people down. like i said, that is how irrational people think. as with any scandal, violent reactions are inevitable. if exaggerated, it is as if the perpetrators are guilty of the allegations. if exaggerated at the general public’s end, the analogy becomes so down-to-earth that the earthworms might go out of the ground and attempt to climb trees. that is how irrational people think. in order to solve this billion-peso case, filipinos should learn to become critical thinkers. the mindless opinions and mudslinging aired over the social media will only hasten the resolution of the scandal. sensitive politicians involved in the scam are more inclined to do careless things. the more careless they are, the more careless things people post on the internet. Yes, there is freedom of speech. Yes, there is freedom everywhere. Just don’t step on the grass. the truth is just meeting us halfway. What the netizens do not understand – that is how irrational people think. patience is the key to this pdaf scandal. it is prudent to be patient in this kind of case. otherwise, the truth might go farther away from revelation and poof goes our nation building in the time to come. www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

Yolanda: our Superwoman THE DREADED AFTER M ATH By christine joy a. saber

Photography by Mara Elaiza A. Flores and Christine Joy A. Saber

It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon as rays of sunlight covered the entire town. Ninety-two days after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck Northern Panay, everything seemed to be back to normal; except for the temporary housing facilities put up by Canadian volunteers in the campus of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC) in Estancia, Iloilo known as the “Tent City”. for 47-year-old tita andrade, the heat of the sun was now the least of her concerns because it paled in comparison to what she had experienced just a few months ago. together with her two children, tita vacated their damaged house in brgy. botongon, estancia, when a barge of the national power corporation caused an oil spill in their area. tita’s family is just one of the 115 families living in the tent city.

the tempest it was around noontime of november 8, 2013 when super typhoon Haiyan (locally named Yolanda) made its third landfall over the shores of Northern Panay, specifically over

[8]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

Concepcion, Iloilo, after it made its first and second landfall over northern leyte and the northern tip of cebu. “i never expected that the typhoon will be that tough and i never prepared earlier because i expected that its strength would be like typhoon frank: strong but tolerable”, tita said. according to tita, the weather showed no signs of an impending downpour, not until around 10 o’clock in the morning when the sun was abruptly covered by clouds, the wind howled and rain started to pour relentlessly. indeed, nothing can stop superman. in the same way, nothing could stop our “superwoman”, Yolanda.

Lost at sea “i was very scared that time, scared enough to think that i would not be able to see the sunrise the next day. i only had my two children with me. My husband was in the middle of the sea together with his brother before the typhoon hit. as of that time, i felt hopeless,” tita shared as she cried while remembering the horrendous events. “i had no idea if my husband was still alive or if his cold body would just be delivered to us the next day. our house was already blown away by the typhoon. With my 19-yearold son at my back and my 12-year-old son holding on to my knees, we transferred to a neighboring house together with six other

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

society

homeless families compressed together like sardines inside a can,” tita shares. tita’s 12-year-old son, Mark paul, kept asking where his father was and why he was not with them when they badly needed him that time.

Finally Found later that evening, the place was left as nothing short of a ghost town. With no electricity, roofless houses and bent trees, everyone was tired and felt hopeless. “i think i did not need to stop my tears from falling, they stopped by themselves. i thought that i would never see my husband breathing again. Just when i thought i had cried enough, tears fell once more when i saw a man approaching me. it was federico, my husband - still alive,” tita recalls as tears yet again fell from her eyes. federico shared to his wife how he managed to survive from the scariest nightmare he ever had. “their boat was totally washed-out by the storm. they had no choice but to abandon it. they swam all the way from alinsolong, batad (approximately 7.76 km from estancia) until they were able to come back home. federico tried to find us right away to make sure we were still alive and safe,” she remembers. even though her son asked why their father was not with them when the storm hit, tita knew that what she felt during that time was the same as what her husband felt for them, too. she only told her son that his father will be coming back and that they needed to pray. “even though i still haven’t moved on from the typhoon, seeing my family strong and complete will help me to start over again, fiercer and with more hope,” Tita concludes.

Visayas Civil Defense Office reported that 273 people died, 27 are still missing and 3, 294 others were injured when the typhoon swept through the region. tita shared that until now, her family has not fully recovered from that dreadful storm. she admits to having a phobia for calamities similar to the one that ravaged her home. despite everything, she continues to believe

that all of this happened for a reason and she bears in mind that when things like these happen, it is god’s way of saying, “hey, look up! i’m, still here.”

Much like superman, even the strongest of heroes have their own kryptonite. the filipinos have shown how superwoman Yolanda could not stand a chance against the resilient hearts of the filipino people.

hope springs eternal after the storm, help came in as fast as the typhoon itself. there was an abundance of canned goods, rice, candles, noodles, water and clothes coming from donors all over the country. hundreds of volunteer groups set out to reach even the most far-flung areas that were affected. the Goods for Work program was launched by the government that provides an opportunity for the victims to work in exchange for the goods they received. plans have also been set to relocate the victims to a Bang House in brgy. gogo in estancia after six months to give them better shelters. despite the calamity happening months ago, support from all over the country, and even from other countries, continue to come in every single day.

Looking Up as of february 18, 2013, the Western

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[9]

society

CommunITY: amITY amIdST CalamITY helping hands and healing hearts

By AyAh DAniCA V. GrAnADA

Photography by Mark Christian C. basbaño and Social Advocacy and Community Engagement Office

Not a single post remained standing. Roadblocks and constraints blocked major highways.

After her incessant begging, a motorcyclist finally gave her a lift.“How much longer until I get home?,” constantly ran through her mind, before she discovered that all that was left of the place she once called “home” was nothing more than four walls with no roof. To say that she experienced the “calm before the storm” would be an understatement. her story is just one of the many shared by victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) that damaged a large area of the Visayas last november 8, 2013. for ellie*, Yolanda may not have been the only tempest in her life, but it surely proved to be one of the worst.

Augustinian CAres. “i wasn’t really planning on enlisting as a victim of the typhoon or be a recipient of relief goods. one of my friends did it without my knowledge, so I figured I might as well avail of the relief goods. to be honest, i was a bit embarrassed, but knowing that there was

[ 10 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

support being offered by the university, and my friends, it really put my mind at ease,” ellie admits. launched during the university’s Mass of the holy spirit last november 13, 2013,on the occasion of the birth anniversary of st. augustine,the augustinian cares (calamity action relief efforts and services) task force organized and offered relief operations, medical missions, psychological first aid, cultural presentations and livelihood and housing assistance to the victims of Yolanda. it also partnered with the archdiocese of Jaro to reach typhoon victims in selected

communities in lemery, iloilo.

The donated goods were from students, personnel and alumni and yielded 1000 relief packs worth php 500.00 each, enough to feed a family of five for a day. Almost 2,500 boxes of goods containing noodles, canned goods, rice, coffee, biscuits, matches, hygienic necessities, etc. were collected. augustinian alumni in the united states were some of the major donors of the augustinian cares.

“bravo” aside from helping volunteers in packing

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

and distributing relief goods to fellow students and personnel affected, eric divinagracia, the artistic director of the university’s little theater (usalt), along with the members of the group, also collaborated with the task force in their own theatrical way.

Voices After the Storm presented a collection of short monologues emitted from news reports, social media posts and even included personal accounts. Basura Busters empowered its young audience to help take part in rebuilding their communities, and imagine|a|nation gave voices to the voiceless victims.

“We may not have been affected directly, but spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, we were. the stories of heroism, voluntarism and stories that we can actually do something about the damage, was presented through the comic relief provided by the group,” divinagracia shares. all of these productions aimed to give relief to the anguish felt by those who were affected. the fact that everyone in the audience could feel what the victims felt, with what the usalt presented on and off the stage, proved that it was, indeed, a job well done.

Music for Healing by the conservatory

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

of Music was also conducted. performances included Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring by the string ensemble and a performance-turned-prayer as the choir wept, singing Heal our Land. all of these performances are perfect examples of what they like to call “art with heart.”

their life - to remind them that this is just a chapter, and not the end.”

The success of these debriefing sessions was determined by their new and positive outlooks towards their lives, regardless of the pain and hopelessness they had felt.

De-stress sesh

“being part of the tilipunan gives me a sense of self-fulfillment. It is a great feeling, especially when it is felt as a group,” states annie pedregosa, the director for social advocacy and community engagement. “the best part about being part of the augustinian cares is the realization that we do care. it’s the realization that one of our core augustinian values, charity, was in action. in a way, it showed that we are disturbed to love.

We just cannot help but do something about it,” divinagracia adds. along the way, you realize that while helping reconnect and unite other families, you have formed a family among yourselves as well. they say it takes a village to raise a child, but our generation has proven that the youth is capable of cultivating a community, too.

Jimlie aron, a senior bs psychology student and one of the most active volunteers of the augustinian cares, was part of a group who conducted psychological first aid (pfa) sessions called critical incidence stress Debriefing (CISD), where, to prevent the victims from suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, victims are interviewed and their thoughts and feelings are processed and analyzed by the students in order to determine the best way to relieve them of their trauma. “they are traumatized because they do not exactly understand what happened to them and why. a lot of them answered ‘i pray,’ when asked about their coping mechanisms.

We taught them other ways to deal with trauma as well. pfa aims to address basic concerns and we help them realize that they have access to available services,” she explains, “We help them evaluate on the meaning of

Caring through sharing

*not her real name

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 11 ]

society

He was simply tucked into his white, wooden coffin like he has fallen into a deep sleep waiting for his own burial.

tHe mAn WHo died escaping the depths of obliVion By riC MArtin L. Libo-on

Art by Anne Catherine D. Malazarte

He died that night. The moment he closed his eyes shut, he knew that it would be forever. He took his last breath as his soul liberated. It has come to this - death was his reward. at the fringes of life, terre george tabilid recalls that fateful day as he lived to tell the tale. he never knew that his demise would come, only to find out that he regained his consciousness and was alive at his own funeral.

At death’s door “it happened 33 years ago,” he reveals in his native tongue. “i worked as a warehouse keeper for a soft drink company when I got involved in a fight with a co-worker.” after the incident, he lost his job and it was there when anxiety and depression took a toll against him. “i was very disappointed when I got fired from the company,” he says, “so i resorted to drinking whiskey and alcohol to temporarily relieve my frustrations and problems together with my friends at sipalay city.” everything seemingly went well according to him until his alcohol drinking did not only become a habit but developed into a vice. he was drinking alcohol non-stop, all day and all night. “i was in my twenties when i was found unconscious inside our house after a drinking session,” he says, with crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes. “luckily, my uncle found me lying with no pulse rate and rushed me to a local hospital where i was pronounced dead by a doctor,” the 58-year-old shares. eternal sleep awaited nong george as he stared right into the eyes of death. “it was a surreal experience,” he utters in a soft voice. he shared that what he experienced that day was a journey that he will always remember vividly in his mind.

Almost six feet under “it was like a dream,” he confesses, “but something that is more spiritual and real.” he called to mind the mental images that flashed in his subconscious and shook his sanity.

“I saw myself floating in midair amidst flames. I heard voices calling me for help. i was caught with the sight of vast mountains.” he also remembered the face of an old man who told him to go back home.

Due to financial constraints, Nong george’s family wasn’t able to have his body embalmed. he was simply tucked into his white, wooden coffin like he has fallen into a deep sleep waiting for his own burial. during the wake, his family even collected monetary gifts amounting to four thousand pesos. his loved ones already scheduled a requiem mass for him and reserved his final resting spot

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

at the cemetery. Yet, destiny took all of its chances and turned back the hands of time the second he woke from his supposedly endless slumber. “i woke up in the middle of the night,” he asserts nonchalantly. “fortunately, my companion who was a policeman gave his last respects and was around during the wee hours.” He added that he knocked at his coffin getting the attention of his friend who trembled in fear and was scared to death. “then, i asked for a glass of water,” he says with a crooked smile.

beyond the grave according to Nong george, his energy was drained and he felt weak after he got up. his presumed death was like a black hole that sucked everything in including his stamina and strength - physically and spiritually. “the most important thing is that i am alive,” he jested, “and i have been given an exceptional chance to live a second life.” “i am uncertain of why i am still here,” he says as he turns his glistening eyes skyward. “i am still looking for the right answers to my questions. Maybe not today, but i know that he has plans for me and that i am here for a higher purpose.” “it is possible,” Magdalena corvera-Volkov, assistant professor of Mcgill university, Montreal, Quebec, canada, shares in an interview. “in some instances, a man is declared or is presumed dead due to chemical imbalances or in cases of suspended animation.” asst. prof. corvera-Volkov who is also an alumna of the college of pharmacy and Medical technology of the university of san agustin asserts, “in a medically induced coma, a person may also appear dead wherein the brain is essentially deactivated for study. Nong george’s lifestyle and faith are also factors that should be considered.” in the eyes of religion, the late bible preacher John ross schroeder says in an article, “the bible speaks of a resurrection to everlasting life as a spirit being - not simply a temporary restoration to life in a physical body. in several places in the bible individuals were restored to physical life prior to the resurrection of Jesus. but they all died again.”

Whether it is a medical gift or a spiritual truth, Nong george holds his personal resurrection and human experience at heart so that the next time the almighty calls for him, he will gladly rejoin him without hesitation.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 13 ]

society

a FuTure THeY Can’T aFFord What happens to households Who cannot afford a hint of the future?

By joyCe GeM M. CAÑete

Photography by thongenn Lanz b. Patiam

With only their radio to entertain them, the couple owns nothing more than their little home, their sikad, and the four turkeys in their front yard- all of which survived the recent Super Typhoon Yolanda.

[ 14 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

“Please come in,” the old woman waved her wrinkled hand to usher us inside their house. “Pardon us for the mess,” she says meekly as I carefully made my way up into the house. Grabbing every piece of wood I could with my shaking hands, I slowly moved up to the wooden stairs not only because I was afraid that the weathered bamboo steps could collapse at any instant, but also because I was wearing my white internship uniform. Seeing the mud puddle through the spaces between the bamboo strips, and feeling the center of gravity shift towards my right, I was cautious in entering their house which was literally tilting to one side. beyond simplicity

Personalized Clocks

For more than fifteen years, Rosalina and her husband lorenzo have been living with little or no electricity at all. originally from roxas, they decided to move to bangga cabo, Mandurriao since they do not own any farm or permanent house there. “We were the first residents here [bangga cabo, Mandurriao],” lola rosalina says, “they want us [landowners] to leave but we have nowhere to go, so we stay.” With only their radio to entertain them, the couple owns nothing more than their little home, their sikad, and the four turkeys in their front yard- all of which survived the recent super typhoon Yolanda.

While everyone else pulls up their blankets over their heads as not to be disturbed on sunday mornings, the cabrelyos are already finished stretching their limbs from doing household chores. Lola rosalinda puts out the mini bonfire where she cooks sinabawang isda before picking up a woven basket beside her duck pen. Wrapping the basket around her wrinkle-ridden arms, she makes her way to a backyard lake brimming with fish and kangkong. on a typical sunday, she could earn as much as two hundred pesos by collecting around fifty bundles of fish and kangkong and selling them at the market for five pesos each. www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

Lolo lorenzo, on the other hand, patiently casts his line and waits for a puyo-puyo to take a bite. if he is lucky enough, his catch can serve as their lunch or dinner. after some time, he heads on to the streets with his sikad that he pedals five blocks away just to fill three black containers with water sold at two pesos each. this also serves as their source of water since they do not have a well or a water pump at

home. “oftentimes, our earnings can’t sustain us because we have to buy diapers and milk for her,” Lola rosalina points her lips at her granddaughter who sits on her lap. “her mom in Manila left her to us,” Lola rosalina whispers, “her dad is gone.” With the growing number of things that they need to sustain themselves and their granddaughter, the couple are left with no choice but to endure the expected back

pains and arthritis that come with old age. by past ten o’clock, the 67-year-old sikad driver returns from his night-shift and carefully tiptoes his way through his house clutching precious coins in his hand so as not to wake up his sleeping wife. With much work and very little time to talk, both of them live together – but with different clocks.

A silent rivalry What if the only chance you have to light up your house would cost you your life?

Lolo lorenzo struggles in rolling on his back as he stretches and takes a walk down memory lane back to when their home was lit not just by the sun and the moon. although those days were only less than a month ago, he revealed just how much he longed to have that kind of luxury once again. “i was once shot,” he narrates, “me and a friend of mine tapped electricity from a nearby house…but the owner cut-off our lines and sold it to his friend- that’s when we realized that we were paying for electricity while someone else benefited from it.” to avoid further commotions, the cabrelyos decided to go back to the “dark ages” instead of risking getting themselves in danger again. “it’s better to see darkness and remain alive, than not to see anything at all because you are already dead,” he points out.

While everyone else is waiting for the release of the new iphone 6s, or dreams of flying cars in the next ten years, Aling rosalina stands by her bamboo door and dreams of a future they can’t afford.

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 15 ]

society

The test results finally came in. He was diagnosed with renal failure, a condition where the kidneys fail to adequately filter waste products from the blood. and in his case, the condition had reached its final stage.

the Consequences to be Paid

It seemed like a lifetime ago, November of 2009. Noel Carreon was just forty-two years old and was in terrible pain. He was rushed to the hospital complaining about vomiting, fatigue, and a slight discomfort in his side. He might just have overworked himself at the office that day, so he thought.

noel spent fourteen months under dialysis treatment, being inserted with tubes that enabled machine to process his blood in place of his kidneys, filter out wastes and bring clean blood back into his body. noel had to endure twice-a-week sessions that lasted for five hours and cost Php 5,000.00 per session.

“My skin was getting gray, my energy was drained and i had lost about 30 kilos,” he described his condition as i could see his lips twitch a little. he explained how he struggled in maintaining a relatively active lifestyle by using a wheelchair when walking seemed too difficult or full-time office work for parttime when he couldn’t catch up in attending committee sessions with the Barangay council. noel’s supportive friends coupled with his unwavering optimism meant that he always found a way to go through every day just like everyone else. nevertheless, his condition demanded for more medication to relieve him from pain. Mundane things like dressingup and taking a shower became harder to do. his wife regina slowly took on more responsibilities as noel was exhausted most of the time. “it just felt like each day i was getting weaker and weaker. i ran out of treatment options and if i wanted to live up to 50’s, then i was going to need a transplant,” he recounts. noel was told he might have to wait for over two years for suitable kidneys from non-living donors to become available, but two years sounded too long.

the expected Lifeline noel has frequently asked if he was scared of his operation, which would take a minimum of at least five hours to finish and would have the patient under intensive care for several days, with a possible three-month recovery period in the hospital. because of the shortage of available organs and the slim chance of finding a donor match within a crucial period of time, he said he was actually more scared of how ill he would become before the transplant could actually happen. he was literally in the

[ 16 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

indeterminate state of “Will i make it in the next few days?” or “Will i make it enough until a transplant is available?”

His future could be decided by a coin flip of fate but it was the hope that with a new kidney, he could return to his normal life and go on long walks with his family again without the need to sit on a wheelchair. “i had never imagined going through an organ transplant. i had never imagined about being this sick. i never imagined my life and those of the people i love to change so drastically. but even so, after months of ensuring that my systems are strong enough to cope, it was still a shock to cross that line, to say: “Yes, if i get the chance, i’ll do the operation,” his face gleamed as if remembering a certain scenario in his head.

“While in the support center where i was enrolled, i’ve known some well-off people who needed a kidney transplant and eventually died while on the waiting list.” he shared with a sigh. for him, that was probably the hardest part - preparing one’s self for death while hoping for a lifeline. support came knocking at his doorstep when people, seeing how desperate the situation was, offered to be his living kidney donor – neighbors, co-workers, relatives, and even his children. a match eventually came from his cousin’s wife and they started preparing for his transplant. “ it was a rocky one at that, we had several impediments in the process and the operation had to be postponed a couple of times.”

two Kidneys and a spare on september 2012, noel received his third kidney through a successful organ transplant at the national kidney and Transplant Institute. “At first, recovering from the surgery took a good deal of regaining balance in everything but now being 28 months post-transplant, i feel great and can do almost anything with reason.” fast forward to two years, noel is the incumbent barangay captain of san nicolas, oton, iloilo. “While i know the transplant will only extend my life span to a few more years, but my quality of existence has certainly taken a full turn for the positive since the operation and i am looking forward to a noteworthy life ahead of me. “ as of this publishing, noel carreon passed away at the age of 46 on May 10, 2014.

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

EXTENDING THE DEADLINE HO W SO M EBOD Y ’ S SPARE CAN SA V E THE LOSS OF ANOTHER By jesanny I. yap

Photography by Ric Martin L. Libo-on

..that was probably the hardest part - preparing one’s self for death while hoping for a lifeline.

SoCiAL mediA PAPACY building st. peter’s online diocese By jereMiAh john P. VArDeLeon

Art by jerson e. elmido Photo courtesy of cbsnews.com and telegraph.co.uk

After school, my weary fingers would routinely swipe and grant access to my tablet and find its way first to the Facebook App. Aside from scrolling along my news feed and commenting on my friend’s status for the day, I also developed this habit of posting religious quotes on my FB wall, but does anybody even bother to read it?

Like it or not for the past three years, i have noticed that every time i post or re-post religious material on my fb wall, an average of zero to five people (out of my 1500-plus FB friends) would hit the “like” button, but if i would post my “selfies”, update my status on things that i do, or post other worldly matters; i would instantly get a good number of likes. evidently, this really reflects

the pervading challenge of getting people who are active in social networking sites to be interested in the more profound truths about life and faith.

Fb can Compete with China in terms of population, facebook is thirteen times larger than the philippines. in fact, facebook will even register to be the second largest “nation” next to china. unfortunately, gabriel rodriguez of policymic. com observes that beyond the level of the Vatican, the catholic church is “social media-deficient.”

reaching out Matthew kelly in his book, The 4 Signs of a Dynamic Catholic argues that we only have about 7% self-identified catholics who are highly

[ 18 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

engaged in living their faith in their respective parishes. the vast majority of catholics today are lost-their center is not christ anymore. they may have been catechized, but not evangelized. in addition, scot landry in his address at the catholic new Media conference said, “Social media is where we can find and engage the lost. they may be lost to the church but they aren’t lost to us. on various social media platforms, they are our friends, followers and are linked to us. Many of them are our personal friends…”

What’s in fr. Williener Jack luna osa., director for external and alumni affairs of the university of san agustin, and an active social media user said, “Yes, i believe that it is a necessity that the church should use social networking sites because it is where most of the people

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

religion

are connected now. hence, it is one of the best ways to listen to the ‘signs of the times’ and at the same time share with them the gospel”.

the Pope’s status When interviewed in bbc’s Today program, david Willey in rome mentioned, “the catholic church is into social media in a big way. they have set-up a new department to deal not just with tweeting but with bloggers, and they even have the pope on Youtube.” aside from this, they also recently launched the Pope App, an application focused on the pope and his whereabouts. it allows users to follow his events live and to set up alerts notifying users when papal events begin. as the tech-savvy pope francis puts it, “obviously, we need to modernize the catholic faith. if we’re going to connect with the youth of the world, we need content-rich media and viral videos.”

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

improving the Approach fr. luna shared his personal insights on how we can promote and help improve our apostolate in the realm of social media.

1. Listen. use social networking sites to know what concerns people. What do people talk about now? What excites them now?

What troubles them?

2. Engage. be interested in what people have to say and reply. reply to their comments and questions. through this, other people will feel valued.

3. Share something of value to people. share things that would be helpful to other people such as a helpful link, ideas or reflections that may help other people, etc.

4. Balance. don’t forget that nothing beats personal and face-to-face communication and sharing. Just as we value these social networking sites, our communication on a personal level with the

people around us should also be given much importance.

Will you Like my Post now? although many people would measure the success of their post based on the highlycoveted number of “likes” it gains on the ‘net, Venerable bishop fulton J. sheen gives us a reason why we should not feel discouraged if we see no apparent positive responses. an example is st. John the baptist, who was described by god as the greatest among all the prophets despite having been subjected to the executioner’s axe. in a parallel situation, st. augustine of hippo also died seeing his works attacked and rummaged - yet he is now glorified in all corners of Christendom as the doctor of the church. convincingly, Ven. sheen concludes, “the apparent forgetfulness of christ as we toil in oblivion is the time when we are most remembered.”

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 19 ]

religion

THIS SIde

“do not think that i haVe coMe to do aWaY With the laW of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. i haVe not coMe to do aWaY With, but to Make their teachings coMe true.” MattheW, 5:17 By joeL s. sAstriLLo

Art by ray Adrian C. Macalalag

Who could have forgotten about the Mayan prophecy saying the world would come to its end last December 21, 2012? It created commotions all over the globe. Some were terrified while others didn’t know what to do and what to expect.

2012 has passed and we are still alive. We had survived the so-called “apocalypse.” although the accuracy of several prophecies had already been disproved throughout history, many continue to believe in them. these prophecies are used by others to justify the wars, famine and diseases that have unknowingly, and sometimes mysteriously, sprung across the globe.

“Prophets” have testified through different platforms of media about the fulfillment of the words coming from the bible - “the light started to dim.”

he said, she said according to fr. rey g. Zerrudo, professor of biblical studies at st. Joseph seminary, biblical prophecies are the words of god proclaimed by prophets. “it doesn’t mean that a prophecy is a prediction of what will happen in the future. its only concern is to turn the people back to god,” Zerrudo shared. in an article titled The Day the Dollar Died written by paul Mcguire, he cited that the bible

[ 20 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

does not promote a “master race” and added that the god of social darwinism is different from the biblical god, him being the “god of love.”

“Mankind is now going into a period where all forms of crisis are about to escalate and where, quite possibly, we have reached the point of no return, leading to the end of the world,” he added. he further added that the believers of biblical prophecies view various global crises as the “signs of the times” that Jesus had predicted before his second coming and that “ end of the world scenarios, either from a biblical or an ecological perspective can cause psychological stress and anxiety because both reveal man’s limited control over his world environment.” given that Jesus christ’s second coming could be drawing near, others who are not prepared could develop pre-traumatic stress disorder from great fear and anxiety of what is yet to come. despite the pull-ups of some postive outlooks, many still eyed that the end of

the world is near. What were written in the sacred scriptures, as predicted, are taking place. the war between nations, worsening poverty, occurrence of natural disasters, and the spread of new diseases are interpreted by others as early warning signs of the impending “armageddon” and as part of the “tribulation period” written in the bible. fr. Zerrudo begs to disagree with these beliefs by saying, “god created the cosmos. looking at things positively, god puts the order of nature so that life will be sustainable.

We suffer in the disobedience that we have created,” he declares.

Keeping the Faith “as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer or winter, day and night will never cease.” - genesis, 8:22 in an article entitled Prophecies and Predictions for the year 2014 by Moshood fayemiwo, he cited that a prophet had predicted that faithful worshippers of god will have a breakthrough in their lives and will achieve greater things as long as they continue to keep their faith. according to Matthew, 1:7, “every seven years multiplied by two, which will be fourteen, is the beginning of another generation.” in support of this biblical passage, fayemiwo further explained that the first fourteen years of the new millennium is the commencement of a new generation. fayemiwo cited in his article three

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

Despite the pull-ups of some positive outlooks, many still eyed that the end of the world is near.

What were written in the Sacred Scriptures, as predicted, are taking place.

up heaven’s scent

reasons that are hindering the second coming of Jesus christ. first, the church is not spreading the good news as it should and many souls around the world have yet to hear it. second, the lord is concerned about the faith of those who call themselves his believers, but whose actions speak otherwise. third, the holy spirit says that many souls are desperate to know the truth. despite the four-page long list of prophecies for 2014 that fayemiwo has listed, the church continues to profess, “the future is conditional because it depends on the present decisions of man. god is a just god.”

amidst the sea of self-proclaimed prophets, the Church continues to stand firm on what they believe is true, as written in the bible. according to fr. Zerrudo, “everything that is revealed to us was already revealed through Jesus christ. his words were already revealed in the sacred scriptures and in other written forms. god sent us his only son. the fullness of redemption is in Jesus christ. he is a prophet, a king, and a priest. if the end of time will come, the new world will be a better one.”

Mcguire added that, “those who chose to accept god’s free offer of salvation in Jesus christ will be given a brand new supernatural and glorified body.”

What happens tomorrow may be unpredictable, but what you do today is within your control. as for prophecies, we have a personal choice whether we believe in them or not. despite all the uncertainties, only one thing is certain- we should never lose faith in him.

InFamouS propHeCIeS THaT SHoCKed THe world

y2K - jan. 1, 2000 The world will end because of computers but nobody knew how it would work.

Mayans - Dec. 21, 2012 Just because it’s the end of the Mayan Long Count Calendar, it doesn’t mean the world ends now.

nostradamus - july 1999 The Great King of Terror will arrive. Nostradamus believers went wild on this.

  

off the record: The may 21, 2011 prophecy Source livescience.com

CampInG

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

In May 2011, Radio Preacher Harold Camping drew international media attention with his predictions that Judgment Day would come on May 21, kicked off by earthquakes around the globe and a rapture of the faithful. According to Camping, this dreadful day would be followed by months of torment and the end of the world on Oct. 21. When May 21 passed quietly, Camping retreated from the limelight for a brief time before announcing that Judgment Day had, in fact, come and gone on that date but judgment was more of societal scars instead of total wreckage of the world.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 21 ]

culture

mAKinG SenSe oF tHe SiXtH SenSe eXtra-sensorY perception: a gift or Just plain fiction?

By stePhAnie KAy L. UrQUioLA Art by jerson e. elmido

[ 22 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

Without a doubt, there is nothing scarier than the future. Endless questions that you would go to the moon and back to be answered – What’s going to happen to me tomorrow? What will I do after college? How old will I be when I get married? Some people would give anything just to be able to look into their future which is probably why some people dive into the world of the unknown without knowing what they are in for, just to get some answers. out of this World extra sensory perception or esp is the alleged ability to sense events occurring around oneself through means such as, clairvoyance, telepathy, psychokinesis and even precognition. esp is also sometimes referred to as the sixth sense. “some people believe everybody possesses these abilities, and we involuntarily experience moments of esp all the time. others say only a handful of psychics, shamans or mediums have the special power, and that they can only access this power when they put themselves into a special mental state. Most believers think that everybody has the potential for esp, but that some people are more in tune with their paranormal abilities than others,” tom harris said in an article on esp. ta Vilma* is a believer of the gift of esp, particularly precognition. she claims to have opened her gift for precognition at the mere age of eighteen, when she was able to get information about people she had no way of knowing. “i didn’t grow up with the idea of wanting this gift. it just happened. i believe that everybody has the potential for having a sixth sense, some people are just better at opening it,” she says in her mother tongue.

riches or ruins? kaye*, a nineteen year-old, gave ‘fortunetelling’ a shot. “I figured I wasn’t going to lose anything by finding out what the future held for me. i went because i was curious and because i wanted to see if it was true.” she proceeded to tell the story of how she entered a normal-looking house, no crystal balls in sight. she sat down on the table with a deck of cards in front of her as the fortune-teller asked her to shuffle the deck several times. “there wasn’t anything suspicious about the whole thing. she just sounded like she was telling a story, which just happened to be mine. i admit though, some things were true, and i have no idea how she knew those things about me,” kaye said when asked how she felt about her experience. not every experience is like that of kaye’s. some fortune-tellers end up predicting misfortune. bea*,17, heard of her friends’ experience with a manghuhula and decided to

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

try. “i was looking forward to hearing about how wonderful my future is going to be. i was pretty disappointed when the fortuneteller told me that i was going to be a teenage mother if i didn’t stay away from the wrong crowd.” bea was alarmed by the prediction and admitted that she became more wary of who she hung out with. all of this, however, does not prove that precognition is true. belief in the predictions can sometimes cause an individual to alter his or her own behavior in a way that makes the predictions come true, which is sometimes known as a self-fulfilling prophecy. A “selffulfilling prophecy is the result of people unintentionally creating the predicted outcome because of a prediction,” aldo pucci stated in his book The Client’s Guide to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

believe it or not psychology has an explanation why people seem to be delving into the fortune-telling scene. “from a purely rational perspective, it is unclear what benefit people might gain from believing in something that does not exist. from a psychological perspective, it makes sense that beliefs that help people attain a state such as feeling happy, safe, and secure will be endorsed. even the most extreme beliefs may be beneficial when they help people deal with stress or threat. for example, superstitious beliefs and behaviors such as wearing a ‘lucky charm’ have been found to enhance performance.” katherine greenaway, a researcher, said in an article. the future is the biggest mystery of all. as to whether one can really predict the future, we can never really know. “the future isn’t set in stone. What you decide will always be what will happen, i see my gift as a guide, and not a grim prophecy that will happen no matter what,” ta Vilma concludes. believing in something that has yet to happen is not wrong. What matters is that we decide to believe it or not using our heads and our hearts. for those of you who still want to know what the future holds, there is such a thing called faith. *not their real names

types of

ESP in a nutshell Source science.howstuffwork.com

telepathy If you have the ability to read other people’s minds, that is telepathy.

Clairvoyance you’re in school but you have visions of what is going on in your house or maybe some sort of unfamiliar place.

Precognition This skill will surely help you get some extra cash.

This ability allows you to predict the future, without the help of crystal balls.

retrocognition Have you met Jose Rizal yet? Retrocognition is more of not moving on as you see things that happened in the past.

Mediumship Believe it or not, spirits of dead people can practically enter and control your body if you have this ability.

Psychometry It is one’s ability to read information about a person or place by touching a physical object or edifice.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 23 ]

w

buSineSS oR PLeASuRe? could seX and leWd entertainMent be the neXt coMMon currencY for those Who cannot afford to surViVe?

By rAy ADriAn C. MACALALAG

Photography by thongenn Lanz b. Patiam

Eighteen-year-old Saizy* is nocturnal. She wakes up when the clock’s hands point upward and eats a cup of rice and a can of sardines drenched in tomato sauce that she bought at a tiangge for twelve pesos. She lives in a dormitory for girls with the same “profession” as her. By two o’clock in the afternoon, she and the other girls prepare themselves. They fix their hair in their unique styles, put on heavy makeup, and wrap their authentic-looking masseuse’s robe over their nude bodies. From 3:00pm to 3:00am, they work.

[ 24 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

culture

Women were treated as property which prevailed until the end of the 19th Century.

Today, women enter prostitution either by coercion or severe economic stress.

the culture of prostitution may be taboo in the eyes of many, but most people do not fully understand what girls like saizy are going through. Who would want to have sex with random people anyway? not saizy, she confesses, but if not for her “job”, she might not be able to finish college. taking up bachelor of science in chemistry in a government-run university in eastern Visayas, saizy had problems paying for her tuition fees. “My friends and i were desperate of finishing our degree. I’m not really a brilliant student who can get high grades and earn scholarships. My family could not support me because i have younger siblings and i’m the eldest,” saizy said in a mix of Waray and Hiligaynon. on March of 2012, she and her friends decided to gamble their fate in iloilo city where, as they claim, prostitution was less competitive compared to cebu and Manila.

“We chose to work in iloilo city because one of my friends has contacts there,” she shared. for a minimum price of php 1,500.00, a customer can have a massage session with saizy for a maximum of an hour and

thirty minutes. “My fate also depends on the customer if he chooses me, because customers have their own preferences. sometimes, i’d be lucky to have a bunch of customers. sometimes, i could not even get one. Without customers, i cannot earn because we have a strict ‘no customer, no pay’ policy,” saizy elaborates while browsing over her early 2000’s - model cellphone. despite her line of work, saizy acknowledges that what she has been doing is immoral and against her will. “again, i don’t have a choice because time is of the essence. i always attend sunday masses at st. clement’s church and ask for god’s forgiveness. i promised myself that when i get the money I need, I will finish my college and work in a decent profession as a chemist,” teary-eyed, she optimistically confesses. according to an article by Jennifer James, ph.d. from the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the university of Washington - school of Medicine, prostitution started a long, long time ago when women were treated as property, which prevailed until the end of the 19th century. today, women

enter prostitution either by coercion or severe economic distress – the latter being the case of saizy. the doors are not closed for saizy. throughout history, a hand-full of successful people with a history of prostitution have proved that there is still hopes of getting a better life. channing tatum, a well-known celebrity who starred in movies such as, Step Up, GI Joe, and White House Down, started as a stripper in the early 2000’s before his acting career took off. people may judge these people for turning to the most immoral profession, but taking into account some persons in this kind of industry of lewd entertainment and activities, we might as well think again. according to one of the teachings of saint augustine followed by the church in the Middle ages, “the elimination of prostitution will breed even worse forms of immorality and perversion.” it’s not over yet for saizy, as she is finding her way out into the next phase of her life. *not her real name

proSTITuTIon In THe pHIlIppIneS In 2013, it was estimated that there were up to 500,000 prostitutes in the Philippines. The prostitution industry in the Philippines generates up to USD 6 billion a year.

Interviews with Philippine bar girls revealed that more than half of them felt “nothing” when they had sex with a client; while others said the transactions saddened them.

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

Source international Labor organization

Over 50 percent of the women surveyed in Philippine massage parlors said they carried out their work “with a heavy heart”, and 20 percent said they were “conscience-stricken because they still considered sex with customers a sin”.

The primary driving force behind women becoming prostitutes is poverty. The Philippines’ population reached roughly 100 million people, 32 million of which live in poverty.

More than 20 percent of prostitutes surveyed by ILO said the job was well paid, but only 2 percent said it was easy work, and only 2 percent claimed to enjoy the work.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 25 ]

campus

THe SKY waS neVer THe lImIT MoVing beYond eXpectations and liMitations

By stePhAnie KAy L. UrQUioLA AND roCheLLe LoUise D. DoroMAL

Photography by thongenn Lanz b. Patiam and Christine joy A. saber Photo courtesy of Dr. edgar “injap” sia ii

Laying the Foundations

Have you ever wanted something so much that you couldn’t stop dreaming about it? Probably.

But have you ever wanted something so much that you actually stopped dreaming about it and made it happen? An interview with the man behind Mang Inasal tells the story of how he achieved his dreams and how you can do it, too.

[ 26 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

“When you dream, dream big.” two years ago, dr. edgar “injap” sia ii received his honorary doctorate degree from the university of san agustin. an augustinian who is now known as the founder and chairman of Mang inasal philippines, inc. and chairman of injap investments, inc., his dream was to operate several Mang inasal branches nationwide—before the first branch even opened.

Visualization is the first step as far as your dreams go because if you can’t picture yourself achieving the goal, chances are, you won’t be able to. “remind yourself of what you plan to accomplish every day and go for it,” says susan Heathfield, an HR specialist.

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

People make the mistake of aligning their dreams with their personal contentment, which sometimes ends up in disappointment. Set your contentment level low so that you reach it before you even reach your dreams.

Misplaced bricks “the higher the mountain, the sharper the rocks.” every dream has its drawbacks, and every goal has its struggles, but it all boils down to one word, fear - the fear of rejection, the fear of not being good enough, and the fear of failure. “the bottom line is, the biggest single obstacle to success is not lack of education, lack of experience or lack of money. it is simply lack of belief in oneself also known as fear,” says robert d. smith., author of the book 20,000 Days and Counting. “everyone thought i was crazy with my ideas for Mang inasal. but that’s just it, don’t be afraid if people think your idea is crazy! if people think your idea is good, back down. that means there’s nothing extraordinary about it. all great extraordinary success stories were once crazy ideas,” injap passionately shares in a commencement speech. indeed, the fear of not being able to reach your dream should not hinder you from putting yourself out there, for how will you know unless you take the first step?

on-going Construction nothing pays off like hard work. at the end of the day, how much you commit yourself to your dream says a lot about how far you will go in life. “Work hard. You can have all the money in the world, but there is still no substitute for hard work. as they say, you have to pay the price of the life that you choose,” injap stressed. he then told the story of how he traveled across the country to study the Philippine trade market first-hand just to “master the terrain”. thomas edison once said, “the reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.” Most success stories are cloaked beneath a fairy tale-like façade, which leads some people to believe

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

that the road to success is guided by a trail of butterflies, but that rarely ever happens. to get to where he is now, injap had to work harder than everybody. “You must be in the battlefield yourself, not just the people working for you,” he shared. the ground breaking ceremony for the three-storey building as his donation to the university, to be known as the Dr. Edgar Injap Sia II Center for Continuing Education, will be on June 30. couple this with over 464 Mang inasal stores nationwide and a 21- storey injap tower under his belt, hard work may just be the glass slipper to the fairy tale success you’ve been hoping for.

Penthouse View people think that happiness comes as a package deal with success, yet injap reminds all the dreamers to set their contentment levels low. “people make the mistake of aligning their dreams with their personal contentment, which sometimes ends up in disappointment. set your contentment level low so that you reach it before you even reach your dreams,” he quips.

A year before the first Mang Inasal opened, he says he was already contented, but he decided to continue because of the positive impact it would bring if achieved. “the most fulfilling part of this business is that it was able to touch the lives of so many filipinos. by using business as an instrument, i was able to help our fellow filipinos. at the end of the day, that’s what matters,” he shares. as far as the world is concerned, success has no specific formula. What works for one person, may not necessarily work for someone else, which is why your dream and how you work on it, should be unique. injap has a message for all those who are working on their future from scratch, “each of us has our own unique mission. Once you find it, do it well - even if you have to go against the tide to do so.”

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 27 ]

FaSHIon and Glamour “fashion is not all about glaMour, it Means business.”

By eDryLLe G. CoFreros

Photos courtesy of eric delos santos

With over nine years of experience in the fashion industry, Eric delos Santos, an alumnus of the University of San Agustin, was awarded as one of Asia’s top designers.

He was also awarded by the National Commission on Culture and Arts for Fashion.

Eric delos Santos took his first two years of bs accountancy in the university of san agustin, but transferred to university of santo tomas during his third year. he was part of the san agustin high school eagles batch 1991 and was elected as officer of the High school student republic. he was formerly the president of the Young designers guild of the philippines.

instant Fashion Designer although a graduate of accountancy, delos santos was pushed to handle their family fashion business in a time he have not expected. delos santos struggled in the beginning for he lacks ideas and experiences to face the opportunity his family had given to him. “if you really want to excel on something, learn to love your work”, delos santos shared. for him, in order for a person to succeed in life and to achieve his goals, he should love and embrace the profession or field he has chosen. according to him, it does not really matter how hard or how easy your journey

[ 28 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

may have been on your way to reaching your goals, as long as you have the determination and the will in excelling in the field you have chosen, you will manage to fit in.

breaking barriers even though delos santos was exposed to a world which was new to him, his mother served as his inspiration and encouraged him to follow the path where she felt he was destined to be in. he was able to gain the courage and determination to continue the legacy that their family had started many years ago.

“Self-confidence really served as my foundation in continuing my quest in this career,” he expressed. according to him, selfconfidence is the secret that brought him to the top of his game. since delos santos is new to fashion industry, he studied fashion in london where he learned all the technicalities of fashion. after studying, he went back to Manila to establish his career because he wanted to make an impact not only in the country, but in the entire globe. www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

campus

rise from Dullness he was already on top of his game when he fell into depression over the death of his mother. “i wanted to give up my career”, he reveals. it was the thought that his mother would have wanted him to pursue his dreams that he was given the courage to keep going. last october of 2013, he received a letter from fashion asia awards informing him that he was chosen as one of the top 20 designers in asia who will undergo an elimination round in which only six of them will be chosen. fortunately, he was one of those six lucky designers.

Producing Designers of the Future eric delos santos believes that fashion is not just about the glamour; it is also a form of entrepreneurship. he want to continue to make a name for himself and establish an institution that will educate the youth and give them insights on the true essence of fashion and its relevance to society.

“We should impart our knowledge to others who want to learn something,” he added. eric delos santos believes that the university of san agustin should offer a course in fashion for it to be a training ground to those who love it. “take the risk because not every time you compete, you win,” he concluded.

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 29 ]

campus

more THan wHaT IT SeamS WeaVing traditions With the trends of toMorroW

By AyAh DAniCA V. GrAnADA Photography by thongenn Lanz b. Patiam and imer Cedric j. borda

You would think that the College of Management and Accountancy’s Business Administration students stepped right out of the pages of a corporate magazine.

With crisp light brown pencil skirts and blazers for the girls and collared button-downs for the guys, On-the-job Training (OJT) uniforms have never looked this good. But there is more to the exterior of their outfits than meets the eye. Embedded in the fibers of their uniforms are a designer’s unique advocacy for hablon and embroidery.

awarded during the 2014 usa alumni achievement awards, with the distinction for culture, arts, and Media last february 28, 2014, iloilo-based fashion designer and alumna Jaki peñalosa proves that being a designer is not just about fashion shows; each chic creation of hers offers a story weaved within.

of habits and Fabrics originally an enrollee at st. paul university-iloilo as a nursing student, peñalosa transferred to the university of san agustin and took up bachelor of science in biology after cross-enrolling to fulfill her summer class requirements. “there was just something about augustinians that felt like home. life in san agustin felt so…balanced. i had time for everything i loved to do,” shares peñalosa. thanks to her family’s hablon industry, her future was already set for her.

Hablon, a traditional filipino word derived from the local word habol which means “to weave,” refers to both the process and the finished products. This was the family business before Jaki was born. Kayumanggi embroideries later renamed to Kayumanggi designs was founded by her grandmother, and was the first outlet in Iloilo to introduce machine embroidery. the traditional fabric was not limited to filipinos and locals alone, but to foreign countries as well. they exported locally and internationally to other countries like the united states and nigeria. peñalosa became interested in designing during her high school years and their family

[ 30 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

business’ name was eventually changed to her name in 2004.

Patterns for the Alma Matter aside from designing the university’s graduation toga, which is still officially used today, peñalosa’s most recent projects as the current iloilo designer’s guild president included the making of costumes for The Restless Pilgrim, an opera in four acts on the life of st. augustine, under the direction of eric divinagracia. the opera was presented as part of the university’s 60th anniversary celebration last august 2013. “it was challenging because of the research that had to be done regarding the time period of the play. the romans used hand-woven materials too, and i infused the use of hablon. although it was costly for my part, i proceeded anyway because i realized that the materials were somewhat perfect for the theme,” she shares.

threads and trends peñalosa’s style is a combination of simplicity and not-so avant - garde, as well as the use of earthly colors - her favorite being black she says it is the “safest” color - formal, casual and works like “magic”. light colors make one look youthful, while darker shades make the skin lighter, according to peñalosa.

We filipinos, because of our kayumanggi skin tone, are safe in any color we choose to wear.

When asked about her inspirations for her designs, peñalosa has a mixture of preferences. apart from big names like chanel, Valentino, balenciaga and prada, she admires cary santiago’s technique and execution infused with Michael cinco’s skill, donna karan, Vera Wang, etc. since she believes that style is both eternal and changing, peñalosa has no particular favorite designer or brand. it is not every day that we get to interview a high-profile designer, so we asked Ms. Jaki how she would re-design the university uniform if given the chance. peñalosa suggested that in order to easily identify from which college a student belongs, different colored ties can be adopted, with a touch of hablon, of course.

rules of the runway peñalosa has taken part in international fashion shows in los angeles and cambodia. some of her major awards throughout her career include: grand slam award for best designer in the Wedding gown and national costume categories (2004), top 10 outstanding females in iloilo (2010) and the Galing Ilonggo award (2013). last october 20, 2013, through an invitation by the philippines embassy, she joined a fashion show in rome. by showcasing an eloquent display of the use of filipino fabrics, the designers’ goal was to change the image and negative perception of most

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

filipinos in europe - that we can offer so much more than just being ofWs and domestic helpers. she was the only iloilo-based filipino designer at the event.

sew What?

With clients ranging from politicians, lawyers to ordinary people, most of peñalosa’s designs are budget-friendly. she considers designing women’s garments as her forte and she is equally as skilled when it comes to designing men’s barongs and suits. according to her eldest daughter, who also owns a modeling agency, “Jaki peñalosa is understated” and is worthy of being considered as a world-class designer. there is a story behind every material peñalosa uses as she lives up to her advocacy; buying traditional materials used for her

designs help support the livelihood of many filipino workers.

trims and Dreams “i’ve been here for more than twenty years. it’s only getting better. You know why i’m happy? every piece of work i make helps a weaver and his or her family. i give back to my community by being a hablon advocate. success isn’t just about fame and fortune,” peñalosa says.

With Peñalosa’s designs and fulfilled dreams, the talent of the filipinos have expanded and become well-known globally.

While the runways may be filled with silk, satin or cotton creations, traditional filipino materials such as piña, silk cocoon, and hablon have made their way to become the next big thing in fashion.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 31 ]

campus

aS eaSY aS one, Two and THree three different faces of topping the board eXaM

By MAryLeX G. sUMAtrA

Photos courtesy of Yearbook Office

In an institution as big as the University of San Agustin, all types of students exist - from the studious types who carry around stacks of books, to those who could not care less about their grades and are simply there to probably have a legitimate reason to go out of their houses. Whatever your reason might be for staying in school, the four walls of this Catholic institution does not dictate your fate - it is something that only you have control of. These three inspiring Augustinians will tell you how they took fate into their own hands and came out victorious.

andre Karl S. FaCulIn, rmT the eXtraordinarY straight-a student

TOP

the rest Was history

it has been years since the college of pharmacy and Medical technology has added a name to its prestigious list of cum laude graduates. however, for andre karl faculin, a graduate of class 2013, he proved that mere precedents can never hinder a dream as he was honored as cum laude of their class.

Mary leslie eregia, andre’s classmate since first year, described him as “an achiever - he practically excels at everything... as a classmate, he never hesitated to help us out in our lessons, he is a leader in his own way.”

3

bop to the top together with his fellow augustinian Medical laboratory science graduates, with minds and hearts ready to take on their next challenge in life, more than eight of them hopped on to the next trip to Manila just two days after their graduation to start with their board exam review. however, just like any other child who grew up close to his family, Andre’s first challenge when he arrived in Manila was

[ 32 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

homesickness. “i really had to adjust to the new environment...that proved to be one of the myriad distractions,” andre honestly confessed. “despite those, one must not forget to focus on your goal that was set beforehand,” andre adds.

View From the top life has its own fair share of comedic moments; andre’s is of no exception. although his experience may not be as dramatic as those in soap operas, but andre is proud to share one of his unforgettable experiences, “i found out about the results while riding the lrt,” he shares with a grin.

“The news didn’t sink in at first… it was a clash of different emotions, but on top of it all, i’m very happy with the results.”

Looking Up With a rating of 90.90%, andre was set apart from the other board exam takers and landed on the third highest spot in the august 2013 licensure examination for Medical technologists.

When asked what’s next for him, andre humbly replied, “i think i’m going to Medical school.”

The news didn’t sink in at first… it was a clash of different emotions, but on top of it all, I’m very happy with the results

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

arCH. KaTHerIne roSe C. CaSTronueVo the girl Who defied the nuMbers

TOP

the rest was history

coming from a department that’s not known for having a large population, katherine rose cabrera castronuevo proved that strength does not depend on numbers- especially when it comes to taking the board exams.

2

bop to the top in an interview with katherine, she shares some of her memorable experiences and strategies in maximizing the little time that they had to prepare for the architecture licensure examination. “My classmates and i were living in the same house the whole time we were reviewing. it was like a very long slumber party,” she shared jokingly. “i go out and disappear someplace quiet... i also developed a habit of reading whenever and wherever i can.” as for those infamous secret formulas, katherine shared that she will be disappointing a lot of people by saying that there is no secret formula to success. “one thing i did, though, was to really understand and analyze what i was reading - quality over quantity.”

View from the top

really feels like they have prepared enough for the board exam. as for the now-architect katherine, she was one of the twenty-six augustinian architecture graduates who took the January 2014 architecture licensure exam. she doesn’t deny the fact that she was “nervous” while taking the board; she accepted it as an “obvious” thing to feeling. this is probably why the news of her topping the exam came as a big surprise. “it was big because i wasn’t the conscious achiever-type, that much-coveted license is enough to make me cry.”

Looking Up having bagged the second spot in the 2014 architecture licensure examination, with an average score of 84.30%, gave the then-ordinary-student-turned-professionalarchitect’s life a new perspective in life. consequently, opportunities are popping-up in front of the architect like wild daisies. “it’s all overwhelming and tempting, of course. i had a fair share of sleepless nights thinking about what i would do with my life, but i think i’ll stick to the original plan, every purist architect’s dream - private practice,” she concludes. architect katherine accepted the challenge, worked hard, and is now on to bigger and better things.

One thing I did, though, was to really understand and analyze what I was reading – quality over quantity

Confidence in taking the exam served as a vital factor. katherine shares that nobody

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 33 ]

erIKa JIlIne m.

Jamandre, rmT froM Mediocre to record-breaker

TOP

the rest was history

fresh from the success of the august 2013 board examinees, the next batch for the March 2014 Medtech board exam was cut from the same stone but had a longer exposure to the pressure of board reviews. truly, this was one of the vital factors that brought out the very best in erika Jiline Mallari Jamandre, a bs Medical laboratory science graduate of class 2013. paula ong, one of erika’s classmates shared that, “erika’s very smart. she could pop a question out of the lesson we were just starting… she’s very efficient in managing her time and she’s very good in dealing with stress.”

1

bop to the top as for erika, taking the March 2014 board exam was not a mere personal and random choice, “everyone from my batch knew i would be waiting for the March 2014 exam to avoid taking an exam on saturday, i’m a seventhday adventist,” erika shares. college habits are hard to break, especially since a person spends four years of getting used to it. the same is true for erika, “i don’t usually spend too much time preparing for exams, reviewing one or two nights before seemed to work for me my entire academic life,” she shares. however, being the christ-centered person that she is, she was struck with a realization, “i said to myself, ‘okay lord, let’s try it your way’… i learned that studying can

be such a challenge because there are times when it just doesn’t pay off. this is where faith really comes in. i held on to prayer so much during that time,” erika admits.

View from the top although erika admitted that pressure from the previous batch of examinees was never a big deal since she came from the same batch, what she wasn’t prepared to accept was that she topped the board. “i felt overwhelmed, and a little bit shocked, i would have been happy just to have passed, but god gave me so much more,” erika shared. as for expectations, she wasn’t expecting to top the exams at all, “anything is possible, but it seemed too improbable for it to actually happen.” she had hopes, but no expectations.

Zesil gay gelle, one of erika’s clinical instructors in the usa clinical laboratory and dean of the college of pharmacy and Medical technology, shares that they have always hoped for erika’s success.“We have predicted that she will be number one because she comprehends fast and is really gifted when it comes to analyzing situations,” shares Zesil.

I felt overwhelmed, and a little bit shocked, I would have been happy just to have passed, but God gave me so much more

Looking Up indeed, all the hard work and faith paid off when she garnered a rating of 90.80%. truly, erika is an inspiration not just to Medical laboratory science graduates, but to every augustinian as she shares a personal message, “god can do great things if we only allow him to. if not topping the board exam, maybe he has grander plans for you.”

always aim for excellence. Jamandre, castronuevo, and faculin were just ordinary students who were able to prove their will for greatness. they are the monuments of past excellence, proof of the present strife for innovation and serve as inspirations for the future of learning.

[ 34 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

2014 uSA ALumni ACHieVement AWARdeeS As part of the University’s 60th Anniversary Celebration as the first University in Western Visayas, the 2014 USA Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to distinguished alumni on February 28, 2014. The awards were conferred to alumni who have exemplified the virtues, ideals and wisdom of St. Augustine as seen in their significant contributions to their respective professions.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards Ms. Ma. sonia cadornigara archbishop fernando capalla, dd Mrs. imelda florete fr. romeo intengan, sJ Mr. ramon cua locsin

Culture, Arts and Media Mr. eric divinagracia Mr. arne lubasan Mrs. charlotte tan - Mabilog Mr. gerardo Muyuela Mr. stanley palisada Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida Ms. Jaki peñalosa dr. amorita rabuco+ Mr. eric de los santos Mr. John edward tajanlangit

Medicine and Health Sciences dr. romeo encanto dr. alejandro rivera dr. Ma. daisy tabuena dr. daishiela Valasote

Education dr. Mary lou lacson arcelo Mrs. fely batiloy dr. evelyn cruzada dr. Mildred garay Mr. reynaldo lataquin+ Msgr. policarpio John a. luza dr. hilda Montaño dr. isaias sealza

Public Service (NGO) Mr. francis gentoral Mr. Wilfredo homicillada

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

Law

Government Service

Judge danilo galvez atty. edmund guillen Justice (ret.) santiago kapunan atty. ernesto ladrido iii atty. Juana Judita panigbatan-nafarrete associate Justice edwin sorongon

Mr. dominic abad dr. raul banias atty. helen camarista-catalbas hon. Ma. teresa debuque hon. Jose espinosa iii engr. oscar garin sr. hon. Jaime Magbanua atty. Janet Mesa

Entrepreneurship and Management dr. henry o. chusuey Mr. Marcelino M. florete, Jr. Mr. Juan Jose h. Jamora iii Mr. Jose s. layson dr. Jose f. g. ledesma arch. Johnny o. Que engr. remegio g. salanatin dr. edgar J. sia ii Mr. Jose t. sio Mr. alfonso g. tan Mr. rodolfo c. tiu Mr. Vicente c. tiu Mr. Manuel e. Villa

Science and Technology engr. rex demafelis engr. rowen gelonga arch. guillermo hisancha Mr. ruel lataquin engr. cesar luis lim dr. ernesto lozada Ms. gilda rivero dr. regina aileen Vergara

Sports Mr. emilio caligdong Mr. Victoriano “bing” ledesma+ Mr. Jaime noblezada Mr. ferdinand “bong” ravena

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 35 ]

campus

tHe

CoLLeGe ConQueRoRS Meet tWo of the uniVersitY’s latin graduates Who haVe eXeMplified eXcellence beYond the classrooM

By WiLheLM C. LiZADA

Photography by thongenn Lanz b. Patiam

Students nowadays are not caught-up in the idea that being an excellent student simply means having good grades. Excellence should extend far beyond the classrooms and should reflect in a student’s involvement in the University, the community, and the country. Let us delve into the lives of two inspiring fresh graduates who have proven throughout their stay in the University that conquering college takes so much more than just being a straight-A student.

dannY G. GICano building futures through infrastructures

Daily Designs

It was a great responsibility to spearhead the PICE. I will forever be grateful to these opportunities that gave me first-hand experiences.

[ 36 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

like any regular student, danny rides a jeepney to school early in the morning where he takes advantage of the hour-long ride to study for his first subject. As he enters the campus’ premises, he is face with unfinished plates, tasks and responsibilities. “i always see to it that my time will not be wasted. time is precious in college,” danny openly shares. he sees to it that everything he does is geared towards achieving his sole dream of becoming a successful engineer so that he could give his family a better future.

now that his days of being a student is over, danny says that he will never forget how he started out in the university and all of the ups and downs that eventually led him to be named as cum laude of their class.

Creating Chronicles “i entered the university as an entrance scholar,” he shares. With his interest in formulas and numbers, as well as his sharp mind and creative hands, he enrolled to become a civil engineer. “civil engineers build civil works and

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

JunIne wedneSdaY d. JaVa the speaker With the gift of gab

Daily Designs “i’m pretty fortunate that for four years, i never had classes that had to start very early in the morning,” goes Junine’s opening statement which she says with a smirk. she further reveals that her classes usually starts as early as nine or as late as ten in the morning. during her vacant hours, Junine frequently spends her precious time eating at the cafeteria as well as with her fellow student Council Officers during her stint as an SC Officer. as soon as her classes end, her life as a student continues within the comforts of her home. “i work on my homework an hour before i sleep,” she uttered. she further added that her optimum time in doing her assignments is usually an hour before she turns off the lights.

Creating Chronicles

usasc (usa student council), as well as being a prized speaker of the cas and usa debate teams. “through these organizations, i was able to grab diverse opportunities…i was able to have not just debate coaches but life mentors - people who are more than just teammates but are really good friends,” she affirmed. because of her engagement in various activities and organizations, Junine’s ability in managing her time wisely was tested. “i have to be absent from classes and catch up with my lessons.” With her innate skills and the support of her family and friends, she was able to rise above the challenges. “Many people have a huge part in how I overcame difficult times, so i will be eternally grateful to these people,” Junine uttered.

initializing ideas

“i found out that the university offers a program that is sort of similar to international studies, so i chose to study here.” to maximize her skills and exemplary wit in public speaking, Junine enrolled as a bs foreign service student in the college of arts and sciences. during her four years in the university, Junine excelled in various academic and co-curricular activities. she was able to be a part of different organizations like the assc (arts and sciences student council) and the

“i believe that being able to convey a message clearly and sounding like you really mean what you say contributes to developing good relationships with others,”she admits.

Junine considers the fact that a person who truly values others should maintain and develop communication skills that is integral in one’s pursuit for success.

Now, as Junine finally leaves the comforts of college life, she is more than ready to face the many challenges that have yet to come her way as she continues to become one step closer to reaching her dreams.

infrastructure projects that contribute to the safety and comfort of the community. the campus itself is an institution offering an excellent name in the field of Engineering,” Danny declares. In addition, Danny also finds the university as an accessible and conducive place for learning. the 21-year-old student was even more motivated when he was given a scholarship. “i must maintain a minimum grade of 2.0 (85%) and a minimum average of 1.5 (90%),” he shares. though he faced a multitude of challenges just like any other regular student,

his hard work paid off when he finally began to bag awards both in co-curricular activities and in academics. although he was pressured to maintain his grades at first, he was able to maintain his number one spot. ultimately, opportunities opened his doors of becoming a leader as danny was elected as the president of pice-usa sc (philippine institute of civil engineers student council) and pice-iloilo sc. “it was a great responsibility to spearhead the pice. i will forever be grateful to these opportunities that gave me first-hand experiences,” he shares.

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

Many people have a huge part in how I overcame difficult times, so I will be eternally grateful to these people

initializing ideas “hardwork is another name for miracle,” he declares. “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” danny believes that through hardwork, he can be an instrument of success by promoting an effective application of civil works. “i could be of great help to the society by creating low-cost housing for the lessprivileged and by using green engineering,” danny concludes.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 37 ]

drownInG CHalKS wITH dIGITal ConneCTIonS

By WiLheLM C. LiZADA

Photography by Mary johsyen e. Pabalinas

[ 38 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

as the WaY of life ModerniZes, it’s about tiMe education gets a face lift froM the aged stYles of teaching.

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

campus

“Okay, next slide.” Daylight beamed across the classroom walls as she flashed a tiny red dot onto the projected slide.

Moving the red dot across, she was able to illustrate and emphasize points of her discussion with ease. As she continued, traces of chalk dust smudged on her hands as she used it occasionally to draw more figures on the board.

Sciences Dean Dr. Regina Aileen May Vergara, modern tools like projectors, Wi-Fi connections, white boards, laptops, and similar devices enhances the learning capacity of students. “Projectors let the students see the calculations that are used to solve particular problems, especially when dealing with Analytical Chemistry,” she shared.

Detonating Disadvantages “I am traditional by the fact that I usually do ‘chalk talk’, but I try to be conscious that there would be a demarcation and limitation in terms of being a traditional teacher, or else, it would hinder the learning process,” shares Solly Rose Jandongan, MA Rel Ed. The age of chalks and blackboards are slowly turning into an era where new tools and materials are used by teachers to engage students in a more modern approach of teaching.

Creating a 21st Century Classroom “The first Audio-Visual in a classroom is the person speaking itself,” shared the Theology teacher in a soft voice. She believes that in promoting a good learning atmosphere, it is essential that there should be a strong interaction between the learner and the teacher, with technology as a medium of bridging their thoughts and insights, and in facilitating good verbal and visual communication.

“Inside the classroom, I also use projectors, as well as making our resource guides which, in one way or another, serves as the blueprint for our courses,” she shares as

she prepares her things for her next class.

In a survey conducted by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) released last February 2011 on 1,401 full-time classroom teachers, 97% of them used digital media for classroom instruction, with 62% of them saying that they frequently used such media.

Moreover, the use of television and video has proven to be one of the most effective means of promoting conducive learning as 87% of the teachers believe that it reinforces and expands on the contents of what they are teaching.

Uploading New Updates “I am still at home with the use of films as well as making it up to the point of dealing with the Power Point,” she stated while zipping the last open pocket of her laptop case.

Jandongan also believes that using relevant gadgets will help facilitate the students’ proper learning. “It’s okay because of the fact that these new tools would serve their purpose. I would consider using that gadget if it is relevant enough to allow the student to relate theories with reality.”

According to the College of Arts and

Although these modern tools have greatly helped in providing a more convenient way of teaching, Jandongan cites a few drawbacks in using them. “The timeframe in setting-up these multimedia, like projectors, requires at least five minutes plus the transportation.

And what if for instance the multimedia won’t work? We as teachers must go back to the original, traditional way of teaching,” she admits.

“Another difficulty is that we have limited resources to projectors and access to journals,” Jandongan added. “Sometimes, I tend to do some experimentations like using games where I could incorporate my lessons.”

Immortalizing Instruments “These new tools nurture my jive and passion to teach,” she utters. “These are just instruments used. Over and above, the teacher will still prepare the lessons, go to class regularly and on time. Professional growth which includes being up to date of the new trends in technologies,” Jandongan concluded as she puts the projector she borrowed inside its case, finally grabs her things and heads to her next class.

It is essential that there should be a strong interaction between the learner and the teacher, with technology as a medium of bridging their thoughts and insights, and in facilitating good verbal and visual communication.

sci-tech

tHe AuGuStiniAn APP mASteR Meet the digital gaMe changer By rAy ADriAn C. MACALALAG

Photos courtesy of jun ray Canonicato, ios App store and Google Play

Mobile phones and other gaming devices have not only served as modern necessities, but have entertained us throughout the ages. Consequently, our generation is now at the turning point of what the future can bring to us in the age of digital entertainment.

If you remember the simplydesigned yet highly addictive game application called Flappy Bird developed by Vietnamese Dong Nguyen, then you are probably in the know of what is going on in the future of gaming.

Although the application was withdrawn from the App Store due to its immense popularity and supposedly “negative� effects in workplaces and households, it is now back for us to install and enjoy in our smart phones.

[ 40 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

auGuSTInIan applICaTIonS aVaIlaBle In ioS app STore and GooGle plaY

hit the Can This game took AEUS Tech 14 months to develop. Released in November 2013, this was AEUS Tech’s first ever mobile app that hit the App Store.

Just like the Filipino game Tumbang Preso or Tumba Patis with a little twist and tinkering, the gameplay is pretty simple: try to hit as many bottle crowns as possible, but make sure that you hit the can before the game ends.

Each game has an obstacle course where the players’ slipper ricochets to hit the crowns and the can. This game was listed among the top game apps in App Store on its initial release.

Many of us may not be aware of it but many filipinos have contributed in developing mobile applications, or simply apps. banks like bdo and bpi have mobile apps to keep account owners updated with their transactions and account statuses. cooking apps which have a hefty number of recipes can also be downloaded and are quite popular. as for gaming apps, there is one augustinian who is recently drawing his team into the limelight of mobile apps. Jun ray canonicato, a bachelor of science in interior design graduate in 2011, has been venturing in the profession of developing gaming apps for tablets and smartphones. as a passionate gamer himself, he said that the opportunity of being part of the team developing games was an awesome chance to start his career in the gaming industry. Jun ray is the first Filipino to become moderator of the game Uberstrike, a first-person shooter (FPS) game which is considered to be the first on the social networking site facebook.

Jun ray has been a graphic designer for over nine years, ever since he was just a student, and has gained a lot of experience working in Qatar. When he went back to the philippines in 2012, raphael pranga, head director of Mayad studios, invited him to join aeus tech. inc., a mobile game developing company based in iloilo. aeus tech. inc. is one of the pioneering mobile game companies in iloilo city. their mentors (art director alpha gamboa, head programmer lito ang, and noreen ang) have MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

a lot of plans for their company. the team now consists of three full-time employees; that includes artist and assisting designer Jun ray, senior developer Merielle impreso who is also responsible for making Hit the Can (their first published game on iOS), and Developer terence John lampasa who is responsible for making Oh.My.Gravity.

When he started at aeus tech, Jun ray was assigned in the user interface department where he was tasked to design title pages and buttons for their games. With skills in digital art, he was able to do well but according to him, game art was entirely different and more challenging. “fortunately, our art director alpha gamboa had a lot of experiences in the game industry. he had worked previously at disney interactive, playdom, nexon, etc. on games such as Wild Ones, Skullgirls, disney’s Gnometown, Apoc Wars, Shadow Alliance, etc. having him as a mentor was an amazing learning experience for me,” canonicato shared. as an augustinian graduate, Jun ray is passionate of his job making free mobile apps. “as an augustinian, making most of the games available for free is a humble way to show that you can make fun and exciting things for the common good. We must not lose track that at the end of the day, we don’t make games for ourselves. We make games for other people. for an audience that thirsts to get rid of boredom and play games to make them relax and to entertain them,” he said.

oh.My.Gravity If you love playing Flappy Bird, you’ll surely love this game even more. This space voyage of an astronaut makes for a similar yet different flappy experience. Instead of going through pillars, the character avoids hitting floating debris in space. There are also jet packs available but are limited during the start of the game. Additional jet packs may be purchased online.

Matchblox Originally intended to be a horizontal form tetris, this game was the fastest developed game of AEUS Tech and was the first game proposed by Jun Ray. It only took 14 days for this game to be fully-downloadable.

Players must match the variously colored blocks towards either the left or the right.

The more blocks you match, the higher the point multiplier will be.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 41 ]

food and lifestyle

Before we begin Jerson Elmido is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management Batch 2014. He is one of the few passionate people who has dedicated his craft in cooking through his articles during the last two issues of the Mirror.

dare To Be a mad Food SCIenTIST? cooking is an art belieVed to be 250,000 Years old. get out of old school and turn Your boring kitchen into a hip gastronoMic laboratorY. By jerson e. eLMiDo

Photography by ray Adrian C. Macalalag Art by jerson e. elmido

The sweet smell of thyme and rosemary soothed my nostrils as I was invited by its aroma for a late morning meal. I take my seat and instantly bite a chunk of my aunt’s tempting specialty - coal-grilled baby back ribs. The meat was so succulent that I could imagine the vast green meadows where the cattle was raised. i remembered how we used to cook food in our nutrition laboratory where everything was made from scratch and using artificial food seasoning such as Magic Sarap and Ginisa Mix was considered as a form of cheating. the relationship between food and humans has come a long way now since our early intent of survival where our ancestors had to hunt for animals to eat. in this generation, we eat not only for sustenance, but because we wish to enliven our senses, causing the release of endorphins that triggers our brains’ pleasure

[ 42 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

sensors. today, we have all the technology needed to create remarkable cooking innovations. that is why; the study of Molecular Gastronomy is a must for aspiring culinary geniuses.

Molecular Gastronomy, as coined in 1988 by the late oxford physicist nicholas kurti and french chemist herve this, is a subgroup of food science that explores the molecular properties of ingredients, both physical and chemical transformations, during the food preparation and cooking. understanding the

basic principles of this study would turn those dream recipes that you thought only existed in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, into a reality. impossible things in food cookery such as hot ice cream, melting and see-through raviolis, and burst-in-your-mouth strawberries, are all products of Molecular Gastronomy. i tried out some recipes and the methods are quite easy as long as the ingredients are readily available in the local markets. for starters, making balsamic vinegar pearls is an ideal recipe for a Molecular Gastronomy experience. the process is www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

fun to try

balsamic vinegar pearls

moleCular GaSTronomY 1

hot ice Cream This ice cream can survive warm temperatures because the heat stiffens its form. With the help of methylcellulose that is responsible for the gelatinous property of the ice cream, eating it under the sun is a worry-free experience. Olaf would be happy to melt his tongue on this reverse treat.

2 Pasta Arugula Arugula is a green salad component that only a few children are fond of eating.

Blending it with Agar, a thickening agent, forming it in a siphon tube, and pretending that these are gummy pastas will surely do the trick. Children will never know they are capable of eating greens unless this secret will be told.

What you need 100 grams balsamic Vinegar 1.5 grams agar agar 1 cup olive oil

Procedure put the olive oil in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

While the oil is freezing, pour the balsamic vinegar and agar agar in a saucepan, then bring the mixture to a boil in low heat. stir constantly. take the pan off from the heat and wait until it reaches a temperature of 50-55 degrees celsius (120-130 degrees farenheit). pour the cold olive oil in a high ball glass. fill a clean syringe with the warm vinegar solution and carefully push them out drop by drop into the cold olive oil. allow the pearls to solidify for a few minutes before serving them on top of a salad, or any other menu of your choice.

called the cold oil spherification method. balsamic Vinegar is commonly used as flavour enhancer on vegetable salads. With this innovation, your guests will be surprised to see beads instead of the usual drizzled vinegar. the agar agar, derived from red algae, is a stabilizing and thickening agent that is responsible for the gelatinous property of the pearl. When the warm solution sets in the cold oil, it solidifies. When drawn out of the syringe drop by drop, the liquid solidifies into a spherical form.

Just like the amazing properties of agar agar, elements around us are so fascinating that we need to find out more of what Science has to offer. elements are fundamental in MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

3

4

the composition of everything including the food we eat. sometimes we need to play with these elements in order to discover and create something new. studying the art of Molecular Gastronomy is all about discovering new possibilities, exploring spectacular meal experiences, and developing social awareness that eating should be a holistic dining experience. although starvation is still prevalent among third World countries, we should never forget that food is not just a matter of providing ourselves with proper nutrition, but it is also something that could affect our consumer choices and our relationships with other humans as well.

honest raviolis These raviolis seem too good to be true because they reveal what are stuffed inside of them.

Once eaten, the edible see-through wrapper made out of soy lecithin, an emulsifier derived from soy beans, melts and divulge the flavors in the mouth and gives out more of what the eyes can see.

bursting berries Popping sugar is part of the childhood memories of today’s generation. Once it comes in contact with moisture, carbon dioxide is released, giving a popping sensation in the mouth.

However, combining it with chocolate will not trigger the popping. So pick a strawberry, dip it in melted white chocolate, roll the tip on popping sugar, and get ready for a bursting sweet pleasure in your mouth. yes, there’s more to try!

Scan this code using your device for more recipes from our source.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 43 ]

food and lifestyle

21ST CenTurY Food TourISm taste Various culinarY Wonders

By seULGi j.hAn

Photography by thongenn Lanz P. Patiam and Mara elaiza A. Flores

of the Metropolis

Like whack-a-mole heads in an arcade game, restaurants are popping up all over Iloilo City. For those of you with more exotic taste buds, you no longer need to hop on a plane to savor the flavors of international cuisines. With the many restaurants in Iloilo, one is sure to satisfy your palettes’ cravings.

Kababs and ribs “Persian Kitchen” iran, home of the world’s oldest civilizations, was formerly called persia. its remains date from 515 b.c. and have been declared by the unesco as a world heritage site in 1979. these are just some of the information that you will find plastered on the walls of the “persian kitchen” located beside ucpb in Jaro plaza, iloilo city. as i entered the restaurant, i noticed how the music, the dark wooden chairs and tables, and the beautifully-lit lanterns played well in adding a persian vibe to the restaurant’s overall ambience. grilling kebabs since august 2012, persian kitchen boasts of its crown jewel: “a mix of twenty different herbs and spices from leaves, barks of a tree and nature in general”, says Mr. afshin shahmardani, co-owner and manager of persian kitchen. bestsellers Koobideh kabab (ground beef kabab) and chenjeh (meat cubes) served with plain rice are both grilled to tenderness without any artificial additives, only a natural blend of herbs and spices. Biryani rice, easily distinguished by its yellow color, is also a must-try. it is served with chicken, beef or mutton (meat of an adult sheep) and is complimented by a mix of mild herbs with an aftertaste similar to that of soda, minus the calories. “usually, Koobideh is served with the meat under the rice and the grilled tomato has to be mashed and mixed with the rice before eating it with the meat” explains Mr. shahmardani when asked about the persian way to enjoy a kabab meal. there are two options for the sauce: a chili or garlic yogurt sauce. the latter is a bit spicier but both were equally good matches for the dish. as for the prices, Kabab meals are budget-friendly and start at php 99.00, while short orders like naan (flat bread) , hummus (chickpeas) and kabab wraps cost within php 15 - 69. at the persian kitchen, even students can indulge in a Middle eastern feast without the expensive price tags.

[ 44 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

tonino’s ristorante after several medical courses, he came to realize that saving people’s lives wasn’t going to give him the success he had always wanted. in 2007, he took up culinary arts in Manila and just months after graduation, was employed as a chef in Manila hotel for two years. he spent another year working in shangri-la hotel, Makati. he continued his culinary practice through catering until 2012 when chef anthony d. bulilan, an augustinian, decided to open tonino’s ristorante, an “italian restaurant with a touch of western cuisine and Pinoy food”. tonino’s sets itself apart from other restaurants through its homey ambiance located amongst residences of the locsin subdivision in cuartero, Jaro iloilo city. Muted music, incandescent lanterns and the humble area of the restaurant makes it perfect for intimate dates and private gatherings. to savor the perfect moment, i ordered their pasta cardinal and baby back ribs. tonino’s is probably the only restaurant that i know of in iloilo that serves service water with mint leaves and lemon. this with the friendly staff, one of which is chef anthony himself, summed up to a great dining experience paired with excellent service. after a few minutes of waiting, my orders arrived. pasta cardinal (php 189) sits supreme, composed of fettuccini cooked al dente in creamy white sauce with shiitake and button mushrooms topped with fish croquettes and a sprinkle of parmesan. despite the creaminess, the pasta did not leave a heavy feel after and the mushrooms were juicy which contributed to the overall flavor of the pasta. The fish croquettes complemented the pasta by adding a crunch to the smoothness. halfway through the pasta made curious about the baby back ribs just beside it. chef anthony was very helpful as he came to cut the baby back ribs for us, ending such hospitality with a “bon appetit!” a choice of either mashed potato, rice or potato wedges are served with the baby back ribs (php 299). in my case, i chose potato wedges. the ribs were tender, glazed in a barbecue sauce with a powerful taste of Worcestershire sauce which made me think rice could be a good pair to it as well. the potato wedges were tender and paired the ribs well with its neutrality. other must-try’s at tonino’s include chicken in a basket (php 275), a plate of boneless chicken croquettes with potato wedges and chef’s platter (php 275), bite-sized burgers with onion rings, french fries, beef nachos, vegetable sticks and side salad.

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

not that we were full already, we just had to try their desserts. banana wrap with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream (php 100) came out of the kitchen exhibiting a makeover of the native banana wrap or turon. the crunch and warmth of the turon melted away the vanilla ice cream and the touch of cinnamon made the native food a gourmet

dessert. the mandarin orange and mint leaves on the side were the cherry on top with a breath of tangy and refreshing taste. other desserts which are for advance orders are Panna Cotta with blueberries and Creme’ Brulee. chef anthony also accepts special orders as long as the ingredients are available in his pantry.

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 45 ]

Matthew’s burger Cafe Matthew’s burger cafe, offering “fresh burgers from around the world”, opened on January 28, 2012. it offers an innovative take on the classic burger by incorporating authentic flavors from different countries around the globe. Matthew’s customers can avail of their five signature international burger flavors, namely: american, Mexican, italian, indian and oriental. for my visit to Matthew’s, i decided to try the Mexican and italian burgers after a few rounds of eenie-meenie-miney-mo’s to settle my indecisiveness, since all the flavors sounded equally tantalizing.

You could even play a guessing game with your friends and take random bites of the burgers to guess from which country they originated from, as each burger has a distinct and authentic taste that is faithful to the country that they represent. as for my take on the Mexican burger that i ordered, it can easily be distinguished by a layer of sweet corn and bell peppers

[ 46 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

underneath the 100% pure beef burger patty, with a helping of spicy salsa on the side. the burger’s sauce is slightly sweet, but i warn you: it is spicy. in contrast, the italian burger has a distinct spaghetti-like flavor, dashed with parmesan cheese and various herbs and spices.

Matthew’s burger cafe also offers pasta from around world: italian pasta with Ratatouille, Pesto Creme pasta, american Mac n’ Cheese, filipino spaghetti, and stir-fried Mongolian pasta-each served with a burger patty. if you are with a friend or just really hungry, the big time treat is your best bet. it comes with a half serving of pasta and a burger of your choice and slices of potato wedges with red iced tea; all of this for only php 290.00. the city of iloilo is taking small steps in developing into national tourism’s “premiere city”. be it an experience of Middle eastern cuisine, an innovation on a culinary classic or simply gourmet food, iloilo has yet shown the end to what it can offer. I guess we’ll only find out what’s next in the years to come.

Kababs and ribs “Persian Kitchen” Libertad St., Jaro *Behind UCPB Bank and Beside SM Jaro Tel. no.: 503-3160 Open from 10:00 AM- 10:00PM tonino’s ristorante Locsin Subdivision, Cuartero, Jaro *From Jaro I Elementary School, you can instruct a sikad driver to take you to Tonino’s Tel. no.: 320-6645 Open from Tuesday-Sunday 10:00AM2:00PM, 5:00PM-10:00PM Matthew’s burger Café CISCHO Building, Brgy. Mabolo, Delgado St. *Beside Namie Japanese Restaurant Tel. no.: 336-9338 Open from 9:00AM-9:00PM

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

reviews

THe a-lIST

the usa pub’s probe on this season’s

hottest picks

DYSTOPIAN READS Marie Lu’s Legend trilogy

By AyAh DAniCA V. GrAnADA

Legend at age ten, all have to submit to a trial. the score you receive determines your place in society. Marie lu’s Legend is told in alternating point of views of June Iparis, a fifteen-year old elite prodigy and daniel altan Wing, or “day”, an infamous “criminal”. June poses as a girl from the slums in order to search for day, who has been charged with the murder of her older brother, Metias. She soon finds out her safe world has not been what it appeared to be at all. in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Prodigy this sequel lives up to its predecessor as it starts off with June and Day arriving in Las Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the elector primo (equivalent to the position of president) dies, and his son anden takes his place. a compromise arises that includes June and day carrying out the assassination of the new elector. information and answers readers were deprived of in the first novel are sure to be found. surprising relationships are revealed – and a love square becomes evident.

Champion in the last installation of Marie lu’s Legend trilogy, day and June don’t exactly get their happily ever after. spoilers aside, it is up to you, readers, to determine whether or not it deserves the title of a worthy conclusion. packed with just the right amount of romance, fast-paced action (and even some girl-on-girl combat) these dangerous-boymeets-dangerous-girl novels leave no room for dull moments. lu’s world-building is excellent and the characters are very well threedimensional.

MAy 2014 Volume 80, Number 2

Kiera Cass’ The Selection

Kass Morgan’s The 100

in a dystopian world where war has given rise to the kingdom of ilea, society is divided into castes - one being the highest and eight as the lowest. With this social system, one is only allowed to love the person who is within ones caste. however, america singer,a five, has just received a notice inviting her to join the selection, a competition to win the prince’s hand, the crown and be entitled as the next Queen of ilea. she meets prince Maxon and they start to get to know each other, america begins to question herself about the life she dreamed of and the future full of sweet promises being held out to her. after a majestic turn of events, all but six - including america, have been sent home.

With the group narrowed down to the six Elite, other girls are now even more determined to win prince Maxon over. she constantly struggles between her growing feelings for Maxon and her promise to her first love, Aspen. america has made her choice and is prepared to fight for the future she wants. She is now ready to be The One. kiera cass presented romance in a different way all throughout the series, The Selection. showing us how our choices could affect not only us, but also the people around us. but with these choices we are left with two options; should we take a stand or run away from our destiny? War, love and choices; in a world that revolves around chaos and uncertainty brought about by the war, will love find a way to change their destinies? a must-read for all the readers who want to know what it takes to be The One and be strong enough to stand firmly on their choices in life, whatever it may be.

imagine yourself being thrown into an ancient spacecraft that’s about to be hurled to a planet you’ve only heard about in history books.

The 100 is a book series that tells about a hundred juvenile delinquents, whose crimes in our present day could have been pardoned. during this era in the future, humanity has been drifting in space a distance away from earth, they were divided into three sectors on the space vessel the colony. these are phoenicia, Walden, and arcadia. they are governed by a council, headed by a chancellor. the story starts with clarke, the daughter of the two well-known physicians on board the colony that had conducted various radiationrelated tests that had fueled the journey back to earth which cost them their lives and Clarke’s confinement. there are laws in the colony that in our present time would have sounded preposterous. the gaia doctrine, for example, is supposed to prohibit a couple from having an unregistered child. breaking this doctrine would mean death, but this was only vaguely explained to the readers. then there’s the Retrial when the confined teens turn eighteen, wherein they only get shot, and are given a false sense of hope. the story is set in the distant future and heavily revolves around the character’s emotions. if you’re the type who believes in the saying “Love means sacrifices,” then you should definitely take some time to read this book.

By ViCtoriA jADe V. estrADA

By hyACinth GrACe t. PALoMA

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

[ 47 ]

reviews

THe a-lIST

the usa pub’s probe on this season’s

hottest picks

MOVIE REVIEWS robocop

i, Frankenstein

X-Men: Days of Future Past

What would you do if one day you wake up and realize that your entire body was replaced with a machine?

Robocop tells the story of a cop named by alex Murphy, played by Joel kinnaman. alex was unfortunately caught in an explosion that endangered his life. in an attempt to save alex, the multinational conglomerate omnicorp decides that alex is the perfect lab rat that they have been looking for to test their latest technology. omnicorp envisioned the idea of bringing their military technology into the city streets. the idea was highly opposed by the government since they want a law enforcer who knows what it is like to be human, and so came the idea to create a robocop: a half-man, half-robot crime fighting machine. omnicorp was bent on having a robocop in every city to gain more profit, while forgetting the fact that there was a human being inside of all their robotic technology. the 2014 Robocop is a remake of the classic 1987 film of the same name directed

by Jose padilha. the remake was made more interesting, much bolder and had a lot more unexpected turn of events than the original. it was truly fascinating and can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. the movie raises interesting social issues such as what lengths the government is willing to go through in order to maintain peace and order in society. i cannot help but wonder what would happen if the government was crazy enough to replace all of our police officers with Robocops. i’m certain that the crime rates would drop, but would putting a man inside a mechanical suit be worth it? Maybe not.

in the 2014 remake of the classic tale, dr. frankenstein plays god by creating a monster; a living creature from the dead. fearing his own creation, the “mad-scientist” tries to kill the monstrous protagonist, played by actor aaron eckhart. outraged, the monster kills his creator’s wife, elizabeth, and escapes to the far north, where he is trailed by dr. frankenstein. the monster buries his creator after he dies from the cold and the life he was literally given starts to spiral out of control. centuries passed and adam lived his life hunting down demons. on his journey, Adam finally finds his higher purpose and reason to fight, as more problems arise. The war between gargoyles and demons and between humanity and monstrosity begins. based on the graphic movie and on the original screenplay by kevin grevioux, I, Frankenstein is a 2014 fantasy action film that revolves around finding your purpose amidst all the chaos and evil in the world. Viewers would think, at first glance, that it tells the usual good-versus-evil but behind all the chaos and special effects, there is a bigger picture. if you are a fan of unexpected outcomes and dystopian kind of world, then this movie is surely a must-see. I, Frankenstein can give you an adrenaline rush just by watching it. the movie’s special effects were flawless and wellexecuted. it’s entire plot connected well with the main goal of the protagonist and revolved around his battle between against his enemies and against himself. there was not a single dull moment throughout the entire film. If you happen to like movies such as Wrath of the Titans, you will surely enjoy watching I, Frankenstein.

fifty years after they were invented, sentinel robots designed to hunt down mutants and mutant allies are now able to adapt and deal with mutant abilities. in order to preserve their unique species, charles Xavier (patrick stewart) together with his old friend Magneto (ian Mckellen) and the X-Men go back in 1973 to stop dr. bolivar trask (peter dinklage) from inventing the sentinels. kitty pryde (ellen page) offered a solution by sending Wolverine (hugh Jackman) back in time to change history by convincing the 1973 Xavier (James Mcavoy) and 1973 Magneto (Michael fassbender) to stop Mystique (Jennifer lawrence) from killing dr. trask. charles told Wolverine that it was Mystique who was responsible for killing dr. trask after she learned about the sentinels. eventually, she was caught and studied by the government where her shape-shifting dna was incorporated into the sentinels, making them invincible against all mutant powers. the latest addition X-Men franchise is not just any other action-packed graphic masterpiece full of ear-pounding explosions, but delves deeper to the past that has bought the characters we have come to love on X-Men such as Wolverine and professor X to a whole new perspective. a new character, Quicksilver (evan peters) gave an interesting humorous touch to the rather dark story line.

X-Men: Days of Future Past, directed by bryan singer, has, without a doubt, managed to outdo the first three installments. It’s truly a must-watch to all fans and non-fans alike. the movie ends by ushering in the X-Men’s next greatest foe yet: apocalypse.

By resty john L. PALete

[ 48 ]

THE AUGUSTINIAN MIRROR

By roCheLLe LoUise D. DoroMAL

By WiLheLM C. LiZADA

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

Words by Ray Adrian C. Macalalag Art by Anne Catherine D. Malazarte