SOLSTICE - Introspection

VOLUME 71 | A.Y. 2018-2019 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN JOSE - RECOLETOS

EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF

BEHIND THE COVER Producers Brenzy Kaye D. Maquilan Edrian Gustin D. Camacho

Editor-in-chief John Del M. Pilapil Associate Editor Robert John D. Medida Managing Editor-Administration Edelry Marie O. Quiapo Managing Editor-Finance Harriette Mae L. Labrada Creative Director Dave Mossess L. Poro

Photographer Edrian Gustin D. Camacho Assistant Photographer Mar Allen C. Cañizar Make up Harriette Mae L. Labrada Mary Nethania L. Pedrano

Property Custodian Bethlehem A. Dimagna-ong News Editor Lance Roi G. Catadman Features Editor Eiver Ky Villegas Opinion Editor Alyssa Marie Magdales Literary Editor Brenzy Kaye D. Maquilan Online Editors Charldy P. Wenceslao Edrian Gustin D. Camacho IT Administrators Anric C. Urmeneta Mary Nethania L. Pedrano Art Director Joshua Philip T. Abella Writers Alyssa Marie Magdales Bethlehem A. Dimagna-ong Brenzy Kaye D. Maquilan Charldy P. Wenceslao Eiver Ky Villegas Lance Roi G. Catadman Videographer Anric C. Urmeneta Photographers Edna M. Ceniza Edrian Gustin D. Camacho Mar Allen C. Cañizar Mary Nethania L. Pedrano Graphic Artists / Illustrators Joshua Philip T. Abella Xamantha Marie P. Erivera Publication Adviser / Technical Guidance

Ms. Hazel Gorre Sevilla Assistant Moderator Atty. Jesus D. Velez Moderator Rev. Fr. Roy B. Baluarte, OAR

Models Joshua Kyle Tiu Marie Nicole Cañoneo

REACH US For comments, reactions, suggestions, and contributions, contact us at: landline (032) 412-3221 e-mail forwardpublication@live.com facebook facebook.com/usjrforward instagram @forwardpublications

ABOUT US The FORWARD Magazine is printed every semester and once every summer under the name SOLSTICE. It is managed and published

by FORWARD Publication, Ground Floor, San Agustin Building, University of San Jose - Recoletos, Magallanes Street, Cebu City. FORWARD welcomes contributions such as formal/ informal essays, poems, short stories, artworks and photographs.

READ FORWARD IN JUST A TOUCH issuu usjrforward

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine shall be used for any purpose, except when allowed by the law, without prior explicit permission from the FORWARD Publication.

Half the population of our staff turned to ashes and we need YOU to save the publication from our impending doom. We will do whatever it takes to save FORWARD. So if you are a bona fide Josenian college student, visit the FORWARD office to grab an application form and inquire on other requirements.

Don’t miss the chance to become part of the official student publication of USJ-R. Move with us. Move FORWARD, be FORWARD!

05 Editor’s Note - Journey to Self Society 06 An Outrage of Sentiments 08 The Murality of Street Art Discussion 09 Trailing the Solo Path 10 Plastics in Whales Feature 12 Places - Breathing a New Air 14 Travelogue - Tranquil Waters and Beyond 16 Cover Story - Introspection Breathings of the Soul 18 Trend - Finding Heroes 20 Food - Bring the Chill and Fit Out 22 Trend - Podcast Hype 23 Music and Art - Kpop in Your Era: Reshaping Perspectives 24 Ten Things - The Art of Self-Transcendence 26 Column - Window Panes to Self 27 Bullseye - Mines in the Cafeteria 28 Column - Mindset for Summer 29 Hit ‘N Run Comics 30 Contributors

Journey to Self

E D I TO R ’ S N OT E

Life is full of wonders and sorrows waiting to unfold. As we unravel these uncertain entities, we get overwhelmed by their presence. We feel bliss as we traverse through scenic places and explore our interests. We get disappointed seeing horrors of injustices as we witness unending corruption. We go through a rollercoaster of emotions. We get so affected by these marvels and agonies of life that often, we forget ourselves.

In this issue, we bring you stories and features of reflections and assessment relative to one’s self, the society, and the environment.

“Podcast Hype”, “Breathing a new air”, and “The Art of SelfTranscendence” will acquaint you with different media to reflect on and ideas of self-care regimen.

“Trailing the Solo Path” will walk you into the beauty of independent travelling and transport you through a number of life lessons in travelling to different cities and exploring your inner self.

“Plastics in Whales” will bring you to the trenches of sea pollution and the horrors they bring, and how science is dealing with this worldwide dilemma.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Loosen your nerves and open all your senses. Discover more of yourself and your inevitable connection to the society and environment as you flip through the pages of SOLSTICE. Read. Reflect. Resolve. Embark on a journey of introspection towards your best version, dear reader!

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

5

SOCIETY

An Outrage of Sentiments

by Harriette Mae L. Labrada illustration by Joshua Philip T. Abella

The violent killings of teenagers in Cebu have sparked a conversation: is revenge the endgame or is there more to the plot?

Our emotions have powerful influence over our lives. We may not admit it, but at times, our lives are ruled by these feelings.

We make decisions based on our human emotions and desire to express our sentiments. The question is, how far could a person possibly go to satisfy such flaming sensation?

Christine Lee Silawan, a Grade 9 student of Maribago High School, was found in a vacant lot in Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu last March 11, naked from the waist down with her face skinned to the bone.

According to a news report, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) forensic lab confirmed that the victim was raped and skinned to death.

The 43-year-old Renato Llenes executed an extrajudicial confession admitting to the murder of Silawan and was arrested on April 9.

However, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is still pinning down Silawan’s 17-year-old ex-boyfriend due to circumstantial and scientific evidence.

While the authorities were arguing whether it was her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend or Llenes, another identical

6

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

case in Danao City, Cebu was reported Police found the lifeless body of a 14-year-old girl in a septic tank of Cogon Cruz Integrated School last April 8.

According to the police, the victim named Thesa Mae Ygay was reported missing by her sister last April 6 and was found two days later.

Authorities have been searching for Jessie Montes Mediquillo, a 34-year-old security guard from Brgy.

Tuburan Sur, Danao City; all evidences gathered linked to him as the perpetrator.

According to the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-CV), Ygay and Mediquillo had a romantic relationship, and the suspect was jealous that the victim may have had a boyfriend. Mediquillo admitted to the murder; however, he denied the allegations of having a romantic relationship with Ygay, saying he just treated her like his niece.

Before these two sensational cases, the death through drug overdose of a nursing student named Ashley Abad shocked the public last January 20, a day after she collapsed while attending a Sinulog party at the Cebu Business Park.

SOCIETY Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, director of PRO-CV, said Abad died of an ecstasy overdose based on the autopsy report from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Abad’s boyfriend, Nel Spencer Tiu, was charged by the victim’s father and the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO) at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

However, the police closed the case after charges were filed against Tiu, saying that the appreciation of the circumstantial evidence will be up to the court.

With the emergence of such cases in our community, many people curled in fear while some questioned the uprising of brutality and murder.

Love baiting Christine Lee Silawan allegedly broke up with her 17-year-old boyfriend, but he was obsessively hounding himself back to Silawan’s life.

According to further investigation, her boyfriend used a fake Facebook account to lure the victim into meeting him after Silawan ended their relationship.

Silawan’s 17-year-old boyfriend was allegedly jealous of a boy she hanged out with after their church service.

Investigators examined her Facebook messages and found out that the suspect tried courting the victim using a fake account, even tricking her into meeting him on March 10 at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera captured the meeting between Silawan and the supposed “new suitor,” which turned out to be a reunion with her former lover.

According to the NBI, the shoe of Silawan’s 17-year old boyfriend was stained with blood that reportedly matched the DNA sample of her parents.

Subsequently, Renato Llenes admitted to the murder of Silawan saying that he posed as a younger guy the supposed named suitor CJ Diaz on Facebook.

Apparently, as per Llenes, he became obsessed with Silawan and killed her on the day of their meet-up where argued until they reached the vacant lot in Barangay Bangkal in Lapu-Lapu City.

Llenes also said that he was high on drugs and added that he got jealous of Silawan’s boyfriend.

Clinging to love The murder of Thesa Mae Ygay may be of the same case.

According to the investigation of Police Senior Master Sergeant Marlon Remollo, Ygay had a close relationship with the suspect, Jessie Montes Mediquillo.

Mediquillo worked as a guard in the school where Ygay’s body was found, and witness accounts stated that Ygay was last seen with him at the guard house, which is their usual meeting place.

According to Remollo, they found out that Mediquillo was taking care of the school expenses of Ygay since she was nine years old until he developed feelings for her.

According to the police, the suspect and Ygay’s father are actually friends and reportedly knew about the “relationship”.

Ygay’s father considered Mediquillo and Ygay’s relationship because aside from not having a stable job, he thought that Mediquillo could give his daughter a good future.

The accounts of Ygay’s sister stated a series of threats from the suspect to Ygay’s loved ones if Ygay will not follow the suspect’s requests such as meeting at the guardhouse.

Lieutenant Colonel Maribel Getigen of Danao City Police Station said that the suspect reportedly displays aggressive behavior every time Ygay roam around without his permission.

However, in Mediquillo’s confession, he said that it was his anger towards Ygay’s father that led him to kill the victim. Mediquillo was blamed by the father for the constant late night outs with Ygay.

Love under pressure Unlike the preceding cases, the death of Ashley Abad didn’t root from jealousy or obsession.

Abad, together with her boyfriend, Nel Spencer Tiu, attended Plus63 Music and Arts Festival at the Cebu Business Park on the eve of the Sinulog Festival.

According to the examination and investigation by the PNP Crime Lab, the two had a conversation before Abad took the drug-laced drink.

According to the screenshots of their conversation from Abad’s phone, as examined by the PNP Crime Lab, Tiu induced and emotionally pressured Abad into taking a whole drink of ecstasy.

It was also Tiu who reportedly bargained for the ecstasy tablet from P1,700 to P1,600 from a certain Brian.

Abad refused to take a whole dose, saying that she doesn’t want to take a risk and that she needs to wake up early the next day.

However, Tiu insisted that Abad risk it with him.

She was said to have collapsed in the middle of the event and was attended to by medical personnel of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation. She passed away at the hospital the next day.

If we let our emotions overcome our minds, then we will act in the heat of passion.

Jealousy, obsession, and pressure are the common encounters of these three young girls that led to untimely death that they don’t deserve.

All due to the impulse and pain that humans could feel. If we let our emotions overcome our minds, then we will act in the heat of passion. There is no intention to kill, however the wrongful desire to relieve our emotions will lead to a crime of passion.

Suppress your emotions before you express an outrage of your sentiments.

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

7

SOCIETY

The Murality of Street Art

by Lance Roi G. Catadman illustration by Joshua Philip T. Abella Art as a medium for change has been effective in invoking a sense of responsibility among people.

Artists usually convey their messages through art to address different issues.

Start of Something Neutral Last March 30, Youth Against Sexual Harassment (YASH) together with other non-profit organizations went to the streets of Quezon City and launched Taking Back Spaces (TBS) - a campaign hinged on street art to combat sexual harassment and making public spaces safer for women.

The volunteers painted a mural that depicted women of different statuses who collectively called to end street harassment featuring the line “Itigil ang Karahasan”. This activity was to cap off the celebration of women’s month.

However, in just three days short, the mural was then overlaid by graffiti that spelled out “ODER”. A day later, the phrase “RESPECT WOMEN” was painted over the graffiti in bold text, but was once again replaced to read “RESPECT EACH ODER”.

Outrage Divided The act was apparently a form of disrespect, completely ignoring the political issue at hand. Some say it was a distasteful attempt to invalidate the existence of harassment in the streets.

Catcalling and harassment are indeed recurring problems everywhere, and women feel unsafe walking in spaces where these happen.

On the other hand, this act was nothing special according to graffiti artists and enthusiasts, since “tagging” is the nature of street art.

Tagging is the act of painting over an existing graffiti or art.

They also said that changing the message was more “inclusive” of all genders rather than focusing solely on women.

However, what came unexpected was how these happenings ignited new debates regarding which side was right or wrong, most specifically in the aspect of street art.

Graffiti of the Offense According to an article entitled “Graffiti Versus Murals: Who Owns the Public Art Space?” by Elyssa Lopez of Esquire Philippines, graffitis and murals are different in nature.

Graffitis are usually illegal because they don’t have permission from the authorities. Graffitis can be of political nature and can evoke messages through artistic typefaces.

Meanwhile, murals often have the permission from the authorities and are painted by individuals with formal training. Murals express messages through

8

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

images rather than just text and typefaces.

Although a bill penalizing vandalism is yet to be approved as a law, ordinances from different cities have already been made to regulate vandalism and provide sanctions thereof. Quezon City is one of those with an ordinance for anti-vandalism.

Alex Castro, founder of YASH, said that they’ve secured permits from the owner of the property they were painting on. She also said she was aware that the mural will one day be painted over, but didn’t expect it to be so soon.

Castro accepting the possibility of its work being tagged implies the common occurrence of vandalism on the streets and how it has been tolerated by the locals.

This puts into perspective the weak implementation of rules and regulations, and the people that reside in the area.

It is not to say that everyone in the vicinity is irresponsible, but if none is able to take legal action on minor matters like vandalism, how much more with heavier cases involving harassment?

YASH believes that its TBS campaign addresses this issue exactly.

Respect Begets Respect It is disheartening that there are people who choose to invalidate women’s experiences with harassment and would do anything to stop their attempt to fight for their rights.

Yes, “RESPECT EACH ODER” would definitely be more inclusive than “RESPECT WOMEN” because it includes all gender groups.

It is not wrong to advocate for inclusivity but changing the message for the sake of it just misses the whole point of the mural, since it was meant to cap off women’s month, a month that celebrates and empowers women.

Does it really hurt if people fight for their well-deserved rights? Did they trample on someone else’s rights for doing so?

Their movement was never meant to harm or oppress any group. YASH’s advocacy to end sexual harassment is meant to be beneficial for all.

On the other hand, it was an insult to the mural artists that their work was defaced too soon by graffiti artists.

Instead of respecting the efforts of their fellow artists, these graffiti artists chose to push their beliefs and agenda.

It is worth mentioning that most of these graffitis are illegal and tolerated by most passersby, while the mural artists were able to acquire a legal permit to paint on a public wall.

Respect begets respect.

DISCUSSION

Trailing the Solo Path

by Bethlehem A. Dimagna-ong illustration by Xamantha Marie P. Erivera Do you want to go surfing in the waves of Siargao or witness the enchanting lake and lagoons in Palawan but worry about having no travel buddy? With an ocean of possibilities served right in front of you, why don’t you try solo traveling?

According to Klook – a travel services booking platform, solo travel is the number one trend in 2019.

With solo travel being on the rise year after year, traveling has become a top priority for this generation.

American essayist Henry David Thoreau wrote in his book Walden, “The man who goes alone can start today, but he who travels with another must wait until that one is ready, and it may be a long time before they get off.”

With over 7,000 islands in the Philippines and 300 other countries in the world, there are too many places to choose from; every place has a gem to discover.

Some of us live to travel while others travel to live. If not all, most of us crave for inner peace. We want to feel this calming effect when we head out of our own.

Being alone in a new place is like cultivating within ourselves a sense of strength and personal growth.

With that, some would say traveling is the healthiest addiction, may it be on land, water or air.

“My first solo traveling experience was to the beaches of North Carolina when I was 18,” said Osiel Rodriguez, 20 years old, a military officer who was raised in Japan.

According to Mr. Rodriguez, exploring everything at your own pace is one advantage when heading out of your own. However, the downside is that there is no one close to you whom you can share the beautiful memories.

“I have never felt lonely except for one day when I decided to go to church and a song reminded me of my little nephews,” he shared.

In a similar manner, Janessa Aguilos, a Josenian BA Communication 1 student said that there was no feeling of loneliness when she traveled alone to General Santos City in December last year.

“It was a nice experience that I was able to relax peacefully under the tree with a beautiful view of mountains without any noise holding a cup of coffee during that morning,” she recalled.

Meanwhile, Michelle Liva, a 20 year old working

student from Switzerland said she felt the opposite when she traveled to Makati, Philippines last Summer 2018.

“Well, since nobody was there to remind me that I need to board the plane at a specific time, I almost missed my flight,” she admitted.

Consequently, the highs and lows of solo traveling are visible especially to a first-timer.

Furthermore, checking in a hotel and dining the restaurant alone is something that is always frowned upon by some locals.

However, Mr. Rodriguez advised, “Do not be scared of trying new things while you are there and do not waste your time of thinking back home 24/7.”

“Stay optimistic, because it will always turn out just fine and do not hesitate to ask people because that can save you time,” Liva supported.

Aguilos also reminded that when traveling, always make sure you have an extra budget in case of an emergency.

On the other hand, solo travelers should always consider matters of planning for safety and security.

When we are enjoying the best times of our lives, we tend to forget the risks ahead of us.

Staying vigilant and having a solid presence of mind while enjoying the solo trip is significant.

After all, you will quickly realize you are never really alone unless you choose to be. You control your own feelings and emotions. With that, happiness should always come within you, not from other people.

With more time for introspection, once the feeling is there, that never goes away.

Moreover, you usually end up discovering a piece of yourself you never knew there was. Hence, every little piece is part of the whole experience.

All the while, those solo travelers show that being alone doesn’t have to mean lonely. It’s a journey to self-discovery.

Although, solo travel is not for everyone, why don’t you try and see what the world can offer? You can now plan to book your first solo trip where you can start off locally. Who knows where it might lead you.

Bon voyage!

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

9

DISCUSSION

Plastics in Whales

by Edelry Marie O. Quipo illustration by Xamantha Marie P. Erivera

Whales are a major factor in maintaining a perfectly balanced marine life. What are we, as stewards of this planet, doing to preserve this species?

10

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

For many years, waste management and pollution have been the leading problem in the world. The Philippines, along with China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, is among the countries that contributed massively in producing over 6 million kilograms of wastes which 81 percent is mismanaged. These wastes are either incinerated or are being accumulated in landfills, dumps, or the natural environment especially in the ocean, according to a status report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

On the other hand, developed countries like Japan and the United States also produced a similarly large waste with these mentioned countries but have better management that resulted to zero percent mismanaged rating from the UN.

DISCUSSION Dead Whales Due to the increasing waste found in the ocean, last April 16, a young Cuvier’s beaked whale was found washed up on the shores of Davao. The young whale was discovered to have difficulty in breathing and was coughing up blood which caused the poor animal to die at shore.

Darrel Blatchley, a marine mammal expert and the curator of the D’Bone Collector Museum in Davao City, opened the whale up to perform a necropsy only to find out that the whale has been eating plastics not just for days nor weeks but could have even been years.

Blatchley, together with Dr. Elaine Vera Belvis of the Buruea of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - Fishery Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division revealed that the whale’s stomach was full of foreign materials such as plastics of varying sizes and shapes like plastic bags from grocery stores, sacks, and more plastic varieties. With all these known, Blatchley and Vera were shocked knowing that the whale lived quite a longer life than expected than those animals that died of the same cause.

In their report, it said that the whale died because of starvation and dehydration. Blatchley also said that they found multiple marine and aerial animals that have died because of plastics. These animals may have been mistaken wastes for food and have eaten them or they may be trapped in plastic bags that suffocated them.

These incidents are the results of human’s dying love and care for these animals’ home. Humans are not the only ones who suffered from these, but innocent animals that did not even take part in polluting the Earth as well.

Whales in Marine Ecosystem Just like up here on the surface, the deep ocean works in balance. A perfect example is the food chain.

Every marine animal is part of the chain and the loss of one specie might be a danger to another that could result to destroying every other marine species.

Deep down in the blue ocean, whales are considered as engineers. They help maintain and regulate the existence of small fishes. Their big statutes lead them to devouring a number of fishes and vertebrates that prevent these species of fishes from overpopulating.

Even whale excretion has great importance in the marine ecosystem. They are fed to planktons that feed on carbon dioxide and release fresh oxygen that reaches on land. Many small fishes also feed on planktons. Dead whales (that die in a natural death) can also be of help under the ocean. Marine animals that exist deep down below feed on their remains that could sustain them for a few years.

Solutions?

Naturally, plastics are known to degrade for a very long time. Plastic materials take millions of years for them to completely break down. Fortunately, a team of researchers led by Kohei Oda of Kyoto Institute

Be human and think what is best for the world and everyone who lives in it.

University and Kenji Miyamoto of Keio University discovered a new microorganism called the ideonella sakainesis, also known as a plastic eating bacteria three years back. This newly-found bacterium produces enzymes capable of degrading polythelene terephthalate (PET) which is a material commonly used in soft drink bottles.

Scientists improved this microorganisms and made them stronger. Now, this microorganism can effectively break down plastic materials faster.

This discovery raised multiple questions to many people.

Can this be the end of plastic pollution? If this really is the solution, will this be effective? Does this mean that humans don’t need to do something about waste mismanagement and let these creatures do the work instead?

Waste mismanagement has become a known fact especially in the Philippines and the effect is evident with what happened to the marine and aerial animals.

This waste mismanagement only shows people’s irresponsible response to the law.

In response to the country’s garbage disposal problems, the officials have created Ecological Solid Waste Management Act: Environmental Protection Through Proper Solid Waste Practices.

This is the Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which is a landmark environmental legislation in the Philippines.

RA 9003 declares the policy of the state in adopting a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that ensures the protection of public health and the environment and the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of best environmental practices.

Having these newly found bacteria is a good thing.

This bacteria can help humans reduce plastic wastes anywhere and make Earth a better place to live.

However, the appearance of such bacteria is also a reminder of how people neglect their responsibility as the animal with rationality.

Being able to think does not mean an ability to dominate the world for themselves. As the cliché goes, “Let us all be humans.”

Be human and think what is best for the world and everyone who lives in it. Start by responsibly throwing wastes and encouraging colleagues and acquaintances to do the same. A single effort could make limitless of change.

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

11

P L AC E S

Breathing a New Air

by Lance Roi G. Catadman illustration by Joshua Philip T. Abella

Visit and acquaint yourselves with places that give us the tranquility we sometimes seek where air seems richer and our minds get clearer.

What comes to mind when people think about summer is going to beaches to relax and rejuvenate. However, sometimes all we need is one near and quick trip to relax, take a deep breath, and find inner peace. Sit back as FORWARD presents to you four places where you can reflect and “shed your skin” to bring out a new YOU! 1. Monastery of the Holy Eucharist More commonly known as “Birhen sa Simala,” “Simala Shrine,” or simply “Simala.” The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist is a go-to for devotees all over the Philippines who believe in the Virgin Mary. You’ll be amazed by the marvelous architecture inspired from European churches and the massive size of the building.

Before arriving at the shrine, you would have to climb a few stairs and follow a long line of devotees.

Along the way, you can witness other people lighting candles of different colors and praying. You also get to see living testimonials from people who had their prayers granted. Proofs of these answered prayers are in the form of letters, certificates, crutches, wheelchairs and many more.

By now, as you approach the shrine, you should already be absolutely conditioned and touched by the devotion other people had displayed. Though you struggled your way to the shrine, you would then realize that this sacrifice was all worth it as you greet the giant shrine of the Virgin Mary and kiss it. You can pray within the shrine room and reflect on this experience. After you leave, you can also write a prayer petition and drop it in one of the drop boxes provided. Thus, your Simala experience is complete!

To get to Simala, riding a bus southbound to Sibonga is the best option. Tell the bus driver to drop you off the crossing that leads to Simala Shrine. You’ll be greeted with several motorcycles or “habal-habal” drivers that will bring you to your destination. Remember that the entrance to the church doesn’t require a fee, but guests must wear decent clothes. Don’t worry! Personnel assigned at the entrance will provide a free piece of cloth for your body from revealing clothes, especially if you really didn’t know this.

12

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

2. Cebu Taoist Temple Taoism is an ancient philosophy and religious belief about the “Tao,” usually translated as “the Way.” This philosophy promotes the achievement of harmony with nature, virtuosity, and self-development. In the Cebu Taoist Temple, you get to experience the Way in achieving balance in life.

The structure of the building and the place itself are already jaw-dropping and breath-taking. You feel as if you’re visiting a whole new country because of the Chinese-inspired theme of the landscape. You are surrounded by beautiful gardens, complemented by the cool breeze and quiet environment. Among the things you can see are a wishing well, an old bell, a fish pond, and a giant green dragon.

Occasionally, one of the activities you can do inside the temple is burning Joss sticks. This usually occurs during Wednesdays and Sundays and symbolizes the release of non-physical energy from the body.

The temples also have a veranda where you can enjoy the scenic view of Cebu. Because of its serene atmosphere, the Cebu Taoist Temple is surely one of the places where you can introspect and think about your life in tranquility without the noise of the streets and people and with the joyous humming of the birds and the wind.

To get to the Cebu Taoist Temple, it is recommended that you bring your own vehicle or ride a taxi and request for a round trip because the place is located in a private subdivision. For those who don’t have the luxury thereof, take a jeepney ride going to J.Y. Square Mall (e.g. 17B, 17C, 04H, 04I) and find a habal-habal driver who can drop you off for a small fee. Taoist Temple also does not have an entrance fee, so bring money that is enough for your transportation.

3. Tops Lookout Famous for being a common hangout spot among Cebuanos, Tops Lookout, or simply “Tops”, is actually a decent place to relax and unwind. Though most people opt to visit with friends to have a chat and drink liquor perhaps, traveling solo is still a recommendable option.

Tops is a fortress-like viewing deck that exhibits concrete stone architecture located in Mount Busay.

P L AC E S

Having time off for yourself can really be beneficial to rejuvenate and recuperate both the heart, body, and mind.

This place has a bar that offers beers and snacks, a souvenir shop, and areas for dining and picnic. The best part of the experience is the breath-taking view that provides countless photo opportunities, most especially during sunrise and sunset. The cool breeze also provides a peaceful ambience despite the number of visitors in the area. In the night, the silence then slowly embraces the surroundings as you witness the pearl-like city lights that camouflage with the stars in the sky, a perfect ambience for some alone time with your heart and mind.

To get to Tops Lookout, it is preferable that you travel by private car, most especially because the way going there is extremely steep. Taxis are also a viable option, but can cost around Php 800 to Php 1,000, which can be expensive to those on a budget. Last option is the same with going to Cebu Taoist Temple, which is to ride a jeepney going to J.Y. Square Mall and finding a habal-habal driver that will drop you off for a price ranging from Php 100 to Php 150. The entrance fee costs Php 100, so bring enough money as well for your snacks and souvenirs, or you can bring your own snacks if you are on a budget.

4. Osmeña Peak While Bohol takes pride of its magnificent Chocolate Hills, Cebu has its very own Osmeña Peak, the highest mountain in Cebu which consists of green jagged hills found in Dalaguete.

Before arriving at the very peak, you’ll have to scale the rocky hills. The hike is fairly easy though, so it won’t take up so much energy and time. By the time you arrive at the top, the marvelous pine trees that envelop the hills and the impressive scenery you gaze as you arrive will leave your mouth open in awe. The open area and the cool climate help to make the surroundings calm and quiet.

If you want, you could even let out a scream to release all the tensions that had built up inside you.

Breathing in the air around makes you feel comfortable and relaxed, since you are away from all the pollution in the city. Everything in your surroundings is refreshing which helps you think not only about yourself but also about the beauty of the earth.

To get to Osmeña Peak, take a bus bound for Oslob or Santander. Get off at Dalaguete junction for Osmeña Peak and find a habal-habal driver that will drop you off at the Osmeña Peak Tourism Center/Hiker’s Center.

The habal-habal will charge you Php 400 for a round trip good for two persons. The entrance fee is Php 30 per person.

The constant stress you experience in life can really drain you down to your core.

Having time off for yourself can really be beneficial to rejuvenate and recuperate both the heart, body, and mind. If you wish to do so, these four places surely won’t disappoint you and may hopefully pave the way to the catharsis you needed.

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

13

T R AV E L O G U E

Tranquil Waters and Beyond

by Alyssa Marie Magdales and Robert John D. Medida photos by Edna M. Ceniza and Edrian Gustin D. Camacho

Be in awe as you discover a crystal gem waiting for you at the southern part in the Queen City of the South.

Nothing is more fun and exciting than going outdoors. In search for inner peace, summer means escaping the noise of the city, going somewhere peaceful and close to nature, and listening to the salve of the birds and the sound of the waves crashing.

In the south-western part of Cebu, the majestic Bojo River would bring people not just to paradise that treats the eyes, but also cleanse the mind as they would let you bring home calmness and learnings!

WHAT’S IN A NAME? The name Bojo is a Spanish word which means “coastal sailing” or “coastal trading”. The name was influenced by the barter system that happened in Bojo River during World War II. The 1.4 kilometer river located in Aloguinsan is being supported by around 100 springs. There are no houses or buildings around the river; hence, there are no canals, making the water safe to drink. It may taste brackish during the high-tide as saltwater from the sea mixes with freshwater.

You will see 24 species of mangroves in the Bojo River.

Among them are the pagatpat (Sonneratia alba), kulasi (Lumnitzera racemose), and bakauan laki (Rhizophora apiculate).

The river is also home to 71 species of birds that belong to three groups: endemic, resident, and

14

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

migratory. However, the migratory birds may only be seen during the “–ber” months.

With these and many more, one won’t be surprised to know that the Bojo River has been in the Top 100 Global Sustainable Destinations for three consecutive years since 2016 and named Best Community-based Tourism Initiative in Asia-Pacific at the 2015 UN Tourism INSPIRE Awards.

GETTING THERE Bojo River is located approximately 56 kilometers south of Cebu City.

This crown jewel of Aloguinsan can be reached via minibus from the South Bus Terminal situated at N. Bacalso Avenue. The regular fare is 80 pesos per person, and you can simply ask the konduktor to drop you off at The Farmhouse.

The earliest bus departure is at 4:30 AM, and the travel time would reach up to three hours. Traveling at dawn is preferable to avoid traffic and to see the sunrise along the way.

If you opt to drive your own vehicle, a parking space is available for you at the Bojo River parking area.

From the Farmhouse, guests would then have a 10-15 minute travel to Bojo River quarters where the orientation and lunch happens. It can be reached through habalhabal ride for 25 pesos per person.

T R AV E L O G U E

EYE-TINERARY In order to have a smooth and memorable summer, researching and familiarizing about the destination, accomodation and food must be done first. For Bojo River Cruise, the Municipality of Aloguinsan observed a two-day reservation policy for its full tour package because only 60-70 guests per day are accommodated. The full tour package costs 750 pesos per person for a minimum of five people.

The adventure will start at the Farmhouse as guests are welcomed with freezing lemon grass juice and a cold towel that would refresh guests from their travel.

Appetizing homemade snacks will also be served such as: saging with ginamos, camote with puso sa saging, kinilaw, biko, pan Bisaya, salvaro, and sikwati paired with hot tsokolate.

Lectures about organic planting and livestock raising will also be provided after the snacks.

Guests can also buy seedlings, fertilizers and other crops in the farm.

Upon arriving at the Bojo River, receptionists welcome every guest with a floral garland which makes the trip extra special and meaningful as everyone is treated like a CEO. Aside from this, the enchanting voice of the women singing Cebuano songs with solo guitarist will greet you upon entering the eco-tourism premises.

After the song, guests will then be served buko juice as welcome drinks. The Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (BAETAS), the organization which manages the river cruise, is also committed to a living that is close to nature. In fact, the organization is using metal straws in their buko juice in order to lessen plastic consumption.

The main product of the Aloguinsan Ecotourism is the river cruise which would take up to three to four hours.

Snorkelling is also offered, but the water level should also be considered so that the corals are not harmed.

For the river cruise, the water level of the river should be three meters leap and eight meters deep in the river mouth.

Mini boats that can accommodate 4 guests and 1 paddler are being used to tour the guests around the river. There are also a few big bangkas that are used specially for senior citizens and children.

After the eco-cultural tour, tourists are allowed approximately an hour of swimming and watch a handicraft demo on how to make puso or hanging rice.

Guests are also allowed to indulge in bird watching by the boardwalk. However, as of this writing, the boardwalk was under repair.

Walk-in guests pay 400 pesos per person and can enjoy the river cruise and swimming only.

BEHIND THE INITIATIVE The Eco-Cultural River cruise is turning 10 years as it has been launched last June 14, 2009.

The association is 100 percent initiated and funded by the local government unit of Aloguinsan but operated by the People’s Organization Community (PO).

The Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (BAETAS) started with one cottage and ten boats in order to give the people of Bojo the livelihood that they need and for them to stop cutting trees for charcoal.

The local government unit of Aloguinsan hired biologists and other experts to train these locals about the benefits of mangroves and other trees in sustaining the ecosystem, especially to the sea and other water creatures. There were more than 400 trainees but only 52 of them stayed and finished the training. Completing the training sessions took 4 months.

The Bojo River Cruise does not only give employment to the locals but also empowers women as wives can now work in order to make a living and provide for their families. Some have been assigned in the kitchen, and some also paddled and gave lectures to the guests.

The area has been preserved well as 30 pesos from the total package fee goes to the environmental fee.

This is for the people who are in-charge during day and night to prevent people from catching birds and other wildlife resources.

Now, the locals themselves are already protecting the area surrounding Bojo River, because aside from the lessons that they learned during the extensive training, the place has also become their source of living.

BOJO RITUALS Guests are also enthused of the cultures and traditions practiced in Bojo. As such, guests are advised to keep their speaking voice low at all times as they believe in the power of the spirits around the area.

The ritual of palina is also performed before the cruise.

Much like the religious burning of incense, palina is a ritual asking the spirit of the river to protect the guests from bad spirits and in order to have a safe travel. The palina ritual is also believed to guide the fishermen in getting an abundant catch.

The elder who performs the palina keeps the ingredients a secret because it is part of his knowledge as master of the palina to pass it to the next generation.

Indeed, having a rest is not just about going to expensive resorts and beaches. There are also local destinations that are world class in nature like the Bojo River. Aside from pictures and souvenirs, what is also important is the learning that we gain during the travel and the peace we have found within ourselves.

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

15

C OV E R S TO RY

introspection Summer is the most awaited season by almost all people. It’s the only time when we can unwind and give in to the heat and ocean breeze.

Getaways like swimming, island hopping, mountain climbing, road trips, bonfires, and other similar activities are planned and set with friends, family, or with just ourselves. Nothing is more exciting than escaping from the pressure of this busy world, and tasting the sweetness of a little freedom.

Everybody deserves fresh air and a layoff from the pain of works and challenges. However, are outings enough to achieve the calm and peace that we all are looking for?

All throughout the year, we face battles regarding our studies, work deadlines, family conflicts, personal problems, social issues, political dramas, and environmental dilemmas. However, have we ever stopped and thought about ourselves, and how we may actually face all of these battles and challenge?

Summer is the perfect time for us to look at our own reflections and evaluate ourselves. Look within your deepest trenches, and visit the darkest and remote corners of your mind. Give yourself the chance to release your trapped waves, and dive in your roaring yet silent oceans.

Let your expression and emotions overflow, and be free from the molds of the social construct that this world requires us to follow. Realize that nothing matters more than knowing who you really are.

Judge your actions and think of ways to make your decisions better. Not that you need to change, but give yourself the well-deserved chance to improve.

Sometimes, questions bother us that even the brightest minds won’t get the answer.

16

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

C OV E R S T O RY

Relax, set aside a few minutes each day to be alone with your thoughts — at least a few minutes a day can help. Silence all your electronics, be out of the digital media, and allow yourself to think for a few minutes.

It’s time to have an indulgent contemplation of oneself or of an issue, but remember, express yourself alone, not lonely.

Go out and consider multiple perspectives. Look at the opposite of what you initially believe. You don’t have to like or agree with all of your thoughts, just think and examine what you’re thinking.

Attend to your list of questions and explore them; search for the answers and explanations that you desire to learn. Let the colors inside you bleed into the reflections of this world.

You may not be used to solitude, for it makes you feel uncomfortable at first. However, creating and allowing that quiet time for yourself could be the key to becoming the best version of yourself.

Consider soul searching important because how can you contribute to the improvement of our society if you haven’t grown into a better person?

The cover of this year’s SOLSTICE points out the importance of self-observation and self-absorption. The cover also signifies the escape from the still waters of our society, and shows how freeing it feels to examine and observe the mental and emotional processes of one’s self. The paint represents the personality and emotions that would flow out from ourselves once what we truly are inside is uncovered through our introspection . The mirrors symbolize the selfreflection and the acceptance of who we truly are.

Start with yourself and everything follows. Take time to look at of what’s inside of you. Assess and reorient perspectives. See the world in a wider view.

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

17

TREND

Finding Heroes an 11-year journey of the MCU

by Eiver Ky Villegas photo manipulation by Edrian Gustin D. Camacho

Do the stories that culminate really end? Or maybe there’s something more that stays with us?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe ends 11 long years, 22 movies, and a whole lot of story. This year marks the culmination of the intricate storyline of heroes from our world, and ones who hail from distant universes, Avengers: Endgame.

The Beginnings of a Legacy Ironman was released in 2008; this was the first movie that would be part of this much larger and undeniably engaging universe. This year’s Avengers: Endgame grossed a whopping $1.2 billion in its global debut, shattering the records, hauling in a noteworthy $156.7 million in a single day in the US, and the biggest foreign debut of $859 million in the foreign countries. However, these impressive numbers of opening days weren’t all the same back in the days.

Marvel witnessed its period of bankruptcy around 1996, followed by a not-soimpressive era before 2008.

Ironman’s success upon its release was a little surprising to the people in Marvel; however, this also became the pivot for all the MCU movies that will follow. The MCU is not to be confused with the whole of Marvel; this Universe does not encompass all of the Marvel Heroes recorded in the comics version of Marvel.

18

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

TREND With the thriving success of Ironman which was followed by Ironman 2 in 2010, Disney then decided to acquire the franchise of Marvel which no longer changed until now. The first Avengers film was released in 2012, with the fresh fans anticipating the release for the first time to see an assembly of heroes. Fast forward to the present day, the very same anticipation even grew more palpable, and the whole success of the cinematic universe has not only thrived in the western parts of the world but has latched on to the hearts of the people all around the globe.

The global phenomenon hit of the MCU is not just in the postings of fans that are a little too excited but is also manifested in the very physical form. The MCU heroes and characters have permeated through everyone’s everyday lives; some are even unaware of it. Enter a middle class Filipino home and you’ll see at least 2 or 3 things designed with either a hero’s face or a poster.

Mugs, bags, children notebooks, you name it, all these merchandise are in for the MCU. This gradual yet massive entanglement of our daily lives with the world of heroes and of multiverses has extended beyond the expected. It is not only with what we use or wear that is derived from these movies but to everything we associate these heroes.

Heroes of Our Times The cinematic universe has given much to the people who influenced us with the way we speak and the way we think. One particular character growth of MCU characters can be traced back in 2008 when Ironman’s threatening joke to his assistant Pepper Potts about securing tenure or leaving work in exchange for some indecent proposal.

Looking back, that one was plainly humour in bad taste; even heroes cannot be exempt from that. The remarkable thing with the whole of MCU is the growth. The character developments of each hero; the humanity attached to them despite the hero status that makes them even more relatable. The same joke in the first instalment of the MCU can now be placed side by side with all the female warriors and heroes the MCU gave us.

In these days when the fight for equality amongst women and men is rearing, the MCU gave its audience the sweet taste of women representation. The first woman-led hero of 2019, Captain Marvel was released.

The Black Panther, an equally top-grossing film which even won Oscars Awards, had Shuri, Okoye, and Nakia; women who weren’t portrayed as accessories and were borderline useless and liabilities.

Watching the Avengers: Endgame, I couldn’t help but think of this whole massive world that MCU has created that had people lining up to hear the stories that painted heroes as humans despite glowing arms and magic

hands. Perhaps one of the things that fascinated me so much with the MCU is its success in telling the individual stories of each hero. Not everyone in the Avengers has stand-alone movie features, yet its background still paints and concretizes a whole foundation.

MCU tried to exact the heroes as humanly as possible, and it is safe to say that they somehow succeeded at that despite the bumps and mishaps along the way. People watching all these hero movies can either relate to each story, or want to be the same with what happened in the film. Although admittedly a tad idealistic, the portrayal of human emotion didn’t get past MCU. The grief of Thor while he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the helplessness of Ironman were expressed plainly in the Endgame. Hawkeye and Black Widow had no extra superpower like manipulating things, or thunder, or suits, or even magic, but they stood part of the integral pieces in winning the final battle.

Finding the Heroes Within In all these films, we see how heroes rose to the occasion and how the world was about to fall into ultimate chaos; there were people; there was one who stood up for the whole of humanity. It’s a little dramatic, but I think we all have that. We have that deep desire to save someone, save this world or something that may not really be as heroic as taking a hit from a god and saving millions. If we think about it, while we all watched, cheered and cried for the heroes that battled in all those films, we somehow wanted to be them.

What if I were Dr. Strange who protects this world from the darker realms that threaten us? Or what if I were Ironman with all the cool suits at my beck and call?

In that very tiny space in our hearts that never really grew up, we all want to be heroes. Maybe that was why millions, even billions of people rushed to theaters to witness another intergalactic sparring between the God of Thunder and his brother Loki.

The thing is, after that 3-hour run of Avengers: Endgame, we silently walk out the theaters, mulling things over our heads and wondering a little.

You see? We can be heroes, really. We need not train somewhere deep in Nepal to save the world and learn magic, or be experimented upon as Captain America was. We are our own heroes in our own right.

The little things you do each day without really thinking that makes a difference, actually does.

After all, from the words of Tony Stark, the man who stood for everyone else when no one else could, “heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with”.

“Heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

19

FOOD

Bring the Chill and Fit out

by Brenzy Kaye D. Maquilan and Edelry Marie O. Quiapo photos by Mar Allen C. Cañizar

, As the cliche goes, ““‘ ‘ “y‘ ou are what you eat!” So we’re taking you to places where you’ll easily find quaint servings of healthy food suited to your taste.

Let us try to beat the summer heat by cooling with milk tea galore and compliment it with healthy yet mouthwatering dishes. Cool down and rip toxin out as FORWARD brings you beverage and food establishment to quench your thirst and be rejuvenated.

MILK TEA TRENDS Macao Imperial Tea (SM Seaside Branch) Place and Service: Upon entering the place, you will be greeted with a clean and chill, millennial-style hang out place. The interior is lined with mirrors on one side of the wall opposite the counter. However, the place is a bit small for a well-known cafe which leads to overcrowding.

The place may not be ideal for studying. The cashiers and the crew are accommodating and are very helpful to those who are unfamiliar with their menu.

Drinks and Prices: Cheesecake Pearl Milk Tea (120 pesos, upsized) - The drink has a creamy blend of classic pearl milk tea with a hint of cream cheese. This is ideal for those who are not into sweets since the levels of sweetness can be adjusted.

For Me Strawberry Milk (195 pesos, one size only) - This is a fun tasting milk drink that comes with a reusable glass container that you can take home.

This is ideal for those who love strawberries but don’t want their drink to taste too fruity since it is perfectly blended and balanced with milk with just the right amount of sweetness.

Pearl Milk Tea (110 pesos, upsized) - This drink tastes like any other classic pearl milk teas from other shops. However, the level of sweetness is adjustable and the pearls are chewy with a pinch of sweet aftertaste.

Double Ma Tea (SM Seaside Branch) Place and Service: The place is an instagrammable pink haven with a picturesque view of the sea. There is a ball pit corner with pink neon lights which can be perfect for Instagram pictures. However, the place is not ideal for studying because of different distractions. Children and adults taking pictures are the most common distractions. Also the crew members of the cafe do not usually accommodate any suggestive help to the customers in taking their order.

Drinks and Prices: Super Fruit Tea (170 pesos) - This is a citrus summer fresh drink ideal for those who want to take a break from caffeine and milk tea. It is a combination of fruit juice and fresh green tea. The tea has real fruit sinkers which consists of lemons, watermelons and other tropical fruits.

20

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

Brown Sugar Turquoise Milk Tea (120 pesos) Apart from its unique name, this drink tastes like regular classic milk tea only that it is combined with brown sugar which coats the pearls and makes it too sweet. There is more tea which overpowers the creaminess of the drink.

Matcha Latte (125 pesos) - This drink is perfect for the Matcha lovers. The drink is far from the taste of their classic milk tea because of its bittersweet aftertaste. The taste of milk is overthrown by the overpowering taste and scent of Matcha.

HEALTHY FOOD DINERS TONIQ (Ayala, Cebu Business Park Branch) Place and Service: Upon entering, the store gives you the feel of wanting to eat good and nutritious food.

Though the place is small, the surroundings have an aesthetic design. You also have the option to see the chef do the plating of the food if you choose to do so.

Food and Drinks: Rice-in-a-Bowl w/ free drink Vegetarian Sisig (195 Pesos) - This Filipino classic dish is ingeniously made of Non-GMO soya veggie meat, tofu, and natural herbs and spices. The veggie meat tastes just like real meat and the raw tomato adds flavor and juiciness to the food. The dish also comes with a brown rice complimenting the healthier sisig.

Stress Buster - The complimentary drink is blended with almond milk which is a healthier alternative to lactose milk that is good for the hair and the nails.

The calamansi added sour twist to taste which also has Vitamin C for body immunity. The raw honey naturally adds sweetness doubled with antibacterial properties. The banana gave a smoothie-resembled texture to the drink and also aids digestion. This combination is perfect for everybody to help reduce stress and take better care of the body whether you be a student, teacher, or employee.

Wraps and Sandwiches Veggie Burger (145 Pesos) - This vegetarian burger is made of homemade patty with almond meat, tomatoes, fresh cucumber and lettuce, and vegan mayo. The real meat and almond meat tasted like

FOOD there’s no difference at all. Besides, this burger is high in fiber that aids digestion. Another benefit is to reduce weight for this burger contains less fat and calories making it perfect for your healthy diet.

Royal Flush - This fruity drink is a mixture of beet, apple, celery, pineapple, coconut water, orange, and moringa. For first time tasters, it’ll be “The taste of vegetables in a cup.” This blend helps to have healthy digestion, is rich in C-Vitamins to strengthen immune system and replenish energy.

Indulgence Desserts Mango Chia Pudding (75 Pesos) - This is pudding mixed with mango that helps prevent asthma, protect eyesight and improves digestion and chia seeds that is loaded with nutrients like antioxidants, fiber and protein but with low calories.

MOOSHI (Ayala, Cebu Business Park) Place and Service: This is a wide stall in Ayala that is found on the third floor. At first sight, you can feel that the stall gives out a soothing vibe. It is made of wood from chairs to benches to tables to stalls, even the spoon.

Food and Drinks: Happy (99 Pesos for 360ml) - This is a blend of cacao nibs, banana, spinach, and dairy milk with an option of having soya milk instead of dairy milk.

The banana flavor dominates among all others with bits of chocolate-y explosion from cacao nibs.

Spinach helps lower blood pressure and improve bone health. Every sip of this mixture gives out ‘happy’ hormones.

This smoothie, if mixed with dairy milk has a total calorie count of 353 kcal and 10 grams of protein while if mixed with soya milk, a total of 280 kcal and 7.5 grams of protein.

Glowing (99 Pesos for 360ml) - With a total of 230 kcal this smoothie is perfectly blended with apple, banana, lemon, with a choice of adding between celery kale, spinach, lettuce, chia seeds, kiwi, cucumber, and lemon zest. These ingredients have certain anti-aging properties and make you look more glowing. Aside from that, this smoothie is also rich from C-Vitamins that help strengthen the immune system.

Berry Power Bowl (199 Pesos) - This is a bowl full of strawberries, banana, spinach yogurt, coconut, and orange blend topped with fresh mango, blueberries, granola, and chia seeds with a total of 576 kcal. This bowl is filled with sourness and occasional punch of banana and mango that replenishes your energy excess, and is also rich in C-Vitamins to make you more energetic and healthier than you could ever be.

Food is a matter of taste. Only you can say what food suits your taste best and nothing can rival experience in acquiring such favor. Go and explore what flavor is for you and what is not. Have a cool and healthy summer!

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

21

TREND

Podcast Hype

by Charldy P. Wenceslao illustration by Joshua Philip T. Abella

Instead of bombarding yourself with self-esteem dwindling updates from your social networking sites, listen to podcasts.

Podcasts are episodic audios than can be downloaded through podcast sites. The audios can also be acquired from videos through a system created by podcast sites.

Podcast popularity has brought about a revolution, and everybody’s loving its ‘boom’. Podcast is the best alternative when textbooks become too heavy both in terms of price and in physical weight.

Today, there are above a 100 million listeners and not less than 50 million episodes uploaded online.

Short Glimpse Decades ago, you would have needed a lot of connections -- or a fortune -- to get heard where back then at 1980s, podcasting was known as “audio blogging”.

On February 2004, journalist Ben Hammersley suggested the term “podcasting” as a name for the nascent technology while he was writing for “The Guardian”(a British daily newspaper).

In the same year, podcasting began to catch hold with the advent of portable digital audio playback devices such as Ipods and broadband internet.

Pinoy Podcasts Under his podcast “Go Filipino”, Filipino podcaster Kris Andres’ one latest show is entitled “Let’s Learn Tagalog” with 6 episodes as of April 22, 2019. He mentioned that he created his podcast to help his foreign lover who is struggling to speak in Tagalog and others as well.

You can also find yourself ‘kilig’ as you listen to the local podcast aired near you. One local podcast is “Barangay Love Stories” where you can send your story or simply get tickled with others’ experiences which air weekly.

Having trouble with work?

Be inspired as the episodes of “The Big Picture Philippines” help you reach your success through proper mindset, guidance, and of course, taking purposeful action.

‘Podcast Universe’ Here are some of the top picks and listeners’ choice which are considered outstanding above the sea of others and are making waves in the podcast world.

Producing episodes on weekdays,“TED(Technology, Entertainment and Design) Talks Daily”has a wide garage of inspiring talks and ideas that are worth sharing.

TED feed brings talks on the hottest news or amazing discoveries in audio format.

22

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

You can hear thought-provoking ideas on every subject you can imagine -- from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology and almost everything under the sun-- given by the world’s leading thinkers and doers.

Another excellent one is “This American Life (TAL)” where a theme is chosen for a weekly talk and stories would just play around the topic.

TAL also presents journalism in an entertaining way where you can hear stories presented in a funny way and pitched with the right amount of hilarious plot-twists which create surprising feelings at the end of every show.

Accessibility With simple taps of a finger, you can listen to your favorite podcasts until their number is hard to count already.

Today, there are countless podcasts available on the internet and dozens of websites available for distribution at little or no cost to the producer or listener.

Also, there are a whole lot of them falling in various categories: Business, Education, Entertainment, Health and well-being, Lifestyle, Music, News, Science, Society, Sports, Storytelling, and Technology.

A known website where you can discover a whole lot of podcasts is at player.fm, a multi-platform podcast app that helps you search for shows on the topics you care about.

You can listen to them anywhere and play them anytime at your own convenience even when you’re offline.

Worth a try You are probably thinking now “I should start a podcast.”

You can record alone or with friends or co-hosts anywhere in the world and anytime of the day!

One good start would be with ‘Anchor’ which is a mobile app that makes you record your show(s) straight to your phone and iPad easily; the web too would work with a mic of your own.

Furthermore, you can browse on Anchor’s free web tool where you can start hosting your own unlimited episodes anywhere, distribute shows everywhere, and of course, make money with an ease; just login to ‘Anchor.fm/start’.

Everyone has a unique story to tell that deserves to be heard.

You can now listen to any kind of material anytime and anywhere, even while doing two or multiple things at the same time.

One thing is for sure: it would truly be lit and worth it!

MUSIC AND ART

by Bethlehem A. Dimagna-ong photo manipulation by Mary Nethania L. Pedrano

K-Pop In Your Era: Reshaping Perspectives

Listening to a song which is entirely different from your local language has never been easy, but language was not considered a barrier in listening to Korean Pop and how it can touch the hearts of international fans with its songs.

From a fusion of catchy music, synchronized dance choreography, and colorful outfits, K-Pop has it.

Introducing another music genre, K-Pop or the Korean Pop has emerged way back in the early ‘90s that was established by several South Korean entertainment companies. Even though many generations have passed, K-Pop never seems to flop because of its inner flame that never goes away.

With K-Pop music on the rise from the different parts of the world, this musical genre has undoubtedly gained worldwide attention and immense popularity.

Here, FORWARD presents you: K-Pop In Your Era! BTS From doing collabs with established Western-based artists like Ed Sheeran and Halsey, to producing its own music content, the group’s single “Boy With Luv” featuring Halsey entered the worldwide charts as the group broke Youtube history when it earned 78 million views in just 24 hours. The single is about a young boy learning to love and accepting himself as a key to finding real love. Composed of seven members from BigHit entertainment, Bangtan Sonyeondan or the popularly known as BTS also holds the Guinness World Record for having most Twitter engagements in social media with over 19 million followers on the platform. The members also made history when they presented the said single at the Saturday Night Live and the Billboard Music Awards. The group was also nominated in the 2019 Grammy Awards, the first K-Pop group to be so.

BLACKPINK The Kpop quartet may be based in South Korea, but BlackPink is definitely in your area. The group’s latest single “Kill This Love” which accumulated 56.7 million views in 24 hours is about ending and letting go of toxic love. The YG entertainment girl group also joined the world’s biggest music and arts festival last April making them the first ever K-Pop group to perform in the 2019 Coachella stage with the loudest crowd.

TWICE Stan a girl group who can do both! With its nine members, this group still makes sure it is one in a million.

From cutesy concepts to a heart-stopping mature and sexy comeback, TWICE is undeniably that girl group. With its new single, “Fancy,” which gained 40 million views in 24 hours, the members proved that they can do more than just an aegyo (cuteness) during stage performances. Fancy woo!

EXO From its 2012 debut, the 12-member group was down to nine, but remained united and surprised the world with its comeback through the electronic dance music single ‘KoKoBop’ that went viral as a challenge in 2017. EXO hit the global stage in 2018 when the group performed in front of the athletes its breakout single “Growl” and the 2018 single “Power” during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

MOMOLAND Did you hear it boom? From its 2018 single, “Bboom Bboom,” Momoland led the world to its viral dance craze. From kids to senior citizens, videos that were uploaded on different social media platforms have racked up a huge number of views online. The single turned into one of 2018’s biggest girl group hits.

KPop speaks every language Among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019 was BTS. While the group hopes on creating collaboration tracks that fans have always dreamed of, the members also focus on how their music can transcend language.

As the group’s songs talk about serious issues like teen social pressures, BTS has reshaped and modernized South Korea’s pop music.

Using its members’ talents and efforts for a good cause, many fans have opened up on social media platforms about how their perspectives have changed since they started stanning the said group.

From being rookies to seniors leading the international music scene, K-Pop groups have taken the world by their finger hearts. Topping the Korean local charts (Hanteo and Gaon) for physical and digital albums, sold-out world tour tickets, breaking Youtube history and even attending international music award shows are clear evidences that K-Pop groups have paved the way to the mainstream music industry Maybe locals do not understand how much love and appreciation K-Pop fans have for K-Pop groups, but these groups are not just for their visuals, vocals and vibes. Producing quality music is their legacy that reaches well beyond the barriers of language and culture and beyond the known music industry that made their fans stick to them.

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

23

TEN THINGS

The Art of Self-Transcendence

by Brenzy Kaye D. Maquilan illustrations by Xamantha Marie P. Erivera

In a toxic world, struggles are inevitable. Self-transcendence is essential for you to have the strength to face reality.

Young people these days struggle to see the true beauty of self-love. Some would mistakenly identify self-love as self-indulgence. Here, FORWARD presents ten ideas to master the majestic opus of self lovey-dovey.

Eating right, doing it right Eating any food and spoiling oneself is a common misconception in this generation for self-love. Doing so would only satisfy you temporarily; though this seems really like you are showing love to yourself but, bad eating habits only makes you feel bad later when you see unfavorable effects of your unbalanced diet. Obesity and pimple breakouts that lead to mood swings and insecurity begin to downscale your self love. Eating the right amount of food can help you stabilize your emotions only temporarily.

Work out without gym-ing out When you speak of working out, the first thing that comes to your mind is going to the gym. Doing that requires time, money and effort. Fret not! Why go to the gym when you can just work out at home or wherever you are. You can start by simply taking the long way up and down the stairs when doing errands. You can also opt to walking instead of riding a vehicle in going to a nearby destination. Working out will help you sweat your toxins out and improve your blood circulation which are essential in keeping your body fit.

Lay low, go solo Going solo might sound scary to those who are not used to it, but this is actually essential especially if you want to clear off your mind. To many, going alone has this stigma of loneliness; being alone is better than dealing with toxicity. Lay low for a little while and spend time to refresh and recharge.

Don’t invest emotions, conserve them We must remember that we should have control over our emotions and not the other way around. When times call for us to react on things, we can always choose our response. In this way, we can conserve our emotions better. For example, instead of getting angry when things aren’t going your way, you can always choose to sort things out in a calmer manner. Wasting your emotions through wrong responses will only stress you out.

24

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

TEN THINGS Go offline Social media is the most common way to waste time. We usually tell ourselves to have 30 minutes of social media before doing productive things, but we end up getting sucked into the quicksand of social media for hours and hours. Summer is not just about instagrammable summer photos. Let’s all take time to go offline and see the world through our own eyes and not in the eyes of social media.

Divert and refresh This is one way to keep your attention away from vices and other things that keep you from being productive. Reading books, going into sports and painting are some of the things that will not only refresh your mental state but will also stabilize your emotions as you try to do away with your bad habits while still having fun.

Participate in catechetical activities Participating in religious activities will help you grow spiritually; at the same time, it will help you get to know yourself more in the light of your faith. Having a better knowledge of one’s faith can be a great way for one to figure out how to navigate through the challenges of life.

Go on an adventure and appreciate what you see Don’t be afraid to go on an adventure and go to places that will give you a sense of peace. Summer camps, mountain climbing, and beach camping are some of the adventures that will help you find peace.

Breathe in and look around you! See the beauty of God’s creations.

Serve the world, love yourself A simple community outreach with your friends or siblings such as cleaning your surroundings or doing a feeding program is already an act of kindness to others and to yourself. You cannot give what you don’t have, that is why genuinely caring for others is a manifestation that you have already learned to love and accept yourself. It is self-love radiated to others.

Reconnect with your roots They say that there is no place like home, and being with your family is the best environment to feel loved.

During vacations, make sure to spend time with your family and make the most out of it while you still can because soon enough you would no longer get enough time to do so. Remember that you are just like any plant out there, and you need your roots to hold and support you as you fully grow.

The ideas to self love would always vary from one person to another. Nothing and nobody could ever tell you how to love yourself right because you are the only rightful person to do so. While you’re still figuring things out, why not start with these fundamental ones.

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

25

COLUMN

Window Panes to Self Of Black Holes and Galaxies

by John Del M. Pilapil We all have these characteristics that we are aware of that everyone else knows. On the other hand, we also have some attributes that we are not aware we have but are known to others. We possess traits that we know but others don’t. We have certain mannerism that everyone doesn’t know. Chronologically, these are the Open Space, the Blind Spot, the Hidden Area, and the Unknown Area of human life that comprise the four quadrants of Johari’s window.

Johari’s window is a tool used to assess oneself and improve self-awareness for better communication and interaction in society. American psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham developed the feedback/ disclosure model in 1955.

The four-quadrant window is widely used for its simplicity which gives a better understanding to oneself. You may recall in your guidance classes the said self-assessment window and realized that there are things beyond your knowing which should be improved and acted upon.

Unfortunately, most of the people nowadays hardly remember the window model and do not give time to reflect on their actions and their repercussions.

Take for example those people who complain about garbage in the ocean, yet at some point they throw garbage randomly on the streets, thinking these are just too small to clog the drainage system.

However, they do not realize that this garbage, once accumulated, congests the drainage system. These randomly thrown garbages could also reach the oceans and fester on marine life.

Similarly, there are people who complain about politicians who promised them many things during their campaigns, yet they still voted for them after receiving money from them. As responsible voters, they should have researched more on the background and advocacy of these politicians.

Subsequently, there are people who get mad seeing netizens who don’t empathize with their problems despite sharing them on their social media accounts.

These people get into social media backfires and even tell netizens to mind their own businesses despite publicly posting their problems’ full explicit accounts.

26

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

They should have made the post private to avoid getting reactions from those who do not empathize with them. They could have refrained from posting the problem if they didn’t want unsolicited advices.

People tend to overreact immediately to their surroundings without looking at themselves. People overlook their incapacities and flaws and directly judge others. People get so accustomed to mocking others without knowing they might be judging their own shadows.

This loathsome “overreaction” concept concretizes the importance of self-reflection and feedback processes to an improved communication and interaction in the society. Knowing one’s characteristics beyond what is personally obvious and having a peer observation-feedback to these facets are key factors to understand the behavioral inconsistencies around us; hence, we make Johari’s window perpetually relevant in the society It is inevitable for a man to react immediately to his surroundings as part of innate survival instincts, a response to stimuli which we share with animals.

However, animals don’t have the greater mind to think of critical options as we do, our privilege as homo sapiens.

Henceforth, one must stand by the classification made by man and prove our rational capacity because these days, some animals are more worthy to be classified as homo sapiens than some humans are.

There are points in our lives when we get screwed by devastating, unprecedented and unfortunate experiences. We tend to get carried by these experiences to the great extent to the point of amputating our logical reasoning and peer environment observation. Rationally, this overshadowing of experience-inflicted emotions might be the reason of the “overreaction” concept.

For one to avoid overreaction and free themselves from the shackles of disbelief, a simple self-reflection method encompassing the quadrants of Johari’s window might help. Loosen up, breathe in, and breathe out. Feel the warmth of the relieving sunshine as you open the panels of the window towards self-realization.

One, two, three, or four, every panel has its selfredeeming core.

BULLSEYE

Mines in the Cafeteria

Disclaimer: Bullseye is an issue-based open letter containing sentiments that may express sarcasm and irony.

No bulls were harmed in the making of this article.

The school cafeteria is one of the many places where students hang out, regardless of status. Whether these students eat, study, chat with friends, or even just do meetups, the school cafeteria becomes the favorite venue.

It certainly came as a surprise to students that by the end of this year, some stalls in the Main Campus cafeteria were closed. The counters of these stalls were covered in cloth, and the lights were out. Two type A and two Type B stalls were closed. Those considered type A were the larger ones that served meals, and the type B were the small ones that usually had snacks on their displays.

Upon further clarification of the issue, FORWARD was able to confirm that these stalls were actually suspended.

Given the circumstances, a lot of students and employees ask questions like why they got suspended, until when, and on what grounds pique one’s curiosity. The reasons were later revealed by Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Comptroller of the Finance Department Miss Chona Mendez in an interview.

Violations of concessionaires were subject to verbal warning, then written warning. Should both deem to be ignored, sanctions would then be imposed.

With these, Miss Mendez shared how these canteen concessionaires have actually been repeatedly violating rules and regulations set by the university.

According to Miss Mendez, the vendors of the stalls were found practicing improper food handling that compromise sanitation of the food served. Violations such as not wearing hairnets and closed shoes and not having separate staff to serve food and receive cash were repeatedly done even after the warning. She also added that there was an instance that a stall served expired food products.

The sanction was given to the violators in mid-March to avoid students flocking in the canteen with only a few stalls serving meals. However, this seems a little self-contradictory to the purpose of serving the Josenians optimally.

Even before the suspension, these concessionaires were already incurring violations as stated by Miss Mendez. We cannot help but think that stalls kept serving Josenian students food that may not have been very safe while these stalls were still operating.

Even until the end of the academic year 2018-2019, concessionaires did not submit sanitary permits yet.

Can you imagine buying food from stalls that didn’t have sanitary permits?

Why wasn’t the unimaginable danger in compromising the health safety of a hundred students not given attention the earliest possible time? The

availability and accessibility of the canteen is one of the many reasons why students opt to dine there, not to mention the time and cost efficiency. However, if the canteen itself does not uphold the greatest care possible for the students and faculty who eat there, then where else do all these Josenians go?

Repairs of the ventilation system in the canteen have been made throughout the past academic year, and progress was literally felt as the canteen felt less and less humid every lunchtime. However, the students continue to hope that a bigger canteen will be realized.

Accommodating more than a thousand students everyday, the cafeteria requires a bigger area for people to move comfortably. For many years now, students eat with what was there. However, some who are unfortunate to arrive late during lunch have no choice but to go out into the grime and dust offered by the streets of Colon and Magallanes. It is a little hard to imagine that behind the canteen is a waste area. A space where rats raise their families and cockroaches have their little tea parties with the food of thousands of people just sitting behind a wall.

Generations have gone past the very same canteen and have left the university already. However, this time it may not be long until a mishap happens borne out of disregard for rules and regulations, irresponsibility, and sensibility over needs of the clients.

Understandably, the Main Campus lacks space for extensions, especially for a canteen. However, what might not be very understandable is the quality of service given to Josenians. The very fact that food being served while concessionaires were violating regulations is both frightening and very disappointing at the same time.

Simply sitting around and seeing that violations are being flung in your very own canteen while health of almost everyone is jeopardized does not feel right. While one Josenian may not really be heard, perhaps a collective call would be heard. The canteen does not have space for lenient service and irresponsible food handling. The repercussion of people’s health being compromised is something we don’t even want to imagine.

Students go through much in their academics already, and they certainly can make do without carefully skipping meals like mines because their stomachs are in constant danger of being disturbed, or their health is compromised. It is about time authorities detonate and give long term actions to these mines.

SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

27

COLUMN

Mindset for Summer Penny of Thoughts

by Robert John D. Medida Summer in the Philippines has always been exciting. A bunch of family reunions happen, friends catch-up with one another, and people break their daily routines to do something more productive.

For many, summer is about giving reward to themselves by going to beaches and resorts wherever their budget brings them. This is the season where people would change their profile pictures from school uniform or executive attire to sexy beach photos which fit the summer vibes. People are invisibly pushed by consciousness - from a pressured diet for a ‘slim’ body, to a ‘how do people see me’ outlook.

What people feed themselves tell their lifestyle, and this is what they want others to see. The social media is flooded with amazing photos that tell the world of one’s lifestyle. Due to social standards, people have the mindset for summer as something which takes place once in their lifetime and should not be missed.

This mindset pushed people to look good for other people’s eyes, but the main value for one’s self has been forgotten.

Looking at summer from a different perspective, it is not just about enjoying the blazing heat of the sun nor going to places with a picture-perfect background and “Instragrammable” worthy spot. It is also a season of self-discovery, assessment, and having time with oneself to look back from all the achievements and defeats in life.

This season allows us to know ourselves better especially as a student where life just rotates from a cup of coffee during midnight and a morning marathon beating 7AM class. For some, they looked at summer as an occasion to seek educational advancement such as taking summer classes instead of staying at home. Some would also find a ‘summer job’ in order to help their family financially. Others would also volunteer to help the community and to promote their advocacy as well.

For students who don’t take summer classes, a two-month break from school is a good time to meditate and to recall which part of their studies require more effort to excel. On this event, a student would be able to ponder and appreciate oneself as he/she was

28

SOLSTICE l SUMMER 2019

able to conquer all the dragons in life. Giving a break means allowing ourselves to think freely and to let our imagination work especially as we are doing things differently from what we used to be. This break also means energizing the mind and body as we prepare for the next adventure.

Aside from the students, teaching staff who devoted their life in the academe would also find summer as a time of levelling up on their teaching career; hence, they take up masters or even doctorate degree classes. Some would even go to workshops and conferences either to attend or to give teachers training. For some, summer for teachers is also about having more time with their family especially with their children and to give themselves a break from school.

This is also a good time for them to look back on all those years in service and how they have been in the field they have chosen.

For parents who used to wake up as early as 4AM to prepare the food and stuff for their children, summer is a good time for them to relax as their children can assist all around to assist them in doing the household chores. This is also the time when parents, especially the mothers can have a more active community involvement such as going to free livelihood seminars and workshops or do some volunteer works in church.

This involvement allows parents to have a more meaningful conversation with their children during meal time to be more open with each other.

In quest for inner peace, it should be noted that summer is not just about going to the beach and going home with stunning selfies and groufies. It is also about giving more time to ourselves and opening our eyes to appreciate the people who surround us. As we pause and look back, we would be able to realize how far we have been through, and this gives us the motivation and energy to keep going.

But the question is, do we really reflect? Or are we just enjoying the moment as we believe in “You Only Live Once”?

So, aside from your camera filters and effects, how was your summer?

Rewind and Reflect.

HIT ‘N RUN

Disclaimer: The issues presented are solely from the Josenians

Same Old Teacher Teacher evaluation daw pero mura’g wala’y action ang admin kay mao ra man gihapon ang magtutudlo. No improvement. Gipa-evaluate pa mi, noh? Kapoy kaayo sige’g rate didto individually unya wala ray pulos.

WIFI-so slow?

Kuya/Ate, ang inyong WIFI ba kay perting hinaya. Nganong di man mi maka-connect? Sayang kaayo ang among gi-bayad na 300, wala gyod mi naka-benefit. Basin kailangan pa ma-increase para makusog.

Galaw-galaw rin, ano?

Since summer pa karon, why not use this time para mag-check sa mga classroom facilities (aircon, OHP, wirings nga hugaw og nagpasad, abugon nga sound system nga guba) sa school? Kanus-a pa man intawon manglihok ang mga offices concerned? Sa July pa? Kung i-report ang mga guba sa classroom kay ingnon lang ta nga walay tawo! Hala! Asa diay ang mga tawo? Kung mag-repair sad mo ba, ayoha pod oy kay ang guba nga gi-ayo kay guba na sad after one week. Naay aircon nga bag-o pero wala ga-andar kay guba. Hahay! kaigang! Naa pay OHP namo, ka-neon yellow green sa screen! Human summer ani, daot na atong mata!

illustrations by Joshua Philip T. Abella SUMMER 2019 | SOLSTICE

29

How does introspecting help you achieve inner peace?

C O N T R I BU TO R S

It helps me in different ways like getting to know myself. And to know myself, I am also learning what mistakes that I’ve made and know that I need to correct them.

Joshua Kyle Tiu BS Mechanical Engineering - 1 Cover Model

In reflecting, I become an introvert. I jog alone, I lock myself in the room alone, anything, as long as I’m alone with nothing but my own thoughts. In this way, I can let myself emerge and know who I really am.

Marie Nicole Cañoneo BS Accountancy - 1 Cover Model

Avenge FORWARD and prevent it from falling.

Be a part of the team as we fulfill our mission in bringing out the truth.

We are looking for news and broadcast correspondents, graphic artists, and videographers.

Visit the FORWARD office to grab an application form and inquire on other requirements.

Be brave.

Be one of us! Join FORWARD.

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F S A N J O S E - R E C O L E T O S