The Augustinian, February 2008

When Timawa meets Delgado...

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Excellent Campus Journalism for the Common Good the Official student newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF san agustin iloilo city, philippines

VOL. 56 NO. 5

JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 15, 2008

‘Justice for Mickey’

Pub Watch out!

The USA Publications has recently went out to unravel the hidden charms of Iloilo City’s rich culinary heritage. Among these adventurous treats and delights are the rediscovery of old family recipes, the heritage behind our traditional Ilonggo cuisine and a comprehensive survey on some of the city’s famed restaurants and eateries.

The Pubpipol have also set out towards the health and safety circumstances towards proper nutrition and dietetics in relation to the rising phenomenon of obesity and anorexia nervousa.

Stay tuned and watch out for the next issue of The Augustinian Mirror to be released this March 2008!

By the USA PUBLICATIONS STAFF

Azucena

FEBRUARY 4 - Life will never be the same again for the family and friends of Harlson Mark “Mickey” Azucena after his recent death. The Augustinian community was in shock and grief after the occurrence of the tragic incident a day after the Dinagyang festivities last month.

The Azucena family is crying “Justice for Mickey.”

The incident took place when the 19-year-old BS Information Technology 3 student of MYL Subdivision, Brgy. Buhang, Jaro district was standing with four friends under a waiting shed along General Luna St. near the Infante Flyover at around 8:00-9:00 PM on January 28. The students were waiting for a jeepney bound for Leganes when a group of teenagers suddenly approached them and started beating them down to the ground. His four friends were able to escape from the scene but Azucena was not spared from the mauling and ended up getting stabbed three times in the chest. He was later declared dead at the Iloilo Doctors Hospital from severe wounds and injuries. The ten suspects fled after the incident, although responding police officers managed to seize six of them after several hours of hunting operations.

The remaining four were still at-large.

USALT hosts ‘Company Call 2!’

By CARA UY and PIETROS VAL PATRICIO

After the success of last year’s 1st Teen Theater Festival, the Center for Culture and the Arts and the USA Little Theater will once again be hosting a comprehensive theater workshop for young performing artists in the region.

Tagged as Company Call2! : The Iloilo City Teen Theater Festival, the event is geared towards high school-based theater companies and artisans to interact among each other to foster innovative thinking in the performing arts. Methods of acting, rehearsal techniques and the exchange of ideas and plays will be conducted among participants. Set on the 1st week of February, the project is intended to coincide with Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival celebration which was awarded for the second time as the country’s best tourism festival.

The event will be running from February 8-16 at the USA Conference

Room and at the St. Anne’s Hall of Assumption-Iloilo.

Also showcased during the event was the Panglakaton Blues Two, a poetry in motion depicting social issues written by renowned writers in the region.

The project, furthermore, asserts to create a strengthened network among local high school theater companies and strengthen both new and old alliances. It will also be a place where thespians from various secondary institutions would learn from the USA Little Theater.

Target beneficiaries are both the participating artists and the general audience of the event.

In many tourism reports, cultural workers and young artists have been greatly contributing to national growth through tourism and industrial production lately.

Among the arrested were Allen Saquilan, 20, the alleged leader of the gang; Bryan Gallarte, 20; Dave Gangoso, 18; Mark Joseph Latonero, 18; Donna Mojal, 18; and Swizer Tacorum19. Joseph Chris Segura, who supposedly stabbed Mickey to death, was surrendered to the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) a few days after the incident.

His custody was then transferred to the Iloilo City Police Station (ICPS) 1. Still at large are Jake Talarva, a girl named Joy and an alias Cuba.

Police officers are still hunting for the remaining suspects as murder charges are currently being prepared against them.

The arrested suspects originally denied any involvement with Azucena’s death until the police began spilling out the evidences after a thorough investigation. Among the instruments used during the slaying were several stones and an ice pick.

Fellow suspects pointed at Allen Saquilan as the one who stabbed Azucena with a knife but the latter denied all accusations against him.

Saquilan and his group were later released from detention after being allowed to post bail for homicide charges.

According to the local media, authorities believe that the incident began from an old grudge, a love triangle and mere tripping. Police authorities are yet to find out about the murder as potential evidences and statements from witnesses are still being gathered. A poster was hanged at the College of Arts and Sciences lately in memoriam of the junior Information Technology student. Harlson Mark Azucena is the grandson of former Iloilo City vice mayor Guillermo de la Llana and nephew of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Renato Gumban.

Almendros secures 1st place in Nat’l Rizal Quiz Bee

By Jenny Castro

The culture and the arts sector has emerged as a vital organ for social consciousness and relevance these past years. The aim of the event is to encourage further growth of the region’s young talents and creative minds in drama in relation with the rising interest of educational institutions to strengthen cultural and artistic organizations.

In December 16-20 last year, USA’s top youth leaders went back home to Iloilo City with flying colors.

Without a doubt, they had the reason to celebrate since Maria Jilyn Almendros got the title as the national champion in the Rizal Quiz Bee held at the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City.

The 45th National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute Conference was sponsored by the Order of the Knights of Rizal (KOR): Supreme Council, chartered under Republic Act No. 646.

It is an annual assembly intented to provide a venue for youth leaders to clarify contemporary issues in the Rizalian contexts and ideas and instill in the youth leaders the gist of leadership, character building, pride of race and love of country.

Almendros was skilled under Ms. Teresita Balgos, the adviser of the USA-KAPARIZ. There were 61 contestants in the elimination round, and reduced to 7 contestants during the final round. The 2nd and 3rd runners up were contestants from Luzon.

Other contests, aside from the

Rizal Quiz Bee, held during the conference were extemporaneous speaking and an on-the spot essay writing.

Other Augustinians who were present were Johnny Esmilla, Jr. for the on-the-spot essay writing, Aaron Bjorn Ong for extemporaneous speaking, Ashley Peniero (CAS), Janine Balasa and Danica Saplagio (both CN) for the seminar.

Almendros is currently a second year Medical Technology student, and a top student in their class.

Almendros

National Historians: “Keep Rizal Alive!”

By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO

January 18 – Heroes become immortal only if we keep their values alive. There is a dire need among young generations to honor and utilize these values for the sake of national consciousness.

These are a few of the vital

statements expressed by some of the country’s leading historians during a region-wide seminar-workshop held at the Dean Josefa C. Castro AudioVisual Hall, Rada Bldg. The event was conducted in commemoration of our national hero’s 111th Death

Anniversary organized by the USAKAPARIZ and Social Science Department in cooperation with the National Historical Institute and the Philippine Historical Association.

The seminar, entitled “Teaching to page 4

The Augustinian community would like to reach out its deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Johnny Esmilla, Jr., Editor-in-Chief of the USA Publications, whose father has peacefully joined the presence of our Lord on February 1, 2008. May we request for your supportive prayers for the soul of the late Mr. Johnny Esmilla, Sr.

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OPINION

The Augustinian

Enthymeme

Elsed Togonon

It’s our problem, too The City of Iloilo welcomed the New Year with Traffic Regulation Ordinance 2007-195, the perimeter boundary ordinance which had cut short the route of jeepneys from outside Iloilo City.

The week before the 2008 Dinagyang celebrations had been covered with tension as the transport sector in the neighboring towns of Iloilo threatened to hold a jeepney strike at the very day of the festival. The Metro-Iloilo Development Council (MIDC) jeepneys, which include those from Oton, Pavia, San Miguel, Leganes and Santa Barbara, had asked for the repeal of the traffic ordinance. City councilors, however, do not want to repeal the very young ordinance just yet. The provincial jeepney drivers are fighting for their income while the city government is fighting for a traffic-free city.

Behind all of these, the voices of the students can not be heard. When the two sides are arguing about their rights, the students can only say, it’s not just their problem. It’s our problem, too.

While everybody is protecting the interests of everybody, students, who are heavily affected by this ordinance, find themselves in a quandary. A student who before had to pay only Php 10 from Oton to the University of San Agustin will have to pay Php 12.00 because he needs to get down in Molo from Oton and ride a Villa jeep to the University.

That’s an additional Php 4.00 daily. It may look small but money can not be found on the streets. Parents work hard to send their children to school and every peso matters. Those from Oton are luckier compared to the three rides of some of the students from Sta. Barbara.

The drivers need to live and the Iloilo City Government needs to ensure order in its streets. The City also needs to protect the interest of the city-loop jeepneys. But what about the students?

It is not a matter of legitimacy. The City council has all the right to change the routes of the jeeps going in and out of the city. In the same light, the MIDC jeeps have all the right to strike and paralyze transportation.

They all want to have the right to do the things they plan. But couldn’t they stop for a while and look at the plight of the students? As if it’s not enough to pay very high tuition or to photocopy a hundred pages of handouts each day, students have to bear the additional expense of having to transfer from jeep to jeep.

Once and for all, the City Government needs to talk with the jeepney associations. The students understand the need to decongest the city but couldn’t it provide a place where provincial jeeps can unload students inside the city? The students also understand that jeepney associations have the right to launch a strike but couldn’t they understand that the classes students miss because of it are as important as well?

For in the end, this new traffic ordinance is not just their problem.

It’s our problem, too.

Editorial

THE

augustinian

Editor in Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors

Senior Writers

Staff Writers

Staff Artist Circulation Officer Moderator

Johnny Esmilla Jr. Pietros Val Patricio Mario Ivan Gonzales Elsed Togonon Cara Uy Paulo Moises Bayabos Jenny Castro Jefferson Magbanua Dawn Arañador Karlo Christopher Cristales Angel Marie Medel Aljun Padisio William Fusin Jr. Sheena Capindo J.I.E. Teodoro

The Augustinian is the official student newspaper of the University of San Agustin.

It is published six times a year by the USA Publications with editorial office at Room 38, 3rd Floor, Gamboa Hall, University of San Agustin, Gen. Luna St., 500 Iloilo City. Comments, suggestions, and contributions may be sent to the Editorial Board through the email address pubpipol@usa.edu.ph.

I am not really a big fan of Heath Ledger, but I have seen many of his films—from 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight’s Tale, Four Feathers, and Brokeback Mountain. When the news about his death broke out, I was taken aback because I never would have imagined that at a young age and a great actor as he is, he died of accidental overdose.

Sure, many Hollywood actors resorted to such “horrendous” act just to escape from depression and even illusions of grandeur; it’s just a shame that even Heath Ledger, whatever the reason of his untimely demise was, has become a victim of it. But I could never blame Heath Ledger. For an individual who is trapped within the confines of fame and flair, there is always a prize to pay. It’s a matter of retreating or retiring.

And Heath chose to retire. And the way he embraced it was just so beautiful and poetic. According to reports, he was waiting for his

Eye Opener

Jenny Castro From an article written by David McCasland, Concrete Love, that I read few days ago, I was captured by the story in the article that was told by a child psychologist who spent many hours constructing a new driveway at his home. Just after he smoothed the surface of the freshly poured concrete, his small children chased a ball across the driveway, leaving deep footprints. The man yelled after them with stream of angry words. His shocked wife said, “You’re a child psychologist who’s supposed to love children.”

The furious man shouted, “I love children in the abstract, but not in the concrete!”

I laughed quietly at the story, but it rang true for me. Despite the fact that I have the same opinion

JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 15, 2008

Heath’s Death and on Dying Naked masseuse to arrive. Naked, he took antidepressant drugs and bided his time as the pills crept in and enfeebled his body. It successfully did. And, until his last breath, Heath perfectly exemplified the beauty of death. That is, by dying naked.

By dying naked, Heath Ledger stripped himself off of his responsibilities, of his pretensions, and of his dilemmas. Someone told me that being naked gives a person a sense of self-liberation. A feeling of freedom that he can do whatever he wants to do. Nakedness can actually help us releases our inhibitions. It brings us back to nature. As what Stratz espoused in his book Die Frauenkleidung, “The simple child of Nature sees in nakedness nothing at all; the clothed man sees in the uncovered body only a sensual irritation.

But at the highest standpoint man consciously returns to Nature, and recognizes that under the manifold coverings of human fabrication there is hidden the most splendid creature that God has created. One may stand in silent, worshipping wonder before the sight; another may be impelled to imitate and show to his fellow-man what in that holy moment he has seen. But both enjoy

the spectacle of human beauty with full consciousness and enlightened purity of thought.” I reckon that in our nakedness we can see the real beauty of a person.

Heath Ledger surrendered his being to Nature. Although it might seem obnoxious that he deviated from Nature’s very own course, that is, by allegedly taking his own life, still he recognized that “under the manifold coverings of human fabrication there is hidden the most splendid creature that God has created.” His naked death is his way of giving himself to the Divine Being, of “disrobing” himself as he is, not Heath Ledger as a shrewd lover, not Heath Ledger as a brave knight, and not even Heath Ledger as a gay cowboy.

Heath Ledger may be dead, but he will always be remembered as an actor who etched an incredible contribution to Hollywood’s movie industry. But his final act, his curtain call will be remembered most of all.

I am not really a big fan of Heath Ledger, but now, he made me think of a very best way to die.

I mean, if there is such a best way to end up life, I reckon that nudity is a romantic way as to how others would find me dead. At least, I have nothing to hide.

In the abstract or in the concrete? in the principle with the concept of self-giving love, I find myself failing to express it to the people I live with each day. I have lived for 274 hours and every tick of the clock, it adds up to my life, and also adds up to my failure to express my self-giving love to others. I have fear and shyness inside me that stop me to show to others that I cared and loved them.

Imagine the value of these 274 hours of living with that attitude, there’s nothing worst than that.

Now, I have realized that showing and expressing love to others is a mark of a real person.

Everybody needs love, especially those people who we like the least, maybe need our love the most. Love is an active verb. At this time, the month of love is coming soon, and for sure many young and old couples are planning to celebrate it by going out and have some dinner or some would watch a movie. But giving love to others doesn’t mean you only show it during special occasions.

We have to express it every single second of our lives.

Sometimes, it is weird to hear someone saying, “You have to love your enemies.” It’s hard to love your enemies because of the gap between you and the other person. However you just have to forgive and forget.

That anger inside you will ruin your personality. All we need is love; we should love every person in this world.

In the first Corinthians 13, it describes love in terms of its concrete expression, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, think no evil.”

As a theory, love isn’t worth much; but as a practice, it is the world’s greatest treasure. Hence, expressing your love is just a huge mark to those people whom you have showed your love. When you love, you have to give your all.

Once footprints are in the driveway, people discover whether our love exists in the abstract or in the concrete.

OPINION

JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 15, 2008

Reinventing one’s self I was pretty much more anxious than excited when I was asked to write for this column. Maybe because I didn’t know what to write about; I never saw myself writing something personal for publication.

But since, I thought, it’ll be for the first tabloid issue of 2008, I decided to write about personal change.

I’m not really a fan of New Year’s resolutions, but the mere thought of 2007 just passing by before your eyes makes you think of your self - how you did last year, the gains, the losses, and of course, what you intend to achieve (or let go) this year. Then probably you tell yourself, “Now is the time for change.” Sounds easy, right? You just think of what you like, and then go for it. But that’s not always the case, is it? You see, what you think you like may not be what you really like. Remember Bruce Almighty?

Morgan Freeman (as God) said, “Since when did people know what they really want?”

Recently, our lesson in class was about becoming a “fullyfunctioning person” according to Carl Rogers. His theory implies that if you live your life according to the demands and rules of other people, you will live the rest of it with continuous anxiety. But if you live your life being loved by others no matter what you are and what you do, you become an authentic person, which then will make you fully-functioning. Yeah, it seems trouble-free to think of, but it’s easier said than done. Remember, Rogers is a humanist; he believes in the capacity of the person more than anything else. Excessively, I

might add.

Many have spent their lives being authentic – acting what they really are and doing what they like the best. But even more chose to remain confined in their world of CONditional love and acceptance, their “comfort zones” so to speak.

Well, there’s always a reason why they stay that way, and no one’s to blame. Nobody should tell you that you ought to be authentic, because their lives are not the same as yours. Sometimes, we do things we don’t like for the sake of others. We even act the opposite of what we are just because we want to be accepted or because we want to achieve something not only for us but also for the ones we love. Now ain’t that human nature? You can’t just always go for what you think you like and be whatever you want to become.

There are times when you need to play the game, putting into consideration the things around you and adjust to the earthly demands of your life. At the end of the day, you’ll find yourself evaluating your existence based on what you are in the society, and not solely on what you’ve become as an individual. We live in a cynical, contemptuous world of social animals that - whether we like it or not – define who we are.

As my Psychology 101 teacher would say, “I’m sorry to tell you, but you are not unique. You are just the result of the society shaping you.”

A few days ago, I received a text message: “You can never discover new oceans unless you’ll

One More Bite “Can I have another slice of your wonder bread?”

STOP! You’re not getting that bite unless you read this whole column.

I tried to convince myself that I really should write this for my fellow “Chubbys”. Nobody talks about food in this tabloid for about a year or two I guess. I mean all about food and the way we eat.

I was a little bit insecure about myself that when I write about this in my column I am not just talking to the people who are suffering obesity or fat problems but I am also trying to talk to myself as well.

I am talking risks to build a voice of my own.

Who hates food anyways?

EVERYONE LOVES IT. We find it satisfactory and enjoyable at the same time. It’s a part of our daily body needs that we should eat something in order to live. But why do we eat much than what we need?

I learned to love food day by day. I took a course because of it. I put my future for it but why does it in return gave me negative outlooks in life? Maybe psychologically, I use food to be my defense mechanism when I have a problem or maybe I was hard headed to control myself. Then I grew, big.

I know some of you are in my shoes. We are being advised

several times to cut down those carbs (Carbohydrates) and lessen our irregular eating habits on the improper time for eating (kinamkinam) and try to lose weight! I am playing deaf to all my advisers. I know I feel good when I eat. It feels good to eat and I know that even I enjoy that time pigging myself out, I know its going to make me sick.

I used to get insecure about these flabs. I look at myself at the mirror and say “Hey you! Are you a baker or something? How much for that layered cake have you made?” Then I blame it all to myself and be grumpy all day.

When I saw a skinny girl pass the hall way I said “Oh how I wish I could be like her” but then reality bites, I have this wiggly tummy attached to myself everyday! Then I tried a lot of things to get myself into strict dieting. I didn’t eat much than what was required, I skipped meals just to keep the dieting on process, I refuse any food offering, I get myself tired with heavy loads of work then…I fainted. I regretted those silly actions I made because I was obsessed to be thin.

Why do chubbys like us always get teased? Why do the skinny ones get the spot light of glorification? Why can’t there be positive outlooks on us? Then I heard on skinny girl wished “to have some fats in me. I want to be a little bit bigger in size.” How ironic

Manifest Content

Paulo Moises Bayabos

have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Oh goodie, it’s one of those quotes that dictate you to take risks and live a chancy life, as if it’s as easy as changing your underwear.

Well, from where I stand, life isn’t all about discovering new oceans.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against the notion of authenticity.

If you sense the call for being a genuine, socially-useful individual, go for it. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be joining the lights of Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King and Gandhi – people considered to be authentic and fully-functioning. But the idea of change is not entirely about that.

To change is sometimes a matter of choice, and choices are bounded by intentions. These people made their choice because they felt the need for it. You have a choice, too. Set your priorities and decide what really matters in your heart.

Whether you choose to stay in or get out of your shell, you are commendable for it, because you have your own reasons. What counts is that you are aware of your actions and your intentions are for the good.

This year, bring out the new and improved you.

Head Chef

Angel Marie Medel life can be. Imperfections make us difficult persons. There are benefits of being flabby. We are cuddled and loved (We are human teddy bears to some) and we are being called cute. But mind you according to the New Webster’s Dictionary cute means-ugly but presentable. (Can we stick to the choices between A. Presentable and B. Beautiful Only?)

Then the irony of life is balanced.

We skinny and flabby people are still interesting topics to some.

Some want the bigger size and to us we wish to have some curves. A person is measured not by his or her waistline but rather than to who and what s/he is by heart and character.

My advice: “lets help each other.” Listen to the advice given to you and take criticisms positively. If you long to be skinny, then discipline yourself. If you love just the way you are then stay as you are. If you are on the A.K.A. Gabriela Fat Strikers then take a notion and be determined to be what you want to be. But always control. One more bite and say no more to a fatty you.

The Augustinian

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Decaying white elephants History tells us that the traditional white elephant is a sacred figure in many oriental cultures. It is a high-prized possession of royal and religious prestige in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Laos since it associates with the birth of Buddha.

Its religious relevance is evident in many ancient artifacts and historical accounts of these Southeast Asian countries. Monarchs still proudly use these animals in parades and festivities up to this day as a symbol of peace and prosperity. They are protected by the law, cared for and kept. And because these albino creatures are highly sensitive to sunlight and labor, these mammals are also noted for their uselessness.

Thus, they cannot be put to any practical use. Suppose a civilian should receive a white elephant as a gift from the king, it is regarded both as a blessing and a curse; a blessing because of its sanction from the gods and a curse because its owner has to carry the burden of taking care of a useless animal for a lifetime.

In political terms, the white elephant has been identified as a government-owned entity of the state which economic value is many times higher than its usefulness. Its mere existence and economic costs exceed its actual purpose, therefore a burden to the entire nation. Referred by the term are over-expensive artworks, overprized infrastructure (airports, highways, etc.), technological devices and public facilities that have never been used. In the Philippines, we’ve got quite a number of white elephants and many of them have been decaying lately. Otherwise only known in industrialized states, it is shocking how an impoverished country like ours could even engage in such schemes. Political scientists argue that white elephants are essential products of corruption; grandiose plans are made by politicians and in the end, they grab their share of money out of the unfinished cadaver. These funds used are borrowed from the World Bank, foreign governments and firms. The rest are stolen from the pockets of the country’s taxpaying citizens. Taxes are being paid for nothing. Projects are created for a good purpose but never used. Efforts are made but never realized – it’s a disgrace.

Indeed, a dumbfounded society would eventually lead to nowhere.

RP’s foreign debts nowadays amount to US$54 billion (Php6 trillion), meaning Php45, 000 per head.

The controversial NAIA 3 Terminal was conceptualized as early as 1997 to modernize the existing international airport into a world-class facility that would boost tourism and investments by accommodating sixteen million from its present passenger capacity of three million per year. Large multinational firms were involved in the ambitious US$300 billion venture.

Construction of the terminal finished as of 2001 but has failed to open the following year due to law violations, operation and payment scandals. The facility collapses in 2006 and proves out to be substandard in quality.

The Php21.2 billion Bataan Nuclear Plant, the most notorious white elephant, was built in the 1980’s but has never operated. Today, the government still spends US$ 20 million annually to maintain the facility. It is unlikely to ever open now that the world has shifted to renewable energy. Other white elephants include the 26 medical

waste incinerators imported from Austria in 1995 which were ever used due to violations of the Philippine Clean Air Act of ‘99 and the Php1.54 billion Telepono sa Barangay concept which began in 1997 to link the country’s remote villages with telecommunication. The endeavor was completed in 2004 but the telephone cells became useless by then due to the sudden mobile phone revolution in the country. They were never used. We’ve got one noble white elephant within the university and this is the USA Gymnasium; paid by the miscellaneous tuition fees of students and not even properly renovated. Aside from concerts, tournaments and other special events, it is never used for educational purposes. Our varsity scholars are not even allowed to use it. Why? I have no idea. These elephants fail to create growth.

Sometimes it is really sad to think that our resources are most often

Frankness

Pietros Val Patricio wasted.

The Philippines is a third world country that is actually supposed to be a prosperous and progressive one. It’s just that we Filipinos do not know how to use and allocate our resources properly. The potential is there but it is not utilized. We have some of the world’s most innovative and intellectual people living in one of the world’s backward societies. What we lack is a ‘moral’ consciousness of true nationhood.

Our country has many serious problems to tackle but nothing is being done seriously. There are 40 million Filipinos out there in the vast urban slums living in the edge of poverty and struggling for survival. Seventeen million of us go hungry everyday. Our cultural norms proudly brag that the youth is groomed to be the ‘hope of the fatherland’ kuno. But many generations have past and nothing happened. What about the 2.5 million street children in the country, have they been forgotten? Nothing has been done for their welfare since the daycare program of the Marcos era. Our population keeps on growing but opportunities are not growing at all. So much human capital is wasted; people often fail to benefit from economic growth.

Where does the yearly Php200 million of each senator and the Php 30 million of each of the 250 house representatives go? The legislation’s pork barrel funds barely even go to national development at all. Very few progress is done, especially in the barrio level. With no improvements in infrastructure, schools, healthcare and telecommunication services, our countryside still remains primitive and pathetic. Still, beautiful mansions and cozy villas have been sprouting out of nowhere in the fields lately. The crooked politicians who obviously own them apparently have no shame whatsoever. What a strange country.

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The Augustinian

Augustinians React

By Dawn Arañador and Sheena Capindo

February 14 – A day of hearts, a celebration of love.

It has long been a marked day on our calendars and a very special moment when love reigns and is really felt in the air.

Love gives a complicated definition as being the source of joy, hatred, sorrow and even fulfillment. With love comes everything. With love comes life. And the question, “What is LOVE?” is like asking why life exists. We define love on the way we see and understand it based on our experiences. Different definitions make it more complicated and the more it makes the word unique.

NEWS

JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 15, 2008

Editor: CARA UY

PMT, CEA to vie for debate finals

By Dawn Arañador

THE College of Pharmacy and M e d i c a l Te c h n o l o g y ( P M T ) and College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) will vie for the championship round of the 2008 St. Augustine Interdepartmental Debate Series on February 15 at the USA Conference Room.

There were 4 debate matches during the elimination round held at the USA Student Center on January 8. The CEA won against the College of Education on the first match with the proposition, “Resolved that the Anti-Hospital Detention Act be Repeated.”(The best debater and the best speaker awardees were won respectively by the CEA.)

The College of Nursing (CN) was hailed as the Best Debating Team after defeating the Sigma Chi-Mu Sigma Phi Sorority on the second round with the proposition, “Resolved that the Sangguniang Kabataan be abolished.”

The third match was between the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) and the Basic Education Department (BED) on the proposition, “Resolved that the Franchise of PECO be revoked.” The BED debating team won.

The final match in the elimination round was won by the PMT against the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) with the proposition, “Resolved that

CAS, Sigma Chi-Mu Sigma Phi Frasority reach out to Gawad Kalinga

By Paulo Moises Bayabos

“Love is a precious feeling that the Heavenly Father gave to all His living creatures that enables them to live with, by and out of it.”

- Basicleo –USPH Eagle “Love is something that makes a person happy. It can’t be love if you’re just trying to be happy and contented. But don’t be confused between LOVE and SYMPATHY…it can HURT badly”.

- KENJ BSC MA - 4 “Love governs all matters. A simple feeling yet powerful that could lead to death. No one can deny that love satisfies and conquers”.

- Schwaan BSC MA “LOVE is the only suffering you want to feel and experience even more.” - Lyla “Love is a sweet, tantalizing feeling shared between two individuals.

It is the sugar in a coffee, the oasis in the dessert and the one which puts color in the rainbow.” - Rayzel Marie Castro, BSN I-B “LOVE?! Love is simple. Starts with a simple friendship… and even ends in a simple word to describe the feeling… PAINFUL.” - Jep-jep BSN I-B “Love may be viewed in so many perspectives, Buberian? Schelerian or Moorean?...to name only a few. I would present the MEDELIAN: The BOND (regardless of relationships {filial, fraternal, parental, romantic...to cite only a few}) that unites persons in the INTERHUMAN ENCOUNTER, if with Gog, in the METAPHYSICAL ENCOUNTER.”

- Dr. Rolando Medel, Philosophy Professor “Love is a mutual feeling shared by two persons in which they become one. It is a strong emotion in which you can’t sleep, you can’t eat and the only thing tht comes into your mind is to spend the rest of your life with one another.” - Ridan Paul BSN I-B “Love needs not to say what exactly you feel but on how you show it to that someone you love.” - crazywoman_14 “Love comes in a package- both sexual desire and the affection itself.

Loving someone at first would just be the affection and will later involve sexual desire.” - Ramza411 “Love is not a one night stand nor a series of cumshots, it’s a long term engagement between two private organs- the HEART.” - _Jesus_ “Love is not what your ears hear, what your eyes see or what your brain dictates. It is what your heart feels.- Bella Marie Dieron BSN I-B “Love is powerful word that gives us the insecurities, obsessions and even numbness and distance in a relationship. Despite of all the pathologies related to love, it is still the most loved word - “LOVE.” - Kate Julya Acuesta “Love is being so patient and at the same time being a martyr.

Believing that your most precious beloved is the right one even though he is not.” - Abegail R. Fernando “LOVE... is a splendid feeling that makes things complicated. It is like a soldier- knows how to fight and when to surrender.”

- Janine M. Balasa

the JPEPA be ratified.”Christian Gregoire Tioco (PMT) won as the Best Debater.

On the semi-final round held last January 18, the first match was CEA versus CN. The CEA was judged as the Best Debating Team. The Best Speaker and the Best Debater awards were respectively won by the College of Nursing (CN).

The second match was won by PMT against BED on the proposition, “Resolved, that the President of the Republic of the Philippines be eligible for re-election.”Christian Gregoire Tioco won as the Best Debater and Maria Jilyn Almendros as the Best Speaker, both from PMT.

IN THE NAME OF SERVICE. Members of the Sigma Chi-Mu Sigma Phi Frasority donate to its adopted community in Concepcion, Iloilo.

December 22, 2007 - The USA College of Arts and Sciences together with the Sigma Chi Fraternity and Mu Sigma Phi Sorority carried on the university’s charitable tradition of reaching out to its adopted Gawad

Kalinga community in Concepcion, Iloilo.

The CAS department, headed by the Arts and Sciences Student Council officers and advisers, actualized the “slippers drive” which they initiated

weeks before the outreach. Aside from donating loads of pairs of slippers to the children, they also gave away gift packs containing groceries and other basic commodities to the elders of the community. A mini-program was done with some parlor games for the children. In active support and participation were Mrs. Rowena Isidro and ASSC advisers Ms. Muriel Minerva Jover and Mr. Rodolfo Betito.

Meanwhile, it was sweeter the second time around for the Sigma Chi – Mu Sigma Phi Frasority, donating Php 50,000 for the benefit of a family’s home for the second time. The frasority, being inherently benevolent, has been CAS’s partner in charity also for the second time.

“We’ve always been directed to a firm path and at all times equipped with values.” says Lyle Ryner Lapidez, Grand Archon of Sigma Chi Fraternity. “Reaching out to the purehearted people of Gawad Kalinga not only moved us but realized one of our missions and visions as well”, he added.

National Historian... from page 1

Rizal in the Classroom: Making the Course Relative in our Time”, was attended by representatives from various tertiary institutions in Western Visayas with the purpose of evaluating the Rizal Law (R.A. 1425) to its proper purpose. The lectures and speeches were given by Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, Chair of the National Historical Institute, and Dr. Celestina Boncan, President of the Philippine Historical Association, among others. The seminar has been conducted previously in other key cities such as Dapitan, Dumaguete and Cebu. The workshop was geared to professors teaching Rizal as a subject in social science classes.

By the time the Rizal Bill was passed into law by the late politician Claro Recto in 1956, it was strongly opposed by members of the legislature and the Church due to the 220 statements in Rizal’s two novels, the Noli and Fili, which were considered offensive to the Catholic faith, therefore violating the freedom of religious conscience. But since Recto was a strong nationalist and powerful icon at the time, the bill eventually pushed through. Included in the law was the obligation of every school to keep adequate copies of

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME. Fr. Manuel Vergara, OSA gives a keynote speech to the regional participants of the Rizal Workshop.

Rizal’s novels in its libraries, which never came to reality.

Dr. Ambeth Ocampo further stated out that copies of Rizal’s novels have been readily available in every major native dialect hidden in the vaults of the National Historical Institute for decades, although the lack public interest as left these books rot in dust.

His counterparts also stressed that

the memory of our national could eventually be forgotten due to weak implementations of the Rizal Law and the youth’s resistance to history courses.

A hand-in-hand workshop and open forum was conducted among the participants and a raffling of rare history books was carried shortly before the closing ceremonies and distribution of certificates.

FEATURE

JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 15, 2008

part of the movie. As Jessica Zafra commented on her website www. jessicarulesthe universe.com, “Ray Gibraltar’s When Timawa Meets Delgado is enjoyably bizarre and inventive (but not in competition).

It explains why so many Pinoys are taking up nursing as a second course, but has a lot more on its mind. The hilarious rendition of a trilingual poem (Kinaray-a, English, and Baklese)

by J.I.E. Teodoro had the audience crawling on the aisles. Timawa asks, If overseas Filipino workers are the new heroes, what do you call the people who stay and work here? Martyrs?”

By ELSED TOGONON and CARA UY

The movie, When Timawa Meets Delgado tells the interspersed life stories of Ruben Timawa (played by former USA Little Theater member Khristopher Rhyss Grabato, who is a Nursing graduate himself) and Jun Delgado (played by thespian Rehno Mar Soqueno). Timawa, a gay poet, descends from the mountain and journeys ala folk hero to enrol in Nursing. On the other hand, Delgado aspires to earn a living as a film maker.

His live-in partner for five years breaks up with him becaus he cannot find a stable job. So, he decided to enrol in Nursing. Apparently, the course conspires these two “bohemians” to meet. The common ground? When asked by the dean why they wanted to take up Nursing, they both answered “To save humanity, Ma’am.”

A Social Satire When Timawa Meets Delgado is a social satire because the main issue is being juxtaposed with different issues faced by our country today.

The MTV-like/documentary film employed by the cinematographer Oscar Nava and director Rey Gibraltar

By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO and CARA UY

The Augustinian

Editor: ELSED TOGONON

provide a very symbolic rendering of playful techniques. The issues between Nursing and poverty, nationalism and westernization, are interlinked by these techniques. One scene which moved us was in the Calajunan dumpsite wherein two children were asked if they wanted to take up Nursing if they were given a chance to go to college.

The ineloquence of the children and the mountains of garbage behind them presented a symbolic irony of people who rather find a greener pasture in some other country, while the rest of the society here, are living in poverty, unable to go to college.

The immortal poem of John Iremil Teodoro, Ang Baboy, reinforced the message conveyed by the film. For many of us, we think that the pig is the dirtiest form of animal; the poem turned the notion of a pig upside down.

How did the poem relate to the movie?

Still, it juxtaposed with the main issue (Nursing), that is, of people choosing the cleanest, convenient side of life, while our nation needs them, begging to be nurtured with their love and service. On a lighter note, we think that Ang Baboy was the funniest

Nursing on the Crossroad While I nail my eyes in front of a silver screen, watching the movie When Timawa Meets Delgado; it feels like I am taking the hot seat like those many individuals being interviewed in front of the camera. It feels like I am being accused of something I failed not to do or dreamed not to.

Gusto mo bala mag-Nurse?

People of different sorts- men, women, children, elder ones and even passersby- were asked of such question as depicted in the film. Some said they are lured by the demand of Nursing because of the high salary, “ kay dako sweldo mo…” while some opted to take the course because “ gin pilit lang ko sang parents ko para makagwa ko dayon…” Though cliché it may seem, such query hang in my mind in a little while. It brought me some form of uncertainties even if I tried to play fair being an audience.

It put me in pedestal, so to speak.

Perhaps, ti kay Nursing student man ako. I knew quite well how nursing life is. For me, it is tough, being left with no choice or with no fervor at all since I, in the first place was napilitan lang. It is just a sad thought that every day I battle with myself.

I felt astray.

As the movie progressed, mixed emotions stirred up. I saw myself as though I am one of those

I n depe n de n t f i l m s h a v e been reshaping the landscape of our local films lately. In the midst of the country’s dying movie industry, Philippine Cinema is now experiencing a new renaissance.

With the digital revolution, almost nothing is impossible nowadays as independent artists are now packaging our culture and ethnicity for the rest of the world to see in theaters. Films such as Magnifico, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, Kubrador and Todo Todo Teros have gained high acclaim from international film critics around the world in the past years. By humble means and limited budget, independent directors attempt to reinvent film as a form of art and culture rather than a mere product geared for profit and mainstream commercialism.

The “F. A-412: Film Production” presentation of the University of San Agustin together with Parsa Media last December 7, 2007 was a premiere of selected short films conducted by the Fine Arts and Communication Arts Programs

5

who are walking over the “kahon” and mingling with the community folks, establishing rapport/assessing my adopted family, exploring and identifying the health problems- be it health deficit, health threat and foreseeable crisis-agitating them. It was pitiful to see an ill client unable to acquire optimum health because of financial constraint and health care inaccessibility. This is in contrast of the Department of Health’s mission to ensure accessibility and quality of health care to attain quality life for all Filipinos, especially the poor.

I felt ambiguous.

Currently, it seems that quality of care is far reachable particularly in our circus-like and wounded nation— political instability curtailed justice, mushrooming of environmental stresses, among others—since more and more nurses are being “exported”

to foreign countries which in turn leads to insufficient or inadequate health care providers. The worst scenario presents an “all road leads to Nursing” drama: a mother and a wife still enrols just to provide her family a better life, a student sacrificing his/her own dream (like being a film maker, a theater artist, or a poet)just to fulfill his/her parents’ own ambition of seeing their son/daughter sending dollars to them, and even a member of an ethnic group descends from the bundok and travels a long and tedious way just to enrol in Nursing. Despite the labels society puts to Nursing, I don’t consider nurses as prisoners of our country who want to escape in order to earn green money, since, evidently, there are those who still remain to stay in our beloved Philippines to make the mission “to save humanity” come true.

I felt torn.

highlighting the talents of young independent filmmakers. The occasion was attended by homegrown artists and cultural enthusiasts including Engr. Maura Basco and Yannie Rose Noble who gave out introductory speeches. Among the films shown were Divided Mind and Flicker by Earl John Martizar, Solo by Rey Mark Palomo, Gallery 505 by Norce Salazar, Sign Up by Jeremy Fernandez and A+ Grade by Marz Capanang among others. Each short film conveyed short messages and small scenes about everyday life expressed in abstract forms given the limited amount of time and space. Also premiered were two workshop films of Nap Jamir filmed at the Central Philippine University: The Gay Trilogy and Payoff.

The main presentation of the event was the premier of a longer film directed by Babak Niaraki.

Simbolo, as it is called, appeared to be a surrealist presentation of an advocacy depicting the struggling status of art and film in the country.

It depicted an artist demonstrating the creation of a mural painting with black human figures in white masks apparently carrying a demonstration.

Later, these figures were seen in life form carrying out white placards and posters in the streets of Iloilo City.

These silent masked faces appeared to be conducting a peaceful rally calling for the patronization and support of the country’s ailing film industry. An open forum discussion was then conducted by the artists and participants of the event.

This new trend gives us bright sparks of hope that our poor entertainment industry could still be saved from falling to the backwaters. Former accounts claim that the Philippines was once one of the world’s largest movie-producing countries. Our local cinema reached its golden age in the pre- and post-war era when production companies were at their full bloom.

In fact, our film industry is one of the world’s oldest. Movie theaters were already introduced to the market as early as 1897. The first Filipino-produced film however was accomplished in 1919 with Jose Nepomuceno’s Dalagang Bukid.

Philippine films gained social consciousness in the 1970’s with Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal among many others entering the spotlight. Strong emphasis was given on social contrasts, political strife and the plight of the country’s marginalized population. Since then, the local film industry has dwindled due to lack of public support from the masses. With the influx of foreign films, our film industry has drastically declined through the years in terms of quality and revenue.

Tagged as “Sine Ilonggo”, the faculty of the fine arts and communication arts programs have agreed to engage in future short film ventures for future projects to help uplift and contribute to the development of short films in the region.

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FEATURE

The Augustinian

JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 15, 2008

Editor: ELSED TOGONON

A Summer Journey in Amsterdam: Strange Encounters in the Kingdom of Dams, Windmills & Marijuana

By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO

One of the things that irritate me many years after conducting a memorable trip with my family and friends is realizing that we haven’t actually taken any pictures of the journey at all. No picture of the place, not a single image of ourselves posing at the famed tourist spots to even prove that we’ve visited these places. It’s quite an awful that I’ve spent most of my adolescent years visiting historic towns, cities, forests and castles in Germany without capturing any shots. One of these instances includes that of the Benelux states where my parents only traveled for professional business matters. It was just later when I noticed that we’ve never brought a camera in any of those trips at all. For many reasons, I never grew up being extravagant. I used to be annoyed by flash cameras and the thought of

posing fake smiles. In all the places I’ve visited, I never considered myself a tourist but a wanderer rather wanting to experience new things than taking boring pictures.

My first encounter with the Netherlands dates back in the Lent season of 1999 after a week-long pilgrimage with my family and friends in southern France. We had a short stop in the southern city of Maastricht before proceeding to the border of Germany back to Bonn where we lived. In the summer of 2004, my mother happened to chat with members of the Filipino community in the outskirts of Berlin. One Filipina somehow convinced my parents for a short vacation to the Netherlands. And out of the blue, I happened to miss the first week of school when my family, along with three other families, rented a twelve-seater van and randomly took the long ride to the Netherlands. I was very used to doing radical things that were unexpected from me but this short Dutch stint gave me a whole new outlook towards true liberalism and postmodernist living. For the first time, I would encounter a society and urban landscape that was totally of the norm. It has awakened my eyes to many new things. And I guess this is the kind of society a typical UP/liberal activist would aspire for.

A Liberalist Kingdom – one big party!

I can’t talk much about the odd behavior and cultural traits of the people in the Netherlands

because of the short period of time that I’ve been there. To describe the place, the countryside was striking and progressive. It boasted of picturesque waterscapes, farmlands and traditional windmills. Most of the country lies below sea-level area.

Many historians joke around that the country should have never existed in the first place had the Dutch not build a functional irrigation system and new innovations in building gigantic dikes to keep the region from sinking. For many centuries, these people have been struggling against the waters, finding new ways to win land and prevent massive flooding. Thus, the country has gained high expertise in dam technology. There are thousands of marshes and deltas, which make the lands very suitable for agriculture.

The Netherlands is probably the most prosperous agriculture-based country to date being among the world’s most

technologically advanced countries.

Its traditional exports are milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products. Now, how can a small agrarian nation achieve first world status without undergoing an industrial revolution?

The Dutch have to migrate to other countries; otherwise they wouldn’t fit in their own nation.

Similar to the Philippines, the Netherlands is a country that revolves around a culture of smallness. Its towns, cities, streets, buildings and houses are generally small. Even its shops, supermarkets and parks are cramped. Mansions are almost unheard of in the country because even merchants and millionaires have to squeeze in small living spaces that are built economically in rows. Their dwellings actually resemble those of typical doll houses. The whole nation can be crossed by car within three hours.

The Dutch played a dominant role in uniting Europe by urging the thought of European solidarity which led to the foundations of the European Union. This is the reason why anyone can live and travel throughout continental Europe nowadays without stumbling upon any boundary gates and immigration authorities; only mere signboards that remind drivers when entering a new country. The Netherlands was one of the first neutral states which adopted anti-war and nuclear-free policies. It was also the world’s first role model of a liberalist society. The Dutch don’t even see themselves as an economic powerhouse but rather a hinterland despite living in a “super” welfare state with a generous government.

They have managed to preserve their rich culture despite rapid development in the past century.

Many people still tend to live very traditional and simple lives in the countryside. The architecture has stayed in tact despite modern changes.

Identifiable to the culture are its windmills and wooden shoes, urban canals, the “smallness” mentality and flower bulb. But what makes the Netherlands a standout is not its heritage but rather what many would call the “over-liberalist” concept of society there. But how liberal is the Kingdom of the Netherlands after all? Things have changed a lot since a liberal-socialist-environmentalist form of government took office in the last decades of the 20th Century.

If you happen to encounter a society where marijuana and opium is legal, where people of the same sex are allowed to marry and prostitution is recognized by the state as a profession then you’ll know what I mean when I say the Dutch live in one happy overliberalist nation.

Downtown Amsterdam During our journey, we spent most of our time in Amsterdam. When we arrived in Amsterdam, we recognized its myriad canals, dams and bridges.

Most canals are filled with private yachts. Very much of the buildings here were built in neoclassical style.

Most of the houses along the canals were either cafés or souvenir shops with intricately designed roofs and gables. The greatest visible structure in town would be the bricked Central Station where all trains and buses depart. Since the city’s streets were crowded and restaurants always filled, the people of Amsterdam seem to be very active outdoors. The heart of the city lies in the Dam Square where all canal cruise and water boats lead to a panoramic view of the Amstel River. Because of its pedestrian friendliness, the streets are often filled with bicycles. The people tend to have a fascination with flee markets. Their native tongue is actually a crossbreed between English and German thrown in with French cognates. They speak in a strange accent as if they swallow up their words. The annoying thing is that people here like to brag about their intellect; when you try to talk in their language, they will quickly guess in what western language you are most comfortable with, only to boast that they’re able to speak in two or more foreign languages may it be English, German, or French.

Apparently, the cut flower industry serves as a major source of revenue in the country since flower shops and stalls were very abundant. The city even has its own Flower Market for tulip vendors. Every ten years, a huge horticultural exhibition is held in the Netherlands where millions of flower enthusiasts from around the world pay a visit to the flower parades.

For some odd reason, no one at the time had thought of visiting the famous Rijksmuseum which houses the artworks of Rembrandt.

Not even the Van Gogh Museum or the House of Anne Frank came to anyone’s mind. Maybe they were too much pre-occupied and fascinated by their liberal encounters. The Dutch also seem to love protesting, objecting, debating and speaking out

in public for a ‘good cause’. I say this because of the many street riots and demonstrations I’ve encountered.

Top enemies of activists here are the heads of states of the US - because of its imperial war and nuclear activities - and the Vatican - because of the Church’s denial to divorce, cloning, abortion, homosexuality, drugs, condom use and female priesthood.

Maybe it’s their national passion and the main reason behind their liberalism.

The Sex Industry & Gender Tolerance By the break of sunset, we headed towards the notorious Red Light district where both male and female prostitutes would come out of the brothel windows and balconies then pose in their seductive attires to attract customers. Neon lights in red, pink and orange filled the streets. Others went out the streets and demonstrated arousing moves in leather attire and whips. Make no confusion about legality because prostitutes are registered in the government’s workforce, pay regular taxes, receive health incentives and attend regular medical check ups. Both prostitute and customer are health and life insured.

Non-Dutch sex workers receive tax refunds every three months. They also enjoy pension benefits, sick leave and even pregnancy leave. They are also entitled to receive checks, credit cards and foreign currency. Prostitution was already common in the 18 th Century here but only legalized by the state in the 1960’s. Seeing sex toys and pornography magazines in every kiosk and specialty shop is nothing unusual. The industry, however, requires strict regulation and partial ownership by the government. Thus, sex workers are not ashamed; they express pride in their profession with no disguise. Their government conveys human sexuality as a common activity and therefore no subject to immorality. Seeing samesex couples in major towns and cities is quite natural in Dutch society. That’s because gay men and lesbian women came out of their closets in the Netherlands as early as the 60’s. Since then, homosexuality and bisexuality have gained wide acceptance through their hard-fought movements and demands for equal rights.

It was the first country to ever allow same-sex marriage and provide artificial reproduction among homosexual couples. Sociologists believe this has helped prevent overpopulation in the country.

Marijuana, marijuana Marijuana seems to be a common plant in the Netherlands. The plant can be seen growing in homes for decoration and occasionally even in public places. In Amsterdam, I’ve

encountered many cannabis shops and cafés sell all kinds of weed products such as marijuana candy, juice, cake, noodles, cigarettes, salad, tea as well as ice cream and shakes. In some streets, one could even smell the scent of the otherwise notorious plant. What may appear shocking to the average tourist is nothing new for the average Dutch citizen. Today, the marijuana leaf is gloriously celebrated as a symbol of liberalism worldwide. The Dutch government has nothing against ‘soft’ drug consumption unless hardcore drugs are concerned. Very few establishments are licensed to sell the plant and only 30g is allowed per person a day. Consumers must be of legal age. After all, the plant is much less harmful compared alcohol and tobacco, and has even scientifically proven to be effective for medical use against certain cancers and disabilities.

The following week, we departed back to Germany arriving in Berlin quite exhausted. I was astonished by the extent of overtolerance I’ve experienced in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is multiethnic city with diverse faces.

It may not be as big as London or New York but very unusual. I never imagined how such a society could even exist in our time. If the place has taught me anything, that is openmindedness and understanding for anything out of the norm. Since then, I often try to lay excessive judgment aside. Maybe the world is not yet ready for such liberal reforms or perhaps it’s just a cultural aspect of things, probably the Dutch way of interpreting true democratic freedom.

FEATURE/OPINION

JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 15, 2008

USA Dance Sports on the Zenith of Victory A special interview with the USA Dance Sports trainer Noemi Sumagaysay

By Dawn Arañador

Sumagaysay

If the synonym of success is accomplishment, achievement or triumph, then the Augustinian sports dancers are on its peak on the zenith of victory for the past five years.

Counting all their accomplishments in the Iloilo Private School Athletic Association (ILOPRISAA) Dance Sports competition, both in modern standard and Latin category, makes them deserve this space in The Augustinian. They are winners being adjudged as the champion in the Latin dance sports and second place on the modern standard category in the recently concluded ILOPRISAA 2007. Way back on the year 2003, the USA sports dancers started carving their names for having won as the champion in the modern standard and second in Latin. In the year 2004, they won first place in Latin and second in modern standard. They again won first place in Latin category and second in modern standard in 2005.

In 2006, they won second place in Latin category.

They are not just ordinary persons who come and go. We owe them our gratitude for making our university known on this artistic field.

We in The Augustinian took this chance to get-to-know the person behind this success, the person who is so patient and dedicated being a teacher, a trainer and a second mother. All these success are because of her.

This is the story of her success and the success of the USA Dance Sports. And the rest would be

The Augustinian

Editor: ELSED TOGONON

history…

The Augustinian: How long had you been a trainer?

Noemi Sumagaysay: Five consecutive years, when the office of the Co-Curricular entrusted this event to the P.E. Department.

TA: How do you play your role as a trainer?

NS: It takes a lot of responsibilities, not only to train but also make preparations for the competition, schedule for practices, submission of the necessary requirements, “yaya” and second mom, attending to their needs (costume, make-up, snacks, etc.)

TA: What/Who inspires you to train the students?

NS: My love and passion for dancing…It has been a part of my life. I’m inspired to teach when I see my students enjoy dancing not only during preparations for the competition but also in my P.E. 102 classes.

I always keep these words“It’s better to be involve rather than never been involve at all.”

TA: What are the preparations needed for the contest?

N S : We a n n o u n c e a n d disseminate auditions, then selection. If we have dancers already, I schedule for practices.

Few days before the competition are scheduled for critiquing, and lastly, lots and lots of prayers.

TA:How do you motivate your contestants?

NS: I instill discipline and give them kind and encouraging words, “that this performance is not only for you but for the whole Augustinian community, this is the

moment to shine, so give your best shot, GO FOR GOLD!!!”

TA: What problems did you encounter with regards to finances?

NS: Honestly, the budget is very, very limited, but this did not hinder the enthusiasm of my dancers just to give honor to the university.

TA: How would you keep Dance Sports in San Agustin as a main event in the limelight?

NS: I would suggest that this event would be included in the annual program of the CoCurricular Office, USA Student Council or Sports Office. The P.E. Department can help in the implementation of this program.

In fact, the basic steps and routines are introduced in our P.E. 102 (dance activities) classes.

TA: Is being a trainer difficult?

Why? NS: YES and NO. Ye s , b e c a u s e o f l o t s o f sacrifices, like missing classes for rehearsals, spending my own money, late evening practices and limited budget.

No, because it’s my passion to teach and train and I love what I am doing. I want to share my talent and experiences I’ve learned from attending National and Regional Dance Sports Seminar-Workshop.

I believe that participation in this field will give achievement and self-fulfillment in my job as a trainer.

TA: What can you say about your contestants?

NS: SUPERB… not only Ruthlyn Lazaro, May Jan Hurtada, Alarrie Janolino and Jae Art Buison, but also our former dancers. All of

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PERFECT Imperfection This is my first column, an assignment which at first haunted me for days and nights. I got hard time thinking about a topic which I could interestingly tackle plus the fact that I fear not to please the readers with this simple piece.

(That’s something significant every writer considers.) And until now, I can’t believe that I’m writing for the region’s most prestigious and award-winning publication. (It’s indeed a blessing to be qualified.)

It gives me a headache to think about projects, assignments and deadlines but I know that I can never run away from it. I have a choice – to do all those things or leave it undone and suffer for more and more headaches to come.

It’s really nerve-racking when time gives an irrepressible pressure.

Just like what I’m experiencing right now, the word DEADLINE echoes on my frenzied mind. Just thinking about it makes me feel awfully tired but still I believe that I’m gifted with this astounding strength. As a writer, deadline for me is the not-so-far ‘finish line,’ pressure is the fuel that gives me a fiery passion to win the battle I claim for myself. That is to pass this article on time.

Let me tell you another thing that makes my world go round to the extent that I was left dizzy. I didn’t mean to be judgmental here, but that’s the truth.

I met Ms. Perfect today. And again, she bought all the talks boasting about herself and lifting her own flag without a pole. Her highly raised banner says that she’s beautiful, sexy, intelligent, rich… almost PERFECT? Poor me! Perhaps, everybody got tired listening to her ‘lamentations’ that she turned to me. Didn’t she notice that my eyebrows crossed and my aching ears went numb that all she said seemed like an echo that becomes louder and louder? Oh, please! I swear!!!One more word and I’ll be deaf. So, help me God! She never knew or was aware about it or maybe she’s just that insensitive not to realize that everybody’s tired of listening to her ‘narcism’ thoughts. The hell I care! Does the world need to know how beautiful or how good she is? Why does she need to shout it out and nakedly slap on my face? So, what? Waiting for praises? Oh, don’t worry. Next time, I’ll pay a standing ovation.

Contented???

With quite long years of my existence, I have realized that there are persons who seemingly live with their so called ‘perfection’. What they only see about themselves are the best that they possess or the best things they had done. In other words, they describe themselves in a superlative degree being the

them are very talented.

TA: Who are the persons you want to thank as part of you success?

NS: I will always owe my gratitude to our Chair (P.E. Department), Mrs. Eva Zaldivar for being supportive and as an instrument in giving me this opportunity to shine as a trainer

Quick wits

Dawn Arañador most and the best. Their world is centered to themselves and only to them alone.

I have nothing against them but the fact that they degrade other people for their own advancement makes them antagonists. Insulting others makes them cheer all their hearts’ content. They believe in themselves as the one who is always right and everyone else is wrong. They are perfect, others are not. That makes them more proud. That makes them walk chinned up without even looking at their paths or the people they meet along the way.

They are so tactless to belittle others, and inconsiderate towards others’ emotions. They embrace selfishness and pride which blind them to see their own imperfections – the imperfections they failed or chose not to see.

They have the right to praise their own colors and flaunt their wings but they don’t have the right to humiliate others especially in the most immodest way. That is unfair. What they only see are the mistakes of others. What they only talk about are others’ imperfections. That makes them unaware and ignorant of their own prejudices. That makes them unable to realize their own mistakes until pride eats their whole being.

Perfect, perfect, perfect…

How I love that word. But I know that all of us have to admit that only God alone is perfect. We are born in this perfect world with imperfections and we have to accept it. With these imperfections comes a unique individual. We shall not live on hypocrisy.

The secret of perfection is admitting our mistakes and learning from it. Pride won’t do well to us. Others can’t do what you can while you can’t do what they can. That’s a sample of God’s fairness.

Life is a continuous learning process. We are not perfect to avoid mistakes. We must live by learning from our experiences, may it be good or bad for it would make us a better person.

“Learning from our mistakes makes us achieve the PERFECT IMPERFECTION.” That’s the best virtue Ms. Perfect needs to understand.

and coach, to Mr. Eric Divinagracia of the Office of the Co-Curricular for his encouraging and kind words, my P.E. family: Mr. Padernal, Ms. Patricio, Ms. Hifarva, Mrs. Lamis, Mrs. Segura, Mr. Banaylo, and of course to the whole Augustinian community, and lastly, to God Almighty for His beautiful gift, the art of dancing.

8

NEWS/SPORTS

The Augustinian

USA soars up high in ILOPRISAA

By Aljun Padisio

Soaring high like an eagle, the University of San Agustin brought home numerous medals during the ILOPRISAA, on November 2007.

Various private colleges and universities compete to grab gold, silver and bronze medals in various events.

USA got the gold medal in the following events: swimming (women), lawn tennis (men), and in table tennis (women). On the other hand, athletics (men and women), basketball (women), volleyball team (men and women), table tennis (men) and karatedo (women), the USA got the first runner-up. USA snatched bronze medals in basketball (men) and in chess (men and women).

ILOILO PRISAA 2007 RESULTS Champion Gold Swimming- Tertiary Level (Women) 1. Leonardia, Jessica 2. Catolico, Alexandra Nicole 3. Kristine Cabasac 4. April Rose Cabasac

Lawn tennis- Tertiary Level (Men) 1. Joseph Lebrando COE 2. Gwyndyl Rhynz Sumalde CEA 3. Paul Jordan Glarino BSN 4. Paolo Chavez CEA 5. Edrielle Vincent Niño Bautista BSN (Women) 1. Charmaine Hallares BSN 2. Nealena Joy Ras PMT 3. Krytalle Biton BSN 4. J,gei Panado CEA Coach: Mr. Rudy Perez- Tertiary Level Table Tennis- Tertiary Level (Women) 1. Cabucos, Shirly BS MA 4 2. Deriada, Cindy Marie BSN 4 3. Dumdum, Christie Joy BST 3 4. Escalera, Floryme BS MA 4 5. Masado, Tricia Grace BS ID 3 6. Uy, Cara BSN 3 Coach: Mr. Oliver Cambas 1ST RUNNER- UP SILVER Athletics- Tertiary Level (Women) 1. Pagdato, Mylene 2. Traigo, Jenny Rose 3. Caceres, Shane 4. Arinos, Florence Arnie 5. Alasa, Loveny 6. Descutido, Keela 7. Traigo, Hyacent 8. Marqueliña, Mylene 9. Galvan, Crystal 10. Tadlas, May Jales

JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 15, 2008

Editor: MARIO IVAN GONZALES

Karatedo – Tertiary Level (Women) 1. Jessica Guites CAS

(Men) 1. Fiebre, Richard 2. Yap, Eddie Jr. 3. Guiao, Elias 4. Simora, Nilo 5. De La Cruz, Franklin Coach: Mr. Rudy Perez Basketball Women 1. Tuburan, Gevi Mae BS ECE 3 2. Cabuday, April Joy BS Ed 2 3. Olivares, Khendra BS CE 3 4. Cameros, Mary Conception BS MA 3 5. Bonayon, Soly Grace BS MA 3 6. Blanca, Airence Mireya Kassandra BS IT 3 7. Troncoso, Gladys BS Crim 1 8. Castillo, April BS Crim 1 9. Mission, Alma BS Crim 1 10. Jardeleza, Jordan BS MA2 11. Magno, Jovenelyn BS Crim 1 12. Magno, Frances Rose BSN 4 13. Alvarez, Ana Grace BSN 4 14. Tan, Catherine BS Phar 4 15. Jamoyot, Dexie Jane BS Crim 1 Coach: DEMOSTHENES TOLEDO Asst. Coach: JAY TEÑOSA Volleyball Team (Men) 1. Joebert Ilustre 2. JM Firmalino 3. Joly Collado 4. Lemuel Lim 5. Allan Dayang 6. Nemer Collado 7. Joecel Firmalino 8. Joemar Simora 9. Verdin Paul Deocampo 10. Cary M. Jardeniel 11. Emil Jesus Palomo

BS Tourism HRM BS Tourism BSN BSMA BS crim HRM BS Crim BEED BSA BSC

(Women) 1. Rosalie Mia Rodriguez BS Mktg 2. Ma. Zayra jane Tumlos HRM 3. Krystle Marie Suizo HRM 4. Marian Joy Jamora BS Mktg 5. Cabuyoc, Ma. Joy CEA 6. Irene Santander BSMA 7. Beverly Hitalla BEED 8. Hazel Gepulgani HRM 9. Jakelyn Estoquia BS Mgmt 10.Sarah Jane Hubahib BS Crim 11. Julie Anne Calago BS Crim 12. Sheryl Heguira BS Mktg Table Tennis – Tertiary Level (Men) 1. Araneta, Mikaecle BS ME 5 2. Cabucos, Hector BSN 2 3. Deasis, Ruel BS Ed 4 4. Matangga, Allen Joseph BSN 2 5. Nuevaespana, JC Ray BS ME 1 6. Pulmones, Rodney BS CE 1 Coach: Mr. Oliver Cambas

Tuman gid namon nga ginakasadya ang inyo nga pakigbahin sa Pub Pipol ( USA Publications) paagi sa paghatag ninyo sang mga suhestyon, pabor ukon komento. Kag para man sa mga Agustino nga may tinago nga talentong pangliteratura, sarang ninyo ma-kontak ang USA Pub Pipol sa numero 0906-4703936 ukon personal nga magpasa sa USA Publications office, 3rd floor, Gamboa Hall.

Amon gid kamo nga pasidunggan!

2nd Runner up – Bronze Basketball Men – Tertiary Level 1. Ventura, Jeard BST 3 2. Corillo, Skyle BST 2 3. Sombrea, Winzel John BS MA 2 4. Cabuday, Carl Vincent BS BIO 3 5. Rodrigo, Wilfredo Jr. BS MA 3 6. Alba, Kristierre BS BA 1 7. Yap, Juilliard Seth BS MA 4 8. Servidad, Chyriel BS CJAD 1 9. Garrido, Jophil BST 1 10. Alvarez, Marvin BST 1 11. Lauz, Ryan BSBA 1 12. Belmonte, Douglas BS HRM 1 13. Jacela, bramie John BS MA 4 14. Yuson, Joedel BS Crim 15. Ardonia, Rolyn BS Crim Coach: RODOLFO BETITO JR. Asst. Coach: DEMOSTHENES TOLEDO Chess Men and Women – Tertiary Level 1. Rodina Mae Famillaran BSN III 2. Norydee Joy Lauron BSN III 3. Rainier Jay Alfeche BSN III 4. Nicko Patrick Razo BS Crim I 5. Roxan Ofalia BSBA 6. Triza Marie Diaz BSN I 7. Mossad Vincent Araneta BS A II 8. Ma. Reina Conco BSMT III 9. Michael Joseph Cartojano BSCE V Coach: Mr. Rosendo Reyes

New regalia for 2008 graduates

By Elsed Togonon

Distinct yet reflective of the Augustinian spirit and ideals, the graduation regalia (toga, hood, cap, etc.), takes on a new design in order to be distinguished from those of other schools.

Fr. Manuel M. Vergara, O.S.A, the University President, appointed members to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Re-design of the USA Graduation Regalia. The main task of the Ad Hoc Committee is to recommend to the Office of the President the concept and design of the graduation regalia that are distinctively Augustinian. Fr. Vergara designated Fr. Antolin Asor, O.S.A as chair, with Gemma Halili as co-chair. Nenelyn De la Fuente served as the secretary.

Other members of the committee were Eric Divinagracia, Dr. Amorita Rabuco, and the council of deans.

Delaying Tactics As I write this column, I was forcing my mind to think and work because I will be passing this article any moment from now.

You see, I love working here in the publications because it is a lot of fun and I wouldn’t change that for the world, but we have deadlines to catch to be able to give something new to our readers (that’s you, my friend) every other month. Of course most of the times I can’t pass my articles on time because of other circumstances but there are times that I love to delay things. I don’t know why, but I like the adrenaline rush and I think my brain cells function very well when I rush and hurry things. Maybe because it has become a part of my system.

I was dubbed a “late comer” by my classmates and those who know me because of my attitude of going to school late. At home, I was called uyaya by my parents because I tend to delay their orders. I don’t know, maybe I am really hardheaded and pasaway. I was a consistent latecomer from elementary up to the present. I hate waking up and going to school early because there was a time when I went to school early and ending up looking at the empty playground of our school. I thought it was boring so I love to go to school late. Because of that, I was reprimanded by our school head of discipline most of the time and made me pick up leaves as a disciplinary action. Our principal once called my attention because I had many tardiness and made me do community service as a punishment. And all that because I hate waking up early. I even envied my classmates who had a “most punctual’ award, but maybe because it was not meant for me. I was meant for the academic awards.

Just kidding.

I also have this habit of delaying things, and my famous lines would be, “Karon lang ah!” or “Sa dason lang ah, dugay pa man to!” I tend to delay passing

Hit and Miss

Mario Ivan Gonzales my projects, making my homeworks and some other things. I always cram to finish things because I didn’t made it ahead of time. My teachers can attest to that because I will only pass my projects five minutes before the time limit. Luckily, I still graduated with honors but the behavior of cramming things is still there.

I became acquainted with the word “procrastination” when my grandfather saw me hurrying to finish my projects and he told me that I was practicing procrastination.

You see, my grandfather is a walking dictionary and uses words that are beyond my human understanding.

So I tried to look for it in the dictionary and I found out that “procrastination” or “procrastinate” means “to postpone doing something”, and the definition really fitted me perfectly. He was right.

My attitude of procrastinating affects people around me, like my editor who patiently waits for me to pass my articles, my parents who are always irritated because I don’t follow their orders on time, and others. I am just like other teenagers who practice delaying things all the time. I’m still a work in progress and I hope to become more responsible towards anything.

Those who have their “Karon lang ah!” or “Sa dason lang ah, dugay pa man to!” attitude towards their studies, to their families, and towards themselves, it’s still not too late to change. Let’s all become responsible youngsters, let’s change our delaying tactics and let’s all be on time... all the time.

Well, got to go. I still have to pass this one.