DECEMBER 2013 SECTION B by Ang Pamantasan

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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION of the pamantasan ng lungsod ng maynila

Year XXXIV Vol. 6

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INSIDE A DEAN'S CHRISTMAS WISH PROF. ELOISA M. MACALINAO College of Accountancy and Economics (CAE)

PROF. OLIVER ANDRADE PANDILE College of Tourism, Hotel and Travel Industry Management (CTHTIM)

“Christmas season always brings happiness and good atmosphere to everybody. I have wishes for our college and to name a few: Everyone should always work as a team; Make decisions and solve problems immediately to avoid too much confl ict among peers; Everyone should respect one another for a long and lasting relationship; Everybody should plan, organize and prioritize work to avoid stress that will result to bigger mistakes.”

“Everyday, I live my ‘wish’ when I report for work at PLM; that, I run the PLM Hotel, Culinary Institute, and Cruise Line Operations; that, PLM Hotel becomes another ‘gem’ of Intramuros, and a pride of Manila - the City of our aff ection. I wish all PLMayers have the same wish.”

PROF. JIMMY M. ROMERO College of Human Development (CHD) “Christmas is the ideal time to express love and care, because it reminds us the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Let this Christmas bring you good tidings of great joy and happiness. Reach out with love and let the good news of Christmas resonate in your heart and in the hearts of all the people that you meet. May God be with you. Merry Christmas. I wish you a joyous, safe and restful festive season.”

PROF. SUSAN C. MERCADO College of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports (COPERS) “I wish for good health because majority of us in the faculty are old and a prosperous new year.”

JANUARY 11: Enraged aft er China published new maps that includes more than 130 islands and islets in the South China Sea and described the nation ‘moving in the wrong direction’; the Philippine Goverment thru the Department of Foreign Aff airs continues to fi le a formal protest against China.

MARCH 13: Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI last February, the Vatican initiates a Papal conclave for two days wherein Fr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, an Argentine cardinal and archbishop of Buenos Aires was elected as the New Papa and named Pope Francis.

TIMELINE 2013: BEYOND THE 'END OF THE WORLD'

FEBRUARY 14: The 17-day standoff between the Malaysian government and the Royal Sulu army, an armed Filipino Islamic group, in Sabah, Malaysia results in 12 Filipino casualties, having Malacañang to end the dispute peacefully.

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INTRAMUROS, manila

PROF. ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ College of Science (CS) “My fervent wishes for my college are: for the faculty and staff to have full harmony and cooperation; and for the 100% passing rate for the Chemistry Licensure exam.”

DR. GILMORE G. SOLIDUM College of Nursing (CN) “This season of hope, may our gift s be more than presents. Let us gift our family, friends and loved ones with our presence. Let us enjoy the holidays with them. Let us spread the love of Christ’s birth to all around us. As we celebrate, let us not forget to pause and pray for our brethren who are suff ering due to various calamities that hit the country. May the blessings of Christmas be with them.”

16: The death of the University of the Philippines (UP) – Manila student Kristel Tejada, who killed herself with silver cleaner in Manila aft er not being able to pay her tuition fee and the university forcing her to take a leave of absence (LOA), sparks outrage in the social media, causing UP to take an immediate action on such isolated cases.

secretary, Sen. Juan Ponce – Enrile resigns from his post as the Senate President, saying he was neither a proprietor nor starter but the system was already what it was before he was born. JULY 13: With the Bangsamoro pact on October 2012, the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agrees on the power sharing and wealth sharing for the new political entity. AUGUST 26: Attended by more than 500,000 people, the Million People March calls for the abolition of Priority Development Assistance Fund, also called Pork Barrel, aft er being used in a scam by Janet Napoles. SEPTEMBER 09: Led by Ustadz Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibon, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) sieges the City of Zamboanga, aiming to declare the Bangsamoro Republik on the city. The siege lasted until September 29 resulting in 200 casualties on both sides. OCTOBER 15: 28 were reported dead and 10 iconic heritage churches were destroyed as a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the Central Visayas.

APRIL 09: North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un, threatens South Korea and the US with their nuclear missiles prompting a preemptive evacuation of foreign workers on the peninsula. However, it was settled through peace talk by both parties.

NOVEMBER 08: Super typhoon Yolanda, dubbed as the strongest typhoon in record with wind speed at 315 km/h, strikes the central part of the Philippines destroying billion worth of properties and claiming thousands of lives in the process.

MAY 13: The Senatorial Election, though faced with issues on political dynasties and the candidates’ background, takes place in which Independent candidate Grace Poe – Llamanzares tops with 20, 337, 327 votes and former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada beats Alfredo S. Lim on the mayoralty candidacy of Manila.

24: Boxing superstar Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao, aft er two consecutive losses, rise up as champion via unanimous decision against Brandon Rios for the WBO International welterweight title held at Macau, China.

JUNE 05: Aft er issues on the improper use of Senate funds and adultery with his

DECEMBER 05: Former South Africa President and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela dies from prolonged respiratory infection at the age of 95.

ELOAH ANAWIM B. VALENCIANO / MC JAZER R. MALONDA Time fl ies really fast as the holiday once again brought the Pamantasan in its holiday spirit. Lighted off ices, buildings bedecked with parols alongside twinkling Christmas lights, and paper mistletoes decorated the university as it enjoy the yuletide season. Although this university is populated by students, the Pamantasan also houses non-student minorities such as the administrative staff , professors and of course, the deans. The university deans work in compliance with their colleges’ needs and wants. However, the Santa Claus of our own colleges have also made their wish list. Aside from supporting the students in their programs and participating in Christmas parties, the college deans have their own wishes and messages for their respective colleges:

PROF. ERLINDA A. CAYAO College of Liberal Arts (CLA) “As we celebrate this season of hope, I am reminded of the word “gospel” which means “good news”. The gospel of Christ is that God himself loved us enough to send his own son into this world to rescue us from our sin. The good news is that Jesus Christ lived the quality of life that God intended for us to live. My fervent wish for the College of Liberal Arts is that we may continue to experience the unconditional love of our God as we face greater challenges ahead. May we continue to be guided with our vision as a student and researchcentered college that extensively mold an individual into a total person, equipped with wisdom, right knowledge and good values, responsive to the needs of the community, the nation and the world. It is my hope that every academic and support staff at CLA will continue to value integrity, commitment, respect and hard work. Let us welcome 2014 with greater perseverance.”

DR. ROSE ANNA R. BANAL College of Medicine (CM) “My wishes for my college are: to maintain the 100% board passing rate; successful PAASCU accreditation; accomplish the DBE curriculum; more faculty promoted; more harmonious working relationship among faculty, students and staff .”

PROF. LUDMILA R. LABAGNOY College of Mass Communication (CMC)

ENGR. JUAN C. TALLARA JR. College of Engineering and Technology (CET)

“My wishes for the College of Mass Communication: for the Off ice Staff , that they be promoted and their salaries be increased; for the Faculty Members, that their measly rates be increased and be competitive; for the Students, that they continue acquiring relevant knowledge and competencies to make them well-prepared for the real work setting in the media industry and for them to continue winning in big competitions but win a sense of magnanimity; for the Alumni, that they continue to support and assist the College and give back/pay forward generously; and for the College, that necessary funds and assistance pour in for the acquisition/improvement/upgrading of facilities and equipment for the Radio-TV Lab and other facilities.”

“I wish that CET will continue to be committed and successful in achieving its mission of producing technically competent graduates imbued with the highest sense of professional values.”

PROF. NEIL B. GAMUS College of Management and Entrepreneurship (CME) “Every dean of the college’s Christmas wish is to make student, faculty members and staff of the college be happy and they would be safe for the whole month of December in celebration of Christmas and New Year. I also wish that they will be with their families for them to have a better celebration of Christmas. They can go or visit their province or anywhere. Family bonding is vital, so I wish they would have an enjoyable Christmas with their family and of course, they would be safe and would receive blessings from God.”

ARCH. GIL C. EVASCO College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) “Over the past 19 years that I have been promoting the value of Architecture Program of PLM, I came personally learn one virtue that always stands out over the rest: ‘being selfl ess in all that you do’. In the College, the culture of being selfl ess has always been a hallmark quality found in each of its graduate. I have never doubted, even for a moment, the potentials and unique capacity of the college to shape the minds of its students, and allow them to build their own lives in the tradition PLM is known for; ‘never-ending curiosity breeds excellence’. A season of hope for everyone. Merry Christmas.”

MS. PRIME ROSE TEODULICE L. FABUL College of Physical Therapy (CPT) “My wish for the college is to have a subscription to e-journals and more textbooks.”

FEATURES

DECEMBER 2013

the flickering lights of ermita

As the night slowly consumes the city, one place shines the brightest. A nocturnal paradise for people who value much of the deepness of the night rather than strolling in the daylight shine. As the city sleeps, this particular part of Manila is awake. This place is where both happiness and excitement lingers or so they say, this is Ermita. Ermita has taken its name from the Spanish phrase “La Hermita” which literally means a place away from the many. True enough the place had stood to this name for it separates itself from the hassled and hurried buzz of the city for it makes the calmness and tranquility of the night as its day. Its 1.59 square kilometers of land area is illuminated by unusual lights of fame, fortune and passion. THE RED LIGHT When one is asked what Ermita is renowned of, the immediate answer of many would be the different night clubs and bars the area encloses. Some would say that apart from the much known Angeles City, Ermita is the counterpart of the Sin City overseas, Las Vegas. It is because of the various night clubs that offer a mere fragment of pleasure to those who come and visit it at night. The

district has also became the cradle of comfort for those teen’s hearts beating faster. In 1993, the local government of Manila engaged an all-out battle to those who gave Ermita the tarnished “red-light district” label. Arresting many bar-owners back then, Former Mayor Alfredo S. Lim and the former secretary to the mayor, Rafaelito Garayblas ordered the closure of many establishments regarded as prostitution dens. Girls wearing short pieces of cloths parading the areas’ long stretch were then taken into the authority’s custody and were sent straight to their home in the provinces. But after ten years, it can be observed that the area seems to go back to where they were before. Other says that the luster of the once dimmed red-light shines brighter than before. Due to this light’s type of illumination, Ermita is now endowed with a stigma that generalizes the totality of the area. It is also because of this notion, Filipinos who are blinded from its true beauty seems to see her as a place of impurity. Neither did they know, there are other lights that irradiate its true image. THE YELLOW LIGHT The color

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usually associated with warmth, a characteristic that coincides with the hospitality that is in the Filipinos. Ermita is known for its accommodating ambiance. Endowed with many highrise buildings that were made to cater tired travelers, may it be foreigners or local folk people, Ermita is known for the number of hotels and motels established. The district also helps in boosting the progress of the country’s tourism campaign. Another kind of warmth that Ermita offers is the diverse options for restaurants and food stalls situated in its corners. Offering a variety of flavors coming from our neighboring countries, Ermita never fails to tickle the taste buds of those who are bound to appreciate different foods offered not only by our culture but also of others. THE PINK LIGHT In the colors of the candles in the advent wreath, Pink is the color of joy. Ermita is also known as a destination of people who want to let go of their everyday dilemmas and just have some plain fun. This is the right place for those party people that wants to dance and their heart’s content even just for one night, for it offers various disco halls and KTV bars.

Found greatly on M. H. del Pilar Street, Ermita offers a variety of choices where you can party ‘til the break of dawn. If one is not down with the sound the loud music offers, one could also go to the beer and drinking parlors scattered along the area where one can enjoy the solemnity of the night alongside the ice cold drinks these place offers. THE GREEN LIGHT Green usually symbolizes the action go, not only the meaningful representation that the traffic light depicts. According to many people, green is also the true color for money and wealth, and that is what this place is all about. Ermita is also famous for the number of casinos established along its streets. This is where gamblers, big time or newbie, gather to try their luck by satisfying their vices or soon to be vices. Complemented by the various money changing agencies and small-scale shops, Ermita could also be thought of as a contributor to gross income of the city. This was also the reason why the area is considered to be a great contributor to one of the most productive and progressive districts of the six legislative districts of Manila. Aside from these intensive lights that Ermita offers, a faint light continues to shine as a symbol of

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hope for the change and betterment of the lives of people living against their drenched fate. THE FAINT LIGHT Amidst the brightness that is entailed in the green light of Ermita, the sudden plot twist of the story is that still, some people living in the area remains to be homeless and seems to be all out of nothing. Living alongside the progress that is in the place, these people also strive to keep pace with the cruel progression of life in the area. Enduring the coldness inside their karitons while they cover themselves with cartons, these people, our fellow Filipinos, embrace what life has to bring for them. One thing’s for sure and that is the flickering lights of Ermita will never fade out for them. Every night, as darkness consumes the city, Ermita shines the brightest. The different spectrum of light that illuminates the city combines properly to unveil its true beauty. So if one simply looks to only one of those lights, the stigma that this society has made would be greatly reinforced. Because Ermita’s perplexing charm is not reflected only by a single light, but rather, by the dispersion of the different wavelengths of lights that brightens even its darkest area.

KEEP RUNNING We pursue the things we love and believe in because someone inspires us to make it happen. They may be our parents or friends but most of the time, we are inspired by famous personalities because they possess exceptional beliefs.

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it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers fear.” Nelson Mandela is the first black president of South Africa who served the country from 1994 to 1999. He is known for opposing the apartheid system, a racial segregation which literally means ‘the state of being apart’ in Afrikaans— a West Germanic language. He was also against racism, poverty and inequality. He is often named as Madiba, or as Tata which means Father. He always believed in human spirit and influence of immense unity.

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in his governance. “If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm.” Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi is one of the known excellent spiritual leaders. He stood up against the British colony and fought for the freedom of India while applying a nonviolent type of opposition. One of his accomplishments was leading the

CHURCHILL “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Sir Winston Churchill is one of the most influential people in the British history. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. Churchill’s bravery was proven when he started to oppose Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler and led Britain until they won over the said German party. He inspired people by courageously writing speeches, radio broadcasts and campaigns during the Second World War which made his constituents believed in him and kept in themselves to never surrender. “I learned that courage was not absence of fear, but the triumph over

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M A N D E L A “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. He cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the leaders who opposed discrimination and fought for civil rights without the use of violence. He was also an active frontrunner of the African-American civil rights movement. People obeyed his righteousness for he was a faithful Christian and applied moral principles

Salt March, a movement against the Salt Laws that deprived poor Indians from owning salt. “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

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pancreatic cancer. In his remaining months, he gave a lecture entitled “The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” which became a popular Youtube video and wrote a book with the same theme. Pausch expressed in his lectures that everyone must aim their ambitions and live their life to the fullest because they will never know what could happen next. He also left a hanging question of “What would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?” which kindled the desires of his audience.

K E L L E R Helen Keller is one of the most influential campaigners for the people with disability issues. In 1909, she joined and supported the American Socialist Party where she started to take stand for equality in a capitalist society. She also raised funds for charities for people with disabilities. “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” Randy Pausch was an American professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who was diagnosed to have a

P A U S C H Inspiration is passed on from one to another. It is like a light that gives radiance to the other one once shed. These known personalities found the society as their inspiration in making a difference while different individuals found their beliefs as inspiring. People need inspiration to get motivated to do their works, to ignite their inner passions and to strive for better outputs. If you received an inspiration, you better give some off too. Make inspiration a cycle, make it unending.

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ART OF FAILURE Great stories of success come from those who are first bruised with their mishaps and frustrations, from those people who didn’t achieve it firsthand. Failures, in any form, serve as our stepping stone in achieving our sweetest success. The experiences of the following people were the perfect manifestation of crafting the beautiful art of failure and how they managed to defy their destiny. FROM SHADES TO LIGHT Dutch painter Vincent Willem van Gogh, who had a pervasive influence on art during the 20th century and had produced almost 2,100 paintings of self-portraits and landscapes, sold only a single painting in the course of his lifetime. This artwork, named Red Vineyard, is an oil-painting in hues of tangy orange pasture, vibrant yellow sky and bluish garments. It was sold for 400 francs, approximately Php 20,000, and this was even to a friend of him. Unbelievable as it may seem, the rest of his artworks were not made famous until after his death in 1890. In the early career of Van Gogh as an

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artist, he exchanged letters to his brother Theo on how he evolved as a painter. Although he found himself having financial difficulties which caused mental and physical stress, Van Gogh wrote that: “As for me, I shall go on working, and here and there something of my work will prove of lasting value.” Today, Vincent van Gogh is recognized as one of the greatest artists that ever lived, and his paintings which were once regarded as irrelevant are now worth millions of dollars. His works are notable for thickly applied colors, also called the Impasto Technique. Although he was barely recognized during his lifetime, Van Gogh definitely proved the worth of his works. Apparently, his paintings are displayed all over the world and his drawing techniques are practiced by contemporary painters. Certainly, many had regretted his early death at the age of 37. REJECTIONS TO RECOGNITION Hollywood blockbuster filmmaker Steven Allan Spielberg, who catered us films like Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993), Schindler’s List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998) and most recently, Lincoln (2012), admitted that he suffered from acts of bullying and anti-Semitic prejudice, also defined as hostility towards Jews, in high school. During his early childhood, Spielberg said that it was uneasy for him to invite his friends over their house because they were Orthodox Jews and he was embarrassed about it. Aside from the difficulty that he had in adapting Jewish practices, Spielberg also experienced trouble during his admission into a film school. Ironically, the notable filmmaker got rejected after applying, thrice, at the University of Southern California. Determined enough, young Spielberg enrolled at California State University but then, he dropped out and chose to work for Universal Studios. After 35 years, Spielberg returned to

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dumped in pig’s blood would not exist. Eventually, Stephen King’s story was accepted by publishing house Doubleday. Today, Carrie is considered as one of his greatest works in line with his other novels like The Shining (1977) and Dr. Sleep (2013). Several adaptations of Carrie have been released including a 1976 feature film, a 1988 broadway musical, a 1999 feature film sequel, a 2002 tele-movie, and the 2013 feature film remake starring Chloë Grace Moretz. As American author Napoleon Hill once said, “No man ever achieved worthwhile success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure.”

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school in 2002 and eventually received his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steven Spielberg is now considered as one of the most influential people in the history of filmmaking. His undying determination and the impact of his films will definitely prevail even after its closing credits. DISCOURAGEMENT TO MOTIVATION American writer Stephen Edwin King, whose works are known for its genre of horror, suspense and science-fiction, apparently experienced his own horror of rejection for his first book, Carrie. After receiving 30 rejections and becoming discouraged with his progress in writing, King finally gave up and threw his story of a teenage girl with psychic powers in the trash. He even received a rejection slip which said: “We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.” But the twist in his life’s plot is when his wife, Tabitha, fished the manuscript from the dump and asked him to finish it. If not because of his wife, the iconic girl wearing a prom dress

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So learn to reflect on your failures. As you walk your path towards your cherished aspirations, whether it is an uno on your class card, a passing score for your major exam or your college diploma, keep in mind that there will always be hindrances. But don’t let those hold you back. You might fail but you can try again, and you can, always. Be a failure, bounce back and never quit.

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Teenage years are both beautiful and frightening. Beautiful for it is the time for endless major transformations (so if you’re not contented with who you are right now and you want to turn things around, good news), and frightening because the decisions you will make at this stage will, more or less, determine who you are going to be and will greatly impact the latter years of your life (no pressure). Since there’s nothing that can capture the human emotions more than a song can, here are some anthems of the tragedies and triumphs of the teenage experience— in the hopes of reassuring you that things will be okay and that you can do and be so much more, only if you will not let your fears get in the way. Always remember: stay golden while living the unbearable lightness of being young.

THE YOUTH – MGMT “The youth is starting to change Are you starting to change? Are you?” For every generation, there is an onset of new ideals or at least a refurnishing of the old ones. You disagree of how the society works? Then do something to actually change it. In this case, take Tavi Gevinson, a seventeen yearold, as an example. She changed the face of feminism to adapt to this generation which helped a lot of teenage girls to be at peace with who they are.

STAY AWAKE – ALL TIME LOW “From the weight of the world just take A second to set things straight I’ll be fine” Society will impose its standards on you, and at this point when you’re most vulnerable, you might actually give in. Will you give up your chance to be unique for monotony?

YOU’VE GOT THE LOVE – FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE “Now and then it seems that life is just too much But you’ve got the love I need to see me through”

Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, there are people looking up to you and seeing you as the hero of their existence? You’ll never know but you might be the reason why a certain someone strives to be the better version of his/her self. So keep passing the love around, you know there’s so much of it in you.

WE’LL BE A DREAM – WE THE KINGS “Do you remember the nights We made our way dreaming Hoping of being someone big” You can never be more idealistic than you are now. Take advantage of it. It’ll seem like your dreams are too grand but you will never know until you try.

THINGS WE GO THROUGH – HAWK NELSON “Let’s take control and be ourselves Let’s not waste time wondering about How we’re gonna make it out” The greatest battles aren’t the ones found in your history books but the ones inside your mind. To worry about how things will turn out can be paralyzing. Maybe you should let go of your favourite habit and its cousin: overthinking and over analyzing.

WE’LL BE ALRIGHT – TRAVIE MCCOY “We are young, We run free” Enjoy and savor every moment of your youth, will you? Fun does not always have to be that feverish night of dancing in a party, or jumping your heart out in a concert. Sometimes, fun is the adventure of finding your next favorite book, or waiting for falling stars with your best buds. Be merry just because.

WHITE NIGHTS – OH LAND “Something is about to be born There’s a restlessness in me Keeps me up until the dawn” Remember the sleepless nights you’ve had because life is just too overwhelming and you can’t believe how much you’ve progressed? That’s the Universe, tapping you on the back for a job well done.

YOUNG BLOOD – THE NAKED AND FAMOUS “We’re only young and naive still We require certain skill The mood it changes like the wind Hard to control when it begins” You still have a lot to learn. Life will throw all kinds of things on your path, not to prevent you from going where you want to go but perhaps to teach you whatever you need to know before reaching the place of your choice. You might as well gear up and take a ton load of enthusiasm with you because learning is a never-ending adventure.

YOUTH – DAUGHTER “We are the reckless We are the wild youth Chasing visions of our futures” Quit pouring your energy into thinking that you’re not good enough and that you do not have what it takes to be successful in life (the definition of “success” varies, by the way). You’re young; the level of your energy goes straight up to heaven. Run wild, laugh hard, explore, and take hold of your future because nobody knows you better than you do.

THAT GREEN GENTLEMAN – PANIC! AT THE DISCO “Everybody gets there And everybody gets their And everybody gets their way” You’ll get there eventually. You know you will.

FILIP

Palimos po ng Kaunting Liwanag

Sa isang madilim na silid malayo sa nakakasindak na katotohanan, sa makapal na usok at sa maingay na buhay sa siyudad ay nagtatago ang isang kaluluwang nagpupumilit kumawala sa kadena ng kahirapan. Sa silid ding iyon ay matatagpuan si Juan na mataimtim na nag-aaral gamit ang isang librong unti-unti nang nalalagas ang mga pahina, tanda na ito’y napaglipasan na ng panahon. Ngunit ang kalumaan ng librong iyon ay hindi naging dahilan upang siya ay sumukong mag-aral. Bitbit niya ang pangaral ng kanyang

ina na tanging karunungan lamang ang sa kanya’y magsasalba mula sa kahirapang kinalalagyan nila ngayon. Katuwang ang liwanag na nagmumula sa lamparang mas matanda pa sa kanya, pilit niyang iminumulat ang mga matang pulang-pula na sa kakabasa sa dilim. Kinakailangan niyang matapos ang takdang-aralin sapagkat may ilang milya pa ang kailangan niyang lakarin upang marating ang paaralang gawa sa pawid at kawayan. Hindi na iba ang ganitong pangyayari, sapagkat para kay Juan, na naninirahan sa malayong kabundukan ng Cordillera

ay isa lamang itong bahagi ng arawaraw niyang pakikipagsapalaran. Kailan man ay hindi niya sinukuan ang pumasok sa paaralan sapagkat alam niya ang dahilan ng kanyang mga sakripisyo---ang matuto. Ganito nga yata talaga ang mga Pilipino, walang takot na haharap sa lahat ng dagok ng buhay ng may positibong pagiisip. Ngunit hindi lamang isang Juan ang nasasadlak sa ganitong sitwasyon kundi labinlimang milyon pang mga Pilipino. Sila ay literal na nangangapa sa dilim at magpasahanggang ngayon ay hindi

Pilat na Iniwan ni Yolanda Unti-unti ko nang nadarama ang init na dala ng sikat ng araw mula sa silangan. Unti-unti ko na ring nasisilayan ang liwanag na akala ko’y hindi ko na muling makikita pa matapos ang isang sakuna na kumitil ng 6, 033 na tao at tuluyang bumago sa aking buhay. Liwanag na nagsisilbing paalala sa akin na sa kabila ng karimlan ay mayroong bagong bukas at pag-asa sa bawat isa. Ika-walo ng Nobyembre. Ito ang araw na tumatak sa aking isipan. Ang araw ng pagdating ng isang kalamidad na sumira sa tinatayang tatlong bilyong pisong halaga ng mga ari-arian at hanapbuhay, kumitil ng mga pangarap, nagpamanhid sa damdamin ng mga nawalan at kalaunang nag-iwan ng isang malaking pilat sa aking puso’t isipan. Tandang-tanda ko pa ang hitsura ni tatay habang inaayos niya ang aming bubungan bilang paghahanda sa darating na bagyo. Sanay na kaming hagupitin ng malalakas at mga mapaminsalang bagyo sa Samar, subalit hindi naming inaasahan ang pinsalang idudulot ni Bagyong Yolanda rito at sa iba pang mga karatig probinsiya tulad ng Leyte. Tila nakikita ko pa sa aking isipan ang imahe ni nanay habang siya ay naghahanda ng ilang kagamitang kakailanganin namin kung sakali mang kami ay lilikas. Paulit-ulit ko ring naririnig ang pag-iyak ng aking sanggol na kapatid. Hindi ko kalian man inakala na ito ang huling beses na masisilayan, makakasama at maririnig ko ang aking mga mahal sa buhay. Napabalikwas ako sa aking pagkakahimbing dala ng pagsigaw ni ina habang buhat-buhat ang aking kapatid. Binabayo ng napakalakas na hangin ang aming barong-barong na yari sa pawid. Napakadilim ng buong paligid. Maya-maya pa’y tuluyan nang tinangay ng malakas na hangin ang bubong ng aming tahanan. Nangangalit ang hagupit ng hangin habang animo’y nagsasayawan ang mga dahon ng puno ng buko. Binalot ng takot ang bawat isa sa amin. Wala na ring dumadaloy na kuryente sa mga oras na iyon. Nawalan ng silbi ang pagtatali ni tatay sa aming bubungan sapagkat agaran din itong sinira ng kalamidad. Sa isang iglap ay nasa gitna kami ng kawalan. Wala kaming masilungan, patuloy na ipinararamdam ni Yolanda ang kanyang lakas. Sinikap naming magkubli sa mga puno, tumakbo sa gitna ng bukid subalit sadyang mapaglaro ang tadhana. Ang aming pagsisikap na makahanap ng masisilungan ay siya rin palang maghahatid sa aking mga magulang sa kanilang huling hantungan. Nabagsakan ng puno ang aking ina habang buhat ang aking bunsong kapatid. Samantala, sa pagnanais ng aking ama na mailigtas ang aking ina’t kapatid, maging siya’y nabagsakan ng puno at namatay. Napakasakit na masaksihan ang masaklap na pangyayaring ito sa aming pamilya. Lumipas ang ilan pang mga araw, naglakad-lakad ako sa kung saan-saan upang maisalba ang aking sarili. Nais kong mabuhay upang mabigyan ko ng marangal na libing ang aking pamilya. Ikalabing-isa ng Nobyembre nang tuluyan nang nilisan ng bagyong

Yolanda ang bansa at unti-unting sumilip ang liwanag mula sa kalangitan. Sa pagkakataong iyon, halos naisin kong hindi na lamang ito muling masilayan pa sapagkat kakila-kilabot ang tanawing bumulaga sa akin. Nagkalat ang mga labi ng mga inosenteng sibilyan sa kalsada. Tumambad din ang mga patay na hayop, natumbang mga puno at mga nabuwal na poste ng kuryente. Ang ilang bangkay ay nadaganan pa ng mga puno gaya ng nangyari sa aking pamilya. Lubhang nasira ang mga kabahayan at mga taniman. Ang aming probinsiyang minsang naging imahe ng kasiyahan ay nagmistulang abandonadong lugar sa isang kisapmata. Libu-libong tao ang magpasahanggang ngayon ay nagugutom pa. Walang mapagkuhanan ng malinis na tubig. Walang makain sapagkat nasira ang lahat ng aming mga pananim. Naghari ang malakas na palahaw ng mg batang nawawala. Mababatid na kanilang hinahanap ang kanilang pamilya matapos marahil silang magkahiwalay. Sadyang kahabag-habag ang mga imaheng aking nasilayan. Lumipas ang isang buwan, subalit wala pa ring anumang tulong na sa amin ay dumarating. Wala kaming damit na maisuot upang magbigay ng init sa aming mga katawan. Wala rin kaming bubong na masisilungan upang magsilbing pansamantalang tirahan namin. Dala ng gutom, hinagpis at hirap na aming pinagdadaanan, marami na ang nagkakasakit. Laganap ang ubo, sipon at pagtatae lalo na sa mga bata. Nagsisimula na ring mag-amok ang mga tao bunga ng sakit ng kanilang kumakalam na sikmura, subalit sadyang mabagal ang pagdating ng tulong sa aming bayan. Ilang araw pa ang aming binilang bago kami tuluyang naambunan ng tulong na kung tutuusin ay kulang na kulang. Hindi naman kami makahingi ng tulong sa aming mga kamag-anak sapagkat walang kuryente at linya ng komunikasyon sa aming lugar. Dumating man ang tulong na aming pinakahihintay, hindi naman ito sapat. Nag-aagawan ang mga tao dahil sa takot na hindi sila mabigyan ng pagkaing dala ng mga militar mula sa pinagsama-samang donasyon ng ating mga kababayan at mga karatig bansa. Ang sugat na iniwan ni Yolanda sa bawat anak na naulila, sa asawang nawalan ng kabiyak sa buhay at sa isip ng mga inosenteng bata, ay sugat na tila hindi na yata maghihilom pa. Ang sakit na dulot ng pagkawala ng mga mahal sa buhay, pagkasira ng mga ari-arian ay sakit na tila hindi kayang pagalingin ng anumang uri ng gamot. Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi lamang mga materyal na bagay ang kailangan ng bawat isang nakaalpas sa pagsubok ni Yolanda, kundi maging pangunawa at pagmamalasakit. Ang inyong mga bukas-palad na tulong upang kami’y makaahon ay nagbibigay sa amin ng lakas ng loob at inspirasyon upang patuloy na lumaban. Sa mga oras na ito, patuloy pang nadaragdagan ang bilang ng mga namatay habang 1,611 pa ang nawawala at 27, 468 ang naiwang sugatan.

Ito sana ay magsilbing aral sa bawat isa na dapat tayong maging handa sa pagsalanta ng mga kalamidad. Huwag sana nating hayaang muling maganap ang gayon bago natin imulat ang ating mga mata’t isipan sa ating mga pagkukulang. Ang pangyayaring ito ay isang karanasang hinding-hindi ko malilimutan. Isang karanasang natitiyak kong hindi lamang sa aking puso nasulat kundi pati na rin sa mga pahina ng kasaysayan ng ating bayan. Oo, madilim ang alaalang iniwan sa akin ni Yolanda ngunit hangga’t nababanaag ko ang sikat ng araw at

DECEMB

ANN MARIE G. ESTONILO

pa naabot ng elektrisidad. Si Juan at ang malaking bahagi ng katimugang Visayas at Mindanao ay nasa ganitong sitwasyon na bago pa man maipanganak ang nakararami sa atin, isa na itong makasaysayang suliranin na pilit na ipinagsasawalang bahala ng nakararami. At sa paghagupit ng bagyong Yolanda (Haiyan) ay nadagdagan pa ang bilang ng mga Pilipinong pinipilit na mabuhay sa gitna ng kadiliman. Ang dating nagliliwanag na bayan ng Leyte, Bohol, at ilang bahagi ng mga bayan ng Surigao del Norte, Marinduque, Danao, Tuburan, Kanlurang Samar at Camiguin ay nababalot na rin ng dilim. Hindi pa man din nabibigyang solusyon ang nasabing suliranin ay nadagdagan pa ito. Nakalulungkot lamang isipin na habang tayo ay lunod sa masaganang buhay na hatid sa atin ng paninirahan sa siyudad ay may mga kababayan tayong wala man lamang ni isang bumbilyang magsisilbi sanang liwanag sa madilim na paligid. Ngunit hindi sapat ang basta na lamang malungkot at maawa sa sitwasyon ng ilang Juan, sapagkat hindi lang simpatya ang tangi nilang kailangan kundi agarang solusyon sa kanilang suliranin. Dahil hindi maliliwanagan ng kahit anong masidhing pagkaaawa ang silid ni Juan na hanggang ngayon ay napagkakaitan pa rin ng liwanag.

JESSICA B. PAG-IWAYAN

nararamdaman ko ang simpatya ng ating mga kababayan, ipagpapatuloy ko ang laban ng buhay. Masakit man ang karanasang dumating sa akin sa pagtatapos ng taong ito, alam kong sasalubungin ko ang bagong taon na may dalang pag-asa sa aking puso’t isipan na ako’y muling babangon sampu ng ating mga kababayan upang muling itaguyod ang buhay na sinubukang itumba ni Yolanda. Sa kaibuturan ng aking puso, ramdam ko ang pag-asa na sa tulong ng Dakilang Lumikha, muli kong matatanaw ang liwanag sa aking panibagong buhay.

2013: Pagni Gandang

JULES ANDRE

Lubhang sinubok ang Pilipinas ng samu’t saring mga sakuna ngayong taon. Nariyan ang nakagugulantang na tensyon sa Zamboanga, makapaminsalang lindol sa Bohol at mga karatig lugar nito at ang kamakailan lamang, pagsalanta ng hindi malilimutang bagyong Yolanda sa Tacloban at iba pang bahagi ng Visayas. Magkagayunpaman, masasabing ang 2013 ay hindi lamang taon ng mga nakapanlulumong kaganapan para sa bansa, bagkus taon din ito ng kabi-kabilang pagkilala mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo sa angking husay, talino at ganda ng mga Pilipino. Patunay na riyan ang sunud-sunod na pagkapanalo ng karamihan sa ating kinatawan sa iba’t ibang beauty pageants ngayong taon, partikular sa apat naitinuturing na pinakamalalaki at pinakatanyag sa buong daigdig: Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss Earth at Miss International. MISS WORLD “I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides people why they act the way they do. I will use this to show other people how they can understand each other. … as one, we can help society.”— Megan Lynne Young Ika-28 ng Setyembre. Sa araw na ito ay tuluyan na ngang natuldukan ang masidhing pag-aasam ng maraming Pilipinong maiuwi ang unang korona sa Ms. World sa Bali, Indonesia. Si Megan Lynne Young ang kauna-unahang Pinay na nakasungkit ng koronang 47 taon nang tinatangkang mapanalunan ng ating mga naging kandidata. Tinalo ni Young ang 126 pang mga kalahok mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo. Bagaman iisa pa lamang ang ating korona sa naturang patimpalak, mayroon naman tayong dalawa pang kababayang muntik nang manalo at itinanghal bilang first runners-up: Evangeline Pascual, 1973 at Gwendoline Ruais, 2013. MISS UNIVERSE “ I do believe we should invest in education – and that is my primary advocacy. … Education is a primary source and a ticket for better future”— Ariella Arida Sa apat na magkakasunod na taon ay nagawang makapasok ng mga kandidata ng ating bansa sa top 5 ng Miss Universe. Nitong ika-9 ng Nobyembre, sa 86 na kalahok na nagpatalbugan at nagpagandahan sa Moscow, Russia, si Ariella Arida ang itinanghal na third runner-up. Kahit pa hindi niya nakamit ang korona ng itinuturing na pinakasikat na beauty pageant sa kasalukuyan ay malaki na ring karangalan ito sa ating bansa. Sa kasalukuyang tala, mayroon na tayong dalawang kababayang nanalo sa Miss Universe. Una ay noong taong 1969, tagumpay na nasungkit ni Gloria Diaz ang korona para sa bansa. Makalipas ang apat na taon ay muling nakamit ng ating kandidata ang parehong titulo sa katauhan naman ni Margarita Moran. MISS EARTH “It’s a wake-up call for all of us to realize that we must take care of one another and we must take care of our Earth so that our Earth or our environment will take care of us in return. Let’s save our Earth together not just for the people of today but for the generations to come”— Angelee Delos Reyes Bigo mang makapasok sa top 4 ng Miss Earth, maituturing pa ring tagumpay ang pagpasok ng ating kandidatang si

PINO

BER 2013

ingning ng g Pilipina

EW P. GARCIA

Angelee Delos Reyes sa top 8 ng nasabing kompetisyon na ginanap sa ating bansa noong ika-7 ng Disyembre. Walumpu’t siyam na kandidata ng iba’t ibang bansa ang naglaban-laban para sa titulong ito. Ang Ms. Earth ay isang taunang timpalak ng kagandahan na nakabase rito sa ating bansa. Sa 13 taon na ginaganap ito, nakakuha na ang Pilipinas ng isang korona. Ito ay nang manalo si Karla Henry noong 2008. MISS INTERNATIONAL “The whole world saw how my country suffered. One by one, other countries helped. You have opened my heart and eyes on what we can do to help each other. I will work to sustain the spirit of sympathy and spirit of hope. As long as we work together, there is hope.”— Bea Rose Santiago Bago magtapos ang taong ito, may isang karagdagang karangalan ang dumating sa ating bansa. Ito ay nang manalo si Bea Rose Santiago sa Ms. International na ginanap nito lamang ika-17 ng Disyembre sa Tokyo, Japan. Tinalo ni Santiago ang mahigit 60 pang mga kandidatang nangarap at lumaban para sa korona. Kung mayroon mang isang pandaigdigang timpalak ng kagandahang ilang beses na nating napapanalunan, ito ay ang Ms. Internatonal. Sa kasalukuyan, mayroon na tayong limang koronang naiuuwi mula sa prestihiyosong patimpalak na ito. Ang pinakabago ay iyon ngang kay Santiago. Habang ang iba pang mga nakaraang nagwagi ay sina: Gemma Teresa Cruz-Araneta (1964), Aurora McKenny Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), at Precious Lara Quigaman (2005). Samantala, bukod sa apat na nasabing pinakamalaking timpalak sa kagandahan, ay nagawa ring manalo ng iba pa nating kababayan sa ilan pang beauty pageants ngayong taon. Ilan sa kanila ay sina: Mutya Johanna Datul, ang kaunaunahang Asyanang nag-uwi ng korona sa Ms. Supranational; Annalie Forbes, third runner-up sa Ms. Grand International; Andrea Koreen Medina, third runner-up sa Ms. Intercontinental; at Gil Wagas, fourth runnerup sa Mr. International. Ang lahat ng ito ay isang matibay na patunay na ang likas na ganda at talino ng mga Pilipino ay patuloy na kinikilala sa mga pandaigdigang patimpalak. Gayundin, ang mga pagkilalang ito na natatanggap ng ating bansa ay siyang nagbabalanse sa kasalukuyang kalagayan nito. Oo, matapos ang mga kahindik-hindik na delubyo sa ating bansa, marami sa atin ang halos nawalan na ng dahilan upang ngumiti at magsaya. Ngunit dahil sa mga kaganapang tulad ng mga yaon, tila nagkaroon ng rason ang marami sa atin upang kahit sandali’y ngumiti at magpugay. Ang mga Pilipino ay maituturing na malaking tagahanga ng mga ganitong uri ng patimpalak. Patunay ang mainit na pagsubaybay natin sa mga ito taun-taon. Naging sunud-sunod man ang mga suliraning kinaharap ng bansa ngayong 2013, ang mga tagumpay at karangalang iniuwi ng ating mga kandidata sa mga pandaigdigan kompetisyon ay maituturing na isang magandang dahilan upang muling umukit sa ating mga mukha ang ngiting minsa’y nawala, ang ngiting nagbibigay pag-asa at ang ngiting sumisimbolo sa pagpapatuloy ng laban sa bawat hamon ng buhay.

Quiapo: Pook Sambahan o Pugad ng Kasamaan? Mulat ka ba sa mga nagaganap sa iyong paligid? Kung iyong inaakala na maayos ang lahat, ang tanong ay nakasisiguro ka ba? Buksan ang isipan at imulat ang mga mata. Ang lipunan na iyong ginagalawan ay hindi kasingganda ng iyong pinapangarap. Maraming mga lihim at istorya ang hindi pa nababatid. Ikaw ay napalilibutan ng samu’t saring kaganapang ni sa hinagap ay hindi mo aakalain. Minsa’y subukan mong tumungo sa isa sa mga pinakamakasaysayan at pinakakilalang pook sa Maynila— ang Quiapo. Dito’y iyong matatagpuan ang Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene o mas kilala bilang Quiapo Church. Sa maraming taon, ang simbahang ito ang isa sa mga naging sandigan ng Katolisismo sa bansa. Simbahang tanyag hindi lamang dito sa atin, kundi gayon din sa iba pang bahagi ng mundo at maituturing na malaki ang ambag sa kasaysayan ng bansa. Samantala, makikita rin dito ang Masjid Al-Dahab o mas kilala bilang The Golden Mosque. Ito ay itinuturing na pinakamalaking mosque at siyang sentro ng pananampalataya ng maraming Muslim sa Kalakhang Maynila. Sa unang tingin, aakalain mong maayos ang lahat. Iisiping ang Quiapo ay isang mapayapa’t maayos na lugar. Ngunit sa oras na ito’y iyong pinagmasdan, tatambad sa iyo ang masaklap na katotohanan. Katotohanang mahirap ikubli sapagkat totoo. Isang malaking kabalintunaan ngang maituturing na sa paligid ng mga makasaysaya’t sagradong pook sambahan, ay naglipana ang samu’t saring kalakarang taliwas sa katuruang ipinahahayag ng mga ito. Katuruang sumesentro sa pagpapaunlad ng pananampalataya at moralidad. Sinasabing ang pagpatay ng tao sa kahit anong pamamaraan ay hindi nararapat at isang gawaing kasuklamsuklam, ngunit bakit kabi-kabila ang pagtitinda ng mga gamot-pampalaglag ng bata sa maraming sulok ng nasabing lugar? Hindi ba’t ang sanggol, bagaman hindi pa man nailuluwal ay maituturing ng isang buhay? Kung gayon, ang anumang gawain o bagay na naglalayong kitlin ito ay isang malinaw na pagpatay. At ang pagpatay ng tao ay itinuturing na matinding kasalanan ng maraming relihiyon. Araw-araw, hindi rin mabilang ang mga insidente ng pagnanakaw at pandurukot dito. Katunayan, minsan ngang itinuring ang Quiapo bilang isa sa mga pinakamapanganib na lugar sa Maynila gayong dapat na ito’y isang imahe ng katiwasayan. Kapuna-puna rin ang dami ng mga tindahan na lantarang nagbebenta ng iba’t ibang antinganting at agimat na pinaniniwalaang

nakapagpapaadya umano sa sinumang gagamit at magsusuot nito sa tiyak na kapahamakan, sakuna at karamdaman. Talamak din ang bentahan ng laman sa maraming pasilyo sa palibot nito. Hindi lamang mga bahay-aliwan ang naglipana kundi maging ang mga sinehan na sa unang tingin ay maayos ngunit sa totoo’y pugad ng imoralidad. Sa oras na ito’y pasukin, babalandra ang mga nag-aalok ng panandaliang-aliw sa sinumang nagnanais. Ang Quiapo ay maituturing na isang sagradong lugar para sa mga katoliko’t muslim. Ngunit, bakit tila binababoy at dinudungisan ito ng ilan? Malilimutan mo ba ang minsang tinuran ng isang kilalang banyagang manunulat na si Dan Brown? Sa isang iglap, naging usap-usapan ang kanyang kontrobersyal na aklat na Inferno, kung saan sa isang bahagi nito ay binansagan niya ang Maynila bilang pugad ng polusyon, kahirapan, prostitusyon at iba pang nakaririmarim na gawain. Hindi ba’t labis kang nasaktan noon? Pilit mo pa ngang ipinagtanggol ang iyong bayan sapagkat naniwala ka na ang mga akusasyong iyon ay hindi makatotohanan bagkus pawang paninira lamang? Ngayon, tunay nga bang walang basehan ang mga nakasaad sa aklat na yaon? O, ikaw lamang itong hindi nakapapansin sa huwad na katotohanang kung tutuusi’y halos ipamukha na sa iyo? Ibahin natin ang tanong, totoo bang hindi mo ito nababatid o sadyang nagbubulagbulagan at nagbibingi-bingihan ka lamang sa palasak na kalakaran sa iyong lipunan sapagkat alam mong malaki itong kasiraan sa iyong bayan? Nakahihiya mang aminin, ngunit bakit tila banyaga pa ang unang nakapupuna sa mga kabalastugang nagaganap sa iyong paligid? Bakit hindi ikaw? Oo, mahal mo ang iyong bansa ngunit ang iyong ginagawa ngayon ay walang mabuting idinudulot sa iyong bayang sinilangan. Hanggang kailan ka mananatiling walang imik at pakialam? Alisin ang piring sa iyong mga mata, tanggalin ang busal sa iyong bibig, at lakasan ang iyong loob. Tumindig ka Juan! Walang ibang aayos niyan kundi ikaw lamang. Hahayaan mo bang magpatuloy ang ganyang mga gawain sa mga susunod pang mga taong darating? Hahayaan mo bang iyan ang masaksihan ng mga susunod na sibol ng iyong lahi? Iyan ba ang nais mong ipamana sa kanila? Magnilay, magmasid, mag-isip. Ang lipunang iyong kinabibilangan ay patuloy na binababoy at dinudungisan. Ngunit sa kabila nito, may magandang balita para sa iyo. At ito ay ang katotohanang may magagawa ka. Oo, ikaw at wala na ngang iba.

Pag-asA At Pagpapaasa: Ang Paghigpit ng Dilaw na Laso

Sino ka? Ano ito? Bakit? At sa paanong pamamaraan? Mga katanungang kalimitang isinasakdal sa kabuuan ng isang tao. Mga salitang nangangailangan ng kasagutan na sa kahit anong paraan ay sadyang may mga pagpunang hindi maitatakwil. Sa espasyong kinatatayuan mo ngayon, nakikita mo pa ba ang susunod na hakbang na iyong tatahakin? Hanggang kailan mo ipipilit ang matuwid na daang binigyan mo ng ibang imahe? Ang mali sa pag-aalinlangan ay ang katotohanang alam mo kung ano ang dapat, ngunit patuloy pa rin ang iyong paghahanap ng dahilan para lang ito’y hindi mo gawin. Hindi dahil sa may mga alternatibo pang solusyon, kundi dahil takot ka sa agarang pagkawala ng mga inakala mong magtatagal sa iyo. Marahil hindi mo malilimutan ang eskandalong idinulot ng kontrobersyal na Pork Barrel nitong kalagitnaan ng taon. Hindi ba’t minabuti mong huwag magsalita at sa halip ay ipinaubaya na lang sa mga

KEITH NIÑO B. MEDRANO/ JULES ANDREW P. GARCIA

kinauukulan ang proseso ng paghahanap ng katotohanan? Hinayaan mo ring batuhin ka ng taumbayan ng mga paratang na hindi ikinabuti ng sitwasyon bagkus ay nag-ungkat ng samu’t saring baho sa loob ng mga opisinang hawak mo. Bilang pinakamataas na pinuno ng bayan, ano nga po ulit ang inyong inambag upang maibalik ang mga ninakaw sa kaban at hustisya mula sa aming mga dukha? Naisip mo rin ba ang idinulot ng iyong hindi patas na pananahimik sa bayan? Naalala mo ba na sumumpa ka sa harap ng milyun-milyong mga Pilipino, sa kanilang mga mata na nagningning nang ipasulyap mo ang pag-asa at pagbabago, na handa mong ipagpapaliban ang sariling kapakanan sa gitna ng delubyo ng krisis na tulad nito? Nauunawaan naming bilang pangulo ng bansa’y ibig mong maging patas. Ikaw at ang iyong pagbibigay hanggang sa puntong nabubulag ka na sa gusto ng iba kasabay ng unti-unting pagkawala ng tinatawag mong ‘ikaw’. Ang ikaw na unang nakilala’t niyakap ng

sambayanang Pilipino. Ang mali sa pag-aalinlangan ay ang kakulangan mo ng lakas ng loob upang iparinig ang iyong boses gayundin ang mga adhikain at pangarap na ibig mo sa Pilipinas. Oo nga’t ika’y maimpluwensya ngunit bakit tila anino ka lamang ng kung sinu-sino at ang paggalaw mo’y hindi namin ramdam? Marahil nagsisilbing hadlang ang mga maaring sabihin nila pero naisip mo ba na kahit ano at saang sitwasyon ay mayroon pa rin silang masasabi? Narito kami, sampu ng mga Pilipinong umasa’t naniwala sa inyong kakayahan at patuloy pa ring nananalangin na dumating ang araw na sama-sama nating matatamasa ang daang matuwid na una ninyong pinangako. Patuloy mo bang ilalayo ang sarili mo mula sa mga pribilehiyong malaya mo namang tinatamasa? Kailan ka pa magkakaroon ng determinasyong sabihin ang sa tingin mo’y mas makabubuti para sa lahat kung sa krisis pa lamang na ito ay wala ka nang maipamalas na pagbabago?

ANDRELYN CLAIRE A. BAUTISTA

Walang naibibigay na maganda ang pagbuo ng kunwaring limpi lalo’t kung ang hinangad mo lamang ay ang mapakinggan. Ngunit aming uulitin, sa paanong paraan? Sa inyong pananahimik, naiwang palaisipan sa taumbayan ang katotohanan sa likod ng pork barrel, gayundin ang mga taong responsable rito. Lahat ng ito’y nanatiling misteryo nang pinili ninyong manahimik ukol dito. Oo nga’t alam mo ang ginagawa mo pero ang tanong ay hanggang kailan ka pa magpapaalipin sa sarili mong kaduwagan? Sana’y iyo pong patunayang naihalal ka hindi dahil sa halimuyak ng iyong apelyido bagkus nagpamalas ka ng ehemplo na kaya mong imulat kaming mga dukha sa isang bagong republika na bitbit ang progresibong ekonomiya at mapagpalayang kinabukasan. Ang mali sa iyong pag-aalinlangan, aming Pangulo, ay ang patuloy mong pagpapaudlot sa mga konkretong mithiin para sa bayan na malinaw sa iyo, gayundin sa amin, ngunit sa kung anong kadahilanan ay napagigitnaan ng mga sitwasyong patuloy na humahadlang sa orihinal na plano. Isang siklo na patuloy sa pag-ikot at palayo sa kung ano ang dapat. Gayunpaman, ang wasto sa pag-aalinlangan ay ang iyong kamalayan na may nangyayaring hindi tama at ang katotohanang mayroon kang maaring gawin upang maituwid ang mga nararapat itama at linawin ang mga bagay na hindi maintindihan. Sa huli, ito ang nagsisilbing liwanag sa madilim at malungkot nating paglalakbay. Sa unang pagpiglas laban sa mga pag-aalinlangan, magagawang matukoy ang kaibahan sa pagitan ng tama sa mali at ng pagtitiis sa tunay na pagmamalasakit. Ngayong nagaganap ang pag-aalinlangan sa kung ano ang mga dapat gawin, aming pinuno, sabihin po ninyo, may aasahan pa ba kami?

in a year A light-year is the distance light travels in one year – 9.46 trillion km. Lightyears are one of the standard distance measurements in Astronomy. I hold refusal in measuring the span of our engagement in terms of numbers, and time. And I say engagement because both of us don’t know what we are, and what we should be, yet. I don’t want to have a clear leverage in knowing how far we’ve come. Nevertheless, I’ve kept track of time we spent in proximity. And I say proximity because it’s not closer, but closeness. There is a separation between together, and a close range. We are moving so fast but we don’t know where we’re headed. I keep associating things we have done in the past to our status. I use all of them as a barometer, to give a name to what we really have. You know that this detail is not one-sided because every sentiment does not exist without your approval. For example: The fi rst time we met at the almost half-empty hours of Christmas Eve. I know this because you remember The Carpenters’ “Merry Christmas Darling” playing at Rizal park (over the months it became a ritual. You’d play this song, we’d close our eyes, we’ll see nothing but the void, but our soul will know who’s beside whom, and that is enough to be safe). I asked permission if I could make a memory out of that moment which was ours. You said yes and told me you’d do the same as well. That week in January during vacation, since we’ve kept “whatever it was that we had” a secret to everyone we knew, we’ve decided, as by-products of our impulses, to not to talk at all to each other and instead exchange mixtapes containing songs which will tell how we really feel or what we wanted to say, for a week. No words. Just songs. I gave you “They’re In Love, Where Am I?” by The Weepies on the fi rst day. You responded with “Paranoid” by The Jonas Brothers. On the second day you gave me “Do You Really Love Me, Or Am I Just In Your Network?” by My Little Pony. I responded by giving you Mika’s “Love You When I’m Drunk.” On the last two days, I gave a mixtape which had the classic “All I Want Is You”. You

it's over

LITERARY DECEMBER 2013

CARL JEROME OBOSA VELASCO

responded by giving me The Beatles’ “You Like Me Too Much”. That could have been the reason why I became too attached. You knew very well that The Beatles was my weakness. That night when we sneaked in the local sports complex, laid down on the track, and stared at the stars. I told you the clichéd trivia about stars--being so far away from us that we are only just seeing their shine now, whereas they’re actually dead isochronally. You told me you never knew this. I told you everything that our eyes could see is an illusion because light is just produced when atoms are excited. You asked whether colors are real. I told you the spectrum is real, and light plays a major part in ensuring everything had color. Then came September when you started to blur away slowly from your usual self. I told you that without light hitting an object, we won’t be able to see it. Maybe, just maybe, that’s why you never saw the better things in me because you run out of light, thus, only having reached the good

parts of my surface level. And that’s perfectly fi ne except now, when I am trying to pitch my being just for you to think I’m worth a try. Your light doesn’t hit my objects. Or maybe, just maybe, your light rays found somebody else, took off , and left , changing your direction. To you, it’s refraction. To me, it’s bullshit. Who am I to say I miss these things, when we were never sure why we did them all? A light-year is the measure of light’s speed through the vast space of the universe in a year. I am the light but I can’t illuminate forever. You’re like the space, baby. Empty. Light is the fastest thing in the Universe. The speed of light is 299,792,458 meters per second. About 300,000 km per second. Everything moves so fast. Time runs out before it does. You wasted every magical phenomenon in this universe by telling me that a year of what we do is not enough to call something, or anything. That I may have received diff erent wavelengths than you ought to have sent. Needless to say, you suck.

the lantern's message

JULES ANDREW P. GARCIA

I was once trapped in a huge never-ending tunnel; Nothing but darkness and echoes of my own voice. I screamed repeatedly, wishing that someone would hear my grievances. Unfortunately, only muff led sounds came out from my mouth. I stood. Using my sense of touch, I walked around. I was fagged out. But still, I desperately searched for a light. A light that I longed to see—a light that could make me feel alive!

JAN MICHAEL B. SUAREZ All things shall come to pass. This is what I tell myself whenever I see the darkness of the night slowly creeping in the totality of the horizon. I am scared, scared that this darkness might never end. Scared to see that everything that I once knew shining will be consumed by the pitch black hunter sent by the moon. Scared-- is all that I’ll ever be. I was afraid for that day to come, when all of humanity’s failures, struggles, and setbacks would swift ly take over my innocence and hopes. Yes, all hopes would be lost. And when that happens (soon, my senses tell me) and from what I see before me now… It’ll happen very soon enough. As I see no glimpse of confi dence, HE extended his hand to pull me from the depth that is endowed in the shadows of remorse. As everything seems to be falling apart, I intended to give up. But HE immediately opened his arms and welcomed me back, with an assurance that sooner or later everything will fall back to its rightful order. Darkness

has his own ways of getting me, for he never gives up. This time he tricked me with all the things I want to have. A friend. So darkness molded a friend that I would call my own. In the long run of our friendship, I was surprised and so appalled in the refl ection that I have seen in the mirror. I saw darkness and myself slowly fusing into one image, into one being. When that realization came out of my mouth. HE immediately bathed me with light, a restoring light that have changed everything in me, from the inside and outside. HE has converted me into my perfect form. It is a good thing that HE is always with me, with all of us. As I now walk in the path HE illuminated, HE taught me one thing that I should keep: We are always blinded by the things we want and currently have. But today as I move forward, I want you to go with me. Let HE, that same star in the sky guide you to this same path where I stand now. Gone are the nights of darkness, for HIS light shall not be extinguished. For no light shall ever be greater than the true luster of the Heir’s crown.

run, human, run

It’s coming. You are exhausted. It’s been chasing you for so long and you think you can’t elude it any longer. You knew this day would come. The day you have to face your biggest enemy. It’s inevitable for nothing can stop it from catching up with your pace. You turned in a dark alley. You are afraid not because you are alone but because of the thought that you might be surrounded for that thing might be anywhere. How? What led you up to this end? It’s coming. The crossroads. That was it! You were given the choice where to go. You were forced out of your comfort zone without any knowledge of how ‘outside’ would be. You feel small and fragile like a child being born again in the world. You can’t decide for you have no idea which way to go. It is freaking you out. Now, you were standing at a crossroad. Both roads give you a creepy feeling as they led nowhere. Time is running out, so is your life. You can’t stand in the middle forever. Suddenly, a woman called on you from one of the roads and you went to her. She held your hand and led you into a road ‘not taken’ as it was ‘new’. Your heart lit up. What a relief that you’ve got a companion! It won’t be a lonely journey aft er all! You’ve got a pretty bad feeling about this but the soft hand that is holding yours and the warm glow the woman gives out was assuring and comforting. It was all enough for that moment. It’s coming. But as you were walking in the middle of that road, you can feel her radiance slowly fading. You were getting anxious. Until came the day

PENUMBRA AND UMBRA

ANNE JANE M. PANDIAN

PENUMBRA I chose to believe that your corporeal nature is lacking and that you’re not in your usual psyche. I forgave you for what you have done wrong for I believe that there’s still a light that lies in you. I felt irate, but I chose to keep quiet.

Thanks to that light, I made it to trust myself and break boundaries that conspicuosly hindered me to do what I wanted. Now, gone are the days of being afraid to take risks, of expressing my feelings and of voicing out my sentiments. Now, a new version of me is born. I am free, confi dent, and proud.

UMBRA I vehemently abhorred you for all your accusations and lies. I can’t trust you again. You’ve trekked off the beam path in which the little light I saw in you perished. It transformed into a dark shadow that I can no longer accept.

PHOEMELA NICOLE V. BALLARAN

linings the

Before I almost gave up; Alas! I saw a glimpse of light from afar. Dedicating the last drop of my energy, I walked towards it. As I came nearer, it became brighter

Finally, the years of my constant search for light met its end. That light which made me realize that life is short for me to not do the things I want. Finally, the years of my suff ering, battling off personal dillema was over. Finally, I learned to unclench my fi sts and unfold my eyes, to do and see the things that I should have already done and beheld before.

that you woke up with her not around you anymore and she was nowhere to be seen. Nowhere to be found. No notes. No marks. The woman’s gone and this is when the haunting began. It’s here! The loud kick in a trash can outside woke you up back to this nightmare. You are alone. It’s dark and dreamy. You are trapped in this alley with no one to ask for help. No people. No woman. You screamed. You cried. You begged. Hope was lost. You were broken and confused. Fear is consuming you. You saw shadows running in the alley, trying to get you. You squinched in the corner, but it doesn’t help. Finally, it’s facing you. Looking at it, you saw the embodiment of every expectation, failure, stupidity and mistake in this world. It was like a monster living under your bed, only this time; it’s in your head. The real fi end you’ve been trying to outrun from. The real killer you’ve been trying to escape from. The real thing that blocks you’re way to success, is, you. It was you and the reality. All this time, it was ‘you’ whose been holding you back. It was your own fear of reality that defeats you. But no, you realize that it has been a journey and you’ve walked too far. This won’t just let you stop from going. It was the fear we could all handle. The enemy we must all defeat. It is when we fall that we rise. To emerge victorious is what we need. This very limit must be surpassed for us to keep growing and stay running in this mad, mad world. You rose, straightened up and went to face this monster. There are more monsters you’ll be encountering and the game has just started.

the galaxy is in you

As I was wandering, I heard a sound of water dripping. The sound was similar to that of my tears rolling from my eyes down to the ground. I cried for I was extremely tired of the situation I was about to lose hope.

It astounded me. The light seemed to become more vivid; It almost blinded my sight. I felt reborn and rejuvenated, Like a prisoner who fi nally got his parole.

MC JAZER R. MALONDA

lost spirit

of 21 20

23 24 25 26 went 2728 to explore 29 30 all

I am blinded and giving you an obsessive grip. Attempted to incur strokes, Strokes that serve as my precious breath; Air that will blow my internal rainbow Instead I am left with broad darkness inside and out.

8 7

up made

stars 18 are 17 there 16 why 15 explains 14 probably 13 which, 12

JESSICA B. PAG-IWAYAN

stardust

32 33 34 35 36

them , tracing

each one delicately 37

with 38 my 39 fingertips

I wonder if I’m hell-bent in my grip For we have stood emotionless in the ways I’m against. Tears falls, screams roll. Chains that bind my heart and soul are tightening. Oh! Great Spirit, where in the darkness can I fi nd you? Trace your escape and segue in reverse; come back and unchain me Free me from bondage like my knight in shining armor You’re my oasis in the middle of the desert, Oh! My pen let’s do this once more, Let’s dance with the rhythm of my soul.

your skin . I

all

6 5

we’re

that

3 somewhere 2

Every 42 touch 43

divine 45

read .

I’ve

LITERARY

DECEMBER 2013

call for submissions “H A R K E N”

THE OFFICIAL LITERARY AND ARTS ANTHOLOGY OF ANG PAMANTASAN IS NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS, TO BE PUBLISHED CAMPUS-WIDE, WITH THE THEME:

“ COEX: Making peace with the unknown ” WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: PLM students WHAT CAN BE SUBMITTED: Literary works (Poetry, Prose, etc.), Artworks (Graphics, Paintings, Digital Art, etc.), and/or Photography.

SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THIS EMAIL: angpamantasanliteraryfolio@gmail.com WITH THE SUBJECT: “Harken-Literature” for literary works, and “Harken-Artworks” for artworks and photography. Multiple submissions are allowed.

CLASS COLLISION

The document name should follow this structure: LITERARY FOLIO_[COLLEGE]_ [YEAR]_[COURSE]_[BYLINE]_ [STUDENT NUMBER]_[TITLE OF SUBMISSION]

START OF SUBMISSION: January 2, 2014 END OF SUBMISSION: February 20,2014 Literary works must not exceed 1,000 words.

uncertainty

Visit Ang Pamantasan’s Facebook page for more information.

ADLE MEYE R. ENRIQUEZ

Let me make your soul glow like it used to. Let my own honesty be the light that passes through the glass windows of your emotions. Let the shards of truth illuminate the doubts that you’ve been lugging for years. Let me beam you up as I utter the unspoken words you’ve been dying to hear. Let ourselves be like electric and magnetic field approaching together, producing our light of righteousness.

ADLE MEYE R. ENRIQUEZ / CARL JEROME OBOSA VELASCO

All submissions under the artworks category must be in high-definition.

However, your disposition may be different like an opaque object that won’t let my intentions to pass

through at all. Probably like a translucent material that would pretend to listen to my confrontations and leave them misunderstood afterwards, or perhaps, as what I would like you to be, a transparent item that would wholly accept every flaw, every belief I have. You are so inconsistent that your persona may selectively absorb, reflect, or scatter my light. I am aware that I will never know how you would respond on certain frequencies, but just be faithful. Believe in my words, believe in me.

this is how i imagine us to end ASTEROIDS Asteroids were beautifully created to ebb to the misconceived vastness of the galaxy, yet they are still known to be perilous. In order to lessen damages and fatalities, scientists eagerly observe when an asteroid is going towards our vicinity. I never expected that you’d come to my life like an asteroid. You may be a planetesimal, a mere shard of one entirety, but I’ve always revolved around your presence like you’re the center of my whole life. You approached me, and I accepted you, never knowing that you’d rescind my existence for a while. Thank you for leaving me like I’m just an insignificant piece of wreckage, I needed to know your encapsulating spectra, anyway. You destroyed me, yes. But you destroyed me gorgeously.

GALAXIES The problem with vastness is the prerequisite of filling it with things which will make it more real. But there is no guaranteed fulfillment by stashing things in a contained phenomenon, like say, “An apology cannot be validated with a thousand roses”. In cases such as those, one needs not to quantify materialism but rather congest it with utmost sincerity. One could argue that life is indeed the most-anticipated element in all galaxies, and it makes up for its emptiness— the kind of mystery that can be both comforting and haunting at the same time. But yes, you do have everything: the stars to help you connect the dots, the sun which gives you illumination, planets which keep you company, asteroids to heave your adrenaline, and varied illusions in the sparse stretch that is the universe. The question is; are those enough to fill you with life?

She asked him if he knew about the sun-grazing comets. He answered her “no” and so she told him about the comet ISON, of how the sun did not intend to destroy it but did it anyway. She went on to explain: “Sun-grazers are comets which path U-turns around the sun. They come close to the sun in about 850,000 miles, sometimes closer. The comet will eventually pass thru the frost line, a point wherein the sun’s radiation will cause its water to evaporate, making it appear brighter. Some comets break up at this point but some do not. If it indeed manages to pass thru the frost line, its dangerous journey does not end there. It will then experience intense tidal forces and gravitational stress as it goes nearer the sun. Comet ISON is now an ex-comet. It has been an odd one, though. Astronomers are fascinated by it because of its enormity as compared to the others; they even predicted that it will be the brightest sungrazer but then it evaporated upon coming

close to the sun. One even remarked that comet ISON is pretty rare and it might be that we can never see one like it again in this lifetime. And now it’s gone.” After elaborating about the interaction between sun-grazers and

Strawberry Fields forever “According to the story, Paul McCartney had been dead since 1966, the victim of a car crash in his Aston-Martin on a rainy night on November 9th, following a recording session at Abbey Road. The surviving band members, distraught, were said to have scrambled to find an impersonator. Then, they began the slow process of dropping hints about the accident.” I am not a believer of accidents. It was not by chance that our paths met one morning, both of us in the same room, only a few feet away but as distant as the sun. I assumed that it was all part of a grand scheme, that our first encounter was just the tip of the iceberg. True enough, it was. Much has been said about the perplexity of the female kind. I didn’t mind. Humans in general are complicated. We are all walking mess; we just differ on how we hide it. “Many people thought that towards the end of ‘Strawberry Fields,’ you can hear John Lennon saying ‘I buried Paul.’ Now, most people believe that he is saying ‘cranberry sauce.’” You hate strawberries because they are in the shades of pink. To tell you the truth, I had trouble digesting the fact that you despise that color. Pink is the universal hue for girls as blue is for boys. Things might have been easier if you had a fondness for pink. Knowing your favorite color is a matter of great importance to me; not to mention that it is also very handy especially during Christmas and, of course, your birthday. So my brain cleared space to make room for new information. In order for me not to forget, I made an effort to place a signage on my bedroom door which says “Her Favorite Color” and painted the walls of my room with the hue that you fancy— orange, the color of the sunrise’s warmth. It didn’t occur to me until much later that orange was also the shade of autumn and of the sunset’s solitude. Perhaps, it could have been really easier if you had a fondness for pink. “The myth goes on to say that the reason he crashed was because he was distracted by a meter maid (‘lovely Rita’) who was depicted on the song ‘She’s Leaving Home.’” You were so jealous of other girls. This insecurity of yours led us to the situation where fighting is as frequent as breathing. Insecurity is the state of not feeling secure. What part of me did you not feel secure with? I always held your hands whenever possible, in hopes to implant the thought on your head that I was always there with you.

PHOEMELA NICOLE V. BALLARAN

the sun, she then added, as if forming a conclusion: “I am the sun that sheds light but can never belong to anyone; you are the comet that survived but fell apart afterwards.” And now they’re done.

PHOEMELA NICOLE V. BALLARAN

I miss waiting for you to make up your mind about which book you should choose whenever we happened to stop by a bookstore. With all honesty, I used to have a slight, irrational feeling of resentment towards bookstores because I know that whenever you see one, it would mean hours of waiting, which corresponds to hours of standing, for me. But let me tell you that whenever you were able to find that one exceptional book you were looking for, I have always caught sight of an extraordinary gleam on your face. It’s as if you’ve discovered the most marvelous thing in the universe— which, I believe, was really what you felt. Ah, you were worth all the waiting. “The song Revolution 9 is a song that has a bunch of stuff being played backwards. One of it is ‘number 9, number 9, number 9,’ that when played backwards becomes ‘turn me on, dead man.’” Humans’ perception of time is limited to what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen. It dictates the notion that it is impossible for us to go in reverse. But if going back to that time which has elapsed is possible, I would in a heartbeat. To get back where we left off and to continue what it was that was blooming. I decided to just ask you to come back since a time warp is more complicated than the situation we were in. Though I was hopeful that I would receive a favorable reaction from you, I sort of had the hunch that you would turn me down. I know you. As I expected, you declined. I listened to every story you told me because I wanted to know more about you and that world inside your head. You and that universe you’ve created were so fascinating that I was so eager to be a part of it. But because of that growing insecurity inside you that you nurtured every single day, you had no idea how much I adored you (and adore you still). What part of yourself did you not feel secure with? “At the very end of the song ‘I’m So Tired,’ after the music stops, there is some quiet mumbling that if played backwards says the most famous hidden message in Beatles history: ‘Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him, miss him.’” “Extreme emotional exhaustion” was what you answered when I asked you why you were leaving. I had no idea what to tell you as a rebuttal. Of course, not.

I had a clear grasp of what I wanted you to know but I did not know which of them I should say. Like, why? Why were you exhausted? Wasn’t it I who did every possible means for us to avoid whatever it was that had happened? What were you tired of? Instead, this was what I replied: “Ok.” It was the lamest (but least annoying) response that my guts have mustered to mumble in front of you. That twolettered word encapsulates all the sentiments and hidden frustrations that I could not let out. It is an astonishing fact that humans tremble at the sight of a gun when it could only end our physical selves, whereas words could easily extinguish our soul. “At the end of the song ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps,’ George Harrison is moaning. His moaning sounds like he’s saying ‘Paul, Paul, Paul…’ as if he misses Paul because of his death.” I miss you.

“Most people realize how dumb it was to think that the ‘Paul is Dead’ hoax is true and have changed their views from believer to skeptic. But there are few out there that still truly believe that Paul died in that car crash.” Spring is the season when everything— fauna, flora, and even us, humans— experience flourishing. If that’s the case, then my time with you was definitely the spring of my finite existence. It was the time when everything— the sky, trees, cars, sidewalk bargains, and even the two of us— glowed. I will always remember how you hated pink, or how long you usually spent time in a bookstore. It would be dumb of me to deny that I was with you at a junction in time where we were hopeful. Just because it ended does not mean it is worth forgetting. I am the accumulation of my experiences, places I went to, and people that I met. You are a part of me as much as I am a part of you.

SPECIAL PAGE DECEMBER 2013

SNAPSHOTS Of PLM in 2013 ADLE MEYE R. ENRIQUEZ / MC JAZER R. MALONDA

FEBRUARY BISHOP AT PAMANTASAN His Eminence Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle D.D. leads the Thanksgiving Mass for the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the College of Mass Communication last February 5.

march MAGNANIMITY IN THE UNIVERSITY With the theme “Tagumpay ng Kabataan, Tagumpay ng Bayan”, the PLM community hails the colleges and organizations which excelled in their profession in the last University Recognition held at the University GYM, March 8.

june REJOICING ITS 48TH The students and administration celebrates the university’s 48th founding anniversary.

august LEADER MEETS LEADERS Together with OSDS Dean, Atty. Alexander Erese Jr, PLM student leaders meet then newly assigned university president Justice Artemio G. Tuquero at Office of the President.

september EQUALITY FOR ALL! PLM Propaganda, an accredited organization of the university that caters to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, proudly marches around Intramuros for their first ever LGBT Pride March held last September 4.

november FUTURE PLMAYERS PLM opens its doors for students who wish to be part of the PLM community through the PLMAT or the PLM Admission Test last November.

OPERATION: YOLANDA PLMayers reaches out to the Typhoon Yolanda victims as they volunteer on Center for University Extension Services’ (CUES) ‘Operation: Yolanda’ from November 11 to 15.

SAFETY FIRST PLM administration organizes a fire drill to prepare the students for unexpected disasters at the University Field last November 22.

december ROCK ON, PAMANTASAN! In coordination with PhiloMedicaScientia, Parokya ni Edgar turns PLM upside down with their rock and roll performance in BANDAIDS 2013 last December 5.

SECURITY AT RISK With the stabbing incident last December 9, the University Security Group inspects baggages at the University Lobby and prevents people from entering the school grounds in any way other than the Lobby.

YEAR-END PARTY The PLM community celebrates its first #PaskoSaPamantasan led by the Supreme Student Council last December 16 at the Tanghalang Bayan.