ECHOES January 2011 by Echoes

CONTENTS January 2011

PREVIOUS ISSUE/CORRECTIONS

ONE BIG JOKE With wild child Ralph Dantes—by Dean Dulay and Aaron Aw

Editors

EDITORIAL

kenneth reyes

COMMITTEE NEWS

THE ECOSOC CHOIR A night out with the carolers—by Jessica Manipon

TAMBAYAN PROBE What Ecosocers have to say about SE 121—by Dave Cruz and Cyril Tablante

avril bries

LEVEL-UP Faye Ferrer and her team are set to redefine what CDC means and what it can do—by Beatriz Bayudan

NEWS 12

ACQUAINTANCE PARTY by Dave Cruz CDC ELECTIVE #2 by Beatriz Bayudan CDC ELECTIVE #3 by Beatriz Bayudan

CDC XMAS PARTY by Cyril Tablante RECOGNITION DAY by Jessica Biscocho XMAS PARTY by Leus Punsalan

ECONOMICS QUIZ BEE by Dean Dulay CAROLING by Beatriz Bayudan MBA/CLEAN APP by Beatriz Bayudan

FEATURES 16

FEATURED MEMBERS What do Jeremae, Dhiren, Jess, and Von have in common? They’re friends, they’re officers, and they’re our future—by Kenneth Reyes FEATURED ALUMNUS Czarina Carbonel, welcome back to Echoes —by Carlo Go

PRIMER How the ESSF works —by Benedict Bismark

CULTURE 34 35

FILM RPG Metanoia may be the first of its kind, but is it the best of its kind? —by Avril Bries

Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor benedict bismark

Managing Editor beatriz bayudan

News Editor raphael dantes

Features Editor kevin estopace

Layout & Art Editor

FASHION The latest trends from the world of couture sported by Ecosocers —by Lia Lontoc

irene arzadon

MUSIC Lyric vocabulary 2010 —by Avril Bries and Raphael Dantes

matthew dailisan

LITERATURE The Bell Jar reviewed —by Raphael Dantes

Photos Editor Webmaster

GOSSIP by Gossip G.

REPORT CARD by Chiara Cokieng

Contributors David Anabo / Irene Arzadon / Aaron Aw / Beatriz Bayudan / Jessica Biscocho / Benedict Bismark / Avril Bries / Chiara Cokieng / John “Dave” Cruz / Raphael Dantes / Jerica “Ica” Ducanes / Dean Dulay / Felichie “Faye” Ferrer / Gossip G. / Carlo Go / Georgina Gonzales / Ancilla “Chila” Innocencio / Cecilia “Lia” Lontoc / Arsenio Lukban / Jessica Manipon / Leandro “Leus” Punsalan / Kenneth Reyes / Nikko Silva / Cyril Tablante ABOVE Czar Carbonel at Coffee Bean, Greenbelt, photographed on December 22 by Risa Crisostomo cover photograph by arsenio lukban

previous issue

December 2010

corrections Our mistakes in the December issue In the advertisement adjacent to the contents page, the Grand Mems’ TBS has since been moved to January 22, 2011. In pages 3, 4 and 9, Felichie “Faye” Ferrer’s name is mispelled. In the news article “Ecosoc goes vintage with Casablanca,” Steven Hotchkiss’ co-host was erroneously reported as Dom Garcia. Rather, it was Cocoy Vargas. In “What Went Wrong?,” the graphic on page 23 for Thursday’s screening should be the one below: THURSDAY

369 tickets 83.9% All errors are corrected when posting on TheEchoes.net. If you spot any error in this issue, call us on it by sending an email to upecosoc.echoes@gmail.com. 4

Echoes is the official publication of the UP Economics Society (UP Ecosoc), a non-stock, non-profit, student organization based in the University of the Philippines Diliman School of Economics. Since the 2nd semester of the academic year 2010-2011, Echoes is released four times in a sem and eight times in a year, on the months of January, February, March, July, August, September, October, and December. It draws its funding from a subsidy from UP Ecosoc, sponsorships, subscription revenue, and other small funraisers. For this semester, 60 subscription copies, 3 tambayan copies, 1 archive copy, and a complimentary copy for each of our sponsors, featured members, and featured alumni are produced. This publication is printed by Yza Copy Systems and Trading, located at Stall 22 at the UP Shopping Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City. CONTACT US

upecosoc@gmail.com upecosoc.echoes@gmail.com VISIT FOR MORE INFORMATION

upecosoc.org theechoes.net facebook.com/up.economics.society No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

theechoes.net

EDITORIAL last december, time magazine announced its annual per-

son of the Year, awarded to the individual who, for better or worse, shaped the world’s events for the past year. For 2010, the distinction went to Mark Zuckerberg, the 26-year-old who founded Facebook. What began as ‘the next Multiply’ has now evolved into something much more than a social networking service. Its flexibility—something which is altogether genius—has allowed it to permeate the four corners of the World Wide Web, and right in the middle of it is us, Generation Y. While Facebook started to catch on in late 2007, the UP Economics Society was late to get into the habit, only setting up its own page by October 2009. Nevertheless, by the beginning of this sem, it has all but abandoned its withering Multiply, which had since November 2005 served as our Society’s online presence. With the shift in website came the shift in online practices. For one, the dissemination of information has become easier, because by most standards, Multiply addiction has got nothing on Facebook addiction; with most of Ecosoc’s members pathologically refreshing their News Feed in between homework and meals, you’re pretty much sure that President Paolo’s latest announcement won’t go unheard. Another Facebook-induced evolution is that of online publicity. In fact, even publicity in general. Can you still imagine the days when uploading a poster on your wall and tagging a ton of people wasn’t yet the norm? Back then, other media were given more emphasis—media such as radio, television, print, and text and e-mail blasts. With the advent of Facebook, it became easier for anyone to be his own PR man; it had its beginnings in MySpace when friending other bands allowed your band to get more attention—a DIY approach to self-promotion that was made possible by the Internet. Now, with Facebook’s tag functionality, publicity materials are inescapable. Whether you like it or not, those new ballers JPIA is selling will show up on your wall, in your notifications, in your e-mail, in your News Feed, and since December, the portion in your profile under your name where you can see your most recently tagged photos. As revolutions go however, this has had its upsides and downsides. On one hand, its ubiquity has allowed for the wider and more immediate circulation of publicity materials. mark zuckerberg caricature by georgina gonzales

It has also brought promotions down to the average man; not everyone can set up a functional MySpace or Multiply site, but anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock can upload a photo and tag 50 people (the limit) on Facebook. Radio, TV, and print advertisements are expensive, text blasts are constrictive, and e-mails are, in the ever-changing landscape of the Net, looking more and more outdated as faster means of communication are born. But Facebook? It’s free, easy, and people are addicted to it. Need anything more be said? Nevertheless, all good things have a price. As more and more people capitalize on Facebook’s ease, the quality of promotions has declined. While PR was once the embodiment of creativity, excitement, and wonder, it has now been diluted to being repetitive, lazy, and downright annoying. Look at anyone’s recently tagged photos and instead of seeing his or her face, you get assaulted with pubmat after pubmat, most of which are uninspired blather that rightfully end up getting ignored. The spirit of advertising has turned lethargic for us college kids, and this has to be fixed. Uploading a wall photo and mass-tagging your friends to it is a hillbilly, shotgun approach—for every 1 person in your target market that you reach, you probably bug 99 others. The only real solution is to go back to making things hard. When you’re an advertiser and you find your work too easy, you’re probably doing a lousy job. Publicity requires not only for your product to be seen and heard, but for it to be remembered; creating a pubmat that joins the legions of nondescript pubmats someone is tagged in is not the way to do that. For that to happen, marketers spend days, even weeks, thinking of a good plan. So should you. Before uploading that poster for your latest fundraiser, think: will people actually want to check this out, or will I just be contributing to the growing wasteland of forgotten Facebook pubmats? If it’s the latter, then go back to the drawing board. You’ll have to be witty, impressive, shocking, or original. You can ditch the wall photo too: try contests, viral campaigns, or learn the concept of ‘seeding’ to generate some word-of-mouth publicity. The bottomline is this: uninspired publicity will get your product no audience, making it altogether useless and a waste of everyone’s time. 5

COMMITTEE NEWS

PAOLO TAMASE PRESIDENT

happy new year, ecosoc! what a semester it has been so

far! As an organization, we’ve already had a number of activities, successful or otherwise, which taught us many valuable lessons and gave us insights on how we can become a better Economics Society. On the part of the Execom, the past three months have been a great learning experience, even as we are confronted with the humbling reality that there is still much to improve as far as our leadership is concerned. But I’m really not inclined to start 2011 with anything insightful. Honestly, I’m just thankful for everything that has been, and I look forward to the second half of this semester. So allow me to dispense the following: Congratulations to Spev for organizing the Christmas Party; Spev and CDC for co-organizing the CDC Christmas Party; Acad for arranging the Recognition Day; and the Imprint Apps for putting together a successful Acquaintance Party. It has been a good start for these groups, and I’m excited for your future projects. A big CONGRATULATIONS to Ad Hoc-Task Force for an extremely successful Caroling! The P100,000+ we raised is no joke! For your information, the annual outflow of the ESSF normally ranges from P80,000 to P90,000 per year; this means that we’ve already covered the costs of funding our seven scholars for an entire school year. Thank you also to the Ecosocers who welcomed their orgmates into their homes! I would like to give special acknowledgement to the carolers. I often talk about my disappointment, but beneath all that is a stronger admiration for your talent and dedication. Thank you for making this a wonderful experience. Finally, I would like to recognize the membership at large. I cannot properly articulate how happy I was during the first Saturday CDC I attended this semester (CDC goes to Australia!) and the CDC Christmas Party because everyone who attended actively helped with the events—most of the time without prodding from CDC. This renewed love for service makes me proud to be an Ecosocer. To end, let me plug our two power events: the Grand Members’ TBS, and the USC Elections Forum. We’re putting a lot of our resources into these events, so please support them! Have a great year everyone! 6

SELENA ORTIGA

VICE PRESIDENT hello ecosoc! happy 2011! i hope you all had a great Christmas break! We only have three more months til summer kicks in! But before we start thinking of that, there’s still so much more Ecosoc can look forward to this New Year! Did you hear? Our TWO POWER EVENTS are coming up! Everyone get ready for the grandest Grand Members’ Team Building Session! It’ll be super duper fun and wild! Spev, Memcom, and Sports have been working real hard on this since the late 2010 so let’s all support this big big event. :D Also, our first ever USC Forum brought to you by the Academic Affairs and External Affairs committee! If only you guys knew how wild this event will be, so watch out na lang! :) Other than the power events, watch out for Adhoc-Taskforce’s small-scale fundraisers: Truth or Dare, and the Econ Baller sale this month! :) I think that’s all for now. It’s a new month, and a new year! And of course, a brand new issue for Echoes! Enjoy the issue, as I’m sure I will too! :) I wouldn’t end this commnews without thanking the people that helped make the ESSF fatter last Christmas! :) To the choir: SUPER THANK YOU FOR LENDING US YOUR VOICES THIS CHRISTMAS, and for all your patience especially during practices! To Teams Irene, Jess and Ryan: Thank you thank you for starting out with your small-scale fundraisers! I know how much time and effort you put into making these projects, and it really means a lot! To Teams Party and Sproj: Thank you for patiently thinking of titles kahit medyo malayo pa yung event. I look forward to our meetings! To the Quimbo, Reinoso, Patron, Tamase, Espiritu, Dulay, Licaros, Campos, Tan, Kuroda, Salazar, Crisostomo, Tayawa, Zabala, and Ong families, SUPER thank you for welcoming the Ecosoc choir into your homes this Christmas and filling our bellies as well. :) To Myk, Andre, and Van: Thank you for completing all four days of caroling. :) You don’t know how much that really meant to me! To Dave Anabo: Super duper duper thank you for helping out with caroling this year. I super felt your love for Ecosoc and the ESSF. SUPER THANK YOU DAVE! :) To Frawesome, thank you for the support with Taskforce’s first major fundraiser. :D To Paolo, THANK YOU. :D photographs by arsenio lukban

andres "cocoy" licaros iii secretary

welcome back ecosocers! i hope you really did have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year during our brief

respite from work. You’ll need every ounce of energy for all the crazy things we’re going to be doing for this year of 2011. Hello to my members: Bianca, Mia, Geoff, Thea, Cams, Janine, Mareca, Dom, RJ, Totoy, Jeanne, Jes, Karlo, Gab, Tong, Shelly and Van! Sorry hindi ko kayo nagreet nung Christmas and New Year, I was out of town and mahal magparoaming XD But you guys know how much I love all of you haha! To my epic Vice Chairs, Bing and Yasmin, I am out of words for describing how much you two have helped me out the past few months. Also deserving mention are my applicants: Lianca, Denise, and Irra! You three are doing an excellent job so far! Ecosoc may take up a lot of your time but trust me—it is time well spent. Hello to Frawesome! The most amazing group of people I might ever get the chance to know. Sorry hindi ako nakabalita na mago-out of town ako haha XD Event roll call! - Sigsheet: If you haven’t seen it by now, then I’m telling you, dear reader, that our sigsheet is overflowing with EPIC SAUCE. (It’s freakin COLORED) My immeasurable thanks go out to Geoffrey Bautista and Jessica Manipon, Team Sigsheet v2.0. “Medyo” late na tayo but sobrang worth it! (We are sorry in advance for the mistakes still present in the sigsheet. XD) - SPARTAN CLUB: Thank you to Dom, Ayla, and Kevin G (three of the original six who signed up XD) as well as to my impromptu members Dean and Reuel! I hope that our first session helped you appreciate the greatness of graphic novels. To my sign ups who couldn’t attend, okay lang yan haha may next time pa! XD - Also, look out for our EPIC MERCHANDISE and our theoretical SPARTAN CLUB PROJECT to be handled by our very talented Spartan Club Members! - Mananalo kami sa Scav Hunt. I’m really looking forward to this New Year. Let’s all make the most of it by BUYING SECCOM MERCHANDISE and ATTENDING ALL THE ECOSOC EVENTS! (labo) Haha see you guys in the tambayan! (Which you are all expected to keep clean :D) theechoes.net

gilbert bueno

treasurer happy 2011 everyone! i hope we all have a great year this year! Woohoo! 2011 started great for Finance! As you have read in the previous issue of Echoes, in the article entitled “What Went Wrong?”, the Finance committee incurred a loss of P22,451 from the two HP7 movie screenings we held last November. It has been very depressing for most of the Finance, especially for me, that I almost gave up. Good thing I did not because as of January 5, during the 2nd day of our sales booth, we’ve been able to raise P24,090. Yay! The breakdown is as follows: HP7 AR Collection (P5000), xdeals liquidation from November-December (P6240) and the profit from the sales booth from January 4-5 (P12,850). We are making profit already! Yahoo! I know this is not much for some of you, but for us in Finance, this is like WHOA! Thank you to everyone who have supported us in our sales. Thanks to the Finance members who really helped in selling and who are really doing their part as Fin members. I am so proud of you all. And personally, I’d like to thank the people (Frawesome, Finance, Hor, Juniors, and friends) who were there to comfort, motivate, and tell me that the world doesn’t end with the loss we incurred. Thank you so so so much! YUUUCCCKK! Cheesy much! :) Anyway, watch our for our next major event this semester—Band in Demand 3! If you are in a band, or know anyone from a band, join na and get a chance to win exciting prizes! For more details, please approach me or my BID directors. Yes! You read it right, directors! HAHA! So I’d like to introduce my Directors: Bettina for Marketing, Ica for Sales, Simone for ER, Georgina for Log, and Kevin for Pub! Hellooo! Finance! Let’s all work hard and make this event very very successful! Go Finance! Go Finance! Go Finance! :)

COMMITTEE NEWS

regina reinoso

public relations officer hello happy new year ecosocers! :) last year was awesome,

but we’re gonna make this year freakin rock! First of all, I’d like to thank Frawesome for the amazing first two months! You guys are all amazing. Cheers to more bonding sessions and more success! Externals has a lot lined up for the org. Are you excited? :) 1. Eventology 101: The APPrentice on January 17! Applicants are required to go and members are free to go as well! Our guest speaker will be none other than Mr. Robby Carmona! See you! And, I’d like to commend and congratulate Team Eventology for doing such a good job organizing it. Keep it up! 2. Less than a month to go until our next power event: USC Elections Forum! I’d like to give a shoutout to the Externals Committee for working hard to get as many organizations as possible to support the event! We can do this! The volunteer sign-up sheet will be posted very soon. 3. Watch out for our Academic Symposium in March! The Academic Affairs Committee and the External Affairs Committee will make sure that it’ll be one of the most interesting talks ever! Shoutout to Team Symposium! Yay! And of course, I’d like to thank everyone who attended and supported the PSE-JPES-PhilCES Quiz Bee last December! It is very heartwarming to feel the org pride in action. Congratulations Gab, Dean, and Nikko! To my lovely Externals applicants (Raya, Jade, and Phill): Continue to be bibbo! I’m very proud of you guys so far! Cheers to a new year! Let’s do this MoFo! :*

reuel realin

academic affairs chairperson the year 2010 has passed and a new year has come to take its place. It’s the time of year when we once again make our New Year Resolutions; focus and have more time to study, have more time to sleep, exercise and lose the holiday weight— the list goes on and on. I believe that we can only accomplish what we wish for this year by the strength of our resolve to make it happen through the actions that we undertake. With this, my wish for the year is that I will be more focused and productive which will be evident from the fact that Acad will be having two big events before this semester ends! The 2011 University Student Council Forum on February 3, 2010 presents an opportunity for us to examine and decide our future leaders in the university student council. This event, whose target audience will be composed of different representatives from different organizations and student councils of the different colleges, will be our second power event of the semester. In March, we will be having the Academic Symposium wherein we aim to have economics students such as ourselves discover how our study can be applied to other fields. We have also scheduled a meeting with Professor Kraft on Thursday, January 13. Hopefully, this will be the start of a good relationship with our adviser. To the awesome committee in Ecosoc: ACAAAAD! Eto na ang two events na magpapapakitang gilas tayo. Let’s do our best, I know that we can make these events happen as long as we’re together. ;) To the acad apps, Diane, Cathy, and Ryan: the midsem check-up is just around the corner. Do your best and good luck with organizing the Jologs Quiz Bee! The committee is here to support you. :D To the freakin’ awesome committee: FRAAAWESSSOOOME! It’s raining events already and it’s super exciting! Thanks for all the support and guidance; can’t believe it’s January olreydi! Wuju Wuju! :D And so as we begin this year, I hope that each of our personal wishes have a strengthened resolution to make it all possible. Happy New Year Ecosoc! photographs by arsenio lukban

felichie "faye" ferrer

kenneth reyes

the past holiday for me was not just about food, gifts or reunions, but I also witnessed a season of giving. The

i was nine years old when echoes last released a stand-

community development chairperson

break made me appreciate more the value of giving; the value of sharing. When I was a kid, I did not understand why my parents would spend so much buying packages and gifts for their workers aside from the Christmas bonuses they give. I was getting worried that there might be nothing left for us, especially since I knew that what they was using were not just the “extra” money they earned, but never did I see my parents complain nor hesitate in giving. In fact, it seems that they enjoy what they’re do and this is probably what real giving is all about. There is truth in the saying you cannot give what you don’t have, but why do people have the attitude of giving what is just “extra” from them? It’s so easy for us to give when there is still something left for us. In the story of “The Widow’s Gift” (Mark 12: 41-43), Jesus was more pleased with the woman who gave coins than with the rich people who gave a lot of money. Yes, the rich might have given a larger amount but what the woman gave was not what was “extra” but rather, everything she had. When we give, it is not the quantity nor the volume that is important, but the attitude when giving. I thank my parents for everything they’ve given me and for teaching me the value of giving. I am reminded that what we have now is not purely because of our own work but because someone did give :) With this, I would like to say thank you for the wonderful year we had. Thank you for making each event successful— it wouldn’t have been possible if you did not give. Thank you for sharing your time, talent, love, and blessings to the community. I hope that this year will be a year full of MORE giving for all of us! There are so many ways you can give and so many opportunities for you to make it happen! Happy New Year everyone! May you find joy in giving and do not forget to appreciate those who give :) To my family, friends, Frawesome, CDC, Ecosoc, and to the One who gave it all, thank you!

theechoes.net

echoes editor-in-chief alone January issue. Releases in the past have hovered between two and three per sem, and if they had to pick only three release months, EICs opted for December (the Christmas issue), February (the Valentines issue), and March (the seniors send-off issue). For years, no one paid attention to January, so I guess the fact that you’re holding this in your hands is already something special. Four regular issues in a sem is a feat, but thoroughly achievable thanks to the extraordinary amount of talent in Echoes this sem. Ben, thanks for always lending a gay ear to my anxiety attacks about our budget. Good luck with the sandwich fundraiser! Ave, sorry I haven’t asked you to do much since I’m not exactly sure what an Associate Editor is, but for now, you’re proofreader! Also, thank you for submitting your article mind-blowingly early. Bea, you’re probably the most overworked member of mine, but it’s only ‘cause you’re so fucking talented! Stay in Echoes forever and ever and ever. Ralph, thanks for making the rounds with our late writers, your brutally honest opinions, the rides to the far-flung places our featured alumni live, and the amount of effort you put into your articles. Kevin, sorry for the shit I pulled on you. I swear I’m working on this leadership thing. Your work in Finance has made Echoes very proud though. What would Ecosoc do without Echoes talent? Irene, I know you’re commited to a lot of things, which makes me appreciate everything you do for me. I doubt anyone thought the pictures in Echoes would be this amazing. Just tell me if you need help, okay? Matt, everything I assign to you is done quickly and excellently. Plus, you call me boss. Need I say more? Good luck in Manhunt! Echoes has your back. Dave and Cyril, I’m lucky to have a pair of amiable apps like you. Hope you’re fitting into the Society nicely! I’d also like to mention Arsenio, who took the cover photo as well as about 90% of the photos here. You are hands-down our best contributor. To Ecosoc, prepare to laugh, cry, and fall in love in our Literary Night on February 11. Then get set to scrutinize those future trapos at the USC Forum on February 3. To the Execom, see you on Friday! To Hazel, my days start and end with you. 9

COMMITTEE NEWS

madelene "mads" salazar

liaison chairperson hello ecosoc! it’s a new year again! 2010 was definitely one for the books. Our org experienced some great moments but we also had our share of really depressing times. What’s important is that we were all a part of it somehow. 2011 will be another year and I hope you’ve all got your new year’s resolutions in check! I personally have not figured mine out but it includes getting to know more of you. Ecosoc is still one big family and I’m sure the people are all great. If you wanna get to know me too, I’m super available for you guys. I may look like I’m stressed or snobby all the time but I’d like to think I’m one of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet so feel free to approach me :) We’ll be BFFs! The semester started off with a bang. We definitely had some really good events. A lot of them were new and refreshing. Congratulations to all the committees, especially the comm heads that made those events possible. Within Liai, we have started to get busier as well. Our regular announcements such as the career updates are still present but we have added messages and random correspondences from the alumni. The jobs we’re going out to find are also more suited to Economics majors. I hope they have been helpful to you all, so far. Just approach us if you need anything in particular. Our biggest event, though, will be held on Januray 22. Our Alumni Night will be a get together with those who have graduated already but still have their hearts in Ecosoc. It will be a great way to reconnect and also learn about what Ecosoc was, has become, and maybe what it will be in the future. We’re trying our best to make this night memorable and we would love for you to come and participate in this one-of-akind night! Thank you to Liai who have been working to make our event a successful one! I’m lucky to have you all! Last two weeks, let’s do this :)

vicente "enzo" clemente

membership chairperson hey ecosoc! it’s a brand new year and the start of new beginnings! :) I hope all of you are having a good year so far. Are you excited for the year ahead? You better be! It will surely be one of the most memorable years you’ll have. Since we all want a good start for 2011, there’s no better way to this other than attending the GRANDEST, BIGGEST, and WILDEST Grand Members’ TBS ever in Ecosoc on January 15, 2011. You’ll be missing a lot if you don’t attend, so don’t hesitate to go and participate. :) I promise you, it will be worth it! To Memcom, I realized that I wasn’t able to put your names in my last comnews. Sorry! So to Angel, Camille, Carlo, Cathy, Chesca, Janna, Laurence, Misha, Ogie, Pat A, Pat G, Rehi, Ria, Rox, Ryan, and Trixie, thank you for the 3 months that we have been together. Everything wouldn’t have been as fun and successful without you guys. To my VCs Cocoy and Jr, thank you very much! It wouldn’t have been a great experience without both you. I know I have been bombarding you with lots of “favors.” Well, there are more to come for sure. Hihi. I know we’ll have fun doing it. Oh yeah, Memcom Bonding Part 2? We should be complete, okay? Dapat! Haha. It won’t be fun if we’re not complete. We have 3 more months together. Let’s make the most out of it. I’m really exicted! :) To Frawesome, thank you for everything. I know I have made lots of mistakes already, but you’re all there encouraging me to just do my best. I’ll be sharing most of my memories this year with you guys. I know that I will cherish these memories forever. *tear* HAHA. Let’s all make 2011 frawesome! :)

photographs by arsenio lukban

jason tayawa

special events chairperson hello to everyone! welcome back and i hope you had a good rest nung break because we will be having loads of activity lined up for just for you ;) As you can feel now, we are experiencing the tail end of the cold front coming from Siberia which we will be able to experience until February. Ngayon, alam mo na kung bakit ka nilalamig kahit mainit naman sa Pinas. Pero may lunas kami diyan! Dulot ng mahabang delibirasyon at pagmumuni-muni, inihahandong namin sa inyo ang magpapainit ng inyong kuyukot, ang magpapatulak ng inyong bibig ngunit magpapakabig ng inyong dibdib—ang PANGAGNASONG LALAKI o kilala bilang MANHUNT! Ang mga lalaking galing sa inyong mga komite ay maglalaban upang maging kampyon. Sila ay kilala bilang Nikko Silva ng Acads, Jay Tolentino ng CDC, Matt Dailisan ng Echoes, Leus Punzalan ng Externals, Carl Asiddao ng Finance, Dean Dulay ng Liaison, JR Yambao ng Memcom, Dom Garcia ng Seccom, Tobie Reynes ng Sports, at Jason Tayawa ng SPEV (joke lang). Nakikita natin na matindi ang kompetisyon ng mga naggagandahan at matitipunong kalalakihan na handang ipamalas ang kanilang alindog para sa inyong kasiyahan. Ang mananalo ay magkakamit ng pabuya para sa kanyang komite at magtatamo ito ng MATINDING KARANGALAN! Wala na bang tatalo dito? WOW. Bukod dito, ang mananalong komite ay mauunang aalis para sa kinababaliwan, kinaiinisan, at kinalilibugan na PANGANGASONG BASURERO o kilala bilang SCAVENGER’S HUNT! RAWR! Narito ang pinakamatingding pagpapakita ng gilas ng isang kupunan. Ang PANGANGASONG BASURERO ang isang pangayayari na siyang tatalo lamang sa PANGANGASONG LALAKI. WOW. Sa kagandahan at kalupitan ng mga pangyayaring ito ay huwag nating kalimutan ang isa pang malupit ng pangyayari, ang GMTBS, na gaganapin nitong ENERO. Ako ay magbibigay parangal sa mga malulupit at nagsisigandahan kong mga bise-upuangtao, sina Andreeski Sarmiento at Myra Olaso. Hindi mangyayari ang mga ganitong kaganapan kung wala sila Jovy, Romano, Miguel, Noreen, Justine, Ryna, Kat, Risa, Angelica, Rick, Steven, Peter, Kelvin, Lia, Chrissa, at ang aking maestro na si Aaron. p.s. Ang mga salitang ginamit dito ay salin mula sa gabbydictionary.com. theechoes.net

michael "myk" narciso

sports chairperson hello ecosoc! All I can say is THANK YOU! This commnews is mostly about thanking people who made the only Sports Committee sponsored-event possible! :) Thank you everyone for attending Members Bersus Apps! Hope you all had fun. Thank you Members for making it possible! We won again! Woot! To the Apps, well, hopefully members na kayo next sem para naman you’ll know how it feels to win! Haha. :) Thank you Sports! We nailed it! Though there are things to improve on, we gave our best efforts and I’m proud that we’re really prepared! Good job guys! Chello (too bad you weren’t able to attend MBA) and Hari, thank you for going early to Econ and helping me prepare the things. Super maaasahan kayong dalawa! You two are making me really proud! :) Patty and Josh, you really found love in Sports! <3 Thank you for being very active and supportive! I made the right choice in putting you together in my committee. :) Mik, you’re the best! Walang reklamo! :) Tikay, you never fail me! Always dependable. Issay, thank you! Super enthusiastic! Galing! Junjie, prepared kung prepared! Good job with the relay! Juliet, you’re becoming more active! Dave, thank you for the support! :) To the rest, bawi tayo next time and help in our remaining projects for Ecosoc! I know it was just the sched kaya most of you guys weren’t able to attend! I understand! :) To my Sports apps, Karl and Kevin, you did a good job with Agawang Buko! Fun kahit nabasag lips ko! At least nagamit yung First Aid Kit natin! Haha! Intense game! Chi and Jen, bawi na lang and attend more events! :) Lastly, Frawesome, thank you for the support and believing na we can pull it off! :) Again, thank you everyone! :) Please support our projects as well! The Water Dispenser Project is sustainable so far! Give any amount every time you get water! :) Also, we’re trying to have a Jersey by this sem! We’ll see if this pushes through! And, Tournament Season na pala! Support our Frisbee team! Watch the PhilCES-JPES Finals for Basketball and Futsal! Ecosoc athletes, approach any Sports member if you wish to have training! Thank you! :) p.s. We will win SCAVHUNT 2011! Watch out for Tobie Reynes in Manhunt! This is our time! Haha. :) 11

NEWS

'CANDIES' ACQUAINTS APPS AND MEMS BY DAVE CRUZ

3, 2010, Ecosoc had its semestral acquaintance party entitled Candies Be Christmas? to welcome the fresh batch of applicants— the Imprint batch. It was the new app batch’s first task, and each applicant did their best in preparing for the occasion. The program was hosted by two of the Imprint batch’s most animated members, Jacques Reyes and Bea dela Torre. The night was spent with pure fun and laughter as the applicants and members bonded with each other in playing games and showcasing some of their weird talents. Games included: the classic musical chairs, which was done with a certain twist; the freak show; and so much more. In the end, the program was capped off by the traditional bidding for guardians, where the applicants were grouped by wards and asked to select people who will be guiding them throughout their application process. The acquaintance party is one of three events the applicants are expected to organize. The other two are the App Project (formerly the Challenge Night) and the CDC Recognition Day, both of which will happen later in the semester. on the night of december

12/3/10 ACQUAINTANCE PARTY 12

ECOSOC JOINS HARING IBON FOR CLEAN UP BY BEATRIZ BAYUDAN

ecosocers aid at paws center BY BEATRIZ BAYUDAN

the up economics society and the

4, ecosocers participated in a clean-up activity co-sponsored by the organization UP Haring Ibon, in partnership with the UP Economics Society. Fifteen members came and took part in the said activity. During the morning, participants went around and retrieved trash from the Vanguard area of UP, most of which were remnants of human consumption like food wrappers and plastic bottles. In the afternoon, the members attended a forum which concerned environmental stewardship. UP Haring Ibon is an organization geared towards promoting awareness about the environment and helping maintain it. It is based at the College of Science in UP Diliman. Another CDC elective, this was held concurrently with the regular Saturday CDC.

Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) renewed their partnership last December 6 for a CDC elective. Twenty-five Ecosocers trooped to the animal shelter and helped feed the animals currently under PAWS’ care. In addition to the feeding, Ecosocers were also given a tour around the shelter. This is the second time that Ecosoc has collaborated with PAWS for a CDC, with the first time happening during previous CDC Chairperson Jay Tolentino’s term. Current CDC Chairperson Faye Ferrer says, “This CDC elective was to expose members to different kinds of socio-civic activities for the community. This was a good opportunity to show that—with helping animals, for a change.” PAWS is a nonprofit organization that aims to rescue animals from abuse and neglect, with the long-term mission of placing these animals in permanent homes.

12/4/10 HARING IBON CLEAN-UP

12/6/10 CDC WITH PAWS

last december

photographs by (l-r) arsenio lukban, chila inocencio, arsenio lukban

CDC holds game showthemed xmas party BY CYRIL TABLANTE

last saturday, december

11, 2010, the UP Economics Society held Ecosoc WinNa-Win, a game show-themed Christmas party for the kids sponsored by the Community Development Committee (CDC) and their parents at the School of Economics Atrium from 2pm to 6pm. The program, hosted by Andre Sarmiento and Myk Narciso, began with the game for the kids entitled “1, 2, 3,” resembling that of the game in TV 5’s Willing Willie. The kids received prizes from Creamsilk. This was followed by other games like “Hep-Hep, Hurray” and “Sing It.” There were also performances by the applicants led by Andre Sarmiento, who danced to the song “Valerie.” It was soon followed by the kids performing “Waka Waka” by Shakira, “Nobody” by The Wonder Girls, and “Fire” by 2NE1. The mothers also followed with a performance. Spaghetti, hotdog, and chicken were served to the children and parents who attended the Christmas party. The CDC had a raffle of home appliances for the parents and their children. All were surprised by the appearance of Santa Claus, played by XPaulo Damian, to give gifts to the children. He was aided by members and applicants. The CDC Christmas Party, with different themes each year, is an annual event to celebrate Christmas with the CDC kids. It brings smiles to the children and their parents and gives them something to cherish this holiday season.

12/11/10 CDC CHRISTMAS PARTY

achievers awarded at recog day BY JESSICA BISCOCHO

15, 2010, instead of having a regular weekly genmeet, time was allotted to recognize the organization’s members who have shown exemplary diligence during the first semester of school year 2010-2011. These are the students who have made it to the official university list of semestral college and university scholars. Themed ROTC: Our Salute to Honors, this semester’s Recognition Day lauded the top students of each batch. Eighty-nine members made it to the list, with fourteen freshmen, fifteen sophomores, twenty-six juniors, and thirty-four seniors. Each of the awardees was given a certificate of recognition. In line with the theme, they were also awarded with silver badges. Various special awards were also handed out, like the Most OC Award, the Early Bird Award, Best in Costume Award, and the Medal of Honor. In addition, the CDC committee also recognized the member with the most number of CDCs with the Blue Heart Award. Recognition Day is an event project started by last term’s Academic Affairs Committee. last december

12/15/10 RECOGNITION DAY

photographs by (l-r) arsenio lukban, ica ducanes, arsenio lukban

spev holds xxxl xmas party BY LEUS PUNSALAN

christmas came early as the up eco-

nomics Society held its traditional Christmas party last December 15, 2010 at the School of Economics Atrium. Entitled XXXLmas, the event aimed to bring the members and applicants of the Society together to celebrate the holidays. Different games were held, including a sumo-wrestling match, a modified version of Musical Chairs, and Love Dice. Dinner was then served, consisting of spaghetti, barbecue, and cheese cake. The traditional exchange gift happened thereafter, where members gave their respective gift to a randomly chosen fellow member. As with previous years, the Special Events Committee (Spev) spearheaded the party, hosted by Andre Sarmiento and Myk Narciso. XXXLmas ended at past eight in the evening.

12/15/10 ECOSOC CHRISTMAS PARTY 13

NEWS

ecosoc places 3rd at inter-college quiz bee

members win bragging rights, clean app after

BY DEAN DULAY

BY BEATRIZ BAYUDAN

16, the team from the UP Diliman Economics Society, composed of Dean Dulay, Gab Roque, and Nikko Silva, won 3rd place in the 2nd PSE-JPES-PhilCES Capital Markets and Economics Quiz Bee held at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Pasig City. Several other universities, including De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Sto. Tomas, and the University of Asia and the Pacific, also joined the competition. Six teams advanced to the finals since there was a four-way tie for second place. The teams were Ateneo, La Salle, San Beda, and the teams from the three UP Diliman economics organizations, namely UP Ecosoc, UP Economics Towards Consciousness (UP ETC), and UP Organization of Business Economics Majors (UP OBEM). UP ETC upset the La Salle team, who were the frontrunners for most of the competition, with a behind win. The event, a tie-up between the Philippine Stock Exchange and the two umbrella economics organizations in the country—the Junior Philippine Economics Society (JPES) and the Philippine Council of Economics Students (PhilCES)—was organized with the goal of fostering a greater sense of appreciation for economics in general, and capital markets in particular. last december

12/16/10 PSE-JPES-PHILCES QUIZ 14

mas, the UP Economics Society once again held its caroling activity last December 19-22, 2010. Around 45 members signed up and performed various Christmas songs. Fifteen houses were visited and caroled to all over the greater Manila area. The event gathered P23,000 on the first night, P24,000 on the second night, P35,500 on the third night, and P23,100 on the fourth night, with the total proceeds summing up to P105,500. Expenses, which came from gas compensations, totaled P4,750, bringing a total profit of P100,850. This year’s caroling was organized by Ad Hoc-Task Force, headed by Vice President Sel Ortiga. Preparations included sign-ups and regular practices. This activity served as a fundraiser for the Economics Society Scholarship Fund (ESSF), which provides financial assistance to deserving but underprivileged high school students.

8, 2010, the ecosoc members won at Bragging Rights, this semester’s Members Bersus Apps, or MBA, held at the Tierra Pura clubhouse in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. The games included cheerleading, dodgeball, futsal, basketball, agawang buko, a relay, Catch the Dragon’s Tail, and Human Tower. Members were adjudged the winner in dodgeball, where mere seconds defined their victory over the apps. They also claimed the wins in futsal, basketball, and agawang buko, racking up points for landslide victories, as with the relay and Caterpillar. On the other hand, cheerleading and Human Tower were the only events that the applicants won. Afterwards, the applicants spent the rest of the afternoon in Clean App, where they are required to conduct a general clean-up of the tambayan. The MBA is a semestral event organized by the Sports Committee. The winners of the events, plus the MBA’s Most Valuable Player, will be awarded on Wednesday’s genmeet. The Clean App is also a semetral event, organized by the Secretariat Committee.

12/18-22/10 CAROLING

1/8/11 MBA/CLEAN APP

last january

carolers perform, raise 100k for essf BY BEATRIZ BAYUDAN

in keeping with the spirit of christ-

photographs by (l-r) nikko silva, faye ferrer, beatriz bayudan

Features

Sophomores Von Benavidez, Jess Bodo, Dhiren Karnani, and Jeremae Soliman are this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Featured Members, chosen for their continuing passion for the Society. Meanwhile, former Echoes editor-in-chief Czar Carbonel is Featured Alumnus and Dean and A return for One Big Joke. Jessica Manipon then takes you out to a night of caroling while Dave and Cyril survey the Ecosoc population for some tambayan renovation ideas. The spotlight then sets on CDC, which burst into the semester with high energy and high spirits under the leadership of Faye Ferrer. Finally, we present a primer on the ESSF, our Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest cause. ABOVE Jason sings before his family at the Tayawa residence. Photograph by Kenneth Reyes

FEATURED ALUMNUS

a queen in her own right She was Ecosoc’s editor-inchief, then its secretary. Since then, Czarina Carbonel’s restless creativity has taken her elsewhere BY CARLO GO

he featured alumnus of last issue was none other than the father of Ecosoc himself, Godofredo

Bamba. For this issue, Echoes decided to feature an alumna who is closer to the hearts of its current members. Some would find it hard to fathom why a recent graduate was featured for this issue, with others asking what Czar has actually done to merit such honor. To quell these inquiries, one would only need to look back at Czar’s contributions to the organization—for instance, she was responsible for the current look of our beloved tambayan. But since I am getting ahead of myself, it would be best to start with a look back at Czar’s past.

Humble Beginnings one can trace the beginnings of czarina f. carbonel to

the 4th of August, 1988. Czarina, or Czar to most, was the firstborn of Bob and Carol Carbonel. Czar also has a younger sister, Eunice, who is currently studying at the College of St. Benilde. Her parents are both involved in the finance industry— Bob works for an insurance company while Carol works in a bank. Due to the nature of her mother’s work, Czar’s family had to move from house to house when she was young. Initially, they stayed in Quezon City, where Czar studied at St. Theresa’s College for one year. (Incidentally, she was classmates with future Finance chair and co-Executive Committee 20

member Lia Veneracion.) Eventually, they moved to Laguna for another year before deciding to stay in Dian Street, Manila. Subsequently, Czar and her sister spent the rest of their elementary and high school education at St. Scholastica’s College, Manila. Czar’s passion for the arts was fueled at an early age. As a child, she and her sister would attend painting workshops in Quezon City. She would pour her creativity into different surrealistic landscapes paintings. In school, she would even sketch her classmates for a fee of five pesos. Quite shrewd for a girl her age. As she grew older, Czar was able to express her artistic side through different media. Musically, she enjoys playing the piano and singing; her YouTube account contains covers of songs from The Beatles. In terms of digital media, Czar was already adept with HTML and Paintshop Pro while she was still in high school. Back then, she was the president of their school’s art club and was, surprisingly, a hardcore Ragnarok player.

Ecosoc and Beyond after high school, a new chapter of czar’s life unfolded.

When asked what the most memorable part of her college life was, she answered, without batting an eyelash, “Ecosoc.” Her relationship with our Society started during the second semester of her first year, when she entered as a Branded appliphotographs by risa crisostomo

cant. She began her journey with CDC, eventually graduating as an outstanding applicant. After her stint with the heart of Ecosoc, she worked for one semester under then-Echoes Editor-in-Chief Marian Panganiban before she became EIC herself. Czar found her true love with Echoes. She told us that she was very nervous during the start of her term because she felt that she had big shoes to fill, and it’s no wonder—the previous EIC, Marian, was the School of Economics Representative to the University Student Council as well as a future summa cum laude graduate. Nevertheless, the publication saw several marked changes under her tenure. Echoes was given a face lift, turning from a broadsheet to a magazine—all because Czar wanted “some color.” There was also a rise in features columns: the likes of P&M (an advice column), Chismis Corner, and other interactive additions were included in the magazine. Czar considered Echoes as her baby. Since she had to make do with a limited budget, she would often put up her own money to shoulder the printing costs of each release to make sure it was the best it could be—just as a mother would for a child. Once the release date came around, all her stress and tiredness would go away as she would see her fellow Ecosocers reading their copy of Echoes after the genmeet. She fondly recalls the unusual silence exuding from the tambayan as members would voraciously flip through the pages of the Society’s publication. After Czar’s term as EIC, she chose to serve her beloved organization once more as the Secretary. Given that it was the fiftieth year celebration of Ecosoc, the tambayan underwent numerous renovations. Previously, SE 121 had a beige wall, a cockroach-infested elevated platform, a bulky blackboard, and “ugly” couches. During her summer as Seccom chair, Czar refurbished the tambayan with the help of then-President Aries Carlos and then-Spev Chair Raymond Zabala. They painted the walls green, demolished the platform and blackboard, and eventually bought new couches. In short, Czar led the improvement to the overall aesthetics of our tambayan. theechoes.net

Unfortunately, Seccom inadvertently left a bad taste in Czar’s mouth due to the unfortunate overproduction of the white collared Ecosoc shirts. The merchandise—still available today—was initially intended to be sold at an alumni homecoming. An overestimation of demand led to the underselling of the shirts. Seccom chairs since have been all but desperate to finally sell them out, even including them as freebies packaged with other merchandise. After her two terms as an Execommer, Czar spent her last semester with CDC once more.

What Lies Ahead currently, czar is working for omd,

an advertising company, under media in the advertising department. She is in charge of determining where promotions should be placed. For example, given a certain advertisement, she has to analyze and choose what the best channels are to execute the promotions. When asked whether or not she was able to apply her economics and business lessons, she answered that most of the training you need for a job, you’ll learn once you’re hired. In essence, she said that most of the things that we learn in college are just the basics. However, her Ecosoc training did help her gain the typical leadership and people

skills needed for the job. Aside from working, Czar enjoys musing about philosophical ideas in her spare time. Most of her thoughts, she admits, are done either in transit or while waiting in line. She also has a life system where she would read one book a month, watch one movie per weekend, have a bi-monthly featured music artist she would listen to everyday, and a thing for ordering something new every time she eats at a restaurant. She says it’s her own measurable way of stepping out of her comfort zone in order to learn and grow. At 22, Czar believes she is undergoing her “quarter-life crisis.” When asked about her long-term plan, she said that she wants to venture into digital media, because “it’s the future.” She is plagued with uncertainties though—all she knows for sure is that she wants to live a long and meaningful life. Before we ended our interview, I asked her what her message was for the current Ecosocers. She thought for a moment before saying, “Enjoy college while you can, because it won’t last. Be active in Ecosoc and make real friends.” Wise—and spoken like a queen. You can visit Czar’s philosophical musings at czarczarbonel. wordpress.com

COFFEE SPOONS Czar talks about her life over some morning coffee 21

FEATURES

one big joke: sex, drugs & jazz music Featuring Ralph Dantes BY DEAN DULAY AND AARON AW

following the success of our latest

excursion to the wild, Dean and A have decided to venture into further uncharted territory as they sit down for a oneon-one-on-one with another wild child, Ralph Dantes. Read along as he divulges his life of…

SEX, DRUGS, and JAZZ MUSIC Ralph on Who He Is and What Interests Him as we entered the interview, we

couldn’t help but be fixated on the man himself. Ralph Dantes exuded the aura of a higher-formed being... of a rockstar. When we asked him what interested him, he answered, without any hesitation, “Sex.” Who isn’t? But we had to probe further “So just sex?” He began to concretize. “I like watching films while having sex. But not the normal type of movies, like action or whatever. I like indie films—films that make you think—thinking while having sex is a great feeling.” He then talked about some weird sexual moment involving Bill Murray, star of Lost in Translation and Space Jam. Next, he went on to his musical preferences. Nothing floats his boat more than indie music. Of course there’s jazz, 22

but that’s a whole different part of Ralph Dantes. One word to describe this man: hipster. Just like my briefs. Ralph on the Wildest Thing He’s Ever Done being the highly cultured man that

he is, the Dantes once had a trip to Amsterdam with some “friends” from his tour group, where they had sex on the street—just kidding—they had sex in the hotel room. But at any rate, the wildest thing Ralph ever did was eat space cakes in Amsterdam, and no, not Space Cakes the Alanis Morisette album. For those of you who don’t know, a space cake is very much like a fruit cake, except for one peculiar thing: a space cake uses cannabis, while a fruit cake uses fruits. But Ralph didn’t have to go all the way to Amsterdam. You can make your own space cakes right here, with recipes for stoners of all ages at thestonerscookbook.com (I kid you not). It’s like a stoner’s nirvana (get it?), where stoners interact with other stoners and “kumbaya” as they make more delicious stoner recipes for their stoning pleasure. But enough about Paul, let’s talk abut Ralph. When asked how he felt after eating the cakes, he said he wasn’t that high. Yeah right. We should have named this column Ralph Dantes: Drug Addict.

Ralph on His Motto in Life ralph, true to form, was resoundingly deep as regards to his motto in life. Instead of making it easier on us and saying something like “fall down seven times, stand up eight” (which doesn’t make sense, by the way), he said his philosophy was existentialist, which is about living out of your own being and all that nonsense (we’re not really sure about this one). Here: Ralph focuses on the question of concrete human existence and the conditions of this existence rather than hypothesizing a human essence, stressing that the human essence is determined through life choices. However, even though the concrete individual existence must have priority in existentialism, certain conditions are commonly held to be “endemic” to human existence. Actually, we had a little help coming up with that from Wikipedia. We zoned out when Ralph said existentialist.

Dean and A... ...can have it both ways ...killed two birds without a stone ...can reverse a chemical reaction ...know there’s something about Mary ...climbed up Niagra Falls ...can divide numbers by zero

photograps by irene arzadon and arsenio lukban, photo-illustration by kenneth reyes

heard on high It’s not Christmas

without this age-old Ecosoc tradition BY JESSICA MANIPON

ABOVE The Ecosoc Choir visited fifteen homes this year, including Spev Chair Jason Tayawa’s photograph by kenneth reyes

t was a cold night as it

always was during this time of year. For some Ecosocers who volunteered for caroling, this also signified a solemn night of singing. As the Ecosoc Choir readied themselves with red folders in their hands, the family patiently and enthusiastically watched. The piano started to play. From the choir, a voice began to proclaim, “We are the UP Economics Society…” Thus began the most lifting Ecosoc experience of December. 23

CHOIRMASTER For the third straight year, Paolo Tamase leads the Ecosoc choir Of course, this experience is the caroling, done every year to raise funds for the Economics Society Scholarship Fund, or the ESSF. Ecosocers volunteer to be part of the Ecosoc Choir. Letters of donation are distributed to families, alumni, and generous people who wish to be caroled to. While it may seem like just another Ecosoc fundraising event, it is one of those experiences an Ecosocer would remember most, partly because it embodies the three thrusts—service, excellence, and tradition—but mostly because the stories behind Ecosoc caroling are simply precious.

Excellence in Preparation the plain truth is, ecosocers are eco-

nomics majors, not music majors nor full-time singers. We have other responsibilities, so singing in a choir may seem merely a hobby rather than something we can master. However, this hobby, coupled with a little dedicated practice, can go a long way. Sign-ups for caroling usually start early in the second semester while practices begin November. This is organized by the vice president, who this year is Sel Ortiga. For this holiday season however, practices and sign-ups were fewer than previous years, mostly due 24

to exams and an unusual lack of participation from this semester’s applicants. Nevertheless, Paolo Tamase, president and head conductor for this year’s caroling, pushed through, even adding two new Filipino Christmas songs to the usual song line-up. In fact, the total songs sung this year was eight (including the “thank you” song). Compare this to the seven last year and the five the year before that. This, Paolo explained, was an effort to make themselves more deserving of the donations the Society will be receiving. Practices were held thrice a week in the tambayan from 4 p.m. to around 6 p.m. The Choir was divided into four voices—soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Noteworthy for this year is the inclusion of a piano accompaniment, played by Paolo Tamase himself. Ecosocers made sure every cent to be donated was worth every minute listened to. During the first day of caroling, the Choir was admittedly quite rusty as they were still getting warmed up to performing. But by the second day, they were hitting those notes more easily and smoothly, showing that all the hard work had paid off. Nevertheless, the Ecosoc Choir knows that they are no UP Concert Chorus or Madrigal Singers.

But for a bunch of economics students who only practiced for a few weeks, the verdict of the listeners is more than satisfactory. As one guest said to a member of the Choir after their performance, “In my whole career as an economist, I have never heard fellow economists who can sing like that.” That was more than enough a compliment for the Choir.

Service in Facts and Figures again, all of these are for the essf.

Without the scholars, there would not be an Ecosoc caroling. The Ecosoc Choir sang more songs and put in more effort this year to raise more money for the ESSF, and that they did—the figures are there to prove it. The total net profit from four days of caroling was just over P100,000. Caroling for 3 to 4 houses every night, the earnings of the first two days alone already surpassed the earnings from 2009 and even more so from 2008. One hundred thousand pesos—that is an unbelievable amount for a nonprofessional choir. And to claim to have given that amount to ESSF even without being necessarily part of the Task Force committee, the Ecosoc Choir is immensely proud. photographs by david anabo and laurence go

The third day was when the most amount of earnings came, primarily from the visit to the home of the president of Asian Development Bank, where a small despedida party was held for an ADB director. The Ecosoc Choir was privileged enough to sing in front diplomats and directors from the ADB. While it was a mostly nerve-wracking experience, the Ecosoc Choir proved that they can impress even the most distinguished economists in Asia. After the Choir’s performance, a bag was passed around wherein the guests could donate money, a deed which was initiated by the homeowner herself. The ADB president and his guests mingled with the Choir afterwards; some members can actually claim that they shook hands with the ADB president! However, acts of service go beyond the money earned—it is in the unconditional sacrifice and selflessness and the Ecosoc Choir has embodied these even way before. In fact, during the Marcos regime, Ecosoc carolers were detained in military camps for breaching the 1 a.m. curfew, and after being released at 12 noon, they would carol again the next night. That is devotion and bravery amidst adversaries, and service at its utmost. But without the Martial Law or curfews, does that mean the Ecosoc Choir today serves less? Traffic and time are the major adversaries faced nowadays by the Choir. Those may not be much compared to abusive soldiers, but what the Ecosoc Choir does is service nonetheless. From the perpetual traffic of the South to the craziness that is Commonwealth, it is no joke travelling around the metro from rush hour to the wee hours of the night. It takes a lot of patience, determination, and money to get to their destinations. For the carolers, their sacrifice is the four nights of their Christmas break. They could have easily chosen not to go and spend those nights somewhere else with someone else, but they chose to spend it with the Choir singing for the scholars.

NOCHE BUENA After their performance, the carolers were treated by the master of the house with food and drinks Christmas caroling is a vital part of the Christmas season, and singing Christmas songs are simply more enjoyable when you’re with your friends, especially all the catchy (“Gumising” and “Pasko Na” are favorites) and heartwarming (“Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” is an Ecosoc caroling classic) carols. Of course, every Ecosoc caroler knows about the eating. Every house that has been caroled to serves a variety of food (including pasta, pastries, and more) after the carolers had sung, and it was certainly rude not to eat. Imagine singing then eating and doing it again for two hours or so. Admittedly, it is fattening, but the carolers know better than to ignore delicious food when it is served. Not only does the Choir get to travel and discover Metro Manila, they also

EARNINGS FROM CAROLING 2010

Expenses come from gasoline compensation for those who gave rides 105 95 85

at the back of their heads, ecosoc

inf0graphic by kenneth reyes

Revenue P100,600

Profit P100,850

Tradition of Lasting Memories carolers all know what caroling really is besides fundraising—singing, eating, and fun.

get to visit houses of fellow Ecosocers, alumni and other personalities (eg. Ma’am Stella Quimbo and the ADB president) and look at pictures and meet their families. Ecosoc caroling is a good way of knowing not just them but fellow carolers as well. From weeks of practices, singing, chatting, gossiping during car rides, eating together, and spending four long nights with almost the same group of people, Ecosoc caroling is a great way to bond. Truly, the Christmas of Ecosoc as an organization would not be complete without it. All of these make those four nights of caroling worth it. These make the Ecosoc caroling experience more than just a fundraising event—it becomes an expression of our Christmas spirit and more importantly, an agency of service, excellence, and tradition.

Day 3 P35,500 Day 1 Day 2 P24,000 P23,000

Day 4 P23,100

Expenses P4,750

FEATURES

The Ecosoc Tambayan Its best and its worst BY DAVE CRUZ AND CYRIL TABLANTE

he ecosoc tambayan is a place

that is very close to the hearts of the members of the UP Economics Society. Maybe one of the reasons for this is because it is the place wherein an Ecosocer’s life starts and never ends. It has been a witness of all that has happened inside Ecosoc for so long. Knowing this, we interviewed a pool of members for us to know more about what they want to be removed or improved from the tambayan and more importantly, what makes it an exciting place to visit.

THE WORST 2011. we are all full of unblemished hopes and courageous plans this year, and no wonder: it is natural for us to want change and here, we want to give you that. Using the data we’ve gathered, we list down the top five things that Ecosocers want to change in the tambayan. the year has now turned to

5. Fix broken windows—Some of those we’ve interviewed said that they want the old broken windows repaired. This is because some of them won’t open 26

anymore, thereby cutting the passage of cool, fresh air. Perhaps this is one of the suggestions that is most attainable since repairing these windows won’t really require much funds and labor.

4. Replace TV—At number four, members said that they want the old TV to be replaced by a brand new flat screen television. Thinking about it, when was the last time someone actually turned that TV on? Having a new flat screen TV would definitely increase the astig factor of our Ecosoc tambayan. This may have some negative effects however, as this could lessen the interaction among members, especially when they would just be glued to the astig television.

3. Get air conditioning—Next, at number three, they want that the old fans be removed and/or replaced by an air conditioner. This would make the tambayan a more comfortable place to hang out in, thus attracting more members to visit more often. On the other hand, aside from requiring much financially, circumstances such as the fact that the Ecosoc tambayan is conjoined with the tambayan of OBEM and ETC

should first be taken into consideration.

2. Get rid of the sofas—Ranking in number 2 and also the most debated from the given answers is the sofa/ couch/thinking chair. We say that it’s the most debated because there were also some who said that for them, the sofa was one of the highlights of the tambayan. On the other hand, according to those who didn’t like it, they said that the cover needs to be replaced and that there is already a part that seems like a sink hole.

1. Get rid of the clutter—Finally, making it in first place is the clutter. Things that will no longer be used should either be thrown away or brought home while the stuff that are still needed should be arranged in cabinets and drawers in an organized manner. This would allow more space and would also brighten up the tambayan. Not only is this is the most evident element that really needs to be removed, it is also the most achievable. If all of us just took the time to clean up after ourselves, we would no doubt alleviate this problem. panoramic photograph by arsenio lukban

PRISTINE The tambayan early in the semester. Can this cleanliness ever be maintained?

THE BEST veering away from the negative side,

‘You people live like animals.’ —non-ecosoc friend, upon seeing the empty tambayan at night

there are also things which make the tambayan a place worthy to spend time in. That’s why we also asked the Society’s members to name the things that make the tambayan an exciting place to hang out in and why. The answers were pretty similar so we were only able to come up with three.

3. The size—Coming in third place, what makes the place an exciting one to visit is its large size compared to other tambayans, such as the huts of the CAL orgs, the benches of the AS orgs, or even the stairs of Debsoc. Ecosocers said they are proud that it is more spacious, especially since it means that more people could come in and use it. Also, it could fit more stuff that the org needs.

2. The sofas—Making it in number two is, again, the sofa. For the people who love the sofa, they said that it is one of the most important things in the tambayan because it is usually where the interaction among the members and even the apps happens. It seems to be the heart of the whole place as everyday, theechoes.net

people come and sit in that sofa to be able to catch up with one another, play games, rest, and so on and so forth.

1. The people—Lastly, winning by a big margin, what makes the Ecosoc tambayan an exciting place to be in are the people. One could remove everything: the old TV, the shelves, the tables, the cabinets, and the sofa but still, the place would be worth visiting because of friends and other people who are constantly present and who make every moment of being in the tambayan an unforgettable one. there you have it. these are the

things, good and bad, that make up the place Ecosocers call home. However, though we all wish for the negative things to disappear and the excellent things to get better, we must remember the inevitability of disappointment. Some may be satisfied but some may not be, and that’s life—we can never argue with it. However, if we want change, then we strive for it. It starts with motivation, and motivation is fueled by inspiration. Let this new year be an inspiration for us all. 27

FEATURES

taking flight Two months into the

sem, Faye Ferrer and her team have successfully reinvigorated CDC into an unexpectedly strong powerhouse committee. How did it happen? BY BEATRIZ BAYUDAN

oisterous kids arrive in

semi-straight lines, brighteyed, eager to have fun, and welcomed by their mentors for that day. Soon after, they disperse into small groups according to age and proceed to carry out the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities, which usually include educational and art-related ones. This scenario is typical of playgroups and preschools, but for the ones that occurs every week in the School of Economics, it is simply the new look of the Saturday daycare, 28

PASSION Faye Ferrer takes courses in Education to equip herself with the academic fundamentals of caring for and teaching children photograph by arsenio lukban

theechoes.net

FEATURES

as conceptualized by the Community Development Committee, or CDC.

Boarding under the leadership of current

CDC chairperson Faye Ferrer, significant changes have been made. In the past, the structure of the CDCs was looser, opting for free time or play time. “I kind of felt that there was something missing,” Faye says. “Yes, the kids wanted to color, play, and have fun, but how do I make sure that they were also getting something from it?” Thus the themed CDCs and electives were born. “We have more resources now,” Faye adds. “I’d like to offer Ecosoc different things, and for the kids to learn through that.” “Essentially, it’s the same activities,” she says. “Iba lang yung execution. I wanted to make each one unique, para tumatak sa mems and kids din. Instead of saying na, ‘I had fun at the last Saturday CDC,’ they would mention which CDC is it. Like the Australia CDC.” “Around the world with CDC” is one way to put it—with travel as the chosen umbrella theme, each Saturday CDC would adhere to the culture of the assigned country. Members are encouraged to dress in related attires and the activities for that day would also reference the country. In addition, learning about the nation would also be in the program—it’s like having show-and-tell with each CDC. Even attendance checking is connected to the travel theme: members are now issued “passports,” which get inked every time they attend a CDC, in lieu of the usual registration sheet. “With that card, the members can track how many CDCs they’ve already attended,” Faye says. “We keep records too so we can double-check, and if ever the members lose their passport, they can have it replaced, for a fee of ten pesos.” 30

Faye is all smiles when asked about the feedback. “We’ve had very good comments,” she says. “The members are enjoying.” Of course, she is not one to rest on her laurels. “We do talk about this and evaluate the activities, as a committee,” she shares. “We want to offer what’s good for both the members and the kids—we take everything into consideration, and we are open to change.” “It is also the reason we are offering different CDC electives as well,” she says. “I want to expose the mems to different socio-civic activities. For example, not everyone is really fond of kids. That’s where the PAWS CDC and Ibang Klase come into play—the community is composed of other people too. Animals belong within it, too. I want the members to see that CDC is not just about helping the people in the community... It’s about helping the community to grow as a whole.”

Take-off though everything is shaping up very

nicely, Faye says she still has a long way to go. “Of course I know that it’s a huge responsibility to have, but I am always happy to serve. And everything won’t happen naman at once. We’ll always need a follow-up for the activities, but right now we’re concentrating on finding the right balance. The question is how to make it sustainable—hindi siya parang DepEd na pag iba na ang sec-

‘These are real lives that we are affecting in more ways than we can think of.’ —faye ferrer, cdc chairperson

retary, iba na rin ang programs. As you can see, we retained some of the elements of how CDC was last sem; we just streamlined it, kahit papaano.” When asked what she would like to say to the Society, she jokingly replies, “Hello! Yun lang.” Clearly, such a bubbly person is fit for the job. But kidding aside, Faye would like to thank the members for accepting change. “We’ve already established a routine with CDC, and we weren’t sure if this change would work, or be effective,” she says. “So thank you, mems, for welcoming it and enjoying.” Always quick to cover all bases, she further adds that “if there are things that we can’t see, as a committee, or if you feel na may kulang, please don’t hesitate to tell us. It would be a big help for us, to make CDC the best it can possibly be.” “My vision for the members is to instill, you know, the CDC spirit of helping, if such a thing exists. Kahit wala na sa Ecosoc, I want the mems to be as active as a part of the community,” she says. “When my term ends, I hope na sana may naitulong ako sa pagbabago ng mindset ng mems—not think about doing CDCs just because it’s required, but because of something more. I don’t want CDC to be thought of as boring— that’s why there are themes. I want the members to find a reason why we’re doing CDC, get hyped for it instead of complaining. “This is what I want for CDC—and Ecosoc as well.”

Destination looking back at faye’s general plan

of action, which she released during the campaign season for the current Executive Committee members, it is clear that she is progressing nicely with her proposed projects. Intensified publicity work is done for every CDC activity, and the CDC Orientation was very well-at-

photographs by faye ferrer, ica ducanes, arsenio lukban

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Renovating classrooms at Culiat High School; daycare sessions with the children from Pook Ricarte; giving gifts at the CDC Christmas Party infographic by kenneth reyes

tended, to check some things off the list. But more than that, what is noticeable about CDC are the plans that lean towards the long-term. Faye has emphasized that these are real people we are interacting with, and these are lives that we are affecting in more ways than we think of. We are imprinting ourselves upon them and vice-versa, so it is crucial that this exchange be beneficial for both. The United Kingdom’s Community Development Exchange defines “community development” as “the act of members of the said community collaborating with key people and organizations to pinpoint issues and come up with the proper solutions.” It’s a functional definition, albeit a little detached, but essentially, this is what CDC aims to achieve eventually. Consistency and sustainability are key players in getting closer to this, which were taken into consideration in implementing the CDCs for this semester. The work that is poured into organizing each CDC is by no means minimal. Claiming responsibility for children under twelve, most of whom would prefer to run around, is also no joke. The effort that comes with being with them can really wear you out, but when that translates into the happiness of another, it becomes so worth it that (clichéd as it is) the troubles melt away. What CDC does for Ecosoc, considered as the heart of the Society, is to cultivate in its members a sense of social awareness in the context of a community—a reminder that as its citizen, one has a duty to help out in whatever way one can voluntarily—not because one has to but because one wants to. This echoes Faye’s vision for the members, to be intrinsically motivated to attend CDCs and participate enthusiastically. Armed with all these, a ready smile, and superb leadership skills, Faye Ferrer is flying CDC to greater heights. 31

PRIMER

economics society scholarship fund BY BENEDICT BISMARK with over half of our scholars grad-

uating this year, the Economic Society Scholarship Fund (ESSF) is facing several major overhauls. Among them are the number of high school scholars, a possible college scholar, and its cash delivery system. Two years ago, Ecosoc scouted several public schools to partner with in order to renew its pool of scholars. Jay Tolentino, then-CDC vice chair, contacted Balara Elementary School, and then-Academic Affairs Chairperson Ernandi Roxas designed a multiple choice aptitude test to select the scholars. The top ten takers from the best section in Balara were then asked to write an essay on their thoughts about the economic crisis. The three best essays were written by Sean Reyes, Jonathan Baduria, and Kevin delos Santos, and we took them in as our new scholars. Today, the Scholarship Committee (Scholcom), composed of each guardian, Paolo Tamase, Faye Ferrer, Sel Ortiga, and Gilbert Bueno, monitors and attends to these scholars. We require the scholars to come to Ecosoc every first Friday of the month to interact with the Ecosocers, maintain an average of 85 every grading period, and maintain a good disciplinary record. Four of our seven scholars are graduating this year, leaving us with three left. But instead of replacing the four, Ecosoc might keep the number at three in order to support one college scholar. The Scholcom has already spoken to the School of Economics administration; the project is feasible under this plan, while the selection process just has to be ironed out with the college. A college scholar is easier to monitor than a high school one. We will not have to wait for his report card to evalu32

ABOVE Some of our scholars watching Musikapella, a fundraiser made for them ate him because he will have Ecosocer classmates to check up on his grades. Tutoring and interacting with him will no longer be difficult because he will not just be in the college every first Friday, but everyday. Ecosoc can also take a more active role in the formation of his character; it’s hard to form friendships by meeting someone only once a month. Paying for his education will also be easier—an Ecosocer can accompany him during enrollment and his papers will be processed and assessed by someone within the University. Will the college scholar automatically be a member of Ecosoc? The social dynamics might become a little odd if he isn’t because he will have to constantly visit the tambayan, interact with mems and apps, sign applicant sigsheets, and be evaluated by the Scholcom. Will we still maintain the grade point average of 85? Each subject has different grade ranges. An 85 in a GE might be a 1.5 but in a major it can be a dos. How will the guardian of the college scholar’s responsibilities differ from the guardian of the high school one? Will they have to interact every day or will they only have to see each other every first Friday? From which STFAP bracket will we choose? Higher STFAP brackets do not need the scholarship and lower ones already re-

ceive an allowance from the university. The payment scheme is also being scrutinized. The ESSF is a scholarship fund, and a scholarship should pay for the tuition of the beneficiary. However, the ESSF only gives monthly allowances of P900 directly to the scholars and allows them to spend it on whatever they feel they need. This assumes that an allowance will have the same effect as a direct tuition payment given that education has many hidden costs—transportation and daily food consumption, for instance. On the other hand, a direct tuition payment would paralyze Ecosoc’s finances during enrollment season. This is problematic if subsequent fundraisers are lackluster since we lose our capital. Proponents of the change in payment scheme argue that tuition payment would ensure that the money is well-spent by the scholars. The ESSF is meant to guarantee the scholars a proper education, and the risk is worth it to make sure it stays true to that goal. Other changes being considered for the ESSF are its partner high school, provisions for an SE personnel scholarship, and formalized standards to guage deservingness of the scholarship. These and other things may come out during the constitutional debates. photograph by irene arzadon

CULTURE We start this month’s Culture section with a review of the new MMFF film RPG Metanoia. It breaks ground, but is it our own Toy Story? Lia then takes us on an international tour through fashion. The models? Our very own Ecosocers. Avril and Raphael talk indie music with the likes of Local Natives, The National, and Joanna Newsom while the Literature column visits the edge of depression in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Our most mysterious writer hands us another plate of scandalous Ecosoc gossip, and Chiara closes this issue by grading the country’s national events for the month of December in Report Card. ABOVE American singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom. Photograph by Cole Nielsen, taken from colenielsen.com

CULTURE

METICULOUS The film reportedly took five years to make

FILM Does RPG Metanoia deserve the hype? Sort of BY AVRIL BRIES it’s about time—those were the first

words that sprang to mind when it was announced that the Philippines was coming out with its first ever full-length 3D animation film, RPG Metanoia, for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Considering that the Philippine comic book community has been churning out stars like Arnold Arre whose works are just begging to be translated to the big screen (because the world would be a better place with an animated version of The Mythology Class), we’ve just been waiting for this to happen. Without a doubt, the movie breaks new ground in the Philippine film industry—but disregard the whole ‘first of its kind’ hype for a second. Beyond breaking new ground, is it actually any good? Story-wise, anime fans will recognize parallels to the famous .hack series; to a lesser degree, Metanoia also has certain components we can find in other gamethemed films such as 1993’s Arcade or 2009’s Gamer. In fact, hardcore movie geeks will recognize a number of Hollywood references (that action sequence in the film—hello Matrix!). Comic book aficionados will also draw comparisons from sources such as game-centric webcomics and certain stories in the much-acclaimed Pinoy Siglo: Freedom and Siglo: Passion anthologies. In short, geeks may find it derivative (and spend most of the time muttering, “Did they just rip off Kazunori Ito?”). Most of the film’s originality points come from the fact that it’s heavy on Filipino elements, from the tricycles to longganisa and daing na bangus, from a sipa to the ‘Bawal Umihi Dito’ scrawled across a wall. Metanoia uses the animation style so favored in the West, with the character design calling to mind films such as Despicable Me and Up. However, animation pundits will note that the quality 34

and flow are generally choppy. The film took five years to make, which makes its tech rather outdated in some aspects, and sadly, it shows. Those of us who are anticipating Pixar- and Dreamworkslevel animation are definitely not going to have their expectations met. On the other hand, the level of detail was alright: small facets such as the VLC player program icon on a character’s computer screen add realism that the movie wouldn’t have otherwise achieved. One pleasant surprise was the film’s decent musical score, showcasing local talents such as APO Hiking Society.

‘We had a lot riding on this, not just for ourselves, but for all the animators in the country’ —louie suarez, director, rpg metanoia

No novelty songs here, thank you very much. The movie’s biggest weak point is its voice acting. It’s a common enough complaint in most Pinoy anime dubs, and sadly it still holds true for Metanoia; the dialogue at times becomes stilted and unbelievable, with the characters lapsing into monotones, unable to properly convey certain emotions. The voice actors lack experience, and serious animation fanatics will discern the difference and hate it with the same energy they directed at the Yu-Gi-Oh Tagalog dub (because seriously, did YGO have to translate ‘duel’ into ‘bwelo’?). All in all, RPG Metanoia is an adequate stab at a fully-animated movie. It’s a must-watch only in the sense that it’s the first of its kind. Animation lovers will find it sub-par, but it’s still a fun movie for casual viewers, and kids in particular will enjoy it. It’s imperfect, but then again, most pioneer works are. What it does mean though, is that follow-up acts will learn from its mistakes. RPG Metanoia is a promising start. With a little more experience and some better equipment, it looks like the Philippines could definitely produce top-quality animation.

film poster from mindrelaxingideas.blogspot.com

Fashion

From the catwalk to the sidewalk BY LIA LONTOC hello dear disciples of the academe!

Have you been so busy studying that you’ve forgotten what time it is? Let me give you a hint: couture and cutthroat competition. It’s fashion time! I happen to have a ticket to the TGV (that’s Train à Grande Vitesse to you) of style and will be making all the stops to motherlands of world fashion. Care to join? See the trends straight off the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris on our very own Ecosoc façonables. 1. In New York, there are no April showers, only spring Mayflowers Floral prints are still hot. Give your frock a fresh spin by anchoring it with a cozy overlay. Peter Som’s look maybe too risqué to wear out so instead of a separate bandeau and waist shorts, wear a romper like Irra. 2. Shall we sip pennyroyal tea in London? Whoever said that fashion knows not of comfort clearly doesn’t know where to shop. Fashion East takes your fierce PJ’s to the street. You can opt to pair your light top with a light bottom, or like Georgina, you can pair your light top with jeans. 3. Now, off to fashion’s commercial home, Milano Menswear is monochromatic chic with a surprise of color. When your top and bottom are of the same color family, add some punch to your outfit with an unexpected burst of brightness. You can wear an eye-catching accessory or make your shoes a focal point like Andre. 4. Our journey ends in our final destination: Where else? Paris, baby! Paris is burning! Can you keep your photographs by arsenio lukban

cool? Tuck a crisp shirt into your short shorts like Balmain. Give the runway look a tropic twist by trading in the boots for comfy strappy flats like Angelica. of course, any outfit wouldn’t be

complete without that poise. Carry yourself with panache and you can say je ne sais quoi, well… ask me first hahaha! And you know I’m always here for you ‘cause trends may fade with season but some friendships are year round. Like you and me! A bientôt! 35

CULTURE

MUSIC How about good lyrics, for a change? BY AVRIL BRIES AND RAPHAEL DANTES

we’ve all heard

‘viral earworms’ (songs so catchy that they stay in our heads forever—giving us the well-known LSS or last song syndrome), which have hare-brained lyrics. If they weren’t set to music, they would be paradigms for bad poetry. Take, for example, Katy Perry’s “Peacock,” which has a hook that goes, “I wanna see your peacock, cock, cock.” Or “Hey, Soul Sister,” which was recently featured on Glee and begins with the words, “Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains,” and doesn’t even have the excuse of being an obscure metaphor to pardon its nonsensicality. But 2010 was a good year for lyricism. Upstarts breaking into the indie music community and old royalty in the music empire alike showed that beyond their uncanny ear for melodies that almost any listener can appreciate on hearing a song once, they also have a propensity for the poetic, which enables them to craft masterful, meaningful lyrics.

Local Natives bursting into the indie-rock scene

with a unique psychedelic, folky-influenced sound, Local Natives is characterized by arresting drums and vocals reminiscent of a more aggressive and insistent Fleet Foxes. Their song “Wide Eyes,” the opening track and single of their album Gorilla Manor, is built on idiosyncratic instrumentals, particularly the soothing guitar riff that stands in striking contrast to the attention-seeking drums pulsating throughout the entire song. Containing spiritual references such as Buddha’s period of ascetism—“No food or water for the better part of ten months/Quietly he sat between the folds of a free trunk”—the lyrics discuss enlightenment, or lack thereof, and the possible inconsistencies of religion. 36

ABOVE California indie rock band Local Natives

The National there’s more to the national than

the incredibly charismatic baritone of its lead vocalist, Matt Berninger. Despite being classified a post-punk revivalist group, they’re versatile enough to incorporate multifarious influences that seem to go against the grain of the genre, such as adding synth beats or liberally using the piano in certain tracks, akin to the variability of eclectic acts like Tori Amos and Arcade Fire. Rather than in-your-face lines, The National uses subtle allusions and gracefully written figures of speech to get their points across. Their song “Conversation 16,” a standout album track that manifests their dexterity in crafting deceptively simple melodies and unravels hidden depths on repeated listens. Take, for example, a Plath connotation: “I’m a confident liar / Had my head in the oven so you’d know where I’ll be.”

Joanna Newsom newsom is a singular folk artist who

is exceptional to the very core. More

than the skillful sound of the harp applied to all her records, she has also left an unmistakeable trail of growth throughout her years as an artist. Her latest triple album, Have One on Me, is an ambitious testament to her voice as it scales back the orchestrations and lets her singing take the limelight. Her voice has noticeably gone through wear and tear, but the aching tone is more stirring, parallel to Billie Holiday’s vocals in her final album, Lady in Satin. The track “Good Intentions Paving Company,” a poignant masterpiece, exemplifies her cogency and loquacity in writing. A gripping line boldly professes, “And it’s my heart, not me, who cannot drive.” good lyrics are essential to any

song; these days however, they have been grossly overlooked, allowing subpar artists to skate by on the veneer of their melodies. But songs are like poetry; it is unacceptable to simply use pretty-sounding words. It needs to have meaning too. photograph from dailyrindblog.com

Literature “i felt very still and very empty, the way the eye of a tornado must feel.” This was how Esther Greenwood, the central character of The Bell Jar, made herself vivid. Esther had a winsome tale: a poor girl who lives in a dreary hinterland in Boston is suddenly propelled to the lustrous empire of New York when she procures a college scholarship and snags an enviable guest editor job in a magazine—but she could only describe herself the way she did. Something seems to be wrong with Esther, and we witness her breakdown with disturbing veracity and ingenious wit. From the onset, Esther has always felt detached from how people view her life; New York is dizzying and depressing, and she is oddly prepossessed with the electrocution of the Rosenbergs. This nascent ennui would soon degenerate into a kernel of insanity that inhabits her. As she returns home for summer, the melancholy grows rabid. Her invitation to a coveted summer school writing course never came, and she discovers that her boyfriend, Buddy, has been rendezvousing with another woman. A meteoric depression subsequently befalls: she is unable to eat, read, or sleep. All apprehensions that something is very wrong were affirmed as soon she begins contemplating suicide. Whilst she ponders this, she gazes into her mirror and it depicts a completely separate person—from herself and from the world. I fondly recount the introduction of the symbol of the bell jar: “Wherever I sat—on the deck of a ship or at a street café in Paris or Bangkok—I would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my own sour air.” This ingenious line highlights Plath’s gift for rendering stunning moments; she drags us to the precipice of madness. There is no way out of the mind. Strangely, the novel ends on a fairly hopeful note following Esther’s psychotherapy and electroshock therapy: “There ought, I thought, to be a ritual for being born twice—patched, retreaded, and approved for the road.” However, she remains vigilant of the bell jar, noting, “How did I know that someday—at college, in Europe, somewhere, anywhere—the bell jar, with its stifling distortions, wouldn’t descend again?” Esther Greenwood’s account of her years in the bell jar is both breathtaking and unsettling. The detached and unaffected narration left me as if I was floating on an incomprehensible ocean in her mind. But perhaps the greatest achievement of Plath’s novel is its steadfast commitment to truthfulness; while having all the force and control of her best poetry, it does not slant or alter her source experiences. Her opus puts the reader within the bounds of madness like very few literatures have. Though it’s easy to fall victim to Plath’s despair, I did not shy away from its mastery, as any reader shouldn’t. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath’s thinly-veiled autobiographic novel, is far from being a caricature of depression; it is literature. —raphael dantes novel cover from booksandbards.com

Gossip hello ecosocers! happy new year! who would’ve thought

2010 would run away from us that fast? We’ve all been away for our holiday breaks—some of us went out of the country and some just stayed in the comfort of their own homes— BUT I and my little burnbookkeepers have been watching! You didn’t think your dirty little actions could escape my eyes and ears that easy, did you? Well anyway, it’s the start of a new decade, and as the saying goes (slightly modified): ANOTHER YEAR, MORE STORIES! SPOTTED! Miss Bidang Kontra-bida and Mister InvisibleMan-Experiment-Gone-Wrong going on a roller coaster love affair! CASE #1: My burnbookkeepers told me that they apparently have ended whatever they had over the Christmas break. They said that the two have been fighting about everything, sometimes even bringing their quarrels in public! Rumor has it they even “stopped” being friends! I doubted this at first, but I was proven wrong when I saw their shenanigans myself. CASE #2: When school resumed, they haven’t been seen together as much as before. But to my surprise, while walking around Econ one day, I saw Mister Invisible-ManExperiment-Gone-Wrong flirting with Miss Bidang Kontrabida again just like how they were before! I was like, WOW. To the two of you, come on! Not to be mean, but let’s not be too immature, okay? SPOTTED! Mister Popular Brand of Colored Pencils POPPING OTHER FIREWORKS with little Miss Cover of Vogue Italia (ANTM, 2010)! O to the M to the G! I never could’ve imagined things like this happen in our very own school! So the story goes like this: The two people, being teenagers and having uncontrollable hormones and all, allegedly “did each other” inside a car in one of Econ’s parking lots! We all know how this process goes, so we know that even from inside of a tinted car, it’s still noticeable! Apparently, a security guard saw a car mysteriously shaking and waited for the people in it to come out! They eventually did, dolling up before finally walking away. Now you may be wondering how I personally found out about this, but I never leak my sources! Let’s just assume that kuya guard’s job description does not include “do not spread gossip” in it! Now, to the two of you, next time, make sure my burnbookkeepers won’t know about your dirty little secrets, even kuya guard. Here’s a quote for you: “Doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness.” *wink* WOW! This New Year is definitely filled with EXPLODING gossip! I thought they banned fireworks already? Well, that’s all the words we have for this issue! Til next time, honeys! And try not to be too public of the things that you do, YOU’RE FILLING UP MY COLUMN! *laughs* —gossip g.

CULTURE

grade

2.75

Report card December 2010 BY CHIARA COKIENG

LAST MONTH—2.5

most of the time, we judge based on what has been

done and how excellent or unsatisfactory it was, but despite the number of issues in last December, 2010’s final month was actually marked not by the events that happened but by those that didn’t happen.

Pride

shame

PNOY DEMANDS FOR THE MORONG 43’S IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 10 We all know he means well, but it’s really high time our president act like the president that he is. While arresting and detaining 43 health workers on the basis of an illegal search warrant is definitely shameful for the previous administration, Aquino’s move to act on the Morong 43 issue is definitely a pride-worthy event for the present administration. Not only that, this may hopefully be the start of the revival of the peace negotiations between the government and the NDF. This is definitely a good start for 2011.1

SC DECLARES THE TRUTH COMMISSION UNCONSTITUTIONAL DECEMBER 7 With issues such as the plagiarism case versus the UP Law 37, the declaration of EO1 on the Truth Commission unconstitutional, the obstruction of the implementation of EO2 on former NCMF secretary Lucman to revoke the alleged midnight appointments made by thenoutgoing president Arroyo, the pending petitions on EO3, EO7, and others, 2010 has definitely been a very bad year for the Philippines. A huge reason for this is because of the judiciary, where 14 out of 15 members are Arroyo appointees. The president, Sec. de Lima, Sec. De Mesa, and Sol. Gen. Cadiz has declared war on the Supreme Court— unsurprisingly, the SC does not agree. PNOY SNUBS AWARDING OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE BECAUSE OF PRESSURE FROM CHINA; CHINA DENIES HIS STATEMENT DECEMBER 9 2010 was also a year of diplomatic fiascos, it seems. Conrado de Quiros, in his article “Bad Decision,” says it best: “Of course it remains the moral duty of the Philippine government to plead for clemency or appeal to the charity, which is not solely a Christian virtue, of the Chinese government. But it is certainly not [its] moral duty... to betray its fundamental commitment to human rights, the linchpin of democracy, just to get drug traffickers off death row.” SC FINALLY DECIDES ON THE VIZCONDE MASSACRE DECEMBER 14 The Vizconde Massacre started on June 1991 and was put to a semiclosure with the acquittal of Hubert Webb and six others; semi-closure because two suspects are still at large. Regardless of whether or not the SC made the right decision, there has been too much indescribable and unimaginable suffering for all the parties involved—more than 15 years of imprisonment for the suspects and 20 years of injustice for the Vizcondes. If anything, it only resolved that there is definitely more loss of trust in an already hugely mistrusted justice system.

Conclusion No charges are filed against GMA, her cabinet, Ephraim Genuino, and other officials yet. No resolution is made on the Hacienda Luisita case yet. MILF peace talks are stalled— no meeting on it has been held yet. I’m giving our country a 2.75 for December 2010—but only because it’s the holidays. 38

BUDGET FOR 2011 DECEMBER 26 While I put the budget cut on education under Pride, I cannot say the same for the rest of the 2011 budget. The pork barrel has been greatly increased: by P12 billion for the president, P200 M for the vice president, P100 M for senators, P50 M for congressmen, and P15 M for members of the Commission on Appointments. The president is clearly not immune to political pressures. However, lawmakers are now required to disclose their pork barrel spending on government web sites. We’ll see how that works out. photograph by irene arzadon