La Salleno Vol. 23 Issue 1

youth

Digital Narcissus On a silver platter Tracing virtual threats

power

FEATURES MAGAZINE OF THE HERALDO FILIPINO

Mike Enriquez Q&A 2016 Presidentiables March of the millennials

culture

Beyond girl power The gender palette Clash of cultures

VOL. 23 NO. 1 | FEBRUARY 2016

La Salleño

Features magazine of the Heraldo Filipino Volume 23, No. 1

EDITOR Anri Ichimura WRITERS Daniella Shaira Cortez, Cerisse Madlangbayan, Bianca Isabelle Lariosa, Kikuno Nakadai, Naomi Lane Tiburcio, Katherine Anne Aboy, Danielle Vince Capuno, Erika Uy, John Paul Gonzales, Nishtha Nigam, Rochelle Rivera, and James Ramolete CONTRIBUTORS Yuri Nakadai, Jessone Purificacion, Rachelle Angela Yap John Joseph Gementiza, Felix Malicsi, and Angel Francisco ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Lynoelle Kyle Arayata, Jerome Quinto, Ricardo Martin Cabale, Marco Belarmino, Moesha de Guia, Jeff Treat Dimaano, Kogkia Madrid, Jose Mari Martinada, Brandon Ocenar, Lorraine Quintana, Nikki Medina, John Chesleigh Nofiel, Roxanne Valerie Rasco, Wenchie Tacate, James Fidel Tan, Enrico Paolo Topacio, and Camille Trinidad LAYOUT ARTIST Ricardo Martin Cabale, Camille Joy Gallardo, Timmy Joy Lomarda, Christian Paul Macapagal, and Melissa Reynoso

The Official Student Publication of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Founded: June 1985 Member, College Editors Guild of the Philippines Editorial Board AY 2015-2016 Daniella Shaira T. Cortez, Editor in Chief Krizza Mae M. Bautista, Associate Editor Sheena Faye G. Lopez, Managing Director Cerisse C. Madlangbayan, In charge, Copy editing Erika B. Uy, Office Circulations Manager Katherine Anne C. Aboy, News Editor Anri Ichimura, In charge, Features Danielle Vince D. Capuno, In charge, Literary Fernan Patrick R. Flores, Sports Editor Lynoelle Kyle E. Arayata, Art Director Jerome S. Quinto, Photo Coordinator Ricardo Martin O. Cabale, Graphics and Layout Coordinator Alphonse Leonard G. Topacio, Web Manager SENIOR STAFF Chandler Belaro, Jeff Treat Dimaano, Camille Joy Gallardo, Patricia Loise Lucero, Queenee Manaog, and Enrico Paolo Topacio JUNIOR STAFF Marco Belarmino, Kathelyn Bravo, April Ciaralei Cenedoza, Lexzene Dela Cruz, Patricia Anne De Leon, John Paul Gonzales, Christian Paul Macapagal, Felix Malicsi, Christian Mateo, Nishta Nigam, Roxanne Valerie Rasco, Rochelle Rivera, Wenchie Tacate, and James Fidel Tan Dr. Lakandupil C. Garcia, Adviser The Heraldo Filipino has its editorial office at Room 213, Gregoria Montoya Hall (Administration Building) De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines 4115.

Telephone: +63 2 8447832, +63 46 416 4531 local 3063 Email: officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com Website: www.heraldofilipino.com Contributions, comments, suggestions, and signed letters should be addressed to the editor in chief.

About the cover The youth—a vibrant hot mess of endless possibilities Cover art Photo by Roxanne Valerie Rasco Design by Ricardo Martin Cabale Model Maria Karmela Gaviola

Editor's note Doubtlessly, not a lot of people are fond of angst-filled adolescents—myself included. To quote musician Gerard Way, “teenagers scare the living shit out of me.” Switch the word “scare” for “piss,” and you’ll have an accurate description of how this generation, dubbed Generation Y and millennials, can infamously evoke sentiments ranging from frustration and outrage to chronic disappointment.

Somewhere along the journey from cradle to college, the millennial generation has been tattooed with the flaws and foolishness of being digitally obsessed. We’re young, wild, and stupid—just like everyone else is at this age. The only difference is, this time around, we have Twitter and Facebook to parade our blunders.

But consider this: youth is a state of mind rather than an age in time. In youth, we learn from our mistakes and failures so that one day, maybe and hopefully, we’ll grow a little wiser.

Deciphering the hot mess we call the youth, Generation Y, millennials, and every other name used to describe the age bracket filled with desires, disappointments, and dreams, this edition of La Salleño will spur you to defy the stereotypes of our generation, question narcissistic labels, appreciate the reckless and rebellious, discover the emerging facets of LGBTQIA+, judge the 2016 presidential candidates, and much, much more.

So take your time sifting through the pages and becoming engrossed by the stories as this issue ventures to remind our readers—the youth—that in the face of hate, doubt, and judgement: Prove them wrong.

Anri Ichimura In-charge, Features

table of

FEATURE

People Mike Enriquez on the "Blessed Generation"

12

8 18

An age of indefinability

20

Tracing virtual threats

15

March of the millennials

28

Beyond girl power

LIST Stepping up your game

34

30

The gender palette

The path to punctuality

contents

36 REVIEWS

INFOGRAPHIC

6

26

Philippine presidentiables

On a silver platter

STANDPOINT

17 24

Snapping out of apathy

Into the new world

32

Rise of digital Narcissus

SPECIAL

27

Mind bites

Movie: Boyhood

TV: Misfits

Book: Made You Up

38

Lathalain

Music: Midnight

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAbLES A directory of the presidential contenders Bianca Isabelle Lariosa

W

Enrico Paolo Topacio

Timmy Joy Lomarda

ith the 2016 presidential elections drawing nearer, you may already have come across certain names as our presidential hopefuls. As citizens of the country, we must look past their gleaming advertisements and alleged scandals to really discover who is best-fitted to lead our country. Getting familiar with our candidates is the first step on deciding whose side to take on for the next six years.

Jejomar Cabautan Binay

NOTABLE TITLES: Makati City Mayor (1988 - 1998; 2001 - 2010) Vice President of the Philippines (2010 - present)

“Binay, is of course, verily, shorter than me. How long I can dig on my pockets, magkaiba rin kami.” - Rodrigo Duterte

CRITICISMS & HEARSAYS: ► Binay’s so-called dynasty in Makati government ► 600 ghost employees on the Makati city payroll worth P3 million a month ► 2007 Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) debt worth P1.1 billion

"EVEN AT MY LOWEST, I AM STILL IN THE LEAD" NOTABLE TITLES: Secretary of Trade and Industry (2000) Senator (2004 - 2010) Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (2010 - present) “Eh diba galing ‘yan sa DTI, galing ‘yan sa DOTC… alam mo naman, yung LRT tumutulo. Nung mangasiwa eh… maya’t maya nasisira—DILG pa ngayon.” - Jejomar Binay

EDGE: ► Introduced Oplan Lambat Sibat, a crime prevention effort of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ► Popular because of his “Mr. Palengke”persona ► Supported by current President Benigno Aquino III ► Grandfather is Manuel Roxas, fifth president of the Philippines “He's a friend, but really incompetent and maybe useless as a president. He's the most incompetent Filipino ever to aspire for the presidency,. - Rodrigo Duterte

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“Alam mo totoo, tama naman sya, kailangang may karanasan at kakayanan pero higit sa lahat, katapatan.”

- Grace Poe

“Denial king. He should just answer all the allegations against him because, up to now, he has not yet shed light in all the corruption allegations under his term.” - Mar Roxas

PLANS & PLATFORMS: ► Promised to change the faults of the Aquino administration in his counter-SONA ► Upgrade the Metro Rail Transit System (MRT) into a state-of-the-art transportation system at par with other Asian countries ► Improve the educational sector through the creation of a National Education Council (NEC) and offer free basic education for children attending public schools ► Promises more jobs to the middle-class and more job opportunities for the lower class “Pag siniraan ka ng isang tao hindi ba gusto mo suntukin mo na s'ya kaagad?

Susugurin mo na at ibibigkas mo na sa buong daigdig kung ano talaga ang katotohanan.” - Miriam Santiago

EDGE:

"I think more could have been done. I think that our people deserve better and I think that it's really a matter of vision, planning and execution and leadership that could have spelled the difference."

- Grace Poe

► Seven college degrees under his belt ► 19 years of experience as Makati City Mayor ► First to announce run for presidency ► Among the strongest critics of Martial Law and provided free legal assistance to former political detainees

MANUEL ROXAS ARANETA

CRITICISMS & HEARSAYS: ► Impression that he doen't really connect with the woes of the poor owing to his elitism, said by political analyst Ramon Casiple ► Lacking the willpower to be presidential candidate; strength coming from support of the President and must form own identity, said by University of the Philippines political science professor Jan Robert Go “It will be his own personality that might become a problem but there is still time for him to solve that problem.” - Miriam Santiago

PLANS & PLATFORMS: ► Continuing the plans of the Aquino administration, Roxas' platform centered on the "Daang Matuwid" agenda against poverty and corruption ► Lobbied for the enactment of the Cheaper Medicines law, which made medicine in the country 80% cheaper

“If I had wings, I would have flown”

RoDrIGO rOA DUTERTE

"Ang dasal ko ay mabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na tumakbo kasi yun naman yung pinaglalaban natin. Manalo sya o kung ano, pero hindi natin malalaman 'yan hangga't hindi natin nilalagay ang pangalan sa balota.”

- Grace Poe

NOTABLE TITLES: Davao City Mayor (1988 - 1998; 2001 - 2010; 2013 - present) Vice-Mayor of Davao City (2010-2013) “Sabihin na lang niya kung anong gagawin niya sa ating bansa, ano bang plano niya. Wala na siyang nakita kundi ako. Ako may plano ako.” - Mar Roxas

EDGE: ► Davao deemed as the fourth safest city in the world because of his strict, yet hands-on leadership ► Has refused to accept awards and nominations, stating “I did it not for my own glory, but because that was what the people expected me to do.” ► Among the first to fully represent the indigenous groups in Mindanao ► Described by Time magazine as‘The Punisher’

“I do not care if I burn in hell for as long as the people I serve live in paradise”

“Si Mayor Duterte halos magkamukha lang kami, kaya kami matalik na magkaibigan kasi sometimes we descend to the level of hyperbole. 'Yun bang sinosobrahan mo ang sinasabi mo para mas epektibo, mas nakaka-catch ng attention ng mga nakikinig pero 'di naman literally true. - Miriam Santiago

NOTABLE TITLES:

CRITICISMS & HEARSAYS:

Senator (2012 - present) Chairwoman - Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) (2010) “American Girl” - Jejomar Binay

PLANS & PLATFORMS ► Improve the education system by fixing public classrooms and widening scholarship programs and adding college internships ► Allows transparency in the government, lower taxes ► Shows support for the LGBT community and equal rights for all ► Promises for faster internet speed in the country; claims the internet is a highway “All of us do not want a foreigner to become the president, right?”

- Mar Roxas

MIrIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO

“Kumapare” - Jejomar Binay

PLANS & PLATFORMS ► Strengthen the Philippine criminal justice system ► Establish a partnership with private sectors for better agricultural research and management ► Create urban, rural, and transport infrastructures ► Shift the government structure to federalism

MARY GRACE SONORA POE-llamanzares

► Nationalism often questioned because adult life spent overseas and acquired the American citizenship of her husband ► Accusations that foundlings like her have no right to seek government post due to lack of evidence of biological parent's citizenship; her authentic citizenship is uncertain ► Persistent to keep presidential run even after being unable to fulfill the 10-year residency requirement for a president ► Unable to take on the presidential position because of her inexperience in politics “Even if you have not yet proven yourself to the people, you will already have the gall to insist on being president?” - Miriam Santiago

EDGE: ► Has filed several legislations for women’s and children’s rights during her time as a senator ► Adopted daughter of Fernando Poe Junior, the beloved king of Philippine movies ► Clean rap sheet, free of scandals and allegations “Kung kailangan ninyo si Grace Poe, Amerikano. Doon kayo.”

- Rodrigo Duterte

NOTABLE TITLES:

“Senator Miriam and I are the closest of friends. She’s like my mentor, my hero. We’ve been close for many years.”

- Grace Poe

EDGE: ► Has carved a public service record spanning more than two decades in all three branches of government: judicial, executive, and legislative ► The most awarded public official in the country with numerous awards for public service, one being the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize ► She has written some 30 books, many of which are scholarly law textbooks, but some are also of humor ► Has authored some of the most important law today, such as the anti-dynasty bill, anti-epal bill, freedom of information bill, and magna carta for Philippine internet freedom Sources: www.abs-cbnnews.com www.philstar.com www.rappler.com

“Sabay-sabay tayong aangat at sama-sama tayong uunlad” PLANS & PLATFORMS:

Senator (1995 - present) Judge of the International Criminal Court (2011 - 2014) Secretary of Agrarian Reform (1989 - 1990)

“I may not be a genius, but my opponents are certifiable idiots”

CRITICISMS & HEARSAYS: ► Duterte's public support of extrajudicial killings raises questions in his possible role in the 1,000 executed criminals in Davao, an investigation is long overdue according to Human Rights Watch (HRW) ► Accused of being linked to the Davao Death Squad (DDS) and should be criminally liable for his partaking, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ► Petitions to cancel his candidacy heaped up due to the allegedly defective certificate of candidacy (COC) he filed as a substitute for Martin Diño, who was not declared a bonafide candidate

cnnphilippines.com gmanetwork.com senate.gov.ph

► Invest heavier on public infrastructure and agriculture productivity enhancing projects ► Signing of the Freedom of Information Bill on her first day of being President ► Change the tax system on her first six months of presidency ► Build a better and modern international airport ► Build an entirely new railway system from Manila to Sorsogon, wiping out the MRT “I’m okay with Miriam. I hope she has fully recovered from cancer and if she’s well and able to govern, why not?”

- Rodrigo Duterte

CRITICISMS & HEARSAYS: ► Because of her stage 4 lung cancer last 2014, many say she may not be in her best condition for the six terms of presidency ► Her personal choice of saying the Marcoses do not owe the country an apology sparked a debate among apologists and bashers alike newsinfo.inquirer.net asiancorrespondent.com miriam.com.ph

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An age of indefinability Fathoming Generation Y Anri Ichimura

G

eneration Y—that’s the quick categorical moniker for the new millennium’s YOLO youth.

These “millennials,” as we are also called, were raised with more advanced technological privileges than our predecessors, Generation X and the Baby Boomers, a fact that has created a chasm between the generations.

Camille Joy Gallardo

Moesha de Guia

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FEATURE

Hasty generalization Classifications of Generation Y vary, but most agree that it encompasses those born between 1980 and 2000, with the youth of today naturally falling on the latter end of that spectrum. Stumbling our way through life, Generation Y has been fused with a stereotype geared toward materialism, shallowness, and incompetency. Frankly, we give this stereotype some justice at times, but perhaps there’s more beneath the surface of the seemingly shallow digital generation.

In 1990, Time magazine described Generation Y as having “trouble making decisions. They would rather hike in the Himalayas than climb the corporate ladder. They crave entertainment, but their attention span is as short as one zap of a T V dial.” Given that the article referred to Generation Y at start of the 1980s, it’s hard to fathom that a clearcut definition was already imposed when the eldest of Generation Y at that time were barely 10 years old and most weren’t even born.

Stamped on our skins are words such as lazy, short-sighted, and vanityobsessed. We’ve been criticized by elders in society as entitled narcissists who “reject the system” and are equally rejected by system—treated as children despite trying to be “grownups.” University of New Hampshire management Professor Paul Harvey concluded from his research that Generation Y is characterized by a “very inflated sense of self ” that leads to “unrealistic expectations” and “chronic disappointment.” With characteristics like these, the stereotype of narcissistic millennial youth is only vindicated.

These characteristics of narcissism and entitlement are a recurring theme in describing Generation Y, as University of Hampshire Professor Paul Harvey has noted. According to Harvey, entitlement and narcissism levels have become 25 to 50 percent more prevalent in Generation Y compared to previous generations. The lure of putting yourself on a pedestal for all the world to see can easily seduce someone into the pit of narcissism with the rise of social media sites like Instagram and Twitter marking our adolescence.

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This supposed narcissism has also affected the rate of our maturity and responsibility. Our easy access to technology and the virtual realm has fashioned a dependency that mistakes our online lives for reality. Given the youth’s occasionally uninhibited social media posts, one would think that we were growing up too fast than growing up too slow. Some even call us “permachildren” and say we’re not growing up at all—with millennials postponing the woes of adulthood by slinking back into childish behavior.

Somewhere along the way, the mettle and persistence of previous generations was lost between the optic fibers and Wi-Fi that have hardwired the youth with a copy-and-paste, google-keywords mentality The split and the cycle Favoring nurture over nature, the youth’s ideologies are shaped from the cultural climate they are born into. Yet these mindsets are certain to change with the ravages of time as change is our only constant—and so is conflict, which is often caused by the generation gaps influenced by the struggles of the past and the diversity of the present, particularly in our own country.

The landmark activist generations of the Philippines include the Martial Law babies born in the 1970s and the EDSA babies born in the 1980s. In retaliation to the fearful climate of the 1970s, Martial Law babies considered themselves as “catalysts of change” while their successors, the EDSA babies, favored “compromise rather than

combat” and operated within legal means to achieve their reform, says DLSU-D Professor Ma. Virginia G. Aguilar of the Social Sciences Department. It’s safe to say that although their methods differed, these two notable age brackets had one thing in common—the calling to promote change and the drive to carry it out.

The vast difference between these activist generations and our less-troubled age bracket has yielded an often tense and disharmonious relationship. This intergenerational conflict is also caused by the differing and sometimes opposing views and values of a set age group, according to Aguilar. However, this conflict between Generation Y and its predecessors is nothing new—it’s something that occurs between all elders and youths.

Unchanging in the ceaseless cycle of society’s intergenerational conflict, the unfavorable scrutiny is centered on the future generations, aka the youth.

In comparison to those who came before us, some would question why young people today lack the grit of their predecessors when traditionally, values, and cultures are inherited from previous generations, according to sociologist Karl Mannheim. When young people have questions, they refer to their elders as their source of authority for answers.

However, Aguilar enlightens that the values of the past were eventually led astray as our elders are no longer our source of authority—computers and the Internet are. Taking over the guiding role in our lives, the digital revolution has fostered a generation that seeks direction from the internet over elders.

As our technological sixth sense, computers coupled with their shortcuts make it hard to develop characteristics of patience and persistence when “there’s a lot to be learned in terms of values when things aren’t so convenient,” Aguilar says. Somewhere along the way, the mettle and persistence of previous generations was lost between the optic fibers and Wi-Fi that have hardwired the youth with a copy-and-paste, Googlekeywords mentality.

To the threat of overexposure to technology, Aguilar emphasizes the importance of our generation’s ability to “know their limits and [to]

self-regulate.” In an effort to avoid the pitfalls of technology, the youth need merely to open their eyes and see what fascinations can empower us and what can hinder us, and set boundaries to prevent those dangers from inflicting lasting damage.

A name for ourselves Despite the shortcomings that Generation Y may have, the millennials still persist in finding ways to overcome the obstacles in their path. With issues like terrorism, political tension, and displaced populations piling up on our to-fix list, the odds are inevitably stacked against us. Other problems like environmental crises, unemployment, and unsteady economy have spawned a “generation of quitters” according to Huffington Post. In the workplace, for one, Generation Y seems to lack the loyalty of previous generations—a trait that resounds when 70 percent of millennials quit their jobs within their first two working years, according to Forbes.

When millennials can’t find jobs in the market, they make their own. In 2025, the millennials will make up 75 percent of the global workforce according to Forbes magazine, and within 20 years, “Millennials will prove to be the most seasoned, experienced generation of

entrepreneurial leaders yet,” states Donna Fenn, author of the book Upstarts! In her book which explores the tie between the youth and successful profit, Fenn states how Generation Y is “rocking the world of business,” as entrepreneurship has skyrocketed in recent years due to a vast majority of startup companies spearheaded by ever innovative millennials.

Time will temper us to be this era's catalysts of change

may overcome trials that test a person’s sociability and maturity.

The rise in education, however, doesn’t take away from the freespiritedness of today’s youth.

“Millennials have a ‘road trip’ instead of ‘road map’ mentality,” says Scott Hess, Vice President of Insights for TRU, a global youth research firm. Although we may not be as focused on the end goal, we engage in the environment and people around us, leading us to become more inclusive and tolerant of others.

Just as our “commerce is lubricated with conscience,” our careers are shaped by our dreams, and our dreams are actualized by our will.

*** As a byproduct of technological advancement, easier access to knowledge has boosted the education of youths around the world. Considered by many as “the most educated generation” so far, Generation Y has “a lot of potential to be really, really smart,” says Aguilar. With a well of knowledge just a click away, the youth are more exposed to information and learning. Yet, there also exists exposure to factors that test self-worth and “make them feel less valuable than they are,” like pornographic websites or social media.

When taught to guard themselves against self-deprecating instances, the youth

Despite these monikers that only widen the divide between generations, there is one thing that we all have in common: adolescence. We, the youth, are scorned for our differences, yet in retrospect, we are exactly the same as every generation that came before us through one common denominator: we all struggle or have struggled with the messy process of growing up.

With the world at our fingertips and the rest of our lives to decide on how we want to be remembered, time will temper us to be this era’s catalysts of change.

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PEOPLE

Mike Enriquez on the “blessed generation”

T

Anri Ichimura and Katherine Aboy

here are only a handful of people in the world that the youth collectively admire, and Mike Enriquez is one of those rare individuals who can evoke a united, solid sense of respect. Even without the power of politics behind him, Senior Vice President of Radio GMA Network Inc. and anchorman for 24 Oras, Imbestigador, and Super Radyo DZBB, Mike Enriquez is an influential Filipino leader in media as people laud him for his seemingly effortless talent in broadcast journalism.

Always quick on his feet, he never breaks a sweat

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John Felix Malicsi (Contributor)

with his iconic “Excuse me po!” whenever he needs to catch his breath on live news television.

Aside from his unquestionable skills in his field, the country’s leading media practitioner acknowledges the responsibility of his position by persistently promoting social awareness and consciousness to the Filipino people. Hoping to dig deeper into the mind of this inspirational media figure, La Salleño was given the privilege of interviewing Mike Enriquez to gather his insights and advice for the next generation of future leaders.

La Salleño (LS): How would you compare the youth of today to when you were a teenager?

Mike Enriquez (ME): The youth of this generation is a lot more blessed than our generation. If only because now you have the advantages, among other things, that technology has given. But even in our line of work here [at GMA], we always remind our people: content is king. It’s not the technology.

You can buy that (technology), you can borrow money for it, some people steal it. But what counts is the substance, the content—what you put inside, what you use it for. You have all of these [gadgets] at your disposal, at your advantage to make your lives and the lives of others better compared to our generation when all we had were pens and papers, literally.

The youth today are so blessed, but there’s a caveat to that ... which is how you will use it; for example, the Internet. We all know that we find the best in the Internet, but you also find the worst. Before, it was a big deal to have your own home copy of Encyclopedia Britannica or Collier’s Encyclopedia. They were showcases and conversation pieces. Now, if you have that, you look aged.

[If] you need anything [today], go to Wikipedia or Google. And because of that, the youth today seems more exposed and more educated. Hopefully, they will make themselves more immersed in the realities of everyday life using, among other things, the technology available to them that was not available to our generation. But what we had before, you don’t have now.

You had technology, we had brothers.

During my [high school] days in La Salle [Greenhills], brothers taught in classrooms.

[But] you are going to finish college without ever having a brother teach you, if at all one or two. Before, we had brothers—at the start of the day, during the day, at the end of the day.

Now, the brothers—I know, because I sit in the

Board of Trustees in La Salle—spend their time hopping from one school to another attending meetings, because La Salle has grown but the growth of the number of brothers has not caught up. In our day, brothers were what they were supposed to be: in the classroom.

LS: What are the strengths you see in the youth today?

ME: The youth today are more exposed, more educated, and more mobile. There are many places before like where you are now in Dasmariñas na noong araw, you know what talahib is? It was grassland. When you used to say Cavite, it was a far-off province. Now,

You are such a blessed generation.

That is why the youth today has less excuses not to be good people. You have less excuses not to be good Christians, less excuses not to be good human beings to yourself and to others everything is highly urbanized. Everything is fast and mobile. In short, the youth today are harder to fool. And I know this also as a media practitioner. In the old days, there was no MTV, no YouTube. All they had was our voices. That’s how I got my wife. But now, everything is not

just oral; now, everything is visual. Now, you have more at your fingertips. You are such a blessed generation.

That is why the youth today has less excuses not to be good people. You have less excuses not to be good Christians, less excuses not to be good human beings to yourself and to others. Because there are many things we had to work hard for during our time that these days are basic to you—ordinary day-today things that many take for granted.

I have a nephew who got married recently. When he was eight or nine years old, he took a picture of my wife and myself at the backseat of our car, he was in front. He took a picture of us on film and he had it developed post-card size and he sent it to us. He said: Dear Tito Mike and Tita Babes, I gave this my best shot. Very Lasallian. In short, whether it was taking a picture, or saying a prayer, or studying, he would give it his best shot. Pero ‘yung shot, double meaning ‘yun.

LS: One of the major problems in our University today is student passivity. What can you say about this?

ME: That’s a total effort of parents, the school (like fellow student peers), the faculty, [and] the brothers. Again, you have fewer excuses now to be passive, not to be involved, and not to be immersed. But at the end of the day, what we always remind our people here is that it’s good that updated tayo or ahead technologically, especially when you’re in broadcast media. But we remind them at the end of the day that … you know the saying: garbage in, garbage out.

Content is paramount. So this thing with passivity is a total effort. Now, are other students as concerned as you, with what you perceive as passivity of the youth these days? Baka kayo lang. Instead of asking, “may pakialam ka ba?” why don’t you ask, “bakit wala kang pakialam?”

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LS: As a Lasallian, how do you feel about the importance of student activism, particularly for Lasallian students?

ME: It’s important. You know what it means? It means the students care. I would rather have an activist than just a member of an audience. One of the “in” phases today is interactive. Everything is interactive. [If] you sit in one place and not care at all, you get left behind. So I welcome activism, but like many other things, it’s how you use and channel it.

There are many kinds of activists and there are many forms of activism. The decision is on the students; and of course, how you are molded by your parents, by your teachers, by your school, by the culture of your school, and your family.

LS: You majored in Communications and Commerce in college, yet you entered media. Why did you enter the media over commerce?

ME: Can you please get the red slippers?

Careful, because that trophy in front is a Peabody Award (among the world’s most prestigious awards for excellence in broadcasting). What do you notice about the slippers? They have holes. This is what the children at the [Jaime Hilaria] school [in Bagsic] wear; and they use them until there is no more left. Kasi wala silang pampalit. Ayan oh, butas; ang nipis nipis na. ‘Pag masakit na gamitin kasi tumatama na sa bato, then that’s when they change. This is what it’s all about.

Let me show you some other stuff.

Look at these pencils. These are used by the children in Babuyan Island. It takes 10 hours to take a bus ride to Apari and another four to five hours by boat to the island. When the water is rough, there are no boats, so nothing reaches them. Look at how they use the pencils. They use both ends. And they use the pencils up to the time when they can no longer hold the pencil. And they take out the eraser so they [can] cut the pencil in two. So that instead of one student per pencil, it’s two students per pencil. Look at these. Pinutol ‘yan hanggang maliit na maliit na lang. These are those children. The choice is yours.

Do you know why the current Pope chose the name Francis even though he was Jesuit? They were founded by St. Ignatius in Loyola. The story is: in the conclave where they elect the Pope when it was announced that he had gotten the sufficient number of votes, part of the ceremony or ritual is asking the new Pope, “By what name do you wish to be called?” There was a Franciscan cardinal beside him who whispered, “Remember the poor.” So immediately, he said, “Francis.” So this Pope, every time he talked, he mentions the poor.

‘Yun ang sinasabi kong you take many things now for granted on a daily basis.

For them, pencils are luxuries. Slippers are la salleño

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luxuries. They gave me this and it’s on my shelf next to my Peabody. There’s a symbol to that. That means this has just as much value to me as that Peabody Award.

LS: What can you say about the negative influence of media on the youth?

ME: Huge. Tremendous. Don’t ask me, ask yourselves because you should know. There are a lot of things in the media now in the name of the freedom of expression that you wouldn’t find in media before. I’m talking about the violence, the sex, and the values that are being projected. It’s a different world now so nasa katatagan na ito ng loob ng mga tao, lalo nang mga kabataan.

There’s an even bigger concern, which is new media. Kami, regulated not just by the government; at least, we are self-regulated. We in GMA follow very strict standards of ethics, professional, and personal conduct. But in new media, there is no “sky is the limit.” There’s no sky at all. You can’t even say the sky is the limit because there is no limit.

Instead of asking, “ may pakialam ka ba ?” why don’t you ask, “ bakit wala kang pakialam ?”

New media is not regulated. So on a daily basis, people post and upload everything and anything. There is no such thing as parental guidance or MTRCB, or watchdogs. Mayroon pa nga ‘yung so-called media activists, parating freedom of expression. So be very careful, double careful. There are many things that you can do and cannot do with mainstream media that mainstream media will not do at all—will not touch even.

LS: Sometimes the youth feel as if their voices are too small to be heard. What can you say about the importance of the younger generation?

ME: The youth have the right to be heard just as much as the elderly. Well, these are all clichés but it is true that you are the future. If our leaders in both the private and government sector are really concerned about the future of the country, they must take the youth seriously.

I can afford to talk like this because I am not a politician. Because they (elders) must realize when dealing with you people, they must not just see young people. They must see you as young people who will not be young anymore and will be where we are now. So they must constantly ask themselves the question as you

should when you become our age, “Would I want this country and this society to be in the hands of these people ten years from now?”

I think the youth must be considered more seriously. Pero kasi nasi-stereotype kayo like the LGBT community. Maraming LGBT that suffer from discrimination because they are being stereotyped into drags. Akala nila ‘pag gay ka, drag ka, which is not the case. And so what kung drag? Lalo na in this macho culture of ours.

LS: How do you feel about the Lasallian education’s increased tuition although it contradicts St. John Baptist’s mission, which was to educate the students of the poor?

ME: Did you know that La Salle also wants to have at least 20 percent of the student population as scholars? Some La Salle schools have exceeded; some have not yet reached it but are about to. I have a favorite philosophy about education: If you think education is expensive, try to imagine how expensive ignorance would be. Somebody has to pay, and if you have the capability to pay, pay. Not only you but others [who are] deserving but do not have the same resources that you and your parents have. If they (you or others) grow up na mangmang and ignorant, you will pay more for your ignorance and the ignorance of others. That’s why your president, Br. Gus (Brother Augustine Boquer FSC, EdD), is very proud. Not because number five kayo sa board exam. That’s part of the hubris or the hype of any educational institution. But he toured me in Bahay Pag-asa (DLSU-D’s transformation center for juvenile youths) and you can see his face and his aura change when we were going in.

LS: What advice would you like to give to empower the Filipino youth?

ME: Give it your best shot. Be involved, always. When I was in grade school, ewan ko kung sinadya ito ng parents ko, I was always a member of something. That was a big help because it’s not all in the classroom. Some of my classmates before who had high grades, one of them committed suicide; one of them lives in the hills. Sabi nga nila walang basagan ng trip, fine. He is into this nature thing and he was a salutatorian.

I was a cub scout, a boy scout. I was in the school band. I was with the solidarity. I was a member of the choir and the Legion of Mary. I was the Managing Director of our paper in La Salle Greenhills and a columnist. I got called by our principal, Br. Dennis. Puro Amerikano pa ‘yung brothers noon; wala pang masyadong Pilipino. He said, “Do you realize what you wrote about your school?”“Yes, I did, Brother.”“Sit down, young man.

We need to talk about this.”

There is a lot to be learned from being involved. Right now, your vocation is to be learners. You are still students. The classroom is necessary but you can learn a lot more outside.

Basta, know your passion and go for it.

LIST

Stepping up your game Venturing your career path Kikuno Nakadai

Jose Mari Martinada

Piles of projects, brain-torturing exams, and terror professors are some of the adversities we encounter while venturing the collegiate journey toward graduation. These difficulties are only the preliminary battle, and the real struggle begins the time we step into the real world.

Brace yourself as you come across the rough challenges to success and sharpen your weapons to become fully equipped for the clash of employment.

Stop dawdling, start doing Marching through the sound of the graduation processional is every student’s goal but some of us cram our way to our goal as we nurture the habit of procrastination. Based on a research

by University of Calgary psychologist Piers Steel, 80 to 95 percent of college students procrastinate at least once in their college lives.

Procrastination is a pandemic that drain students’ productivity and the cure to this disease is time management and fending off temptations. A New York-based entrepreneur Chris Winfield suggests the three-minute procrastination solution: ask yourself what needs to be done, write it down, and prioritize tasks with impending deadlines. Being goal-oriented helps you stay on track and refrain from making excuses to postpone your responsibilities.

To make work even easier, Sarah Pavey advises to break down big projects into smaller, simpler tasks to overcome tough assignments and be able to work more efficiently, in her article Overcoming Procrastination in motivational career website mindtools.com. If you have accomplished your work in time, reward yourself for doing a great job—you deserve it.

Shed the quitter’s mentality Generation Y is referred to as the quitting generation of the workplace. According to the 2008 Life After College Survey conducted by Experience, Inc., 70 percent of millennial leave their first job within two years of joining. The workforce archetype has shifted, according to Forbes, as the millennials expect loyalty from their employer, demanding solid wage and benefits, flexible schedule, and comfortable working environment.

In the Philippines, there are approximately 2.7 million Filipinos seeking and competing for a job as of April, based on the Philippine Statistics Authority. With millions of idle workers, it would seem irrational to quit a job that the desperate unemployed covet. However, writer Elizabeth Palermo said on businessnewsdaily.com that most newly working graduates give up their job easily because they get either tired or bored.

While external factors may build up thoughts of giving up and withdrawal from commitments, having a quitting mentality speaks volumes of your work ethic. Everyone wishes for a dream job with many benefits, yet only few understand that the dream job they strive for can’t be achieved overnight—it’s earned over time. Acquiring the integral characteristics of sought-after workers, like as patience, perseverance, and flexibility will lead you one-step forward to your goal. la salleño

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Upsurge your profession Being an average employee at the bottom of a corporate ladder would not satisfy most of us. To reach the top of that ladder, you must have the required qualifications under your belt, such as a degree in graduate studies.

Pursuing Master’s (MA) or Doctorate (PhD) degree is more likely to set you apart from other applicants in the competitive industries, Professor David Bogle, head of the graduate school at University College London, confirms.

As sophisticated as it is to have these extensions to your name, it also refines your financial account. Based on a report made by Economic Policy Institute, the wage of workers with undergraduate degrees declined between 2002 and 2012 while employees with MA’s or PhD degrees had their wages increased.

Aside from gaining a stable bankroll and recognition, Columbia University Associate Dean Dr. Donald Martin shares that attaining a graduate degree will also give you greater credibility in your field, as well as a stronger sense of accomplishment.

Expand your horizons Fresh graduates tend to stumble through their tasks due to lack of experience and knowledge. To patch up the drawbacks, attending conferences, seminars, and workshops will help you unearth fresh ideas about your field and expand your network.

Learning in the four corners of the classroom is essential but may be not enough. To patch up the gap, attending scholastic conferences and seminars are good ways to gain more competence. Shanna Smith and Caroline Rankin from University of Texas assert that by going to conferences, you can meet interesting people who can give you new insights and inspirations. Smith and Rankin adds that the experience you have in a conference will make you a confident and knowledgeable member of your professional field.

Burying your face in bulky textbooks might be your key to pass exams, but it may not work for your corporate venture. What you need is genuine experience—and by participating in conferences, you may learn from eminent professionals and aspiring folks. The crowd may be intimidating, but it will be a momentous event for your own improvement.

Ignite your passion Others think of jobs as merely labor but having passion for your profession may enrich your disposition. As described in research Passion at Work: Toward a New Conceptualization by Robert Vallerand and Nathalie Houlfort, passion is a strong inclination toward one’s interest—investing time and energy for something that is important to you. If you cherish your career, waking up in the morning will not be taxing as your passion alone will give you motivation to work.

While passion pushes you to accomplish more achievements, only 13 percent of people in the global workforce are truly committed and love the job they have, based on a poll on business analytics and statistics website, gallup.com. Since the majority of the world’s workforce is unhappy and unproductive in their work, it influences other employees to be part of the detrimental domino effect. The other 63 percent of employees worldwide are “not engaged” in their work and lacks motivation, while 24 percent are “actively disengaged”.

As Confucius proclaimed, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Even if your passion is not inclined to the career path you are paving, find a way to associate your interests in your course. But if you still have the chance, go after your dream or else you’ll find yourself eating bland chocolate—wasting time and effort chewing something that does not satisfy you.

*** The trials we face in college are the best experience to help us jaunt the bumpy road of our future careers. Even if these hardships make us stumble, we should still stand up and keep running until we reach our goals. To reach your goals triumphantly, keep up with the changing time and prep your gear for the ambiguous future. www.business.time.com www.forbes.com www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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SOURCES www.gsas.nyu.edu www.fortune.com www.inc.com

STANDPOINT

Snapping out of apathy The green mentality Jessone Purificacion (Contributor)

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he dazzling lights and majestic skyscrapers of Shanghai were nothing compared to the brilliance and vigilance I witnessed from the delegates of 2015’s International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainability (ISCES). Hosted by China in June, being surrounded by bright individuals from around the world was unforgettable. They were all united in their dedication to mending Mother Earth’s dreadful state despite others’ apathy in the face of environmental catastrophe.

During casual conversations, the ISCES participants didn’t just talk about environmental problem; over lunches, we also brainstormed ideas on how to fix the mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. Once, I sat through a discussion where the idea of creating a carbon footprint monitoring mobile calculator was brought up, and everyone encouraged getting this idea funded by an environmental organization.

Through the forums we had in ISCES, I’ve learned that nature may not get better anytime soon, but countless countries haven’t given up on finding solutions to this pressing problem.

In China, for instance, I’ve learned that the government is focused on converting their roads into pedestrian streets to discourage the use of vehicles, alleviating their pollution problem.

Aside from the conference’s official forums, other participants also helped open my eyes to the disturbing reality of our environment’s degeneration. I learned about the world’s imminent water crisis, the extensive deforestation in Brazil caused by the burning of forests, and several more troubling facts about our environment I wish everyone would know about as well. Mother Earth is struggling, and she’s losing battles against us every day.

While there are youth that exhibit great concern and sympathy toward the environment,

Brandon Ocenar majority of young people seem indifferent. With the frequent discussion of climate change, many have become deaf and desensitized to the warnings. At present, lesser youth are involved in environmental advocacies, says Lorna Duckworth, social affairs correspondent for the British newspaper The Independent. Duckworth mentioned that youth involvement in environmental campaigns has dropped 31 percent from 1993.

Rather than helping to solve climate change, the youth is more immersed in following gadgets and fashion trends. As observed by Bina Nusantra University’s Psychology Professors Abraham Juneman and Murty Magda Pane, interest in trends is the greatest factor as to why the youth today pay less attention to the environment. The chronic attachment to the material world, which translates to greediness and selfishness, makes people see the environment as a mere instrument in gratifying self-interest. By envisioning the earth as simply a means to satisfy our wants and needs, we fail to realize that we have the responsibility to give just as much as we get from the environment.

Indeed, it’s not merely men’s inventions that kill mother earth, but their egoism as well.

Honestly, I’m also guilty for wasting time on insignificant things when there are students who are actually making a change in the world’s environmental footprint. One of which is Ranitya Nurlita, a delegate from Bogor Agricultural University in Indonesia. I met Nurlita during one of the session breaks in the conference where she handed me a small zipped purse that surprisingly converts into a tote bag.

Nurlita, who wanted me to address her as Lita, revealed that she’s a youth environmental advocate, and that she’s traveling around Indonesia and other parts of Asia to promote the usage of cloth bags. I saw the fire in Lita’s eyes while she was explaining how decreasing the use of plastics could

greatly help the environment. I realized that this fire, which we all have within ourselves, is something we could either use to burn the world down to ashes or light the hope for humanity. Talking to Lita made me ashamed of the times I was ranting over missing an episode of Game of Thrones while young people like her are out in the field doing activities that speak louder than our idealistic words.

Following Nurlita’s footsteps is something we should definitely consider as future torchbearers of our country; beginning to act now for nature is a good jumpstart.

We may be studying in the greenest university in the Philippines, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are genuinely, environmentally conscious individuals. In fact, it shows in an experiment held in the University—when the maintenance crew stopped working for a day, the campus turned into a chaotic, littered mess—the students are not that sympathetic toward nature at all. Students couldn’t and shouldn’t take pride in studying in the country’s most environmental friendly campus if they can’t obey even the simple Clean as You Go (CLAYGO) rule in the University.

In one of his speeches, DLSU-D’s Dr. Christian George C. Francisco said that the positive impact the University has on the community is what makes it a real university. The students certainly are the primary agents of this positive change in the environment and in the community. After all, excellence shouldn’t be limited and confined within the four corners of our campus.

*** Channeling the energy we have into something more worthwhile is possibly what it would take to show that our generation is more than the indifferent persona that others perceive. Our apathy is what’s choking our already dying environment. It’s time to snap out of it before it’s too late. la salleño

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FEATURE

Tracing virtual threats The hidden dangers of social media Yuri Nakadai (Contributor)

Ricardo Martin Cabale

Through the years, social media has indeed changed the way people interact with each other.

In many ways, we can’t deny its convenience—from sending instant messages to building connections with people.

Looking closer, posting OOTDs and selfies has been the daily grind of the mob. But before lodging to the world of social media, it would be wise to find out if the cyber space is worth staying in.

Under the cloak of anonymity Aside from bridging the gaps of communication, social media has given us more access to the alluring prospect of anonymity on the internet. According to Pew Research Center’s survey Anonymity, Privacy, and Security Online, many people engage in anonymity, with at least 86 percent removing or masking their digital footprints by clearing cookies and deleting history.

For young people, the thrill of invisibility lures them to become audacious. However, beyond the pleasure of being unconstrained, some individuals take advantage of others in the vast virtual realm. The article Where Anonymity Breeds Contempt by Facebook product design manager Julie Zhuo states that several researchers have discovered that la salleño

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anonymity increases unethical behavior.

Results reveal that even the most moral people manifest displeasing attitudes toward others when protected behind a computer screen.

Being imprudent over the internet has been so prevalent that the phenomenon was named “online disinhibition effect”

by John Suler, a psychology professor at Rider University. Suler explains that when people dissociate themselves online, they think that their online behavior isn’t linked to them at all—making them feel less responsible of their actions.

In the face of the flaws of anonymity, it could also be beneficial. In the study Encouraging Commitment in Online Communities by Carnegie Mellon University researchers, they claimed social media promotes a greater sense of community identity by diminishing

distinctive qualities of individuals.

By cultivating homogeneity (state of being alike) among a group, it helps to build a greater connection by sharing their common interests in social networking sites.

As masking one’s identity has been made possible by technology, being anonymous should not be an excuse for us to be imprudent. We may seem unfettered by the world of social media, but it doesn’t make us less liable to our own actions.

The authenticity of public sharing While some youth immerse themselves in anonymity, others exceedingly expose themselves in social media. Today, social networking sites have been the public’s hangout on a daily basis—witnessing the grandest to the

smallest details of people’s lives. Some refined posts are noteworthy, however some give too much information about themselves.

Instinctively, it is normal for us to feel the urge to share our life’s happenings to others. Research affirmed that strong emotions lead people to share more information, as mentioned in The Atlantic article The Physiology of (Over-)Sharing by Hans Villarica.

Like posting spoilers after a mind-blowing movie, professor Jonah Berger of University of Pennsylvania suggests that physically or mentally stimulated people are more likely to evoke emotional responses as they process the information. Also, the convenient sharing features provided by the social networking sites have captivated more people to join the bandwagon of over-posting.

While the deed of oversharing might satisfy our inner social needs, it may also entice the youth to be rash and careless with the information they share. In fact, 19 percent of teens have posted updates, comments, photos, or videos that they later regretted sharing, according to a survey from Pew Research Center. Some may expect negative reactions, but others underestimate the severity of their online posts, and only realize its implications after it reaches unintended audiences.

"The thing is, the internet gives youth so much freedom," says Samantha

Goodyear in her article The Power of Social Media on Huffington Post. As Goodyear implied, social media has given the youth a distinct voice no matter what they say. After all, the power of social media does not lie within social networking sites itself, but among the people who utilize it.

By all means, it’s probably better for us to keep our modesty intact to avoid the pitfall in crossing the line of public sharing. Whether our intention is to entertain or to simply express ourselves, harsh comments and criticisms from netizens will always be imminent and destructive. As relentless some people may get, we could preferably steer away from distressing experiences caused by oversharing by filtering our posts on social media.

A threat in the ego With the consequences of anonymity and oversharing, one can easily be affected by feedbacks from other people, giving social media the power to either make or break one’s self-esteem.

DLSU-D psychology Professor Zuvelyn Bautista says, “Masyadong egoistic talaga ang youth ngayon dahil sa social media.” Coveting for the reactions of other people, Bautista also mentioned that the youth today depend a lot on their gadgets to watch for other people’s feedback.

To add more drama to the mix, confidence and narcissistic tendencies are also found to be a repercussion of social networking sites, as studied

by Professor Keith Campbell from the University of Georgia. “Editing yourself

and constructing yourself [for others] on these social networking sites, even for a short period of time, seems to have an effect on how you see yourself,” he furthered. As they portray their ideal self, some people tend to become more selfabsorbed by living up to other people’s standard in the social media.

Concurrently, the nonprofit child advocacy group Common Sense Media reported that one in five teens said social media makes them confident through the encouragement and support they get from their family and friends. But on the other hand, people who have low self-esteem feel worse about themselves when they compare their accomplishments to their online friends, as revealed in the Anxiety UK’s research from the University of Salford.

They reported that 50 percent of their 298 participants stated that the use of social networks like Facebook and Twitter “makes their lives worse.”

It is daunting how the world of social media has a lasting sway over one’s own perception of identity, particularly those who were raised in this digital age. While the debate on whether or not our profiles reflect our personality still lingers, the power to choose if we should let the virtual world intrude our reality remains in our hands. *** With the unstoppable momentum of innovative technology, social media prevails in our daily lives. But despite its ubiquity in society, it is up to people to hold on to their benevolence in the rampaging virtual realm. la salleño

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March of the millennials Daniella Shaira Cortez

The youth are probably the perfect idealists. We still believe that equality is a basic need, and we possess the zeal to quench this hunger for justice. It’s no longer a surprise that generation after generation, the youth have been fighting for their beliefs, from way back when the rebellious marched the streets until today when sharing advocacies on Facebook might just change the world.

The concept of youth activists today may be absurd when you seek them out in public. Millennials are often visualized as zombies mindlessly gnawing through online junk, disconnecting from offline events—but that’s only because you’ve been looking at the wrong place.

A savage truth Before the youth discovered hashtags and memes, literally standing up for your beliefs seemed like a cool thing to do. Back la salleño

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Enrico Topacio and Jeff Treat Dimaano

then, rebellion was viral everywhere: Red Guards protested against communism in China, baby boomers in America protested against the Vietnam War, and let’s not forget our very own People Power Revolution against political oppression.

However, going against the norm doesn’t automatically make you a productive contributor to society. As well-meaning as most of these teens and twentysomethings were, some revolutions actually went down the path of destruction.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Red Guard revolution persecuted authority figures with traditional views, including school teachers. After advancing their cause, the group eventually fought against each other. As an aftermath of the revolution, people aged 15 to 25 were called The Lost Generation. According to the BBC News website, this is because amid the chaos; the youth did not receive proper education. Violence may have paved the way toward change, but ultimately,

the repercussions cost more than the revolution they set out to achieve.

Fortunately there’s a fork in the road toward change, the other one bearing less thorns. People like Mahatma Gandhi who paint their advocacy on cleaner canvases are more likely to be successful than those who prefer crimson hues. Political scientist Erica Chenoweth analyzed 323 violent and nonviolent political campaigns since 1900 and proved that nonviolent campaigns are more successful. Nonviolent campaigns have a 53 percent success rate, while violent campaigns only have a 23 percent success rate.

The nonviolent nature plays a big role in attracting support from the elderly, women, and others who reject the moral burden of using weapons, according to Chenoweth’s research featured in the Psychology Today article Violent Versus Nonviolent Revolutions: Which Way Wins?

The increase in variety of demographics can make opposing government forces

FEATURE reluctant to attack as the crowd may include their families and friends. Also, attacks on nonviolent protestors would spark disapproval from the media and other countries. All reasons and volumes of history lessons considered, it’s no wonder nonviolent protests are the common preference of today’s youth.

Peaceful endeavors Contrary to the depiction of technologyobsessed youth as careless creatures, information at the netizen planet would prove stereotypes wrong—in truth, millennials are changing the world. Solving problems one invention at a time, remarkable youth like Musaz Nawaz, Daanyaal Ali, and Chirag Shah invented a condom that acts like a traffic light signal as it changes color upon detecting sexually transmitted diseases. Meanwhile, halfFilipino Ann Makosinski devised a flashlight that redefines the word “automatic.” Inspired by blackouts that her friend in the Philippines experienced, the flashlight automatically emits light when held, as it uses body heat for power. Not only is it light on the pockets, but also for the environment. With the advent of technology making almost anything possible, recognition of these revolutionaries are also becoming less and less of an issue—take Nobel prizes for instance.

Nobel prizes are usually awarded to elderly people years after their contribution, to the extent that some receive them long after death. In fact, BBC reports that the average age for Nobel Peace Prize laureates or awardees is 62 years old. Yet, with technology making information as accessible as oxygen, the youth’s advocacies are already being heard.

At 17, Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate for her fight for women’s right to education.

While most of us have probably dreaded going to school to face terror professors and endless projects, education is still a violated human right for people in more conservative areas of the world. Malala’s hometown in Pakistan is one of these unfortunate places.

When the terrorist group, Taliban, destroyed schools for females, Malala stood against them with the power of information as she blogged their situation through BBC. For her defiance, the Taliban shot her on the left side of her head, but she fortunately survived.

Today, Malala still advocates women’s rights to education. She delivered speeches for the United Nations and was interviewed in international networks like CNN. She also has her own website, The Malala Fund. Using proceeds from her site, she built a school for Syrian refugees at Lebanon on July 12, 2015.

Unlike Malala, we do not easily have access to platforms such as the BBC or the

United Nations. Still, it is not a necessity that would hinder us from our pursuit of a better world. Take it from 17-year-old Mary Grace Henry who opened her own accessory line, Reverse The Course, to educate women in Uganda and Kenya. With the empowerment of education, Henry believes it would equip them to maximize their potentials, instead of limiting their lives to arranged, early marriages. As of press time, Reverse The Course has educated 79 girls and counting. The youth’s impact may appear small and are mostly unnoticed, but it is these jigsaw pieces that could recreate the entire picture itself. The whispers of change spoken by our ancestors continue to grow. As we replace their generation, these inventions and advocacies pave way for those whispers to echo until it could one day become an anthem across generations.

The youth’s impact may appear small ... but it is these jigsaw pieces that could recreate the entire picture itself Virtual placards While we do not live in an area overtaken by terrorists and are fortunate enough to be educated, injustices still rampage our country.

Don’t be disheartened—taking action isn't always as difficult as it seems. For one, we could participate in others’ campaigns.

When Malala opened her school, she began a #BooksNotBullets campaign by asking supporters of her website to post pictures of their favorite books with the said hashtag to promote educational support from the government. As she explains, “if the whole world stopped spending money on the military for just 8 days, we could have the $39 billion still needed to provide 12 years of free, quality education to every child on the planet.”

In the Philippines, the internet is being used as a platform for campaigns just as Malala did. As the selfie capital of the world, it’s no surprise that selfie and groupie campaigns have been the latest innovation for advocacies. Just earlier in 2015, #MRTprotests and #StrikeTheHike hit Twitter’s trending list as netizens posted selfies proclaiming their protest against the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) fare hike. Like the convenience of coffee machines and microwaves, protesting today is just one click away.

However, despite the effort of thousands who uploaded their selfies and groupies, the government still pursued the hike, as mentioned in The Philippine Star.

Although social media may be powerful in spreading awareness, it appears to be merely a component in the movement against injustice. As protests such as the #StrikeTheHike failed to achieve their objective, we cannot just rely on social media the same way we depend on jeepneys and elevators to get us where we want. This phenomenon of reliance is actually called “slacktivism” by journalist Maclcolm Gladwell.

Slacktivism is when people participate in online movements that do not actually have an impact in the real world.

The difference between slacktivism and passionate activists can be influenced by one simple factor. It is found in the study The Nature of Slacktivism: How the Social Observability of an Initial Act of Token Support Affects Subsequent Prosocial Action by Kirk Kristofferson, et al. that when campaigns appeal to the viewer’s personal beliefs, they are more likely to commit to the cause.

As social media is not always enough to make an impact, some youth do it old-school and take their campaigns to the streets. Many remain nonviolent as they equip themselves with innovative methods, like when various university students in Manila wore black shirts for a tuition hike protest. Similar to the LRT campaign though, the protest did not lead to a reduction in tuition.

It appears the fight against injustice cannot be solved by a single movement.

History has shown us that protest in numbers like the People Power Revolution can make an impact, but the protest itself is not the ultimate solution. The fight is not yet over; and as corruption rampages the country, there are advocacies still worth supporting. Examples include the freedom of information bill and the antidynasty bill among others. Knowledge of social issues and its causes is the first way to devise solutions. With more innovative means to advocate our causes, there is limitless potential to drive the change.

*** We’ve probably had that moment years ago when we wished we were older so we had the freedom to do what we want. Little did we know that that this freedom is tied with responsibility to society. Now that we’re older in a world where injustice is rampant, it is inevitable to feel dread, hope, and then dread again in a vicious cycle when we realize that just as these millennials have—we too, can make a change. la salleño

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X&Y

I N TO T H E

NTheEage W ofWglobalization ORLD Kikuno Nakadai and Yuri Nakadai (Contributor) Jerome Quinto and Angel Francisco (Contibutor) Jeff Treat Dimaano

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rom Western pop bands to heart-warming Asian dramas, many Filipinos are undeniably international aficionados. As globalization entwines Filipino culture with foreign ideals, it has constantly caused a stir in society—provoking arguments among youth with different sentiments.

While others believe that globalization could solve the world’s problem, some insist that it does more harm than good. Before taking sides, let us first look at various angles of globalization and see how it has taken the Philippines by storm.

X: All these years, globalization has made an impact to the booming economy of different countries. As globalization opened doors for greater opportunities, it led many developing countries to economic growth.

Like in East Asia, it has shown its benefits by paving the way for new markets, according to Professor Don McCubbrey of University of Denver, especially in business and trade.

Globalization has enticed many entrepreneurs to open different businesses—increasing the demand for more workers, favoring many unemployed Filipinos. We are fortunate that globalization has brought us to the path of much-needed employment, especially with the never-ending crises our country faces.

Y: Yes, these new markets have given us more doors of opportunities. That’s why we huddle in front of large, golden gateways of thriving countries and ignore the narrow doors of developing countries that also need new workers, including our own country. In fact, we are one of the largest migrant communities in the world, according to Center for Migrant Advocacy-Philippines. This only means that we take part in the imbalance of the workforce, where our Filipino workers, especially the professionals, had become birds that flew la salleño

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off to every corner of the world, looking for a spot where they can benefit the most. They may be leaving our own country in despair, yet it is difficult to blame them if they seek for a greener pasture because grazing in the parched meadows of our country might not be enough for a living.

X: It may be true that globalization has impaired our workforce, but then, working with people with different cultures and prospects lead us to become globally competitive. Indeed, we owe globalization a notch for taking us outside our comfort zones and making us more flexible with different working environments. Aside from that, global integration also increases people’s freedom to shape their identities and hone their talents, as John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge stated in the book A Future Perfect. The world is revolving right at our fingertips—and the inquisitive youth could search for their dreams instinctively by being exposed to diverse and wider cultures.

Y: We are granted a wider horizon of opportunities thanks to globalization, but these opportunities are somehow sugarcoated—the assurance of having a better job with a high salary is merely bait to lure us

to work abroad. Even in foreign countries, we cannot escape the curse of unemployment, according to economics Professor Benjamin Diokno. Knowing that majority of Filipino workers do not have proper educational background but still choose to work abroad, they endure working low-paying jobs just to make ends meet.

X: The Philippines has been working on the issue of inadequate education by leveling off with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the rest of the world through the K-12 program, adding two more years in our country’s basic educational curriculum. Let’s face the truth—not all Filipino students can afford to go to college.

But with the K-12 program, they can already join the work force after high school. With the specialized, career-focused Senior High program and the college Outcomes-Based Education (OBE), the Filipino youth are being developed to become competent and efficient workers to enable them to work in ASEAN and in other foreign countries—leaving the future of our country’s economy in better hands.

Y: We are being presumptuous to say that having the K-12 curriculum and being part of the ASEAN will immediately improve the

Apparently, this lion’s den is globalization and the lions are the dominating nations that want to ‘unify’ the world Without knowing it, we are already inside the cage, just waiting to be eaten by the lions

Philippines’ economy. According to Alliance of Concerned Teachers representative Antonio Tinio, we are not ready for the implementation of K-12 because our educational system is still lacking in many aspects—until now, the classrooms and facilities are still inadequate, the teachers are not enough, and the textbooks for K-12 curriculum are insufficient. The promise of K-12 is mainly a deception of leading foreign capitalists, pushing us to become passive and mediocre laborers, according to the National Union of Students of the Philippines. By implementing K-12, we are just turning schools into manufacturing factories of corporate workers to be exported. Why don’t we focus on working for our own country and solve our problems like poverty and hunger with our own hands?

X: The problem is, we want an answer to poverty and corruption in a snap, but how could we solve these problems if the youth, the prospects of our country, are not properly educated? Apparently, among the nine Southeast Asian nations in the area of education and innovation, our country ranks a poor seventh, according to National Competitiveness Council (NCC) co-chairman Guillermo M. Luz. Don’t you think that it is time

for us to deal with the radical changes brought by globalization? Instead of pointing out the flaws of educational reform, we should look at it as a way for our country to keep up with the global standards.

of globalization, from economic growth to a better education system. It’s time for us to make the best out of it—especially now that globalization has already offered so much on the table.

Y: Having change for the better is necessary, but hastily enforcing it may lead to conflict. It is somehow human nature to resist social changes done by the government especially when its intention is vague and uncertain, Harvard Business School Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter stated. It is just absurd to accept abrupt and vague innovation, like making us enter a lion’s den blindfolded.

Apparently, this lion’s den is globalization and the lions are the dominating nations that want to ‘unify’ the world. Without knowing it, we are already inside the cage, just waiting to be eaten by the lions.

X: If we just have an open mind about the aim of globalization, it would be easier for us to grasp its benefits. Subhrendu Bhattacharya agreed with this idea as he wrote in his book Globalization and a Shrunken World that there is no harm in learning from other countries as it expands our perception about different cultures. No matter how we look at it, we are already engrossed by the benefits

Y: It may be obvious that globalization is already dominating the world and there is no turning back from this large-scale innovation— we are given no chance but to accept the aim of globalization which is to have universal integration of world view, economy, trade and even people. But come to think of it, what will happen to small, developing countries when unified with massive, prevailing states? We can learn from different cultures, but we should know the boundary between appreciating to adoring other cultures. Amid globalization, our identity must remain or otherwise, we may lose our stance in this diverse world.

Sources: www.un.org www.way.org.my www.academia.edu www.cccti.edu www.crvp.org www.unesco.org la salleño

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On a silver platter Adversity in the lap of luxury Yuri Nakadai (Contributor) While some indulge in luxury and amenity, about 805 million people in the world lack the fortune to suffice their basic needs. As opulent skyscrapers decorate our city skylines, it has also blinded us to the millions who are still trapped in the depths of scarcity. Imaginably, some might contemplate on their indulgent lifestyle after having a bite of these bitter realities.

75% of the world’s poorest families do not buy their food—they grow it. However, The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations estimated that

1/3

of the food produced for human consumption worldwide is annually lost or wasted from the agricultural production up to the households.

1/4 1.3 of the

billion tons

of wasted food worldwide could feed the million hungry, undernourished people around the world.

795

Every 10 seconds, as you watch a hilarious video on 9gag or Instagram, a child dies from a hunger-related disease.

= An iPhone is worth approximately 26 bags of rice, which could feed a poor Filipino family for roughly four years.

While many students ask for some time off from assignments and quizzes, roughly

5.5 million

Filipino children are suffering from child labor to feed their starving stomachs.

While some students treat themselves to a daily dose of milk tea,

30%

of Filipino children are not sustained with enough milk and appropriate nutrients in their growing year, resulting to stunted growth and development.

27.9%

of Filipinos who are born below the poverty line may need around

258.96 php

per day to escape poverty, which is also equivalent to some college students’ daily allowance.

Researchers found that young people are

5 times 4 times

more likely to attempt suicide and One in every eight people goes to bed hungry each night because they do not have anything to eat. On the other hand, studies reveal that more and more teenagers skip their meals because they “do not have the appetite” or are “too tired” to eat.

more likely to suffer from depression in a home with inadequate food.

Poverty drives

1 of 5

While some are lucky enough to have three meals a day even with the food price hike, a report says that some poor Filipino families resort solely to salt, sugar, or coffee to survive the day. Some of the poorest even make a feast out of recycled meals from garbage in fast-food chains called pagpag, which translates to “dusted off food.”

Filipinos to drop out of school, hindering the youth to have a stable future.

The country’s poverty can be eradicated within

one generation

if the youth today would sustain strong economic growth for

30 years

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Ricardo Martin Cabale

Mind Bites “World peace. Since may kapangyarihan ako na ‘gawin [ang] lahat ng bagay, mama­ mind control [ko] sila. Saka aayusin ko ang mga problems like global warming and wars.”

Bon Joshua Privado, ECE22

“I would change the world.

I'll make the poor people rich— everyone. Wala nang poor. Lahat magiging mayaman na to remove poverty para lahat may ginagawa.”

Marjane Teves, CPE51

“Tuturuan ko [ang] lahat ng tao, or i-­ instill ko sa minds nila ‘yung tamang way ng pagso­-sorry.

Siyempre parang ‘pag marunong ka kasing mag–sorry, madaling maayos [ang] lahat.” ­ Daks Canilang, BGM31

“I would do something to make people realize I exist.

Sometimes, in some ways, [people] don't really feel the presence of God. And I think I would do something that would just shake their minds.”

Denise Bernas, DES11

“Ita­-try kong i­-balance out ‘yung good and evil sa mundo.” ­ Kyle Yap, PHI31

“If I were God for a day, I would decrease, fix, or stop whatever [wrong] is happening to our environment so that some of our problems may decrease as well.” ­ Sionna Avellaneda, COM41

Camille Trinidad

La Salleño asks Lasallians: What would you do if you were God for a day?

“Aayusin ko ‘yung gobyerno.

Parang stable na dapat, para hindi na nahihirapan ‘yung bawat country. Kasi doon lang naman nagiging miserable ‘yung buhay ng bawat tao. Doon lang madalas ‘yung problema.” ­Ces Miranda, BGM33

“I will make all people happy.

Tatanggalin ko [ang] lahat ng problema nila para every time na makikita ko sila, masaya sila.” ­Timothy Torres, BOM24

“Gusto kong magka­ -war para mabawasan ang population sa buong mundo.

[Saka,] pagpapantay­ pantayin ko po [ang] lahat ng tao. Hindi ko po gagawing may mahirap o may mayaman.”

Mia Unlayao, BGM12

“Malaking responsibility ang pagiging Diyos. So, siguro, kung magiging God ako for a day, wala akong gagawin. Magbabantay lang ako. Nandoon ako to guide.”

Angel Jacob Villanueva, HRM44

“I will make a change.

Maglalagay ako sa bawat puso ng tao na ‘yung parang heart na sumunod sa mga sinasabi o nangyayari.” ­Jezza Pasilan, JOU22

“Equality. Sobra na kasi ang discrimination, especially sa LGBT [community].”

Jansen Bertuldo, COM21

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Beyond girl power Millennials and modern feminism Cerisse Madlangbayan la salle単o

28

Kogkia Madrid and Marco Belarmino

M

illennials, beware! Feminists run amok with unshaved legs and armpits, eschewing men and makeup with a vengeance.

Or is that what most misconceptions say?

Feminism, still wrapped with myths like a human burrito, has evolved through the years. While women have accomplished many things like getting to vote and earning more roles in society, the fight of the infamous F-word is far from over.

Rise of third wave feminism Many still find feminism perplexing; some believe it’s fighting only for the rights of women while others still confuse it with misandry, the prejudice against the male sex. Feminism is called that way because men and women are criticized for their femininity and feminine traits, according to lifestyle magazine CultNoise’s Sophie McNaughton.

While feminism generally means equality for all, it does not have a clear-cut definition. It can, however, be categorized into three waves: spotlighting on suffrage during the late 19th century to the early 20th century, concerning women from third-world countries and women of color from the 60s to the 90s, and welcoming femininity in the mid-90s until today.

Whereas previous waves of feminism shunned lipstick, heels, and beauty pageants, third wave feminism, as defined by George Mason University Associate Professor R. Claire Snyder of political theory, is “more inclusive and racially diverse.” This movement cares about the LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community. Famous American feminist Gloria Steinem even said to the online magazine Queerty that feminism and gay rights are the same thing: the equality of all genders.

In recent times, women can choose to be a housewife, a businesswoman, or a soldier. Basically, a girl can be whoever she wants to be—and a guy can too.

People of any race, color, or gender can like the supposedly girly things (think Barbie and Hello Kitty galore) and still be a feminist.

Myths on millennial feminists While feminism has broken out of its old mold, a lot of millennials still seemingly reject the movement.

Famous personalities like Lady Gaga refused to be called a feminist because she loves men. Taylor Swift once

FULL rejected feminism, stating that she doesn’t believe in “guys versus girls” on the news website The Daily Beast.

Although she’s embraced it now, it’s palpable that feminism is still swathed with misconceptions—myths that some of the younger generation believe.

One of the most obvious myths is that feminists have been painted as angry, hysterical, man-hating women who don’t believe in marriages.

Controversial media mogul Pat Robertson even made a remark that feminism “is about a socialist, antifamily political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capital-ism, and become lesbians.” The truth of the matter is that while some radical or individual feminists are misandrists, not all of them are. Zooey Deschanel and Beyonce are feminists, yet you don’t see them conforming to these stereotypes.

a lot of millennials believe in gender equality, even if they don’t identify themselves as feminists Another great misconception is why feminism, which advocates equality for all, isn’t called humanism. Humanism, a word originating from the 18th century according to feminist writer Jarrah Hodge, is a belief that supports justice but rejects “supernatural powers” and religious beliefs.

As for why it’s called feminism, associate editor for HuffPost Women Alanna Vagianos cited YouTube vlogger Steve Shives, who explained that by promoting the rights of the more marginalized group, you achieve gender equality. And history has taught us that females are the more disadvantaged gender.

The good news though is that a lot of millennials believe in gender equality, even if they don’t identify themselves as feminists. DLSU-D Professor Andy Batangantang from the Social Science Department said that teenagers “don’t necessarily [have to]

join Gabriela,” the Filipino organization that promotes the rights of women.

“It’s up to them (the youth) what kind of involvement they want to be a part of,” he added.

Issues longstanding In this present era where women are more liberal and are allowed to vote, it’s hard to conceive that feminism should still exist. The article What third-wave feminism is fighting for by men’s rights activist Elijah Butler on avoiceformen.com states that unlike previous waves of feminism, third wave feminism doesn't have anything serious to fight for. Butler adds that it’s all about women getting more rights and “fighting for rights they already have.” That’s probably true if you’re only looking at one part of the world and one side of the equation.

Unknown to many, there are gender-related issues like rape, female genital mutilation, unequal pay, and other forms of abuse that still need facing. Apparently, a lot of women still go through maltreatment that is basically worse than being in a slasher movie.

All around the world, sexism is rampant. Women in countries like Pakistan are being disfigured for reasons like turning down marriage proposals and going to school. In Yemen, women need permission to leave the house; in Saudi Arabia and in the Vatican City, women are still not allowed to vote; and in Swaziland, women aren’t even allowed to wear pants, as stated in writer Diana Pearl’s article The Most Ridiculous Sexist Laws Across the Globe on marieclaire.com.

In our country, human trafficking aka modern slavery is still adamant. According to gmanetwork.com, there are more than 1,300 human trafficking victims—most of which are women—recorded in 2012; and the number is still on the rise. While we can all sigh in relief at happy endings in movies like Taken and similar abduction films, the same happily ever after rarely occurs in real life. *** Looking from afar, it seems that feminism has nothing left to fight for— but that is only if you turn a blind eye to other real issues that still exist today.

Many issues might have been solved, but as many feminists who came before us broke barriers, now it’s the millennials’ turn to hold the scepter.

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LIST

The gender palette LGBT and introducing the QIA Naomi Lane Tiburcio

Wenchie Tacate

D

ecades after the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community came to rise in the 1980s, different countries have passed gay rights laws, and more than 20 countries have started to legalize same-sex marriage. Now a new batch—the queer, intersex, and asexual—is added to the clique, bringing discoveries and surprises along with them.

However, as they claim it, their gender identities and sexual orientations shouldn’t be enclosed in a box as their identities may have a wider range of colors than a painter’s palette.

Standard hues: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual The most known categories under the LGBTQIA are the lesbian, gay, and bisexual, which are dependent on an individual’s sexuality or sexual orientation. On opposite sides of the spectrum are lesbians and gays—men and women attracted to their same sex; positioned between these two are bisexuals—men or women who are equally attracted to both sexes.

Seeing as these homosexual varieties deal with the choice of gender they are attracted to, many believe that being lesbian, gay, or bisexual is a choice shaped from experiences in childhood. Yet, researchers at Chicago University analyzed the DNA of more than 400 pairs of gay brothers, showing two parts of DNA that seem to be connected to homosexuality.

Research contributor Dr. Michael Bailey from Northwestern University confirms “sexual orientation has nothing to do with choice,” supporting the belief that many people could be “born” gay.

Similarly, Dr. Qazi Rahman, a leading scientist on human sexual orientation, concludes that factors influencing sexual orientation are complex and “homosexual behavior [and heterosexual behavior] is largely shaped by genetics and random environmental factors.” Perhaps this could explain why Charice Pempengco confessed to be lesbian before her mother admitted she used to be one as well.

Blended shades: Transgender and transsexual While lesbian, gay, and bisexual correlate with sexual orientation, transgender and transexual people struggle with the conflict between sex and gender. Transgenders are those who feel as if they are born in the wrong body, believing that their biological sex deviates from their gender identity. Thus, transgender conforms to the physical standards of the gender they desire (e.g. cross-dressing). In the middle of their sexual identity dilemma, a transgender can choose to become transexual, a similar yet entirely distinct form of LGBT. Transexuals are individuals who permanently alter their biologically assigned sex through hormone therapy and surgery.

Although the prospect of permanently changing your sex is daunting, multiple studies show that at most, only one or two percent of transexuals regret undergoing medical transition. According to German Lopez on news site vox.com, some people even get gender dysphoria—dismay caused from the conflict between their birth gender and their gender identity, which can result to depression and suicidal thoughts. While temporary and treatable, the condition is further heightened by the discrimination and prejudice that some transgender communities face. la salleño

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Polychrome umbrella: Queer The fifth letter of LGBTQIA stands for queer, which is also an umbrella term that embraces all the individuals who choose not to conform to the gender norm. This word, which traditionally meant “odd” or “unusual”, was originally said with malicious intent, offensively used against the LGBT community, before gay activists of the 1990s revolutionized the understanding of the word. Although the older members of the LGBT communities are still hesitant to embrace the term, queer has brought a sense of belongingness for those who feel like outsiders and gave birth to another classification of LGBT. While most LGBT have realized their sexual and gender preferences, queers are also those who still struggle to define their identity in the rainbow-colored sphere. In the 2013 Sexual Orientation and Health among US Adults survey conducted by the National Health Statistics Report of the US, 1.1 percent of participants said they “don’t know,” or refused to provide an answer when asked if they identify themselves as a heterosexual, homosexual, or a bisexual.

Vivid fusion: Intersex In contrast with the LGBTQ having the power to choose their sexual preference, intersex individuals have varied sex characteristics from chromosomes to genitals and cannot be clearly identified as male or female.

Apparantly, not all bodies can be identified as straight-on male or female—intersex individuals may have internal reproductive organs dissimilar from their external sexual organs, according to the book Bodies in Doubt by intersex expert Elizabeth Reis. While some are detected to be intersex at birth, many remain in the dark until puberty, and in some cases, die unaware of their intersex anatomy. Although it is hard to know the exact commonality of intersex, medical experts say that one in 2,000 babies can be born intersex.

However, an intersex person may or may not be able to conceive depending on the functionality of the ovaries and uterus for women and gonads plus other sexual organs for males. Although the effect on their physique brought by their being intersex isn’t severe, their emotional upshot is a huge challenge for them as it would be difficult to be born differently yet having to conform with the norm.

While terminologies like “androgyny” and “hermaphroditism” often co-relate with intersex, we shouldn’t get confused with the two. Androgyny generally refers to people who communicate both masculinity and femininity in their gender expression. On the other hand, hermaphrodites generally refer to animals and plants that possess fully functional internal and external characteristics of both sexes. Meanwhile, intersex is the more appropriate term for human beings who can be considered androgynous but not a hermaphrodite.

In gray scale: Asexual Asexual, as we have learned in biology, are organisms that reproduce without any accompanying organism. However, for people, being asexual refers to the absence of sexual attraction or desire for any gender. Although it seems absurd to hormonally crazy teenagers, Dr. Margie Holmes, a psychologist specializing in sex therapy in the Philippines, clarifies that the obstacle of asexual people is not inclined to their gender, but rather to their fight for recognition of asexuality as a valid sexual orientation under LGBT. They observe that since sexual attraction to the opposite sex or the same sex is recognized, being sexually attracted to no one should be valid as well.

As stated on williams.edu, an asexual can be classified as biromantic, someone who is not sexually but romantically attracted to anyone, and aromantic, someone who isn’t sexually nor romantically attracted to anyone.

With these unusual incidences, many theorize that asexuality goes in line with mental disorders such as sexual aversion disorder and hypoactive sexual desire disorder which both involves a lack or absence of desire and active avoidance of sexual activities.

Except that there are scores of oppositions relating these theories like Anthony Bogaert, an asexuality researcher and associate professor at Brock University in Canada, who noted that although asexuality is rare, it shouldn’t be automatically called a disorder. He argues that the evidence in his studies point out that asexuals just aren't bothered by their own asexuality—or sexuality at all.

Bogaert furthered that for asexuals, sex and romance are not naturally paired as most people would believe. Having a clear perspective free of subjective hormones, asexuality allows people to understand that love and sex are distinct from each other, and an asexual is utterly uninterested in the latter. *** Through the years, we have heard and learned about the LGBT. We watch them rally through the streets and hit headlines waving rainbow flags, only covering the rest of the iceberg where this community continues to face threats on discrimination and abuse because of their orientation.

Although acceptance may be a long way home for the LGBTQIA, like anyone else, we all envision a life respected and recognized without the judging of our personal appearances and choices.

Sources: www.horizonresearch.org health.howstuffworks.com www.bbc.com www.compassionandsupport.org www.smithsonianmag.com www.cancerresearchuk.org phenomena.nationalgeographic.com

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Rise of DIGITAL NARCISSUS

Exposing internet narcissism Cerisse Madlangbayan

Moesha de Guia

T

he pool that he was led to by an impalpable witchery was as clear as his unblemished face. He was drawn by the image he knew was of a god’s; he was beguiled by his own reflection. Longing to be with his beloved, he drew closer and closer until his immodesty pulled him into the waters to drown.

Today, the pool of water represents social networking sites while Narcissus embodies the legion of teenagers with smart phones permanently duct-taped to their hands.

If there is anything young people are infamous for, it’s that we are a narcissistic, selfobsessed generation. Coupled with the internet era, a vanity-rooted epidemic is taking over the youth. la salleño

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STANDPOINT

Whether or not they [social media] do directly cause narcissism, putting the blame on these supposed causes won’t fix the problem

Vanity online While you probably won’t find the term “internet narcissism” in a dictionary, speaker and entrepreneur Andrew Keen mentioned digital or online narcissism as “a self-promotional madness driven by our need to continually manufacture our own fame to the world.” The sad part is, people tend to place the blame for this internet narcissism on technology, social media, the selfie-taking youngsters, their parents, and harmless gadgets—without offering any solutions.

There’s a difference between blame and holding something accountable, with blame being more destructive and less constructive than the other. But like the circle of life The Lion King preaches, the cycle repeats itself, leading us to another issue to ponder over: internet narcissism.

Psychology expert Lisa Firestone explains in her Huffington Post article that the problem with social media boosting selfesteem and self-promotion is that people tend to portray themselves in an unrealistic light. The same is also mentioned with Julie Beck’s article How to Spot a Narcissist Online in the magazine The Atlantic. She cites psychologists Hazel Markus and Paula Nurius who said that we have two selves, the now and the possible self. The Internet lets a person present only his or her “possible self.”

Although some really have changed their complete identity online (as evident with the MTV docu-series Catfish), of course people wouldn’t commonly want to present themselves in a bad light. Not everybody would want to post profile pictures of them looking like they got out of the ragged bed from hell. It’s only natural that they would want to look their best and be their “possible selves” on the Internet. It’s just that some take it too far—think overly photoshopped profile pictures.

The Internet has also become too “I-centric,” psychiatrist Dr. Elias Aboujaoude wrote in his Psychology Today article.

Gadgets, apps, and sites are as personalized

as a friendship bracelet and as abundant as stressed-out students on exam week.

They’re tailored to your every need— customized background, settings, and more.

We have every single little thing handed down on a customizable silver platter, from photo filters editing any imperfections down to the right expression as seen in emojis. Dr. Aboujaoude stressed that being used to having each customizable detail offered to us makes us needier, entitled, and yes, narcissistic. Sadly, this also makes us forget to see the bigger picture: the Internet, like a grande overpriced cup of coffee, is becoming more personalized and customizable for our benefit.

The more personalized internetsurfing experience can affect people, especially the real online narcissists.

But unless this “I-centric” experience is one big malevolent ploy to convert people into narcissists and eradicate them from the face of the Earth, then a more customizable internet experience shouldn’t always be a bad thing.

ME-aningful generation Internet narcissism gets dissected, prodded, and generally blamed on social networking sites and the youth, stereotyping teenagers as social media addicts who take selfies every millisecond.

While many researchers try to prove that narcissism has struck millennials harder than it did with past generations, teenagers aren’t the only age group who enjoy social media. I know parents— mine included—who are more active on Facebook and other social media sites than their children. The funny thing is that if people from older generations were placed in our era, they would have been the same. Heck, there are self-portraits and actual selfies that startlingly date back to two centuries ago.

Teenagers today aren’t necessarily more narcissistic than the previous

generations, according to Dr. Susan Whitbourne’s article on psychologytoday. com; it just so happens that being selfcentered is a prominent aspect of our generation. Also, based on a study by the University of Illinois psychologist Brent Roberts and his colleagues, “no matter what the generation, people in their 20s had the highest narcissistic scores.”

As for the “narcissism” part, writer Kelly Williams Brown said in her TED Talk titled “Millennials—why are they the worst?” that we criticize the youth for being immature and young. We fail to remember that maturity comes with age; we didn’t come out of the womb equipped with vast knowledge and complete emotional stability.

Whitbourne even mentioned that “most people grow out of their narcissistic phase.” Are kids narcissistic?

Hell yeah, we are. But as we have become hopefully less selfish than when we were kids, we’re more likely to be less selfish in the future. *** Internet narcissism will probably increase as technology progresses. Maybe it’s because of social networking sites or millennials—maybe it’s because of both.

Whether or not they do directly cause narcissism, putting the blame on these supposed causes won’t fix the problem.

Narrowing it down to narcissism, when it could just be self-esteem, won’t solve the issue either.

Now that we probably know the root causes, the next question is: What are we going to do about it? Instead of placing the responsibility on a legion of techusers and condemning personalized apps, we can try to find and offer actual solutions.

Narcissus chose to be engulfed in his image, and we all know it wasn’t the water’s fault. la salleño

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LIST

The path to punctuality H Overcoming a cultural vice

Bianca Isabelle Lariosa

alf an hour late to your 7 AM class, you try to catch your breath and regain your composure as you dash through the classroom door. To your surprise, the room is packed with your classmates casually lazing around, seemingly doing nothing. Although the scheduled start was half an hour ago, the class has not yet begun. They explain that they were simply following “Filipino Time.”

Tardiness has been a long-accepted routine in the Philippines that “Filipino Time” has already taken a place in our daily vocabulary. However, we shouldn’t be deterred from realizing that this custom of complacency has created a negative stereotype of our country. We can spark the change now by following these five steps in stopping tardiness.

Foregoing the blame game Frazzled and way behind schedule, the first thing we often do when we’re late is immediately place the blame on anything other than ourselves. A common example of playing the blame game is when we use traffic as an allpurpose excuse for not making it to class. Instances like traffic or assuming how long a task should take are examples of certain blind spots in the way when we plan in advance, according to Dr. Guy Winch’s article How to Overcome Chronic Lateness on psychologytoday.com. The article furthers that chronically late people often mistake trying to leave early with actually leaving early, thus creating even more blind spots for wasted time.

Another good reason for us to stop playing the blame game is stated in the book Root Cause Analysis: A Tool for Total Quality Management by Paul F. Wilson. He states that rather than pointing fingers, finding the root cause of a problem is a sign of effective problem solving, which improves productivity and work quality.

To prevent falling into the trap of the blame game again and again, know the reasons behind your lateness and don’t let blind spots stay as blind spots.

Walking in their shoes Most don’t purposely try to annoy others; yet continuously being late may be seen as basically wasting someone’s time. Discovering a link between tardiness and vanity, the study of University of Massachusetts psychologist Susan K. Whitbourne shows that “[those who are usually tardy] only see situations from their point of view, so they think that what they’re doing is more important than what other people are doing.” According to psychologist Neil Burton, being tardy also undermines the person waiting for you, shows unconscious reluctance to attend the supposed meeting, and deceives people through false promises.

A remedy for this way of thinking is to imagine yourself in the shoes of those waiting for you and learn the significance of empathy. After all, most people have experienced the frustration of waiting up for someone and feeling let down that you weren’t one of their priorities.

Elevating your worth Aside from not valuing others, tardiness may also be a sign of not valuing yourself. Psychology Today writer Michael J. Formica enlightens that passiveaggressive personality characteristics are linked to tardiness; in a way, we see ourselves as “unimportant”to the people around us. Because of low self-worth, la salleño

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Camille Joy Gallardo

one might think that their presence is not of enough value, concluding that arriving early is unnecessary.

When we have high self-esteem, we often set higher goals for ourselves, and as college students, our goals often revolve around academics. Proper time management influences our academic behavior, according to the study entitled Effects of Time-management Practices on College Grade by Bruce K. Britton and Abraham Tesser from the University of Georgia. In their research, they discovered that time management has a correlation with academic achievement, as those with higher academic grades are the ones who are rarely tardy. As students and adolescents in general, having high self-esteem and setting high goals for ourselves not only improves our academic performance, but the way we value ourselves as well.

Doubting the clock The dilemma of chronic lateness doesn’t always depend on our wristwatch; in fact, the source may be our very own internal clocks, as proposed by an experiment by psychologists Donna Richard and Steve Slane. They instructed participants to stop the watch at twenty seconds. Some stopped it right on time, while others had difficulty gauging the seconds, proving that certain individuals have more developed time predictability.

Similarly, another study at San Diego State University found that people with different personality types gauge their time differently, as persons with type A or high competitive personalities estimated a minute passed in 55 seconds, in contrast with type B or those with easygoing personalities who estimated a minute as 77 seconds. This proves that competitive people are more aware of the time that they consume.

One way to remedy this personality flaw of not having awareness over time would be to learn the ability of time pessimism, as stated in genius.com. A time pessimist is someone who assumes that everything will not be done in the given time of twenty-four hours, therefore does tasks in advance. Though there are some disadvantages to this way of thinking, like rushing and panicking to meet a deadline, there are also positive points in underestimating the amount of time you have—like not being late.

Fortifying timekeeping Once you start getting the hang of being on time, it should be remembered that this is the start of a habit that must be done with commitment and not something to quit once started. One way of reinforcement learning is to reward yourself each time you succeed in being early. As studied by psychologists in Northwestern University, US, bad habits such as tardiness have a way of creeping up on us when we least expect it and when we’re the most vulnerable. The cure for this is to simply avoid the factors which lead to tardiness, and to keep focusing on the rewards that we will reap.

Positive reinforcement stems from childhood, when we would receive small rewards for doing good work. As we age, it becomes clear that positive reinforcement still has a positive effect on us; getting a good grade is often the best motivation to study even harder. Through each small achievement gained from punctuality, you’ll find yourself steering even farther away from the trap of tardiness.

*** Though there is no single formula to break bad habits, each individual has the ability to discover the different formulas that will help them overcome unwelcome practices, says How Habits Work author Charles Duhigg.

Accepting tardiness has been considered normal in our lives as Filipinos for as long as we can remember. Fortunately, tardiness, like all habits, can be broken with enough determination and will. As the next generation of leaders, we have the capability to break the norms of our society and to let go of the cultural vice that has plagued us for years.

SOURCES: Social Issues by Lucla L. Salcedo et. al How Habits Work by Charles Duhigg nymag.com fys.utk.edu

time.com healthland.time.com www.psychologytoday.com www.inceptiontechnologies.com

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REVIEW

BOOK

Made you up: THROUGH THE KALEIDOSCOPE Nishtha Nigam

characters rely on American high school stereotypes: Celia Hendricks, the arrogant, popular, blond cheerleader; Jetta, the classmate with a foreign accent; and Miles, the mysterious genius with stunning blue eyes who tops the exams despite sleeping through classes. But what makes this novel distinct from the modern YA romance novel is Alex’s true-to-life hallucinations and paranoia of even the most ordinary things—“Where his freckles had been, a hundred little holes pulsed blood down his pale cheeks.”

The vivid imagery makes the reader easily empathize with the complex nature of schizophrenia and the consequences of suffering from this disorder.

Like invisible ink on paper, the whole novel is intricately intertwined and aligned around the three main elements of the prologue: Alex, Miles, and the lobsters in the tank at the mall where they first met as children. Throughout the novel, Alex empathizes with the lobsters that are trapped in a tank that filters and distorts the world outside. Her medication only clears the glass temporarily, while the rest of the time, she is forced to endure the surreal world that her own mind creates.

Alex believes that Miles’ past is connected to her own and in the hunt for this path to her past, she gets increasingly attached and drawn to Miles, who gradually reveals his softer shades. Before you know it, both of them find themselves tangled in a romance that brings back memories of our own high-school days, fantasizing over our crushes.

The privilege to choose between reality and delusion is one that we seldom acknowledge.

Undeniably, Zappia has beautifully written about the sensitive theme of overcoming a mental disorder by defeating our inner battles without making the message tiresomely explicit. For readers who crave unique perspectives and themes different from traditional romance novels, Made You Up is worth a read—a fiction that makes you fall in love with reality no matter how grim it can be sometimes.

Author: Francesca Zappia Rating: Thought-provoking, unconventional, and symbolic, Francesca Zappia debuts with Made You Up, a young adult (YA) novel that transports us to a world created by a schizophrenic mind. Seventeen-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Ridgemont, the mysterious protagonist struggles with this brain disorder that blurs her line between delusion and reality. As a result, the unreliable nature of Alex's thoughts perfectly complements the enigmatic atmosphere of the novel.

Skillfully written, the first few pages of the novel prove ample to captivate the reader with the absurdity of Alex’s disorder. Schizophrenia seems to have gifted her with an imagination that knew no bounds—“I discovered what sorts of things my mind liked to make up. Like billboards whose occupants wore gas masks and reminded passersbies that poison gas from Hitler’s Nazi Germany was still a very real threat.” With just a few months to college and her mother almost convinced to send Alex to a mental hospital, Alex can’t afford a single mistake that will ship her off to the asylum of her nightmares. Set in high school, Alex must not only face but also accept harsh truths about herself and her condition as she tries to find her identity.

Besides the gripping plot, the simple, conversational writing style of the story helps us relate with Alex’s perception of her world. On the other hand, most of the

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MUSIC

MIDNIGHT:

soulful ECSTACY Anri Ichimura Title: Midnight Artist: Grace Potter Rating: Every so often, onslaught ensues once a singer makes the dauntless jump from rock to pop rock.

Undeterred from the expectant criticism of a possibly

lasting departure from the gritty, American alternative rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Grace Potter has somehow established herself as a solo artist with Midnight, a fearless, beat­-heavy, pop rock album that dares to break musical standards.

In Midnight, Grace Potter debuts herself as a versatile, sensual powerhouse. Her latest album exudes lighter and livelier vibes than her work with her band, which may allude people into thinking that Midnight isn’t as artistic or subtle as her previous work. The pop twist of her latest record undoubtedly appeals to the masses and charts more than her previous records. Yet where some albums lose their soul to make it to the billboard, Midnight manages to keep its spirit while capturing the hearts of music junkies everywhere.

A mosaic of music, Midnight trails Grace Potter’s musical experiments with tracks from blissful pop, stomp­worthy funk, and lustrous soul to country twang, suave dance beats, and traditional rock.

Likewise, Potter’s rock roots resound as the album’s grounding and uniting element. With a pop spice facade encompassing a sensual core, Midnight screams sass, echoing with a heart and soul of rock throughout the addictive melodies.

A whimsical, eclectic array of bold songs bonds the record together in an ambitious venture. From Potter’s husky croons to her raspy bellows, the track The Miner embarks listeners on a feat that explores Potter’s effortless vocal range. She further experiments in Your Girl and Biggest Fan as she displays a lustrous siren’s serenade.

Although Potter takes a step out of her comfort zone with songs like Alive Tonight, Delirious, and Low, listeners might be disappointed with the formulaic, over­ -the-­ top pop songs with exaggerated dance beats. But then, she finds her footing again with Instigators and Hot to the Touch, which conjures blissful daydreams with striking lyrics like “intoxicated with a dangerous desire.”

Although Midnight is a testament to Potter’s step away from traditional rock, she still manages to exude nostalgia with tracks reminiscent of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. With Empty Heart, Potter gives the listeners a taste of her soulful jam with resounding gospel themes that give you goosebumps.

The last songs on the track Nobody’s Born with a Broken Heart and Let You Go pack a punch as the former sways to redemptive prose poetry while the latter closes the album with a simple power ballad. The gem of the album, however, is Look What We’ve Become, a forceful rock piece with wild drums and classic electric guitar riffs. A tribute to her rock origins and the message of her album, Potter enriches the song with perfectly crafted lyrics like “They told us to keep it quiet/And said our day would never come/So we screamed our bloody lungs out and ran straight for the sun.”

Messy yet sincere, Midnight speaks of freedom and fences, breaking the barriers of pop-rock stereotypes. Potter is a charismatic performer on stage and an even more audacious artist in the studio with an equally risky record. Severely loyal rock listeners may claim the album is a sellout at its best, pop garbage at its worst. But they’re not the ones reaping the rewards from this plucky, rule­-breaking, rascal of a record. With Midnight, a raw, unrefined, and grandiosely honest album was birthed—an album of substance and soul.

REVIEW

TV SHOW

MISFITS:

Heroes In Orange Jumpsuits

Bianca Isabelle Lariosa

Creator: Howard Overman Starring: Iwan Rheon, Robert Sheehan, Lauren Socha, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Antonia Thomas Rating: In this age of television shows, the premise of rebellious teens has become undoubtedly mundane and overused. Yet with the TV series Misfits by Howard Overman, audiences are introduced to a fresh, sharp-witted, science-fiction, comedy-drama that combines significant adolescent problems with supernatural elements. The UK-based television series showcases a gripping storyline, relatable characters, and believable production style. With these in mind, it would be best to know that no role models will be found in the series because of its exposure to violence, nudity, and other illicit rated acts. The show may not even be best to watch with children, or easily offended adults.

The series centers around five juvenile teens whose lives are changed forever when they acquire superpowers from a freak lightning storm while on community service duty. The odd twist is that the powers they possess reflect their personalities and hidden desires: track star Curtis (Stewart-Jarrett) can turn back time, insecure Kelly (Socha) can read people's minds, provocative Alisha (Thomas) can make anyone lust for her, introverted Simon (Rheon) can turn invisible, and leader and group influencer, Nathan (Sheehan), acquires immortality, reflecting his own recklessness. These struggling teens fight for normalcy as they try to get back to the good graces of society. Later on, the arrival of malicious characters with worse intentions than the group forces them into the role of reluctant superheroes. The dilemma of the characters not only lies with their superpowers, but also with their relationships with one another and how their personality-based powers open their eyes to their own faults. The realizations they have throughout the series reveals just how grave these "blessings" truly are.

Aside from the enticing storyline, the underlying message we are to uncover speaks volumes of the depth of the show. The struggle of power is a continuing issue in the series as the characters are often faced with the crossroads of either using their powers for good or evil.

With ingrained selfish and self-indulgent traits, the characters often set aside their morality for enjoyment and the consequences that stem from their hasty decisions are a perfect example of the backlash of having too much power, especially on the youth.

The appeal of the series lies in its rawness of adolescent issues. The core question that the characters face—whether or not they should take action on issues they can control is reminiscent of the responsibilities that we all eventually face.

The uncertainty of either hiding their powers or unveiling their true selves and being shunned as a consequence is what also connects the show with the insecurity that all teenagers face.

Hidden behind its crudeness and sarcasm, Misfits is the embodiment of young people and the question of our self-worth. Though none of us have been hit by a freak lightning storm and acquired superhuman powers, we all endure the choice of whether or not we should step out of our comfort zones and accept the oddities we hide inside.

A coming-of-age odyssey shot from 2002 to 2013, Boyhood may well be considered the magnum opus of director and writer Richard Linklater. The two-hour drama talks about the life of the simple yet curious Texan Mason Jr. or MJ (Ellar Coltraine), as we intimately watch him transform and grow from a six-year-old boy to an 18-year-old man.

MJ’s story unfolds at the repercussions of the unexpected divorce of his young parents: growing up with a single mother (Patricia Arquette), a father (Ethan Hawk) he seldom sees, and his appalling experiences with stepfathers. Along with his family’s drama, MJ met friends that both have molded his choices as he goes through boyhood. In hindsight, the plot mirrors the journey of an average kid growing up and coming to grips with curiosity, choices, and quarrels accompanied by a typical teen’s awkwardness and pragmatic musings.

But Boyhood tops in an exceptionally unending manner where the viewers can certainly relate.

The proposed 12-year filming became close to impossible, that in an interview of Film4 Productions with Linklater, he even first thought that his movie was an “impractical, crazy idea,” but it was the lead actors’ commitment to this life project that inspired him to keep up with the suited production as time changes. The hard work and patience Linklater and his team showcased throughout the demanding length of production made the film more auspicious as it portrayed MJ’s life in a more realistic manner in comparison to common movies.

As for the outcome of the movie, despite the simple production, effortless theatricality, and modest promotions, Boyhood has satisfied even the toughest of critics, like New York Times’ Manohla Dargis who commended the movie as an “impressive, headline making conceit.”

In the portrayal of the characters, the absence of over-the-top and often plain make up doesn’t only emphasize the natural aging of the actors but it also shows the distinct personalities of the lead roles as they grow up. An instance was when MJ turned from a playful boy with a simple hair cut to the rebel teen side-swept bangs. To make the natural approach more convincing, Boyhood’s dialogue was expressed naturally, allowing the cast to converse in an effortlessly eloquent manner.

Boyhood flaunts the freedom to choose a life that can either be wasted or well-spent—unveiling the normalcy of experiencing the downfalls and upswings in life. As the bittersweet ending uncovers, we see MJ’s transition as he met independence through working at a local restaurant to pay for college. It captured how time runs fast and how we let pass the perks of childhood as we face adulthood.

The movie also shows that the real connotation MOVIe of being brave in this erratic world is about facing obstacles every step of the way. As it was showed in the end, we all have the choice to be like MJ— accepting life’s crossroads.

Boyhood is diverse: it is cliché yet original; it is subtle yet a powerful piece of art. It is a movie that acquires an old-fashioned craftsmanship but provides a modern impressionistic story-telling skill.

Naomi Lane Tiburcio

In contrast to most films, the simplicity and familiarity Director: Richard Linklater of Boyhood’s plot builds a bridge to every viewer’s Starring: Ellar Coltraine, Patricia Arquette, and Ethan Hawk heart. Boyhood’s outlook is everyone’s personal life Rating: story—regardless of your gender, culture and race— carefully, skilfully, and perfectly crafted on screen.

Photos taken from the Internet.

Boyhood:

THE 12-YEAR MAGNUM OPUS

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LATHALAIN

Ties that bind I hear the deafening noise mom and dad play every night. They were on the wrong fret again, I guess.

I see my brother scanning my sister’s different shades of lipstick. I watch him trace them on his lips the way he would sweep the dust off from his identity.

I taste the bitterness in my sister’s tears—enduring a storm forming upon her belly.

I smell the stinking temper of my younger brother up in his room. He’s shutting everyone out.

And I—I feel nothing, moving past from wall to wall of this place.

Instead of warmth, I haunt every corner with my chilling presence—begging attention from their much colder hearts. Home turned me into a lost soul, having missed my wake and my burial. And there was Grandma who always lights candles and offers prayers, except they aren’t for me either. I’m still here, but I got my name carved on a grave, somewhere in a cemetery I used to call a family tree.

I

As the moon plays its mellow music, I sing songs to my husband in minor keys.

I throw whole violent notes, and shout half and quarter sentiment notes because of his addiction to the hypnotic tone of uncoordinated notes and rests.

I

II

It disbanded my family’s harmony causing my eldest son to shift his voice to soprano, altering my youngest son’s temperament from tranquillo to brioso, and making my almost-debutante feel the andante and impulsive tempo of her anticipated rendition.

A pleasant combination of melodies could be restored in our family once the noxious effect of ardent composition ravages my husband’s system.

I always thought it unfair: I am the dirt staining my father’s spotless reputation.

It seems that no amount of washing could cleanse the disgusting disgrace they see me to be.

But if I can’t convince them that what I am is perfectly normal, they can’t convince me that who they are is what normal should be.

One day, despite all the hurt of being broken and beat – being bruised and scarred – I will be seen as polished, elegant and pristine not the disgusting muck they see me to be; I will stand proudly— a bigger person than anyone in this family could ever be.

ii III

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Miles deep in my thoughts, I heard barfing shouts like gurgling sludge in our home, now soiled with shit.

Again, brother’s crying— or should I say, sister?

Why hide your farts when they reek of rainbow roses?

And speaking of rainbows, why’s that rainbow-bashing father waddling around?

Could he clean this shitbin?

III

They don’t give a shit ‘bout us: they just shat each other.

My intestines scorn such thought.

They need cleaning, much like this shithole needs cleaning— “Hoy, Mikael, maglinis ka nga ng kuwarto mo!”

IV V

Primitivo, kung ikaw lamang ay naririto pa, kapit-kamay nating pahihintuin itong digmaan.

Barilan ng mga salita.

Pasabog ng mga mura.

At ang bawat bala’t bomba ay bumabaon sa aking dibdib at lalo pang sinasara ang tainga sa mga ingay nitong giyera.

Kung may magagawa lamang ang baldado mong asawa, ihihinto ko ang saksakan ng mga matang patalim na muling humihiwa at nagpapalalim sa mga naghilom nang sugat At sa pagtagal ng pagdurugo ng mga ito, ako ang nanghihina’t nanlulumo, kinakain ang bawat natitira kong minuto.

Primitivo…

IV

Every waking day is a series of habitual trampling on bottle shards and looking through faded family photographs.

V

Bottle after bottle, I delight in the burning sensation of euphoria, escaping love’s bitter aftertaste.

I thirst to cure my perpetual hangover: the constant remembering and forgetting of the people I loved through intoxication, here in this dismal place I once called home.

I was the cloud who was warned about the sea.

Still, I was drawn by its waves, enticed by the way they crash.

So I pulled them away from the shore and now, I could feel a storm forming inside me.

VI

VII

VII For months within these silken sheets that separate my creator and me, I anticipate the world outside but till then, I dream.

I dream of her gentle voice, like charmed melodies that soothe me to sleep, and her laugh that plays occasionally, like happy endings of stories she speaks.

VI With the sudden surge of wind, I wondered which way to go, whether let this tempest devastate my home —or dissolve it into the ocean.

But when her sobs of agony jolt me back to reality, I can’t help but wonder if I am the gift wrapped with dreams, or the curse that wraps those dreams.

But I’ve learned to be deaf at the sound of its thunder, and admired the lightning that caused cracks in the sky.

Now I’m here, singing lullabies as I put her to sleep —the calm after the storm.

Erika Uy, Danielle Vince Capuno, Rochelle Rivera, Nishtha Nigam, John Paul Gonzalez, James Ramolete, and John Joseph Gementiza (Contributor)

Camille Trinidad John Chesleigh Nofiel and James Fidel Tan

La SALLE単O Volume 23 No. 1