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Break the Chain
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Augustinian Patriot in the Spotlight
issn 0115-9226
Eighty Years of Excellent Campus Journalism for the Common Good the Official student newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF san agustin iloilo city, philippines
VOL. 54 NO. 3
OCTOBER 1 - NOVEMBER 15, 2008
Admin eyes new state-of-the-art review centers By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO
New upscale review centers are currently being considered by the University administration to be housed in the historic Urdaneta building. In a recent interview with The Augustinian earlier this month, University President Rev. Fr. Raul Marchan, OSA stated, “We are planning to open new review centers to accommodate the demands of our Nursing, Pharmacy and Medical Technology departments as part of our plans to generate income and enhance our campus facilities.” The planned review centers will occupy the ground floor of the Urdaneta Hall once finished. The new interior and upgraded facilities of the much awaited USA Auditorium will also be given high priority, although Marchan did not specify the initial costs and target accomplishment date of the said plans. Plans for the upgrading of the iconic pre-war structure, built in 1939 and named after the renowned Augustinian cosmographer, Fr. STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Urdaneta ground floor, forseen as potential site for new review center. (Inset: Fr. Marchan speaks about his plans).
USASC assures activities for second semester A.Y.2008-2009 By Jenny Castro
party, battle of the bands (Daguob) and community gift giving will be on the 17th. On January 2009, the SC plans to arrange a Fraternity and Sorority Festival with all recognized fraternities and sororities in the University. Together with all organizations, there will also be the opening of the Arts Festival on the same month. Activities during the Arts Festival 2009 will be the Street Dance Competition, the Fashionista’s Night in cooperation with Turismo Agustino, the MTV Making Contest with ICTS (Information and Computer Technology Society), Bulletin Board Contest, and Art Exhibit together C2 Challenge. Students crowd around with the College one of the major activities conducted by of Engineering and the USA Student Council during the 1st Architecture. semester. Tentative schedules of activities for University Week on February have been set. On the 9 th , there will be a student booth per organization. The opening of the kiosks, Band Fest 2009 with open mic productions, and Paint Ball Competition with the ROTC will be on the 13th. On February 14, together with all organizations, there will be alternative classes, wall climbing, and a Teacher’s Day event with all college councils.
The USA Student Council, headed by president John Paul Petrola, together with the Office of the Prefect of Students, outlined its plan of activities for the second semester A.Y. 20082009 and disseminated it to all other organizations in an organizational meeting. For the month of December, the USASC will be organizing the Adopt a Park per College program on December 1. Ushering Christmas at Mentrida Park will be on the 12th. The judging of the Belen-making contest per college was set on the 16th. The University-wide Christmas
Andres de Urdaneta, have been started several years ago by the previous administration, although formal renovations of the facility officially began in 2007 once completed. The building is set to house all student organizations and chair offices. The neoclassical building was constructed under the supervision of Fr. Dolce Garcia, OSA who served for two terms. The building design was a product of Julio Rocha and was patterned after the aesthetics of Spanish architecture. The detailed columns of the entrance were patterned after the Corinthian style. The building served as a refuge for the displaced victims of Iloilo during the outbreak of World War II. It was the last standing structure that was spared from Japanese bombing and served as a movie house for American soldiers after the war. It also housed the USA Auditorium which witnessed many significant events in the University’s history, as well as a venue to many world-renowned performing artists who visited the city.
Teodoro bags 2008 National Book Award By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO
FORMER USA Publications Moderator John Iremil Teodoro, who is a celebrated poet and freelance writer, has recently won the grand prize for this year’s National Book Awards for his collection of essays Pagmumuni-muni at Pagtatalak ng Sirenang Nagpapanggap na Princesa, otherwise known by his fans and readers as the pink “Sirena Book”. The plaque of honor was received by fellow environmental journalist, Yasmin Arquiza, on Teodoro’s behalf in a formal awarding ceremony held at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation) Tower in Ayala Avenue, Makati City last November 15. His book tied with Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros’ Tongues on Fire for the Best Book of Essay/Creative Non-Fiction category. The Sirena Book was published in 2007 by Imprenta Igbaong, the publishing arm of the Iloilobased communications and events consultancy company Invictus. It contains the rearranged selected essays that appeared in Teodoro’s column Edukasyong Pinoy in the Bandillo ng Palawan-Edisyong Filipino newspaper, a controversial environmental weekly in Puerto Princesa City, several years ago. The book has received several reviews by some of the country’s renowned writers such as Cirilo Bautista and Luisa Gloria who have concluded that the collection is a mind-opening discourse about the author’s personal life and views about society, politics,
Teodoro
education, art and culture. The book also contains his advocacies geared towards the liberation of gays and lesbians in the country. His poetry collection Kung ang Tula ay Pwedeng Pambili ng Lalake (If Poems Could Buy Men) was nominated for a National Book Award for the Best Book of Poetry last year. The annual National Book Awards is the county’s most prestigious award-giving body. It is organized by the Manila Critics Circle and coadministered by the National Book Development Board. Teodoro, who finished his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of San Agustin, is a five-time recipient of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and was named one of the Outstanding Augustinians of the Century for Culture and the Arts in 2004. He was the founding coordinator of the Fray Luis de Leon Creative Writing Institute, the only one of its kind in Western Visayas. He also served as the managing director of the University of San Agustin Publishing House (USAPH), the country’s sole existing university press outside Metro Manila.
Esmilla ranks 5th in 2008 LET By Aljun Padisio and Ronald Sorrilla
Esmilla
Obtaining an average of 91.2%, Augustinian Johnny Esmilla Jr. ranked fifth in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) given on September 28, 2008. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released results early this November. Prior to the LET, Esmilla, a Batch 2008 graduate, took educational units under the Diploma in Teaching while he was taking up AB Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. The former vice-president of the Political Science Club and editor-in-chief of the University of San Agustin Publications, Esmilla won several city-wide and regional awards, such as the 2007 ILOPRISAA (Iloilo Private Schools Athletic Association) Extemporaneous Speaking contest and the 2007 Rizal Youth Congress Regional Essay Writing competition in Cebu City, the 2005 and 2007 ICSAA (Iloilo City Student Assistant Association) Extemporaneous Speaking contest. In AY 2005-2006, Esmilla was the president of the Social Science Club. In the same academic year, he was also the president of the USAGIASA (USA Grant-in-Aid Scholars Association). He was named one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines-Western Visayas last April 2008. Esmilla is currently teaching at the PAREF-Westbridge School Inc., both in the elementary and secondary levels. He teaches the following subjects: Civics, Filipino, World History and Economics. He is also the Asst. Class Adviser of the fourth year students. Moreover, the USA College of Education had these passing percentages: the BEED USA Passing Percentage was 45% (National PP 30.46%, 17,818 passers out of 58,471 examinees) and the BSED USA Passing Percentage was 47% (National PP 35.34% 18,801 passers out of 53,195 examinees).
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NEWS
The Augustinian
october 1 - november 15, 2008
Editor: JEFFERSON MAGBANUA
CAS partners with Graduate School for ‘Serbisyo Agustino’
Fine Arts, Interior Design studes showcase “Creative Impulse” By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO
An art exhibit organized by the sophomore fine arts and junior interior design students entitled ‘Creative Impulse’ has graced the Alumni Hall shortly before the semester break on October 6. The event was geared towards creating awareness among students on the history of Western art from different time periods. The artworks exhibited included new variations, prints and interpretations of famous art pieces ranging from the prehistoric, ancient civilization, middle age, baroque, renaissance, classical
By MA. BHEA BARBER and PIETROS VAL PATRICIO
WITH its efforts to reach out to the unprivileged of the province, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has partnered with the the Graduate School and the Delta Mu Society for a tree planting activity and community outreach in Brgy. Bongo, Janiuay, October 12. The Augustinian delegation left for the outlying municipality in two groups. The first batch was tasked to conduct the tree planting event while the second held a lecture on livelihood and community development in the area. A medical check-up was then conducted by the physicians and dentists who were part of the delegation through the assistance of the Army Doctors of the Infantry Division, followed by the distribution of food, medicine and clothing to the villagers. The outreach culminated with a set of entertainment activities and games for the community.
A busy year-end for the Conservatory of Music By Paulo Moises Bayabos
The Conservatory of Music, home of the USA Troubadours and the USA Choir, the University’s finest and stellar singers, has been going through busy schedules during the last stretch of the year. In October, the USA Troubadours participated in choral workshops spearheaded by the UP (University of the Philippines) Madrigal Singers. November was a month of concerts for the conservatory. Alumni members of the USA Troubadours held their concert on November 13; Bachelor of Music students on November 17; and the Conservatory of Music faculty on November 20.
SBK spearheads Reproductive Health Bill Forum By Daisy Dawn Macahilo
The right to information. Recognizing this right to every youth and individual paved way to Samahang Bagong Kabataan (SBK-USA) in holding the controversial proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008 symposium at Central Philippine University (CPU) Media Center on October 4, 2008. According to Sedfrey Cabaluna, SBK President, the event doesn’t have any stand and biases for or against either natural or modern family planning but mainly to inform and educate. “We, the youth, should be aware of this bill. We need to speak out and to be heard regarding such issue,” he added. The event was made possible with the cooperation of the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) VI, Central Philippine University Student Republic (CPU-R) and the United Augustinian Students (UNITAS).
Golez wins Sigma Chi Quiz Bowl By RONALD SORRILLA
Jison Golez, a junior Foreign Service student of the College of Arts and Sciences, bested 14 other students from different colleges during the Inter-departmental Quiz Bowl held at the USA Student Center, September 15. The event is organized annually by the Sigma Chi and Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity and Sorority to promote knowledge and intellectual interaction within the University. This year’s occasion was headed by their Grand Archon Lyle Ryner Lapidez. The coverage of the quiz focused on sciences, mathematics, history and General Information. The competition was divided into three categories, namely the easy, average and the difficult rounds. Eliminations took place in every round to determine the qualifiers. Jules Castro of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy and Giancarlo Bamba of the College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology, landed second and third places respectively. Golez received a trophy and a cash prize.
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 0918-2928245 ukon personal nga magpasa sa USA Publications office, 3rd floor, Gamboa Hall. Amon gid kamo nga pasidunggan!
and the modernist periods. Sculptures depicting Pharaoh Nefertete, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Michelangelo, a miniature reproduction of Stone Henge, mosaics from the Byzantine Empire, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Edvard Munch’s The Scream as well as contemporary paintings of the renaissance, baroque, classical and impressionist periods were also showcased among others. The event was carried out to let Augustinians feel the presence of the visual arts scene within the University.
Fusin receives first major art commission By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO
THE USA Publications staff artist and photographer, William Fusin, Jr., has been commissioned to paint two life-size paintings to compliment the interiors of a leading beauty salon chain in Iloilo City on October 18 to 20. Both artworks are now displayed at the newly-opened Christine Salon along General Luna St. near the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center. According to Fusin, “My paintings were themed to match with the interior and ambiance of the place, each depicting two supernatural deities or fairies whose hair are gently blown by the wind along with the release of natural scents and essentials of nature. Both paintings are 7 ft. x 2.5 ft. by size. I applied lukewarm tones of red and yellow in order to make them harmonize with the setting of the place. I preferred to use latex paint for it was more practical compared to oil or acrylic. ” Assisted by his fellow artist, Julius Nieles, Fusin finished the two
The artist exposed. Fusin poses before the camera after finishing his artwork.
paintings in three days and two nights, shortly before the inauguration of the said salon on October 23. The owners and visitors who graced the event were impressed by Fusin’s artworks that he later received many positive responses and recommendations to other clients. The venture was said to be his first breakthrough as a freelance artist in the commercial market. William Fusin, Jr., a graduating BS Architecture student at the College
of Engineering and Architecture, started dabbling in the visual arts scene at the tender age of five inspired by his natural surroundings. He has participated and gained distinctions in countless on-the-spot art and poster-making competitions since his elementary years. As a graphic artist, he served as staff cartoonist of his high school publication until eventually joining the USA Publications in 2007.
Augustinians participate in “Piyesta sa Kakahuyan” Celebration By Allin Joy Emboltura and Mario Ivan Gonzalez
To recognize the role of the watersheds in maintaining the delicate balance of nature, the Augustinian community joined the Annual celebration of “Piyesta sa Kakahuyana” of the Provincial Government of Iloilo on September 27, 2008 held at Mahogany Park, Barangay Daja, Maasin. Together with almost 250 students from College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Business Administration and
Acoountancy (CBAA) & Education Department, the USA delegates were led by the USA Student Council together with JPAMA, ICTS, Societas Philosophorum and Arts and Sciences Student Parliament (ASSP). The day’s activity started with a caravan from Pavia going to Mahogany Park and was followed by a
Petrola during the tree planting event.
AUGUSTINIANS GO ECO-FRIENDLY. The USASC and other volunteers take part in a tree planting activity in Maasin, Iloilo.
tree planting activity near the bank of Tigum River. The event was graced by Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Governor of the Province of Iloilo, Maasin Mayor, DENR and other government personalities. “Maasin Watershed Balikan, Para Aton Buasdamlag Maamligan.” was this year ’s 9 th Piyesta sa Kakahuyan theme. The activity was held to serve as a reminder of people’s responsibility to protect and nurture the watersheds to ensure that the future generations of Ilonggos will benefit from watersheds as we benefit from them today.
NEWS
OCTOBER 1 - NOVEMBER 15, 2008
The AugusTiniAn
Editor: JEFFERSON MAGBANUA
Ang Paglunsar ng Irong-Irong 3 Ni RONALd sORRiLLA
ang samu’t saring mga obra maestra ng mga estudyanteng may angking talento sa pagsulat ng sanaysay, tula at maikling kwento. Mga iba’t-ibang mga propesor at opisyal ng Pamantasan ang dumalo sa binanggit na programa. Si Prop. John Iremil Teodoro, isang batikang manunulat na makailang ulit nang nagwagi sa Gawad Palanca at dating tagapagpayo ng publikasyong pangestudyante, ay nagbigay ng mensaheng inspirasyonal. Nagalay ng isang presentasyon na halaw sa mga piling artikulo na napapaloob sa inilathalang
Conservatory of Music celebrates 41st Anniversary By RONALd sORRiLLA
jornal ang USA Little Theater. Ang Kawilihan-USA ay naghandog ng isang sayaw – Bulag, Pipi at Bingi. Ang Irong-Irong ay inilulunsad ng USA Publications taon-taon upang mabigyang pansin ang mga mag-aaral na may angking kakayahan sa pagsusulat. Nagsilbing emsi sa okasyon si Josh Von Iron Tondo, isang manunulat ng USA Publications.
the winning piece for Filipino choirs in other international choral contests, namely, The Mapua Concert Singers, The San Beda Male Choral, the Ateneo de Manila Glee Club, and the Philippine Normal University Chorale, and the Kilayawan Boys Choir of Quezon City. Castillon was named one of the One Hundred Outstanding Augustinians of the Century in 2004 in the field of Art and Culture. He has won several original music competitions since his student days. He was likewise invited as guest artist of a Palawan-based choir in their international tour performances in Italy and Germany. He is presently a faculty member of the Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus. Another alumna of the Conservatory, Ma. RJ Faith Lorezo, is presently a member/soloist of the UP Madrigal Singers. She graduated from the Conservatory of Music in 2005 with a degree of Bachelor of Music major in Music Education. She was also a former member of the USA Choir and Troubadours. In 2003, she was invited by the Palawan Center
Lorezo
INILUNSAR ng USA Publications ang ikatlong tomo ng Irong-Irong, ang opisyal na pampanitikang jornal ng mga estudyante sa Pamantasan ng San Agustin, na sa unang pagkakataon ay inilimbag sa Filipino. Ito ay ginanap noong ika13 ng Nobyembre, alas 6 ng gabi, sa pasilyo ng bulwagang Gamboa. Ang Irong-Irong3 ay pinamunuhan ni Elsed Togonon, isang gradweyt ng AB Literature na siyang naging patnugot ng nasabing jornal mula noong taong 2006 hanggang 2008. Napapaloob dito
Rotaract-USA, DENR-Western Visayas launch Recycle Mania By jEFFERsON MAGBANuA
ROTARACT Club-USA Chapter, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Western Visayas, launched Recycle Mania, an initiative to teach young city folks how to segregate garbage and profit from them. Recycle Mania’s launching program held at the PMT (Pharmacy and Medical Technology) Review Center on October 18, Saturday, was graced by two DENR-Western Visayas officials – Amelita Guillergan and Lea Fe Garingalao – who talked about the harmful effects of excess garbage in Iloilo City and what could be done about this problem. In his welcome remarks, RotaractUSA President Rey John Lorca said: “The Recycle Mania project is an environmental advocacy of RotaractUSA,” and he added, “This would be our (Rotaract-USA and DENRWestern Visayas) way to train the city residents, especially the youth,
to become responsible in dealing with their garbage.” Initially, four schools responded to said city-wide project but only two remained participative. John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU)-Molo and San Jose Catholic School (SJCS) were the only ones which have sustained their commitment, Rotaract-USA Vice President for External Affairs Katherine Ariston said in an interview with The Augustinian. Ariston explained that the abovementioned schools have been undergoing lectures and trainings in garbage segregation from RotaractU S A a n d t h e D E N R - We s t e r n Visayas. She likewise emphasized that after segregating their trash, student representatives from each of the said schools sell to junk shops whatever recyclables they gather. She said the profit from the recyclables –
newspapers, white paper, pet bottles, mineral water bottles, and aluminium cans – all go to the schools which collected the recyclables.
reduce, re-use, recYcLe. these recyclables were gathered by JBLfMu and sJcs students.
USALT joins 2nd Karay-a Arts Fest By CARA uy
THE University of Agustin Little T h e a t e r ( U S A LT ) s h o w c a s e d “Tarangban” during the 2nd Karay-a Arts Festival (KAF) in San Jose de
Buenavista, Antique on October 24, 8:00 PM. The event was intended to strengthen the oneness among the Kinaraya speaking provinces all over the region to promulgate the Karaya culture nationwide.
tres Marias. usaLt members portray binukot (kept) women during the first performance of Tarangban at the usa gymnasium.
“Tarangban” is a dance drama based on an indigenous sugidanon or epic. It is chanted by Gema Glemer
and her mother Lola “Gamak” Ayuman from the Panay Bukidnon community in Tapaz, Capiz. It is written and performed by Glemer’s daughter Manilyn Glemer, a tribal member herself and an Augustinian scholar of the USALT. It is fused with Dr. Isidoro Cruz’ Palanca awardwinning poem of the same title and set to script by Edward Divinagracia. Twenty resident artists of USALT performed during the event. Other participating groups during the KAF were the Hamtic Children’s Rondalla, Kalingaw, Teatro Hiligaynon, Libertad National Vocational School, Pagrara Cultural Troupe, Teatro Damisag, St. Anthony’s College Dance Group, Muscovado Dance Troupe and Pambason Dance and Theater Guild.
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AFTER 41 years of bringing the University to unparallelled heights of musical excellence, the University of San Agustin Conservatory of Music (USA COM) has commemorated its 41st anniversary by showcasing a three-day musical concert on November 13 to 20. The event included the performances of students, faculty, staff and its alumni rendered by the different piano compositions of famous pianists and musicians ranging from classical to contemporary songs. Along with its achievements, USA COM presented its outstanding alumni who shone in prestigious competitions and performances that made them the cream of the crop. Conservatory of Music alumnus Beny Fruto Castillon’s original piece, Kruhay, was sung by the world-famous UP (University of the Philippines) Madrigal Singers during the choral group’s participation in BraVO! Beny fruto castillon receives the 2008 World Folksong a certificate of appreciation after Festival held at the National conducting an alumni homecoming Center for the Performing concert. Arts in Beijing, China on October 3 to 8. The festival featured choirs from around the for the Performing Arts as their guest world, each presenting music from artist when they toured Germany, France and Belgium. She was also their country of origin. The said composition was with the Manila Vocal Ensemble performed by the USA Troubadours during their Switzerland tour in 2006. during the WOW Philippines Best She won 3rd place in the National of the Best Choirs where they won Music Competition for Young Artists the National Championship Trophy (NAMCYA) solo voice Category C held at the Cultural Center of the in 2004. Castillon’s Kruhay was also Philippines.
USAGIASA Hosts 2008 ICSAA Fellowship Day By sHEENA CAPiNdO
THE University of San Agustin Grant-In-Aid Scholars Association (USAGIASA) hosted this year’s Iloilo City Student Assistant Association (ICSAA) Fellowship Day on October 18 and 19, 2008. The ten participating schools, namely, University of Iloilo, John B. Lacson Maritime UniversityMolo, John B. Lacson Maritime University-Arevalo, Western Institute of Technology, Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, De Paul College, St. Therese MTC College, and Western Visayas State University, together with the newly participating schools from Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus and Iloilo Doctors College, gathered for the two-day event held at the USA Grandstand and Gymnasium.
On the morning of the first day, talks on personality development, phone etiquette and time management were given by Ms. Mavreen Duneza, Ms. Marissa Fernandez and Ms. Joyliet Velez, respectively. Contests were held on the afternoon of the first day and the whole of the second day. John B. Lacson Maritime University (JBLMU)-Arevalo, this year’s overall champion and the host of the 2009 ICSAA Fellowship Day, dominated four competitions, namely, the ICSAA mascot Drawing contests, essay writing contest, vocal solo pop, and the shirt modeling contest. JBLMU-Arevalo also bagged second runner-up (Mr. ICSAA) in the Search for Mr. and Ms. ICSAA 2008.
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OPINION
The Augustinian
Prodigy
Jefferson Magbanua
Quo vadis, culture and arts in San Agustin? The University of San Agustin has long been hailed as a potent agent for cultivating the human mind and soul. The Troubadours choral ensemble has gained both national and worldwide recognition through its countless feats outside Western Visayas and even abroad, among others as did the Kawilihan Dance Troupe which had struck gold in the International Delphic Games last year. Our Little Theater had also waved the red and gold banner with its much applauded performances in various parts of the country. The Fray Luis de Leon Creative Writing Institute has pioneered to serve as a breeding ground for the literary arts scene in Western Visayas being the only one of its kind outside Metro Manila. It is very much evident in all these that culture and the arts have prevailed as a top asset and priority of the University. Looking back on the blazing trail the University has left, one could not help but feel proud of the countless golden medals and trophies culled in the quest for excellence. Looking onwards, however, is a different thing. The future, in itself, always bears a question mark. That question mark is looming above our heads right now, big and stark. It seems that our culture and the arts sector have not been getting enough support as it had in the past. This can be attributed to the fact that the University is financially in the red. There are vital organizations that lack the adequate amount of budget needed, thus, hindering them to achieve their fullest potential. They lack the money to buy the much needed materials for their craft, as well as the proper training to help them hone their talents. Several travels outside the region for their enrichment and exposure had to be suspended this year due to budget restraints. As an indirect result, students’ interest has waned and so, many potential talents have been denied of fruition. As part of the domino effect, the morale of these organizations has sagged and a “cultural anemia” has set in. We still believe that all sectors of the University – the administration, the faculty and the student body – are exerting effort to live up to the grandeur that the University has seen during the past decades. Yet, there is much to be done. The abovementioned are just some of the many behind-the-scenes obstacles that these organizations face. Is this a manifestation of culture and the arts being less of a priority now than it was before, a sign of stigmatism in choosing which long-term goals to give emphasis to? Where is culture and the arts in the University heading? Is this an inevitable downward spiral, or is it just a hole we simply need to rise out of? Not only material and financial but also moral support are badly needed. In other words, a wholehearted commitment for culture and arts. In the long run, it is gratifying to think that we have uplifted things that transcend mere physicality, things that embody our ideals, things that spell out our desire to see the human mind and spirit bloom as it was meant to do. This only leaves us with one question: culture and arts in San Agustin, quo vadis?
Editorial
THE
augustinian
Editor-in-Chief Pietros Val Patricio Managing Editor Cara Uy Associate Editors Paulo Moises Bayabos Jefferson Magbanua Jenny Castro Senior Writers Donna Isabelle Fresnido Allin Joy Emboltura Ronald Sorrilla Aljun Padisio Staff Writers Mario Ivan Gonzales Karlo Christopher Cristales Josh Von Iron Tondo Daisy Dawn Macahilo Staff Artist/Photographer William Fusin Jr. Circulation Officer Sheena Capindo Contributor Ma. Bhea Barber Moderator Erwin Sustento
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., 5000 Iloilo City. Comments, suggestions, and contributions may be sent to the Editorial Board through the email address pubpipol@usa.edu.ph.
ON the finals of the PRISAA (Private Schools Athletic Association) Cultural Contests, I went to the Central Philippine University to support my friends and take photos of the events. Prior to entering the said University’s Rose Memorial Hall, I’ve conditioned my mind that I would be listening to speeches of cliché topics and themes. I thought it would be another boring day. But I was wrong. Some performers’ pieces (including their delivery) were insightful. The piece that gained best my sentiment was that of my friend Jesner. It’s given that I would lend my two ears to Jesner whenever he performs (whether in school or in a competition) because we’re good friends. But I am a rational person and I have always been an objective critic so friendship isn’t the only factor that makes me listen to someone – it’s beyond that. Jesner’s Filipino declamation piece revolved on a story of an angel who was tasked to search for a mortal hero, who, by doing good, could save the world from total destruction. At the end of the piece, when the angel could no longer find someone fitting to fulfill the role of promoting goodness in the world, he volunteered, became a human being, and strived to change the world. The clearest truths we can find in this is: in the modern world, seldom can we find persons who do good deeds with the utmost desire of doing them and it’s difficult to be good whenever we are cramped by bad elements around us. In the Philippines alone, the
In Hora
Josh Von Iron Tondo ANNOUNCE a price hike and you’ll see drivers declaring strikes, chanting demands, flood-marching streets with flags, afflicting the comfortable and calling on the ouster of the person incharge as battle cry. They speak, they act and judge when they feel they’re most oppressed, moving for the kill with a feeling of injustice. Injustice—that’s the cry, an unconscious “bayanihan -crab mentality” (“bayanihan-crab mentality” I say because people work together, a bayanihan concept, to pull those on top of them, which is Filipino crab mentality). But how come injustice applies only to those on the government or the rich? I was actually planning to write something about art in this school (whether it’s dying or not) but a jeepney driver caused me tardiness on November 11 for my photography class, an incident which got my attention. I have nothing against jeepney drivers by the way, but that driver on that very Wednesday got my attention.
october 1 - november 15, 2008
Where is the love? endless political bickering and social injustices – from the NBN deal controversy to the Joc-Joc Bolante fertilizer scam issue – have preoccupied our minds up to the point that we already take in the negativity as part of our daily meals. The media has been deliberately exposing us to a litany of bad news. Robbery, rape, and all other forms of crimes – these are the types of news what we have accustomed ourselves to. In effect, we become paranoids, too afraid of the aftermath of every issue presented on television, in the radio or in the broadsheets. Elsewhere in the world, the same scenario is in play. In Mumbai, India, citizens have been subjected to terrorist attacks. In this writing, after intelligence agency failures, two Indian ministers have already filed their resignation papers as a sign of “moral responsibility” for the assaults by heavily-armed Islamic militants which left nearly 172 people dead. Worse, there is a view from the Indian government that India would suspend the peace negotiations it had observed for five years with neighbouring Pakistan. All the abovementioned instances make us imagine a world that is full of evil, a world where the word “love” is just a word. Where is the goodness in the world? Where is the authenticity of love in this world? As a man of faith, I believe that despite these worldly evil, there is still goodness innate in us. As human persons, we have the capacity to love and do good. However, we have the tendency to do evil and to participate in what is evil because we choose to. God gave us intelligence to distinguish what is good from what is evil. But He also gave us with the will to decide on which path we lead our lives. It is a matter of proper use of God’s gifts that we become truly functioning human persons, doing what is ought
to be done in accordance to the will of the Father. Saint Augustine reminds us that we are all spiritual pilgrims, travelling towards the heavenly city where we shall “rest and see, see and love, love and praise.” We should go on with the pilgrimage. As Saint Augustine teaches, we should fight and win over temptations that distract us from the right way towards God, may they be in the form of political anomalies or social constraints. As pilgrims, we should regularly ask ourselves these questions used by Saint Augustine as “checkpoints” on the road to keep us on the right track towards the Heavenly City: Are we on the right way? Are we making progress in true faith? Are we making progress in right living? The only solution to the world’s problems is summed up in a four letter word: LOVE. Through love that is not self-centered, not seeking any conditional exchanges, we can promote goodness. When you love someone, you don’t think of anything bad about him or her. When you love someone, you are willing to sacrifice, even up to the last drop of your heart’s blood, if need be. Let us not confine love to the ordinary usages – in our text messages or the words we utter. Love is better yet to be manifested in deed. In our journey to reach our final destination (God), let love be our guiding force for in love, emanates goodness. The Black Eyed Peas portrayed these realities in the lyrics of their song Where Is the Love: People killin’, people dyin’ Children hurtin’, hear them cryin’ Can you practice what you preach And learn to turn the other cheek Father, Father, Father help us Send some guidance from above ‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’ Where is the love? Now, where is the love?
Jeepney Horns My teacher once said that we Ilonggos are somehow trained to accept bad service - and now I see why he thinks so. Come to judge by the fact that student fare discounts are disregarded during weekends. What’s the point of that? If that premise is true, then why do teachers give weekend-homeworks given the thought that students are no longer students by weekend? Christian morality teaches us that we have to be considerate to the less fortunate but at the same time speaks of justice; whereby justice means “to give what is due”. Indeed, it’s due to jeepney drivers to have their seats filled but at the same time it’s due to the passengers to get to their destination safely and on time. Surely, it is not smart to rely on the seeming strong notion “be early” because it doesn’t apply to all situations (forgive me if I can’t quantify it to support my idea for my space is limited). I’m not saying that we blame drivers for our tardiness. But since when was the “Loading/ Unloading Area” a waiting area for judging from its definition, there is none which implies waiting? More so, the “unable to read/ understand” quality is a factor why we students get late. I find it stupid and unjust; ironic for the act is from people who cry for justice whenever they feel so. I even see such quality of a driver offensive and immoral. You see, when a driver ignores the
thought that his passengers should not be late, he is committing theft. Theft because he steals the opportunity of the passengers, he steals the time which passengers ought to dedicate to other things more important than nailing their butts on jeepney-seats. More so, he steals the money students pay for their subject per unit. If you have a 3-unit subject, and pay a hundred per unit; then get two hours late because of a stubborn driver; he’s just stolen your two hundred pesos and your chance for knowledge—a thing people say money can’t buy. At the same time, say he drives too fast to get enough passengers ahead of other drivers and to “get” passengers on time, he steals their chance to life and safety. Now, where is justice in that? Some philosophers regard men as “good”, so I guess it is safe to assume that drivers who can hear only the “Nong bayad oh…” and no longer hears the “…estudyante,” are just deaf and not stubbornly bad. But with regards to safety, is it safe to put your life in the hands of a deaf driver? Logic will say “No”, right? But such however, is not because these drivers are bad (not in totality if ever) but because we are indeed in a poor country. Drivers are visible images of such poverty. And it is not only us (I guess) who suffer the consequences of being residents of a Third World country. Even so, poverty is not a ground for injustice; not in any way, not in any art.
OPINION
october 1 - november 15, 2008
Insert Latin Phrase Here
Donna Isabelle Fresnido
On the wall beside my bed, there is a calendar scotchtaped to the peeling pink paint. The months of 2008 are full of scribbles and jotted randomness, their dates marked off and ticked, some with smileys drawn next to them and others with sad faces. The calendar is a mere greencolored rectangle, no bigger than your average one-half crosswise pad paper; originally, it had a picture of a saint next to it but I snipped the hapless guy (St. Thomas Aquinas or Albertus Magnus, I cannot remember) out because he only served to remind me of the things I wouldn’t do, even if I should. Well, agnostic is as agnostic does, but I digress... Whenever I picture that graffitiladen piece of paper, I am reminded of a song by the Canadian indie pop band Stars. “Calendar Girl” is a song about a terminally ill woman who’s left counting the days on her calendar before the Big Goodbye. The persona dreams of death (“I dreamed I was dying, as I so often do/And when I awoke I was sure it was true”), bargains with God (“I ran to the window, threw my head to the sky/And said whoever is up there, please don’t let me die”) but really, in the end, it all boils down to how hard one stays alive even if you’re already
Mindscapes
Pietros Val Patricio As I leaf through the crumpled pages of the newspaper I’ve written in for the past two years now, I often look back and question myself what good this publication has ever brought me. When I was asked to stay and serve the publications this year, I actually refused with strong hesitation. I thought my fellow members wouldn’t really mind losing another staffer. And neither would anyone else. All I knew was that I wanted to get out and escape the gloomy world of technical writing, press censorship and humiliation. But I still decided to stay. I’ve lived most my life being a wanderer searching for belongingness. I felt like parasite having to stick, fit in and get along with all different kinds of people. I often felt like a foreign entity experiencing a life full of struggle, discrimination and adjustment from others. Barely in my teens, I already had to take responsibility and stand up for myself. My father had to travel frequently back and forth from Germany to the Philippines with my younger sister to assist the financial and medical needs of my grandparents who were both comatose at the time. He’d usually be gone for months. My mother was often gone for work. I had to be left alone at home, do all the groceries and gardening, cook, then
Calendar Girl lost to the world. Going back to my own calendar, I started ticking off the dates sometime in April, when I was squirming and squinting at a cool-off that stretched far beyond the summer. In lieu of moping around, I crossed off a date to pat myself on the back for withstanding a day where I had to battle the itch to contact The Boy. It seemed a big accomplishment for me, those 24 hours, and to cross off a date made me feel like I had trudged a step up a craggy mountain. That one step may seem measly but for someone who needed even the littlest of things to console her, it was an embarrassingly lot. However, the days numbering the cool-off had already flown by and The Boy became He Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken of in My Presence Lest I Force Anal Retentives down Your Throat. Yes, the cool-off has passed by but I still continue to cross off those days. And for what? I cannot put my finger on it definitely. I suppose this has become a neverending cycle of time days, weeks, months wherein I cross off a day just to say that I have finished it and I wash my hands of any screw ups that come with it. It scares me how aimless I have been, how the 24 hours lack a certain accomplishment to be called a “day”. It’s like I’m waiting for something just like the Calendar Girl, but in my case, it’s not death but the feeling that I’ll be getting something, something I’ve been subconsciously expecting and wishing and hoping for. You see, I want a lot of things in life. Things that I shouldn’t hunger for, things that are beyond my reach
for God knows how long, things that shouldn’t be mine. But I keep hungering for them just the same. I guess I have that thick head that I can just ram into a stone wall again and again and again. As of now, my head is really bumpy and bleeding but I just don’t care. Three cheers for aspirin and the good sense not to stare at myself in the mirror after another bloody self-beating! But I know – I just inexplicably know – that I’m on the verge of getting these things. It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff with your arms outstretched and a big grin on your face. You’ll jump, but you don’t know when. You’ll land, but you don’t know where. Someone will catch you, but you don’t know who. But that someone will catch you, right as rain. But still, I’m waiting because that’s all I can do and that’s all the circumstances will let me do. My fingertips are tapping a slow, monotonous dirge for wasted time. But that’s what I am condemned to and like a good little convict, I might as well grease the shackles and sip a glass of lemonade – but not before I bash my head against that stone wall. This brings to mind a question asked in Grey’s Anatomy: “Why do I keep hitting myself with a hammer?” Because it feels so good when I stop. Hi, I’m Donna and I’m the Calendar Girl. *** It’s that same punch to the stomach, that tightening in the chest. It was all the same years ago and it remains unchanged. Now, if only you saw yourself through my eyes, maybe you’d believe me.
Reflections clean and watch over our apartment unit. Whenever my parents would be reunited, they would often worry a lot over family matters. Sooner or later, my grandparents passed away one after another. Nothing was explained to me. There were so many things I didn’t understand when I was young. Despite my active participation in visual and the performing arts back then, I only looked up to writing as my last remedy. Today, many people envy me and would love to be in the position I am in right now. Every now and then, I really wondered what my readers and detractors actually think of my writeups; how they react every time they see my unpopular face glancing back at them in my column picture. If all what I’ve expressed through the written word has even caught the attention of the hoards of non-readers and the hoi polloi who roam around the campus everyday. Sometimes, I get so discouraged with life I’d rather stab myself in the eye with a freshly sharpened pencil in frustration. It was at the same time when I realized that I was not impressed by scholarships or the money I’ve earned from presswork allowances and foreign language tutorials in this institution. Neither did the title, fame or position of editorship mean anything to me at all. I’ve only hungered for experience, happiness and companionship from common people who are able to touch me since I usually don’t do anything for exchange. I’ve also realized that the world doesn’t even owe me anything. What I love to do is purely my own contribution to the people around me. Nothing owns me. I am free because I’ve chosen to be free. I have been
given the freedom to rise, struggle and fall at my own right. My success is completely mine, and so is my failure. And as a person with strong liberalist ideals, I won’t let anyone take this liberty away from me. If there’s one thing about me many cannot tolerate, it is being kind to those people who aren’t even worthy of my kindness at all. I’ve also chosen to conquer my own past and depressions in life. It is only a great heart of courage and moral wisdom that has kept me standing all these years. I really don’t want to become anyone of high stature. I just aim to become my best self. Now, it has become clearer to me than ever before that writing has already become a way of living for me. I have no other choice but to follow the assault of my emotions, the literary rage that runs inside my veins urging me to use the pen as a powerful sword to document the dynamism of life and advocate for social change. I would like to reach out in gratitude to some of the people who, by some means, have already influenced my college life: Elsed, Joven and Arlene - three young promising educators whom I admire for being non-judgmental, truthful and understanding; Johnny and Cara - two influential people with whom I’ve experienced a lot of things together despite our personal irregularities; the Pub staff for being my family and last retreat in school; Sir John whom I consider to be my foremost literary mentor. Thanks for all the intellectual
The Augustinian
5
Prexy Speaks University of San Agustin
USA ROTARACT CLUB ROTARY CLUB OF ILOILO RI DISTRICT 3850 The University of San Agustin Rotaract Club was established in Prexy’s desk 1979 by a group of BS Commerce students headed by Mr. Efren Gangoso who became its first president. In 1989, the club was awarded as the most outstanding Rotaract Club in District 3850 under the leadership of its president Mr. Efren Gangoso and Mr. Jigger Latoza being its Zone Rotaract Representative. After this monumental year, the club remained in the university for more than a Rey John Lorca decade. In 2008, the club regained its title as the most outstanding Rotaract Club in District 3850 under the leadership of Mr. Dominico Laude. Until now it continues the Rotary legacy of giving “service above self” to our less fortunate brothers and sisters in the spirit of community service and leadership. The club is composed of dynamic group of officers and members with diversified courses from College of Arts & Sciences, College of Nursing, College of Education, College of Business Administration and Accountancy, College of Pharmacy & Medical Technology and College of Engineering & Architecture. The service avenues of USA Rotaract Club are divided into four aspects: the environmental, leadership, medical, and community-led projects. On the environmental projects, the club had initiated tree planting activities. This year, it is pursuing “Recycle Mania”, a waste segregation and recycling contest for schools, colleges, and universities in Iloilo City. This project is in-coordination with the DENR Region 6 whos objective is to advocate the significance of waste segregation and recyling. On the leadership project, the club will hold the Rotaract Youth Expo for high school and college student organizations in Panay. On the medical project, the club will be conducting medical missions on depressed communities Iloilo province that need medical attention. And lastly, on the community led project, the club plans to help build an ecumenical chapel on Sitio Dumalagdag, Brgy. Bugnay, Guimaras since their existing chapel is almost deteriorated. “Leadership by Example” originally came from the Rotary International. Rotaract Clubs serve as cradle of leadership. Each club molds members to become leaders. It exposes them to reality of life after school. It provides them networks. It gives them opportunity to meet people of authority in the community and learn from their experiences. It makes them realize that helping other people and putting a smile in their faces gives you a rare feeling of happiness. Most important of all, it teaches them to become more humble and embody the value of “service above self’. We look at Rotarians and RotaryAnns (Rotarian’s Spouses) as Rotaractor’s fathers and mothers. We are supported by our Rotary fathers and mothers and we make them proud by assisting them in their projects, as well as coming up with projects that could make communities a better place to live in. Many are called but few were chosen. As long as rotaract exists together with Rotary, time will come when no community will experience hunger, literacy rate will decrease and medical assistance will be at hand. Rey John Lorca USA Rotaract Club President, A.Y. 2008-2009
discussions, moral support, jokes and other happy memories in and outside the Pub. You’ve certainly added so much fuel for my burning passion to write; Jeff and Bing for the trust and friendship; Sir Sam for your undying revolutionary spirit; fellow students and teachers of the CAS department; and above all, to the original Liberal
Arts batch of 2010 with whom I spend most of the time with in class. Well, we may not be in good terms as many of us would like to be but you guys cannot deny the fact that in one way or another, we’ve already become part of each other’s academic lives. What time is it? It’s the time of our lives.
6
FEATURE
The Augustinian
october 1 - november 15, 2008
Editor: JENNY CASTRO
The Challenges to National Development & Social Transformation By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO
Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi tayo kikibo, sino ang kikibo? Kung hindi ngayon, kalian pa? (If we do not stand up and fight, who will? If we do not speak up, who will? If not now, when?) - Abraham “Ditto” Sarmiento III Editor of the Philippine Collegian University of the Philippines My journalistic career as a freedom writer advocating for social change began over a year ago after writing my first column, “Visualizing the Philippine Dream”. As a political science major, I always felt obliged to come up with theoretical concepts regarding the political challenges our country has been facing in regards to social transformation. The advent of political killings, the widening gaps between social classes as well as the alarming state of poverty and corruption in our country have long signaled the call to break the chains of impunity once and for all. I took up political science because I wanted to write about society. I’ve never aspired of becoming a lawyer or politician. I was rather interested in studying political science as a discipline in itself to be able to understand the broad complexities of governance and political trends in our country. I wanted to learn about Philippine society and politics to be able to write about it, to engage in the so called ‘social cancer’ and find a cure for it. I wanted to discover the demons that have been plaguing our society since time immemorial. But I’m not sure if a political science degree alone would already qualify me as a political analyst after graduation. I may not be an authority to make any concrete judgment or conclusions but try to ask any political scientist in the country on the ‘Philippine Dream’ and they would most likely be unable to produce a concrete answer. That’s because the ‘Philippine Dream’ is basically nonexistent. Not even in theoretical or academic terms. Not in our time at least. Understanding the Philippine Polity In our country, there is only handful of schools and universities that do produce highly idealistic youths
who engage in national affairs and commit themselves to nation-building nowadays. Earlier this year, I was able to gain a broader perspective about the abusive cycle of our political system. In order to fully understand the nature of our political culture, one would have to look back in our history and cultural setting as a nation which have greatly contributed to the present structure of our political behavior: • Elitism & Patronage Politics – The culture of patronage politics and elitism in the Philippines has been one of its greatest obstacles to progress and political advancement. It has a long and complicated account that dates back even in pre-colonial times with the arrival of the Malays. The Spanish colonial era eventually incorporated the feudalist system in the country making the datu descendants in charge over the majority of vast agricultural lands. Their descendants intermarried with Spaniards and Chinese until eventually resulting to the 19th century elite class known as the illustrado. Collaboration with the elites for selfdetermination also took place during the American and Japanese periods resulting to a clash struggle between the two dominant classes, the elite and the peasantry. Just look around and you’ll see that the elite class has evolved to become today’s ruling class of political dynasties and capitalist cronies. Every province has its own political monarchy: If Cebu has the Osmeñas and the Garcias, Capiz with the Roxas clan, Iloilo comes in strong with the Lopezes and the Garins. Southeast Asia’s first constitution was drafted by wealthy landowners who secured their control over landholdings and power for politics in this country. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform (CARP) was created by landowning lawmakers who designed it with
loopholes to ensure its failure and protect the ownership over their plantations. Try attending business conferences in Makati and you’ll see foreign-looking Filipinos like the Gokongweis, the L’huilliers, the Zobel de Ayalas, the Sys, the Tys, the Elizaldes, the Uytengsus and all those typical business clans who have earned their billions and vast estates in this impoverished country. Through the rise of today’s middle class, our greatest weakness has probably become the dire hunger for money and power. We tend to have this awful attitude of being peoplepleasers. We tend to befriend, respect and look up to people who are richer, more powerful and more popular than us, regardless of their intellect or qualification, in order to become like them. We do this for the sake of our own survival in society. We pay our allegiance to the rich and powerful, both in business and politics, because of this. This is what patronage politics is all about. • The Neglect of Filipino Values – “Successive crises in the Filipino nation’s life have led many analysts to suspect that the country’s main problem could be the dysfunctionality of the entire institutional system. This system, largely borrowed and imposed from without, has failed to spring roots in the people. In the name of modern nationhood, it has suppressed native sensibility. It continues to denigrate traditional folkways and wisdom in the name of global cosmopolitanism. What it could not colonize, however, has survived in the margins as a fugitive society.” This striking statement of Randy David in his foreword to Dr. Katrin de Guia’s book Kapwa, The Self in the Other which covers personal accounts on the psychological dimensions of Filipino culture, testifies that the present system forced into us by our colonizers, followed by mainstream westernization, totally contradicts most of our native norms and has indeed alienated us from our own identity. Furthermore, he stresses out that “…the existing Filipino culture is an obstacle to economic and social progress and therefore needs to be modified if not altogether erased.” If you try to look carefully, our political setting and form of governance was very much patterned after
western ideals fully disregarding our indigenous values as a people. We run a government that has been incorporated to us by our former occupiers, fully ignoring the consideration whether this system may be applied to our cultural setting or not. We’ve embraced western liberalism with the thought of attaining democracy but the entire system itself eventually became the root cause of our social decay. We’ve assimilated too much with western trends that we have come to neglect our own native traditions. Our democratic values today, including its opposites, contain both foreign and indigenous seeds, which at times are not even applicable to each other. Such conflict would eventually result to political instability and social chaos. It’s not just our past leaders who have wasted the opportunity of using their gift of wisdom and power to build and restore the country; we Filipinos ourselves have also wasted the wide opportunities that two people power revolts have opened us. We are often pragmatic and wait for miracles to happen without even working for it. We were too spoiled in thinking that after two people power revolts, things would go back to normal and everything would fall back into place. There was very little effort in fixing our society anew, no collective will in reshaping our crooked institutions. Many activists wanted change but all they got back from their efforts was more kili-kili power under their hairy armpits. Their magic never worked. People power has already become a useless tool in driving away corrupt officials. The truth is that most people today do not really work for the good of all but only for their self-interests. Sad as it is, our national aspirations in attaining a progressive vision for the country is still another movie in the making even if the cast and plot keep on changing. A Revolution from the Heart Is revolution really a must or an option? This is the question that has been playing in my mind all throughout the discourse of our Political Dynamics class last semester. How do you define a revolution in the Philippine context anyway? The Philippines has never had a true revolution of its own in the real sense. The Spanish-Filipino War and the Japanese liberation were both won by American forces, not by
our freedom fighters. Even the two EDSA revolutions were half-baked; both were backed up by the military and a few influential oligarchs who were able to call on a few hundreds of thousands of people out in the streets. In fact, no revolution has ever taken place in the true sense. There has been no permanent change in society; no ruling class of thieves and cronies has ever been overthrown. We are still faced with the exact same issues of the past. During Dr. Nora Legaspi’s introductory speech in our Ancient Political Theories class this year, she stated that history has proven so many times that immediate change and rebellion wouldn’t result to political maturity and social transformation at an instant. Real change is an ongoing struggle that will last for a much longer duration of time, probably after many decades or generations if not centuries of social enlightenment and discovery. There are three kinds of revolution: revolution from above (the ruling class), revolution from below (the masses) and revolution from within (the total transformation of society as a whole). Violence and bloodshed would become unnecessary if a people could start changing from within. Sometimes, it is the people who govern society who have a defect and not the entire system itself. Maybe, what we need is a change in political values, a ‘moral’ revolution from the heart. As part of the young generation of this country, regardless of one’s social status or intellect, we are all obliged to work for genuine change, even if it would have to cost us our lives. We are yet to be set free from the chains that continue haunt to our nation. Our past leaders have betrayed the Filipino dream. I’ve promised myself never to enter the chaotic world of politics but rather use my God-given talent in writing to serve this country. I hope many Augustinians have been inspired by the stories we’ve been writing about society. I’m quite sure our efforts will not be put to waste and will continue to inspire others through the passion and love for country that many of us seem to have lost all these years. (For further inquiry, comments and suggestions, please e-mail the author at pietrospatricio@yahoo.com)
FEATURE
OCTOBER 1 - NOVEMBER 15, 2008
The AugusTiniAn
Editor: JENNY CASTRO
7
Augustinian Patriot In The Spotlight: Carmelo Soriano, Jr. By dONNA FREsNidO and dAisy dAwN MACAHiLO
SITTING in the shade beside the Pelota Court, Carmelo Soriano, Jr. leans on his elbows and tells the story of how he crossed the South China Sea onboard a Black Hawk helicopter. His hazel eyes, courtesy of a strong Spanish heritage, light up and his gestures are animated as he recalls that rare opportunity. “Imagine, a cadet officer getting that chance over others of a higher rank. I was so overwhelmed!” he enthuses. But of course, riding a helicopter, organizing relief operations for typhoon victims, and generally lending a hand to save the day are just some of the job specifications for the USA-ROTC Corps Commander. Slight Detour The upturned chin and ramrodstraight back betray a strong military influence that he carries wherever he goes, but Carmelo is quick to point out that landing at the top spot in the USA-ROTC unit was a “slight detour”. As a child, he had never really envisioned himself answering the call of the colors, nor wearing the prescribed type A uniform as he marched under the heat of the sun with coal smeared across his cheeks. He had never thought of joining the Citizen’s Army Advancement Training (CAT) during high school, seeing that the CAT program at the Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus in Estancia, Iloilo, his alma mater, was removed from the curriculum. Ultimately, it was his mother who decided to pick ROTC for Carmelo’s NSTP program instead of the more popular CWTS component. Thus, Carmelo’s path to the military was paved.
Rising Through the Ranks Despite his relative newness to the military life, Carmelo adapted to it swiftly. This had given him the confidence to attend the cadet officers qualifying seminar for 2006-2007. After two weeks of grueling training, he emerged among the top three at the Cadet Officers Training Seminar (COTS). His mettle was once again tested when the University sent delegates for the 2007 Regional ROTC Summer Camp Training held at Camp Hernandez in Dingle for a period of 21 days. Burning with the single-minded desire to make the most of this experience, Carmelo graduated as Class President Battalion S1, besting other cadet officers as he ranked first. Typhoon Frank All of the trainings and seminars had equipped him with the knowledge and expertise in being a leader – not merely on the training grounds but in places and circumstances beyond one’s ordinary expectations. On June 21, 2008, Carmelo and the rest of the unit had been preparing for the general ROTC orientation when the skies opened up and let loose the worst super typhoon to ever hit Iloilo in history. The event was cancelled and seeing the plight of students stranded inside the University, Carmelo swiftly organized a team composed of ROTC officers and instructors to get the students out. “It was our first reaction”, he said, pertaining to organizing the rescue team. However, it wasn’t finished yet. Tired, bedraggled and with mud sticking heavily to their boots and fatigue uniforms, Carmelo’s squad
had then been ordered to help evacuate families in Bolilao, Mandurriao district, near SM City Iloilo. It lasted until 10:00 PM, when they trudged to the 604 th Community Defense Center. With the sound of rain pelting the rooftop, the officers closed their eyes and thought of the next days when their help would be needed. True enough, they were assigned more missions to places such as Santa Rosa, Bankers, and Buntatala (all in Jaro district). They were also tasked by USA-ROTC Commandant Colonel Roger Diaz, MNSA, (JCSC) PA to distribute food to the towns of Janiuay, Pavia, Santa Barbara and Cabatuan. Carmelo could remember one particular incident: they had received a call from 604 th CDC requesting them to open a house whose gates had been sealed shut by the raging current. “The car couldn’t make it so we had to walk. The water was already waist-deep,” he said. Upon reaching the house, they had to battle the current. It took five officers to wrench open the gate and immediately, a rotting stench assailed their nostrils. It smelled like a dead rat rotting on a garbage heap, only worse. A few minutes of searching, they found a dead elderly woman, her corpse already showing signs of rigor mortis. One hand had remained grasping – almost clawing desperately – at the handle of a cabinet. After the initial nausea, it was time for action. “We just covered the corpse with a blanket and brought it to the
morgue.” Once in a Lifetime Another memory is flying over the South China Sea in a helicopter one could only see in the movies. When Typhoon Frank had already passed by, there was much relief goods to give to those in its wake. Seeing that they needed extra hands to dole out the goods, authorities tapped the Corps Command. And so began what he calls “that once-in-a lifetime experience”. To his great surprise, there was a Black Hawk helicopter waiting at the Iloilo International Airport, ready to take them as far as Romblon. With an American GI to complete the group, Carmelo hopped in for the ride of his life. After Romblon, the helicopter fueled onboard the USS Reagan and returned to Iloilo. He was given an army shirt by the 604 th CDC as a remembrance and Carmelo wears it whenever the mood suits him, albeit with a grin. et cetera Of course, he has other roles to play aside from being the Corps Commander. He is also a brother
who is “loving but sometimes a bit jealous with my status as the only son in my family” (he is the only male son among five siblings of SpanishFilipino extraction). In school, the positions he holds are a mouthful: he is the Asst. Bus. Manager of the USA Student Council, Asst. Bus. Manager of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, the president of his class (he is currently a third year Civil Engineering student) and the Commander of the Red and Gold Sword Frasority, the official frasority of the USA-ROTC. For someone who works hard, he plays hard as well. In his spare time, Carmelo likes to hit it out in the gym, playing a tough game of badminton. He is more of an introvert despite the fact that his position as Corps Commander requires dealing with a lot of people. Musically inclined, he knows how to play the guitar, drums and sing. Any parting words? He smiles, “You give your all to the institution to which you belong, be it your family, the ROTC in my case, or your school. You have to love your institution.” Spoken like a true Augustinian patriot!
Kawilihan-USA: Back on Track By CARA uy and ALLiN jOy EMBOLTuRA
‘SILENT workers’ best describes Kawilihan-USA, the official dance troupe of the University. Over the years, it had strived to perfect its craft which demands a strong sense of discipline, more than just bodily coordination. And now, its back on its track...bigger and brighter. K a w i l i h a n - U S A a t AT O P Convention Kawilihan-USA showcased its dancers’ talents, skills and abilities not only to entertain and make the people people happy but also to share God’s grace. on October 2 to 4, 2008, the Kawilihan-USA attended the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) National Convention at the Iloilo Grand Hotel
and Sarabia Manor Hotel. ATOP aims to showcase the various facets of tourism, to set the stage for local culture and to enable visitors to savor warmth and hospitality for them to prefer Iloilo as a tourist destination. Iloilo City is the host province this year. The dances performed by the troupe included “Barter of Panay”, “Hala Bira Iloilo”, “Iloilo ang Banwa Ko”, “Alibangbang”, “Belly Ballet”, “Bulag, Pipi at Bingi”, “Tap Dance”, “Belly Dancing”, “Jum, Jive and Whale”, “Street Jazz”, “One/Chorus Line,” and “Cats.” Other participating groups were Tribu Paghidaet, Irong-Irong dance troupe, Annie Divinagracia School of Performing Arts, Earl Morales (TapDancer) and USA Troubadours. The event gathered delegates from across the country. Behind the Troupe After several screenings, a new batch of Kawilihan dancers are jiving to the beat of different repertoires set for the troupe. They are Jeorge Alfane, Ezra Samuel Misajon, Maria Charlene Aculado, Winrose Alejano, Kristine Anne Alim, Aicy Rada, Jessa Aira Flaviano, Darlyn Joy Gobuyan, and Mary Angel Tan. Old Kawilihan dancers, meanwhile, include Nash Jude Adle, Jose Joel Bolivar, Ramie Derecho, Mark Lester Gubac, Crimson Guirjem,
John Palma, Joem Junsan, Quin Lawrence Sibonga, Roxan Aligato, Precious Dee Avelino, Janine Ayco, Ma. Helen Bogador, Christie Ann Corcino, Angelie Dequiña, Marian Eve Ingente, Marianne Eve Ingente, Mariane Joy Mallorca, Mary Rose Ledesma, Marjorie Pabiona, Rocel Tazan and Rolyne Ticao. All of them are undergoing dance classes at 6:008:30 PM daily with new repertoires such as Samba, Street Jazz, 50’s dance hits, Belly dancing and Flamingo. Soon to watch Some of the upcoming performances of the troupe will be on December 16 at St. Anthony’s College in San Jose, Antique, on December 22 for a “Handog Pasasalamat” show for unfortunate children and on December 14 in Baguio City. The troupe was also invited to perform in the Ayre Bayle Serye, a dance series of folk dances, contemporary and other dance forms featuring school and community-based dance troupes of Region 6 hosted by the City Tourism and Development Office. Ayre Bayle Serye is a three-month event with 12 presentations to feature various performing groups over the region to be held every Saturday from September 5 to November 21, 2009. Artistic Director’s Cut Behind every success of Kawilihan-USA is an artistic director
and choreographer who doesn’t want the troupe to turn out half-baked performances - Annie Divinagracia-Satorio. Satorio expects that the new members attain highquality dance performances. To achieve this, they have to undergo lessons on different kinds of dances, particularly ballet which is the basis of all dances. It is through ballet that they learn proper form, gait strength, flexibility and musicality. Given the limited time, however, she emphasized: “They go through a more intense and vigorous training...” As the new members progress into the system, they learn the repertoire of the dance troupe, integrate with the old members and increasingly expose themselves in the performances. When asked how she motivates them, Satorio answered: “The best motivation for a performer is to be able to perform, especially in a marked, if not lead, role because this is where their development
as dancers are recognized and appreciated. This can be considered as a measure of their growth with the Kawilihan-USA. In the dance troupe, the hard workers often times get the best roles because they manage to reach the performance level required of the members. Moreover, we also find time to squeeze in, to
unwind and bond as a group where rapport is easily cultivated being an important part for the effective projection of characters and execution of the choreography. Of course, it is a major factor that the University extends higher scholarship rates to the members who show discipline, focus and hard work.”
8
FEATURE/RESULTS
The Augustinian
october 1 - november 15, 2008
Editor: PAULO MOISES BAYABOS
VILLAR’S OUSTER What It Actually Means By Daisy Dawn Macahilo
MANUEL “Manny” Villar found himself in a situation that he previously managed to avoid: resigning from the Senate Presidency and facing the challenges as a free man towards the 2010 elections. It is a precarious place to be in but the so called C-5 controversy triggered a rigodon in the Philippine legislature paving way for the newest coup in our political history: Juan Ponce Enrile is now in! And what about Villar? He’s out! His ouster was partly his own fault. He could have moved more adroitly, deftly and pre-emotively to distance himself from being a serious threat to a presidential wannabe. But even if altering the structure of the upper chamber has not been a factor, it was inevitable that Villar would lose his grip on power. It’s still a point of inquiry if Malacañang Palace has its hand over the phenomenon. But the majority of his “colleagues” and eventually loyal party mates supported his ouster. Of the 23-member chamber present during Monday’s session, fourteen senators voted for Enrile, six
abstained and one was absent. Too bad for him, he didn’t have the numbers. There were no other chances for him to stay in power; it was the majority’s will that ousted him. So, he decided to resign. The Villar epoch in the Philippine Senate has now ended. Soon, after so many delays in the session, a new coup has just begun. One of the leading figures during the People Power EDSA Revolution of 1986 responsible for the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Enrile has now captured the senate’s top postion. During the Marcos regime, he was known to be one of the fiercest enforcers of Martial Law, also being the country’s defense minister at the time. He is also known to be a staunch supporter of the Arroyo administration. He was sworn in as the new Senate President by another coup leader: Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, who once piloted a series of failed attempts against the Aquino administration. Enrile, now at 86, describes himself as an old man who has acquired
SINCE the evolution of man, dance has always been the medium of primitive people in relating life’s challenges that come along their way. Self expression is shown in artifacts such as pottery, stone carvings and sculptures, rock and cave paintings that carved dance as a vital part of our lives. I was interested enough to write this column in connecting dance with writing. Funny to think how a certain topic would be more attractive to readers like you knowing that these two works of art are interrelated with each other. Funny to think how different the two fields would combine into one. I’m actually just hitting two birds in one stone. Should these unique works of art blend into a mixture of interesting ideas and concepts? Is dance not an art? To write, technically, is to construct grammatical lines with the aid of grammatical
OFICIAL LIST OF INDIVIDUAL EVENTS USA ATHLETICS TEAM 42nd ILOPRISAA MEET NOVEMBER 19-21, 2008 MEN: 1. Dela Cruz, Franklin (BS HRM 2) Long Jump - Gold Medalist Triple Jump - Silver Medalist 4 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 400 Relay - Silver Medalist 2. Yap, Jr., Eddie (BS HRM 3) 400 High Hurdles - Silver Medalist 4 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist 3. Guiao, Elias (BS HRM 2) 5,000 Run - Bronze Medalist 3,000 Run - Bronze Medalist Steeplechase - Bronze Medalist 4 x 400 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist 4. Pineda, Ceasar (BS MM 1) High Jump -Bronze Medalist 4 x 400 Relay - Silver Medalist 1 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist WOMEN: 1. Arinos, Florence Arnie (BS ED3) 400 High Hurdle - Silver Medalist Triple Jump - Silver Medalist 4 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist Classical Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 200 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 400 Relay - Silver Medalist until their fourth and final meeting when they finally succeeded. According to political analysts, this phenomenon at the senate has already triggered the heat for the 2010 elections and has opened the changes on how the upper house would handle the investigation of the administration maladies – the “fertilizer fund” and the “euro generals” scams. However,
4 x 800 Relay - Silver Medalist 2. Descutido, Keela (BS Crim 2) 3,000 - Walk 3. Tadlas, May Jales (BS Psych 3) 10,000 Run - Gold Medalist 5,000 Run - Silver Medalist Classical Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 200 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 400 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 800 Relay - Silver Medalist 4. Galvan, Crystal (BS HRM 3) 800 Meter Run - Bronze Medalist Classical Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 400 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 800 Relay - Silver Medalist 5. Pagdato, Mylene (BS ME 2) 100 Meter Run - Bronze Medalist 200 Meter Run - Bronze Medalist Classical Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 100 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 200 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 400 Relay - Silver Medalist 4 x 800 Relay - Silver Medalist 6. Sandig, Ma. Clarissa (BS ED 1) 3,000 Walk - Bronze Medalist
although we’re trying to get rid of too much trapo politics, we should also remain vigilant of the next chairmanship of the blue Ribbon Committee since Cayetano had already resigned. There’s so much more fathom on how the old warrior Enrile started a new-fangled house of representatives commendable to be called a “genuine house of the people”.
The Ballet, the Writing, and Me
Da Capo
Ronald Sorrilla
some bad habits of sometimes being arrogant, rude, harsh with his words, insensitive and impatient. He also confesses that he had never sought such positions until that Monday morning when he was presented with a resolution which sought for a change in government leadership and save the name of the institution. The resolution eventually had the signature of twelve senators. It could also be recalled that a few months earlier, Villar formally declared his intention to run for in 2010, the first courageous act made by a presidential aspirant. It’s nothing new that he and his wife Cynthia are the 14 th Congress’ wealthiest lawmakers as of 2008. No surprise that he has the highest campaign funds and has already established a nationwide network, thus he is now viewed as the biggest threat for other presidential aspirants. Surveys have shown that he now ranks first as the most capable successor to PGMA. Not until he was tagged in the C-5 double entry controversy. But what is the C-5 scandal actually all about? It started early this September when Senator Panfilo Lacson, on his privileged speech, first introduced and linked Villar to such controversy. It refers to the accusation that Villar had initiated the double funding in the national budget for the extension of the C-5 road in the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas passing through his real estate property (both cities are under the influence of his wife as congresswoman). They were plots carefully planned by the “core group”, namely senators Lacson, Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Maria Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal and Loren Legarda even before the controversy even started. It was not
2008 ILOILO PRISAA RESULTS
skills. Anyway, while dancing and writing are masterpieces of art, both of them are also products of the mind, right? There are certain ways how dancing can easily relate to writing. To write is to express, and to dance is also basically the same thing as it arouses our senses and emotions. Engaging in dance, you should be flexible enough to execute basic or fundamental dance movements. Just a simple but correct warm-up would lead t a better dancer.
Battement (bat-ma) - to kick or beat Hit your goal! Plan and see to it that you do it step by step. Remember that in writing, you should never run out of words. Beat you friend in exchanging thoughts and invite him or her for a cup of coffee and talk about the latest trends in town. Be a fighter upon receiving criticisms and suggestions. After all, it is not good if you keep you mouth shut and remain temporarily deaf. Explore your strengths and capabilities.
A Writer and Dancer in the Making Here are some ballet terms that I would best describe and it would also you a lot in improving your writing skills. It should be a great help, if it would work with you.
Glisade (gli-sad) means to slide There are rough and smooth roads to success. But it’s hilarious to slide on a slippery surface though it is a matter of chance rather than choice. Considering writing comes with a lot of big responsibilities involving its technicality. It is wide and complicated but when you focus, you’ll never step upon a wrong path.
Tendu (tan-do) means to stretch Stretch your skills in writing. Read books, novels, magazines or even every piece of written paper you’d come across that would enhance your vocabulary. Go to the library and look for the latest published book, search for new words and use them in conversations. There is nothing wrong in maximizing your skills and improving your stuff.
Plie (pli-ye) – to bend Downfalls are common in any aspect of life, wherein we cannot control the flow of our journey unless we are optimistically concentrated on our goal. Bend to be flexible enough in adapting to the changes and kinds of environments we are in. To write
is such a lovely thought for people who treasure such stuff more than their lives. Realization I am very to ser how these works of art affect mankind for without them, it would be dull to live in a world where flora and fauna are in contrasts, where there is no peace and love in each others’ hearts. There is no color; a rainbow unseen in the sky. But before that would happen, I would like to congratulate the administration for supporting the cultural and skillful artistic groups in the University, the Kawilihan-USA, the USA Little Theater, the USA Choir and Troubadours, and the USA Band. They are the vanguards of our students’ skills and talents. It is a great avenue for showing the rich heritage concerning culture and the arts. Furthermore, a lot of things need to be noticed and immediate actions need to be taken like the different courses in the different colleges. Once student said: “Paano ka makablo kung wala man lang good facilities like mga dance studios or just a PE Learning Room?” Another one added, “Wala music, room, gakinumod n gani ang tupad namun sa room, kay gakadistract
sila sa kagahod namun, bisan gani instruments kami pa gadala, kung di ka ka-afford, panghulam ka na lang.” “Ga-offer sila amo na nga course pero wala man nila gina tutukan ang kilanlanon namun.” Actually, some of these are brilliant students who are also University scholars, varsity players, members of the KawilihanUSA, USA Band and even students who perform best in academics and leadership organizations. In spite of those swan songs, these students are still able to surpass these obstacles. But until when? Gusting Learns How to Dance and Write Indeed, dancing has always been part of our lives. To write is also part of our soul. It reflects the totality of our personality. Living in this world of uncertainties leads us to a more complicated type of life. But if we are strong enough and eager to achieve our goals, nothing would be impossible. We flock as Augustinians soaring high; flying high and reaching the heights of excellence. I would like to dedicate this column to all lovers of the arts who would cross oceans just to declare their passion for art in every endeavor.
The Augustinian Academic Community would like to reach out its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Albert Zulueta who has peacefully joined the presence of our Lord on November 11, 2008. Zulueta was a prolific discus thrower, an Augustinian athlete who was once part of the University’s javelin varsity team. We request your prayers for the eternal repose of his soul.