The Augustinian Newspaper Features Fold October 2018

Augustinian the

Volume LXIV • Number 3 October 5, 2018

FEATURES FOLD

USA PUB PHOTO • BOBBIEJO M. HEALEY

THE ART OF HEALING, THE ART IN HEALING Renewing lost hearts through the splashes of color and the patterns of mandala

BY ERIKA DANIELLE M. PEPITO AND EVERILD DOMINIQUE A. CAMIQUE

Ma. Rosalie Abeto Zerrudo is the very definition of passionate.

Inspired by the plight of women and children in disaster, she, and the Fine Arts Major Organization (FAMO), wanted to contribute to rekindling the spark of hope in them. She found the answer in art.

Because of this drive to serve, she compiled hundreds of drawings from several Fine Arts students of the University of San Agustin into a single coloring book entitled, Kurit Ilonggo.

Launched last July 21, 2018 at Cinematheque Iloilo, the book is composed of mandalas.

A mandala is considered as a sacred symbol of healing, with geometric lines and shapes that represent the crests and troughs one must go through in life.

Metaphorically, these mandalas illustrate the experiences of their main beneficiaries, children who find themselves helpless in the midst of tragedy, and the promise that gray days will be replaced

with ones of color.

WITH EVERY STROKE Before bringing the vision of Kurit Ilonggo to life, the mandalas have already reached as far as Nepal, with the hopes of alleviating the suffering of the children stricken by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that shook them last April 25, 2015.

“We decided to put together a series of drawings of the students of Fine Arts. The first is we actually sent like several coloring pages to Nepal [for] the children in disaster during the earthquake.” The said earthquake killed nearly 9,000 and injured almost 22,000 people.

During the five-month Marawi siege, the Dear Marawi coloring zines were conceptualized. Its first batch was launched with 99 zines (correlating to the 99 names of Allah) shipped to Marawi to be distributed in the evacuation

centers that shelter children from the war. “So that was Eid’l Fitr, when I decided [on] what we can give for the children. We want something that we can create ourselves. We thought we can send them our drawings as a coloring book. So it’s very important for you to create that kind of colored joy, that kind of mental space, for children to actually have their own space in evacuation centers [away from] chaos, pain, and fear.”

Maria Cristy Daguay, director of Social Advocacy and Community Engagement Office (SACEO), shares of the initiative

by Zerrudo and FAMO to help the Marawi siege evacuees.

“When Ms. Rosa told us about the project, SACEO immediately moved to help. After all, one of our programs is CARES, (Calamity Action Response Efforts and Services). Under this program, we organize activities that would respond to the needs of those in disaster, in their basic and even psychosocial needs.”

WITH EVERY SHADE Zerrudo reiterated that there is also the pressing need to rebuild the inner infrastructure of the children “to light up the hearts

USA PUB PHOTO • STEVEN JOHN N. SUMBIN G

“A simple gift of paper and crayons can mean the world to children. As artists, this is the language we know best through lines and colors. We wish to reach out to the world and the cheapest way to travel is through the artworks we created for children. We transcend the pain and through the lines and colors and we hope the shared stories transform our lives.”

of children in disaster by creating new colors in their lives. Basically even for them, to reimagine this colorful world [through] this colorful mandala, is already a very inner journey of also activating the light inside them.”

Kurit Ilonggo is just one manifestation of FAMO’s multitude of projects that are community-oriented. FAMO is among the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations of the Philippines for their Siri-siri nga Sari-sari project, their mural paintings and colorful sari-sari in Sooc, South San Jose, Molo.

Hilway Art: Freedom in Prison

is iconic because it’s called Inday Dolls, it’s of Visayan women and being made in Iloilo. It also tells the story of these women going through personal disasters in prison, and I think this is very important for them, to be able to express their own anguish and pain, and also creating a mental space for the women because they don’t have that space in the prison.”

A HOPE THAT HEALS Kurit Ilonggo is priced at 500 pesos, which covers the printing costs and postage. Proceeds will be directed to helping more

think it’s important to give them that space, that kind of creative play space,” Zerrudo shares of Kurit Ilonggo going to places.

Along with helping those children in disaster, Zerrudo and FAMO plan to create a project named, ‘BLib’ or ‘The Bike Library.’ “We want to put art materials, and coloring books, like this, and then go to other places, and go to places where there are children and maybe play with them and maybe do some art projects with them, while on our bicycles.”

Art can come in many forms.

For Zerrudo and FAMO, it is in the

“THERE IS ALSO THE PRESSING NEED TO REBUILD THE INNER INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CHILDREN ‘TO LIGHT UP THE HEARTS OF CHILDREN IN DISASTER BY CREATING NEW COLORS IN THEIR LIVES.’” focuses on the female inmates of the Iloilo City District Jail Female Dormitory and freeing them from behind the bars through the visual arts, dance, music, theater, writing, and multimedia workshops that would later on become a creative enterprise with the Inday Dolls. “We do beaded work and embroidery to tell the stories of the women. Each doll

children in disaster-stricken areas.

“We wanted to raise more funds to give the copies to other children in disaster in other parts of the world. Because in disaster, the most vulnerable are always the children and the women. They don’t have the space. They don’t have the time. They don’t have a place to run around, or play. So I

way they give hope in the art that they share. That hope, no matter how small it may seem, can be a world full of possibilities when it is given to the right person.

Art can brighten up the heart in the darkest times. However, you cannot give what you do not have.

Be it as it may, as Zerrudo finely puts, “because we are FAMO, we are doing art with a heart.”

FEATURE • PAG E B3

FEATURE • PAG E B 5

SPECTACLE • PAGE B7

Balagon sang Kadalag-an

Discovering a Barn in the City

Man Down

Isa ka tanuman sang ubas ang makit-an sa puluy-an sang pinakamatam-is nga mangga sa kalibutan.

Experience the modernized flavors offered by the city’s barn-inspired restaurant.

In any type of war on any battlefield, the frontliners are always the most vulnerable.

B2 Augustinian the

Volume LXIV • Number 3 October 5, 2018

FORUM

The Inflation Commotion University of San Agustin community on their take in the effects of inflation

BY PH IL IP R OBE R T C. ALABAN The implementation of R.A. 10963, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law on January 1st just this year brought along a trainload of economic change. Examples of such changes are the additional sin tax for cigarettes, alcohol and luxury cars, and the imposition of excise and value added tax on sugar and fuel. In addition to these are the most recent spate of inflation surges, from 5.7 percent in July, 6.4 percent in August, and finally, hitting a fresh high just this September with a whopping 6.7 percent, skirting dangerously close to the highest recorded inflation rate of 7.2 percent nine years ago in February 2009.

Filipinos, with their usual air of humor, have jokingly said that they could pay bills using products such as “sili”, but this kind of humor should be taken with a grain of salt since more and more Filipinos are reeling from the fast-paced and successive acceleration of prices with no sign of easing up.

Recently, fresh produce have

cost more than basic necessities and even food items, with a kilo of pork at PHP240 costing only a third of the price of a kilo of “sili”, which reportedly sells at PHP900 per kilo from supermarkets. However, Filipinos from different parts of the country do not equally feel the sting of inflation.

Inflation refers to an overall increase in the economy due to a nationwide increase in consumer prices. When inflation occurs, the value that the individual currency holds will subsequently decrease; in other words, currency would not be able to buy as much as it could before. Annual inflation is a mundane occurrence in most countries, but the rate at which the inflation rate in the Philippines has flown in the past month has become a source of alarm for most consumers, as well as economists all over the country.

It is easy to identify why the Philippine economy has taken a critical hit from the way inflation has soared as compared to other

countries during extremely high inflation: because consumerism in the Philippines is initially cashbased. This, and the combination of global oil prices, and the newly enacted TRAIN Law, cause the perfect storm that is inflation to hit the Philippine economy from July up to date without any signs of clear skies in sight. In the past month, concerns have been raised by various sectors on the supposed negative impact of inflation on the general price level of basic goods, at the head of which are members of the working community lobbying for higher wages down to ordinary people being unable to enjoy otherwise seemingly basic commodities anymore.

Members of the Augustinian community weigh in on the topic of inflation. The Augustinian interviewed various members of the school community and gathered their opinion. Hear them out, make your own, and contribute to the discussion: How are you affected by the Philippine inflation rate?

“Ang impact niya is mas mabudlayan gid kami, super need namon ang equipment. Hindi siya namon dali-dali makuha ang equipment. Sa production naman struggle siya, kay kun magshoot kami films need namon locations.

So sa plete, grabe ang pagtaas sang plete.”

“The transportation fee, before, it was 7 pesos in our place in Kalibo, Aklan, but right now it increased. It is all because of the increased price of gas per liter and of course in order to regain the budget of the tricycle drivers for food or daily needs.”

Vincent Kierk Tugnao, Student, BS Pharmacy

“It seriously affects the daily living of Filipino people, and the most affected are those who have low salary income.

And at present, a lot of people encounter difficulty on their lives. It’s because the goods and everything we have today are quite expensive. And right now, it is quite hard to find a job. All we have to do is just strive hard and do our best to find a better job.”

Quennie Dee Galgo, Student, BS Pharmacy

“Ti tipid kita subong eh. Budget sa pagkaon. Budget sa pamilya. Ginalakat na lang, ang iban wala na gasakay.

Pwede man na bike na lang ginagamit.”

Patricio Juarte, Security Guard

USA PUB PH OTOS • EDRE A CLAIRE G. G REG ORE • MI GUE L CA RLOS J. LLAMA DO • DA NI E L JE FF C. TE LIC • BJ B. ES CARI LLA • STEVEN JOHN N. SUMBING

Carmela Mae Rodrigo, Student, AB Communication

“I am actually affected everyday because I drive myself to school so that means I have to gas up my car every week. So for example, if I gas up 500 pesos that could be equivalent to 5 liters before. If I gas up 500 now it would be less than 5 liters. I already budgeted a bit of my allowance for my gas and this is for my daily needs. That means that I have to put more on my gas budget and deduct from my own budget for food.”

“Well siyempre ang prices goes up and ang salaries still the same so dako gid siya most especially sa fuel because ang drastic ang saka ka fuel bala so isa siya sa contributor sa expenses sang amon nga monthly nga expenses.”

Arch. Antoine Geoffrey Co, Academic Supervisor, Architecture Department

Ma. Keziah Villareal, Secretary, USA Student Council

“For me as a Foreign Service student, I felt the effects of the inflation with the fare hike. It’s a game played by both domestic and international realms. As much as 95 percent of our oil are imported from the Middle East. And with the volatility of global oil prices plus the TRAIN Law, it is expected na magsaka ang presyo sang gasoline kag magsaka man ang plete.”

Justine Ray Suelan, First Vice President, USA Student Council

“It really damaged my daily routine especially in my expenses as a teacher, as you know in the Philippines, teachers receive not so much. The salary can only support sa ordinary nga galastuson ti kun sa amo na nga sitwasyon, it continues, mas dako pa gid nga ma apektuhan ang mga iban nga wala sang regular nga incomes. Kun hindi ina pag tagaan actions sang government, for the majority of the Filipino people mangin mabug-at gid ina sa ila kayo. You see the difference nga ang manggaranon ga enjoy pa gid sila kag only few are rich in this country. Many belong to the below poverty line.”

Carlos Hechanova Jr., Faculty, Theology Department

“As a student affected man ako pero mas makita ko ang amat-amat nga effect sini sa akon parents. Mabatyagan ko siya sa jeepney fare. Sang una kapangsakop ka pa sa friends mo subong hindi na kay daw kasakit gid sa bulsa. I am expecting nga it’s gonna be a great change pero I hope na we can cope with it.”

Kaira Claire Oducado, President, Epsilon Alpha Chi, College of Technology

“Naapektuhan ako tungod sang mataas nga presyo pero inang hindi gid man tama kay ti may mga ubra man mga bata. Pero ang makaluluoy lang ang iban bala ya daw inang kulang kulang bala ang budget ti dasun nagtaas pa ang presyo ti siyempre nagdugang nagid ng pigado ta amo man lang na. Ang epekto man lang da sa amon nga may gaeskwela nga estudyante kung nagmahal man lang ang tuition. Ti subong sa plete. Ti ang umagad ko gina sugat mana sa kaso mahal man ang gasoline.”

Rolinda Sortigosa, Parent

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

B3

FEATURES

Balagon sang Kadalag-an Pagbunga sa ubas sa puluy-an sang mga pinakamatam-is na paho Sin-o bala ang magahunahuna nga mahimo magkabuhi ang ubas sa isa ka isla sang Panay?

Wala maila kag iban sa pagpati sang kadamoan, ini nga prutas gakatubo lang sa mga malamig nga duog subong sa pungsod Amerika kag Europa. Apang, sang sini lang nga tinuig, natublag ang kadam-am sang nagbantog ang Cruz Vineyard, isa ka tanuman sang ubas sa puluy-an sang pinakamatam-is nga paho sa kalibutan, Guimaras.

USA PUB PH OTOS •DANIEL JEFF C. TELIC

Kadungan sang amatamat nga paghilunod sang adlaw sa tatlo ka ektarea nga duta sang pamilya Cruz, ang magasawa nga Cruz ma id-id nga gina-eksamen ang potensyal sa produksyon sang ubas sa ila tanuman.

“Yung wife ko mahilig sa grapes, kasi everytime bibili ng grapes yun, hindi pwedeng isang kilo lang, it should be more than that kasi mahilig siyang kumain ng grapes. So, we decided na grapes ang itanim namin para at least ma satisfy ko ang mga gusto niya and we expected that many people will visit us,” pagsalaysay ni Jose Cruz, tag-iya sang Cruz Vineyard.

Nagbukas ini sa publiko sang Manggahan Festival sang Mayo subong na tuig.

Tumandok sang Bulacan kag gradweyt sang Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Plant Nutrition, si Jose, masami tawgon “Joey”, indi na estranghero sa pasikot-sikot sang pagpanguma.

Nag serbi sa gobyerno sa sulod sang 44 ka tuig, sobra katunga sini amu sang siya nagin regional director sang Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). Ang asawa ni Joey si Prisca Cruz nga tumandok sang probinsya sang Bohol. May ara sila apat ka mga kabataan kung sa diin tatlo sa mga ini lunsay na nga mga propesyonal.

“I am Bulakeño by birth, Cebuano by heart, Ilonggo by profession, Guimarasnon by choice. Now, purely Guimarasnon kasi wala na akong trabaho, jobless na ako. Kung meron akong project na pwedeng magka pera, definitely, even without telling the kids they will come home and visit us then other people will also visit our place because definitely, they will ask question, ‘why grapes instead of other crops?’” dugang pa ni Joey.

U SA P U B P H OTO • DANIEL J EF F C. TEL IC

“GUIMARASNON BY CHOICE”

NI LA EM Y ROSE G. GALLEGO KAG ROCHE LLE M A E M . M U Z O N E S Ginbuksan ang nasambit nga vineyard sa publiko sang 2018 kadungan sa pagsaulog sang 25th Manggahan Festival sang Guimaras. Sa tagsa ka inadlaw, ginatos ka tawo amo man ang nagakalain-lain nga institusyon kag ahensiya sang gobyerno ang nagdugho agud makita ang kaanyag sang isa sa pinakadako nga vineyard sa bugos nga rehiyon kag pinakauna sa probinsya.

MAINIT SA MALAMIG “Gumawa ako ng survey nearby kung may existing na grapes, yung nakita ko ang wild na grapes, they call it dika, and the taste of this one is also sweet, the problem is that medyo makati, but it does not stay long. Since wild grapes is growing widely in this particular area, I thought na yung regular na grapes tutubo dito because they belong to the

same family, magkaiba lang yung species nila,” siling ni Joey.

Sa kabilugan, nilibo na nga puno sang ubas yara ang Cruz Vineyard nga ginakalakipan sang pito ka sahi. Kabahin diri ang Golden Muscat, Concord, Red Cardinal, Green Malaga, kag Golden Malaga.

“Kaya kasi ito tinawag na vineyard kasi meron kasing consideration kung vineyard ka ba o grapes farm ka lang. Kung vineyard ka kasi dapat at least 1,000 hills o puno and more, so ang population ko so far, is about 1,750 hills. Kaya, I dare to call this place a vineyard already. Pero siyempre pag vineyard, dapat kasi nagpo-produce ka na ng wine but that is within the pipeline of this particular farm, para at least matuloy yung pagiging vineyard,” pagpaathag ni Joey.

Suno sa Sun World Innovations, ang pagtanum sang

“ANG PAGTANUM SANG UBAS NAGAKAKINAHANGLAN SANG MAINIT KAG MALA NGA KLIMA KUNG SA DIIN ANG TEMPERATURA HALIN 15.6 CELSIUS DANGAT 40.6 CELSIUS. ANG KLIMA DAPAT MAGAAGI SA MALIP-OT NGA TIYEMPO SANG TAGLALAMIG, DIUTAY NGA HAMOG, KAG LIMITADO NGA PAG-ULAN SA KADA TUIG.”

ubas nagaka-kinahanglan sang mainit kag mala nga klima kung sa diin ang temperatura halin 15.6 Celsius dangat 40.6 Celsius. Ang klima dapat magaagi sa malipot nga tiyempo sang taglalamig, diutay nga hamog, kag limitado nga pag-ulan sa kada tuig.

“For the record, please take note that my major is plant nutrition. That’s why I was able to do something para maging sweet ang grapes kasi I supply the nutrients requirement nung plant, unlike yung iba na grower hindi masyadong matamis ang grapes nila kasi hindi naman nila alam kung ano talagang nutrition ang dapat sa grapes,” dugang niya.

Sa tuig 2020, tuyo sang pamilya mag buhat sang bino. Sa pahayag ni Joey, ini igahingalan sa iya lolo nga si Gavino. Kaangot sini, tuyo niya mag import sang materyales gikan pungsod Germany kag magdugang sang barayti pareho sang Merlot, Chevenon, kag Phenophyre.

MATAM-IS NGA RASON Sa iya pahayag, madako ang nabulig sang Cruz Vineyard sa pag-usbong sang turismo kag sang ekonomiya sang Barangay Dasal kag Munisipalidad sang Sibunag.

“Well, sa akin medyo

sumikat ng kaunti yung Sibunag.

Kasi noong araw, walang masyadong transportation na dumadaan dito. Because of the vineyard, it becomes a regular route of the tricycle from Alibhon to Dasal. Then, I asked also some questions doon sa tindahan, sa gasoline station, so they increased their sales. So economically, malaki ang naitulong nito,” pagpamatuod niya.

Naga-agda man si Joey sa mga pumuluyo nga luyag magpakigsakop sa vineyard. Suno sa iya, isa ka kahalimbawa sini amu ang pagbuhat sang souvenirs tagsubong sang pamaypay kag keychain nga ibaligya sa vineyard.

Dugang diri ang mga preska nga ulutanon, tungod sa madamo nga naga bisita sa lugar.

“Sa ngayon, ang masasabi ko lang bakit naging successful, siyempre the family personally attended very well in the farm. I give all the best I can, my wife is always present to give inspiration sa akin, para at least maging successful yung farm. So without the moral support nila, the inspiration that they have given to me, hindi siguro magiging successful ito,” pagkalagkag nga hambal ni Joey samtang

mabanaag ang yuhom sa nawong sang asawa.

Indi na makatingalahan ang pag-uswag sang ubasan sa malip-ot lang nga ti-on.

Ang pagpatindog sini indi matigayon sa isa ka pagmislok lang sang kalimutaw, kundi naga kinahanglan sang malaba nga pasensiya kag pagtinguha, subong sang ginbubo sang pamilya Cruz.

Sa gilayon nga pagdabong sang mga dahon kag pagsalingsing sang tagsa ka sanga sang mga ubas amu man ang padayon nga pag-umwad sang handum sang pamilya para sa buwas damlag sang Cruz Vineyard. Ang kada balagon nga naga kabod diri, laragway sang kabakod sang pagpalangaanay kag paghugponganay sang pamilya mabuyagyag man sa katalagman.

Kun sadtong una, kristal ka tin-aw nga kadagatan, malapulbos ka pino nga balas sa baybayon, malimpyo nga hangin sa kahangawaan, kag mala dugos ka tam-is nga paho ang imu una mabati-an sa pagmitlang sang Guimaras. Karon, sa pagtuhaw sang Cruz Vineyard, napamatudan guid sang Guimaras ang bansag sini nga “the island that fits your taste”.

B4 Augustinian the

Volume LXIV • Number 3 October 5, 2018

CAMPUS LIFE Departures and Arrivals Study abroad, study beyond borders

optimistic perspective fuel her drive to finish her studies and become a professional.

Like any other person of her age, the word “travelling” enthralls each and every one. As architecture demands oneself to dedicate a person’s whole effort, time and energy, Vam never fails to do things which help her grow not only in an academic setting but also the one she finds in travelling. She is an example of an architecture student who copes with a lot and is still eager to experience things for selfgrowth, open opportunities to develop a better self, and giving oneself chances to forge the helm of wisdom, perseverance and faith, fixed to a certain goal to achieve.

FILE PHOTO • VIMALUZ AMAIRAH MACABANTI

TO THE LAND OF RABBITS

B Y CH I T O CE Z AR P. BATOON , JR .

Gazing at the grand city as they touched down in Madrid, Spain after the 15-hour flight is like a spectacle. What awaits in Madrid is for the inner architect within her to see.

When the plane landed at the airport and as they started to disembark the plane, the notion of “this is it, my adventure starts here” excited her and thrilled the core of her soul.

It almost feels like it was yesterday, she was taking a nap on the plane not really knowing what Spain could offer but just

be excited for what the future as an Augustinian exchange student had for her. Now, she’s back with a ton of memories to look

back on, learnings to share and knowledge to impart.

Hailing from Pavia, Iloilo, Vimaluz Amairah Macabanti, or Vam, is a fifth year student taking up Bachelor of Science in Architecture. She is a loyal and active member of the United Architects of the Philippines since first year and also a member of World Youth Alliance Iloilo Chapter. As a student leader, a positive mindset and an

“Your memories aren’t something you can have shipped overseas, or have someone bring back for you.” Being sent 7,378 miles beyond the borders of the country to study abroad within a culture, academe, and way of living that is different from ours requires you to sacrifice a lot of things and wait for the future to reveal what is in store for you.

She was enrolled in the Superior Technical School of Architecture of Madrid, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid - Escuela Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (UPM – ETSAM). “It is a life-changing experience.” The life she had in the academe abroad somehow made an impact on her life. It was a brick which gave her a new perspective on how to establish a route towards her success.

“At first I could say was I

Tech Trades for the Millennials Because transacting has never been easier for the cyber consumer who is always on the go B Y E R IKA D AN IE L L E M. PE PITO

Life is fast-paced. From finishing your work or school demands to brewing your cup of coffee and even travelling, it all demands to be done in just a snap of a finger. Most often than not, we are left in a bit of a bind to accomplish everything at once. And sometimes, the most essential tasks are left unchecked in that month-old to-do list of yours.

But thank God for the Internet.

Possibilities are now endless when it comes to booking a plane ticket for that last minute trip, or restocking your favorite hygienic products.

Online transacting and online shopping are putting themselves on the virtual map because of their convenience and accessibility to the general public. A stable (need I say more?) connection, phone or laptop, and a purchase in mind makes transacting on the virtual world easy as 1, 2, 3.

MEET UPS AND PAY UPS Beauty products that make use of nature’s wonders and take care of the skin are making waves recently. Boasting its organic products that are friendly for any skin type out there, RRAW.PH was found on late 2016. Ira Tan, founder and creator of RRAW. PH, shared in an online interview with The Augustinian how such a vision came about as a creative release. “I couldn’t sing, dance, paint [nor] draw, but for some reason I was able to create some soaps. We really started with out RRAW Bars, it was so fun and easy to create something from scratch

and have full creative control until the end.” Tan is an Augustinian graduate, with a BS Psychology degree.

Starting out small with a two-woman team, the said online shop has been featured on some national publications, such as PreviewPH, Cosmopolitan PH, and When In Manila, that boosted their reach to bigger audiences.

Just like any other business, it has some struggles as well. It strives to compete with the big brands without letting the intimidation of the top brands’ high staff count and huge factories, by making quality products from scratch and learning throughout the process. “Our current struggle at the moment is really keeping up with the demands. We are currently looking to expand our lab and office area just to keep our production momentum up to par and to get the orders to our customers as fast as possible.”

When asked on why the online selling industry is booming so much these days, Tan shared, “Everyone shops online. I don’t think I’ve met anyone recently that hasn’t made an online purchase in the last month! Think about it, it’s fast, easy, and doorto-door! You can shop in the

comforts of your own home.”

Since it began its operations, RRAW.PH has now resellers in over eight cities nationwide.

Aside from prioritizing the orders coming in from the online market, it is also accessible for those who would want to check their products in person through an outlet at The Good Retail in Molo, Iloilo City.

ONE CALL AWAY Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) involves the use of third-party service providers to enable efficient operations and faster transactions for a business process. BPOs allow companies to do more and spend less by concentrating on their internal affairs to strengthen their business activities with the help of the BPOs. They make things more accessible for the companies and the audiences, and are more affordable in terms of transactions. BPOs usually handle payroll, human resources (HR), business processes, accounting and customer or call center relations.

Here in the city, one of the pioneer BPOs is SPi CRM call center in Molo. In an interview with The Augustinian, Josie Ann Clarissa I. Escanlar, HR manager, speaks of the journey of SPi CRM since its establishment in 2004. “It was previously known as ePLDT Ventus, the BPO arm of PLDT. We had around 34 employees, but now we have more or less 600 agents. It was part of the three components including Marlans and Vocativ,

but after a couple of years, the three were merged into Ventus.”

It was in 2010 when they were able to acquire SPi Technologies, with a non-voice approach on transcriptions and editing, and later rebranded it to SPi Global. SPi CRM branched out from SPi Global in 2016, and with its established processes attracted and was acquired by Relia, a Japanese company of call centers. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo even paid a visit to the said BPO company branch “to see the opportunities that are starting to pour into Iloilo at that time.”

Some of the accounts they handle that serve local customers and international customers mostly from the North America are: a telecommunications account, a satellite TV provider account, an airline account, two floral wire services accounts, a renta-car account, a yearbook photo account, and a credit card account.

This BPO company has reaped many awards with their commendable customer relationship management performance. In the 2017 AsiaPacific Stevie Awards it won the

felt homesick, but since I had my companion during the whole exchange student program going to Madrid, it was fun and you can no longer remember being homesick.” She immersed herself with the culture as they travelled places like Segovia and Barcelona. Tours hosted by the university she enrolled in gave her these opportunities to travel and experience how the fabric of design in architecture evolved in Spain.

The delight of being able to have a myriad of study options by studying internationally is always coupled with the not–so–fun part of this: the notion that you are going to pay heavy fees and living cost. “You learn how to deal with other people. You deal with other races in the field, and for self-growth you learn how to become independent.”

If there is one thing that Vam wants to emphasize is that learning is a lifelong process. “I can say that a person can learn a lot if you are travelling, if you open doors and if you invest on yourself.”

You just have to learn to sacrifice some things. Just like Vam, she made sacrifices. She was given the option to stay in the country and continue schooling in the university or the one in which she has to take back subjects if she studies abroad. She made the choice to study abroad and experience architecture thousands of miles away from here.

Studying abroad is about the things you do every day. The little things that make you experience a different perspective in life, give you a sense of fulfillment and contribute to your self-growth.

ENCORE: TO THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT

Star for Sustained Excellence, Customer References, and Awards and Certifications; it was also the Top Company to Work for in Asia in the 2015 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards; it was the Best BPO Employer of the Year in the 2014 International ICT Awards and the Best BPO Company in the Philippines in the 2014 Corporate Excellence Awards by Business Worldwide Magazine.

An initiative started by SPi CRM is their CSR Day, wherein they engage themselves in their chosen community engagement projects to benefit the selected community. “For five years, our thrust was leadership development for the youth. We ran leadership camps for grade school and high school student government officers. Just last year, we adopted the neighboring barangays to take it a little bit closer to home. We used to do volunteer work in Oton, Guimbal, and Lapaz. So we adopted barangays Tap-oc, North San Jose, and South San Jose here in Molo. We had a feeding program, we fixed the daycare center, we built a library and had a book drive, and we donated first aid kids. For one day, we put our jobs in perspective. We complain a lot, but if you just get out of the office and see the world around you, you will feel na you have a lot to

PITCHING UP THE TENT

“IT’S FAST, EASY, AND DOOR-TO-DOOR! YOU CAN SHOP IN THE COMFORTS OF YOUR OWN HOME.” Gold Award for Innovation in Human Resources Management, Planning & Practice; in the 2016 IAOP Global Outsourcing 100 it was awarded with the Super

be thankful for,” boasted Escanlar of their annual outreach activity that has helped around 57,000 people with their approximately 187,000 volunteer hours.

Madrid shows a diverse culture, extending from people, to traditions and architecture. There comes a time when she came to the realization “that this is what you call architecture”, seeing how lavish and grand architecture in Spain and to travel within Madrid is on her list.

How to survive schooling in Madrid? “First of all, read a lot of books and read a lot of design theories, and learn Spanish, and learn the culture – the culture of the country. And learn to be independent. Travelling away from home, especially abroad, feels awful and makes you feel nostalgic of the things you are familiar with. This is a common dilemma to exchange students but for self-development and experience, students tend to sacrifice things and try cope with these. But there’s a good side to this: it means you have family and friends worth missing and a welcoming home ready to open its doors after your journey ends.”

Sharing her experiences, Vam remembers all of the people who supported her in her journey. To her she was not only travelling, she was also growing as a person. It made her realize that these experiences are the ones that no material thing could measure up to or no picture could quite capture, it is the feeling of fulfilment within yourself. You enjoy while learning and gain even though you lose and sacrifice some things. You will have to plan for your departures and arrivals; you just have to choose your track to growth wisely.

For those who have tossed around in their heads the idea of setting up their own online shop, it is important to know the ground zero. Determine first the products you are to sell, preferably ones that are interesting and functional.

Then pick the best e-commerce solution that suits your business.

Hosted e-commerce solution is recommended for beginners with a web-based software to maintain the online store.

Licensed e-commerce solution require computer installation and hosting and security protections from risks.

Open source e-commerce solutions allow you to customize your own website but entail heavy programming.

Then build on your online store, considering its functionality, content, and ease of access for your audience. Come up with a domain name that is easy to remember, and register it with a domain name provider as well.

Then decide on your payment schemes – how you transact with your customers and how you receive their payments.

Promote your business with effective marketing strategies.

With the Internet now deemed as a commodity, you can reach a bigger number of audiences by setting up social media accounts to showcase your products.

What started as a small network, can become a “network of networks” that reaches millions of people across the globe. And with this expanded access comes a wider range of opportunities for exchange – whether by profiles through social media platforms, and payments across service providers and cyber businesses that simplify transactions.

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

B5

FEATURES Discovering a Barn in the City

VALEDICTION

Brace yourselves as we bring you the profound flavors of the farm with modern dishes – genuinely by the Barn Breakfast Bistro.

housekeeping needs; a fitness center appropriately called Boost; a quaint beauty parlor, Blush; a convenience store, Basics; and even a laundry service, Breezy.

For the serious student or for someone who needs a quiet place to work, the Bonds co-working space offers spacious tables, free flowing coffee and bites, and even a cubicle for someone who wants to be a regular customer. With its unlimited Wi-Fi access, who wouldn’t be interested? Every store in the complex has its own unique service to offer, making it convenient for a customer to move from the bedroom to the dining room, or maybe a respite in the parlor after a robust hour at the gym.

BY ROCHELLE MAE M. MUZONES AND WILKIENSON C. MURO

I went skydiving… I went Rocky Mountain climbing… I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu… And I loved deeper… And I spoke sweeter… And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying…

showcases the burgeoning of The Barn Breakfast Bistro.

These are not the usual song lyrics your eardrums would be hearing every time you enter a restaurant. Though to their own setting, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, Hank Williams, George Jones or even the millennialsicon-of-country-music Taylor Swift are those artists who would regale you with country music while being ushered to your table.

The seemingly endless serenade of music entertains you while waiting for that delicious dish you have ordered to satisfy your

The Betita family currently manages B-Complex, with young entrepreneur Roy Betita at the forefront. According to his sister Mariethel Betita, B is in honor of their father who passed away when they were young.

The Barn is actually just one of the eight stores that can be found in the B-Complex. Since its establishment on the year 2016, B has been consistently attracting patrons from all stages and ages. This is not impossible, considering the array of features

cravings.

“Beef and Sausage Chowder, Ma’am, with beef tenderloin, tomato, potatoes, and sausage,” said the waiter as he served us the first of the many dishes we ordered. We savored the piquant taste of the creamy soup, and fully satisfied, we anticipate what is to come.

While waiting for the main course, we cannot help but survey the design of its interior. The maple paint that dominantly coats the timbers of the entire

ceiling and floor would make you appreciate the modern yet quaint concept of the restaurant.

If being explorative is within your heredities, you would notice the French equivalence of tableware and the neat wooden fixtures that resemble those in the farms – but fashionably tailored and arrayed.

Pulling these together, three things come to mind - cows, pigs and haystacks. But this is definitely not your typical barn – the ingenious concept concretized amid the bustling city of Iloilo

Bawat titik ng isang lumang paraan ng pagsusulat, hatid ay ang makulay na kabihasnan at kasaysayan

A-E-I-O-U….A Ba Ka Da. Bago pa lamang tumapak ang bawat isa sa atin sa balwagan ng ating mga paaralan ay hindi mapagkakaila na unang itinuturo ng ating mga ina o mga nakakatanda sa ating tahanan ay ang a-e-i-o-u at ang alpabetong Pilipino. Isang mahirap na aralin noong tayo ay mga musmos pa lamang ngunit nagiging isang simpleng bagay sa ating paglaki.

USA PUB ARTWOR K • JUNE IVA N S. GUMBA N

Ang mga titik na sa una’y ordinaryong simbulo lamang ay nagiging makabuluhang mga salitang nagiging ideya kung pagsasama-samahin na

nagiging instrumento para sa mabisang komunikasyon. Ngunit lingid sa ating kaalaman ay ang mas malalim na kahulugan at makabuluhan na sanaysay sa

likod ng bawat titik. Maaaring naimpluwensyahan na ng ibang mga bansa ang alpabetong nalalaman ng karamihan ngayon na may 26 na titik, at naisasantabi na ang alpabetong Pilipino na may 28 titik, pero hindi magpakakaila na mayroong mas makulay na paraan ng pagsusulat ang ating bayan. Ito ay ang Baybayin o mas kilala bilang Alibata.

KASULATAN AT KASAYSAYAN Bago pa man tayo ituring na mga Indio ng mga Kastila ay

BARN

PAG E B6

B IS FOR BECOMING

Baybayin ang Lumang Suyat N I R J JU N S AY

it has to offer. It houses a mini hotel called Bed and Bath; a lifestyle boutique, Balance, which sells scents, accents and

The Barn Breakfast Bistro is what happens when brains, confidence, and assertive personalities come into fusion.

From the colors that give it its rustic appeal, to the music, and the food choices, up to the restaurant decors, Betita and William Wong made sure that all these components lived up to the country style theme of the Breakfast Barn Bistro.

While waiting for my order, I glanced once again at the menu. I cannot help but smile at the names of the food items in the menu - crepes are named after characters in the movie, Toy Story, and even Barbie and Ken; chowders honor family members and friends with

may sariling pamamaraan na ng pagsusulat ang ating mga ninuno - ang Baybayin. Ito ang ginagamit ng mga Pilipino upang makipagkalakaran sa iba’tibang karatig-bayan katulad ng Malaysia at Indonesia ayon kay Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil na nagpanukala ng House Bill No. 160, o “National Writing System Act” noong 2013.

“Mayroon naman tayong sariling alpabeto. Puwede natin itong gawing art form. Puwede nating bigyan ng ganoong kataas na respeto ang baybayin,” pahayag ni Taipan Lucero sa isang panayam ng GMA News Network sa kanyang eksibisyon na “CalligraFilipino I: Baybayin Illumination” sa National Commission for Culture and the Arts Gallery sa Manila noong Agosto nitong taon.

Nakasaad sa naturang panukala, ayon kay Dr. Bonifacio Comandante Jr., isang kilalang marine scientist at anthropologist, na ang AngonoBinangonan Petroglyphs ay isa sa pinakamatibay na ebidensya para kilalanin na ang Baybayin ay ang paraan na ng pagsusulat ng mga Pilipino bago pa lamang magsimula ang pananakop ng Espanya.

MULING PAGSASABUHAY Sa

katatapos

na

Pista

ng Pelikulang Pilipino ay naitampok ang Baybayin sa pelikula ni Jason Paul Laxamana na ‘The Day After Valentines’ na pinagbibidahan nina Bela Padilla at JC Santos. Si Padilla na gumanap bilang si “Lani” ay katulad ng dating kasintahan ni Kai (ginampanan ni Santos) na mahilig sa Baybayin. Ang mga manunuod ay kasamang natuto ng pagsulat ng ilang mga salita, katulad ng makupad at paghilom. Dito kasabay ng paghilom ng mga sugat dulot ng pagkabigo ni Kai ay ang pagkakatuto niya ng pagsusulat gamit ang Baybayin at paglalim ng kanyang pang-unawa sa

Sabi ni Padilla sa isang panayam sa Pep.ph, “It should be something that we learn kasi it’s part of our culture, it’s part of who we are. Sana the movie helps out in that sense as well.”

YAMANG HINDI MAPAPALITAN Ang House Bill No. 1022 , na kahalintulad ng House Bill No. 160 o “National Writing System Act” na isinulat rin ni Rep. Bataoil, ay naaprubahan na sa House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, at naglalayong palaganapin ang kaalaman sa Baybayin at mabigyan ito ng kahalagahan

“BAGO PA MAN TAYO ITURING NA MGA INDIO NG MGA KASTILA AY MAY SARILING PAMAMARAAN NA NG PAGSUSULAT ANG ATING MGA NINUNO - ANG BAYBAYIN.” wikang Filipino.

Ang baybayin ay isa sa mga suyat o mga katutubong pamamaraan ng pagsusulta.

Ang ibig sabihin nito ay isulat at magbaybay ng pantig ng mga salita.

Dahil ang baybayin ay karaniwang nasusulat sa pamamaraang nababasa sa pantig ay nilalagyan ito ng marka sa ibabaw na tinatawag na ‘sabat’.

Ito ay unang ginamit ni Francisco López noong 1620 para mawala ang tunog ng patinig. Ang ‘sabat’ ay isunusulat gamit ang symbol na ‘+’ na sumasalim sa ating pagiging Kristyano.

sa ating bansa. Ito ay suportado rin ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon at National Commission for Culture and Arts.

“The importance of writing in general and of the alphabet in particular for the preservation and progress of civilization is incalculable,” ani ni Bataoil sa kanyang sanaysay sa isang press release mula sa House Press and Public Affairs Bureau.

Sa kabila ng pagkakapasa ng nasabing panukala ay maraming mga mamayanan ang hindi pabor sapagkat may iba pang mga paraan ng pagsusulat BAYBAYIN

PAG E B6

USA PUB PHOTO • EDR EA CL AIR E G. GR EGO R E

BOUNTY AT THE BARN

B6 Augustinian the

Volume LXIV • Number 3 October 5, 2018

FEATURES

Core Bearers

The unending pursuit for excellence in the region’s first university

BY PAULENE A. BUENAFE AND EVERILD DOMINIQUE A. CAMIQUE

The University of San Agustin is a place for the youth to garner knowledge in their chosen fields. Aside from academic pursuits, there are some who engage in extracurricular activities to harness their God-given talents, such as in singing, dancing, acting and writing. Those students chose to become part of something so much bigger than themselves; becoming part of the organizations that have been built on foundations of hard work and dedication: the USA Band, the USA Troubadours, the USA-Kawilihan Dance Troupe, the USA Little Theatre, and the USA Publications.

FREEDOM AFTER THE WAR Just as the school had first gained its university title, the USA Band opened in the academic year 19531954. Its members came from several school bands in Iloilo, such as the Iloilo City High Band and school bands from Leon and Alimodian. Being the first musical organization established, it became one of the pillars of music at the University.

“As the memories of war were still fresh to the Ilonggos, the USA band was organized by

PITCH PERFECT It

was in 1972 when the world-renowned USA Troubadours began its humble beginnings. Starting with only having 16 individuals from the Conservatory of Music, they would sing classical pieces in acapella. Later on, they engaged themselves in the complexity of singing classical and contemporary secular songs and also into Ilonggo and Filipino folk songs, with a hint of pop. Their soul-searching paved their road to greatness.

the University to let the people feel the freedom after the war,” said Arvhien Lava Ardonia, the current adviser of the USA Band.

The first public display of the USA Band was during the Independence Day Parade on July 4th 1953, sporting the school color gala uniform of the members. It then became a concert band as they played classical overtures, varying from local Philippine pieces to classical ones, such as, “Poet and Peasant Overture,” “William Tell,” and “1812 Overtures”.

Now on its 65th anniversary, the USA Band plans to do a Concert Tour that will take place in several municipalities around Panay.

Icen Alincastre, the current president of the USA Band, shares that it will include an outreach program to teach those who are willing to become musicians and those who are willing to further enhance their skills.

“With music, there is feeling, there is emotion, there are thoughts and images that one can only portray through the tones and harmonies of instruments. It’s amazing how a song can change your whole mood,” said Alincastre, “leaving a legacy is leaving a feeling to the people around you.”

The unending pursuit for excellence in music has led them to grab numerous awards in choral competitions, both national and international. In 2015, the USA Troubadours came home from Singapore with two gold medals and a distinction for best soloist. Adding to the list are the two music albums that were launched in 1990 and 2004. With the help of their artistic director Beny Castillon, a USA Troubadours alumnus, their unsurpassed musical flair made a name not just for the University, but for the country as well, that raised the bar for the future talents.

Julius Sarria III, USA Troubadours president, said in an interview that it takes discipline and regular practice to make this world-class choir, now on its 58th year, stay on top of the pedestal.

“Continuing the legacy is simply believing in what we stand for, being internationally renowned, being disciplined, and being together as one family,” expressed Sarria.

BARN

F RO M PAG E B 5

names such as Mighty Mikki or Ali Actually; and desserts seem to reflect the main man’s passion for tennis - Melbourne (chocolate cake and chocolate fondue with mallows and fruits), Paris (crème brulee with glazed bananas and ice cream), New York (salted caramel cheesecake with chocolate chips and cookie dough crust), and Wimbledon (bread pudding, salted caramel

group of the University, it was first established in 1960 by Fr. Nicanor Lana O.S.A., and since then had garnered prestige and awards, both in the regional and national levels.

USA-Kawilihan won first runner up in the Penshoppe Dance Slam Inter-School Competition in 2005, and won a gold medal when they joined the Iloilo Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) and went to represent Iloilo in the Western Visayas PRISAA in Bacolod, garnering the title of first runner up, in the same year. In the following year, they were honored as the “2006 Most Outstanding Young Contemporary Dance Group of the Philippines.” Not only that, they were given the recognition of the Ani ng Dangal Award for Multi-disciplinary Art Category in 2010 at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace, Manila.

Led by their adviser, Annie Divinagracia Sartorio, the USAKawilihan Dance Troupe strives to become the best dance group with their continuous dedication,

USA PUB PHOTOS • EDREA CLAIRE G. GREGORE

Rector Rev. Fr. Eduardo Perez, O.S.A in 1965 with the following committees: production, research, talent and finance headed by faculty members of the University. In its first year of existence, it staged nine plays.

The group was placed under a new director, Rolando Agnas, when Fr. Perez transferred to Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod in the following year.

During the Department of Tourism’s Best of the Best of the Regions at Intramuros and the musical Belasyon during Dayon!, a showcase of University and Community Theaters from Western Visayas at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), it debuted in Manila in 2003 with the production of Dagway sang Binalaybay.

The group had garnered several recognitions. One of which

Following the USA Troubadours, is an organization that upholds the artistry of dance - the USA-Kawilihan Dance Troupe. The official dance

Aside from the art of singing, dancing and playing musical instruments, the University also houses its own theatre company called the USA Little Theatre (USALT). It was established by then-USA

was the recognition of being one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations of (TAYO) 2014. They had participated in the cultural presentations of the Philippine-Spain Festival 2005 and the National Heritage Month from 2006 to 2008.

Up to this day, the USALT continues to stage various theatre forms, such as straight plays, musical and poetry in motion annually under the supervision of its artistic director, Eric Divinagracia. This year, it is going to be a crossover year for the theatre company.

“We will venture in new forms. We already planned this school year and that includes an adaptation of one of our stage play to fit and a musical,” said Ana Saul, the current Alderman (President) of USALT.

sauce and vanilla ice cream), as all four cities are venues for tennis championships.

The Barn takes pride in one of its bestsellers, Baby, Come Back Ribs, served with complementary coleslaw and with one small bowl of rice. As the meat is glazed with Texas barbeque sauce, it is something that you would certainly want more of. For a taste of their chicken, we tried Ave Maria, which consists of salted egg

with tapa and tocino and some onions, certainly giving one a glimpse of heaven. As for those who prefer vegetables, one should try the combination of romaine lettuce, poached egg, some anchovy, sprinkled with mesclun and parmesan in what is called Jazmin Garden Salad.

Going around and taking a look at each store inside the B-Complex might be an experience like any other. What makes it different is the calm and

cozy feel of the place. More than the great food experience that we had at the Barn Breakfast Bistro, it is the warm welcome we feel whenever we enter a store after store, the genuine smiles of the staff, the kind attention given to us as we order or ask about a product – all these makes us want to go back to B. Truly, as their ads say, with B, life just got more beautiful. And for that, we are indeed beguiled and beholden.

GRACE, POISE AND PRIDE

hard work and perseverance.

Therese Avanceña, the current president of the Kawilihan, plans to develop more achievements, enhance the skills of their dances and continue to live up the core values of the University.

“To continue the legacy of [the] Dance Troupe, together with the members of Kawilihan, we will continue to run the organization, strengthen the family we built and establish a new foundation of dancers”, said Avanceña.

CENTER STAGE

“We make our own legacy.

In their respective terms, they left an artistic footprint through their performances as an actor, and as far as I could see it, the 2 important things that I need to continue is the commitment and the love for the company that I saw from our previous Alderman,” Saul said, when asked how she will continue the group’s legacy.

As the famous line would say, the pen is mightier than the sword, for a single pen can be an eye-opener for thousands. The ‘light bulb’ moment in h1928 for two high school students, Jose Mijares and Jose Sanchez, brought forth the power of the press in the University’s four walls, establishing the USA Publications. In the same year, the first-ever The Augustinian Mirror, an eight-fold tabloid, was published, a milestone that was able to unlock many doors that brought the USA Publications in national and international scenes.

In 1936, The Augustinian Mirror was shown to the world in an exposition of Catholic press in Vatican. This great success was replaced by downfall, as the publications had to stop their operations during the World War II. Despite the struggle brought by these dark years, the

continuous quest for excellence in journalism has already written lots of golden narratives of the previous writers and also made a name for the University. In March 2018, the said organization seized two national awards in The Manila Times and The Manila Times Campus Press Awards.

Rj Junsay, the current editor-in-chief, emphasized that behind the successes of the USA Publications are the strong commitments of its members and also how each put their heart into everything they do.

“USA Publications is a training ground, everything that you do is a means of developing yourself. If you are a part of this organization, you are expected to be an intelligent and critical person – this is an open secret.

Be part of the legacy and make your own legacy,” said Junsay.

“Everyone can write but the question is will everyone read what you write. The process of selecting the staff of the USA Publications is a very rigid process. If you are part of the USA Publications, you are expected to excel,” shared Maria Cristy E. Daguay, moderator of the USA Publications.

Indeed, genuine talent, equipped with passion, hard work and love for the craft, speaks for itself. These different organizations enabled the

resumption of their operations empowered the evolution of The Augustinian Mirror from its tabloid form to magazine.

As the years went by, the USA Publications rode the waves of change brought by the demand of the digital age as they established their literary folio, Irong – Irong, and the USA Publications online and social media platforms. The 90 years of

students, all having unique talents and skills, to explore outside the four walls of the classroom and to learn and see great things that this world has to offer – thinvgs that cannot be learned through sleepless nights of reading books. The unending pursuit of excellence of these core bearers brought the University of San Agustin’s name to great heights.

BAYBAYIN

move to ‘protect all indigenous writing systems,’ not just baybayin,” diin ni Tantingco.

Sa huli, ang iba’t-ibang “suyat”, mapa-Baybayin man o iba pa ay sumisimbolo ng ating makulay na kultura at mayamang kabihasnan na dapat alamin at maunawaan ng bawat Pilipino. Sabi nga ni Gat Jose Rizal sa kanyang nobelang El Filibusterismo, “While a person preserve its language; it preserves the marks of liberty.”

THE PEN’S VALOR

FR OM PAG E B5

ang ating bansa. Ilan dito ay ang “Kulitan” ng Kapampangan, ang “Kurditan” ng mga Ilocanos, “Badlit” ng Visayans, “Surat Mangyan” ng mga Mangyan ayon kay Robby Tantingco, isang manunulat sa Sun Star ng Lungsod ng Angeles sa isang panayam sa Philippine Daily Inquirer nitong taon.

“The National Commission for Culture and the Arts should

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

Faces of Insanity

The truth blurs its lines in the book, “The Woman In The Window”

BY JEFF G. TOLENTINO

When it comes to a psychological thriller, the novel The Woman in the Window written by Daniel Mallory with his pen name A. J. Finn is definitely worth including in the reading bucket list. Having

its debut on January 2018, it has riddled a lot of minds and is expected to be on the big screen under FOX Entertainment Group.

The novel begins with a detailed introduction of Anna Fox, a middle-aged woman and a psychologist who was diagnosed with agoraphobia, a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear or avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. It is the condition that kept Anna from going out of her safe haven, the four corners of her house.

Indulging herself with the company of wine and a dozen medications, Anna’s world is isolated from the rest. Her Nikon D5500 camera served as her only window to communicate with her neighbors. She spends her time spying her neighbors’ daily lives and watching the rest of the world change as she hides.

Having a fixed routine day by day, she begins to incorporate herself with her neighbors.

Such routine continued until the Russells, a small family of three – Alistair, Jane and their teenage son Ethan – moved in the neighborhood.

As what she usually does, she begins to observe the Russells.

Far from what she sees in the neighborhood, Anna witnessed something (or she thought she had) that will change her life.

As she spies through her window, she saw something she should not have. Jane has been murdered. When the police arrived at the Russells, the victim turns out to be alive. But as Jane faces her, she sees a woman she has never seen before. The sweet woman who managed to break her walls and open her doors to the outside world is nowhere to be found. Confident of what she saw, she starts to accuse the husband, Alistair, of the crime.

Her life begins to fall apart and the people around her become unmasked. With a threat in her life she begins to fear for her safety. Unsure of who is innocent, Anna fights her way to the truth.

But when the world sees her as a delusional psychopath, and her mind plays tricks of its own, will Anna be able to prove what she saw was real even when the odds

Disillusionment-Reminiscence

Charlie Puth hits the charts and all the right notes with his new album Voicenotes.

BY GLAIZA RAE D. AMABLE

The #puthinators and #notetakers already spouted their two fills’ worth, following the reveal of Charlie Puth’s keenly awaited sophomore album called the “Voicenotes” released through A Studio on May 11, 2018 and earning gold certification just days before it was finally publicized with all the streams and sales racked up by the tunes.

Voicenotes is a 13-track pop collection that is centered on disillusionment and nostalgia.

It is retro and bittersweet with a touch of jazz and an influence of slick ‘90s funk and R & B. This unveiling of the album showed how Puth broke through from his “old Charlie” type of music to putting his stellar song writing and fizzy lyrics front and center. It created a new niche in the music industry with benchmarking production, performance, and singing dynamics that ring true for the nouveau-multi-platinum and multi-Grammy singersongwriter-producer.

Puth started his impressive trajectory with “The Way I Am,” which captures confidence

snapshots of him declaring “you can either hate me or love me, that’s just the way I am.” Be tucked in between folds of music and an overwhelming feeling of youthful infatuation as his next songs heat their way up the charts, showing the phase of regret of the boy who apologizes for all his mistakes to the girl (“Patient”), that seems to be a direct link from “How Long” and “Somebody Told Me” in which the girl accused her partner of betrayal. “BOY” highlights his persuasion power to convince a woman that he’s mature, while “Slow It Down” with its upbeat melody tells a girl to stop sweating him because “he’s not tryna fall for her.” He also writes about missing his former

romantic relationship because the “LA Girls” only remind him how much he actually loved the girl he left, and pursuing on another man’s girlfriend in his scandalous song “Empty Cups.”

Voicenotes also boasts Puth’s great picks for collaborators that perfectly depict his boldness in his second album. “If You Leave Me Now” confirms his impressive falsetto and power-note abilities along with Boyz II Men through an a capella tune, leaving an uncanny revival of R & B. “Done for Me” with Kehlani is set to be a record-breaking single for its catchy tune and great music video, speaking about a relationship that is falling apart. Meanwhile, the Taylor

SIRANG SPEAKERS Pre, sira yata

Naku, lagot ako

ang speakers

kay Nanay ‘pag

ng TV niyo.

nasira ang TV.

James collaboration “Change” features his smooth voice and vulnerability and tackles about the call for world peace since “I know that the world will change the day we know we’re all the same.” The album ends with his final track “Through It All” that alludes his wanderings and turmoil along his rise to fame, leaving a mark of closure to the album’s relentless sentiments.

Indeed, Puth awed the world with his spanning versatility through switching of genre and adaptability, but frankly, some lyrics fail to command listeners’ attention and lack some authenticity and introspection since most of the album’s hits are unfortunately afflicted with easily forgotten songs that touch on the same thing topics.

Although Puth bridges new and old with his own definition of pop, one thing is certain. He still has years to come to make a name for himself, considering his unlimited potentials.

NI ROMARI CHARLZ F. DIAZ

Papalitan mo na lang ang speakers ng TV niyo?

No choice na ata. Papalitan ko na lang.

Oh hala! May problema lang pala sa signal.

Akala ko sira na talaga ang speakers.

Baka sakaling Subukan nating pukpukin.

COMMUTING

maayos ‘to.

NI REYNELYN P. YORAC

Man Down

Erik Matti makes a political stand with his cinematic take on the war on drugs

BY E R I K A D A N I E LLE M . P E PI T O FILE P HOTO • NO L ISO L I.P H

In the world of sane minds, masked faces and hidden truth, how will you defend your stand when your mind has a sanity of its own far from what the society accepts?

are against her?

The detailed composition of the setting sets an image in the reader’s mind that corresponds to the events. The developing story incorporates a series of questions that turn the pages into an exciting array of events.

The powerful plot twist gives a sensation that chills the skin. It brings the reader in an interactive world with the characters and bombards them with suspense by revealing the truths in the most unexpected way. With all the elements of surprise, the book is surely to cast an unforgettable story.

This is a novel that targets readers who seek mysterious cases and puzzled clues. It makes the readers analyze the plot and notice the small details that the novel gives on what really happened and who are the characters involved. A. J. Finn is apparently one of those authors who like to string along his audiences with his occasional burst of humor followed by a bunch of page-turner events.

The world perhaps is a beautiful place for the sane minds. But for those who take refuge in the shadows to avoid the standards set by the society, it might as well be a battle ground.

But as what Anna said, “I’m not invisible. I’m not dead. I’m alive, and on display, and ashamed.”

And so is every person who is labeled as different.

B7

The thrill of watching an action film will heighten your senses, will make your heart race, and will make you grip the edge of your seat in anticipation on what is going to happen next. Erik Matti made sure that his audiences will get that exact experience with his new flick.

A follow through of his last action film “On the Job” in 2013, Matti makes an explosive comeback with “BuyBust”, depicting the current administration’s fight against drugs in a fresh yet vulnerable perspective. The box office hit, racking up P97 million worldwide, features a powerhouse cast with Anne Curtis as the fearless heroine, Brandon Vera, Victor Neri, Arjo Atayde, Levi Ignacio, Nonie Buencamino, Lao Rodriguez, Alex Calleja, and Joross Gamboa.

Fresh from deployment in a drug mission that resulted to the demise of all her companions, Nina Manigan (Curtis) finds herself in another troop to take down Biggie Chen (Atayde), a bigtime drug dealer.

Manigan struggles to conform with Bernie Lacson’s (Neri) orders out of cynicism, still haunted with the memory of her being the only one to survive a failed anti-drug operation. They use Teban (Calleja), a mid-level drug dealer, to lure Chen in a buy-bust operation at a public Plaza Rajah Sulayman for his capture, but his no-show forced Manigan and her new team to go to Brgy. Gracia ni Maria (ironically the name of the drug den) in Tondo to entrap Chen. The operation proved to be another hoax, as it was revealed to be a planned murder of the national

WHAT THIS FILM TRIES TO TELL ITS AUDIENCES IS THAT THE DRUG WAR CONSTANTLY BOASTED

BY THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT ONLY VICTIMIZE INDIVIDUALS WHO EITHER FIND SOLACE IN USING ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES OR ARE JUST SLAIN TO BE PART OF A BIGGER DEMOGRAPHIC. drug agency’s officers, resulting to Manigan killing Detective Dela Cruz (Rodriguez) who was with them in the operations.

It turns out, Chen is not the only enemy, not even the greatest in this case. They had to combat other antagonists such as Chongki (Ignacio) and Manok (Gamboa), the tyrants in the area who also run the drug trade. Their bloody attempt of an escape from the labyrinth tarnishes their moral compass, being forced to violently end the lives of drug mafias and enraged residents, and to leave behind their fallen team members to redeem themselves. Manigan finds assurance from the gentle giant Rico Yatco (Vera) who almost made it out the maze with her.

Call it déjà vu as Manigan is the lone agent to leave the drug den alive, with Chen in her hands. Manigan also discovers that the main man behind the illegal drug trade in Brgy. Gracia ni Maria is Detective Alvarez (Buencamino), who shot Chen to death, and was shot by Manigan who places her gun on Chen’s corpse to cover up the triad shooting.

As the movie pans out it is quite hard to believe that the setting is just an overnight drug entrapment operation, but it took two years to complete the said film. The long takes and combat sequences showcase Curtis shedding off her feminine image and becoming a tough-minded and gritty femme fatale. The constricted shots in the narrow passages of the setting give the film a claustrophobic feel. The scoring is the cherry on top, with blood-pumping drumbeats and spine-tingling strums adding to the film’s overall feel.

The movie poses a reality that has been pervasive since the drug war commenced – who are the ones liable for all this ruckus? What this film tries to tell its audiences is that the drug war constantly boasted by the President does not only victimize individuals who either find solace in using illegal substances or are just slain to be part of a bigger demographic. It also traumatizes the ones holding the guns, the ones who hide behind the threat of inciting violence. They are constantly emotionally abused by the fact that they are responsible for robbing from the fallen drug war victims the chance of rehabilitation.

In this war, there is no sure victor. In this war, the real adversary is the breeding contempt between those in authority and those deemed to be at fault. This film has made it very clear that the war still has a long way to go, and more lives will be taken unless the issue on illegal drugs is breached with humanity and sensitivity and empathy.

B8 Augustinian the

Volume LXIV • Number 3 October 5, 2018

PANORAMA

URBAN DECAY

BY E R I K A D A N I E LLE M . P E PI T O A N D RO C H E LLE M A E M . M U Z O N E S

Iloilo City was recently awarded the accolade of being the Most Improved Local Government Unit for the Highly Urbanized City (HUC) category during the 6th Regional Competitiveness Summit. It took 21 leaps from its previous ranking, now placing 11th out of 33 HUCs. The city is booming economically, evidenced by the numerous skyscrapers and other infrastructures redefining the Iloilo skyline and investments that put Iloilo on the map. But amidst the teeming developments in the city, there is no denying the fact that a lot still needs to be done for Iloilo to be resilient to the challenges of urbanization. The steady increase in the population entails the grip of poverty, the lack of safe and adequate living spaces, the heavy traffic, and the looming pollution. Elaborate steps are taken to enhance the image of the city, but for the Ilonggo masses, they are yet to experience the results of the progress that could immensely improve their state of living.

USA PUB PHOTOS • EDREA CLAIRE G. GREGORE, DANIEL JEFF C. TELIC, COLLEEN GAILE B. BILBAO AND STEVEN JOHN N. SUMBING