The BEACON AtFest/Year-end Special 2016 by The BEACON Publications

CONTENTS 03

EDITORIAL

FEATURES 08

04 MIA: The Ateneo Christmas Tree 05 The Residue of the Embers That Stirred the Night 06 Cinco: El Fuego de Ateneo 07 When Eagles Revert to Rebuild the Nest 08 House of the Rising Band 09 Ateneo Fiesta 2016 Official Tally Board 1 0 The Ateneo Funny Run 1 1 Juego: Porque Cinco? 1 2 The Road to #2Peat

OPINIONATED FEATURES 14 15 16 17 18

They Say, Liberals Are Dead!? Trump and Duterte: Bromance Libingan ng mga Bayani at Isang Feeler No Jobs on a Dead Planet Verbal Shrapnel

CAMPUS 1 9 Jesuits Meet in Rome

INFOGRAPHICS 20 A Tribute to Miriam-Defensor Santiago 2 1 Digongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Promise List Tracker 22

ENTERTAINMENT 25

22 23 24 25

May Forever sa 2016, Bes What is Beauty in Pageantry? In Vogue: Social Media in 2016 The Movie Love Ladder

RETRATO ATENEO GALLERY

EDITORIAL

Time to say hello, goodbye

year ago, the whole world wrote its own headlines and transcripts of historical events – braving monumental deaths, confidential dossiers, intimidating election results and ill-starred mishaps. In the local scene, one of the most talked topics throughout 2016 was the raging fire which devoured our university’s oldest living structure – the Brebeuf Gymnasium. It hit hard for most; and it took time for the large Ateneo community to uproot and move ahead of the unfortunate incident. The Brebeuf episode is only one of the few. Like a clock that won’t stop ticking, we were constantly battered day after day, week after week, month after month. We witnessed the fentanyl-induced hero’s burial of an irrational, greedy dictator. We saw, in our television sets, the spate of unexplained executions that happened

day and night, bombings that juggled lives like Lego bricks, and political turbulences more tempestuous than thunderstorms. Amidst all of these, we managed to get through. This year’s Ateneo Fiesta, with the theme: “Animo Ateneo: Tested by Fire,” embodies the glowing hope within us. In a different perspective, the theme is not encapsulated by the sole fire which destroyed a part of us, it also exemplifies the breakdowns, dilemmas and fiascos we’ve been through this 2016 as one community and one country. With optimism guiding us, let us welcome 2017 with an open mind and a heart of courage. It is time to say hello – to new beginnings, to a year full of flourishing dreams and aspirations waiting to be fulfilled, and goodbye – to the epoch of hurt and despondency that has bequeathed us new wisdom and thought.

FEATURES • ATENEO FIESTA 2016

MIA: The Ateneo Christmas Tree “An Ateneo Fiesta is no Fiesta without its tree.”

WRITTEN BY : JORDAN LASCOTA

veryone had experienced the nauseating feeling that something is missing. I’ll cut you some slack here; it’s not at all love-related. It’s something more gruesome that had left the Ateneo community aghast. That’s right. What I’m talking about here is the missing Christmas tree that everyone (and I literally mean EVERYONE) knew and loved. The absence of the Christmas tree had not only left Ateneans in a state of emptiness, but in a state of confusion as well. A lot of students assumed that the no-show of this year’s tree also meant that the Ateneo Fiesta will not be that much festive unlike before. After all, the Christmas tree was one of the few things that reminded everyone that the Ateneo Fiesta is near. But this year, no Christmas tree appeared before us. As the saying goes, or at least what we have been hearing from all of you, “An Ateneo Fiesta is no Fiesta without its tree.”

PHOTO COURTESY : UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

To end everyone’s agony regarding this year’s missing tree, the BEACON Publications took it upon ourselves to investigate the cause of this very tragedy that caused more than half of the Ateneo population in shock. Based on our findings, the reason why this year’s tree went AWOL on us was not because of a fire prevention measure which most of you insinuated. According to Kiko Miranda, the chair for this year’s Ateneo Fiesta Steering Committee, the success of this year’s Ateneo Fiesta was made possible on a very tight budget. “Financial constraints. The challenge was to work on a very limited budget, which calls for cutting down certain games, contests, sports, and special activities. One of which is the Christmas tree which costs so much to build”, said Miranda. According to the interview, due to the very limited budget that the committee was forced to work with, even the famous arch near Gate 1 was not even built.

Despite having no tree to dazzle everyone of its marvel, a much more meaningful, low-cost alternative was built in its place – a belen. The said belen was constructed from scraps of the recently burned Brebeuf, which posed an even more poetic gesture other than being the place which hosted the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Christine Calunod, the newly appointed director for the Office of Student Affairs, the belen is a manifestation of the school’s humility. “That’s our identity,” she said. Accordingly, the belen is a symbolism of how the Ateneo, little as it is, is a nest of great potentials – a much better symbolism than an oldfashioned Christmas tree. Tree or no tree, what matters most is the spirit that it embodies. After all, the spirit of Christmas and even the fiesta has been living on since time memorial - even before the Christmas tree-building tradition has started. So why stop now?

FEATURES • ATENEO FIESTA 2016

“L

WRITTEN BY : CANDELINE GALVAN

ife may not be the party we more interesting and memorable hoped for but while we’re here, with him incorporating well-known we might as well dance.” challenges like the mannequin challenge in between the dance craze. And the night was truly ravaged Although, the student government by both the college and senior high sure have upped their game with the students with their stylish clothing lighting system which was so blinding and jaw-dropping dance moves as yet impressive and added to that are the blithesome atmosphere was kept the admirable skills of both DJ Kenz up till the end. While the party may and Nicka Kuan in their effortless not have started on time that did not manipulation of the mix of songs. mean the students who came in were Plus there were free drinks that were any less. Instead the place was still most definitely not spiked and prizes packing to the point that coordinators to go along with it, what more can you of the event had a hard time keeping ask for? Well more entertainment of things organized. But with the height course! of enthusiasm that the partygoers showed? Let’s just say the party played And the senior high students didn’t its part. dare to let themselves be outshined by the college students! With the dance We most definitely cannot call it showdown showing off their vigorous party without an upbeat emcee and personalities, the young men and music to go along with it. And true to women sure gave the crowd a lesson its word, the man who sustained the on how to move to the beat. They even peers’ vitality throughout the night, had their own boyband! Who didn’t go Randolph, had made the event much nuts when the EXODUS’s displayed

their raging spirit with their wild range of melody? Although, the college students most definitely didn’t let themselves be a pushover in this relationship because they returned the favor just as fervently. It was seen from the breathtaking moves from the different dance groups. Like how Angels and Femmes were the embodiment of sensuality and how the MAO and Lions were just as badass. Even the Blue Vigors were spectacular as the El Consejo members had also followed into their rhythm during the opening part of the program. Singing along with famous songs as we raise our hands high and proud, we might as well have burned the ground down with the level of energy shown. That is why despite the lack of coordination shown during the event, the night still turned out just as great as the last time. Especially if you like partying till the heat dies down.

FEATURES • ATENEO FIESTA 2016

BY : NEHEMIAH ARAOJO & SYLVIA TIPOE

he massive rise of the ATENEAN FIRE. No better way to describe the horde of masses coming to the blue halls of La Purisima. The Ateneo Fiesta 2016 was clearly a fiery revolt composed of excited masses with expectations to unleash themselves into the horde of AtFest events as they savor the sights, smell and sounds of Ateneo Fiesta. Still, as one looks upon this affable congregation of spontaneously-appealing people, the drop-in-a-bucket question remains:

Why was the Ateneo Fiesta held only for five days? One hundred and four years of history of excellence, spirituality and citizenship have molded young generations in the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. With these cherished years of history, Ateneo de Zamboanga University has held a stream of Ateneo Fiestas as a showcase of excellence and to meet the long-held tradition of bond and friendship in the community. It is not a strange thought that the Ateneo Fiesta would be a different one this year. The reasonable mind would recur that July 7 of this year, a rummaging fire had swept the symbolic, 67-year-old Brebeuf shaking the Atenean spirit and pushing him to a brink of endless questionings and search for answers. Despite all odds, the Ateneo Fiesta was able to push through. The stage set for the Atenean Community despite the fire was largely to be owed to the persons behind the scenes struggling to make the Ateneo Fiesta not only a possibility but a concrete reality of festivity and celebration of values. Economically speaking, any event of a certain entity would always entail costs as much as it would produce rewards. One ought to say that the opportunity cost and the trade-offs to be made for this year’s Ateneo Fiesta were almost beyond the bar. An ordinary Atenean could not hope to fully explore the facets of complicated decisions made behind the scenes to carry out this burdensome but very much rewarding task of making the Ateneo Fiesta 2016 a possibility. One of such persons behind the scenes is Kiko Miranda, the chairman of this year’s Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is the appointed body by the Presidential Management Team tasked to carry out the most important duty of making a somewhatfamiliar dream of an Ateneo Fiesta 2016. The threefold responsibility forwarded to Mr. Miranda in holding the Ateneo Fiesta 2016 were: to ensure the Ateneo Fiesta is able to meet the budget constraints, to provide adequate security for the safety of the students attending the Ateneo Fiesta and to minimize disruption of classes.

Budget Constraints. The Ateneans are no stranger to principles of commerce that dictate that a longer Ateneo Fiesta would entail higher expenses. Financial constraints for the Ateneo de Zamboanga University were more challenging as events such as the

K-12 transition, renovation of school infrastructures and the burning of Brebeuf Gymnasium flocked this year’s calendar. Mrs. Christine Calunod, Chairman of the Events’ Committee tells us that this year’s Ateneo Fiesta 2016 had only five sports games namely: volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer, and frisbee. The reduction of sports and the sports to be included were clearly discussed among the Academic Organizations in the University. Despite the reduction of sports, the Event’s Committee ingeniously provided leeway in the form of Non-Sports Events and Special Events which were generally accepted by the Student Body as seen in the favourably larger turn-out this year in terms of audiences and participants. With those in view, an audit of the expenses this year for the Ateneo Fiesta 2016 led to a 30% decrease in expenses as a result of the trimming-down of the number of days and sports. The decrease can be largely attributed to the use of judges that are coming only from the University Offices, wise use of limited resources and decisive actions to ensure that events would meet the financial constraint imposed upon them.

Security. An event such as the Ateneo Fiesta is not to be taken lightly as this is an event that entails keen and responsible oversight over a relatively very large number of students and non-students. The security risk of any school activity is a priority so much the more during a five-day event where students come and go and visitors are flocking during the night hours that security guards might have difficulty keeping in check everybody’s safety. It is important to note that security protocols such as the “NO ID, NO ENTRY” have been strictly enforced and the use of

only one entrance centralized the use of security human resources. The impact of the security considerations can be fully seen when the opening parade would not have pushed through had the students not convinced the organizers that it must push through as the essence of Ateneo Fiesta would be devalued without the parade. Even during outdoor events of the Ateneo Fiesta such as parades and fun-runs were all under the maximum security of Task Force Zamboanga and Philippine National Police and even the barangay tanods of the community. Such intricate and finely-made decisions in

the security were one of the reasons why taking a longer Ateneo Fiesta might lead to possible security risks.

Disruption of Classes. It is a sobering reality that a grand event such as the Ateneo Fiesta is still under the constraints of academic rigor and educational requirements set by the Department of Education. The ten-day Ateneo Fiesta would have the most impact on Basic Education since they are required by DepEd to conduct a certain number of class hours. The implications would then be long make-up classes and the use of weekends to cope for the lost hours. The strategy implemented by the Steering Committee is to spread out the usual ten-day format of Ateneo Fiesta throughout the whole month thus some activities were held prior to the five-day Ateneo Fiesta. “Time management was the key,” by the words of Mr. Miranda. Eagle’s Perspective. On the Steering Committee’s end, the Ateneo Fiesta was pulled-off with elegance and grace despite the odds. “Kaya naman pala” Mrs. Christine Calunod tells us. The Atenean’s ability to produce grand results in the song-writing competition, speech choir, chorale and many more displayed Ateneo’s affinity for creativity and excellence. The fear of a less-attractive five-day Ateneo Fiesta was completely distilled because the students became more participative and had their joys rising until the culmination day. It is of importance that this year’s theme of Ateneo Fiesta is Animo Ateneo: Tested by Fire. The theme itself was a clear reflection of the students’ desire to rise despite the odds. Although some issues of bitterness in competitions, the lack of solid waste management and the exhaustion of students surfaced during those days, it cannot be denied that the Ateneo Fiesta 2016 raised the bar as it should yearly. The Ateneo Fiesta 2016 was a showcase of the Ateneans’ brand of excellence. The social media hype it generated, the roaring spirit of Ateneans and the overall participation of every Atenean only showed how resiliency is bred through trials. Nothing that passes through fire ever remains the same. Mr. Kiko Miranda rightly puts it. “Pinapagpag na natin yung abo, handa na tayong lumipad.”

FEATURES • ATENEO FIESTA 2016

WRITTEN BY : PUTRI AMILBANGSA II

h~ 2017 is opening and it is yet again the time for the Eagles to return to their nest. The annual Ateneo Alumni Grand Homecoming is one of the many most awaited events during the Ateneo Fiesta. This year, celebrating the coming back of the alumni is for a sentimental cause. The benefits of this year’s homecoming are to support the fund raising for the rebuilding of the burnt down iconic Brebeuf Gym. The members of the Ateneo Alumni Association have given their full support to the recuperating of the university since the fire earlier this year. We could only imagine their fond memories with the more than half a century old gym, and their distraught of learning of what became of it. It is no wonder that they will make use of this grand homecoming to further help the fundraising for the once was beloved gym. With the efforts for the activities lined up for this year’s celebration, the grand alumni homecoming is truly a big slice of the pie in the university’s fundraising. The four-day celebration started solemnly with the Alumni Recollection on December 1. The next day was the big kick off celebration at the Fr. William H. Kreutz SJ Campus in Tumaga. Opening early with the traditional Golf Tournament at the Zamboanga Golf and Country Club, the registration for the homecoming in the FWHK SJ Campus in the afternoon marked the beginning of the grand celebration. Anyway, all the fun stuff followed suit. The fellowship night where all the previous batches of former members of the AdZU community reunited, Zumba, Laughter Yoga, Food Fest (yum!), of course the Homecoming

Mass, and finally the Blue and White Night at Palacio del Sur. Going back to the real deal, the alumni organized a bunch of fundraising activities to help the recovery from the burning of the gym, most especially for the Ateneo University Band who were the most affected with all their instruments lost to the fire. Each batch of alumni contributed their own collection of donations to be given to the fundraising. The selling of the Recuerdos shirts was also another fundraising effort by the Alumni Association. Also, in coordination with El Consejo Atenista and Ateneo College Parents Council, the Ateneo de Zamboanga Alumni Association organized the Blue Heroes Run! for the benefit of the rebuilding funds. In celebrating the coming back together of the different generations of Ateneans, we realize the solidarity and loyalty that they pay to our alma mater. Though long they have gone from our beloved institution, they still come back with reverence especially through the tough times that AdZU has felt. No fire can ever purge the ANIMO ATENEO in each and every one of us.

FEATURES • ATENEO FIESTA 2016

House of the Rising Band

WRITTEN BY : AUDRIE SEPE, KATLEEN TAMPOS & MERZSAM SINGKEE

PHOTO COURTESY : UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

osing the means doesn’t have to imply prolonging the absence of music. And that’s precisely what the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Band has determined to prove in the past couple months, following a tragic fire incident that has left the entire AdZU Community mourning in the wake of the treasured Brebeuf Gym.

STRUGGLES AS A BAND

Apart from the structure which served to nestle the students, every musical instrument that were of exclusive possession by the band has also been perished in the ravenous break out. “It was very painful especially for the students... we lost our home.” says Apolonio Enriquez, bandmaster of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Concert Band. For almost 60 years, the Brebeuf Gym has housed the gang and has been the prime witness of every humble victory and debacle that prevailed. Having grown accustomed to what seemed like a clockwork of practice after another, it took some getting used to for the musicians as they moved to a temporary abode, after their home and family of symphonies were taken away in a snap of a finger. RISING FROM THE FALL Donors have called in for contributions and pledges to raise funds for the university band three weeks after, including some of personal donations of instruments. COMEBACK IS REAL The Ateneo Concert Band is no stranger to unfortunate happenstances going their way. Resilient and unstoppable. Like the fifth step of getting over a loss, the band has gone past the point of acceptance and is all about total comeback.

To show to everyone their gratitude for the new instruments they have received, a free Christmas concert, dubbed “And the music goes on…,” was held last December 17, 2016 at the Brebeuf Grounds. Led by Mr. Enriquez himself, they performed various musical pieces, ranging from classic Christmas carols such as “Feliz Navidad” and “Joy to the World,” to energetic pop songs such as Katy Perry’s “Fireworks” and Meghan Trainor’s “Lips Are Movin’,” they have shown their musical proficiency. The band was serenading the audience with Sinatra’s “My Way” when all of the sudden, the dreaded situation happened. It started raining. Strangely enough, that song usually defines bad luck. Nevertheless, they refused to budge and actually finished the song in spite of the gales and thunder occurring, demonstrating their resilience and professionalism; they finished what they were doing and gracefully went down the stage. After everything was in order, the audience was instructed to transfer to the Multi-Purpose Covered Court since the show has to continue. It’s awe-inspiring, how they withstood all these situations. They rose above and beyond anyone’s expectations when they were able to bounce back from the situation they had to endure, and perform with such grace and elegance as if nothing happened. The Ateneo Concert Band lives on!

FEATURES • ATENEO FIESTA 2016

The Ateneo Funny Run

WRITTEN BY : MERZSAM SINGKEE

PHOTO COURTESY : UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

he Blue Heroes Run, a fund-raising event organized by the El Consejo Atenista, Ateneo College Parents Council, and the Ateneo de Zamboanga Alumni Association, was held last November 27, 2016 at the Fr. Eusebio Salvador SJ Campus, Ateneo de Zamboanga University. All proceeds from the aforementioned event will be donated to the rebuilding fund of the AdZU. This year’s fun run however, was different than its predecessors; it lived up to its name: FUN run. The event started off like previous fun runs – registration and assembly at an ungodly hour in the morning – but as the event came to a close, unexpected awards were given. Aside from the typical firstsecond-third prizes, awards were also given to the following: the person with the best hero costume, the oldest runner, the sexiest runner, and the last one to arrive.

In light of the fire that razed the Brebeuf gymnasium to the ground, it is apparent as to why this year’s fun run was conceptualized as such: to uplift the spirits of the grief-stricken Ateneo community. There was a sense of solemnity under the cheerful façade of the event, especially highlighted by the fact that the money generated from the event will be forwarded to the rebuilding efforts of the Ateneo.

FEATURES • ATENEO FIESTA 2016

WRITTEN BY : GILLIAN MANALO

PHOTO COURTESY : ADZU - SHS

ne of this year’s awaited celebration is the Ateneo Fiesta – most commonly known as the ‘AtFest.’ Most of us Ateneans think that this year’s AtFest feels peculiar without the giant Christmas tree in the BC quadrangle. Alongside with this, we have also questioned, ‘porque cinco juego lang tiene?’.

Ateneo Fiesta is a festive and joyful celebration that is celebrated annually by Ateneans, with this year’s theme: Tested by Fire. Of course, the Ateneo Fiesta is the time to showcase our unity and sportsmanship. This year’s Ateneo Fiesta might seem different from the preceding Ateneo Fiestas. Why? Because this year’s fiesta only holds 5 sporting events that is different from the usual 11 sports event that is catered by the past successful Ateneo Fiestas. So why do we only have 5 sports this year? Well, all we have to put in mind is the theme of this special event. This year’s theme is based on the

PHOTO COURTESY : UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

tragic incident that razed the Brebeuf Gymnasium to ashes earlier this year. An obvious reason anyone could tell is because Ateneo is experiencing financial difficulties because of the restoration of damaged buildings, perhaps? Or is it the discrimination of the other sports not included? Well, according to the over-all in charge for sports, Mr. Cuaresma, they have suggested that this year’s fiesta should include all sports that have been catered in the preceding fiestas, the venue would not be a hindrance in this year’s fiesta. Also eliminating the other sports would be unfair for the player of those sports that have been eliminated from the list. What is the difference if we hold the usual 11 sports for this year’s fiesta? Accordingly, one of the reason

PHOTO COURTESY : UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

behind the five sports catered in this year’s Ateneo Fiesta is because the limited number of days allotted for the fiesta, which is 5 days. This has been proposed by the Steering Committee to the respective academic organizations, and accordingly, the governors and vicegovernors of the respective academic organizations have agreed in this proposal. Understandably, the Steering Committee is minimizing the cost in this year’s fiesta. One cost-minimization way that they have seen is limiting the number of sports. Well in the end, Ateneo Fiesta will still be Ateneo Fiesta with only 5 sports celebrated this year. What is important is that we have the time to unwind and enjoy; showcase our sportsmanship and camaraderie; express that we are one family – we are one Ateneo.

PHOTO COURTESY : UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

FEATURES • ATENEO FIESTA 2016

THE ROAD TO #2PEAT

WRITTEN BY : JORDAN LASCOTA

he atrocity that is the July 2016 fire that brought the whole Ateneo down for taking their beloved Brebeuf did not stop the Ateneo Steering Committee 2016 in pushing through with their plans for this year’s Ateneo Fiesta, which, in an Accountancy Academic Organization (AAO) student’s perspective, a chance to once again, reign overall champion. The Preparation In order to materialize the said goal, much of the AAO’s efforts are geared towards rigorous practices and preparations, giving an additional burden to the aforementioned, even if being stressed out over textbooks and accounting problems is usually their day job. Nonetheless, with the incentives promised that will boost their semestral GPA, and a chance to gloat for being the overall champion yet again, late night preparations will be the least of their worries. In fact, the main problem that the AAO encountered this year (or every year, perhaps) would probably be – you’ve guess it right – financial in nature. The recent decrease in enrollees this school year in the accountancy department led to a very alarming decrease in the AO’s funding as well, which is far from being enough to sustain the expenses incurred during the Ateneo Fiesta. But hard as it may seem, the said AO still managed to resolve such problem with their strong support system, and competency in negotiations and public relations. The (Probable) Downfall It is evident that winning overall champion in the Ateneo Fiesta is never a walk in the park. With AtFest 2016’s competitive atmosphere, even the #2PEAT victory of the AAO was not an easy feat. 2015’s landslide victory could not even compare to how neck-in-neck the competition was. Despite losing their star

PHOTO COURTESY : UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

“Napaka-surreal ng feeling. Halatang-halata that everyone was driven to win, to make sure that the trophy is once again ours. It is this shared vision and endless perseverance that made our 2peat win possible” -Vice Gov. Rhea Hamin athletes to graduation last March 2016, and even to their sister department, the Management Lions, the Tigers seemed to have found a different avenue to ensure that the championship win is definitely in the bag. But with the Management Lions, CSIT Griffins, and the newest member of the Ateneo family, the SHS Titans, taking the top 3 spots in the rankings for most of the Ateneo Fiesta, no one could have even guessed that the AAO could still reign overall champion. The Comeback Shying a point or two away from placing first in the rankings is what drove the Tigers beyond their limits. With everyone using their trump cards in the sports events of the Fiesta, the AAO has no other realistic alternative but to invest all efforts in the non-sport activities, with hopes of grabbing the overall championship. Fair enough, bagging a podium finish in most of the night contests contributed most to their victory.

Governor Yousef Cali and ViceGovernor Rhea Hamin admitted that this year’s victory is definitely a team effort. “It is the effort and firm faith of every Tiger, not to mention the immense support from the sophomores to the super seniors, the faculty, even, which brought us to victory,” said Cali. “Napaka-surreal ng feeling. Halatanghalata that everyone was driven to win, to make sure that the trophy is once again ours. It is this shared vision and endless perseverance that made our 2peat win possible,” said Hamin. Winning 2 Fiestas in a row really shows that the AAO is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Despite being challenged in various proportions, the Ardent Tigers certainly packed a punch, assuring that the students of the Accountancy Academic Organization are not ones to resist a challenge.

FEATURES â&#x20AC;¢ ATENEO FIESTA 2016

#3DaysLangKasi

OPINIONATED FEATURES

They say, Liberals are dead!?

2016: Politics in review WRITTEN BY : ABDELAZIZ MALDISA

We like to see history as moving forward. Exponential growth. Humans would finally be free from superstition, advocating for equality. Sadly, this is not yet the case today. 2016 has been a mess. We like to see history in a myopic view. It’s about progress, they say. Humanity is nearing Enlightenment as time passes by. The Industrial Revolution, followed by the growth of cities in the West, proudly proclaimed these haughty ideals. Widespread prosperity fueled immigration to the New World, and a new breed of thinkers, inspired by the exciting times, championed the cause of liberalism in these lands. Yet, we humans, we forget easily. The 1920s were exciting times, flappers and hedonism were alive and well. Sexually provocative and empowered women were the norm, socially accepted standards were flouted in favor of the new regime. Yet just a decade after, all the decadence was gone, replaced by a somber and austere tone that would last well past the end of the 50’s. The 60’s gave birth to a counterculture, and liberalism enjoyed its greatest zenith during this era. LGBT rights were championed after the Stonewall riots, the Civil Rights Movement was born and a more connected world set the tone for multiculturalism and pacifism. Yet, fast forward to the 21st century and it would seem that the gains we’ve made in the past are slowly being eroded once again. This time, by the powerful rise of nationalism in many countries. In reality, history hasn’t been always straightforward. Sometimes we revert to our old ways. Der Führer Hitler’s meteoric rise to power can be explained by his fiery rhetoric and his uncanny gift for oratory in the 30s. Captivating the German masses, impoverished by damaging war reparations, he ultimately led the country into a frenetic pace of industrialization and militarization, so much that by the end of the decade, Austria and Poland were annexed to form part of a Greater Germany. Modern Germany heeded the lessons of its tumultuous past in leading the European Union, but today, rising anti-immigrant rhetoric has led to the resurgence of a far-right Pegida, banking on Islamophobic rhetoric, a familiar tone set by Goebbels in his anti-Semitic propaganda during the Nazi era. The lesson here, dirty politics feed on fear.

Brexit Protectionism is damaging. The world was stunned when the UK made the decision to pull out of the European Union, citing their contributions in the body politic were not tantamount to the benefits they receive. David Cameron, the progressive PM in Downing Street, resigned from office following the shock vote. Replaced by Theresa May, the country now awaits the consequences of pulling out from one of the world’s largest free trade blocs. This is not unique to the country. In France, Marine le Pen is making headway in the country by promoting a Frexit. It seems that the EU, fraught by problems, is already hanging by the thread. Donald Trump & Duterte Both Trump and Duterte rode on to popular support in a strongly antiestablishment year. Both were staunch nationalists, one vowing to expel illegal immigrants from his country and another vowing to end the oligarchy and stem the narcotics trade. Both also benefitted from social media campaigns and fake news stories that circulated online. It raised such a furor in the USA that Facebook opted for rigorous guidelines in checking out factual news stories. Perhaps what Trump and Duterte best exemplifies is that by exploiting people’s fears: such as Trump’s lobbying that multinational companies are giving away jobs meant for Americans to Asians, and Duterte’s support for a drug war as a necessity for security when it undermines the poor and vulnerable instead, popular support can be attained. Both leaders, as expected, are heavily polarizing leaders. Both are adored by their denizens, but also reviled passionately by their critics. Stoking nationalist sentiment, these leaders have shown that 2016 is the year of the unpredictables. A barely known city mayor becomes president renowned for his foul mouth, and a business tycoon shouting Grab them by the pussy becomes leader of the supposedly progressive USA and the free world.

Are the Liberals Dead? No. But they’re a dying bunch. In a study commissioned by Stanford University, Millennials were shown to be just as vulnerable as any age group in believing in false news. The youth wasn’t supposed to be like this. In the Internet era, there is simply no excuse left for ignorance on vital issues. The world is literally in our fingertips, yet seemingly, many are still uninformed. Expect poison from stagnant water, as Wordsworth would say. It would seem that many fall for clickbait headlines, and worst, read the cesspool we call the comments section before reading the actual article. With the EU and UN in shambles, Syria burning for five years already, the rise of nationalist and far-right governments all around the globe, we are in an important quandary. The ideals long championed by liberalism has been slowly overturned. Obama will now give way to Trump, expecting Obamacare, his landmark healthcare program, to be repealed. Elsewhere, the world is in a somber state. Narendra Modi is pushing for reforms with religious overtones in India, Putin remains hegemon in Russia and Xi Jinping is increasingly assertive in the South China Sea. In the Philippines, the resignation of VP Robredo from her Cabinet position is a sign of the return of partisan and revenge politics in the country, carefully hidden behind a thin curtain of patriotism. Most believe that these contemporary populist leaders would bring about change, many of whom were elected due in part, to the effects of the disastrous 2008 financial recession. An eerie coincidence with the rise of Nazism in times of economic hardship as well as the zeitgeist shift after the Great Depression in 1929. For now, we hope for the best. It is time for us to be engaged and informed, and to fight for the liberal ideal of democracy, that every person is accorded the same respect without any regard to religion, race or color. It is time to fight fear, and to valorously cherish life. After all, what else is there to live for?

OPINIONATED FEATURES

Trump and Duterte:

Bromance

WRITTEN BY : HASMINA ALFAD

hat fateful November afternoon, Philippine time, America has announced the 306-electoral vote win for Donald J. Trump. It wasn’t just America who reacted with protests and cheers. The world rejoiced and, maybe, panicked at the news of the turn-out of the 2016 US Elections. Sure, it was a tight competition between Trump the Republican and Clinton the Democrat. Maybe it was high time another republican president to run the country, considering the current two-termed president is a democrat. And since we, Filipinos, just love to be a part of everything, we have our own way of reacting to the news. There were the occasional memes and Tweets that just makes us look like we’re the ones who live in America and not across the world. But how are we truly affected by Trump being elected as the 45th President of America? From where things are with Trump and Duterte, they are most likely to be best buds or even develop a sense of bromance. Whether we like it or not, even believe it or not, Trump and Duterte have more things in common than they want to admit. Let’s admit it, people who voted for Duterte wanted his iron-fist of dedication in changing the way the Philippines run and President-elect Trump wants to ‘Make America Great Again’ those were their slogans after all. That could have been the reason why they won over the voters’ hearts. And their precious votes. They both have the same end-goal which is to improve their country. Have a similar stand in how they want to run the government which is federalism (we are also currently living in the ghost of a federal government.) Duterte and Trump would most likely be best of friends. Think about it, they’ve both shaken the world even during their campaign period. They speak the same language, even Duterte admits it during his trip to Malaysia: “Long live, Mr. Trump! We both curse at the slightest of reasons. We are alike.” With Duterete’s often-used description “son of a b****” and Trump’s rather colorful language, they’d understand each other so well. Remember when Duterte wanted separation with America and wants all military efforts by America to be removed?

Well now, he’s welcome Trump with arms wide open and both are inviting to visit each other’s country. Even during Trump’s campaign period, he’s been giving the Philippine president praises on his method in fighting against drugs and criminality. After Trump was elected, Duterte gave his word that the US-Philippine ties will remain intact, if not, stronger. Both men are quite adamant in having Russia as their ally at the same time, our President also wants China part of the team and Trump has repeatedly claimed his dislike for China. Does this mean there could be frienemies issue between Trump and Duterte? Going beyond Trump and Duterte’s future friendship and looking at what might happen to our country, then that would be a whole different story. Imagine if Trump would push through with his platforms and told his new friend, President Duterte: “don’t take this personal,” this is how things could go wrong: We don’t call America ‘The Land of Hopes and Dreams’ for nothing, and because of that we’d want to be part of that hope and dream thus immigrating to America. But not all immigrants are there with legal papers but are already working on their hopes and dreams. Now think about it, Trump wants every American to have a job and his solution is to fire nonAmericans and give that job to his fellow American. Not only would it crash the whole hopes and dreams concept, it would also decrease the remittance rate from US to Philippines. In other words, no more allowance from America! For those who are hybrid and wannabe

nocturnal, the call center life is for you. But since majority of the American investors are relying on call center agencies and Trump wants to reel back in these investors and give the jobs to American citizens instead. Aside from call center agencies, there are several other companies that employ millions of Filipinos and pulling out these employing companies would end us with a high rate of unemployed thus poverty. Trump could lead the world into the next World War III if he wishes so, or indirectly provoke major countries to war. And what would happen to our small but mighty country? We’d be stuck in between. If the feud with the West Philippine Sea continues and Trump will still continue his apathy to foreign countries and Duterte wants to remove all US troops in the Philippines, then we might as well hide under rocks because we will get the worse end. The war would be most likely US vs. China. Our economy could plummet like a meteor crashing. It would cause damage at a wide range. If Trump were to really reel back in American investors back to his country and Duterte’s back-up plan would be to rely on China’s economy, it still wouldn’t be enough since USA is a larger economy compared to China even by demographics. Not even Russia can outstand America’s economy status. Even after Trump including Philippines in his list of most terrorist group countries, we are not that closer to Trump’s grasp. But if so, we have our own president who may or may not think a lot like Trump. And maybe the two would out-weigh each other or they’d become allies of some sort.

OPINIONATED FEATURES

WRITTEN BY : DIEGO ESPERAT & MIA FALCASANTOS

ew things have been as divisive to this country as the recent burial of Former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (AKA The Heroes’ Cemetery or LNMB). Buried on November 16, 2016, the whole event took the country by surprise seeing as only a few people actually knew of its existence. What is also surprising (especially to the younger generations) is the fact that this has been a long time coming. There were actually two previous attempts to bury Marcos in the LNMB; one in 1998 when then President Joseph Estrada would plan but eventually abandon to do just that and in 2011 when then Vice President Jejomar Binay suggested it to then President Benigno Aquino III who did not act on it. It would not be until President Rodrigo Duterte sat on the presidency that Ferdinand Marcos would be buried in the LNMB. The issue that is being hotly contested nowadays is that whether or not Marcos deserves to be buried in the LNMB. Given the controversial nature of this topic, it would best for this article to discuss both sides of the issue and then weigh out the result in the end. One side argues that Former President Ferdinand Marcos does deserve to be buried in the LNMB. This is because of the good things that happened during his time; one of these is that the government undertook a lot of developmental projects that boosted the Philippines’s economic and social standing. Did you know that the Philippine Army had a secret project during the Marcos administration that produced our very own ballistic missiles? To be specific, it was a Philippine liquid-propellant rocket. It was on March 12, 1972 that the first ever Philippine made missile was successfully launched at Caballo island near Corregidor in Manila. The project was said to have been tested 37 times, launching Bongbong I (named after his son, of course) across the sea for other Asian countries to see. In fact, China, who is now one of the superpowers of Asia, was still developing its first missile project during that time. According to the Philippines News Agency, Marcos mentioned that the defense of the Philippines cannot be left to our allies and that we must assume that there will be contingencies where even the United States may not be able to come to our assistance. Sadly, the Santa Barbara Project was discontinued after the Marcos administration, throwing all military progress we once had into the bin and mostly forgotten and underappreciated. Another project was the Bataan Power Plant which was a $2 billion nuclear power plant that was completed under the Marcos administration but was never fueled and left to rot like the many other projects under his reign. There was a lot of potential here as it

would provide the country with a long-term supply of clean and cheap electricity. However, there were underlying risks involved that let us breathe a sigh of relief for not having the nuclear power plant up and running in the first place. These are the disposal of radioactive wastes and protecting people and the environment from its radiations. This is evident in the meltdowns that occurred in Fukushima and Chernobyl. Even so, it should be noted that most first world countries have built a number of nuclear power plants. The cost of building one is indicative of the country’s economic stature (or borrowing power). The Philippines was once “up there”. The other side argues that Marcos does not deserve to be buried in the LNMB. This is because of the fact that during his time, he declared himself dictator and put the country under Martial Law. It was during this time that many human rights abuses took place. The statistics from Amnesty International put it best; in the years during his reign 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed. These statistics alone should provide enough evidence to

“…burying him in the LNMB is an insult to the memory of all the people who earned the right to be buried there.” preclude Marcos from being buried in the LNMB. There have been numerous stories put forth by the families of the victims of Martial Law; many of them chilling and disturbing. Stories about torture and sexual abuse and all for speaking out against the unjust treatment of the people by the regime (and sometimes even for doing nothing at all). Ferdinand Marcos also left behind a legacy of corruption after his presidency. He is labelled the second most corrupt leader of the world by Forbes. In 20 years under his power, the country’s foreign debt rose from only $1 billion to over $25 billion. From this, he allegedly embezzled $5 billion to $10 billion. Because of this the country will be paying for all that debt until 2025. Even after the Marcos administration corruption still persists in the Philippines. We have the former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo as only two of the dozens of corrupt officials that abuse their power for their own benefit. There are some people however, who would like to make it seem as if the whole thing were simple. Accordingly, it is Marcos the soldier and former president that needs to be buried in the LNMB without

“Learning from our mistakes in the past is an important aspect of moving forward as a nation.” taking into account his actions. This is not a simple thing however; even disregarding the fact that many of his achievements during the war have been fraught with inconsistencies and lies (as proven by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), burying him in the LNMB is an insult to the memory of all the people who earned the right to be buried there. Sure, he became the President of the Philippines but it is one thing to win an election (and then declare yourself the dictator) and another thing entirely to be worthy of becoming president. Within the parameters stated above, Marcos is clearly not worthy of becoming president when Martial Law was declared. Even if there was some good that came out of Martial Law (infrastructures were built and projects were carried out), all the human rights abuses and corruption outweighs all of that and then some. Furthermore, him being buried there only contributes to historical revisionism especially when it comes to the younger generations who have no first-hand experience with Martial Law. Having Marcos buried in the LNMB might seem simple on the surface (certainly, some people would want us to believe it is) but it is a lot more complicated once you start thinking about it. So what can be done now that he is buried there and is most likely going to stay there for a long time? One thing that can be done is the prevention of historical revisionism. We should, as a nation, agree that Ferdinand Marcos in this context is not a hero and therefore, does not deserve to be buried in a place that is known for housing national heroes. We should always remember what happened during Martial Law (both the good and bad) and educate younger generations accordingly. Even if these memories are ones we would rather forget, it is still important for us to remember them. Learning from our mistakes in the past is an important aspect of moving forward as a nation. We can only hope that with t h e resolution of this issue, all the people affected by Martial Law (especially the victims) might be able to find closure and finally move forward with their lives.

OPINIONATED FEATURES

WRITTEN BY : ABDELAZIZ MALDISA

ilipinos are no stranger to the wrath of Mother Nature. Typhoon Haiyan, Pinatubo, Ormoc mudslides, Ondoy, Milenyo. We have endured the worst, and yet we bounce back, resilient as ever. But the times are different now. Last year, unusual oceanic temperatures stemming from the El Niño phenomenon led to massive coral bleaching in parts of the Pacific. Also, numerous island nations such as Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are already losing their water sources due to salinity. Atolls have been consumed literally by the rising sea levels, and the Earth is warming up due to carbon emissions. If you’re a fan of Jurassic Park or Congo, chances are you’ve read State of Fear by novelist Michael Crichton. Crichton, Harvard Med alumnus and summa cum laude, famously proclaimed in the novel that global warming was nothing but whimsy, and that the Earth has been periodically warming ever since its genesis. Leading environment advocates were quick to point out the anthropogenic contributions of global warming, but the damage has already been done. Up to this date, many still hold up the novel as a legitimate source and a go-to for global warming denial. But readers, we here in the Philippines have already witnessed how climate change really works. There is no point in denial once confronted with truth. This is important for us given the fact that our President Duterte called into question the Paris Climate Change Agreement, saying he wouldn’t ratify it till the world powers acquiesce. This is also important given that US President Elect Donald Trump vowed to renege in this agreement, saying it would hurt business. Following Pope Francis’ Laudato si’, the world spurred into climate change action once again after

the historic 1995 Kyoto Protocol. In Le Bourget, France, delegates from 195 countries met and agreed to pursue efforts to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This would require zero net carbon emissions by 2030-2050. On Earth Day 2016 (Apr. 22) 174 countries signed the agreement in New York, and countries have started ratifying the treaty. Pondering on the treaty’s implications in world trade, many oil exporting countries put into question the efforts it would entail to regulate petroleum refineries, doing so would hurt production and thus, lead to a spike in oil prices. However, the increased adoption of renewable forms of energy and electric cars could spell the end for oil-based energy production in the future. Most significantly, industrial giants such as the United States, India and China represent the biggest threat to the treaty. The USA’s refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol due to their industrial interests reinforced the world’s perception of the USA as a capitalist society, first and foremost. However, the Obama administration has pledged support for the treaty, while his successor Donald Trump is not so keen to pursue it. China and India will have to make many reforms, particularly concerning air pollution, in order to play catchup. Responding on the hurt it would inflict on business interests, general secretary Sharan Burrow famously said , there are “no jobs on a dead planet”. While we’re in the topic of global warming, a radical suggestion from scientists seem to point out that eating guinea pigs would be a better sustainable protein source than cattle. Bovines are major air pollution offenders, giving off methane and stripping off grass cover. Guinea pigs, commonly reared for meat in South America, seems to be a better alternative. Or maybe we could all just go vegetarian? Save the Earth everybody, it’s our only home (as of the moment).

OPINIONATED FEATURES

Verbal Shrapnel WRITTEN BY : JOHN DEXTER CANDA

This article was published in the editorial column on the Sunday issue of Philippine Daily Inquirer, 11th of September, 2016. The BEACON Publications was given full permission by the author to use this article for reproduction.

e have entered a new era marked by technology, egalitarianism and freedom of expression. However, there are consequences of which we need to be aware and take account. These consequences, once they come up from our judgments and decisions, may affect my life, your life, or our lives as humans with a particular task to behave with civility toward everyone, and expect the same from them. I was dumbfounded when I woke up at 4 a.m. on Sept. 3 and found out that there was an explosion in Davao City around 10 the previous night. As many as 14 people died and over 60 others were injured. Davao has been close to my heart ever since I was a child. Frequent holiday trips there were always planned; after all, my hometown is only a three-hour ride away from Mindanao’s biggest commercial center Despite the fact that, as of this writing, nothing much has been confirmed (it was reported that the authorities found pieces of shrapnel from a mortar-based improvised explosive device, but there were also rumors circulating that the explosion was caused by a gas leak), the incident has inflicted hurt and distress on many Filipinos, especially Dabawenyos. Immediately, sympathies poured and prayers were posted on social media. However, while I was going through the numerous tweets and posts from people expressing their sentiments and opinions on the unfortunate matter, I found that some had managed to attack not only Davao City and President Duterte but also the victims of the blast. A handful of posts were immediately criticized in the virtual platform. “Bwahahahaha anyare sa ‘one of the safest city in the world’ ??? !!!! Kabobohan. Parang presidente lang na may topak…” “Lesson yan. Hinay-hinay sa kahambugan Digong.

Nagiinit ang ulo ng mga masasamang loob. Well, same with the davaoenos, abot hanggang Luzon hangin nio. Be mindful with your next move.” “In your face, DigongGong.” In a world filled with vindictiveness, confusion and mayhem, do we still have the time to nitpick and be subjectively critical of the things happening around us? I am utterly sad. The power of unity enforced by the French and the Belgians when bombings occurred in Paris and Brussels really amazed me. Those were remarkable moments filled with patriotism, national concern and sympathy. But here, there are people, my very own compatriots, attacking their countrymen who are badly injured, and some who are dead. All this because of politics, prejudice and regionalism. I am completely devastated and embarrassed. Although it is no surprise that the internet is filled with trolls and bullies, it is still a disappointment that we Filipinos are wounding our country’s reputation as respectable, civil and kind. The explosion was a tragedy, a disaster that should not evoke feelings of anger and blame. Nor should it be an opportunity to spread hate and repugnance. It was a part of human life, a challenge that we need to overcome in unity with one another. As far as natural disasters are concerned, the Philippines is in fact one of the most united and resilient nations in the world. Yet we fail to capitalize on this when the tragedy is manmade, and often we waste time and effort on blame rather than on finding an effective solution to acts of violence. In this recent event, we must take note that bombs and shrapnel are not limited to shells, shards and splinters. They can take the form of words, too.

John Dexter G. Canda, 18, is in the third year of his biology course at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

CAMPUS

Jesuits Meet in Rome: What Does This Mean? Fr. Karel San Juan, S.J.

Photo Courtesy: GS36 ORG

ast October 2, 2016, Jesuit delegates from all over the world started to meet at the headquarters of the Society of Jesus ( Jesuits) in Rome. In attendance were 215 priests and brothers representing over 16,000 Jesuits in 62 countries. They gathered to elect a new leader, called the “Superior General,” and will discuss the current situation of the Society as well as its directions for the future. The meeting is called the “General Congregation,” or “GC” the highest governing body of the Jesuits. This is the 36th General Congregation (or GC 36) in the history of the Jesuits, which was founded in 1540. In October 14, the new General was elected, Father Arturo Sosa, SJ from Venezuela, the first General from Latin America. The term of the Jesuit General is for life, but he can resign for valid reasons like health. Fr Sosa is the 31st General of the Jesuits, and the successor to St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. I was elected to be one of the three delegates of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. The two others are: Fr Provincial Antonio Moreno, SJ, former President of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and Fr Ben Nebres, SJ, former President of the Ateneo de Manila University. The two other Filipino Jesuits at GC 36 are Fr Danny Huang, SJ and Fr Jojo Magadia, SJ, who both work at the Jesuit Head Office or “Curia” in Rome. Being part of the GC 36 has been an extraordinary and humbling privilege as well as responsibility. I hope I will be able to share the experience and inspiration to my brother Jesuits and lay partners after the Congregation. The Society of Jesus is the largest male religious congregation in the world, even as its membership has decreased from over 30,000 in the 1960s. It is known for its works in evangelization through education, social justice, missions, pastoral ministries, sciences, communications, arts, and other fields of endeavor. Jesuit colleges and universities are present in many parts of the world. In the Philippines, there are five Jesuit universities. Ateneo de Zamboanga University, founded 105 years ago, is one of the oldest, and is in the frontier of works for education, development, and interreligious dialogue. GC 36 is significant, not just because of the election of a new General, but because it will address the following questions: What will be the priorities of the Jesuits at this time of global challenges like poverty, religious violence,

migration, environmental destruction, and secularization? What is the best way of responding as a universal body? What is God’s call for magis or “more” for Jesuits and their lay partners in mission? At GC 36, Jesuits will pray and discern on these and other questions. They will also reflect on how the Society can best follow the lead and inspiration of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope. We therefore ask for prayers, and we thank you for praying for the Society of Jesus at this important time.

A Tribute

20 | INFOGRAPHICS

21 | INFOGRAPHICS

WRITTEN BY : DIA AHAJA & AEON ABAD

PHOTO COURTESIES : lifeandstylemag.com, Getty Images, WireImage & cosmo.ph

ove sometimes pops in the most unpredicted time, or simply get lost in all the bewilderment-no ifs ands or buts. Surely, love isn’t just an explanation to describe the butterflies in our stomach, to moments of desperation when we’re without someone’s company, to being elated and deflated time and time again. 2016 slipped away almost unnoticed (except for the traumatic celebrity deaths on the last couple of weeks), but it has no exception to igniting old flames of love, to stumble upon sad goodbyes or to arrive at a ‘happily ever after’. One that keeps our gossips working, social media-stalking aglow, and some real #RelationshipGoals are none other than celebrity couples. Well, of course, they can’t go off without love. Though December nor January may not be the month of love, it’s still a period to enjoy pleasures of love and romance which undeniably spells a memory of happiness.

not ‘yet’ join the Christmas dinner with the prince’ family but her heart will definitely be with him…

Here’s a shout-out to the 2016 hottest celebrity hook-ups that may be going strong even till 2017!

It’s been almost a year since the former 1D hunk Zayn Malik and Victoria Secret model Gigi Hadid hit headlines when news of a sparkling romance arose between the two. This surely ignited a lot of backlash but many still supported them. Almost not unknown to any teen living being is them having a chockfull of PDA moments that apparently display their strong affection for each other and thus spur wordsmiths to draw out unceasing stories. With the help of social media, even hitting a bump in the road or being in a roller-coaster ride of a relationship status is noted. This famous young couple is still on their early twenties so it seems that the test of maturity still lingers on their relationship. Now, despite revelations from Zayn’s exgirlfriend Perrie Edwards, the two remain steadfast and loving as ever….

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle The 32-year-old Royal who thought that it would be “absolutely fantastic” to meet a special someone finally found one a few months back with the American actress, Meghan Markle who is best known for playing Rachel Zane of the hit TV drama ‘Suits.’ Statement released from the Kensington Palace affirmed their relationship not long ago. Although they managed to keep their relationship in secret for almost half a year, there was still no way to conceal their Trans-Atlantic romance. Both the flame-haired prince and the beautiful brunette enjoyed low-key London dates, and even shared matching beaded bracelets. It is believed that they have first set eyes on each other in Toronto during which Prince Harry busily promoted the 2017 Invictus Games while Suits also happened to be filming there. Meghan originally hails from Los Angeles, but presently lives in Canada. This gorgeous lady is also an ambassador for organizations like UN Women and World Vision. The Prince and the actress are both passionate campaigners, and thus likely bond over philanthropic activities. Meghan may

On that note, Meghan said that in order to find true love and happiness, one must learn to love himself first. Gigi Hadid & Zayn Malik

Liam Payne & Cheryl FernandezVersini Whether it’s going to thrill us to bits, sink our hearts or make us upset- we would certainly be taken aback by the unexpected love story of Liam Payne, 23 & Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, 33. Who would have guessed that these two – with their 10year age gap, would end up together? One Direction member Liam Payne have known

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Cheryl since 2008 as a judge when he was still a 14-year-old boy auditioning for the X-Factor. He then embarked on achieving his dreams of stardom as part of a boy band popular amongst the youth – and eventually, the pair became a public couple earlier this year after the X-Factor judge had a failed marriage with Jean Bernard FernandezVersini. They are now happily expecting their first child together and plan to start a family. Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s romance is back on, and now, they continue the engagement! Even after splitting back three years ago, Liam Hemsworth still took back Miley Cyrus into his life again. The pair actually rekindled their relationship in early 2016. Perhaps, they have proved to miss each other’s company so much. The love chronicles of the two may have left us with sadness, joy, and hope but what’s important is that they decided to work it out (Aww Liam....) Anne Curtis-Smith & Erwan Heusaff Oh my God. Did you even see that video montage of their lovely US trip, when Anne entered the celebrated New York Marathon? After dating for six years, the two developed some deep bond. I mean, who wouldn’t fall for a girl as pretty as Anne and for a guy who knows how to cook and stays in shape at the same time? Nevertheless, it was more than that. Especially after we saw the last six minutes of the video Anne posted on her Facebook page, where his Filipino-French boyfriend surprisingly proposed to her while they’re in the woods. Kakilig!

WRITTEN BY : HARMONY LUCERO & RIZANNA NARAG

ppreciating beauty is inert in every human. Hence, beauty pageants came to life to feed the hunger of naive sights. Both men and women are mesmerized with awe when a beauty passes by. It is like seeing heaven and experiencing the ultimate visual bliss. But, a lot of women can give that kind of exciting experience. Who is the most beautiful, then?

However, what are actually beauty pageants and its history? According to Zim, a beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants, although some contests have evolved to also incorporate personality traits, intelligence, talent, and answers to judges’ questions as judged criteria. Moreover, tracing down to the antiquity of time, beauty pageants were just a mere entertainment in the old city of Troy. The jury included the great minds of the city like warriors, public speakers, philosophers, poets, actors, and sculptors. Ancient China also had special rules and unique way of selecting the most beautiful. Even the strict Islamic Ottoman Empire enjoyed this entertainment with beauty pageants where the most beautiful wives were selected. Though, the search for the paradigm of beauty is as old as the hills and is as much a part of human being’s DNA as wanting to look good. In ancient Greek mythology, there was Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, whose gift to love-struck Paris was the beauty that launched a thousand ships. The Grimms had Snow White’s insecure, wicked stepmother consulting her mirrored i-tablet on who was the fairest of them all. In the Philippines, we have the Malakas and Maganda (the Strong and the Beautiful) legends. It used to be all so easy. There were just Misses Universe, International, and World. Filipinos grew up on Universe and International because those are where the

Philippines scored its first victories. More on that later.

take a shot at tasks which encourage universal comprehension around the globe.

But, Filipinos have been honoring and celebrating their Maganda (Beautiful) since 1908 to be exact, the year of the first London Olympics, the election contest between William Howard Taft and William Jennings Bryan, when Pius X sat in Rome and the Romanovs still ruled Russia. It was also four years before the titanic sailed from Liverpool when Manila crowned its first Carnival queen, Pura Garcia Villanueva of Iloilo.

Meanwhile, Imelda Schweighart, who won as Bb. Pilipinas International, made rounds in the internet even before the competition started. She’s seen in a viral video of her making comments about P. Duterte, and even comparing him to Hitler. A month after her viral video, Schweighart yet again caught the attention of the netizens right after another video of her accusing the Miss Earth 2016 of having plastic surgeries, got leaked. She later on admitted that what she did was wrong, and apologized for her behavior. Sadly, Schweighart didn’t make it to Miss Earth 2016’s top 16. She then posted a rant about her, not being able to wear the gown that was designed for her. After all the issues that Imelda Schweighart has been facing, she opted to quit the Miss Earth 2016 competition. On her defeat, Imelda stated: “I think what went wrong is that I lack support. Nobody, like, assisted me, emotionally, I’m drained from all the work and not being myself.” After Schweighart’s stepping down, Loren Artajos, Miss Philippines Earth-Water 2016, took over Imelda’s role as Miss Earth Philippines.

In this era, the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed earlier this year that the Philippines will be hosting the Miss Universe 2017. A group of women advocates petitioned for a reconsideration for the pageant to be held in the Philippines next year. The DOT then decided to accept the offer to stage the notorious pageant in the Philippines. “While the DOT gives due respect to such opinion as signified by a group of women leaders and concerned citizens, we assure everyone that we deem it a great honor to host the distinguished event that portrays the most beautiful and talented women with highest regard,” the DOT said. Although everyone was rooting for her and expecting her to grab the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title, Kylie Versoza got the Bb. Pilipinas International title, just this April 2016. Before joining Bb. Pilipinas, Kylie Versoza was a model in Baguio City. She recently has been crowned Miss International, which made every Filipino around the world, very proud of her. Kylie Versoza is awaited to

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Ultimately, beauty pageants become more interesting with time. Some of the adult and teen pageants have been moving more towards judging speaking, and many no longer contain swimsuit or talent sections. Some pageants, also, award college scholarships to the winner or multiple runners-up. Today, beauty pageants are looked at all over the world. Beauty pageants serve a purpose in today’s society.

WRITTEN BY : ABDELAZIZ MALDISA

nless you’re some hibernating animal or a

hipster anti-social media freak, chances are you’ve already seen DJ Piko-Taro’s absurd new

video “Pen Pineapple Apple Pen”, which portrays him

rabid self-proclaimed political geniuses to their appointed nemesis. One

might

think

that

the

negative

dancing like Rick Astley (yeah, we’re never gonna give

consequences of social media serve as a cautionary

make a “pen-pineapple-apple-pen”. Whatever that is,

world in our fingertips is a dangerous world, with

you up, man) and making elementary actions to well, the video has gone viral and is now hailed as the next “Gangnam style”. Clad in animal print, a

pencil mustache and a loosely hanging scarf reminiscent of our embattled senator Leila de Lima, Piko-Taro

has endeared a lot of Filipinos and

spawned countless imitations and pastiches

of the original. Celebrities and other celeb

wannabes have jumped ship and joined the

bandwagon, uploading videos to gain likes

in today’s ephemeral social media spheres. Gone were

the days that Facebook meant PetVille, FarmVille and Mafia Wars.

Today’s social media, driven by robust sales in entry

tech in the Philippines, have seen the rise of “temporary” videos in Instagram, Snapchat and Messenger, live video on Facebook and secret messages in FB Messenger. The

archetypal Pinoy, metrosexual and denizen of this über-

saturated social media posts, has found a new niche in this media forms. Take the case of Kaysee Gregorio, Kim

K. wannabe. Self-styled as “Dyoga Girl”, she is famous for her innuendo-laden videos, oftentimes an advertisement

for her well-endowed breasts. In one infamous video, she

sang “Ang Bango ng Bulaklak” clad with a Snapchatfilter-like flower bouquet on her head, all the while

lowering the camera to pan in on her well-you-know-

warning of the imminent threats of globalism. A no room left for maneuvering. But hey, guess what?

We’re not the only country battling this craze in

social media. Take for example, the recent rise of flakka usage in college campuses in the USA. The

cheap bath salts alternative is sold in less than $5 a

you too” proudly boasting our inhalant addicted youth

go-to for cheap highs. Videos relayed on Vimeo and Vine

madaling araw, may tape sa bunganga nyo na nagsasabing

dose, taking the place of grape flavored cough syrup as a show people under the influence of the drug stopping traffic, apparently delusional and possessing what one commenter say as “Walking Dead” behavior, except the

fact that they run maniacally, so more like “World War Z” zombie behavior. And talking about zombies, one person under the influence of flakka was said to “eat the face” of

his companion. Heck, that’s one point for PvZ in real life. Strangely, more people want to try the drug, and increased usage have been reported, even spreading to other states such as Florida. The naysayers are quick to point their fingers on social media platforms as vectors for the spread

This depressing news on our craze for social media

Is this the promise of the youth that Rizal died for? The martyrdom that del Pilar valiantly earned in Tirad Pass?

Sans nationalist and Duterte-style-kiss-the-Philippine-

flag patriotism, this is grim news for our country’s youth.

Dubbed as the “Social Media Capital of the World,” the country scales new heights in its world breaking

achievements in the cybersphere, chief among them is the use of social media for earning likes in fashion

contests (hey, that’s why we usually top online polls in Ms. Universe), election campaigning like the vicious smear campaigns masterminded against Sens. Poe and Villar

during their presidential candidacies and most especially

the recent Dutertard and Yellowtard labels applied by

rid our country of imaginary rabid clowns. Copycat attacks

however are possible, and this should not be misconstrued to lull you into a false sense of security. A recent attack by a chainsaw wielding “clown” terrorizing high school students in Ilocos should illustrate the dangers associated with copying this prank.

And lastly, we have seen a recent trend in the

violin or a guitar or whitening soap or get together with a

glorified marijuana, meth is heavily stigmatized in the

country. Yet, usage remains stubbornly high, especially

in poverty laden neighborhoods. So perhaps, societal pressures could be more apt to blame.

From Warhol to flakka, we now move on to clowns.

but those Stephen King Pennywise types. Our tormented

would’ve driven our intelligentsia Ilustrados to despair.

another ally from a scared shitless person in the quest to

meth usage vary from little to none, and unlike the youth

crystal meth is the stimulant of choice. Videos portraying

fleeting moments as “everyone’s five minutes of fame”. video, why can’t Filipinos follow in on her footsteps?

right there. The morally questionable drug war has found

proliferation of “10k shares, 10k comments and 10k likes”

Yep, those creepy party entertainers with their buffoon

But hey, Kim K. raked millions from her infamous Ray J

Pusher ako”. Yep, that’s what we call double standards

of this party drug. But look at the Philippines now, where

what-I’m-talking-about-here. Andy Warhol, influential artist and pop culture’s enfant terrible, aptly predicted this

and another one contrasting this with “Labas na kayo, pag

like behavior. Not the Ronald McDonald type at that, childhoods from those incessant birthday parties with clowns led to the coining of the term coulrophobia. And

posts. Perhaps, what better way to gain free lunch or a

celeb wannabe or date with your crush by just earning likes, all the while contributing immensely in building brand recognition for the company you made a blood compact

with. Hello to a country of famewhores and sellouts! Where the lowly citizen incessantly sharing his post in

a set time period to achieve instant gratification is also a reflection of our lofty leaders. Especially one hell-bent in

removing criminality in 6 months, all the while attracting world headlines with his penchant for uncouth speech.

This would seem to paint a cynical picture of

now, we have received news that rabid clowns are out to

Filipino society in general, but hey, stupidity is not

import from good ol’ Uncle Sam, revolves around a

so. This is why you should cherish that college education

terrorize Philippine streets *shudders. The craze, another circulated story that clowns lurking in woods were out to abduct schoolchildren in backwater rural America. The

craze has been replicated in many other countries, with

some schools closing down for precautionary measures. And like the gullible folk we are, a dummy FB page under

confined to Filipinos. This screenshot would seem to say of yours. Help cure the troubled minds of this country and this world, and hopefully we won’t need to cringe

whenever we read the headlines or browse our Twitter pages.

the rather uninspired name “Philippine Clowns” posted a

status update saying “Hello Philippines, we are coming”. A quick reverse image search from Google would reveal

that the airplane image used in their scare tactics are nothing but stock photos.

Nevertheless, some patriotic Filipinos commented

that “try to terrorize us here, rugby boys are out to get

ENTERTAINMENT

Nuff said.

The Movie Love Ladder WRITTEN BY : JOHN DEXTER CANDA

rom lovesick to literally sick, the movies of yesterday surely flickered us in laughter and in tears – accompanying us with either love or despair in the end. This will surely pump your 2017 up, as these movies are never a letdown in terms of romance, originality, and entertainment. Let us review these throwback movies, classifying them according to the love-o-ladder! (Warning: Spoilers included!)

Stage One: Infatuation (Before Sunrise) (1995)

Released in 1995 by critically– acclaimed director Richard Linklater, Before Sunrise highlights the true essence of infatuation, superficial love to say the least. The fairytale story began when an American named Jesse (Ethan Hawke) starts to have a deep, intriguing crush on a Frenchwoman called Celine ( Julie Delpy), after the two met in a train bound for Austria. After spending time conversing with each other during the trip, naively they decided to spend the night together in Vienna and part ways the morning after. Unbeknownst to the other, it was the start of a flourishing relationship. From Celine’s simple, enchanting smile to the painful, heartbreaking kiss of Jesse, Before Sunrise is a masterpiece of the juvenile 90s, a romantic, drama film set to flame the hearts of lovers of all ages through body language and facial expressions. But against the tide of most sweet flicks nowadays, you have to pay attention to this – Before Sunrise is dialogue-based. The movie itself is a conversation. Stage Two: Intersection (Before Sunset) (2004)

Nine years after the accidental meeting of Jesse and Celine in Vienna, the two crossed ways again in the romantic city of Paris, with Jesse having a successful career as a novelist and Celine as an environmentalist. Jesse, who is bound to leave Paris in an hour right after finishing his book tour, inadvertently saw a smiling Celine, looking at him. At a fast pace, the two make the best of their time. Walking around the streets of Paris, both characters bestowed more dialogues to the viewers who are left curious after a nine-year dry spell from the cliffhanger ending of Before Sunrise, revealing their personal life changes and of course, their not-so-forgotten feelings for each other. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 77th Academy Awards, both leading actors, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, were given the recognition in contributing to the development of the script (how amazing and talented is that!). Nonetheless, the movie has a question mark embedded into its sacredness – will Jesse miss his flight?

convince Celine to move to Chicago, in any chance to get closer with his son from his first wife. Celine, on the other hand, outlines her worries and fears of their aging relationship. Before Midnight is a stroke of genius in terms of maturity; its dialogue, grounded in simplicity and honesty, expounds the nature of everyday couples, underlining how one’s love slowly fades away into oblivion, which some viewers might find uncomfortably truthful and painfully heartfelt. Linklater, Delpy and Hawke, received their second nomination together at the 86th Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay.

enough to dig deeper into its story hole, often times a depressing and touching message. It’s a movie that will leave you hanging for days or even weeks. Simply relatable for couples who just had their farewells and adieus, toiling hard on how will they move on from each other. Eternal Sunshine, is indeed a sunshine that gives fresh light to the phrase “You never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” Honorable mention: Her (2013)

Stage Four: Goodbye and Moving On (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) (2004)

Stage Three: Establishment and Struggle (Before Midnight) (2013) A totally different film from the previous three, Eternal Sunshine, is regarded as one of the greatest films of the 21st century, and is highly praised with its original screenplay, ultimately winning Best Original Screenplay at the 77th Academy Awards. With its ensemble cast starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet and Kirsten Dunst, the movie is no comedy at all, rather it shows a profound story of a certain young woman named Clementine Kruczynski (Winslet) who undergoes a procedure to have her memories erased from a relationship with a guy named Joel Barish (Carrey), in which upon discovering about this from his friends, went to undergo the procedure himself. Then during the procedure, Joel finds out that he still loves Clementine, but his memories of her slowly fade away. The movie makes every viewer think, “What if?” It gives a thought-provoking message to every viewer who is patient

All three ‘Before’ movies have surpassed a remarkable achievement, perpetuating an almost never-ending love story of Jesse and Celine, releasing the three movies in a nine-year time frame, with Before Sunrise in 1995, Before Sunset in 2004 and Before Midnight in 2013. In the third installment of the trilogy, married couple Jesse and Celine with their twin girls spend a delightful summer vacation in Greece. As challenges arise, Jesse struggles to

ENTERTAINMENT

Spike Jonze’s classic summarizes it all. Romantic, depressing, weird and even comedic, Her is a must-watch movie if you prefer your night to be emotional and distressing. It starts with a lonely man named Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) who struggles to encapsulate his life after processing his divorce. He then bought an artificially intelligent operating system and finds himself in love with Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), the voice behind the OS. Finally, they fell in love with each other. Her won Best Original Screenplay at the 86th Academy Awards, and had a Best Picture and Best Original Song (The Moon Song) nod too. Full credit goes to Spike Jonze. The American Film Institute (AFI) also awarded this movie as the Movie of the Year, beating Oscar Best Picture winner 12 Years a Slave. Here’s their review: “HER asks what it is to connect - and what it means to love. This near-future romance is a profoundly relevant valentine to today’s world - a modern fairy tale written and directed by the mindsoaring talents of Spike Jonze. Deeply personal, vulnerable performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson tell the story of one man’s passion for an operating system and her shared joy for him. The inevitability of human evolution is a concept scary to some and embraced by others, but this is art at its most powerful - to imagine “what if?” - and present it with a pure, beating heart.”

THE

P U B L I C AT I O N S The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Zamboanga University

Editor-in-Chief: John Dexter Canda Associate Editor for SINAG: Bianca Alyana Zamora Associate Editor for Reveille: Pristine Janielle Padua Internal Managing Editor: Shorwayn Chua External Managing Editor: Trisha Ortega Feature Editor: Dave Cervas News Feature Editor: Abdelaziz Maldisa News Editor: Ciara Mae Obillo Head Cartoonist: Jonie Alaban Head Photographer: Mohammad Sarajan Head Layout Artist: Ray Andrew Santiago Deputy External Managing Editor: Christine Therese Oboy Associate Features Editor: Hasmina Alfad Associate News Features Editor: Nehemiah Araojo Associate News Editor: Audrie Keith Sepe Finance Officer: Monique Praico Communications Officer: Leonette Anne Sadioa Senior Writers: Aseya Calo, Franco Cananea, Dawn Sicat, Irene Wahab Writers: Loren Marie Justo, Amira Solaiman, Mia Falcasantos, Almyrah Anudin, Aeon Rhys Abad, Jorace Martini Dayrit, Gillian Rome Manalo, Merzsam Singkee, Al-Ameen Asmad, Ivon Macapla, Putli Monaira Amilbangsa, Charmaine Grace Bannister, Mary Kathereen Cacayan, Jamilla Becca Daud, Diego Jose Esperat, Anne Louise Falcasantos, Candeline Galvan, Aisha Puy Ibrahim, Darwin Lacbao, Charle Kent Lim, Harmony Lucero, Rizanna Narag, Clark Bryan Punzalan, Katleen Mae Tampos, Fatima Dia Ahaja, Mischa Jade Taup, Sylvia Lyssandra Tipoe, Alyssa Tubilag, June Karlo Suan Layout Artists: Eleazar Torres, Shekinah Benitez, Jordan Lascota, Kim Tayona, Reyna Santos Cartoonists: Ryan Covarrubias, Hazel Bayaras, Christopher Tabula, Fahad Alfad, Alano Lois Alano, Deanna Rose Bucoy, John Gualbert Caces, Nica Franz Visitacion, Bianca Ellice Luistro, Joshua Cabrezos Photographers: Ivan Bokingkito, Yves Xaviery Valerio, Renzo Wee, Mica Ruste, Khadija Ahamed-Kabeer, Alfrancis Alcuizar, Alessandra Lim Moderator: Leah Murillo Panaguiton

Plot Twist: Hindi Pilipino si St. Ignatius Anonymous

Though not all, many Filipinos were enraged when Marcos was secretly buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Infuriated by anger and adrenaline rush, last November 18 students from different universities in the Philippines including Ateneo de Zamboanga University marched to show spite and disapproval of the burial of the late dictator. However, numerous Marcos supporters bashed the University for its Anti-Marcos Rally bombarding it with the overrated, walang kamatayang “forgiveness” reason. The contention of these Anti-Marcos supporters is that although the late dictator accomplished a lot of projects during his term that are in use up until now, these do not outweigh the sufferings of the numerous victims of torture, abduction, summary execution, rape and murder from his hands under the Martial rule. It is, therefore, an insult to have Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani not only to the victims but also to our country’s heroes. However, this article is not about whether we should side or oppose with Marcos’ burial. Last November 18, the organizing team of the rally in the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, tied pieces of black cloth in some of the posts in the campus representing the dismay of many students with the decision of the Supreme Court. They also put a lengthy black cloth in the front fence of the university that says, “Marcos is not a hero.” Both acts of demonstration are considered to be okay for most students. However, they covered the sword of St. Ignatius with black cloth which is not totally acceptable given the possible erroneous implication of the act. St. Ignatius is the model saint of the values that the university is trying to instill among us. He symbolizes us, Ateneans. However, we should be careful in trying to relate the values his statue carries with our political ideologies. This is not about the separation of the state and the church. The point is that he is not a Filipino concerned with the Martial Law. The act of covering his sword does not simply reflect our dismay with the decision for the reason that it carries with it a deep religious symbolism. We understand that they were probably all enraged, however, we also think that there may be erroneous implications that this act may give to the people. It somehow disrespected the venerated saint itself because the sword was offered to Mama Mary and not to anyone (especially not to Marcos!). Covering the sword means taking it back or preventing it from being offered. There is a deep spiritual symbolism that the statue carries that is why there is a need to take caution with how we involve it in our causes. Covering the sword with a black cloth DOES NOT signify that the Ateneo Community is one in opposing the burial of Marcos.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author in anonymity and do not in any way represent the views of The BEACON Publications.

RETRATO ATENEO GALLERY These are the top three winners of the Retrato Ateneo: Amateur Photography Competition, Ateneo Fiesta 2016.

Perseverance With Passion

2nd Place

The Last Stand

Flames