The Augustinian Mirror, October 2016

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UNSTOPPABLE Volume LXXXIII • Number 1

OCTOBER 2016

The Official Student Magazine of the University of San Agustin Iloilo City, Philippines

ISSUE

LIfe at thIs seemINgLy brILLIaNt worLd remaINs a mystery.

bE ON ThE lOOkOuT. kEEP This WORld As iT is.

It mIght be our Last.

PhotograPh RAy AdR i AN C . MACA l A l Ag / Lo cat I o N sA N di O N i s i O, i lO i lO

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MIRROR REFLECTIONS

VoLume 83 / Number 01 / october 2016

EdiTOR’s NOTE NOT EVERYThING hAS TO ChANGE. It just needs a little tweaking to be modified or improved to compensate life’s demands. But there are some things that even though time has already passed, we still let ourselves dwell on it.

Dear readers, in this issue of The Augustinian Mirror, we present to you the various articles that revolve around the theme, “Unstoppable.” Stories like how people in Guimaras continue their lives after a devastating event, a decade ago, staying alive ‘till you reach a century, and revealing the city’s unending projects to remain as the most livable city in the country, will surely make you never want to stop.

Flip the pages and enjoy our Unstoppable Issue.

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WhEN EVERYONE IS TELLING YOU TO STOP, DON’T STOP AND PROVE ThEM WRONG. This issue of The Augustinian Mirror has been through a lot of hard times yet we didn’t stop until we have produced this magazine. we, the USA Publications, would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the people who unstoppably shared their time and effort to make this issue possible.

To Engr. Ray Adrian C. Macalalag, our moderator, thank you for the guidance, motivation and knowledge that you have imparted to us in every step of the way. To Mr. Jefferson B. Magbanua, and Ms. Ayah Danica V. Granada, our “Pub Mentor” and “Pub Tita,” respectively, thank you for the patience and the time to review our articles. To Panorama Printing, Inc., especially to Nong Elmer, Nang Narle and Ma’am Mercy, we extend our appreciation to you for the accommodation of the USA Pub in and out of Panorama. To our model and the many people who inspired us to come up with this amazing issue, a big thanks to you. And last but definitely not the least, to the Almighty Father who is above all things for showering us with blessings, especially this issue.

Happy reading, everyone!

ABOUT THE COVER WE ARE AT WAR. The present day Maria Clara fearlessly emerges out of the chaos and she’s up for another battle despite the lack of competent weaponry. She took the courage to fight and to win the battle she knew she will be facing for the rest of her life. Bolder, fiercer, braver, let us not just be in the sideways. Take the lead and be like her.

Model: Harjeet Jalaf dress/hair/Makeup: Jo Moses M. Beramo Photograph: Mara Elaiza A. Flores Editing: Edcel B. Fajutag digital Manipulation: Ray Adrian C. Macalalag Production: Rj Junsay, Frennie M. Tababa location: Fort San Pedro Drive, City Proper, Iloilo City

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USA Publications Responsive • Developmental • Research-based

Address: 2/F Alumni Bldg., University of San Agustin, General Luna Street, Iloilo City, Philippines 5000 Phone Number: (033) 337 4842 local 189 Website: www.usapub.net Email: usapublications1@gmail.com

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USA Publications

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@usapub

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@usa_pub

The Augustinian MIRROR is the official student magazine of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Philippines. It is published regularly by the USA Publications, which envisions itself as an Augustinian center of campus journalism, fostering the advocacy of the common good and acting as voice of the student body through responsive, developmental, and research-based campus journalism. Contributions, comments, and suggestions may be sent to the editors. No part of this publication can be reproduced by any means without permission and authority from the USA Publications.

Colophon: This magazine had another makeover in our pursuit to satisfy every eye that appreciates beyond quality and excellent design. This was produced using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator under Adobe Creative Suite 3. Neuton, Oswald, and Rubik were used for the text.

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USA Publications

P h oto g ra p h ray a d r ian c . macala lag

FRENNiE M. TAbAbA Editor-in-Chief

Rj juNsAy Managing Editor EdCEl b. FAjuTAg Associate Editor jORdAN C. gAlAChE Circulation and Office Manager ENgR. RAy AdRiAN C. MACAlAlAg Moderator

ART ANd dEsigN TEAM Herod A. Montiel (Art Director) Clyde Allen E. Sollesta (Videographer)

PhOTOgRAPhy TEAM Mara Elaiza A. Flores (Photography Director) Allaine Rose M. Emnacen

COMMuNiTy AFFAiRs TEAM Rochelle Mae M. Muzones (Community Editor) Jecel T. Buenavides Edward Dominic E. Emilio Wilkienson C. Muro

PROgRAM MANAgEMENT TEAM Armie Therese C. Penuela (Program Director) Athena Gabriella E. Julabar Daryl S. Selerio Nicole Ailice F. Serisola

CREATivE WRiTiNg TEAM Philip Robert C. Alaban (Literary Editor) Andrea Nicole C. Parce Erika Danielle M. Pepito

we encourage you to recycle this publication. Let’s help save the planet we live in.

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CONTENTS P.18

Don’t be scared to follow your passion because it could unlock doors to opportunities.

P.34

ROGELIO GABIANO, JR. shares an awesome sight of Burias Island in Masbate. Having started it all about five years ago, he is currently one of the best celebrated travel bloggers online.

P.09

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OPINION 07 • Relying the Country’s Future on the Youth 08 • Small and Class Act

environment 09 • The Guimarasnon Titanic 11 • Sa Pihak nga Bahin

people and society 14 • Sa Piling ni Nanay 16 • Past Her Golden Years

development communication 18 • The Living Land of the Dead 20 • Remastering Iloilo

culture

If you’re hungry, eat. When you get sleepy, sleep.

Lola Clara Tagalan, a 94 year-old retired teacher, an old maid, and a devotee, shares her secret for living nearly a century.

P.16

24 • Paniniwalang Namamalagi

campus 26 • Walong Taon ang Lumipas 28 • It’s a Kin Thing 29 • Si Dr. Lilia at ang Kanyang Apat na Dekada

science and technology 30 • The Sphere of E-Commerce

food and life 32 • Of Iloilo, Of Home 34 • Meet Gabz

reviews

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38 • Defying the Laws of Science and Society: The Unexpected, The Unnatural and the Undead 40 • Hindrances: Made to be Conquered

UNSTOPPABLE Vo l . 83 / N o. 1 / o c tob e r 2 0 1 6

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President Rodrigo Duterte should aim for reform, not annihilation.

The USA Publications believes in the necessity of an all out war against illegal drug abuse which has struck us like an invasive cancer. The recent spate of extrajudicial killings of alleged drug lords, pushers, and users, however, should be condemned. Attempts of the current administration to purge the country of its ills must be within the framework of the law.

President Rodrigo Duterte should aim for reform, not annihilation.

A culture that tolerates murder of those merely suspected may not survive after the current leaders step down.

The true all out war should be a war on all grounds — education, law, politics, psychology, and lifestyle. It should be a responsive and developmental approach that educates the people on the evil of illegal drugs, prosecutes pushers and drug lords, censures p ol it i c i a n s - s l a s h -p r o t e c t or s , rehabilitates users, and takes steps to ensure they never go back to that way of life again.

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OPINION

RElyiNg ThE COuNTRy’s FuTuRE ON ThE yOuTh

STA L LwA RT Rochelle Mae M. Muzones, BSA ‘19 Send her a reply through this code

"THe youTH iS THe HoPe of THe faTHerLanD." This is one of the insights that could be derived from Dr. Jose rizal's poem entitled, "To the filipino youth." but with the involvement of the youth (particularly minors) in crime-related incidents, including illegal drug trade, can we still opine that the young people are the builders of the country's good future?

On June 30, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte took his oath of office and delivered his inaugural address for the 100 million Filipinos worldwide, vowing to restore the people’s trust and confidence in the government. He made mention that his administration’s fight against illegal drug trade and criminality shall be relentless and sustained within the bounds of law.

The current administration’s goal of solving the problem on illegal drugs and other crimes in a span of six months is promising. But, what if those who are involved in these illegal activities are those who are also protected by the law? On September of this year, the Philippine National Police’s women and Children Protection Center (PNP-wCPC) released the statistics of minors (those who are below 18 years old) who surrendered in the first two months of the Duterte administration. The PNPwCPC data records 5,110 illegal drug users and 371 traders (who are minors) in 2010 and these numbers skyrocketed to 20,548 cases of minors in June 2016.

Of the 20,548 cases cited, 65 percent or more than 13,000 had previous records with the PNP as “firsttime offenders” while eight percent or 1,595 were “repeat offenders”. Furthermore, the data issued by the PNP-wCPC shows that more than 98 percent of these minors admitted to being drug users, 273 surrendered as drug pushers or sellers, and 66 were I L Lust r atIo N h ERO d A. MONTi El

drug couriers or runners.

To be able to advance their dirty business, illegal drug syndicates continually use and abuse the minors’ innocence and the protection accorded by law to these young ones. The country’s Juvenile Delinquency Act prescribes a different approach in handling criminal offenses of minors – a treatment which is more lax compared to the methods in dealing with legal-age offenders. In effect, drug syndicates conveniently lure children to engage in their illegal venture, lessening their chances of getting caught by authorities and inevitably destroying the supposedly good future of each young illegal drug user, pusher and courier.

According to the PNP-wCPC, children in conflict with the law who are 15 years old and below are immediately released to their parents, guardian or nearest relative. The said agency’s manual also explains that children aged 12 to 15 years who committed offenses which are punishable by more than 12 years of imprisonment shall be mandatorily placed in Bahay Pag-asa’s Intensive Juvenile Intervention and Support Center. If detention is necessary, the PNP manual states that the child shall be separated from adult offenders and offenders of the opposite sex. Locking up a child in a detention cell is prohibited.

Moreover, the Philippine Drugs Enforcement

Agency (PDEA) records indicate that the youngest that they had rescued within 2010 to 2016 were six and nine year-old pushers and a seven year-old runner, and a nine year-old pusher. who could imagine a six year-old child selling illegal drugs instead of reading his Grade 1 textbook? Does the government exert enough effort to eliminate this issue? Judging from the statistics of the PNPwCPC and PDEA, there is much more to be done in relation to the participation of minors in criminal activities.

The law provides that children in conflict with the law shall receive proper intervention, rehabilitation and reformative care during their stay in Bahay Pag-asa. In addition, those “victims” who were released to their parents or guardians and those who have not entangled themselves to illegal drugs should organize intensive campaigns against illegal drugs and criminality in schools and in their respective communities. Those interested to launch their anti-drugs campaigns could partner with the PNP, PDEA, the Department of Education, the Department of Social welfare and Development and the Local Government Units. In our own capacity, we should do something to address the issue of the alarming number of illegal drug cases and crimes involving minors. Their innocence had trapped them in their current problematic state and they need to break free.

The Philippines has more young people than those who belong to the adult and the old age brackets. If the rate of minors taking in or selling illegal drugs keeps on increasing, what will be the future of our country? Together, let us help the youth build a better future for themselves before we rely the country’s future on them. It’s not yet too late to rescue them from the shackles of illegal drug trade and criminality.

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OPINION

sMAll ANd ClAss ACT

V E R AT RU M V IR I DE Armie Therese C. Penuela, BSPhar ‘18 Send her a reply through this code

if you happen to visit a nearby hospital, you will be greeted with crowded wards. This would not happen in an ordinary day, but the breakout of Dengue Hemorrhagic fever caused the number of admitted patients to balloon to 52,177 as of this writing. along with the seemingly unstoppable rise in Dengue cases is the emergence of another mosquito-carried disease – the Zika Virus.

Both the Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Zika Virus are transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The last dengue outbreak in the Philippines was in 2012 while the Zika is a relatively new illness which originally invaded the African continent.

Both the Dengue and Zika manifest the same mild symptoms, such as fever, skin rashes, joint pain, and headache. However, the world Health Organization (wHO) came up with a scientific consensus that the Zika virus can cause microcephaly (a rare condition wherein a baby has an abnormally small head) and this condition threatens the safety of pregnant women and their children.

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first case of Zika in Iloilo last September and the DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau has tallied the number of cases in the entire country to eight (as of September

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13, 2016). The number of locally-transmitted Zika continues to increase after the first confirmed local case in Cebu City last 2012.

The wHO and the DOH never wavered in warning the people for possible outbreaks during this rainy season. Needless to say, the cases of these viruses increased because of stagnant bodies of water brought about by the rainy season.

It is not surprising to see grocery shelves for insect repellant lotions, creams and sprays empty when you shop at the malls. Protection of one’s self and family becomes the primary move. In response to the Dengue outbreak and the confirmed cases of Zika in Iloilo City, the local government already allotted a P100,000 budget this year to procure larvaecide, a chemical employed to kill mosquito larvae. But these are not enough. As much as we need to protect

ourselves, we also need to destroy the breeding places of these mosquitoes and see to it that they can never breed in places near us. where should we start? According to DOH Secretary Janette P. Garin, the first step to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is to ensure the cleanliness of our homes. “Let us make cleaning a practice and together, we will have cleaner surroundings,” emphasized Garin.

Take note, you can alleviate the possibility of another person or yourself from being bitten by the Aedes mosquito by emptying water pots around you, throwing garbage properly to avoid clogging in water pathways, using window screens, and closing doors and windows.

Our small actions can stop the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses. Do not underestimate our little deeds. we have to remember that what caused these life-threatening infections are viruses – the tiniest of all microbes, which can only be seen under an electron microscope. But, who knows? when your small act is replicated by other people, these virulent viruses could be eradicated from our society. In countering Dengue and Zika, a “small” preventive action is a class act and it’s a lot better than cure.

I LLu st r at I o N hE R O d A . M O N T iE l

ENVIRONMENT

The Guimarasnon Titanic 10 y ears after the Oil Spill its devastation still manifests

By Edward Dominic E. Emilio

Manong Mario woke up one August morning with a familiar and endearing intimacy for the colors of the shore. The green of the mangrove flashed with the fragrance of the brutish brown earth. The horizon piled up with green islets scattered within the blue of infinite ocean.

He knew he was staring at the canvas of the Divine Artisan.

And suddenly......all blue turned black.

BLACK

Hours were all it took for nature's canvas to change its color scheme as Manong Mario witnessed every second of the transition. Inching slowly, like oil dripping from unguarded brushes, the cargo of a sunken ship spilled into the sea after thrashing from typhoons, leaving in its wake inevitable toxic death.

On August 11, 2006, MT SOLAR 1, an oil tanker hired by Petron kissed the bottom of the sea after being withered by the weather. This tragedy was the genesis of the 2,162,230 liter oil swarm that engulfed the silver waters under the moonlit sky of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. And as each ink that

* interviewee preferred non-disclosure of name

colored the canvas disappeared drip by drip, so too did the heavens summon two of the crews into the kingdom of eternal silence — missing. Until now.

For Mario Gonzales*, a resident in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, the sea was the source of life.

But it might just have disappeared with the lost men.

“It hurts to think that we have no reliable livelihood until now. I had two children attending school back then, now I have none. Nobody would buy our fishes because they are contaminated. Before the oil spill, my back used to hurt because of the heavy catch, now a month of fishing will not net you anything.”

Green?

The Guimaras Oil Spill incident might have happened 10 years ago, but for the people of Tando its

effects still bring an incessant stream of plagues.

“Everytime the rain pours, the oil would spread throughout the shore,” Mario narrates, “when the heat arrives, it would melt the oil, and then the poisonous fumes would spread everywhere.

I got allergies and was required to take medical examinations three times. My brown skin was peppered by sores and itches are present until now.

I cannot ask for aid because the municipal hall is too far and the medicine they gave me only led to excruciating pain.”

Mario remembers that moment with the sorrow of a thousand tears. For 10 years, he forgot what it meant to have a body rich and vibrant like the hues of a majestic fresco. He could not understand the disease that seized him one quiet

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LikE ThE SmELL Of A PrimrOSE, fOr ThEm, hELP wAS ALwAyS ELUSivE.

night when the breeze turned the green of life into the purple death that’s felt until today.

The College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in the University of Philippines - Visayas reports the area of devastation covers 15.8 square kilometers of coral reefs, 11.4 square kilometers of aquatic marine reserve, 8.24 square kilometers of fishpond, 1 square kilometer of mangroves, and 0.4 kilometer of seaweed farm with a total of 237.06 trillion dollars loss. Tree and shrub and sea and sky, all pierced by creeping oil. Nature by her wondrous brush cleared the black from the blue and brown, but she has not finished her piece just yet.

For Mario, their incomplete recovery 10 years after was a quest for a vanished loveliness as tender as the flush of pink pigment in a white background.

And like the smell of a primrose, for them, help was always elusive.

OIL On CAnvAS

But for Dr. Alex Araneta, provincial administrator of Guimaras and former Nueva Valencia mayor, the greatest challenge was the questionable budget allocation. “ we received a billion pesos in budget after the national government declared a state of calamity.

AreAS AffeCTed By 2006 OILSPILL (in terms of hectares)

coastline (24,000) deNr marine reserves (1,143) fishponds (824) seaweed Plantation (58) coral reef area (1,600) mangrove area (1,128)

The most heavily affected province was Guimaras, but other provinces received a whole lot more. you really cannot feel the aid given by the government,” remarked Araneta.

For Mang Mario, it was his sorrowful fate to watch as each ink-stroke of a bloodied brush carved corruption right in front of him. “ we tried to apply for help, but it was controlled by two Sangguniang Bayan members, we then received 12,000 pesos.

Others with connections to the top received 30,000 and 28,000. The owner of Magic Island right in front of our shore offered to take our case to court on the request that they receive 12 percent of the award if we win. The case dragged on as we saw them prosper out of nowhere. Every 11th of August, we go to the municipal gym to ask for aid but we don't get anything. After the hauling of the oil, nothing is left. I get to witness corruption right in front of me.”

A decade later, Manong Mario woke up on August 11, with a familiar and endearing intimacy for the colors of his home, gazing at the manifest presence of black liquid and red tape, reminiscing the glory of life that vanished like vapor, weeping for the shore he was sure would never be untainted again.

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P h oto g r a P h s E dWA R d d O M iN iC E . E M iliO

ENVIRONMENT

sa pihak nga bahin A ng pagpanghangk at sa Punta Bulu k awe

Ni Andrea Nicole C. Parce

Maabtik pa sa kilat nga nag-andar ang sakayan ni Simon*.

Alas singko pa lang sang aga kag ang kalinaw sang tubig senyales sang nagakanang niya nga buwas damlag. Sa isa ka baroto nga de katig sa tunga sang lawod, ang iya adlaw magaumpisa paagi sa pagbuyagyag niya sang iya kaugalingon sa katalagman – 32 ka dupa sa idalom sang lawod.

m ga l a rag way clyd e al l en e. sollesta

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SALOm hASTA SIrOm

emPLOymenT In WeSTern vISAyAS

(rates in 2014, as compared in 2013) s o urc e NEdA v i

94.00 0.96 % emPLoyed

Sa madasig nga pagbutlak sang adlaw, amo man ang iya nga dagon-dagon. Insigida, iya ginhurakbit ang iya sibot bisan tuod kapoy na ang iya lawas sing balikbalik nga tusmaw kag takas sini.

“Sa lawod ako natawo.”

Sunog ang panit, kag kibolon ang mga palad sa 41 ka tu-ig nga pagpangabuhi, 41 ka tu-ig nga pagtinir sa iya ginakabig nga puloy-an, ang dagat. Iya ginhawanan ang alagyan padulong sa manggad sang Punta Bulukawe.

Tikab kag bukol-bukol. Duwa lang sa madamo nga sahi sang pakinhason nga makit-an sa isla. Duwa ka buhi nga bato buhat sa balas, amo ang nagabuhi sa bug-os nga banwa.

“Diri sa amon, tanan nga pamalay alalangay.

Nagasalom, nagatilang, nagapamasahero. Supot man ang kwarta nga gakahatag sang panalom, ugaling sa lima ko ka kabataan, daw haluson na kami nga makakaon sing tatlo ka beses sa isa ka adlaw,” siling ni Simon samtang siya nagahimos sang iya lambat.

Pagbugtaw nila sa aga, kape kag yuhom sang ila mga puya ang nagahatag sing kusog kag kabakod sa ila mga paminsaron. Halin man sa tuhay nga mga pamilya, isa guid lang ang ila ginapangayo. Mabalda man sa lawod, may ibutang lang nga kalan-on sa pinggan.

“Sang ako sultiro pa, ang 37 ka dupa, akon pa ginasalom. karon gulang na ako kag indi na ako katakod sa 16 lang ka dupa.” wala siya sing mahimo kundi ang magtapik sa iligal nga buluhaton. kuhaon ang gagmay pa, kag huluman sa tubig agod maghabok kaangay sa gulang na nga tinga.

Ano ang palaabuton nga buwas damlag ni Simon?

Ano ang iya bato sa layi nga nagadumili sa pagkuha

sang magagmay nga mga tikab kon ini amo lang ang iya pamaagi agod sila mabuhi?

BALOr SAnG BALAS

“ wala sang pamilya, wala sang abyanay. kon ikaw naglapas sa layi, dapat ikaw indi magkahadlok para atubangon ang iya mga silot,” bulgar ni kapitan Imok, kapitan sang Brgy. Asluman nga ginakabig nga “scallop capital” sang banwa sang Carles.

Ang kapitan sang nasambit nga barangay amo ang kaupod sang lokal nga gobyerno sa pagimplementar sang executive order nga nagadumili sang pagkuha sang tikab ukon bukol-bukol nga nagadako sang mas gamay pa sa duwa hasta duwa kag tunga ka pulgada ang kalaparon. “kuno pigado ang tawo diri. Nanigulang lang ko sa sini nga barangay, indi gid ako magpati. Ang problema sang tawo diri, indi kaimulon. kundi ang pag-abusar,” dugang pa ni kapitan. kada adlaw, tinolenada nga tikab ang ginalu-ad sang kadagatan. Sa iya tagum nga nawong, nagapilisik sang kalipay ang mga isda kag pakinhason. Dugang pa ang iya balas nga mapino pa sa pulbos, lantad nga ginapuy-an sang mga kalampay. Ugaling kulba, kurdam, kugma, amo ang nagapangibabaw sa dalayon sini nga paghaw-as. 2,500 ka kilo sang tikab kada adlaw, 600 ka pamalay, tatlo ka tawo, isa ka bangka.

“Ang gusto ko, nga indi lang ya karon ang gaawas nga dunang manggad. Nga indi matabo nga tukiba na lang ang makita sang kabataan, kundi ang may kabuhi gid.” wala sang may mahimo kundi magsunod na lamang sa kung ano ang mas mataas nga direktibo, padayon nga nagapangdakop si kap Imok. wala untat nga nagalaom, nga sa pila ka adlaw, magasulod sa huna-huna sang iya mga ginasakupan, nga ang tikab

6.00

13.40 % uNemPLoyed

21.80

3.96 % uNderemPLoyed

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I LLu st r at I o N dA Ry l s . s E lE R iO

indi isa lamang ka kantidad nga magabuhi sa mga tagaAsluman – kundi isa ka buhi nga tinuga, ginaluthang kon gina-usikan, gina-tamud kon gina-amligan.

BURON NGA BISTI

Sunod sa kinahanglanon sang Municipal Waters, ang lehislatibo paagi sa ordinansa sang Sangguniang Bayan, kag ang ehikutibo paagi sa executive order sang amay sang banwa, nagsugot sa pagpanghangkat sang mga kasumpong sang layi kag kadagatan. Karon, ang Carles, isa sa mga marine reserves sang pungsod bangod sa bastante kaayo nga reserba sang sapat sa iya katubigan.

Isa sa mga pamaagi sang lokal nga gobyerno, amo ang mga MPA ukon Marine Protected System, nga ginalakipan sang madamo nga mga Marine Protected Areas nga nagakulintas sa bilog nga Gigantes.

“Ining tagsa ka MPA, may ara sang Restricted Zone nga nagasugot sang pag-gamit sang selective fishing gear kag ang No Take Zone nga gakinahanglan sang pag-protektar,” siling ni Julieto Manggasang, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management officer sang Carles kag ang manug-dumala sang seksyon sang kalalawran sa Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office.

Sa iya pahayag, ini nga mga layi may ara tagsa ka penal provision. Ugaling tungod sa kaimulon sang mga gakadakpan, ang pagpriso sa mga nagalapas sang layi isa na lamang ka

handum. “ Talagsa, indi na sila kabayad sang multa. Ang masubo pa kay masunsun nga pakitluoy na lang ang ila mabayad,” dugang pa niya.

Ang kakulang sang pag-implementar sang layi isa gid ka dako nga butang nga nagapugong sa pag-umwad sang bisan ano man nga banwa. DURA LEX SED LEX. Ang layi pagasundon bisan ano man ini kapintas. Bisan sin-o man ang maigo, bisan ano pa ang imo kahamtangan sa sosyedad.

Nilibo ang nagabisita sing kaanyag sang Gigantes.

Isa sa mga pamaagi sang lokal nga gobyerno, amo ang mga MPA ukon Marine Protected System, nga ginalakipan sang madamo nga mga Marine Protected Areas nga nagakulintas sa bilog nga Gigantes.

* dili matuod nga pangalan

Ginatos kada adlaw ang gakabiktima sang iya pagkamariit.

Ugaling sa pihak nga bahin sang isla, amo ang hitsura nga talagsa lamang gakakita. Ang nawong nga puno sang pilas, nawong nga gakinahanglan sang pagtadlong kag pagtatatap.

Padungka na ang sakayan ni Simon. Balda nga lawas, sunog nga panit kag indi matakos nga ngirit ang iya bitbit.

Ngirit tungod siya luwas liwat kag ngirit tungod sa tagsa ka ginhawa nga iya gin-usik, bal-an niya nga baylo amo ang tingog sang iya hinipo nga nagasiling, “ Tay, may bugas na kita.

Indi ka na magbalik sa lawod ha?”

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PEOPLE&SOCIETY

sA PiliNg Ni NANAy ISA SA SA M PU NG BA BA E NG PIL I PI NO NA 1 5 H A NGGA NG 19 TAONG GU L A NG Ay BU N T IS SA k A N IL A NG PA NGA NAy. A L A M I N A NG k A SA LU k U yA NG L A BA N NG ISA SA k A N IL A .

Ni Rj junsay

Sa PagLiPaS ng bawat sandali ay lalong bumibilis ang tibok ng kanyang batang puso. nagnanais kumawala ang damdaming matagal nang nakabaon sa kanyang kaloob-looban. Pinipigilan niya ang pagagos ng luha sa kanyang mga bilugang mata ngunit sadyang matindi ang pait at hinagpis na nanunuot sa kanyang kaibuturan. ang inaasam na paghaplos ng isang munting anghel sa kanyang pisngi ay napalitan ng malamig na simoy ng hangin. ang sana'y kerubim ng buhay niya ay lumipad na patungo sa munting paraiso. mAPAGLArOnG TAdhAnA

Mayumi, mapagmahal at inosente – iyon ang ipinapakita ni Hannah sa karamihan ngunit sa likod ng maamo niyang mukha ay ang pagkauhaw niya sa pagmamahal. Si Hannah* ay bunga ng pagmamahalan ng kanyang ina at ng ikalawa nitong asawa. Magdidiseotso pa lamang noon si Hannah nang makilala niya si Adrian*. Naging magkaibigan silang dalawa ngunit sadyang mapaglaro ang tadhana at lalo pang pinaglapit ang kanilang mga puso.

Isang taon nang magkarelasyon sina Hannah at Adrian. Sa gabi ng kaarawan ni Hannah ay pinayagan siya ng kaniyang ina na lumabas kasama

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ni Adrian at ilang barkada dahil kung tutuusin ay nasa legal na itong edad. Ang isang tagay ng alak ay nasundan pa nang nasundan hanggang sa waring nawalan na ng kontrol ang dalawa sa mga pangyayari. Naghalo ang epekto ng alak at bugso ng damdamin nilang dalawa. kasabay ng paglalim ng gabi ay ang paghamak ng pagmamahalan ng dalawang pusong umiibig. Lumipas ang isang buwan at napag-alaman nina Hannah na nagdadalang tao siya. Sa halip na matakot ay buong tapang na hinarap ni Adrian ang pamilya ni Hannah. Sa kabila nito ay ang pag-aalinlangan ni Hannah na ipagpatuloy ang kanyang pagbubuntis.

“Hindi istriktong magulang si mama. Sobrang

mapagbigay at maintindihin siya. kaya’t parang nadurog ang aking puso at sobra akong nakunsensya ng nangyari iyon. Parang gusto kong tumakbo sa dagat at magpakalunod,” sambit ni Hannah.

hInAGPIS SA KAWALAn

Alanganing oras na ng gabi ng makaramdam ng pananakit si Hannah. Akala niya ay normal lamang iyon ngunit nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata ng makita niya ang pagdaloy ng dugo sa kanyang mga hita. Agad siyang isinugod sa hospital ng kanyang mga magulang. “Sabi ng mga doktor, magpahinga lang daw ako at magiging ayos lang ang lahat. Pagkalipas ng dalawang linggo ay isinugod muli ako sa hospital at doon halos gumuho ang mundo ko,” maluha-luhang paglalahad ni Hannah.

“Akala ko takot akong maging isang ina. Akala ko takot akong harapin ang bukas na mayroong mga maiinit na matang araw-araw akong huhusgahan at pipintasan. Akala ko takot ako sa kalalabasan ng mga bagay-bagay. Ngunit sa panahong sinabi na wala na ang munti kong anghel, nasabi ko sa sarili ko na mas takot pala akong mawala siya,” pahayag ni Hannah.

* hindi tunay na pangalan

d I bu h o lO uiE M A R k g. F u E N T E s

nAKAKABAhALAnG PAGSUSUrI

Isa lamang si Hannah sa mga kababaihang nagbuntis sa murang edad na nakaranas ng “miscarriage.” Sa kanlurang Visayas ay may itinatayang 15 porsyento noong 2015 (23 teenage births per 1,000 live births) at noong Hunyo ng kasalukuyang taon ay mayroong maternal death mula 12 taong gulang pataas katulad ni Hannah.

Base pa sa pag-aaral ng United Nations

BASE PA SA PAg-AArAL Ng UNiTED NATiONS POPULATiON fUND, ANg PiLiPiNAS ANg TANgiNg BANSA SA TimOg SiLANgANg ASyA NA mAy TUmATAAS NA BiLANg Ng TEENAgE PrEgNANcy. Population Fund, ang Pilipinas ang tanging bansa sa Timog Silangang Asya na may tumataas na bilang ng teenage pregnancy. Ayon kay Rolio Laguna, information officer ng Commission on Population (PopCom), “Sinasaad ng isang pag-aaral na ang mga dahilan kung bakit ang kabataan ay nakikipagtalik sa murang edad ay ang mga sumusunod: 1) Para patunayan ang pagmamahal sa isang tao; 2) kuryusidad; 3) kagustuhan ng karelasyon. Ngunit

hindi lahat ng mga kabataang nakikipagtalik ay ginagawa ito dahil sa sarili nilang kagustuhan, ang iba ay biktima ng pang-aabuso.” “ Tinataguyod namin sa PopCom ang Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program na isang elemento ng Population Management Program.

Sinisikap nitong pagbutihin at itaguyod ang magandang kabuuang kalagayan ng kabataan. Ang ginagawa namin ngayon ay ang pagtipon ng mga serbisyo para sa kabataan. Mayroon kaming mga ginagawa na nagpipigil sa mabisang implementasyon ng mga programa para masolusyunan ang maagang pagbubuntis. Maliban diyan, tinutugma namin ang mga serbisyo sa mga pangangailangan ng kabataan na hindi pa natugunan. Tinutulak namin ang komprehensibong edukasyong pang-sekswalidad para sa kabataan dahil naniniwala kami na kung may kaukulang tamang suporta at gabay, magagawa nila ang mga bagay-bagay. Matatag kaming naniniwala sa kapangyarihang taglay ng kabataan ngunit hindi namin binibitawan ang ideya na sila ay mahina, kaya kailangan,” dagdag pa ni Laguna sa wikang Ingles.

“Ganoon pa man ang nangyari, tanggap ko na iyon at handa na akong magpatuloy,” saad ni Hannah.

Sa mga mata ni Hannah ay masisilayan pa rin ang pagkabiyak ng puso ng isa sanang batang ina. Gayunpaman, ang pagkalumbay na dulot ng pagnanais ni Hannah na makapiling sana ang kanyang munting sanggol ay napalitan na ng panibagong pag-asa upang ipagpatuloy ang buhay at muling magsimula.

red fLAGS On Teen PreGnAnCy In The PhILIPPIneS s o urc e COM Mi ssi ON ON P OPulATi ON

ONE iN ThREE filipino teenager are into early sexual encounter.

teenage fertility NEARly quAdRuPlEd over the past decade from 2002 to 2013.

REAsONs FOR hAviNg sEx

d

desire to be in or cool

I L Lu st r atIo N h ERO d A. MONTi El

E

experimentation & exploration

s

social & peer pressure

i

inadequate knowledge

R

romanticism

E

escape from problems

Vo L. 83 / N o. 1 / o c tob e r 2 0 1 6

15

PAST HER GOLDEN YEARS PEOPLE&SOCIETY

Stay ing alive li k e you don' t age at all

By Frennie M. Tababa

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p h oto g r a p h frenn ie m . taba ba

Hair? Perfectly in bun. outfit? neatly dressed. coffee? gulped every drop. rosary and umbrella? already packed. Then she took the last step of the stairs ready to start to walk her way to the five corners away church, without living her umbrella on her side, to attend the 6am mass at the poblacion.

Every morning.

fAIThfUL ALL TheSe yeArS Lola Clara Tagalan, a 94 year-old retired teacher, an old maid, and a devotee.

In the study conducted by Hall in 2006 entitled, “Religious attendance: more cost-effective than lipitor?” the regular religious attendance has a realworld practical significance compared to commonly recommended therapies.

It is not a mode of medical therapy, but the findings warrant associations between religion and health, and potential relevance of such associations might have for medical practice. The results show that weekly attendance at religious services account for an additional two to three life-years.

In Lola Clara’s fragile age, she continues to go to church. “If I fail to attend one mass, my day is never complete.”

nIne deCAdeS And COUnTInG

Lola Clara clearly belongs to the senior citizen group safeguarded by

the necessary benefits and privileges at the age when most “ailments and other physical limitations” are expected to kick in. “ The first in the list of the diseases commonly diagnosed on old people is hypertension, seconded by stroke, then diabetes and Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Peter Bryan Dela Cruz, Internal and Occupational Medicine - Hypertension and Diabetes Care specialist, enumerated the common diseases of old people.

A 2010 survey showed that the smallest percentage of the Philippine population comes from the senior citizen at 6.8 percent, with a life expectancy of 73 years old — which is the average time a person is expected to live.

Two decades ahead of the average, Lola Clara passed that stage of her life with flying colors.

never “TOO OLd” fOr LIfe

“Maam Clara Tagalan? She was my teacher and she had been teaching for 38 years. you know what, she drinks coffee three to five glasses a day. Maybe that coffee gives her energy,” Teresita Fajarillo, a retired teacher as well, shared about Lola Clara’s eccentricity and resiliency.

“I am a vegetarian. Also, if I am in the mood, I always have a scissor in my hand. I love to trim the wild grasses in our lawn,” Lola Clara shared when asked about her secrets on passing her golden years.

Dr. Dela Cruz added, “In Lola Clara’s age, the fact that she has been eating fibers or vegetables and has a proper lifestyle, is a testament that she can grow old gracefully yet firmly.

In order to be like her, you have to avoid smoking, alcohol, foods rich in fats, cholesterol and carbohydrates and you have to comply with necessary medications.”

Despite all the hindrances that old age brings her, Lola Clara continues on with her routine as usual. She did not

DESPiTE ALL ThE hiNDrANcES ThAT OLD AgE BriNgS hEr, LOLA cLArA cONTiNUES ON wiTh hEr rOUTiNE AS USUAL. ShE DiD NOT cONSiDEr iT AS A PrOBLEm. ShE TOOk iT AS A chALLENgE TO LivE LifE ThE wAy iT ShOULD BE LivED. Republic Act 7432. However, there was a move by AkO-Bicol partylist representatives, Rodel Batocabe, Alfredo Garbin Jr., and Christoper Co, to lower the senior citizen age from 60 to 56 in House Bill 529 aiming to give employees

I L Lu st r atIo N dARyl s . s E lER i O

PeOPLe WhO LIved BeyOnd 100 hAd TheSe 7 ThInGS In COmmOn so u r ce s CA N di N Av i A N CA Rdi OvAs C u l A R i N sT iT u T E

hAvE A gOOd ECONOMiC sTANdiNg. The study found those who lived past 100 had higher rent or mortgage payments, and this affluence was connected to their ability to seek topnotch healthcare.

MAiNTAiN high COgNiTivE FuNCTiON. Keeping a sharp mind can stave off the effects of dementia, contributing to both quantity and quality of life. Read books, do puzzles, and keep your mind active throughout a lifetime.

hAvE A hEAlThy WEighT ANd POsTuRE. Participants in a study who lived past 100 were on the thin side and had good posture.

Being overweight is connected with diseases which can all cut life short.

quiT sMOkiNg, NOW! Doctors have known for over 60 years that smoking causes lung cancer. Heart disease, hypertension, stroke and oral disease are just a few other maladies that can be brought on by smoking.

hAvE AN Old MOM, WE’RE sERiOus. The study found having a mom who lives to an old age is a good sign you will too. However, longevity was not connected to the father’s age as much as the mother’s.

dON’T FAll. As we age, falling becomes a more ever-present risk. In fact, falling, that causes subsequent injuries, is the number one cause of death among seniors.

Encourage seniors to use walkers.

bluRREd visiON? WEAR glAssEs. You will likely to go in for eye exams frequently, giving them more chances to spot ocular disease early. Better vision reduces the number of accidents, particularly in vehicles.

consider it as a problem. She took it as a challenge to live life the way it should be lived.

Right after the final blessing, I approached Lola Clara sitting alone with her umbrella. “La? Ano sekreto mo?” I asked her in a loud voice. “Ha?” And I repeated my question, “Ano sekretomo, la?”

“Kung nagutom, kaon. Kung natuyo, tulog.” (If you’re hungry, eat. when you get sleepy, sleep.)

Vo L. 83 / N o. 1 / o c tob e r 2 0 1 6

17

DEVCOM

the living land of the dead How long can Spanish-built infrastructures of the by- gone eras hold up against the test of time ?

By Daryl S. Selerio

The Campo Santo is a Roman Catholic mortuary chapel that was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum last December 2015. .

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p h oto g ra p h a n d illu st rati on dary l s . s e lero

TIDBITS ON HERITAGE s o urc e THEHA PPYTRIP.C OM

There are only four sites in Panay with NCT distinction.

Two of which are found in the town of San Joaquin: the Campo Santo and San Joaquin Church.

Excluding National Museum Collection in Manila, Bohol has the most number of properties declared as National Cultural Treasure.

The Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, notably known as Miagao Church was declared as a Philippine National Historic Treasure in 1963 and was inscribed in the listing of UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993.

The incident had effects on her. 50 year-old Mrs. Paz Seidel could barely hide the rage on her eyes as she mentally flipped open the page with memories of her late father laying comfortably on a casket, just waiting to be stored in a grubby concrete portion of the cemetery.

Not just a landmark

Visitors of the site and passers-by alike are greeted with an arch embellished with stone carvings of ornaments, angels and skulls. At its peak, a statue of Jesus Christ with both arms raised up stood on-guard of the place. The whole perimeter is framed with white stone walls tainted with black and green patches. Walking straight ahead, a wide staircase composed of exactly twenty steps brings you to the centerpiece of a Spanish-era cemetery – the Campo Santo.

The Campo Santo is a Roman Catholic mortuary chapel that was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum last December 2015. Its construction was initiated in 1892 by Fray Mariano Vamba, the last Augustinian priest assigned in San Joaquin.

“Historical reports claim that it is a structure in which women and children helped building. They were paid with needles and threads which were not yet available in the market during that time,” Erlyn Alunan, tourism officer of the Municipality of San Joaquin, proudly exclaimed. For her, Campo Santo is not just a landmark; its very existence is a mirror of the many decades that have passed in the lives of the San Joaquinhon.

Not-so-glorious limelight

With a height of 5 ft, a diameter of 7 ft, and a weight of 10.4 tons, the bell of Sta. Monica in Pan-ay, Capiz currently holds the title of being the biggest in Southeast Asia and third in the World.

There are currently 44 properties in the Philippines with National Cultural Treasure distinction.

However, it was put in a not-so-glorious limelight when a group of treasure hunters began digging for bars of gold inside, allegedly under the permission of the local priest. “My tanod grew suspicious of the presence of men inside the cemetery even during the night,” Purok 1 Barangay Captain Napoleon Secondes intently expressed in the local dialect. Their months-worth of suspicion was finally confirmed when tools and a hole stretching as far as 60 feet were found inside the domed structure after police raided the site.

Ten suspects were arrested for violating Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 which is An Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of the National Cultural Heritage among others.

When asked about the initial reaction of the people after the incident that shook the nation, Fr. JoenickTerritorio, appointed parish administrator

by Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, said, “ The people were angry especially the families who exerted effort, money, and time to save the place for their departed ones. The faith remains in God, but the respect, sad to say, for the church authority especially to the ones involved was really affected.

The moral of the people of San Joaquin ran very low because of the expectation that church authority should only get involved more on pastoral works rather than treasure hunting.” As reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in its official website, this is one of “the worst incidents” that have happened for a site declared as National Cultural Treasure.

A Learning Experience

Despite the incident, the Campo Santo continues to unite the people like it has been doing for many years now, especially the locals who really exerted effort to repair and make it dignified.

Fr. Territorio earnestly shared how it became a learning experience for the people of San Joaquin.

He couldn’t hide the gleam on his face when he said how the people, in terms of pastoral care and participation to the church, really improved.

“I can determine it because of the roll of the people attending the mass. I also heard a lot of conversion stories,” he expressed. “It’s painful, but the people of San Joaquin were able to overcome it and had really extracted something good from it.”

A Relentless Landmark

The Campo Santo is considered as one of the best-preserved historical symbols of the faith of the Filipino people that has stood the test of time.

“It speaks not only of the faith of the San Joaquinhon but also their abilities to be able to come up with such impressive structure. We should protect it because it speaks about our heritage and our lineage. And yes, it is really something to be proud of,” Alunan expressed with a wide smile across her face.

“It has its scars, sad to say, but it’s a beautiful scar because we were able to draw out something good from it; the faith of the people that had grown because of it,” Fr. Territorio added.

For the locals, what happened to their Campo Santo is a blessing in disguise. It made them realize that it is not only a reflection of their ability to unite and do things together, but more so of their ability to rise from the rubbles of others’ wrongdoings.

Not only that, this piece of treasure had stood one of the unforgiving adversaries in the history of its existence. It has served as an example for the people of what it means to be a relentless piece of creation.

Vo l . 83 / N o. 1 / o c tob e r 2 0 1 6

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Iloilo Convention Center

Iloilo Esplanade

Iloilo CIrcumferential Road

DEVCOM

remastering il illustratio n ray ad rian c. maca lalag

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sen. benigno Aquino Ave. bike lanes

lOilO

Customs house and sunburst Park

SOM E T H I NG wE PROBA BLy DON ’ T k NOw A BOU T wH AT IS GOI NG ON I N T H E OR IGI NA L QU E E N C I T y OF T H E SOU T H I N H E R QU E ST OF BECOM I NG A C H A M PION A MONG H IGH Ly L I VA BL E C I T I E S

By Wilkienson C. Muro

Traffic. An hour of travel now turned to two.

Government projects here and there have been archenemies of commuters especially during rush hours.

Little did I know until I saw the bigger picture of where Iloilo City has been and where it will go in the future.

Curiosity wouldn’t kill the cat all the time. Instead of posting rants online, I did a more orthodox (yet unusual-at-present) way of addressing my concern – interviewing the people behind these inconveniences to get their insights as well as for me to get enlightened on what is actually going on.

The Smooth Introduction

Iloilo City is a highly urbanized city, the regional center of Western Visayas. It won the Livable Cities Design Challenge of the National Competitiveness Council last October 2014 and is currently preparing for the competition this year. This was according to Engr. Jose Roni Peñalosa of the Iloilo City Planning and Development Office.

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“ We [with Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog] earmarked pipeline projects namely the Fort San Pedro rehabilitation, Sunburst Park restoration, Molo Slaughterhouse adductive reuse, and Muelle Loney urban renewal,” shared Peñalosa.

The plan for Iloilo did not just go only for roads and bridges. These were considered to be the hard components of the development of the city while the soft components included landscaping, tree-planting and other ecological and beautification-related patterns.

Speaking of Roads

You haven’t lived here for quite some time if you haven’t experienced traffic due to a lot of road widening, improvement, rehabilitation, and upgrading. According to Engr. Jose Al Fruto, OIC-Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways VI, a proud Augustinian, these projects are also part of making Iloilo City a leading livable city in the country.

The Benigno S. Aquino Avenue is one of the widest roads in the country. With eight lanes for two-way traffic plus a two-lane service road and bike lane, it brings up a very welcoming atmosphere to locals and visitors as it stretches from Iloilo Bridge up to the entrance of the access road leading to Iloilo International Airport.

Currently, it is being upgraded just like some roads in the city from plain asphalt to concrete which will make it last longer and prevent early deteriorations such as formation of potholes, depressions, among others.

If at one instance you have experienced traffic in the city, why not drive around it where there is a very minimal volume of vehicles?

The Iloilo Circumferential Road which started

in the planning stage in 1995 is fully accessible today. The project has drastically cut travel time avoiding populated areas and allowing long distance travel uninterrupted.

Becoming World-Class

Remember the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation hosting of Iloilo City last 2015?

This is where one of the current icons of Iloilo City comes in, the Iloilo Convention Center or simply, ICON. The dubbed state-of-the-art facility, which according to Fruto what the city lacked before, aims to boost not just Iloilo City, but the whole Western Visayas in terms of making it a world-class business tourism, convention, and events destination. Designed by Ilonggo architect, William Coscolluela, the ICON’s 15 exterior fins resemble the paraw sail. The wide glass windows are adorned by intricate warriors of the Dinagyang Festival. This first-ever megastructure

to influx of people in the area who jog, bike, walk, and do health and wellness exercises.

With the cooperation of both the local and national government, this masterpiece designed by world-renowned landscape architect, Paulo Alcazaren, responsible of the beautiful quay and river esplanade in Singapore, came into reality.

Today, it is enjoyed by local and foreign visitors and is already included in most travel itineraries in the city as listed in Explore Iloilo blog. The Iloilo River development is far from over as it will continue until its whole stretch is complete with riverbank protection and linear parks.

We are the Champions

Having my questions being answered with more than what I asked, I now ask this last question – what can we, ordinary people, do to contribute in making Iloilo City a champion?

A little inconvenience today makes a brighter

iloilo city won the Livable Cities Design Challenge of the National Competitiveness Council last October 2014. of Iloilo City will be among the venues for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in 2017.

Scenic and unique in its own right, the Iloilo Esplanade completes the package of a livable city providing a multitude of balance in urbanization and nature conservation. What started out to be a simple, dull, and ordinary riverbank protection with access road to vehicles, is now a stretch of linear park sprigged with a variety of shrubs and small trees.

Fruto elaborated that this was actually a development initiative which was realized due

future. As what the two engineers I talked to explained, “Livability is something that everyone has to work for together. As we try to suit the acceptability of the projects to our citizens, we’re making sure that we bring progress and uplift the life of every Juan Dela Cruz. For these projects to be sustained, we need the help of our constituents.

These are complementing activities; let us help each other.”

Now that everything is clear, I don’t need to rant on the net of these temporary burdens. I just want to appreciate how far we’ve gone as one big community and I’ll work hard to keep it that way.

p h oto g ra ph s al l aine rose m. emnacen and ray adri an c. maca l a l ag

Vo l . 83 / N o. 1 / o c tob e r 2 0 1 6

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CULTURE

Paniniwalang Namamalagi

Mga pamahiin, nanatili pa rin bang buhay sa gitna ng ma k abagong panahon ?

Ni Edcel B. Fajutag

Bilog ang buwan – sa isang mahinahong eskinita na iniilawan ng mga kulay-berdeng bombilya ay masidhi kong inaaninag ang aking daan patungo sa aking tinutuluyan matapos ang isang mahabang araw sa eskwela. Isang nakabibinging katahimikan ang bumabalot sa lugar na kahit ang pinakamagaang buhat at yapak ng aking mga paa ay maririnig mo na. Nang di kalaunan, nabulabog ang buong katahimikan nang may sumulpot na pusa sa gitna ng aking paglalakad. Wala na akong naramdaman pang iba kun'di kaba at pangamba nang aking napagtantong ito'y kulay itim pala.

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d i bu h o at ilu st rasyon dary l s . s e ler io

Sinariwa ko noong mga pagkakataong ang mga tugon ng aking lola nang ako’y musmos pa lamang: “kung makakasalubong ka ng isang itim na pusa sa gitna ng ‘yong paglalakad ay mag-iingat ka, maaring may masamang mangyari.” Itim na pusa – nagdadala ng isang mensaheng may maaring maitim na tadhana sa gitna ng ating paglalakbay. Ito ay naging malaking palaisipan noong hilaw pa ang aking diwa ngunit ngayong ako’y mulat na sa mga bagaybagay at katotohanan, ay minsan na lang akong napapatanong kung talaga bang may koneksiyon iyon sa aking tadhana.

Naging sangkap na ng mayamang timpla ng kultura at paniniwala ng mga Pilipino ang mga pamahiin. Ito ay isang bagay na pawang nakamarka na sa bawat gawi ng mga nagdaang henerasyon na hanggang sa ngayon ay pilit na sinasariwa. Sa gitna ng makabagong panahon kung saan ang mundo ay binigkis ng samu’t saring tuklas na bunga ng agham at teknolohiya, ay hindi pa rin matigil-tigil ang mga paniniwalang naging luma na sa mga isip ng iba. Ayon sa isang pananaliksik na isinagawa ng mga estudyante sa Palawan State University Psychology Society, mayroong mas malaking bilang ng mga Pilipinong nabibilang sa henerasyong milenyal ang nanatili pa rin ang pagtanggap at paniniwala sa mga pamahiin o katutubong paniniwala. karamihan ay mga paniniwalang may kaakibat na kamalasan sa kanilang tadhana.

Ngayon, ang mundo man ay nasa makabagong panahon, hindi maitatanggi na ang mga paniniwalang ito ay patuloy na kumakalmot at nakapagbibigay bakas sa ating pang araw-araw na gawi at pamumuhay.

Sa loob ng mga panahong hindi pa lubos na nahinog ang ating mga katutubo ay kalikasan ang kanilang gabay sa mga likas na pangyayari sa kanilang buhay. May mga nasusulat na lumang paniniwala na ang mga makapangyarihang nilalang ay naninirahan sa kalikasan, mga elementong pawang nilukob sa loob ng mga puno’t halaman, ang pagbuhos ng ulan ay grasyang bigay ng kaniyang mapagbigay na kamay at ang anumang delubyo ay himagsik ng kaniyang kapaitan.

Ayon kay Dr. Florentino Hornedo na naging propesor ng pilosopiya sa Ateneo de Manila University, ang pamahiin ay isa lamang paraan ng mga tao noon upang bigyang paliwanag ang mga bagay-bagay sa kanilang paligid, sapagkat ay wala pang sapat na kaalaman ang mga tao noon sa lipunan sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa agham. kung ating iisipin, ang mga paniniwalang ito ang naging simpleng gabay ng ating lumang bersyon tungo sa pagtuklas ng kanilang daan sa buhay. Ang mga

nOOnG LUmAnG PAnAhOn

SA hAmOG nG UmAGA

Tanging mga tiklop ng tuyong dahon ang bumabalot sa kanilang hubad na katawan, mga sanga at piraso ng mga bato ang kanilang mga kasangkapan at ang kalikasang kanilang napaliligiran ang nagsilbi bilang tahanan sa gitna ng isang mahabang panahon kung saan ang sariling pananaw sa napaliligiran ang naging basehan ng kabuhayan, ay siyang naging ugat ng mga paniniwalang hanggang sa ngayon ay ating kinagagawian.

mGA USOnG PAmAhIIn m ga P I N ag K uNaN s E AsiT E . N iu. Ed u

Kapag ikaw ay nahiga na nakaharap sa pintuan ang iyong mga paa, ito ay magdadala sa iyo maagang kamatayan.

Ayon sa isang sulatin sa Gintong Aral 2015, ang pamahiin ay binigyang kahulugan bilang isang paniniwalang walang siyentipikong batayan hinggil sa mga bagaybagay na wala namang kinalaman sa isa’t isa ngunit mayroon itong malaking epekto sa pang-araw-araw nating pamumuhay.

“Huwag kang magwawalis tuwing gabi, malas raw.” “Oy! May itim na paruparo, may kaluluwang dumadalaw.” `yan ay iilan lamang sa mga nakamamanghang paniniwala nating mga Pilipino. Ito ma’y pawang kabaliwan sa mga mata ng iba, ngunit bakit patuloy pa rin nating pinaniniwalaan?

Ika nga, wala namang mawawala kung ikaw ay maniniwala. Isang nakatutuwang bagay na kahit ito ma’y walang rasyonal na kadahilanan, ay atin pa ring kinagigisnan.

SA nGALAn nG TAdhAnA

Swerte o kamalasan? `yan ang madalas na bulong ng mga paniniwalang ito. Sila kaya’y may hatid na magandang tadhana o balita o `di naman kaya’y isang kutob na

ANg PAmAhiiN Ay iSA LAmANg PArAAN Ng mgA TAO NOON UPANg BigyANg PALiwANAg ANg mgA BAgAy-BAgAy SA kANiLANg PALigiD. katutubong paniniwala ang pawang naging alintuntunin ng ating mga ninuno hanggang sa nahubog ng mga nagsunurang henerasyon na nagbunga sa mga modernong paniniwala na ating kinagigisnan sa ngayon.

Anuman ang ating kinalalagyan sa kasalukuyan ay siyang hinulma ng mga nagdaang panahon. kung kaya’t hindi mapagkakaila na may mga naiwang bakas ang kahapon sa kung anuman ang nasa simoy ng umagang ating langhap at pinagmulatan. Mga pamahiin, makabagong bersiyon ng katutubong paniniwala na naging pamana ng kahapon na siya rin namang yinakap ng mga makabagong Pilipino.

Kapag pumasok sa iyong bahay ang isang brawn na paruparo, ikaw ay mawawalan ng pera.

Kapag inupuan mo ang iyong bag habang ikaw ay nagbibiyahe, hindi ka makakarating sa iyong paroroonan.

maaring bumalakid sa maayos na lagay ng ating mga buhay o siyang magsisilbing babala upang maiwasan ang kamalasan? wala mang lohikal na eksplinasyon o basehan ang mga paniniwalang ito ay patuloy pa ring sinusunod ng mga iilang nabibilang sa makabagong henerasyon. Isang patunay na nanatili pa ring buhay ang mga kulturang Pilipino at umuusbong pa rin ang daloy ng ating dugo sa gitna ng panahong linamon na ng neo-kolonyalismo.

Sa kahuli-hulihan, ang ating mga payak na desisyon at aksyon sa ating mga buhay ang magsisilbing direksyon sa ating paglalakbay.

Ito ma’y mga desisyon base sa ating sariling paniniwala, sa kung ano man ang nasusulat o ang sinasabi ng iba o ang sinasaad man ng mga katutubong paniniwala.

Ang taong may taling na malapit sa kanyang mata ay kaakit-akit sa ibang kasarian.

Ang mga magkasintahan ay hindi dapat nagpapalitan ng regalong matutulis ang hugis.

Kapag nanaginip ng mga isda, mga puno, o mga ahas, ito ay tanda ng swerte, pera, o kaligayahan.

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25

ISA NG k U wE N TO NG ISA NG M AGT I T I N DA NA M Ay T I BAy NG LOOB

CAMPUS

Ni Erika danielle M. Pepito

WAlONg TAON ANg lu

AnOnG KLASe nG PAmUmUhAy AnG GUSTO nG ISAnG PILIPInO?

P INag K uNaN AMbisyON NATi N 20 14 W Eb si TE

79.2% 26

the augustINIa N mIrror

ang may gusto ng simple at komportableng pamumuhay

16.9%

ang may gusto ng maginhawang buhay

3.9%

ang may gusto ng buhay mayaman

d I bu h o hE R O d A . M O N T iE l

umipas

May mga tao sa ating buhay na lingid sa ating kaalaman ay naging parte na ng ating karanasan noon pa man. Mauunawaan na lamang natin ito kapag maaalala natin sila pagkalipas ng panahon.

Naaalala ko pa ang naging kadalasang karanasan noong nasa elementarya pa ako, at may mga araw na kapag ako’y hinahatid papasok sa aking paaralan ay dumadaan kami sa kalyeng Gen. Luna. Nakatawag ng aking pansin ang dalawang mambebenta ng mga kendi at biskwit na nakapwesto sa harapan ng nakakabit na tarpaulin at nakikisilong sa silungan upang maiwasan ang sikat ng araw o buhos ng ulan.

Hindi ko inakala na walong taon na ang lumipas at nagbebenta pa rin ang isa sa kanila.

Nasa Gilid Lamang

“Hi! Good morning!” Ito ang kadalasang ginagamit na pambungad ni Mang Berting* sa mga pumapasok sa pamantasan. Naririnig ko ang bating ito mula kay Mang Berting na may kaakibat na ngiti sa kanyang mukha.

Napaisip ako nang makita ko ang kanyang mga binebenta. Sumagi sa aking isipan na kontento siya sa kanyang pag-upo, kahit na hindi naman mahirap sabihin na may kagipitan siya sa buhay. Matirik man ang sikat ng araw, o malakas ang pagbuhos ng ulan, naroroon lang siya nakaupo sa ilalim ng pulang silong, umaasa na may maiipon siya na munting halaga na pantustos sa mga gastusin niya sa araw na iyon.

Tila isang pelikula ang nakatambad sa kanyang harapan, na tampok ang mga tauhang may iba’t ibang kwento at pinagkakaabalahan.

Bagamat nakakabingi ang mga ugong at pito ng mga sasakyan at nakakahilo ang mga binubugang usok ng mga ito, pinili ni Mang Berting na manangkilik sa pelikulang walang katapusan. Hindi na mabilang ng kanyang mga daliri sa kanyang dalawang kamay at paa ang mga Agustinong naglalakad, nagmamadali man o mahinahon. Hindi siya napapansin ng mga nito, pero napagmamasdan niya ang mga yapak ng mga taong walang malay na sila ay parte ng pelikulang pinapanood ni Mang Berting.

Tila isang pelikula ang nakatambad sa kanyang harapan, na tampok ang mga tauhang may iba’t ibang kwento at pinagkakaabalahan.

Pinagmulan ng Kinahahantungan

Nagbalik-tanaw ang mambebenta sa kanyang pinagmulan bago siya nagpasya na maglako ng kendi at biskwit. Dati siyang nagpapadyak ng * hindi tunay na pangalan

kanyang trisikad sa mga dating kabahayan na kinatitirikan na ng tulay ng Jalandoni ngayon.

Maliban sa pagpapadyak niya, ang kanyang pamilya ay nagtayo ng isang kainan na bantog umano sa binebenta nilang batchoy.

“Hanapbuhay naming magkakapamilya ang kainan, doon lamang sa tabi ng aming bahay. Ilang taon na ang nakalipas, nasa Lapuz na kami nakatira ngayon kasi binili na ng city government ang lupa kung saan dati nakatayo ang aming bahay. Doon na kami ni-relocate at sa awa ng Diyos ay hindi naman kami nahirapan.” Ibinahagi niya rin na ang kainang iyon ang nagparaos sa kanila at nagpaaral sa buong pamilya. “Dito sa San Agustin nag-aral ang mga kapatid ko, pati na rin ang aking mga pinsan at pamangkin,” sabi niya habang nakatingin sa nakatirik na monumento ni San Agustin. Naging malapit na sa kanya ang Unibersidad, at hanggang ngayon ay matindi pa rin ang kapit ni Mang Berting dito, kaya ninais niya na magbenta ng kendi at biskwit sa harapan ng pamantasan.

Pampagising sa Umaga

Nang aking tinanong kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay nagbebenta siya ng mga kendi’t biskwit, pabiro pa siyang sumagot na ang iyong lingkod ang dahilan. Ipinagtapat niya na nakasanayan na niya ang ganoong gawain. “Feeling ko may kulang kung hindi ako pupunta dito para magbenta. Parang ganito na talaga ang aking ginagawa at hindi na rin ako magsasawa na umupo dito at magbenta.”

Si Mang Berting ay isa lamang sa mga naglalako sa mga mag-aaral ng kani-kanilang mga paaralan at pamantasan sa lungsod ng Iloilo. Ayon sa Kautusang Pampanguluhan blg. 856, s. 1975, ang mga katulad ni Mang Berting na mga ambulant vendors ay maaaring mamuhunan sa pamamagitan ng pagbenta ng mga selyadong inumin, biskwit at kendi. Ito na ang kanyang pinagkakaabalahan at hindi siya nagrereklamo bagamat may mga dalang hamon ang pagbenta niya – pagsita mula sa mga kinauukulan, pabagu-bagong panahon, polusyon mula sa mga pampasaherong dyip at iba pa. Marami na siyang pinagdaanan sa kanyang pagbebenta, ngunit hindi siya bumibitiw at mas pinili na niyang hindi isipin ang mga hamon na kaakibat ng kanyang paglalako ng kendi at biskwit.

Libo-libong bukang-liwayway at dapithapon na ang lumipas na nakasama ni Mang Berting ang mga mag-aaral ng ating Unibersidad. Ilang henerasyon na ang nakita niyang nakapagtapos ng kanilang pag-aaral at hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay nagmamasid pa rin si Mang Berting sa pangaraw-araw na buhay ng mga Agustinong mag-aaral.

Hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa paghahanap-buhay ng mga kendi’t biskwit na kasa-kasama niya. Patuloy siyang tumatangkilik sa pelikulang nakatambad sa kanyang harapan araw-araw.

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27

CAMPUS

it’s a kin thing

How generations never fail to pass their ow n heirlooms

By Philip Robert C. Alaban

Clutching a copy of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, she takes small, but purposive steps along the halls of Rada. As she nears the end of the corridor, she stops at a very familiar room and steps inside. Her eyes quickly darting to a portrait that perfectly captures the likeness of her late grandmother and namesake, the gentle nudge that she needs to get her through the day.

Continuing up the stairs, she internally vows to uphold the legacy of a family that has treaded through life donning the colors red and gold. She is the apple that fell at the very foot of a colorful and diverse family tree: Josefa Maria A. Castro.

From the Roots

In most cases, families often find themselves enrolling their children into the same University year after year, attributed to factors such as convenience or proximity. These are all particularly true for Josefa, a third-generation Augustinian coming from the Castro clan. Aside from the fact that the University is merely a five-minute walk from their home, her family has grown to appreciate the homely aura and sense of belongingness that it provides. Admittedly, her 17-year stint in San Agustin was nearly tarnished as she had originally planned to enroll in a nearby all-girls school for high school, but destiny proved to be a one-way street for her as she instead chose to enroll in San Agustin.

Mainly due to the adamancy of her grandmother and relatives, this became a choice that she doesn’t regret.

One other factor that might influence family generations to attend the same school is simply to continue the tradition of sending their own to attend a single institution of higher learning as a legacy, something that is passed on to you from family, including reputation. A person is usually only considered a legacy if they are a child of a graduate.

“More distant family relations like uncles, aunts and

28

the augustini a n mirror

cousins rarely count,” states Halle Edwards, a College Admissions officer at Harvard University. Simply put, although your grades and extracurricular activities can rack up your points in your four-year stay in the University, being part of a legacy is all set in black and white; you either have it or you don’t.

Through the Branches

Growing up in an environment of predominantly-Augustinian family members, with both of her grandparents, her parents, her two brothers, as well as almost all of their other relatives also having been enrolled in the University, serves as an encouragement for her.

“San Agustin has taught me so much and has given me countless opportunities to be of service to it, and I will continue to serve it the best way I can,” she states. Throughout the years, there have been dominative misconceptions about their family being “elite” but as she puts it, their lineage would more likely fall along the lines of loyal. The late Josefa Contreras Castro was conferred as the first Full Professor of the University, and was the former Dean of the College of Education and Teacher’s College. Her late grandfather is the genius behind the lyrics of a song that we know today as the “ USA Hymn.” Furthermore, Jose Maria B. Contreras, her grandmother’s brother, is an international concert pianist and her uncle Atty. Ricardo. P. C. Castro Jr. is part of an international law firm. They are only a few of the prominent figures that have the Castro

blood coursing through their veins.

Among the many notable families carrying legacies in institutes of higher learning in the local, as well as in the international scene, are the Aquino and Bush clans, the Ateneo de Manila University being the educational stronghold of the former and Yale University of the latter.

To the Fruits

Josefa, despite being coupled with her surname and the understated expectations that accompanies it, has still left a noticeable mark during her time as a college student. “Some of my best memories were spent wearing my red, gold and green plaid skirt and tie, notably my having served as a scribe of the USA Publications for four years and “arguing” for the USA Debate Team and ultimately, working under the Philanthropic Office with Fr. Willienier Jack Luna, OSA,” she openly shares.

As of now, she is currently pursuing further studies and readying herself for whatever The Big Guy has in store for her, with all the confidence that the University and its people have given her.

Aptly put, she herself has said, “‘Carving a niche for myself’ is a cliché that is as cringe-worthy as it is true for me right now.”

In the end, though surname and familial ties be stripped away, Josefa remains rooted in who she is as a person, while freely flowing with the ebb and flow of the unstoppable tide as a part of the Castro family legacy. p h oto g ra p h mara e la iza a . f lore s

si dr. lilia at CAMPUS ang kanyang apat na dekada ang walang sawang dedik as yon sa pagturo

Ni Rochelle Mae M. Muzones

Dahan-dahan siyang bumaba sa kaniyang sinasakyan at pumasok sa pintuang-daan na napapalibutan ng pula't gintong kulay. Imbes na mga pagkain at kagamitang panluto ang kaniyang hawak, iilang libro at bolpen ang kaniyang dala-dala at nakatago sa kaniyang maitim na bag. Inilapag niya sa mesa ang kanyang mga libro at nagsimula na sa pagsulat ng kaniyang pangalan sa pisara.

“Magandang umaga sa lahat! Ako nga pala si Dr. Lilia Teves at ako ang inyong magiging guro para sa asignaturang Food Service System II.” Nakangiti niyang wika at nagsimula na siya sa kanyang unang aralin.

nag-aaral pa siya sa Graduate School, tinanggap pa rin ni Teves nang buong puso ang imbetasyon ng Nutrition and Dietetics Department.

Hindi Inaasahang Pagkakataon

Edukasyon at Komersyo

Tila dalawang katauhan sa iisang katawan si Dr. Lilia Teves, kasalukuyang dean ng College of Commerce, sa kaniyang mga unang buwan dito sa Unibersidad. Isa siyang guro sa umaga at isa naman siyang estudyante ng Graduate School sa gabi. Hindi niya ikinakaila na naging mahirap ang takbo ng kanyang buhay sa mga panahong iyon. Kahit ganoon pa man ang gulong ng kaniyang palad, hindi sumagi sa kaniyang isipan na pagsisihan ang kaniyang nasimulang adhikain.

Maningning ang kaniyang mga mata ng isinasalaysay niya kung paano sila itinadhana ng kaniyang propesyon apat na dekada na ang nakalipas. “Ang intensyon ko lamang sa mga araw na iyon ay magtanong-tanong tungkol sa Graduate School at ako ay naimbitahan lamang na magturo,” ika niya. Tila isang magandang kahapon lang daw `nung matanggap siya bilang guro at hindi niya inaasahan na tatagal siya sa ganitong kahabang panahon.

Hunyo 1976 ng naging bahagi ng Nutrition and Dietetics Department, noo’y nasa ilalalim pa ng College of Education, si Teves. Sa mga panahong iyon, singbilis ng kidlat ang pagtaas ng populasyon ng nasabing departamento. Ngunit sa mga panahon ding iyon ay iilan lamang ang mga guro na tumanggap sa hamon ng pagtuturo sa lumulobong populasyon ng kanilang departamento. Nag-aatubili man na tanggapin ang alok na magturo bungsod sa r e t r ato mara el aiz a a. flores

Lumipas ang ilang taon at patuloy pa rin sa pamamayagpag ang karunungang ibinabahagi ni Teves sa mga Agustinong mag-aaral. Naging saksi ang Rada Hall sa bawat saya’t lungkot na naranasan ni Teves sa ilalim ng kaniyang bubungan. Subalit, sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, iniwan niya ang unang gusali na kaniyang pinagsilbihan 40 na taon na ang nakalipas.

Kamakailan lamang ay inilipat si Teves sa College of Commerce (COC), dating College of Management and Accountancy, ang tahanan ng umaapaw na bilang ng mag-aaral at guro sa buong unibersidad. Mahigit kumulang 3,000 na mag-aaral ang kasalukuyang kumukuha ng mga kursong nakapaloob sa nasabing kolehiyo.

“Nung nalaman ko na ako ay lilipat sa COC, dahil ang master’s degree ko ay business administration, mayroon akong pag-aalinlangan dahil sa ito ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking kolehiyo, mapa-mag-aaral man o guro. Pero dahil sa ipinakita nilang suporta, nalampasan ko itong lahat,” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Teves.

Serbisyong Pang-edukasyon

Mayroon lamang tatlong sekreto si Teves sa kaniyang 40 na taong pagtuturo. Ito ay ang pagmamahal, pagkamatapat, at kasiyahan. “Hindi ko binibilang kung ilang taon na ang nakalipas.

Hindi ko iniisip na 40 na taon na ako ngayon at

sa susunod na taon ay 41 na taon na ako rito. Mga biyayang aking natanggap ang aking binibilang. Ang trabaho ay hindi trabaho kung masaya ka sa iyong ginagawa,” kaniyang pagbabahagi.

Ayon nga sa kasabihan, walang mas ikasasaya pa sa isang ina na makita ang kaniyang anak na nasa rurok na ng tagumpay. Ito rin ang saktosaktong nadarama ni Teves sa bawat tagumpay na nakakamit ng kaniyang mga mag-aaral. Ika niya, ang kalugurang kaniyang nadarama ay pang-internal at hindi matutumbasan ng pera – na kahit papaano, nakaambag siya sa tagumpay na narating ng kaniyang mga estudyante. Ang kasiyahang kaniyang nararamdaman ang tumutulak pa lalo sa kanya na ipagpatuloy ang naumpisahan niyang legasiya.

Mabato man at buhol-buhol ang landas na kaniyang nilakbay, hindi ito naging basehan para isuko niya ang kaniyang pagtuturo. Hinarap niya ng may buong tapang at lakas ang bawat pagsubok na kanyang nakasalamuha imbes na magpatalo sa hamon ng buhay.

Apat na dekada na ang nakalipas mula noong unang tumapak si Teves sa institusyong ito. Naging saksi ang bawat sulok ng Unibersidad sa bawat ligaya’t lungkot na kaniyang nadarama.

Iilang estudyante na rin ang nasaksihan niyang nakapagtapos at iilang guro na rin ang kanyang nakasalamuha. Bilang isang magiting na sundalo ng karunungan, 40 na taon na ang lumipas ngunit patuloy pa rin niyang sinasanagan ng karagdagang kaalaman at pagmamahal ang buong Unibersidad ng San Agustin.

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29

SCI-TECH

ThE sPhERE OF E-COMMERCE

T H E E M E RGE NC E OF I N T E R N E T SPU R R E D, A PI NC H-H I T SHOPPI NG M E T HOD

By Athena gabriella E. julabar

30

the augustINIa N mIrror

I LLu st rat I o N hE R O d A . M O N T iE l

TecHnoLogicaL breakthrough brought convenience to consumers all throughout the internet. Just a few clicks and taps away, and tada! Shopping is no longer a brooding task.

Electronic Commerce (e-commerce), more popularly known as online shopping, gives people easy access to instantly purchase goods and services from a dealer over the internet through a web browser or a social networking site.

As digital advancement continues to thrive, global consumers are feeling more empowered.

According to Invesp, more than 80 percent of the online population has used the Internet

Subsumed under the Electronic Commerce Act also known as Republic Act (RA) 8792 is the legal framework and environment for electronic commerce and the incorruptibility of electronic documents and signatures as well as its transmission and communication so as to brace and cinch the reliability of public or electronic transactions, anchoring the rights of an online consumer for a fair deal.

Furthermore, RA 8792 is bolstered by the Consumer Act of the Philippines also known as RA 7394 which entails the protection of the interests of the consumer and to effectuate standards of conduct for business and industry.

According to Ma. Donita Chavez, DTI Senior Trade and Industry Development specialist, “In spite of the fact that the freedom to shop online is at our fingertips, it is our overriding lookout and responsibility to ensure ourselves that we are protected whenever we transact in an online environment.”

Giving the e-consumers a steer, Mrs. Chavez shared some of the tips for a safe and complete online transaction: Determine the legitimacy of the website. A reliable webpage must show a closed padlock icon, and the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) should start with "https" instead of "http." Peruse the privacy policy statement and terms and conditions no matter how lengthy they are; Examine the fine print. A reputable merchant must have the following on his page, feed or website; About Us, Contact Us/Feedback, Privacy Policy, Shipping Policy, Customer Service/After Sales Service, Terms and Conditions, Dispute Resolution/Complaints Handling, and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)/Help; Do research/comparison shopping.

Ask family and friends who have actual experiences with the merchant. Be perceptive in reading consumer reviews, reports, comments and blogs; Always trust your instincts. Don't proceed with your transaction when you are impelled into completing the transaction, and in settling the payment; you have doubts on the

ONLiNE POrTALS ArE OPEN rOUND-ThE-cLOck, PAviNg ThE wAy fOr EASy cONSUmEr AccESS. to make a purchase. Additionally, more than 50 percent of these online populations shopped online more than once.

The InSIde TrACK

where else can you shop 24/7 without needing to undress or get into a queue for payment? Online portals are open round-theclock, paving the way for easy consumer access.

The irksome rush during off-season sales to get away with the crowd is what offline shoppers can do without. Likewise, only online shoppers can relish cost-saving mod cons, less impulsive buying, simultaneous purchasing, time-saving shopping, and the interminable availability of online stores.

LOOK BefOre yOU LeAP

Is it online shopping or virtual pickpocketing? Technology might have made the 'impossible' possible, but with advancements come drawbacks.

Did you end up paying more for the shipping than the product itself? Or have you bought something that looked way different than it did on the website?

Indeed, with freedom comes responsibility. A savvy e-consumer must be cognizant of his rights and responsibilities to avoid dicey, online transactions.

reliability of the merchant or on any step of the transaction process; and when you are being offered by a far-fetched deal; and Online payment must be secured. Verify the shipping information page and payment information page if it is legitimate. Regularly monitor your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts online.

If you feel safe and secured, proceed with your transaction. Take heed of the aforementioned tips for a safe online shopping.

The BOTTOm LIne

The internet might have dramatically altered the way we shop, however, we must act to secure ourselves of our rights and identities.

Caveat emptor, “let the buyer beware,” is the principle that one must assert himself. whether it is online or conventional shopping, a consumer must be discerning, for interminable freedom demands, awareness and responsibility.

hOW yOUnG fILIPInOS USe The InTerneT so u rce T h O u gh T b u z z . N E T

15% 4%

1% 1% 1%

CusTOMER sERviCE feedbacking mechanisms in e-commerce

PROMOTiONs ANd dEAls sales and other deals that attract consumers

NEWs ANd OThERs news including business discussions

PAyMENT credit card and other financial transactions

dElivERy logistic issues generated by e-commerce consumers

78%

PROduCTs ANd sERviCEs various kinds of products and services sold in the Philippines including social media and entertainment

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31

FOOD&LIFE

OF ilOilO, OF hOME A GA ST RONOM IC ST U Dy — DISCOV E R I NG T H E OR IGI NA L L A PA Z BATC HOy

By Nicole Ailice F. serisola

HinTS of fried garlic, a meaty broth, and steam billowing deep from a warm bowl, a server makes his way to his guest – bringing with him a dish his customer eagerly waited for.

A savory noodle soup made from pork and beef stock, egg noodles or miki, laden with sahog – pork innards/cuts, and garnished with hefty bits of chicharon, garlic, spring onions (sometimes with egg), the La Paz Batchoy is Iloilo’s most prominent and memorable signature dish.

Originating from the Chinese (Hokkien) word ba-chui, meaning meat water or meat pieces, La Paz Batchoy (or simply Batchoy), has been a staple – a traditional soup warming its way into the hearts of many Ilonggos. True enough, batchoyans can be found all over Iloilo, from carinderias or kainans to branches in air-conditioned malls.

Batchoy is best served hot and is often paired with puto, if not pan de sal. However throughout time, the signature dish of Iloilo has been subjected to modification and varieties, and can be found served in special, super special or extra super –superlatives being the trend for classifying how you want your soup. The noodles now also vary from the traditional mikito sotanghon and miswa (and even bihon!).

The history of the dish can be a bit sketchy – stories vary on who really created the dish – yet most sources state that the La Paz Batchoy was first made, and sold, inside the La Paz public market - hence the name. There are also stories that say all those

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the augustINIa N mIrror

P h oto g ra P h MA RA E lA izA A . F lO R E s

who claim to be “original” came and work for/from the same person/ place which led them to the creation of batchoy.

Today, the Batchoy market/chain is dominated by the big three: Ted’s, Deco’s, and Netong’s. But who exactly created the first and original La Paz Batchoy? More importantly, which one serves the best batchoy among them all?

Ted’S OLdTImer

Established way back in 1945, the seven-decade old batchoyan started by Teodorico “ Ted” Lepura rapidly continues to expand to new markets, within and outside of Iloilo.

Their special, which costs only Php 75, doesn’t disappoint in giving porky bits and pieces when it comes to the sahog. It’s that filled. It could likely feed two if it’s a snack, but if you’re starving, one big bowl of Ted’s special can really fill you up to the brim. A playful hint of sweetness tugs at their hearty soup – if you want to get it a bit meatier, a few drops of soy sauce is suggested.

3.75/5

T E d ’s

4.25/5

deCO’S OrIGInAL

d EC O ’s

Upon entering the place, Deco’s greets your senses with the waft of batchoy floating in the air. The oldest between the three, Deco’s was originally established long before world war II, thus the tagline, “Original La Paz Batchoy since 1938.”

Cleanly, and neatly presented with a multitude of garnishes (if you’re a bit obsessive compulsive, you’d notice right away), Deco’s is just not into details and for show, but it remarkably tastes well – with or without accompaniments. Deco’s, like wine, does taste fine with age (albeit you might want to chew your innards and porky bits thoroughly).

neTOnG’S The OrIGInAL SPeCIAL

4.00/5

If other batchoyans greet you with the teasing drift of their batchoy in the air, Netong’s doesn’t sway you gently – rather, they make you forget what you were talking about earlier and concentrate on the aroma of their batchoy alone. The catchphrase “amoy pa lang, ulam na” is quite appropriate to describe Netong’s batchoy.

On the other hand, you might want to tell your server to take it easy with the liver and fried garlic if you’re not so into it. One garlicky burp can drive a vampire away.

Netong’s might not be the oldest (with their establishment at 1948) or as normally-priced or exceedingly widespread as the previous two when expanding branches, but Netong’s wouldn’t be a contender if their batchoy can’t compete.

NE TO N g’s

mATTer Of PerSOnAL TASTe

Numbers may be numbers, but each and every Ilonggo has his or her own personal taste and preference when it comes to the signature local dish. After all, it’s up to one’s taste buds to cast on which is the ideal batchoyan, the ideal batchoy that will make one – you – remember, wherever you are, the taste of Iloilo, the taste of home.

WhAT’S InSIde A TyPICAL BATChOy? Per 500 Ml serV I N g based o N 2 ,0 0 0 CA lO Ri E s d I et

322 calories

26g total fat

4g total carbs

I L Lu st r atIo N dARyl s . s E lER i O

17g Protein

21% Vitamin a

4% Vitamin c

4% calcium

22% Iron

445mg sodium

135mg cholesterol

212mg Potassium

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FOOD&LIFE

MEET

GA

Discovering nature ’ s hidden treasures and letting the world k now its beaut y

locat io n alona beach, pang lao i slan d, b ohol

TAKING A TRIP? THREE TRAVEL TIPS f rom him t hat you MIGHT CON SIDER ON YOUR N EXT GETAWAY

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1

It's always cheaper to plan and organize your own trip, instead of paying for packaged tours.

Aside from saving you some money, another advantage of DIY tours is the flexibility to change your itinerary while on a trip.

2

Utilize Google search.

Everything you need to know to plan your trip can be found from online sources such as travel websites and blogs. Whether looking for cheap accommodations or best places to eat in a specific destination, Google is your friend. And it's free!

3

When your trip requires plane rides, book for your flights in advance or be on the lookout for seat sales. Subscribe to airlines' social media channels and newsletter so you get notified of their current promo fare announcements.

BROWSE

Gabz’s website through the code on the top corner of this page.

"The rippling blanket of brochure-blue sea, the beaches dipped in earthshine-gold, the strong, yet tantalizing current of waterfalls and the tall pines of the heaven kissing the mountain… " Looking at these snaps of wonders of nature, it’s like “hearing a mermaid call of the waves that reaches out to you, whispering the gist of Mother Nature’s yearnings. Behind all these fascinating photographs, a man stands; brimming with vitality and passion, creating a name in the blogosphere through opening the eyes of his countrymen, that there’s so much more to venture in our very own Pearl of the Orient Seas.

GABZ

By Jecel T. Buenavides

photographs cou rt esy of ro ge l i o ga b i ano, jr .

Accidental Gift Projection

“It all started when I purchased my first ever DSLR camera five years ago. I have long been interested in photography and I thought the best way to practice photography as a beginner was to travel and make the surroundings my subjects.”

Rogelio “Gabz” Gabiano Jr. is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, a former Editor-in-Chief of the University of San Agustin Publications school years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 and is currently a Digital Marketing Manager. Notwithstanding his busy schedule, Gabz devotedly renders his time being a traveler as well as a blogger. “I didn’t expect to get fascinated by traveling.

I then realized Philippines has so much to offer from stunning beaches and amazing waterfalls to beautiful mountains, and so much more.”

Gabz, who was deeply marveled by the sceneries unveiled to him in his expeditions, got inspired and eventually decided to create a blog as an avenue to promote tourism. He also wanted to share his travel photos to make people aware that there are plenty of hidden gems all over the country waiting to be discovered.

Having much willingness to create channels in promoting the local industry, Gabz created his first ever travel blog in 2011, the www.pinoytravelfreak. com. This features various destinations in the country, from pristine beaches to world-class resorts

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lo cat i o n ca l aguas i s l an d, camari nes norte

Traveling made me appreciate a lot of things. Exploring the Philippines has opened my eyes to the beauty of the country, its people, diversity, culture and attractions.

lo cat io n batad rice terraces, i fugao lo cat i o n mt. p u l ag, b engu et

and other captivating natural wonders, packed with many exciting divulgence.

Choose Philippines

Located at the very eastern edge of Asia, the Philippines is home to more than 7000 islands, of which only about 2000 are inhabited. With its unique geographic attributes, Philippines bursts with enchanting bodies of water and landscapes which seemed to be kneaded perfectly into its desired consistency.

Despite this fact, many Filipinos still opt to travel abroad than unraveling the riches of their own country. This triggered Gabz to create an outlet that would make these Filipinos realize that they are missing to experience the treasures in their own

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backyard. Through his travel blog, he is able to give off the bright light from those gripping sceneries, engulfing the interests of our countrymen and wake them up to see that Philippines is a piece of paradise here on earth.

Given that everything has its ins and outs and pros and cons, Gabz also encountered struggles in his journey in becoming a blogger. Traveling does not only require time, but also necessitates travel expenditures. There are times when he needed to prioritize more important things such as his personal financial responsibilities at home over a trip. “ There came a point where I asked myself if I should give up my career and pursue my passion. But then I realized that it won’t work for me and can still do both without sacrificing one over the other.” It

was when Gabz started traveling that he learned to give up buying material things such as new clothes or gadgets. Though it may seem to be difficult for him at first, he found it really worth it. “I have proven a lot of times that buying experiences is better than buying things.”

Because of Gabz’s passion to travel and promote local tourism, he had inspired many people.

This served as an essential tool for him to be noticed by brands and companies who would consider him as an online influencer, gaining many followers on Facebook and on Instagram. He used to receive free products and items from various local and international brands and also get invited by student organizations to speak about travel, tourism, and social media.

Lo cat I o N N A Mi i s l A N d, C h u N C h EO N , s O u T h kO R E A

COnQUerInG The ArChIPeLAGO, One BeACh AT A TIme What makes Gabz different is that his goal is not really into conquering all of the 81 provinces in the country. He prefers reaching every single isolated beach which are yet to be discovered online.

Lo cat I o N TO kyO, jA PA N

BLAZInG The TrAIL

As for Gabz, following your passion was his ultimate ticket to success and it played a vital role for what he has become now. “Don’t be scared to follow your passion because it could unlock doors to opportunities.” His passion in photography generated fruits of creativity with Filipinos reaping the ripe ones, and using it as a means of highlighting the name of our country.

Nothing can bring a place to life like a decent photo, and for this reason, travel photography is one the most inspiring mediums Gabz used to infuse inspiration to his fellow Filipinos. “If photography is what you love, learn to save for a cheap or second hand DSLR camera.

In fact, the camera I’m using until now is just an

entry level one.” Gabz continuously keeps the fire burning by using his camera, capturing the beauty of nature and the splendor of life in his snapshots. “ Traveling made me appreciate a lot of things. Exploring the Philippines has opened my eyes to the beauty of the country, its people, diversity, culture and attractions.”

Gabz is an epitome of resolute reformer who travels and uses his blog to shed a distinct spot of radiance to his countrymen. The virtue of his photography beholds the impulse causing Filipinos to enter into an altered state of consciousness, gazing upon their reflections that we are surrounded with immense precious jewels waiting to be discovered.

Provinces in the Philippines he traveled to Vo L. 83 / N o. 1 / o c tob e r 2 0 1 6

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i m ag e so urc e h ancinema .net

Defying the reviews the Unexpected, laws of Science the Unnatural and Society: and the undead T he Pub’ s top pic k s among this season ’ s hottest big screen flic k s

By Philip Robert C. Alaban

If you're like me and my cohorts, you'd probably flock to the cinemas at the mere mention of the newest release of blockbuster films. In order to provide you with the best value for your cash, we've decided to take a peek at the Top 3 biggest flicks of 2016. This trio of motion pictures will surely take you to an emotional rollercoaster ride from mind-numbing action to heartwrenching tearjerkers and commonplace what-inthe-world-just-happened moments. Surely, they are a complete must-have for an ever-growing collection of jaw-dropping films.

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Don’t Breathe(3.9/5)

In a twisted game of cat-and-mouse, acclaimed horror film director Fede Alvarez, director of the Evil Dead remake, brings us his best hair-raising cinematic piece yet: Don’t Breathe. The opening scene alone immediately immerses the viewers in a sense of dread and anticipation while flawlessly setting the mood for the rest of the film.

Don’t Breathe centers on a ragtag team of amateur cat burglars Rocky (Jane Levy), her boyfriend Money (Daniel Zovatto) and Alex (Dylan Minette) who regularly rob the wealthy Detroit suburbs. Fed up with their quick fixes, Money discovers a potential victim which could get them set – for life. With the help of Alex’s father’s business in home security, they have access to homeowners’ personal information.

Nestled in the deserted and rundown heart of Detroit is a well-painted and furbished home of an unnamed war veteran (Stephen Lang). He is rumored to have a hefty six-digit settlement in his possession after his daughter was killed in a car accident few years ago. His visual disability makes him a virtually harmless mouse for our trio of cats.

Or is he?

Cinematographer Pedro Luque has worked in perfect sync with Alvarez to provide moviegoers with a very clear image of the setting of the film. Instead of utilizing shaky cinematography and the lightning speed cut scenes of traditional horror movies, Luque equips the film with an impeccably clear geography of the blueprint of the blind man’s fortress, which in turn provides fluid transitions between a portion of the movie to the next. Although we are given a clear background of Rocky and the reason why she is so determined to successfully pull-off their –hopefully– last heist, her male counterparts are given next to no defining scenes at all throughout the whole movie. Their presence feels more arbitrary than relevant. All in all, Don’t Breathe is a must watch for all jump scare and thriller fans out there and will leave everyone with the unanswered question: Who really is the cat and who is the mouse?

image sou rce horrorpedi a.com

Though there were a few loose threads and creases during the first half of the film, they were ultimately tied up and ironed out to reveal a sinister tapestry in the end. Director Tim Burton, famous for “Beetlejuice” and “Frankenweenie,” worked closely with cinematographer Bruno Debonnel in transforming the sunny and quaint island of Wales into a gloomy, off-the-map town which added a touch of mystery to the film’s overall feel and aptly suited Burton and his distinctive style. The casting was also very well thought of and powerful with actors and actresses such as Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell and Samuel Jackson clinching their roles of naïve, wide-eyed boy, glib yet intelligent damsel and diabolical villain, respectively. Yet, I’d have to say that Eva Green would be the breakout star of the film with i mag e so u r ce fox movie s .com her flawless transformation into the screen-riveting, quirky character of Alma LeFay Peregrine right from the top of her outlandish blue hair, debonair gowns, and her smoking pipe.

Although it was quite noteworthy that the movie relied a bit too heavily on stop motion animations, Computer Generated Images (CGI’s) and green screen effects, turning it more to a visual storyline rather than a narrative one which may be to the film’s detriment. All in all, the movie still leaves us a message that being odd – or in this case, peculiar – doesn’t always make you bad, only special in your own little way.

Train to Busan (4.3/5)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (3.6/5)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children zones in on the story of young Jake Portman (Asa Butterfield), who persuades his parents to take on a trip to the island of Cairnholm in order to track down the illustrious Miss Peregrine (Eva Green) and the array of “ peculiars” – children with supernatural powers that were just stuffs of his grandpa’s bedtime stories when he was young, and now are hidden from the rest of the world. Convinced by his grief counselor that this step would provide closure for Jake and the grisly death of his Grandfather, his parents reluctantly agree – and it is in the heart of the island. Among the ruins of a once-splendid children’s home and the children who inhabit it, Jake finds the place where he truly belongs as he discovers that being peculiar isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

Yeon Sang-ho’s “ Train to Busan” may be an apocalyptic movie staged primarily on the rails but when it comes to thematic development, theatrical timing and cinematographic qualities, it certainly flies off the tracks.

Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) is a divorced, workaholic fund manager who lives with his mother and barely has time to spend with his daughter Su-an (Kim Su-an). Trouble stirs as Seok-woo gives in to Su-an’s pleas to visit her mothers’ home in Busan– an hour’s train ride away from Seoul. Seok-woo was initially reluctant, but out of guilt, later books the next KTX train bound for Busan the following morning.

Each of the characters were given a fleeting, but establishing moment inside the corridors of the KTX train; the conductors, a pair of elderly sisters, a husband and his pregnant wife, an obnoxious businessman, and even a baseball team. They are subtly introduced like how a magician paces his acts carefully and precisely, all leading to his grand finale. In this case, the heart wrenching twists and turns as the characters whittle down into a mere trio. Another one of Train to Busan’s more commendable qualities is how they created the flesh-eaters that flooded the streets and metro lines of Korea. They are just the perfect combination of the hissing, brain-hungry zombies from the movie 28 Days Later. They didn’t have to step into the sci-fi realm of Resident Evil. The international hit TV series “ The Walking Dead” Zombies are slower by a huge proportion.

In a century where movies about the undead have relentlessly been patterned to the stereotypical you’re-you-but-you-want-to-eat-my-brainsversion-of-you, Train to Busan is a refreshing movie wherein moral characteristics like respect for elders and little acts of kindness are greatly highlighted. This movie is scaffolded on the very concept of humanity; we must look out for one another, especially during times of chaos.

Two thumbs up to the roller-coaster like train ride that made us laugh and caused shortages of breath – from the suspense and crying.

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reviews

hindrances: made to be conquered give yourself a brea k from those gadgets . throw them away, ta k e up and read these inspiring book s we handpic k ed

By Armie Therese C. Penuela

Dreams, Passion, Curiosity. Until where and when will they take you? Will they be enough to fuel your determination in achieving your goals? Or are those just words easily gone when tons of impediments crash your way? Only you know the answer.

Everest: Being Unstoppable

As much as I wanted to begin my sentence by asking you “Do you have dreams?”, I prefer not to because I am certain that you all do. Instead, I ask you this. Are we yearning to chase this dream?

Sean Swarner and Lance Snow’s Everest: Being Unstoppable is a must read book for people who are struggling to reach their dreams in life.

The authors made a wise choice to start the novel with struggles and adventure as it initiated a boost of emotions.

The vivid description in the opening paragraphs was note-worthy as it pushed me to go over the story.

Upon knowing that the main character suffers from two types of cancer, but still dreams to reach the peaks of the seven highest mountains in the seven continents, I felt curious as to how the author will bring up the character until the end. I have to say that this story was not as dramatic as the others, but it was never boring either. The author succeeded in stirring up my mind. I felt a hodgepodge of emotions as I went over the struggles.

Other than the consistency with the way it was written, the message it implies is more important.

As he finds his way to the peak of Mt. Everest, the first in his bucket list, he draws a clear message to everyone: to keep chasing our dreams.

We all have our own mountains to climb.

Mt. Everest mirrors our struggles in reaching the peak. His diagnosis with cancer symbolizes the impediments that we must overcome to achieve our goals.

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Leaving the Blynthe River

What if one day, the person you both love and hate is nowhere to be found? Will you be willing to search for him/her despite the doubts and uncertainties of what’s waiting ahead of you? For a seventeen year old, Ethan Underwood, it was yet a courageous move to look for his father who hasn’t gone home after his run in the woods. For a son, betrayed by his father who was caught with another woman, to come over the woods near the Blythe River and search for the whereabouts of his father, is admirable.

Catherine Ryan Hyde established a brave character who was able to hurdle the hail, scorching heat, rapid currents, excruciating pain and threat of wild animals.

How she successfully fuels the emotions in the wordings she used is something that made the story more captivating.

Hyde’s way of emphasizing the courageous spirit of Ethan in facing the tribulations along with his three pals was very compelling. The author, undoubtedly, succeeded in manifesting the true essence of family that Ethan never gave up despite all the odds that even made the rangers abandon the rescue mission for his father.

Unstoppable: Harnessing Changes through Science

Who wouldn’t want to live in a convenient world? I guess most of us would love a world where a majority of our daily routines are done in few ticks of the clock. But, it seems that in exchange of this ideal kind of world we wanted, are dangerous emissions

and depletion of our resources.

Unstoppable: Harnessing Changes through Science proved the latter statement wrong. His claim of “polluted and unsafe environment isn’t the price that we have to pay” deems to be convincing. His brilliance and positive outlook are very contagious.

I know much had been taught to me about Global Warming, but I was quite surprised with how he refuted some of the myths and misunderstandings that I myself believed before.

The title, Unstoppable, doesn’t only refer to the forces that humans could control, but I guess it’s the boundless path that optimism and scientific curiosity can bring into this world. Despite all the impediments, these two ideas are capable of solving the dilemma of this world.

Indeed, the story was a manifestation of brilliance. As cliché as it sounds, I felt empowered and hopeful. This is for sure a must read book. The author was very motivating that my subconscious had committed to join Bill Nye in changing the world. I guess you must read this so that you may be convinced to change the world, the Bill Nye’s way.

These stories may be entirely different with the way they were written or how the story revolved around the characters, but I have to admit that the authors moved me to tears, made me laugh and amazed me. I assure you, all three stories are worth your time the space in your devices. Give them a try. They all share the same message: to do the impossible possible, your thoughts, desires, determination and action should be unstoppable.

The glory of saving a country is not for him who has contributed to its ruin.

— El Filibusterismo, Dr. Jose P. Rizal

P h oto g ra Ph Clyd E A l l EN E. sOllEsTA / Locat IoN uNi v ER si T y O F sA N Agu sT i N