The Augustinian Mirror, May 2013

Volume LXXIX Number 2 May 2013

resPonsive • DeveloPMental • research-BaseD The Official Student Magazine of the University of San Agustin • Iloilo City, Philippines

&

it’s Time to Get

down dirty Blood-sucking Political Parasites Defining one of the loathsome features of the country’s political landscape

everyday Unsung heroes A day in the life of the University’s campus pollution police

counter attack

An inside look at USA’s Waste Management Program

volume lXXiX • number 2 • May 2013 The Official Student Magazine of the University of San Agustin iloilo cty, philippines • www.usa-pub.blogspot.com • www.usa-publications.journ.ph •

responsive • Developmental • research-based puBlished By the usa puBlications josefa Maria a. castro ray adrian c. Macalalag the aUGUstinian Mirror is the official student magazine of the University of San Agustin. It is published once every semester by the USA Publications. Comments, contributions, and suggestions may be sent to the editors. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission and approval from the USA Publications and the authors of the articles.

editors-in-chief

jerson e. elmido managing editor

jesanny i. yap stephanie kay l. urquiola genessa a. Buenafe associate editors

about the cover Everyday of our lives, we come across numerous trials and revelations that taint our expectations about ourselves and other people, making it easier for us to succumb to all of these. The piles of garbage surrounding the young lady are symbolic of these trials in life, and we can either choose to do nothing and drown in the pile, or to stand up, fight and rise above it all - the choice is ours.

Febrielyn s. tumines literary editor

ric Martin l. libo-on office address

wall newspaper editor

2/F alumni Building, university of san agustin, general luna street, iloilo city, philippines 5000

anne catherine d. Malazarte

phone numBer

thongenn lanz B. patiam

(+63-33) 337-4842 local 189

art director

photography editor

usa.publications@rocketmail.com

ayah danica V. granada Wilhelm c. lizada joel s. sastrillo

weBsite

senior writers

email address

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com

social media accounts

w usa-publications.journ.ph f facebook.com/usa.publications t twitter.com/usa_pub Y youtube.com/usapublications

joyce gem M. cañete jeremiah john p. Vardeleon Marylex g. sumatra christine joy a. saber staff writers

daniel p. abutas photoJournalist

colophon

This magazine was designed using Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe Illustrator CS5, and Adobe InDesign CS5.

Characters are set in Akzidenz Grotesk, Avenir, and Chunk Five typefaces.

seulgi j. han magaZine apprentice writer

edrylle g. cofreros rochelle louise d. doromal

photographer model hair & make up dress

newspaper apprentice writers digital editing

magaZine layout designer

ray adrian c. Macalalag

gladys t. confesor moderator

production

thongenn lanz B. patiam Venice h. encajonado ralp jason i. evangelista goldwynn c. navarro ray adrian c. Macalalag josefa Maria a. castro jerson e. elmido jeremy jasper p. cembrano

photo by jeremy jasper p. cembrano

editor’s note for my last issue as editor-in-chief, we picked the theme (green thoughts aside) Down & Dirty. this was ostensibly meant to be a timely environmental issue since the University has just recently launched a go-green campaign together with the improvement of the Waste Management system.

Contained in this magazine are articles that are not literally to be translated as down and dirty, but within the context of thought that not all “inferior” jobs, cultures, and even people, deserve to be treated as such. They are to be taken as inspirations for taking on life’s innumerable challenges. on a personal note, allow me also to share these parting words as i bid farewell to my life as a pub pip: i was an incoming freshman. pen in hand, i braved climbing up the stairs of the pMT Review Center where i saw a familiar face. i’d remember that gleaming little face of his from elementary school. as we made our way together to take our USa publications qualifying examination, little did we know that we’d eventually end up being the editors-inchief four years later. with a rather shaky start during my first few years at the pub, i’m glad to say that after spending eight semesters and seeing staffers begin their pub journey, and bidding farewell to once fellow-staffers, i’ve finally understood that the hardest part of saying farewell is not because you never knew a good thing ‘til it has ended; rather, it’s because you knew it was going to end, but you didn’t think it would be this soon. when asked about my memories of the pub pips, it would take me hours to finish talking about all our pub life conundrums ranging from the grandiose (winning a host of awards during the College press Conferences) to the mundane ( arguing over

which movie we should watch at the pub office). needless to say, all of those memories - both good and bad, will never be forgotten. and i’d like to thank all of the people who’ve made my stay at the pub no less than epically awesome. i begin by saying thank you to Ma’am Confesor, our moderator, for the patience and dedication that she has put into ensuring the quality of everything that we publish and to the invaluable mentorship that she has displayed to me and my fellow staffers. To all our seniors, especially nong jeff, Mom donna, nang Morla and bf joshie, thank you for the companionship and guidance. all of our “adult” conversations both in and out of the pub office have successfully managed to scar my childhood, and help me mature as a writer and as a person. To nang Mia and nong james, you will always be the pub’s most unforgettable tandem with the most timeless antics.

To the pub pips whom we had to say farewell to but will always be staffers at heart: Sissy lely, i hope you didn’t regret relinquishing your post to me and i will always keep our memories (and secrets) at heart; andre and Feb, we’re all proud to have seen you both step out of your comfort zones and for being consistently excellent staffers from the start; louie, i’ll surely miss arguing each waking moment with you at the office; Sib Tinay, i say thank you and I’m sorry in the contexts that i know only you and i will understand.

To the pub babies, who i’d deeply wish

to name individually, thank you for all the hair-braiding and curling sessions that helped make me feel like a real manang to all of you; To the handsome young lads at the pub, take good care of our little ladies. we pass on both the burden and the glory of carrying on the pub name. Make memories of your own and make us proud.

To nong jerson, you’re probably the most multi-talented and versatile person i know and you give yourself so little credit for all that you’ve done. The pub is really lucky to have you. and to the little boy who climbed the stairs with me four years ago, although we both got up at the same time, i’ll be coming down a little sooner than you. you still have a year left as editor, and i’m certain that you will continue to steer the pub to an even higher pedestal in the world of campus journalism.

Thank you for the camaraderie and the inevitable memories (such as the term we substitute for “food”) that came with it, dear Ryan. with this, i now formally step down from my post and hope that future editors and staffers take good care of the 85-year-old legacy that is the USa publications. The pub will always be a second home, not just for me, but for all the staffers who shared laughter, shed tears, made memories, and gave honor to the red and gold pen.

the augustinian Mirror • May 2013 • 1

By joseFa Maria a. castro photo by thongenn lanz B. patiam

littering. it seems like most, if not all, of the students are guilty of this crime against the school and the environment. all it takes is a single litter to start a huge mound of trash; and looking around, we can’t help but show disgust over what our environment has become.

But the real question is who’s to blame?

The cover model for this issue of The Augustinian Mirror is venice Encajonado, a fresh graduate of the University hailing from the College of nursing. venice was a contestant in The augustinian project: Search for Mr. & Ms. USa 2013, and was given the pub’s Choice award because of her advocacy for the protection and preservation of Mother nature.

The artist who conceptualized venice’s wardrobe and created her total look is goldwynn navarro, a BS architecture alumnus of the University.

The hand-crafted avant-garde outfit she wears in the picture on this page was made using recycled and industrial materials. it consists of a long, sheer tail adorned with various origami flowers made from recycled paper.

The intricate details of her top connect all the way to the gas mask that she is holding, symbolic of man’s patient and determined battle with the cancerous substances found in environmental pollutants. going back to the question of who is to blame for all of this, well, we need not look any further than ourselves.

DIRT DREADERS

TO THE RESCUE how can we survive the effects of the proBlems we caused?

2 • the AugustiniAn Mirror • May 2013

down&dirtyissue inside the

contents

10

living in a pile of trash A garbage dump—a hulking mass of decomposing garbage building up to, literally, a mountain, Calajunan dumpsite is a scavenger’s paradise and a poor man’s source of livelihood.

Photo by Daniel P. Abutas

The Not So ‘Green Pastures’ By ayah danica V. granada and jesanny I. yap

campus

oPINION 4

Don’t You dare Wear my Dog

Small is the New Tall 22 When By marylex g. sumatra

5

That’s All He gets when His Face gets Hit

sa Putikan 24 Yaman By edrylle g. cofreros

By Ray Adrian C. Macalalag

By FEBRIELYN S. TUMINES

Comes the Man in Blue 26 Here

By Ric martin l. libo-on

RELIGION 6

What the...Hell?

with Attitude 30 Waste By joel s. sastrillo

By jeremiah john p. vardeleon

society 8

infographics

arts

Fighters on Stage 32 Filth By joyce gem m. cañete

Poly-Ticks

By josefa maria a. castro

The Epidemic of Social Media 14 YOLO! By stephanie kay l. urquiola

Explosive Facts [15] Exotica Deli [37]

Trash, Another’s Treasure 34 One’s By seulgi j. han

culture

food&lifestyle

Cold and Hard 16 Getting By joyce gem m. cañete

Truths about Street Platters 35 Skewered By wilhelm c. lizada

What, Juan?

18 Say By genessa a. buenafe

Makeover for a Leftover 38 A By jerson e. elmido

20

perspectives IT’S NOT HARD BLENDING IN

Due to several school activities and final examinations, this issue of The Mirror was a tad delayed, but not to worry, we assure you that this issue was totally worth the wait.

As is customary, we would

review

Don’t Kill the Living 40 We By rochelle louise d. doromal

Mirror Reflections like to thank the people behind the success of this magazine.

To Nong Elmer, thank you for being patient with us during our presswork days; to Ma’am Terry and Nang Narle, we extend

our appreciation to you both for accommodating the USA Pub in and out of Panorama; to our models, and the many people inside and outside the campus who inspired the articles

contained in this mag. Lastly, to the Almighty Father, for guiding us through yet another successful endeavor.

So, without much ado, get ready to go down and dirty and we hope you have fun reading this issue, Augustininans! the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 3

opinion

Don’t you dare wear my dog Photo Courtesy of The Atlantic

RAZOR EDGE Ray Adrian C. Macalalag

“The world was made by God, and everything else is made in China.”

All of us in this world are dependent on this labor superpower in Asia.

Products ranging from foodstuff to gadgets are either manufactured or assembled in this country.

No wonder it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

I happened to have a laptop, a mobile phone, a hard drive, and a flash drive around me while writing this article, and they led me to thinking where they were made. I guessed it right - all from China. Aside from all these cool things I have, the beauty of this red nation is awesome, too. Hong Kong looks stunning in photos. High-rise structures mark Victoria Harbor. Beijing stuns the world with its Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Center dominating its landscape.

However, despite all the beauty that we see (what China wants us to see anyway), there are stains on the other side of the Chinese silk that our starstruck eyes have missed.

Over the years, when we browse social networking sites, we see amateur videos with highly persuasive captions, supporting various advocacies. One time, I browsed my Facebook account and saw a photo showing dogs shorn of fur and soaked in blood. I was so shocked that I almost lost the energy to continue surfing the web. I did not stop, though. I continued to read on to know what the photo was all about.

China was deep in it. The Chinese skin their dogs – alive!

How do they do it?

As disgusting as it was, I had to know how they do the loathsome act... First, they cage the dogs in frustratingly small pens so that the dogs can barely move. Then when

4 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

they are ready to be ‘processed’, they are tortured – castrated, beaten, kicked, tied up in grotesque forms, and “bathed” with boiling water. Since the Chinese learned that the “boiled” skin easily comes off, they do just that, using knives. The dogs are hung upside down, an incision is made in between the thighs and the worst part is, the workers, holding the cut skin on the neck, brutally yank hard, and pull it off all the way down. Just imagine how you remove the plastic wrapper from a hotdog before cooking it - that’s how easy it is.

What happens to the ‘naked’ dog?

The dog, still alive, skinless, bloodsoaked, in trauma, and of course, dying, is simply tossed into the back of a waiting truck.

It struggles with excruciating pain. It tries to stand up, but realizing it can’t anymore, it draws its last breath and dies. ******* We are made by God to be keepers of these wonderful animals. If our culture dictates we use them for food, clothing, transportation, or whatever, we still need to show them respect. Do we have to abuse them?

Here in the Philippines, we have various government agencies under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that

safeguard the welfare of animals. The United Nations Environmental Program also serves the same purpose worldwide.

But why does the Red Giant continue to do this? Is it because it does not have laws that protect the well-being and conservation of animals? Pandas are lucky because they are now protected. What about the others?

They should also have equitable, if not equal, rights.

We should be treating animals like we care for people. Animals have feelings, too. They experience pain, sadness, good health, and happiness. Let us be kind and gentle to them even if they will eventually end up on our buffet tables. There are proper ways of preparing these animals for food. I’m not saying that we should stop the Chinese from eating dog meat and all other taboo dishes they have. It is part of their culture after all; as long as the animals are not abused before they are killed, just like we saw it on social networking sites.

As what I have said in my article in the previous issue of the Mirror, respect begets respect - and even dogs or other animals deserve it. By the way, have I mentioned that the same horrible act is also done with cats, monkeys and other furry animals in China? The most horrific though is that Fetus soup is being served in Chine. Need I say anything more?

opinion

that’s all he gets when HIS FACE GETS HIT MISSING

Febrielyn S. Tumines

Photo Courtesy of Getty Photo Agency

Everyone seemed to be stuck to their flashies; I wonder how many bank robberies and doping sessions were reset just so thieves and junkies could watch every round of Pacman’s match.

When Pacman would throw his supersonic punch, imagine how many grandfathers leap with joy despite their recent attacks of arthritis; how many skip breathing for a second when his punch misses.

I wonder why we have forgotten so fast the good things he has done, just because he lost for the fifth time , three of which were in his last three “mediocre” fights?

Saying he lost because of a change in religion is religious bigotry. I don’t think the Big Man up there has some kind of favoritism.

Yeah, Pacquiao lost while Marquez won; but boxing is not like table tennis; any minute, their wives would be weeping over their husbands’ dead and cold bodies. But no, when the game ended, both were still alive ... and ready to box again – now that’s divine intervention!

If it’s the right path or the crooked one he’s leading in his religious life now, who can tell for certain? Good thing is, he didn’t find solace in drugs or alcohol, like Ricky Hatton did, but found it in the Word of God. Bad thing is, we made our judgment of him even before his weigh-in.

Remember his Alaxan Ip-R (FR) commercial? The one with the tagline “Aray mo, galing mo!” and the other one that also starred Mommy D eating a mouthful of ice cream in the foreground after telling Mah-knee [Manny], “Drink your milk

Back then, I never found interest in boxing; I thought of boxers as people who should get a life instead of punching each other on national television for people’s entertainment. (Only later did I realize that they’re actually paid millions of dollars for doing it!). But when Pacman came into the scene, Filipinos instantly became glued to their sets and Pacquiao’s boxing matches attracted more viewers than the President’s State of the Nation Address. purst![first]”? The camera then blurs Mommy D and focuses on Pacman drinking his fresh milk in obedience. How annoying - but it taught every child that if a man as strong and as tough as Manny still obeys his Mommy D, then all children should obey their mothers, too.

Now the camera blurs and focuses again on another boxer, Donaire and his McDo Fries. I think the only advantage of Donaire over Pacquiao is when the former starts to speak English with an American twang during

interviews after his matches. Not long ago, Pacquiao struggled with his eps [f], bis [v] and etch [h]. But lo and behold, now he can speak English above par, like a boss.

Pacman is losing his charisma, not because of the rise of new potential on the way, but because some Filipinos gave him a technical knockout through negative comments on the web and other media after his loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, and screaming at him with an L on their foreheads.

The pain is inevitable since Pacman feeds on

the affection of the media and once he loses it, he loses his face, too. Maybe it tells us something dreadful about Filipino mentality, that when a crab struggles to reach the peak of the bucket, the other crabs will pull him down.

So everyone is a loser and no one gets out of the bucket. Despite pacman’s encompassing dedication, “Laban ko, laban nating lahat.”

Well, even Jesus was not welcomed in his hometown.

Being a multi-hyphenated personalityboxing superstar- politician- actor- singermodel- host- philanthropistgolfer- endorserBible preacher- RH Bill opposergenerous godfather- obedient son- rich husband- doting father - it seemed Manny has already achieved more than what any average FIlipino could ever hope for, especially someone with his background.

Despite our I-know-there’ssomething-wrong-in-the-wayhe-sings criticism, who cares?

His albums still sell by the thousands, not because of his talent, but because people look up to him as a singing hero. And he teaches us again, that no matter how awful your singing is, how annoying you pronounce the fs, how much mud is thrown at you when you won’t use condoms, how wickedly people sneer when you spoil your mother by buying her dozens of Hermes bags - you shouldn’t mind them, because you can be anybody you want to be; to heck with them as long you’re doing the right thing and you have all the money to blow; and as long you’re paying your taxes just like any other good citizen of your country.

Like he said, “Sa bawat pagkatalo, dapat matuto tayong bumangon.” Now, who says he’s a loser?

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 5

religion there is more heat than what you have expected By jeremiah john p. vardeleon

Artwork by Anne Catherine D. Malazarte

Just like any other regular Catholic, Lorna, a sixty year-old professor, habitually makes the sign of the cross to signify her religious identity. However, her external devotion speaks little about her stern denial of one of the most basic teachings of the Catholic Faith. “God is infinite mercy, hence the existence of Hell is a contradiction to this truth,” exclaimed Lorna.

The Alarming Doubts About the Existence of Hell While the Church continues to preach about the existence and reality of Hell, such a daunting proposition continues to make many people today doubt the idea. For instance, one study conducted by the Gallup Poll revealed that in America alone, 30% of the population does not believe in the existence of Hell.

Thus, John Young, an author associated with Cardinal Newman, concludes that the society in which we are immersed is incapable of understanding even temporal punishment for sin. Eternal punishment is so far beyond its ken (perception) that it is stunned at the notion.

The Biblical Proofs of Hell The doctrine of eternal damnation is one of the most persistent themes in the New Testament, especially in the teaching of Christ Himself. To cite a few, Matthew 25: 34,41 revealed that Hell is created not at the beginning of the universe but at a later period, after the fall of the rebel angels.

In addition, the apostle John also mentioned in Apocalypse 12:8,9 about the dragon and all His angels being cast out down to Hell; not that they were confined to any local Hell, for they have been allowed to wander about the earth, tempting men; but they carry their Hell with them wherever they go, inasmuch as they suffer the torments of Hell everywhere.

The Twofold Repercussions The Holy Fathers, especially Innocent III (1194 - 1216), the Holy Scriptures, numerous church recognized apparitions and seers emphasized that Hell will always involve a twofold punishment ,i.e., deprivation of the vision of God and some kind of physical suffering.

For instance, the acknowledged apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima gave the seers a horrifying vision of Hell. Lucia dos

6 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

Santos described the great sea of fire shown them by Our Lady. “Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised up in the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side without weight or equilibrium, and amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear.”

Suicide is no Longer an Option One of the greatest agonies of those who are in Hell is the realization that their tragic condition will never change. In fact, many of the church-recognized seers would attest that those who are in Hell would prefer to annihilate themselves out of existence – but their spiritual nature will not permit them anymore. They are bound to suffer for all eternity.

St. Belarmine testified to this after his compelling encounter with a mad possessed by a demon who made a shocking testimony: “If there is a pillar connecting Heaven and earth and it were filled with sharp hooks and knives, I would gladly allow myself to be dragged up and down until judgment day if (in exchange) I will be allowed to behold God again – even just for a single moment.”

Unfortunately, the damned will never again see God. They are in the company of evil spirits and in fire, they endure great anguish of mind, and after resurrection, will have to suffer in their bodies, adds Spirago and Clarke, the authors of the Catechism Explained.

Nonbelievers Reject the Definitive Teachings of Christ Citing the case of Lorna, Mr. Josefino Laguna, MA, a theology professor at the University of San Agustin, pointed out that those Catholics who reject one or more

teachings of the Faith (Catholic Cafeterias) are in great error. He adds that the deliberate rejection of hell is formal heresy.

A striking remark was made by Blessed Sister Faustina in her diary (after she was granted a vision of Hell by God): “I am writing this at the command of God, so that no soul may find an excuse by saying there is no Hell, or that nobody has ever been there, and no one can say what it is like… But I noticed one thing: most of the souls who are in Hell do not believe in the existence of Hell…”

Denial is a Ground for Excommunication To put an end to the controversy regarding the immediate fate of souls after death, Pope Benedict XII issued (ex cathedra) Constitution Benedictus Deus, or the Doctrine on Hell, which states that, according to the general disposition of God, the souls of those who die in actual mortal sin go down into Hell immediately after death and there suffer the pain of Hell.

Nevertheless, on the day of judgment all men will appear with their bodies “before the judgment seat of Christ” to give an account of their personal deeds, “so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body (2 Cor.5,10).

Succinctly, it is the doctrine of the Church that a teaching defined as ex cathedra (such as the doctrine on Hell), when denied, incurs automatic excommunication.

(Enchiridion Symbolorum, Denz. 1839)

It’s Always a Personal Choice In an article released by an Italian Journal, La Civilita Cattolica, the authors point out that Hell exists because sin exists: It is nothing other than sin, if it is preferred as one’s goal, embraced as one’s end, and stretched out to eternity. Hell does not fall upon someone like an unforeseen accident.

It is man himself who, responsible for his actions, brings it upon himself.

What the... hell?

“I’m a fully devout Catholic but I don’t believe in Heaven and Hell. The world for me is Heaven. Why? Has anybody been to Hell? How sure are you that those things were not invented by people in the past?”

- Mrs. Lorna , an alumna turned professor in a Catholic university

the augustinian Mirror • May 2013 • 7

poly-ticks

how white envelopes sucked the integrity out of philippine politics By josefa maria a. castro

Artwork by Jerson E. Elmido

It was a warm May afternoon, and Joyce was exhaustedly dragging herself home from summer class. She couldn’t stop thinking about the surprise long quiz their teacher had so graciously given them earlier that day. Still consumed with regret as to why she hadn’t prepared for that quiz the night before, Joyce barely noticed the man standing, eyeing her furtively, roughly two meters away from her.

The man slowly approached Joyce and lamented to her in a low but demanding voice, “Miga, maka vote ka na?” With a raised eyebrow, Joyce replied to him, “Huo, ngaa man?” And as the man pulled out a small white envelope from one of the folders he was carrying, Joyce immediately understood where the conversation was going.

White envelopes, anyone?

The Philippines has long been dubbed as having a “dirty” political system. Not only has it been inter-nationally labeled as the most corrupt country in Asia many times over, but this tainted political system can further be traced down to the grass-roots level.

In Joyce’s case, the man held out the envelope and

8 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

persuasively said “Ari ho, fivehundred, halin kay bosing (insert name of local candidate here), basta, promisa ka nga butohon mo sya sa Lunes.”

“Finally, something to pay for my remaining tuition balance,” Joyce thought to herself. For a second, she actually pondered on the idea of taking the offer. What did she have to lose? After all, when May 13 came, she could still vote for whoever she wanted, and there was no way that the man (or his candidate) would ever find out.

In an article by the Philippine Star dated May 16, 2013, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez stated that vote-buying remained rampant in the second automated elections. Most of the reports received by comelec involved local candidates and

the amount used in vote buying ranged from P200 to P5,000.

Why they do it Jimenez further stated in the report that the incidence of votebuying may have worsened due to the automation of elections.“It gives a sense that it has become rampant since the (election) operators cannot manipulate the results of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, that’s why they resort to votebuying,” he said.

Jay*, a local politician explains why he thinks most politicians resort to such a dishonorable act. “When your opponent starts handing out envelopes days before the election and you stand on nothing but good faith and a promise to serve others, who do you think will the hungry Filipino

society

people vote for?”

“I wouldn’t really call it vote buying. The use of such a term is rather harsh since suffrage is a fundamental right for every citizen, and on the day of the elections, each citizen still has control over which names he wishes to cast his vote for. The act of handing out money is giving the people a false sense of promise, that if they elect them (the politician who buys votes), the people will be assured that their stomachs remain fed and their hands will never be empty once they are in power,” adds Jay. And it’s not just the envelopes, some politicians even hand out sacks of rice, cans of meat, or anything that the Filipinos sorely need at the time.

Not for sale Article V of the Philippine Constitution provides for one of our most basic rights and that includes the right to suffrage.

Rights are supposedly inherent powers made available to a person by the law, and should be protected at all cost.

Although several politicians have already been arrested after having been caught red-handed vote-buying, this culture is not something that can be changed overnight.

“Siguro, it’s something that the Filipinos should learn from. I believe in the saying that ‘people deserve the governments they have’ and if they choose to vote for a candidate who is in no way fitting for the position, but was able to hand out envelopes here

and there, then they should take full responsibility for what is to come and stop blaming the politicians who they empowered into office in the first place,” shares Jay with a grin.

In Joyce’s case, she admits that although she accepted the money, she still didn’t vote for the candidate who handed out cash.

“I just really needed the money at the time, and by not voting for politicians who resort to acts like that, we will be teaching them a valuable lesson.”

True indeed, politicians all over the country should start strengthening their moral fibers instead of strengthening their campaigns, and one day, they just might realize that they can’t buy something that’s not for sale. *Not his real name

Rights are supposedly inherent powers made available to a person by the law, and should be protected at all cost.

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 9

the not ‘green pa We cannot deny that it’s become easier to throw things out than to fix them. A problem solved for you becomes a solution for another’s troubles, especially for a waste picker.

10 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

society

so astures’ choosing to live in a different shade of green

By ayah danica v. granada and jesanny i. yap

Photos by Daniel P. Abutas

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 11

Calajunan in Retrospect A rubbish dump—a hulking mass of decomposing garbage building up to literally, a mountain, Calajunan dumpsite is a scavenger’s paradise and a poor man’s source of livelihood.

From a distance, it looks like an enormous mound of earth standing out amidst the vast rice fields that surround it; but upon closer inspection, it reveals a detritus of plastic bags, tires and bottles all squashed together -- the remains of Iloilo, 15,000 kilograms dumped each day.

Waste pickers can range from poor people rummaging through garbage in search of provisions such as food, to private collectors of recyclables who sell to distributors or traders, to organized sorters linked to unions.

Handling waste poses many health risks. The daily unprotected exposure to contaminants and hazardous materials includes contact with fecal matter, paper saturated with toxic materials, bottles and containers with chemical residues, disposables with bacterial residues, contaminated needles, and heavy metals from batteries.

Landfills are downsides to a society that values consumption over conservation. Still, they offer people like Mang Omar and Marlon 12 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

a steady source of income, without which they would not survive.

Stinking Routine At 7AM, Mang Omar’s job begins.

For today, Mang Omar wears a simple shirt, a pair of tattered knee-length shorts, and worn-out slippers. Under pouring rain or the scorching heat of the sun, he works thirteen hours a day at the Calajunan dumpsite.

“It’s a dirty job,” he said in Hiligayon, “but somebody’s got to do it, especially if you’re left with no choice.”

Earning a meager 150 pesos for a day’s pickings, Mang Omar and other “material recoverers” in Calajunan play an important, but usually unknown and unappreciated role in the Waste Management System of Iloilo City.

Sentiments about Sediments Mang Omar’s family has been living in the dumpsite for 27 years, so struggling to make something out of the 23 hectares of “nothing” is one job he knows very well.

Originally from Laguna, Mang Omar was forced to relocate and start a new life after he got married to his wife Lilia,* who’s a resident of Brgy. Calajunan.

But life seemed to be extra hard for

the both of them through the years as Lilia developed a cataract on her left eye and the sole responsibility of providing for the family’s daily needs was all on Mang Omar’s shoulders.

Traipsing through burning, rotting garbage isn’t exactly a picnic; nor is it pretty, but it’s real.

Soiled and Unspoiled A young boy, Marlon*, covered from head to toe in dirt walks by, carrying a large sack of empty soda bottles - the fruits of his labor for the day. His distressed appearance - plastic sandals two sizes too big for his feet, disheveled hair, and soot-covered face – makes him look like he’s been working at a coal mine. But despite the stark misery surrounding him, the lad still flashes a satisfied smile.

With the money earned from selling what he has scavenged, his parents barely manage to provide themselves and their four other children with just enough food and sustenance to get them through another day.

Child’s Home on a Wasteland As the middle child, eleven-year-old Marlon has gradually become accustomed to the world of labor. When asked about his plans for the future, Marlon merely shrugs

and mumbles, “I want to be a policeman’, sounding unsure of what lies ahead. After all, before he faces the challenges of learning how to preserve order in his community, he still has to contend with the acres of wastes he’s known his whole life.

Despite having to play the roles of a student on weekdays and a bottle collector on weekends, Marlon still finds time to share in the joys of childhood. “My friends and I play tag and hide-and-seek; sometimes, even at night,” he shyly reveals in his mother tongue.

It’s Not All Grime and Rubbish

Thousands of people make a living collecting, sorting, recycling, and selling materials that others have thrown away. As vital performers in the informal economy,

waste pickers are actually responsible for widespread benefits to our society, municipalities and the environment.

Still, they often face low social status, unacceptable living and working conditions, and are provided minor support by local governments.

According to Mang Omar though, for people who have lived in an unclean environment, no severe cases or deaths due to dengue have been reported. “I think it’s because we’re used to it already. We’ve been around waste for so long we have become immune to all sorts of sickness,” he adds.

Despite the risk the dumpsite poses to their health, they still choose to stay, since what they can eat depends on the amount of garbage they gather from the dumpsite every

day.

There have also been rare reports of jackpot winners at the Calajunan dumpsite, the 1-out-of-500 who has found four-leaf clovers in a field of weeds. “I heard about some people finding jewelry that was accidentally thrown away, which they later sold for the money. One even discovered a gold piece worth P56, 000. He left Calajunan to start a new”healthy” life. We get lucky sometimes,” Mang Omar shares. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure indeed.

Mang Omar and Marlon have found something positive in this dump (literally) despite their unfortunate situation. For even when their hands are empty, their hearts remain full. *Not his real name

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 13

society

yolo!

[You Only Live Online]

the epidemic of social media there’s a reason why we almost strangle our laptop while surfing the net By stephanie kay l. urquiola Screenshot from YouTube

“A journey to a thousand sites begins with a single click.”

This quotation pretty much sums up your life on the Internet; gaining access to the Internet is a lot like having your own superpower – as far as other people are concerned, you’re invincible. The World Wide Web, according to the World Wide Web Consortium, is the universe of networkaccessible information; an embodiment of human knowledge.

The total count of websites as of February 14 is 14.25 billion pages! You’d have to browse a total of 39 million pages a day for a year to be able to visit all these sites – assuming the count stays at that number.

Teenagers like me are the pioneers of the social media, which is why instead of doing my homework over the weekend; I usually end up surfing the net and catching up on the latest social gossip. While I was endlessly scrolling through my dashboard, which is a news feed filled with posts of the people you follow, several unique posts caught my eye – Clicking on the said posts, I carefully deemed that technology is becoming more and more of a weapon these days. A student making a scene at the LRT Station, a Senator accused of plagiarism, and a hacker group taking over government websites. Over the past few weeks, posts like these have become quite frequent – social scandals.

“AMALAYER!” By now, this word seems to have climbed its way to fame after a video showing a student of a university making a scene at the LRT Station spread like wildfire on the Internet.

The video showed the student berating a lady guard and shouting her now famous words: “So you’re telling me AMALAYER?” Mixed reactions followed this video, with some bloggers cheering her for her audacity, others disapproving because of her lack of manners, and the fact that she was still wearing her school uniform.

The student, Paula Salvosa, was 14 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

interviewed on national television after her video went from viral to epidemic. She insisted that the video failed to show the initial incident where the Lady Guard raised her voice at Salvosa and grabbed her arm.

“The video lacked factual information since the first part of the confrontation was not included and was too short. The reports are misleading and one-sided, these are acts of defamation.” Diversityhuman.org posted on their website, defending Salvosa.

“This case is unfair for Miss Salvosa. She

just a case of stolen words but also a robbery of their meaning. It is only right that the Senate act against this as a serious issue against ethics,” Bianca Espinosa, a student of Ateneo de Manila University commented.

Apparently, this case also lacked essential information. Frank Hilario, the Editor in Chief of Manila Times, defended Sotto by publishing an article which revealed that the blogger, from whom Sotto supposedly got his speech , also gathered her information from another book.

“If this is verified, then this blogger was the one who committed plagiarism and not Senator Sotto.”

“Anonymous Philippines”

should fight for her rights. This is bullying.”

The author further remarked.

“Na-Tito Sotto ka!”

This social scandal shocked not only the Internet citizens but the whole country as well. Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto who was known as a firm advocate of the RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Law which aimed to stop cybercrimes, one of them being plagiarism – the exact crime he was accused of. This news surfaced after Senator Sotto was accused of plagiarizing Former US Pres. Kennedy’s speech and after he copied a blogger’s article for another speech – both speeches were used to aid his RH Bill advocacy. Soon after that, jokes pertaining to copycats were labeled “Na-Tito Sotto ka!” or “Nagaya ka!”

Students and citizens all over the Philippines reacted vehemently as the news was announced to the public. “His case is not

The famous hacker group, Anonymous Philippines, decided to take their skills a bit further – hacking various government web sites which included the sites of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 3 (DENR-3), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and several more. The site was replaced with the logo of the hacker group and even included background music. While some people admired the hackers’ technique, a higher percentage of people disapproved of the methods they used to express their opinion.

“The hackers may have done it with good intentions, but it doesn’t justify their actions. One of the “ethics” of hacking is to protect people and not to harm them – which wasn’t what they were doing,” Keiko Nagano, a Computer Science student of De La Salle University remarked.

These scandals are just few of the many happenings on the Internet. With such a large number of sites, who knows what’s still out there? Next time, I hope these people would keep in mind that virtual reality is all too real nowadays; you should be careful about what you say – it may be used against you.

References squidoo Website • Mother nature network Website • Kopi Luwak Website • everyday health Website

it shouldn’t Be floating

e v i s o l p x E

floating stools are often an indication of high fat content, which can be a sign of malabsorption, a condition in which you can’t absorb enough fat and other nutrients from the food you’re ingesting.

Which Type is yours?

s t c a F

e Befor d n i m our S T S! feed y olon BUR C er yoUR a. s a B c

The Bristol Stool Scale or Bristol Stool Chart is a medically designed classification of the form of human waste. it was developed by heaton and lewis at the University of Bristol in 1997. have fun classifying yours! tyPe 1 hard and lumpy, like nuts tyPe 2 lumpy tyPe 3 Cracked tyPe 4 Smooth and soft tyPe 5 Soft, with clear cut edges tyPe 6 Mushy, fluffy, with ragged edges tyPe 7 watery

e joy lalag ca ristin By ch adrian c. Ma d e il omp by ray ics

graph

the most eXpensiVe coffee comes from poop!

More popularly known as kopi luwak, this coffee is fermented in the tummies of civet-like mammals locally called luwak in indonesia. The coffee cherries are consumed by these animals and the beans come out of them undigested. no worries, though. The beans are cleaned before they are roasted and turned into coffee. kopi luwak is expensive; it usually costs about php5,000.00-php30,000.00 per pound depending on its quality and country of origin.

Stool is made up of 75 percent water. The remaining percentage is composed of live and dead bacteria, fiber, other cells and viscous substance. in some countries, old and unsold books are recycled to become toilet paper.

farting is healthy harmless bacteria break down food in the large intestine. your colon is filled with bacteria that release gas as a by-product of digesting the food you eat.

Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation, with 3 and 4 being the “ideal stools” especially the latter, as they are the easiest to pass. 5-7 being further tending towards diarrhea.

inTERESTinG

Toilet Facts • dentists recommend that a toothbrush be kept at least six feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles from the flush.

• The average desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.

• an average person visits the toilet 2500 times a year. in total, you will spend about three years of your life on the toilet.

the augustinian Mirror • May 2013 • 15

culture

getting cold and hard what really happens after the white sheets come off

By JOYCE GEM M. CAñETE

Artwork by Anne Catherine D. Malazarte

16 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

If she were alive, she would have told her granddaughters and grandsons that what she went through was not at all similar to those shown in horror movies they watched late at night.

Finally I’m here. I bet her skull still hurt from all that constant banging on the bed they did not seem to care putting a pillow on. I cursed the unpaved bumpy road we had to take, and partly, the rough driver, too. An old man clothed in stone-washed and overused red sando scratched his wrinkled forehead upon opening the white metal panel door. Together with a young assistant, he raised her from her immobile position after eight long hours of travel. “That way, miss,” he said to me, cocking his head to the side. I sighed. This was the moment I’d been waiting for..

I followed them as they took her to a nearby chamber the size of her granddaughter’s bedroom back home, but this one was unpainted and already occupied by guests who we did not know.

Once again, she was laid down - this time on a cold white-tiled table, the one with the drain. I did not know if this was a good idea.

Rumors said that such a process was gruesome. Thankful that she wouldn’t be able to react, I closed more tightly my already shut eyes as they took off the white linen to expose her naked. Gross.

Samuel*, as the younger man called him, splashed cold water on her skin and meticulously lathered soap all over her body.

I bet she never felt this clean before except on her wedding day and at the last time she had a body scrub.

Taking a sharp scalpel, Samuel made an incision in her neck, exposing the sternocleidomastoid and the common carotid artery. He lifted the large blood vessel with an aneurysm hook which resembles that of Captain Hook’s but smaller and made a slit in it; then he slipped an L-shaped metal

pipe he called cannula, which was attached to a transparent tube. He then ordered Richard*, his young assistant, to prepare a liter of one part water and one part formalin with borax.

A nearby machine suddenly roared and a rush of cool liquid entered her system - starting from the neck down to her chest and limbs. Samuel rubbed his chin as he patiently watched with me beside him. After five sets of songs I hummed inside my head, he switched off the aspirator and, with his index finger poked almost every inch of her bareness. Funny, if I were her I would have laughed when he jabbed his finger into my tummy.

Once more, a roaring sound filled the claustrophobic room until all of her tissues swelled and hardened to his touch.

Samuel disappeared from my field of vision and reemerged, holding a red twine and a silver needle. With his calloused hands, he began sewing her neck, as if her skin was a torn blanket. Then in a split second, he turned around like a magician, except this time, he was holding a meter-long sharp

metal rod instead of a black magic wand. He stuck the trocar inside her belly with a quick accurate thrust until it touched the tissues of her chest, then he flipped the “discharge” switch of the same suction machine. Like a punctured swollen water balloon, body fluids slowly drained out of her system and travelled through the tube attached to a metal rod.

Awwww, that was SICK. Warm and scarlet, her blood soon drained out of her, bringing her body volume back to its normal size. A large glass jar the size of a Grecian urn was filling with body fluids after several minutes.

Samuel sealed the cut on her belly with the same needle and ease, and gave her another thorough bath.

Are we done already?

Great, I have been here for only thirty minutes, I fretted silently.

In disappointment, I watched Samuel take off his white suit surgical gloves, face mask and gown- and we left her together with the other three strangers with whom she would remain for two days. He called it “patulo” or draining, but I called it a waste of time. It was not until

Friday that I felt grateful for the delay. I realized that, even in death, patience is still a virtue as I learned that it was needed to drain the excess fluids and to prevent body odor.

Together with a team of three men - two of whom I had met earlier- we entered the room and dressed her up in a white dress. With an obscure talent in cosmetology, Samuel applied lipstick and a layer of powder on her face, her hands and neck masking the stitches he had made. Standing back, he smiled, exposing the lines of exhaustion around his eyes. I could not help but thank him for taking good care of Aling Dalming’s* remains.

If she were alive, she would have told her granddaughters and grandsons that what she went through was not at all similar to those shown in horror movies they watched late at night. It was, in fact, as near to a perfect sterile process as it could be. With the second pearl hooked to her earlobe, she was given a lift and set down on the last surface she would be lying in- a gold-lined white casket. *Not his real name the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 17

say what, Juan?

the curious case of filipino haBits By genessa a. BuenaFe

graphics by jerson e. elmido

18 • the AugustiniAn Mirror • May 2013

cUltUre

it was just nine in the morning… but it felt like i could boil eggs in my sneakers, Jasper* thought as he wiped a trickle of sweat from his temple. it was the first day of summer as the filipino-american-raised-in-new-Jersey landed in iloilo city, Philippines. clutching his samsung s4 with one hand, he tapped on the search bar the word ‘Philippines’.

Raised outside the country until he turned seventeen, jasper had no clue what half of his nationality meant. when he came out of the terminal, he saw his name painted on a banner hung in front of a jeepney full of people. he started to see familiar faces. My mom’s relatives. he thought. he was a stranger to his own culture; he was probably at the very bottom of his family heritage but it was time to start climbing out of the dark cultural rabbit hole and step out into the bright light of understanding the cultural peculiarities that he had never known.

Pointing with the… jasper is certainly not the only one who has noticed this Filipino habit.

Everytime we ask for directions or for someone, people would usually point them out using their arms or their fingers. But when we ask a Filipino the same question, lifting his hands may just be too mainstream, so he uses his lips. whether it is pointing out a person or thing, or pointing to where the rest room is, the lips are usually the most convenient for a Filipino. This is a habit developed from the way Filipinos carry most of their stuff with their hands. it is a habit usually misinterpreted mainly because the pursing of the lips has different meanings: ‘I want to kiss you’, ‘I have a lip infection’, ‘Look, my lips are kissable’… and the like. But for a Filipino, it also means being polite - since he can’t use his hands because they’re full so he has to use his lips instead.

smiling with the… in the philippines, smiling with the lips alone is not enough. along with a smile is the raising of our eyebrows a couple of times to show our delight .That’s the wiggle for you. in a hurry, Filipinos simply tend to raise their eyebrows without even smiling almost to show acknowledgment or to greet someone.

Everyone with an eyebrow - trimmed, plucked

or tattooed - does the wiggle when he meets an acquaintance, a friend, a relative, or even a stranger.

tao Po. tagbalay. ayoo. when visiting a home, the Filipino first asks himself: Should I leave my slippers outside the door or should I keep them on? opTion 1: Shoes on.

This act does not only tell the owners of the house that your shoes are expensive – because you wouldn’t take them off and leave them out in their “balkon” for the neighbors to admire – but also tells them that you are an important person...or just a person with zero tolerance for germs and bacteria crawling all over the floor. opTion 2: Shoes off.

This act tells the owner of the house that no matter how expensive your shoes are, you’re willing to take them off for a few minutes when you enter their home to show your great humility and respect for the home.

So what must we do with our shoes then?

The best thing to do is to watch the doorstep of the main door. if shoes are piled up in a row before it, then option 2 is a safe choice. otherwise, take option 1.

Kain tayo. Kaon ta. yaon Kita. let’s eat. Filipino food is about homemade comforting food that is sweet, salty, spicy, fatty, fishy, or hearty. when a Filipino family invites you to eat with them, it’s either they don’t want you to or want you to. Confusing, yes, but according to Tv host/ comedian Tim Tayag there are only three scenarios where this can happen.

Scenario 1: if you are an expected guest and are asked to eat, you have to eat or you will be considered rude. Eating with your hosts is a form of bonding and a way of showing that you are not above them. So eat, even if the food is unborn duck (balut), blood of pig (dinuguan), or adobo-style crickets (camaro).

Scenario 2: if your Filipino host goes through the trouble of sending someone to buy you soda and snacks from the corner sari-sari store, then by all means, eat. Even if you’re not hungry, a nibble and a sip will be enough to show your appreciation.

Scenario 3: if you walk into a room, and there is food on the table and people are about to say grace, or are already midway though the meal, they will invite you with a warm “kain tayo” (“let’s eat”). as a pop-up guest, you are not given a chair or a plate; instead you are politely asked to refuse.

Simply say “Thanks but i have already eaten. please go ahead,” then walk away with a sheepish smile.

last Piece syndrome if engaged in a meal in a Filipino household and when you come to a point where there is only a single piece of food left on the plate, you don’t want to be the “greedy” one.

Should you take it? no, you don’t want to. That one last piece is called the Filipino piece, or the dyahe piece. and what does that do? nothing. it’ll just sit there for people to look at. and if someone who takes it, he will be considered “greedy.”

Unfortunately for jasper who was in the middle of dinner, in the company of his four cousins, three aunts, two uncles, two lolas and a lolo, he took the last piece of the tortang talong from the plate. with his family laughing around him, he could only scratch the back of his head. Being the greedy one in the family – which was something he had no clue yet – was not always bad. what he did could also mean other things such as he was hungry, he liked the food, or he felt at home.

There are basically no rules in culture especially in habits. no wonder jasper couldn’t find it in the search results. There was obviously no manual for it. it was something that everyone should find out for themselves. *Not his real name

the augustinian Mirror • May 2013 • 19

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ro aria a. cast By josefa m nn Lanz B. Patiam

ge Photo by Thon Ray Adrian C. Macalalag g by Digital Editin

20 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

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ts would take lades. Studen co ac e th d an ds e gates of it for the awar lastered at th p in s e ce ar fa s” d ip p an b ns staff or “Pu ave our names n articles to h the Publicatio w at o d th k le d jerseys in b b th ri t h sc ing jackets an thing but ch o People mig n at o m d e o th h d w s an roduce ntellectuals” d the trophie ermined to p n o et d ey b an r th us for those “i fa re es o le go m various peop ng a Pub pip ersity, we are terviews with the school. n of the Univ ow is that bei in io kn ct at g ’t u n in lic d o o b n d u D . co p le n t e p eo al, w our ow studen What most p hieve this go s we can call ac of the official to rs To o h fe l. p af ta st ke en s ta A m idays. s to prove it. and develop rmation, and we sport on Fr have the scar first-hand info ell-researched en et w g e ev ar to rs rt at fe fo af th s st ef d go literally some l in an quality article o anything an the park, and d et vendors, al e re to d st ri g a in to s ill tly al w ac ci re ex - from city offi e known. We’ places is not u may not hav most remote e yo th n and dirty. at w in th o s s d w ip g ie p interv ns gettin the Pub ea to m e it d si if er en th ev So that’s ano at we need information th e th et g to e anywher

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 21

campus

when small is the new tall

meet amado cadiao and his five tips on conquering the big world By marylex g. sumatra

Photos by Daniel P. Abutas

Although small and short, he braved the towering figures ahead of him. Despite his being different, he chose to accept the challenge even if it put him at a disadvantage.

Armed with only faith and confidence, he figured in a classic David and Goliath scenario. Malicious whispers travelled across the hallway like wildfire as pene-trating stares of disapproval followed the brave-hearted boy — he needed nothing short of a miracle to come out victorious, so it seemed.

The Biblical story happened thousands of years ago and there are no such things as giants or gladiator fights today, but stories like that of David and Goliath still abound.

As for Amado Cadiao (or “Mads” as he is fondly called), an AB Political Science student suffering from dwarfism, he being a classic example of what many people would consider a midget, has grown accustomed to facing and triumphantly overcoming “giant” issues of social discrimination due to his condition.

According to Betty Adelson, a psychiatrist and author of a book on dwarfism, “among the daunting obstacles that all dwarfs face are omnipresent stares, comments, and often, ridicule... Dwarfs tend to be viewed in relation to their visible difference.”

The doctor is IN In a book entitled, Little Difference Dwarfism and the Media, Jenny Haberer defined dwarfism as “a genetic condition resulting in short stature... an adult height of less than 4’6 ft in women and 4’9 ft in men.”

Furthermore, she presented dwarfism as a condition that is untreatable, either a result

22 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

of a genetic problem or the effect of various medical complications right after birth.

In Amado’s case, he revealed that his condition is not hereditary, saying that “my family doesn’t have a medical history of this condition [dwarfism]... my doctor said the defect is in my chromosomes.”

Tip No. 1: Allow challenges to enter your life Beaming with confidence, he stepped down from the shaky jeepney and walked towards the entrance. After passing the guarded gates, he paused for a moment and raised his head to stare at the tall buildings in front of him which he considered to be another challenge that he had yet to conquer.

Apart from the constant bullying and inevitable stares, the 3’9 foot “tall” Amado proudly shared that he lives life like any other normal-sized person.

“During my first day in this University, I was not afraid of the possibility that others might do something bad to me... some called it confidence, but for me, maybe I’m just kabalan,” Amado laughingly recalled in Hiligaynon.

Tip No. 2: Learn to explore “Before coming here, I told myself that I wanted to be a lawyer someday,” he revealed.

“But as the days passed, I realized that being a lawyer would not be an easy job for me to have, especially with my condition.”

But, he discovered something that he was good at during his stay in the University, “I have special skills in make-up and hairdressing.”

Tip No. 3: Don’t be stagnant In life, everything isn’t always about sunshine and butterflies. Dark forces also come to play their roles as antagonists in any great story. “Being bullied is a normal occurrence to me... I was able to cope with it because a sense of motivation always encouraged me; and my mom also played a vital role.”

Though short, Mads didn’t hesitate to join various University-wide activities. One of which he was really proud of was his participation in the annual TGIF as make-up artist of their department, the College of Arts and Sciences.

According to Mads, “it doesn’t mean that when you’re a student you will simply study, you also need to enter different fields of passion.”

Ironically, Amado proved that size does not matter at all, that his size cannot be contained within the four corners of their classroom. For on his little shoulders lay the responsibility of his being SK chairman of their barangay and a member of the Board of Directors and active member of the PWD (Persons with Disability) in their municipality.

Tip No. 4: Accept reality and be optimistic According to an article by an educational organization named CALResCo, human societies are all about norms... such as standard ways to look... and to be judged abnormal is to be rejected.

Indeed, looks can be deceiving. In a book by Adelson, it is said that “people with dwarfism are likely to cite disadvantages.”

However, for Amado who has been living

with his condition for 19 years and has long come into terms with it, he thinks his disability is contrary to the belief of the majority. “Its advantages include special privileges... I am always given priority.”

Tip No. 5: Don’t be self-centered and always keep your feet on the ground As inviting as society can be, it is undeniable that it can also be harsh in various forms. However, today, society is fast changing—modifying itself to cope with the advances of time— what may be regarded as abnormal last decade may not be so abnormal a few years after.

“Go out of your comfort zone and be an inspiration to others,” Amado gleefully shared his outlook in life. “Don’t be afraid, because with the help of other people and with God as the center of everything, you can overcome anything.”

Success isn’t determined by a person’s height; everyone varies in size and shape but being small doesn’t mean that people will look down on you.

Although your line of vision may be below average, your perspective in life could soar like an eagle; no one can stop you from spreading your wings.

Four years have gone by and Amado had victoriously vanquished the many foes he bravely faced throughout his stay in the University as he finally marched up the stage to receive his diploma last April, accompanied by roaring applause from the crowd. Amado has these words for every student in San Agustin, “remember one thing: if I could do it... you could do better.-”

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 23

campus

Sa ilalim ng nakakapasong sikat ng araw kasabay ang pagtagatak ng bawat butil ng tubig mula sa katawan, natagpuan ni John* ang kanyang sarili na puro putik at tila naligo na sa pawis sa nagkakanda-kubang patayo’t payuko niyang gawain.

“Kabudlay gid tuod sang akon ginaubra pero kinanghanglan ko gid nga tapuson kag padayunun ini para lamang ako makaeskwela” Ang mabuhay sa kahirapan ay hindi naging hadlang kay John upang maipagpatuloy ang kanyang pag-aaral at maghanggad na makapagtapos ng kolehiyo.

Sa pag-aani kumikita siyang sapat na upang siya’y makapasok at magkaroon ng baon sa pang-araw-araw . Sa katunayan ang kanyang katayuan sa buhay ang siyang kanyang naging inspirasyon upang magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang bawat hamon at pagsubok ng buhay na humahadlang sa pag-abot niya sa kanyang pangarap. Ang kagustuhang makaahon at makatikim ng marangyang buhay sa hinaharap ang kanyang nagiging sandata upang malampasan ang kahirapang kanyang pinagdadaanan.

Sala sa Init, Sala sa Lamig Hindi niya alintana ang patuloy na pagbabagu-bago ng panahon sa maghapong pagtatrabaho subalit hindi pa diyan natatapos ang sakit ng katawan’t pagod ni John.

Pagdating sa paaralan ay samo’t saring trabaho pa ang naghihintay sa kanya.

“Kabudlay gid permi kung kapoy ka tapos pag-abot sa eskwelahan sako-sako ka pa gid. Waay nagid [ko] kabalo kung ano unahun ko.” Dagdag pa sa kanyang problema ay ang tambak na gawain at mga sermon na natatanggap niya, na siyang minsa’y naguudyok sa kanya para sumuko subalit tinitibayan niya ang kanyang loob para sa kapakanan ng kanyang pamilya at sa pagabot niya sa kanyang pangarap.

Para kay John, ang maghahati ng kanyang oras para magampanan ang lahat na gawain ay isang napakabigat na responsibilidad—isang bagay na isang maling hakbang at disisyon ay maglalaho ang lahat ngunit lagi niyang isinasaisip na ito lamang ang tanging daan upang sila’y makaahon sa putik na kanilang kinalalagyan.

Isang Pangarap Anak ng isang mananahing ina at ulila na sa ama, natuto si John na akuin ang bawat pasanin na naiwan ng kanyang tatay at ang

24 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

pinanghaawakan niyang pangarap—ang maging businessman.

Sa kanyang murang edad, eksperyensyado na siya sa mabibigat na gawain. Napagdaanan niyang maging kargador sa pier, maging manggagawa sa isang quarry at maging isang magsasaka.

Kung para sa iba sobrang baba ng mga gawaing ito, ngunit para kay John, lubos niya itong ipinagmamalaki sapagkat ito ang nagiging susi upang makapagpatuloy siya sa pag-aaral at mapunan ang pang-araw-araw na gastusin.

“Tanan nga obra kayanun ko, basta indi ko lang makita pamilya ko nga gapangabudlay kag para makaangkon man kami sang matawhay nga buwas damlag.”

Tagumpay Laban sa mga Hadlang Para sa isang mahiyaing binata katulad ni John, ang buhay raw ay “Survival of the Fittest”; kung sinong malakas ang loob ay siyang magwawagi at talo lahat ng mahihina.

At ang prinsipyong ito ay lagi niyang pinapatunayan. Sa bawat pangungutya’t pangiinsulto na natatanggap niya mula sa ibang tao ay mas lalo niyang pinapakita kung gaano niya pinagmamalaki ang kanyang ginagawa. Sa bawat hamon at pagkadapa ay siyang nagpapatibay at nagbibigay sa kanya ng determinasyong tapusin ang laban na kanyang nasimulan.

Dumating din siya sa puntong nawawalan na siya ng pag-asa, subalit sa tuwing nakikita niyang naghihikahos ang kanyang pamilya’y nakakaipon siya ng lakas upang patuloy na makibaka sa mapanlinlang na mundo. At sila nga’y nagsilbing inspirasyon niya at tanging sandatang pinanghahawakan—ang kanyang pamilya.

Sa bawat pagsubok na dumarating sa buhay ni John, lagi lang niyang isinasaisip na merong bagong pag-asa. Darating din ang araw na hindi na niya kailangang tiisin ang init ng araw at nananakit niyang katawan para malagpasan ang bawat araw na nagdadaan.

At sa pagdating ng araw na iyon, tatayo at makakaahon din siya sa putik na kanyang kinatatayuan. *Hindi tunay na pangalan

yaman sa putikan palabas na sya sa pintuan pero hindi pa nagtatapos ang kanyang araw sa silid-aralan NI EDRYLLE G. COFREROS

Dibuho ni Ray Adrian C. Macalalag

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 25

he

m

26 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

campus

ere comes the

man in blue get acquainted with the everyday heroes in our school’s hallways By ric martin l. libo-on Photos by Daniel P. Abutas

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 27

THE BLUE BRIGADE. The entire family of maintenance personnel from Pacubas Manpower Services together with the school-designated Supervisor of Outsourced Maintenance Personnel, Mr. Jessel Mella (fifth from right in front row).

28 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

Caught in a moment’s fervent pause, he looks straight ahead as the classroom stretches away in front of his eyes. He swings the broom back and forth as he sweeps paper wads, scattered candy wrappers, and swirls of chalk dust. His adept hands holds a broom to gather the litter, sweeps it into a pan, then dumps it into a waste bin. Although he does this routine every day, his eyes hold the same enthusiasm he’s had since day one.

Among the University’s unheard of sentinels stands a veteran. His mission is to get the job done and go beyond mere cleanliness. Perhaps longevity doesn’t only mean long life coupled with old age and experience; it could also indicate the measure of endurance in a different context.

“I am the longest serving custodian of the school,” Rafael Enabe, reveals in Hiligaynon. For nearly a decade, he has been rendering his services to the school day in and day out.

“It was in two thousand and five when I first entered the gates of the campus.

At first, I was hesitant to be employed since I also had errands to do at home,” he adds, wiping the droplets of sweat that covered his craggy facce.

Although he says that his job is tough and demanding at times, he also finds joy and self-fulfillment when he returns home. “I really get excited to see my two children after work and they are the reason why I keep going every day… they simply inspire me,” shares the 37-year-old, with a smile as he carries his broom, moving towards Aguirre Hall.

He puts the sweeper aside as he goes down the stairs of the building. “I have been assigned to clean and maintain certain places,” he says, “and you can usually see me dusting

the interior of the San Agustin chapel, arranging the chairs inside the classrooms of Rada Hall and emptying trash bins.”

After wiping the black board spotless, Rafael shares, “I once worked at a major shopping mall of the city for two years, but I can say that I am happier now

corners of his lips stretch into a grin.

Rafael is a member of the school’s maintenance personnel outsourced from the 40-yearold staffing agency, Pacubas General Services Incorporation.

It is reassuring to know that these noble men and women

“Our duty is to clean the University. It is our job to mop floors, wash windows, and clean bathrooms but I encourage the students to help us in cleaning the school even in simple ways like segregating trash in proper containers and being responsible for putting their garbage away, especially when inside the classroom.” that I have found my niche in this University.”

He looks away. He scratches his head with the tips of his fingers as he seems to recall a dim memory. “I dreamed of a different job,” he utters. “I had high goals back in the day but in order to provide for the basic needs of my family, I had to be a janitor”.

“Yet this doesn’t stop me from having big dreams, I just became more practical with what life has given me,” he says as the

do advocate a clean and green environment to make our stay in the campus as comfortable as possible. They are also taught and trained to ensure our safety.

“I have stayed this long because I enjoy the company of my peers,” he remarks. His eyes glint as he mentions their names one by one. “They are always there during the times that I need them. We have similar stories,” he says, “this could be the reason why we have become close and supportive of each other”.

With the implementation of the University’s Solid Waste Management Program, Rafael and the rest of the University’s cleaning squad are frontliners in our efforts to attain environmental sustainability and to safeguard public health through proper waste disposal.

“Students litter a lot,” he says in a serious tone, “but if it weren’t for their wastes, we wouldn’t have jobs, I would have nothing to spend,” quips Rafael as he breaks into laughter.

Still smiling, he adds “Our duty is to clean the University. It is our job to mop floors, wash windows, and clean restrooms but I encourage the students to help us in cleaning the school even in simple ways like segregating trash in the proper containers and being responsible for putting their garbage away, especially when inside the classroom.”

As the lights go out at Rada hall, Rafael is the last person to leave. When he heads out the door, he makes sure that the rooms are clean after everything that has taken place.

He goes home with a sense of accomplishment as everything else turns black, signifying the end of another day. It may seem like a daily routine, but before it becomes one, a person must first learn to strengthen his stamina, heart and dedication in order to have powers like this man in blue.

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 29

caMPUs

waste with attitude

an inSidE look aT ThE UnivERSiTy’S waSTE ManagEMEnT pRogRaM By joel s. sastrillo

photo by ray adrian c. Macalalag

no one can make you look ignorant other than yourself. if there are no cameras to watch our actions or someone to scold us, we act like lions freed from our cages - we do what we want to do. just a few more minutes before her next subject, Charity* sat with her friends on the red benches near Urdaneta hall. in front of them were girls chatting, sipping cold soda, and munching on some nachos. after a few minutes, they hurriedly packed all their things, except those plastic cups and food wrappers, to get ready for their next class.

Charity was disappointed over what they did, thinking, “They were gorgeous ladies

Usa Main campus

30 • the AugustiniAn Mirror • May 2013

raised in good families; why could they not simply throw their leftovers into the trash bins?” with a few minutes left in her break time, Charity herself picked the plastic cups and wrappers and threw them into a nearby garbage can.

This she had also done several times for others.

the Game Plan as stipulated in Circular no. 04, s.o. 2012 issued last july

2012, the waste management program (wMp), formerly known as the Solid waste Management Board hub (SawaSaMaBahu), of the University was created, among other programs, to enhance the overall learning environment in the campus. The said program was based on the University’s Mission statement,“to provide a wholesome atmosphere for an excellent teaching and learning experience in its campuses”.

Usa sambag campus

wMp targets all types of wastes generated within the two campuses (solid, liquid, hazardous, E-wastes, etc.)

Formally launched last november 13, 2012 after the Red Mass at the University of San agustin gymnasium. it highlighted the celebration of the augustinian Earth day.

The friar administrators, deans, presidents of personnel, alumni, parents, and student organizations made a pledge

where to throw trash crash course graphics by jerson e. elmido

of Commitment to inform and educate their members about the thrusts of the waste Management program.

May the odds Be ever in your favor “as part of the information dissemination of the said program, orientation sessions were held for all university personnel including janitors, teachers, laboratory personnel and instructors, building coordinators, unit heads/ representatives, and some student leaders, particularly those of the Supreme Student Council” said Mrs. Ma. delsa p. gange, Chairman of USa waste Management program.

Experts in the field of solid and toxic waste management from the general Services offices, public service division, western institute of Technology (wiT), the Center for Environment and natural Resources (CEnRo) and the department of Environment and natural Resources (dEnR) were invited to speak at the sessions.

To boost the campaign further, during the kaSanag sang paskwa celebration of the University in december 2012, a giant Christmas Tree was made by the Fine arts department using over a thousand plastic

bottles and tin cans for it to serve as a symbol of the school’s efforts in promoting environmental-awareness and proper waste disposal practices. “information dissemination is an ongoing activity, expect more in the coming days. we trust that each one will cooperate and educate students particularly on segregation. after all, the law, Ra 9003 on Ecological Solid waste Management mandates segregation of garbage at source,” added Mrs. gange.

from a Bird’s eye view Christian Mark gerawa, aa a student, (third year Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering) has this to say, “any project supported by individuals concerned will be a success. The only problem is people’s lack of response to it. ” at some point in our lives, we need a person like Charity to show us just how picking up that piece of trash others seem to ignore can make a difference in making our world a healthier place to live, work, and study in. “we would like to encourage student participation through positive reward such as Recognition for College/ department or students noted to abide by the policies on waste management”, she concluded.

shredder

Junk shop Mrf

compost

waste management flow chart graphics by jerson e. elmido

livelihood Program

city collection facility

Dumpsite

the augustinian Mirror • May 2013 • 31

filth fighters on stage the journey of the usa little theater’S basura busters

By JOYCE GEM M. CAñETE

Photos by Thongenn Lanz B. Patiam

“AAAAHHH!” Gino Gwapo sprinted away from Lola Laway while the 7 to 15 year-olds covered their eyes with fingers spread. In a split second, the auditorium was filled with the kids’ cheers and I knew, at that time, this was certainly not just a play.

It seems like the University of San Agustin Little Theater (USALT) is keeping in sync with the University’s Waste Management Program for a better color wheel; they did not only go green but red and gold as well. Mr. Eric Divinagracia, USALT’s artistic director, admitted that they planned the play to be environment-related to align with the school’s waste management program. “In fact, if you have noticed, the trash bins we used are by no means an accident- they are the same trash bins of the University- so it’s tied up to that,” he says in a truth-be-told voice.

Worth noting, the costumes and the first set (the one with scaffolds) were recycled and reused from the University’s trash and old costumes of USALT, thus the play was

32 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

basically low-cost and advocacy-driven.

The company also decided to use tarpaulin as part of the set when they go mobile, that is, in the hope of taking Basura Busters on tour to other schools and communities. “When we use tarpaulin, there’s reusability. You can actually use it several times over with the least amount of effort and with strong impact,” Divinagracia points out. Practical and wise, they would collect the trash in a net so that when the audience participate to take down Basura Monster, the parts can be repaired and reused for the next show.

Trash, Cash and Everything Nice Now, what’s better than bringing

something back to where it was created?

Not only has USALT shown the Negrenses the completed play that three of the LT members, namely Zab, Ron and Divinagracia himself, wrote while attending a workshop in Bacolod City last semestral break; but they also showcased to our fellow Ilonggos the magic of play and its cause - to promote the 4Rs, with the last R standing for Raise funds for the International University Theater Association (IUTA).

The story revolves around three kids, or the main characters, namely: Zabdiel Reyes as Tony “ Tony Tinlo”, Production Manager Khlea Mae Alibusa as Leah “Leah Limpyo” and Production Designer Ron Matthews Espinosa as Gino “Gino Gwapo”, who fought Buyong

arts

Basura, voiced by Reymark Benedicto, to save their parents as well as monsters John Michael Harder as Hector “Higanteng Higko”, Laragene Servando as Lola Lalay “Lola Laway” and Cassandra Gayle Luis as Inday Kara “Kara Kagaw,” respectively.

Divinagracia composed the musical piece which was a cross between a lullaby and a love song rendered by the three kids a capella.

Up, Up and Away Basura Busters has been to different places, with several more marked on the calendar. Just last November 13 and 14, they took to the stage of the USA Auditorium for the IUTA; on November 30, they participated in Duag Teatrokon, a theater festival, in Bacolod. The conference room was also filled with theater enthusiasts on January 18 and SM City was no exception as the company gained new fans there last February.

Indeed, it is safe to say that Basura Busters has taken the play to a new level - from the sound, the sets, the costumes, to the roles portrayed that are regularly changed depending on the type of audience and available space. Even the actors and actresses’ lines and adlibs that are not quite incidental are modified to suit the spectators’ reactions and to keep up the show’s interactive appeal. The consistent use of Oppa Gangnam in one of the scenes, provides the right ambiance, considering that the Harlem Shake was not popular back then.

With Great Number Comes Great Power When asked what makes BB special, Divinagracia, answered without hesitation, “It connects to kids.” Not only does it encourage them to go onstage and take action, but it also allows them to interact and warm the hearts of many. He further says, “…It’s a lot of fun for the kids and, literally, a play for them, We hope the kids will grow up and embrace the theme, the topic; and them wanting to be Basura Busters.”

Remarkably, the play shows the core values of an Augustinian: Unitas, Veritas, and Caritas. To be precise, it shows that it is by working together as a community that we can take care of the environment, with the truth that it is God-given and should be safeguarded. It compels the hands to do community action, the heart to love Mother Earth and the mind to aspire to be a Basura Buster. The USALT adviser affirmed this when he stated that the intention of the play is to provoke and for the kids to be aware and be encouraged, although they may not change for life.

As L (Lawliet) of Deathnote said, “However gifted you are, you alone can’t change the world,” Divinagracia repeatedly stresses that it does take a village to help a village as he notes the reaction of kids when they eagerly go up the stage to help take down the Basura King. He laughingly says, “Looking at the audience’s reactions and the actors who look happy working with their

viewers’, even if ginasipa na sila sa sulod ni Basura Monsters.” Precious is the right word for that.

Got A Problem With That?

Every show has its own issues to contend with. In the case of the BB actors and actresses, it is the changing environment. The keep-it-fun-tight-and-entertaining line has become their mantra, thus, they themselves must have a happy disposition despite the difficulty of juggling academics and production work. It is an even bigger challenge for the actors to inspire the audience, including the jaded ones. Nonetheless, the production puts its best foot forward when watched by young audiences. Thanks to them, especially to the kids who are, in fact, the main actors of the play. The success of the theater company even after the curtains close and the lights disappear, serves as an inspiration for them to keep the sincerity of their acting alive and vibrant.

“The play is a work in progress; we plan to take it on tour, translate it into different languages, and make it into a musical.

We look forward to taking it wherever it is needed. There’s a barangay Halabuyan Norte everywhere so we plan to visit each of them,” Divinagracia concludes.

At the end of the play, Basura Busters serves as a test for the audience…who is willing to help and be in the game?

Each is a hero and a villain in his own way; he can either pick trash or throw one.

CURTAIN CALL. Josefa Maria Castro, The Augustinian Mirror EIC with Eric Divinagracia (middle), Artistic Director of the USA Little Theater and the “Basura Busters”.

the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 33

arts

One’s Trash, anOther’s Treasure it may just be a complete trash. but for some, it can be an ultimate artwork By seulgi j. han

Photo Courtesy of Bachelor of Fine Arts Program

Whether it is a soda can, a plastic bottle or a Styrofoam container, we are guilty of a crime against nature, and that is improper waste disposal.

Consumers usually abandon these wastes after they have served their purpose.

What makes it alarming is that it happens so frequently that to some, it has become into habit. By doing so, we are contributing to the estimated 10 million metric tons of solid wastes improperly disposed of each year (ecogovproject.denr.gov.ph). Now, that’s huge! But fear not, dear Augustinians.

Innovations are being done to reduce wastes by means of recycling and reusing.

Fortunately in the University, it comes in the form of sculptures and holiday decorations.

Tracing Its History Prior to the University’s go-green campaign, the Fine Arts department has already been creating connections between art and trash. “ We’ve been doing recycled art exercises every now and then as a project in the materials class. It falls under the concept of altered objects or appropriation wherein new life and meaning is given to an existing object”, shares Mrs. Yannie Rose Tuazon, a Fine Arts teacher.

According to bellaonline.com, altered art has a historical base that goes back to the middle ages where monks altered their old manuscripts, reusing precious

34 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

parchment pieces for new material. Even da Vinci painted over and over on his journals.

It continued into the Victorian times when women put their scraps into albums thus, creating the first scrapbooks! Altered art has become an influential twist on modern art, inspiring artists like Marcel Duchamp who altered a Bedfordshire urinal and entitled his work the Fountain.

When Recycling Meets Art

Among the many forms of altered art, recycled art takes its place on bottle cap portraits, computer key bags and recycled RTW’s. In benefits-of-recycling.com, it is said that recycling has been around for thousands of years. Swords, pots and other metal items were melted down after they have served their purpose, then recycled into coins, statues and even household items.

“I think it is a very meaningful act for an artist to be able to experiment on meanings that objects can have.... recycled art not only teaches students to value nature but also invites them to be part of the advocacy of making the world a better place,” Tuazon remarked.

In the University, students and young artists alike are encouraged to participate in

the advocacy through displays, contests and exhibits that showcase their ingenuity in the rebirth of trash. Here are some of the entries that have been exhibited:

Not Your Typical Toy Unlike Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, both of which transformed from car parts in the movie Transformers, this miniature member of the family boasts of a foundation of aluminum cans, wires, ball pens and wood.

Being one of the exhibited artworks during the Allegory exhibit held at SM City Iloilo on March 29,2012, its complex structure and design caught the interest not only of young audiences but by adults as well.

Created from guarded processes entailing framework and piece by piece adhesion of its parts, this creation is a “dynamic sculpture depicting motion,” explains artist Jester John Macabanti.

The Modern Christmas Tree Stereotypical pine trees take on a challenge in preserving its traditional role in the yuletide season with this alternative. First of its kind, this popular holiday decoration stands 27 ft. tall and has earned the center spot during the University’s Christmas celebration. The creation that wowed many spectators is a fruit of the union of almost all Fine Arts students driven by passion and artistic inspiration. But wait, there’s more.

Plastic bottles, aluminum cans, nylon strings and recycled star ornaments from NSTP classes are just some of its building blocks.

From the making of the steel armature and plastic bottle tree branches to the hanging of aluminum Christmas balls and installation of lights, it required the dexterous touches of eloquent artists.

Imagination goes a long way when incorporated with the right materials and artistry. With an eye for art and a heart filled with passion, an artist can create what seems to be useless to many but can become a defining masterpiece to others.

Efforts are being made to generate other ways of recycling trash, without forgetting the fact that the greatest recycling artist is Mother Nature herself. Preserving nature means safeguarding our origin and keeping us alive.

And how do we do that - simple- by getting rid of the litter bug in us.

fooD&lifestyle

SKEWERED TRUTHS about

street platters food per se is not dangerous says city mayor sara duterte-carpio of davao, improper food handling is

By WilhelM c. liZada

with Reference from sunstar.com photo Manipulation by ray adrian c. Macalalag photos by daniel p. abutas

the augustinian Mirror • May 2013 • 35

Confronted by an array of delectable choices, Wowie*, a student and a regular customer, simply grabbed several sticks of grilled meats from a platter, then dunked each stick in a jar of sweet, thick orange sauce, and twirled it a few times to coat it completely. Finally, he pulled it out, angled it towards his mouth and took bites, morsel by flavorful morsel.

“I swear, I am a lover of street foods,” Wowie declares, as he chews on the last piece of skewered meat he had bought.

Day in, day out, right after his class ends, he goes to the isaw cart just across the street from the side gate. Without preliminaries, he gives his order of assorted skewered meats and innards, the ultimate in Pinoy street food. “It keeps me going, it gives me strength for my next class; besides they’re delicious and affordable,” he giggles. With 2.5 million people eating street foods every day, according to a study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Wowie is just one of the numerous food lovers all over the world lured by the tempting tastes of street edibles despite their questionable quality.

“Street foods are ready-to-eat foods and beverages prepared and/or sold by vendors or hawkers especially in the streets and other similar places,” FAO says.

Like Wowie, many people prefer to eat street foods for various reasons. “Filipinos are known to enjoy the average three meals a day plus merienda or snacks.” Henrylito D. Tacio of the Philippine Daily Inquirer mentioned in his article, Street Foods: To eat or not to eat. He further revealed, “Filipinos... race to the streets to satisfy their hunger for their favorite street foods for a few pesos.” But he adds, “although eating street foods may be a cheap notion, still, there are certain threats concerning health.

Within the Limits of a Coin “With at least 25 pesos out of my allowance, I get to complete my fourth meal, merienda, a combo of my favorite street foods and a cup of buko juice,” Wowie says.

A popular kiosk serves scrumptious artery-clogging fried chicken pops and chicken skin. Packed on a strainer, the pieces of chicken skin are removed from the hot oil in a pan and hung over it for the excess oil to drip back into the very same pan where they

36 • the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013

were cooked.

On a big stainless plate nestle orange balls of kwek-kwek made from boiled quail eggs coated with flour and eggs and fried until golden brown.

“There’s nothing more to complete my merienda than dipping the skewered foods in a special thick orange sauce, ” Wowie chuckles as he adds, “Pantulak (chaser) is also essential. It is very good when paired with these foods. I also enjoy drinking fresh buko juice with condensed milk bought from a food cart just right beside the cart where I buy those street foods.”

can contribute to the contamination of foods, such as the improper preparation of raw ingredients. The cooking area should be clean, waste materials should be properly disposed of, the food should be stored in clean containers and with the right storage temperature because bacteria proliferate in higher temperatures.

“On the other hand,” Dr. Ende adds, “some street foods are healthy for consumption like sweet corn, fruits and fresh buko. Others are healthy if taken in moderate amounts.”

Hungry for More?

“Street foods are safe to eat as long as they are prepared in a clean manner and stored properly. The person preparing the food should also pass the sanitary requirements (i.e normal chest X-ray and normal stool exam),” Dr. Ende concluded.

Having consumed too much street food, Wowie felt his stomach ready to burst.

He knew that anytime soon, he would be cleaning out his own intestines. He walked away, leaving more people like him crowding around the food cart waiting for their orders.

“The street foods will always be there waiting for me to come back again and again adding more bumps to my tummy,” he chuckles. “I did not just please myself eating street foods; I also got to help the vendors and our local economy as well.”

Despite the economic challenges and disparities that the country is currently facing, the streets will always be the “runway” for the latest concoctions of street foods and their history of Filipino culinary culture. As long as food carts continue to provide people with affordable, tasty and convenient street foods, foodies like Wowie will always grab those grilled skewered foods and immerse themselves in the sights, smells, tastes of what is truly, uniquely Filipino. *Not his real name

“To complete my list of favorite street foods marinated, skewered, and grilled to perfection, here are my top hits: isaw (intestine), batikulon (gizzard), atay (liver), thigh, iwi (butt-end), adidas (feet), betamax (dried blood in cubes), together with pork strips and other parts,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tacio believes that street foods represent a significant part of urban food consumption for millions of low-andmiddle-income consumers. “Street foods may be the least expensive and most accessible means of obtaining a nutritionally balanced meal outside the home for many low-income people,” he says.

Savoring the Dirty Truth “Eating street foods may be cheap,” Tacio explains, “but there are also dangers that can cause serious health problems.”

Vincent Ende, RMT, MD, a general practitioner, agrees as he enumerates the effects of eating too much street food. “Kwekkwek, fish ball and balot are foods high in cholesterol; barbeque foods may increase the risk of having cancer; fried chicken, grilled intestines and salted peanuts increase uric acid levels.”

Dr. Ende explains that a lot of factors

Ingesting the Verdict

EXOTICA DELI if we have Balut, these countries also have their own BiZarre culinary contriBution to the food-loving world compiled By joseFa Maria a. castro graphics by ray adrian c. Macalalag

ITALY’S MAGGOT CHEESE

SCOTLAND’S HAGGIS Considered to be a delicacy in Scotland, haggis is made by chopping up the liver, heart and lungs of a sheep and mixing them with diced onion, spices and oatmeal.

The mixture is then packed into a sheep’s stomach, the ends are securely tied and the entire “bag” is then boiled for a few hours.

“Casu Marzu”, literally translated as “rotten cheese”, can be found in Italy. It is made by riddling sheep’s milk cheese with the larvae of a cheese fly. Fermentation occurs as the larvae digest the cheese fats making the texture soft, with liquid seeping out. The cheese is eaten with the maggots still alive in it to avoid toxication.

JAPAN’S FROG SASHIMI Found only in select Japanese restaurants, an order of frog sashimi consists of no less than a plate of raw frog’s meat arranged around a frog’s pumping heart placed right in the center of the plate.. This dish is believed to improve virility.

VIETNAM’S SNAKE & SCORPION WINE This wine produced in a small village in Vietnam is safe to drink and is said to treat back pain, rheumatism, lumbago and other health conditions. It is also a strong natural aphrodisiac. It has been considered an effective curative for thousands of years but is also widely thought to increase male virility.

SOUTH KOREA’S LIVE OCTOPUS In Korea, the term “food fight” isn’t like the one usually portrayed in movies. In some restaurants, live octopus is served and you literally have to fight with your food before you can savour it. A serving of this dish will have the chef cut up a few tentacles from a living octopus, then it is seasoned with various spices. Once served, the customer will have to fight to chew it since the tentacles stick to the teeth, the walls of the mouth and the tongue.

photos Courtesy of Adam Balic • Abram22 Blog • national geographic • World According to Cheese • Daily Mail uK

A MAKEOVER FOR A LEFTOVER salvaged Buffalo wings By jerson e. elMido

photos by ray adrian c. Macalalag

Back in 1964, Teressa Bellissimo discarded chicken wings at her restaurant called Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York.

However, she realized that she could fry the wings and serve them.

Thus, the first Buffalo wings blazed a hot culinary trail.

38 • the AugustiniAn Mirror • May 2013

the enticing smell made my mouth water. i grabbed the first piece although it was still steaming, bit a chunk, and licked the juices oozing out of it. My fingers were all moist as i pleasurably stuck them one by one into my mouth to savor the taste. While enjoying the guilt-free, crispy-fried chicken, i couldn’t help but observe other people within the store and one table came into focus. a sudden disappointment struck me.

Roughly five feet away from where i was sitting, there was a clean, untouched plate of bite-size pieces of chicken surrounded by empty food containers. perhaps, the customers who had sat there were in such a hurry that they did not bother to finish their meal, leaving the fried chicken untouched. i’ve been a fan of fried chicken since i was a kid. That is why, every time i visit a fast food store and see chicken leftovers on the plate, i’m quite saddened. i can’t imagine how much of it goes to waste every day. So, to do something about fried chicken leftovers that would be thrown away anyway, i did an experiment – i recycled chicken leftovers and turned them into an easy-to-prepare but classy culinary dish.

To avoid sanitary issues, i only used our own leftovers at home and set to work in my humble kitchen. i decided to make chicken buffalo wings.

My first experiement was quite a hit with my relatives. Encouraged, i prepared a second dish, this time for the discerning food lovers in school. as i was slicing, pouring and measuring, i remembered how the first Buffalo wings were made. Back in 1964, Teressa Bellissimo discarded chicken wings at her restaurant called anchor Bar in Buffalo, new york. however, she realized that she could fry the wings and serve them. Thus, the first Buffalo wings blazed a hot culinary trail.

But there’s more to coming up with a deconstructed dish than just experiencing a delicious sensation. one of the food tasters, UCRp director Mr. jigger latoza, hit the nail right on the head when he said, “it’s a good idea to bring food to the table in a new form.”

So here is the recipe for recycled fried chicken-turned-buffalo wings. you may adjust the amount of the ingredients to be used depending on your taste. Bon appetit!

food&lifestyle

Buffalo Wings recipe

Buffalo Wings vary in the amount of spices used, so choosing the brand of hot sauce and the amount of cayenne are absolutely necessary. Here is the recipe for this dish. Preparation and cooking time is approximately 10 minutes.

Ingredients 10 pcs fried chicken wings 250 grams unsalted butter, melted 1 cup hot pepper sauce 4 Tbsp Tabasco sauce 1 1/2 Tbsp white vinegar 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper 1/8 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp salt 2 Tbsp sugar

Preparation Put fried chicken leftovers in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Put all the other ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat. Stir occasionally, then turn off heat.

Pour the sauce over the wings and toss to completely coat. Serve with a blue cheese dip or celery sticks (optional).

THE FOOD CRITICS. (Clockwise from top-left) Mr. Jigger Latoza, Director of the University Center for Research and Publications; Ms. Amy Lachica, Baker of the USA Food Service; Mrs. Mercy Coldez owner of Kirk Bryan’s Food Corner; and Ma. Christina de la Torre, a BS Hotel and Restaurant Management junior in the University. the Augustinian Mirror • MAY 2013 • 39

revieWs photos and poster Courtesy of aMc network

WE DON’T KILL THE LIVING a review of the most infectious series of the season By rochelle louise o. doroMal

waking up on a hospital bed in a world wherein more than half of the population is already dead, Rick grimes, a sheriff deputy played by actor andrew lincoln, awakens to this chaos. Bodies are piled outside and walkers, zombies caused by a disease, have overrun the whole world. Rick returns to his house and realizes that his wife and son are nowhere to be found. hearing of the possibility that survivors might be in atlanta where it is said to be safe, he heads out on a mission to reunite with his family whom he believes are still alive. on the way, he comes across people who become his companions and help him escape from the walkers and return to their camp where a surprise awaits Rick. More sacrifices and difficult decisions 40 • the AugustiniAn Mirror • May 2013

are made. The group decide to move to the Centers for disease Control (CdC) where they meet dr. Edward jenner (noah Emmerich), the only person left there who has a plan to destroy CdC ,with him in it, as the group race for their lives.

Escaping safely, they decide to head on to Fort Benning. More problems arise. luckily, they are taken in by the greene family.

Shane walsh (jon Bernthal), Rick’s best friend, starts having doubts about their chances of survival causing everyone to fall into a state of panic. More walkers arrive as they leave the barn.

Comfort, time, values and one’s own self-esteem become unimportant and meaningless when man fights for survival. it can lead him to do things he has never thought of doing. The

walking dead, based on the comic book series of the same name, shows how survival can lead to either losing oneself or becoming stronger.

The story is one thing, but the zombies themselves deserve accolades of their own. From their make-up, to their cries, to their shredded clothes, the series was successfully able to capture how any zombie-loving fan would have pictured these creepy creatures in their heads, spot on. developed by Frank darabont, The walking dead is a television series that is worth watching. it is gory and gruesome but in the best way possible. Both adults and young adults with strong stomachs could easily get engrossed in the series. The emotions of each character are felt and every scene

is heart-pounding. Every turn of event ignites great interest among the viewers and arouses their curiosity about things yet to come. with every season, the series keeps the fans thirsting for more as every plot brings out the best and the worst in every character, draws out deeplyburied fears in every series follower, and grips the fans in the gut with every suspenseful and tense scene. it is so infectious in its appeal that it has become an obsession for some and a cult favorite for others. zombie fanatics and thrill-seekers alike will surely take pleasure in keeping up with this muchanticipated series. if you find dawn of the dead or any zombieinfested flick interesting enough even if it grosses you out, then The walking dead is just for you.

Compostion, Photo, and Manipulation by Ray Adrian C. Macalalag • References National Geographic • Good Housekeeping

Photo by Daniel P. Abutas