Kamalayan 2017-2018 2T by KAMALAYAN

KAMALAYAN THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA OF MALAYAN COLLEGES LAGUNA

INFORMATION WITHIN REACH

MCL holds 12th annual MCL Cup

MCL produces another Batch of Excellent and Virtuous Graduates

How a father’s 50 cents turned his son to a degree holder, educator, and mastermind

2017-2018 | Volume 4, Number 1

A Cry for Demystification

Empower Victims, Kill Rape Culture

On Logan Paul: A Fiasco in Three Chapters

Nationwide strikes loom MCL students

PHOTO FROM ROBBIE DOCTOLERO

Nationwide Strikes: “Hunger Games” for Commuting MCL Students BY JOSHUA MARFIL

he students of Malayan Colleges Laguna expressed sentiments of stress and hassled experiences over

the year regarding transport strikes opposing the modernization of public utility vehicles. Despite the multiple announce-

ments to avoid undesirable situations, the students endured what some say are the worst days of “commuting”. As early as February, jeepney drivers held a nationwide strike that crippled and nearly paralyzed the transportation system in cities across the nation, standing firm against the PUV modernization program. Members of Pinagkaisahang Sama-

han ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide or PISTON threatened fellow jeepney drivers who were not taking part in the strike to join. In the following months, the same group as well as supporting militant groups went on other nationwide strikes, most recently on the 16th and 17th of October. Because of this, time and again, the students of MCL had

MCL produces another Batch of Excellent and Virtuous Graduates from its 14th Commencement Exercises BY KHAYLE ATIENZA

ASAY CITY - A total of ___ MCL students finally graduated as they obtained their diplomas from the 14th Commencement Exercises of Malayan Colleges Laguna held at the Philippine Internation-

al Convention Center (PICC) last November 29, 2017 with a stimulating speech from guest speaker Sec. Fortunato T. De La Pena of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). To s t a r t t h e c e r e m o n y, a t r a d i t i o n a l A c ademic Procession was

held, followed by the entrance of colors by the representatives of the College of Maritime E d u c a t i o n a n d Tr a i n ing (CMET), as well the singing of the Philippine National Ant hem and an Invocation by Prof. Christie Amores. L ater on, a motivational keynote speech was

delivered by the Guest of Honor and C ommencem e n t S p e a k e r, S e c . F o r t u n a t o T. D e L a Pe n a o f t h e Department of Science a n d Te c h n o l o g y ( D O S T ) , a multi-awarded Filipin o e n g i n e e r, p r o f e s s o r, and a public ser vant who believes in the essential role of science and continue to page 2...

to persevere on the days of the strikes when attending their classes. There were some occasions that classes were suspended in the afternoon, which posed a dilemma for some of the students on getting home safely. Some students claim that they had to pay almost double the regular fare when commuting via tricycle transportation. This includes Pauline

Cañelas, a third year Civil Engineering student who claims that she had difficulties on her way home and took the offer of double the fare of the tricycle drivers. But despite the efforts, there have been reports of PISTON blocking tricycle drivers and forcing some of the passengers off the vehicle. Others had ___________ continue to page 4

IN THIS ISSUE: MCL holds 12th annual MCL Cup p.2 | MCL produc-

es another Batch of Excellent and Virtuous Graduates p.2 | #TBYSPH Facebook Digital Youth Summit 2017 p.3 | Para Sayo p.7 | Musikamalayan 2018: MCL’s answer to Chicago’s Lollapalooza p.7 | On Logan Paul: A Fiasco in Three Chapters p.10 | On being #woke p.11 Scan this code for the mobile version of this newspaper.

News

MCL holds 12th annual MCL Cup, Hailing De La Salle University Integrated School as champions BY JASMINE CARGULLO

alayan Colleges Laguna held its annual MCL Cup last November 11 to 18 with this year’s theme “Be Ahead.” Over sixty schools from the South joined the competition as they battle for the top places for the 12 events, and to be this year’s overall champion. The first day of the MCL Cup on November 11, 2017 kicked off with a parade of the participating schools which was led by a band of College of Maritime Education and Training (CMET) students. The overall chair of the week-long celebration, Dr. Joy G Hofileña, gave her opening remarks for the first event of MCL Cup 2017 the ‘Be Ahead! Move Ahead! Hip-Hop Dance Showdown’ held at the MCL track oval. Out of the 24 schools that participated in the competition, Queen Anne School of Sta. Rosa got third place, San Pablo Colleges got second place, and First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities got first place. The ‘Madulang Sabayang Pagbigkas’ was also held on the first day at the Francisco Balagtas Auditorium. The 10 participating schools performed a piece by MCL Prof. Rogelio Valenzuela entitled “Handa na si Juan,” The Sisters of Mary School Boystown - Adlas Inc. got third place, Sisters of Mary of Bannuex, Inc. got second place, and Holy Rosary College of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Inc. was got first place.

The second day (November 14, 2017) kicked off with its first event, ‘Be Aware, Be Wise, Be Empowered: Digital Poster-Making contest.’ The 13 participating schools made their artworks based on social media ethics and MCL Cup 2017’s theme “Be Ahead!” Colegio San Agustin - Biñan got third place, Liceo de San Pablo got second place, and The Sisters of Mary School Adlas Inc. got first place. The ‘Speak Forth: Impromptu Speech Fest’ was also conducted on the second day. 10 out of 21 from the participating schools were chosen to compete for the final round which was conducted in the afternoon. The topics for the competition were mainly about the environment. Niclaus Angelo Aganon from Malayan High School of Science got third place, Allaisa Calsevada from Calamba Doc- Auditorium. Holy Rosary Coltors College got second place, lege of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Inc. and Robbie Claravall from De got third place, International La Salle University Integrated Christian Academy got second, School got first place. and De La Salle University In On the third day tegrated School got first place. (November 15, 2017), ‘La Vida The fourth day (NoLocal: Gastronomic Chal- vember 16, 2017) kicked off lenge’ was held. The 12 partic- with ‘Be Ahead: A Mural Comipating schools battled it out petition’ at the MCL gymnasiwith their appetizers, main um. 19 schools participated dishes, and desserts. Sisters of in the event and painted artMary School - Adlas, Inc. got works, following the theme third place, Sisters of Mary of “Learning through technology Banneux, Inc. got second, and towards nation building” for Sto. Niño Formation and Sci- two hours. Sto. Niño Formaence School got first place. tion and Science School got The ‘Brainmasters’ third place, St. Scholastica’s competition was also conduct- College - Westgrove got seced on the third day. 10 out of 23 ond, and Sisters of Mary of participating schools from the Banneux, Inc. got the first. elimination round competed T h e in the final round at the F.B. ‘Math Quiz Show’ was also

PHOTO BY KATRINA IDANAN

held on the fourth day. 10 out of 21 schools from the elimination round participated in the final round. Holy Rosary College of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Inc. got third place, San Pablo Colleges got second, and De La Salle University Integrated School got first. During the fifth day (November 17, 2017) eight out of 18 participants from the elimination round participated in the final round of ‘Instrumental Heroes! Battle of the Bands’ and performed their own renditions of their chosen songs. Liceo De San Pablo got third place, Mary Help of Christian’s College - Salesian Sisters Inc. got second place, and Cristobal S. Conducto Memo-

rial Integrated National High School got first place. The ‘Science Quiz Show’ was held at the F.B. Auditorium with 10 out of 24 participating schools from the elimination round. De La Salle University Integrated School got third place, Sisters of Mary School - Adlas, Inc. for the second place, and Sisters of Mary of Banneux, Inc. for the champion. The sixth and last day of the MCL Cup 2017 kicked off with ‘Shookt to the Groove: Cheerdance Competition’ at the MCL Track Oval. Eight participating schools performed their unique and exciting routines as they cheered for their respective schools. St. Scholastica’s College -

Westgrove got third place, De La Salle University Integrated School got second, and San Pablo Colleges was this year’s got first place. The last event, ‘Cantare Il Viaggio: A Celebration of Voices’ was held at the F.B. Auditorium. Nine participating schools competed in the event and performed their own rendition of their chosen song together with the song “How Far I’ll Go” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, from the Disney film Moana. Muntinlupa Science High School got third place, St. Scholastica’s College - Westgrove got second place, and Holy Rosary College of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Inc. got first place.

MCL produces another Batch of Excellent and Virtuous Graduates from its 14th Commencement

PHOTO BY CHESTER RARA

...technology. During his keynote speech, he shared to the graduates his difficult experiences in life and how he managed to overcome it and become the successful person he is now. “Make your own choices” said Sec. de la Pena on his keynote speech, an advice which he also told to his own children who are successful in their own respective careers. Sec. De La Pena also

introduced to the candidates, faculty, and attendees his point of views on the importance of science and technology in this generation. “Kung ano ang gusto ng bata, iyon dapat ang masusunod” he further said to the parents of the graduates on his final messages for the graduates, emphasizing on the importance of passion towards a person’s career path, before concluding his keynote

speech and congratulates MCL’s fresh new graduates and their families. Later on, the presentation of awards was led by Pres. Reynaldo Vea, Ph.D and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Dennis Tablante, as the student achievers were recognized. After the presentation of awards, the charge to graduates was performed by Mr. Vea, officially marking

the candidates as graduates of MCL. Meanwhile, the Conferment of Degrees, the distribution of Diplomas, and Awarding of Academic Honors commenced as all graduates from different programs received their wellearned degrees and diplomas. After all the graduates received their own diplomas and degrees, Melanie Valencia, A Magna Cum Laude student of B.S. in Tourism Management, de-

livered her inspiring Valedictory Address to her follow graduates as she shared some of her wonderful and difficult experiences of her college life from her alma mater and how did she managed to attain her well-earned honor. According to her, being a Magna Cum Laude is a very hard goal so she really did her best on her academics. She stated that “Passing grades are not enough because I know I can do better” as she heard the common

“The choice to be successful is all yours. It is also your choice to fail. If you wanted to, you will be.” - Melanie Valencia

statement from her fellow students “Tres lang, sapat na” during her college days. “Do not be afraid on what the future holds” she stated to her fellow graduates, in closing her address. Following her speech, the Induction of the Members of the Graduating Class to Malayan Colleges Laguna Alumni Association (MCLAA) was led by Mr. Prince Lopez, the auditor of the MCLAA, marking the graduates as part of the alumni association of MCL. Afterwards, the Pledge of Loyalty was led by Mr. Angelito Platino. The 14th Commencement Exercises of Malayan Colleges Laguna came to an end after the newly-formed graduates joyfully sang their last Malayan Hymn to honor their alma mater, which was followed by the exit of colors and the Recessional, officially concluding the ceremony.

Feature

MCL’s team succeeds as Southern Luzon Regional Champions of The International Collegiate Programming Contest BY ROSHMEIR DE LEON On the first of October 2017, a team of Information Technology (IT) students represented Malayan Colleges Laguna in the prestigious International Collegiate Programming Contest hosted by Ateneo de Naga University. Out of the 7 competitors, the team triumphed as the Southern Luzon Regional champion. The International Collegiate Programming Contest is an annual event for programmers from all over the world, which aims to showcase their skills and to solve problems under pressure. Under the guidance of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the ICPC is annually conducted in six continents and follows a single set of policies and procedures. Team MCL was assembled two weeks prior to the competition through their adviser’s inquiry and recommendation of professors from the College of Computer and Information Science (CCIS). The Dean of CCIS, Khristian Kikuchi, served as the founder and adviser of the team. Third year IT students, John Disonglo and Marco Iligan, and fourth year IT students, Aaron Lagdameo and Eduard Likwong, were chosen to compete, because of their outstanding performance in their programming courses. They were unhesitant to take the opportunity, because it would be a rare learning experience. Mr. Di-

songlo jokingly mentioned that it was a chance to improve his resume, since IT professionals do not have a licensure exam. Nonetheless, the team delivered excellent results. It was indeed a fresh experience for the team and for CCIS as well. MCL’s participation in this year’s regional competition was a first. The team convened two to three times a week to strategize and to prepare for the competition. Aside from their adviser, the team was also guided by their professors, Elvin Almario and Dennis Martillano. Mr. Martillano says that it is still debatable that the results of the Regionals will reflect in the Nationals in terms of competitiveness. Despite the aggressive environment during the Regionals, the team’s performance proved that they played well in the competitive zone. The team was subjected to ten time-constrained, mathematical and logical problems. They could barely explain and recall the problems, because of their complexity. One of the problems they were able to solve followed the Sharkovski Successor, a sequential number theorem. To be able to solve these problems, one must possess strong foundations in mathematics, logic, and syntax. During the competition proper, the team began by surveying the problems, and attempted to solve the easiest from the list. “It’s not an issue about solving all

PHOTO BY HANZ CHRISTIAN LABIRAN

of them. It’s an issue about time,” Mr. Lagdameo indicates; that was the main reason why they prioritized solving the easiest problem. Tasks were distributed among each team. One served as the team’s encoder. The rest formulated solutions. The assignment of tasks was continuously shuffled in each attempt to solve the problems. This was their best and most efficient strategy, because only one terminal was provided or each team. Aside from the challenge with regards to time, the team considered the test cases from the server side as a constraint. Test cases are variables that are inputted in their compiled code. The

competitors are blind to the test cases used to check their code. According to Mr. Disonglo, there were instances wherein the logic of the code was already correct, but issues arose due to the wrong test case used. The team resolved this by specifying the data type that can be used in the code. TEAMWORK IS KEY In one practice game, the team attempted to solve the problems individually. The results were good as well, although they were given advice that approaching the problems as a team would yield a better outcome. It was also of great importance to consider ev-

eryone’s suggestion to solve the problem. The team displayed open communication, which benefitted them through the competition. Everyone agreed that they have grown closer after the competition. Mr. Iligan expressed a desire to start a student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery in Malayan Colleges Laguna. If established, MCL will be second to the University of the Philippines (UP) in starting a student chapter of ACM in our country. Mr. Martillano also added that the college has recently started producing researches in alignment to ACM’s principles. Membership will be open for all programs in hopes of en-

couraging other programs to train and compete in the future ICPCs. WHAT’S NEXT THE TEAM

FOR

Winning the ICPC Southern Luzon opened up more opportunities for their team. They have been invited to compete in other programming competitions, where one was held in the University of Makati. The 2017 ACM ICPC Asia-Manila Regional Contest will happen this December 2017 at the Ateneo de Manila University. The team has been continuing their weekly trainings in hopes of representing the country in the World Finals.

#TBYSPH Facebook Digital Youth Summit 2017: A 3-day KAMALAYAN experience BY NIKOLAI DINEROS

three-day summit on social media responsibility; seems like the not-so-different kind of event several organizations put up nowadays. One could even open their Web browsers and look for upcoming seminars on being a civically, environmentally, and/or socially responsible citizen for change, and the opportunities are limitless. But in a time when social media’s role is paramount to our country’s nation-building, who wouldn’t want to be involved in such an engagement – one that is sponsored and spearheaded by Facebook? Probably not me, – or even my colleagues – so sign us up! And so, we did. A couple of weeks before the event prior, we were sent an invitation by an ‘amiga’ of ours from Mano Amiga Philippines, the main

organizers of “Think Before You Share Philippines: Digital Youth Summit 2017”, and they were looking for young delegates with a drive to launch campaigns on social media which promote media literacy. Of course, being a student publication that we are, naturally, we were adamant to find a cure for what we believe is a widespread epidemic that currently plagues our social media spaces: fake news. With the opportunity handed to us by a Mano Amiga (thank you, by the way, ate Pia), we had the chance to make this campaign against fake news possible. And so we did. Once we read all the details and complied with the necessary requirements for application, we waited for an e-mail of the results from Mano Amiga. Fortunately, we were accepted and our campaign is no less but a reality. Thus, #SpotWhatsNot , is born.

PHOTO BY JM GONZALES

Think Before You Share able and high-quality educaPH: Digital Youth Sum- tion through various lifelong programs, “Think Before mit 2017 You Share Philippines: Digi Organized by Mano tal Youth Summit 2017” was Amiga Philippines, an educa- a skills training program in tion NGO providing students Taguig aimed to harness its 75 with opportunities for afford- student delegates, including

KAMALAYAN, in two objectives: improving knowledge on how to critically scrutinize social media content, and creating an innovative yet sustainable digital advocacy campaign promoting digital media literacy and social em-

pathy. Clair Deevy, the Head of Community Affairs for the Asia Pacific Activities Conference from Facebook, stated in her keynote speech that the liaison between Mano Amiga Continue to page 4...

Feature

Nationwide Strikes: “Hunger Games” for Commuting MCL Students to walk home while others had to wait until the strike passed, which the students openly expressed as a waste of valuable time. According to some accounts, jeepney drivers working on the days of the nationwide strike had their vehicles filled in an instant, as people rushed to get a seat. During the time of the strike, there were some students coming from far locations such as Muntinlupa, Los Baños, and others. Some of the students were not able to attend their classes since they were not able to find any jeepneys for a long drive while others were anticipating announcements of classes cancellations which, at times, were

not declared. Danielle Abrenica, a fourth year Multimedia Arts student, was coming from Manila, when she experienced first-hand what it was like during the strikes in one of the most densely populated cities in the Philippines. During the time when traffic was expected to be agreeable, vehicles escalated quickly to a near-stopping condition due to multiple deployment of buses to cope with the lack of PUV’s. Passengers were getting off and getting on LRT trains, which she claims were full with commuters as early as 5 o’clock in the morning. According to some, for such a serious matter, the institution or regional official in charge should be able to

make appropriate decisions based on witness accounts and concerns of the residents. The students of MCL understand the situation of the jeepney drivers and where they are coming from, expressing sympathy and understanding. But these students believe they are going about it the wrong way. A show of brute force and stubbornness may have postponed the program, but not the decision to push through with it. The students believe that for the nation to grow as a whole, the jeepney drivers need to understand that progress and development is not without sacrifices, and that modernization is a step towards a better future.

#TBYSPH Facebook Digital Youth Summit...

of it – a testament which most millennials and centennials can agree upon– but these guest speakers of TBYSPH: Digital Youth Summit 2017 certainly did the tides around them, which is why we are gathered in this 3-day summit in the first place: to witness how these personalities used social media at their disposal to start and manage their own advocacy campaigns. Famous Filipina actress Iza Calzado shared her online ventures on Instagram as she promoted body positivity, which she personally struggled with in the past. Due to the superficial standards of an “ideal body”, Ms. Calzado admitted that she once was insecure of her physique, which led to self-inflicting dietary practices until she changed her lifestyle for the better. Now, Ms. Calzado is promoting the love and appreciation for “every body”. Iza Calzado is just a part of the large and formidable roster of guest speakers at TBYSPH: Digital Youth Summit 2017. There was Niccolo Cosme, an award-winning conceptual photographer and co-founder of the HIV awareness campaign, Red Whistle; Patch Dulay, a teacher, entrepreneur, and founder of The Spark Project, a crowdfunding website supporting creative entrepreneurs in the Philippines; David O’Hagan and Niña Terol of Kick Fire Kitchen who guided us along the way in improving our campaign pitch; TV host and education advocate Bianca Gonzalez who adamantly utilizes social media in her capacity to promote social good – among many others. These people, while some are relatively known for other

reasons, have paved their way into social media as promoters and advocates for change (the better one) and are given such herculean tasks by themselves to lead the country and its communities into development – however we may describe as one. With these kinds of people populating our social media spaces and creating possibilities from in and out of the Web, I can definitely see hope for the Philippines to grow for the better. Now, with the help of the organizers of this summit, the rest is up to us, digital youth ambassadors.

...Philippines and Facebook is essential in ensuring the quality and sustainability of our campaigns. Deevy believes that through the knowledge students will gain from the summit, we can become “Digital Youth Ambassadors” as we skillfully create online campaigns that encourage social change. Especially today, in a time when false information frequently spreads across different media platforms (especially the Internet), the need for digital youth ambassadors on social media has never elevated this high. With the participation of Facebook, it is quite overwhelming for me to imagine the scale of this event; there were participants from all over the country. Two of my roommates during the summit, who were also advocating against fake news, came all the way from the Bicol region while some were from other distant locations like Cagayan de Oro and Marawi City in Lanao del Sur. Apart from my colleagues in KAMALAYAN, I never got the chance to personally meet the other 65 student leaders from all across the Philippine archipelago (yes, from what I can recall during the summit, I got the chance to talk to a handful of other delegates), but it was an enlightening experience, sharing our ideals with brothers and sisters from across the country, nonetheless. Unknown stories of well-known people Social media can (and definitely will) suck the life out of you if you don’t get a proper hold

Making the Philippines an #InformedNation in the Information age “The rest is up to us”, I’ve just mentioned. What, then? Clearly, the likes of Niccolo Cosme, Iza Calzado, and others have motivation behind their own advocacies, which they utilized for the success of their online campaigns. We were no less different, as were the other youth participants in the summit; we’re all moti-

PHOTO BY ROBBIE DOCTOLERO

vated to help change society for the better. Since we all have our fair share of seeing, sharing, and seeing people share misinformation in social media, we launched #SpotWhatsNot to educate people on how to be vigilant online by providing tips and common practices on on how to stop spreading fake news and inspire people to do the same onto others. It was not easy coming up with #SpotWhatsNot, a campaign that advocates eagle-eyed vigilance in online ‘news’ content, without carrying such a herculean task of providing reliable news content as a student media both onscreen and on paper, but by simply putting theory into practice as a media platform and as netizens, we can set a prime example of being a responsible online consumer. Also, through discussions and seminars of the campaign, we try to make sure that people, starting from MCL students, are well-educated and trained to “spot what’s not” (a good source of news information, hence

online articles). After all, #SpotWhatsNot’s goal in putting an end to fake news in the grander scheme of things does not start by being a responsible news outlet alone (although it is still rather important), but also by being a vigilant social media consumer. You have to keep your soil free from bad grass before burying your seed, as we were told. All digital outputs of KAMALAYAN for #SpotWhatsNot so far have been released on our Facebook page and each have already garnered a substantial amount of online traffic while the succeeding ones will soon follow. Currently, we are finding new ideas to keep our audiences, well, informed regarding on our cause. Social media visionaries We got the chance to hear from each representative on their campaigns during the third day of the summit. There were remarkable campaigns presented on that day - “Take It Topless” launched as a cam-

paign to reduce the use of plastic lids on disposable cups; “Good Vibes Only Movement” provides a safe space for troubled and depressed people; “Moreno Morena” launched as a magazine-type platform which promotes appreciation on dark complexions – amongst many others. To think that these ideas came from the brilliant minds of youths in the summit, the possibilities are endless for the Philippine society to prosper with young people taking the lead. These kinds of people with such ambitious goals are the reason why I believe that the future for social development is far from dead. “Think Before You Share: Digital Youth Summit 2017” was everything I hoped for, and so much more. We left the venue carrying all the knowledge (and unforgettable memories with newfound friends) we managed to get, and headed back home where the real challenge lies for us now digital youth ambassadors: promoting change and help making the Philippines an #InformedNation.

PHOTO BY LOUIE GARRIDO

Feature

How a father’s 50 cents turned his son to a degree holder, educator, and mastermind

PHOTO BY SHAIRA SERIOSO

BY DANIELLE RIANE CAPALAD three-day summit on social media responsibility; seems like the not-so-different kind of event owadays, most college instructors are very academically intimidating, but Mr. Dennis Martillano was not your average type of teacher.

requirements in the Doctorate degree in Information Technology and is on the mark for his second dissertation. In the process, he has recently become a technical committee member of the editorial board of an International Journal Publication wherein he reviews and critiques published scientific journals.

ly from scratch, paving his way forward with dreams of changing the world with the alternative learning method first in the Philippines. Mr. Martillano explains that he loves to be in a positive environment where anybody could approach and ask him questions. After all, programming courses can be painstakingly difficult.

Mr. Martillano of Carmona, Cavite, has a Master’s Degree in IT and an Education Major in Research and Instructional Design— he has also completed his academic

Inside the MCL campus, he is commonly known as “Sir Semi-pogi” and for his unorthodox way of teaching. The trendsetting college instructor started literal-

“I want my students to feel that they can grab the bulb in my head anytime so they could use it” he said. Although he had a rough path in his life, this

didn’t stop him from reaching his dream. Words from his parents helped him move forward and defy negativity in his surroundings. Before, his mother would always remind him how unfortunate they were, so he should study hard and strive for the best. More often than not, these reminders and phrases from his mother were what motivated him to what he is today. On the other hand, Mr. Dennis’s father has his own prosperity and philosophy in life. Mr. Dennis had a really strong bond with his parents and he knows that they love him for his achievements. One of the most inspiring stories that changed his life was when he needed money for school necessities, whilst with a few setbacks to ask cash from his father due to financial problems, his father slid his hands over his pocket with 50 cents on hand and then crosses his fingers. “At least may binigay ako, tapos feeling mo may nakuha ka diba,” his father said. (At least I gave you something, and you feel that you earned it.) Yet, he thought that his father’s words were wise enough to keep him going in his journey. That was when

he knew he had to push through the limits for a prosperous life ahead. Growing up in a farm had also taught him life-changing lessons. He lived in an area where there are simply no distractions, which made him more focused on achieving his goals. “While I was studying, my dream was just to work in a factory or become a security guard because I like the uniform.” Mr. Dennis said. “I was so innocent, since I grew up in a farm and I don’t [sic] have any exciting experiences in malls, transportation, gadgets and even people. I have high admirations to those who are working at the factories and fast food chains in the city. Being innocent could be the reason why I am reaping the fruits of my labor now because it allowed me not to compare myself to anyone and to look up to something I want to do without thinking of failures.” Before becoming an instructor, he used to work in bank industries and as a semi-conductor in his hometown. Mr. Dennis was an accelerated student in his early years. According to him, being a teacher was a ‘beautiful accident’ for his career. In the ten years he had been working in industries while

he was teaching in college and finishing his graduate school, he realized that his adoration and passion was to educate and guide people. In addition to Mr. Dennis aspirations in life, he strives to aim financial independence and world peace, he said. Using his undeniable power for teaching, he wants to use his experiences and skills in reshaping education to alternative learning in the Philippines. Mr. Dennis, with his team, has used alternative learning to help eleven children who couldn’t afford formal education, and indeed they have one kid ready for college. Other than that, he stated that he aims to study again specifically in the field of Arts and also create his own IT company. According to him, happiness comes within our actions, he is contented and happy. Moreover, Mr. Dennis Martillano offers advice for people who are aiming for success just like him: “Achieve goals one at a time. It’s okay to dream big but as long as you are in the process.”, he commented. “You need to collect the bricks for the stairs to achieve your goals. With that, you will feel successful.” He said.

Empower Victims, Kill Rape Culture BY ROSHMEIR DE LEON

Hi, miss.”

“

As innocent as it may seem, the connotations of the greeting can scar the self-esteem and induce anxiety. The ‘miss’ would either ignore or oppose the unsolicited attention garnered from going about their day. For some, these events could be easily dismissed and forgotten, while for others, such encounters contribute to their growing fear and trauma. The greeter would be completely oblivious to the implications of his actions, because he is only aware that what he gave was a compliment. “Ang ganda naman nito.” Jane (not her real name) was crouched on the floor going through the toys section of a grocery when 5 teenage boys ganged up behind her and eerily talked about how beautiful she was. She immediately froze in fear and tried to recall what she had done to gain their attention. When her male companion was alarmed of her situation, he immediately pulled her away from the group. They left the grocery and she hasn’t returned there alone since the incident. She mentioned that she was wearing a huge t-shirt and leggings. “Parang nakapang-bahay lang talaga ako.” (“It was as if I were wearing house clothes.”). She clarifies.

“Bakit hindi mo sinabi agad?” In another incident, Jane was riding a jeep on her way to SM Calamba. A middle aged man was sitting across her. When she unconsciously made eye contact with the man, she caught him masturbating. She felt disgusted and avoided provoking the man from doing anything further. After the man departed the jeepney, Jane told the driver and her mother, who was sitting beside her, about what just happened. They hoped that she had reacted earlier so that the man could have been reprimanded. She was not able to react as quickly, because seeing what the man was doing had put her in to a state of panic. Oftentimes, victims of harassment are lectured on how they should have fought back or made a scene, without realizing that not all women have the capacity to speak up. Still, society is made to believe that women are obliged to fight back to prove their innocence. Otherwise, they had allowed it to happen, therefore they were asking for it. She recounts how she told a friend about an experience where she was catcalled by different men while walking on the street in broad daylight. Her friend asked her what she wore. “Ang ikli kasi ng shorts mo,” (Your shorts were too short) was her friend’s response, blaming her clothing for attracting the unwanted attention. Jane defended that respect should not

ARTWORK BY ARIZA ONG

depend on a person’s clothing. Her friend came to her defense, but persisted that strangers remain untrustworthy. Women who oppose these acts of lasciviousness are labeled as overreacting (“OA”) and deemed as being too assuming. What’s worse is that they are blamed for the attention they draw, because of the length of their sleeves or the tightness of their jeans. Jane agreed that the

practice of victim blaming exists in the Filipino society, and that it immensely contributes to rape culture. She reveals how her experiences have affected her self-confidence. She often questions whether what she is wearing is decent enough; she rarely leaves the house without a companion; and she walks on the street in constant paranoia. Catcalling and the preservation of rape culture should not become normalized behav-

ior in our society. Last February 2017, Senator Risa Hontiveros submitted Senate Bill 1326 or the “Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017.” It is an act that penalizes gender-based harassment in public spaces and institutions. The bill targets indecent behavior, such as catcalling, inappropriate touching and gestures, and public masturbation. The implementation of this law rebukes the perpetuation of rape culture. Aside from that,

this law provides Filipinas and members of the LGBT community the security and assurance that those behavior is downright wrong, and that the authorities can take appropriate action. Legal processes and proper sanctions will be imposed as opposed to simply calling out the perpetrator on social media. Progress made in this aspect is a reflection that we are empowering the victim rather than uplifting the perpetrator.

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“Eh ‘di wow” mentality is not wow-worthy BY JULIENNE BIEN

t’s not uncommon in Philippine society to hear about— or even witness—instances of people being dismissed for being critical of social issues and current events or wanting to further discussion on certain topics. “Eh ‘di wow” or “Ikaw na” are some of the statements used to shut down those who are perceived to be contrarian by the majority. People in general dismiss what they do not understand and all of us from a young age are influenced to think in harmful ways sometimes. It takes effort to reexamine beliefs we were raised on because they’re a big part of our identities, and criticism of them can tend to feel like a criticism of ourselves; but in order to progress to a more humane society, we should be able to have honest, thoughtful conversations with each other that will translate into real life changes. Online comment sections often are a breeding ground for vitriolic remarks towards people who dare be critical of the status quo. On Facebook or Twitter, one pattern seen in attackers’ behavior is an unwillingness to evaluate arguments presented to them and an irrational disregard for news they hear from the mainstream media. But facts are facts the way science is science, inherently true

and occurring despite our support or doubt of them, and an understanding of facts—or even just their place in in our lives—must be attained if people are to make decisions that will be beneficial to society as a whole. Filipinos enjoy playful teasing of people who elaborate at length about social issues. Impassioned calls to action and rightful anger seem to alarm them and the teasing can so often quickly turn to malicious shaming; this is done to strong-arm subversive people into compliance and rein the conversation back into the boundaries of “polite talk.” Many seem to think that expounding on particular issues is just being pabibo or nega and “spreading bad vibes” when in reality, people who speak out do it out of love for fellow humans and the world, and seek to raise awareness about injustices that can be righted only through caring for each other and fighting for a better world together. “Sorry for the inconvenience, we are trying to change the world,” a common rally slogan goes. This widespread shaming and silencing of people whose views are different than that of one’s own—anti-intellectualism— is an unproductive practice. When people share information you might not know about and perspectives you might never have considered, it is not an attack on your knowledge or values, but rather a warm invitation to partake in the struggle for reform towards

a fairer, more just order of affairs in society. Proponents of anti-intellectualism present themselves and are perceived as champions of the common folk, according to the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential, but being unconcerned and uninvolved with efforts to bring about social, political, and economic change is what is anti-poor and anti-masses, in reality. Starting discussion and taking part in debates is not a pretentious undertaking one does to get undue attention or appear intelligent in front of other people; it is an acknowledgement that there is something deeply wrong in the world we live in but that it is possible to achieve equal opportunity for everyone through awareness, acceptance, and collective action. That discourse is thought of by some as elitist and something done only by people who act like they know better than the government is unfortunate. To counter this, if one is reasoning out with another person, remember to stay patient and explain as much as you can in a concise, respectful manner. Almost everyone one comes in in contact with is a potential ally; you just have to put in the work to try make them understand where you’re coming from and why they should care. Tolerating anti-intellectualism when you know you have it in you to shine a light on issues is losing potential allies to perpetual ignorance. Healthy intellectual dis-

ARTWORK BY ISAIAH DELA CRUZ

course—one that is welcome and unconstrained—is important because discourse is the essence of social change. Witnessing the dissection and criticism of social dynamics we think are inherent at the outset is the start of social consciousness. People in general are not open to examining power structures let alone admitting they exist, because to do so is to recognize ways in which they are disenfranchised and taken advantage of by bigger forces at work. Discourse that enables empathy and internal self-realization helps people recognize inequality that

has been normalized to them and violence they have been desensitized to. At the end of the day, something all of us can do is be vigilant with the media we consume. Angelo T., 20, a college student, says “[Fake news is] everywhere. Scrolling through your news feed you could see a link to a ‘news article’ from, say, trendingnewsportal, with matching pictures put together plus extravagant title graphics. When you click one of those, you would encounter either a video of multiple footages from different sources, taking

each excerpt out of context. Some ‘fake news’ content would appear like a legitimate news article, but when you actually read it, it may contain a lot of grammatical errors and omitted information.” Question everything. Be critical of sensationalism and deliberate misinformation and call out dishonesty. Do your part in maintaining a fact-driven news feed in the midst of all the fake news sites and propaganda pages and indignant people who don’t read past the headlines— think of it as your very own labor of love for society.

A Cry for Demystification

ARTWORK BY TRISTAN PINLAC

BY GWENN MARIE DIMALANTA

magine yourself inadvertently falling into quicksand. Panic-stricken, you anxiously attempt to break free from the quicksand’s grip only to later realize that you are sinking deeper. You continue to struggle to find a way out, yet your efforts cause the quicksand to become more and more viscous. Sunken shoulder deep, you feel your body gradually lose its vigor as the quicksand that envelops your body solidifies. Push comes to shove and you attempt to cry out for help, but

your enfeebled body impedes your capacity to do so. You apprehensively await your fate as you stay stuck in the quicksand—deprived of any hope of deliverance. This is but a glimpse of what depression feels like. Depression is so much more than the fleeting kind of sadness that most people confuse it with. It is an umbrella term encompassing a multitude of conditions with varied manifestations, frequencies, and levels of severity. Accordingly, people experience depression differently. Some people experience depression that is mild enough to not require any medication

to be able to cope with, if not overcome, their condition. For some people like Laya Arioder, a BS Music Business Management student at Meridian International (MINT), having depression is a constant crippling battle. “it felt like a death sentence at first” Laya recalled. Having been diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder, Laya deals with a number of mental health problems, namely mania, anxiety, depersonalization, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression — which she struggles with the most. She deals with longer, intense, and debilitating episodes of depression.

For Laya, depression is not having the willpower to get out of bed for a couple of days or even weeks. It’s not having enough sleep or having too much of it. It’s isolating oneself and not letting anybody in. It’s losing interest in anything that one used to love doing. It’s not having the ability to do simple things like taking a shower or combing one’s hair or basically anything necessary to look like a decent human being. It’s not feeling anything or feeling everything all at once. It’s feeling worthless, hopeless, unloved and undeserving of any good thing in life. Clearly, depression is a complex condition that may be crippling or even detrimental to people who suffer from it. But is it possible to recover from depression? According to scientists work-

ing for the National Mental Health Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, it is possible for individuals to increase their capacity to handle their depression better and that it is also possible for some individuals to fully recover from it. Despite having a bipolar brain which entails having to live with depression for the rest of her life, Laya also believes that it’s possible to overcome depression. At present, she can proudly say that she is capable of managing her depression and channeling it to the things that she is passionate about. “It’s brought me to many places and enabled me to reach out to so many other people who are struggling with an invisible battle in their heads...” she enthused. Laya would not be the thriving person that she is today had it not been for that one

“There is nothing cute or trendy about depression” - Melanie Valencia

day when she finally mustered the strength and courage to ask for help. Unlike Laya, there are a number of people who are still miles away from being in control of their depression. One possible reason is that they have not tried to seek help yet. Another likely reason is that they have asked for help, but the people that they’ve asked help from were not able to provide the understanding, support, and help needed primarily because of the misconceptions and stigma that surround depression. Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages and from all walks of life suffer from depression. In the Philippines alone, roughly 3.29 million Filipinos live with depression. For something so prevalent, depression is significantly misunderstood. Many people are in the dark when it comes to depression and its complexities. It is for this reason that depression is often trivialized and people with depression are often stigmatized. “There is nothing cute or trendy about depression” Laya adamantly said in reference to the pervasiveness of romanticized depression perpetuating the idea of beautiful suffering. “Depression is most often romanticized especially now that it’s one of

Feature A Cry for Demystification ...the most “trending” topics in social media.” The role of social media in providing a platform that allows for the promotion of awareness, dissemination of information, and discussion of the issues that pervade the society is undeniable. However, social media also unintentionally serve as a breeding ground of misconceptions. It is important that people employ media literacy in utilizing the social platforms that are accessible to them and contribute in the dissemination of factual and accurate information about depression to counter the perpetuation of misconceptions. To this day, depression continues to be romanticized, trivialized, and stigmatized because of the people’s misinformation and/or lack of proper and substantial education about it. Without proper education, more and more people will be susceptible to internalizing distorted conceptions of depression. It is of paramount importance that people should be educated about the complexities of depression and mental health as a whole. Accessible media must be used to foster public discussions that demystify depression. The world at present has the means needed to disseminate depression’s unadulterated essence. The humans that live in it just need to take it upon themselves to use their individual capacities for the betterment of oneself and others as well.

Para Sainyo: A Breath of Fresh Air in Student Filmmaking

PHOTO BY SHAIRA SERIOSO

BY JACOB RYAN UMALI

ndeniably, a lot of good short films were shown in Cinemalayan 2018 last January 26, 2018, but Para Sainyo simply amazed everyone in attendance after the film reeled over the screen. The cast of ‘Para Sainyo’. (L-R) Shahin Macatangay, Rio Girang, Joshua Pedregosa, Joshua Illiscupidez, Nate Antonio, Carlo Palacpac, and Arthur Mijares. (Photo by Shaira Serioso). The film was directed by BAB students Joseph Salva and Lenar Tabuco, from a screenplay written by Reese Macalma and Nate Antonio, both MMA students. It was shot in Los

Baños, Laguna, in a run-down resort. The area in particular that was used to shoot is heavily forested, in line with the pilot’s setting. Joseph said of the experience, “It was extremely challenging. The only time that were [sic] available for us to shoot were during the weekends because the venue isn’t around MCL and everyone in the team made it a point to not miss class for the sake of shooting.” ‘Para Sainyo’ revolves around the stories of Mike, a freelance journalist played by fellow BAB student Shahin Macatangay, and the Kampilan, an elite military team whom Mike was assigned to cover. It is a

story of courage, honor, and patriotism – something we don’t often see in such conventions as Cinemalayan. Time to hit the dirt! I am also part of the team behind this production, and I can honestly say that the filming experience was the hardest. All of us had to be dirty for some scenes, such as the fight scenes. Filming in a forest, bugs also crawled onto our skin, worsening the condition. All in all, however, it was worth it in the end. “The weather also became our enemy, because it was raining when we were filming, when it was supposed to be sunny. It made me nervous as a director because we were losing

precious time and we weren’t making enough progress.” Joseph added. ‘Para Sainyo’ takes inspiration from real-life events that happen out there in the battlefield, where the real heroes of the country put their lives on the line just so everyone is safe. Reese, one of the scriptwriters, stated: “I didn’t really expect that our film would be appreciated that much by the MCL community, especially since it’s a different theme and genre from the norm here. We wrote the film during the height of the events of the Marawi siege for the people that inspire us most, and I guess I could say that I’m really happy because

our intention to bring light into the stories of the real heroes of our country was successful.” The heroes we need, and the ones we deserve right now. Nate, another of the writers who also acted in the film, played MCPO Thomas Antonio. He really had his heart set on shedding light onto the stories of those who fight for our freedom. It was a good thing too, that he was partnered with Reese as they both want to achieve the same goal. “When I wrote the script, I always had my mind set on this being my only chance to give tribute to those who set their lives on the line for us to sleep safe at night. I wanted it to be a different story from the rest. Seeing how it made a huge impact throughout the MCL community, I feel very satisfied knowing how more and more people are now aware of what’s in exchange of their freedom. This hopefully serves as an inspiration to those students out there, like me, who enjoy expressing or translating current needs of our generation, through writing, is to start now and start small.”, he said. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of the whole cast and crew who devoted their time and effort for the production.”, Reese added. ‘Para Sainyo’ was produced by students from Mr. Bart Mendoza’s Introduction to Film (COM118) and Directing for Radio and TV (BAB115P) classes during the first term of A.Y. 2017-2018.

Musikamalayan 2018: MCL’s answer to Chicago’s Lollapalooza (Track-by-track review) cumulate more dust on our BY NIKOLAI DINEROS ARTWORKS BY CLARA shelves. (NOTE: The three OCAMPO bonus tracks “Yesterday”, “Nadarama”, and “Yakap Sa alayan Colleges La- Unan” will not be included in guna truly is eye this review) candy, but this year’s Musikamalayan proves ‘Kalaro’ by Pedro that you also might want to Advincula, Jr. clear your ears, and listen to these pieces of pure Malayan Pedro “Sir Pedz” Advincutalent and just close your eyes la, Jr. plays around with the – or keep them open and gaze ‘90s OPM rock formula with at the beauty of the campus a dose of “’90s kids” nostalwhile listening, if that’s how gia in the opening track of the you prefer. Musikamalayan 2018 compiMusikamalayan 2018 - an an- lation album, “Kalaro”. nual songwriting competition The entirety of “Kalaro” is a in Malayan Colleges Laguna nostalgia trip with Sir Pedz - had a lot to offer with this taking the wheel. He might’ve year’s theme “T.O.T.G.A.” had some spare time and (The One That Got Away). breathing room in his hands Several weeks after the event, during lunch breaks in the maybe it’s about time to re- Francisco Balagtas control view our contestants’ mate- room to write his entry: a song rials and celebrate their suc- about that one playmate you cess before we let our own CD might’ve had in your childcopies of the Musikamalayan hood that you had a crush on. 2018 compilation album ac- We all had (or still have) that

one friend, didn’t we? Heavily influenced by the formative yesteryears of the OPM music we’ve grown to know and love, “Kalaro” will remind you of your favorite karaoke jams of Eraserheads and Rivermaya. The music production of “Kalaro” rely not so much on the lush production styles that we have today but simply on the sheer “fun” of playing around with instruments and making music. But that’s not to say that it sounds terrible. As booming as “Kalaro” may sound like, it’s surprisingly not an ear-bleeder. Everything from the drums, vocals, six-strings, to the bass – especially the bass – sounds crisp. Sir Pedz has been working on MCL’s audio equipment for quite a time now, which may explain why. “Kalaro” ventures on Sir Pedz recalling his childhood ...memories of his first pup-

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py love (that happens to be his playmate), the feeling of a young ...boy having such a strange sensation in his stomach, and remembering the childish games they use to play. “Kalaro” also has an ingenious allusion of “hideand-seek” relating to the departure of his “kalaro” in the lyrics, showing Sir Pedz’s simple yet quick-witted songwriting know-how. However, with Sir Pedz now a family man with kids of his own, “Kalaro” is nothing more than a recollection of his stored memories, but something that his family can truly be proud of, nonetheless.

‘Maghahanap’ by Christian Palma and Hannah Austria Do not let the first hundred seconds of the song fool you into thinking that “Maghahanap” is a sunny, uplifting track in the album that you could serenade to your darling. The song is grim, and fits exactly to the “T.O.T.G.A.” category. “Maghahanap” is fueled by Christian “Chubz” Palma’s driving vocals and all throughout the song, Chubz never falters even after the song shifts the mood entirely. On the first hundred seconds of “Maghahanap”, we are greeted by rousing optimism, where Chubz audibly describes his sheer fascination to a certain individual and how that person brightens up his day and removes all the gloominess in him. After the 100-second mark, we are then treated with a whole different story. At the second part of “Maghahanap”, all happy chemicals that your brain accumulated during the first part of the song is then turned into. Chubz’s character then faces a sudden predicament where he needs to choose whether to keep his feelings to the other person intact or just simply move on. He chose the latter, and Chubz’s singing is kept on a consistent level, if not more powerful due to the song’s cathartic emotional shift. “Maghahanap” is one of those songs that provide a complete package for a story, from the exposition to the very conclusion of the narrative. Most of these songs, however, typically exceed the 6-minute mark, but “Maghahanap” delivers a complete experience

that does not bore its listeners and coaxes them to get on this roller-coaster ride of emotions through compelling performances of Chubz, Hannah, and the other musicians.

‘Ikaw Lamang’ by Riane Capalad and Hermerson Hernandez Riane Capalad and Hermerson Hernandez’s collaborative work on “Ikaw Lamang” is a two-part somber outcry of a torn relationship: a guy’s reflection on his indecisions and a girl’s self-confrontation and a change of heart, a formula which we’ve heard in a lot of songs before but never ceases to give enjoyment to the ears of many. The narrative of “Ikaw Lamang” is separated by the perspectives of Riane and Hermerson’s characters that shift from verse to verse until the final bout of the song where both of them share the same speakers. The distinction between Riane and Hermerson’s characters is evident on their differences in their singing styles, which identifies the conflict-

ing emotions evoked in the song: Hermerson presents a more uptight character with his soaring head voice while Riane’s mellow chest voice elicits a more tranquil behavior which contrasts the other. However, even on the highest peak of their vocal performances, both Riane and Hermerson keep a consistent level of singing that doesn’t break in the song’s duration. In some ways, this distinction between Riane and Hermerson does break the previous-

ly mentioned formula of the song. In contemporary OPM ballads like this one, the male vocals are usually dominated by the female soprano; “Ikaw Lamang” takes it the other way around and achieves a certain balance between the two: Hermerson’s soaring tenor voice carries the first and last part of the song while Riane’s takeaway is heaviest before the final chorus. “Ikaw Lamang” formulaic take to an OPM power ballad doesn’t fall stale by the tried-and-tested clichés of its contemporaries. It’s an enjoyable listen all throughout and anybody can get into the song may it be for the plain catchiness of the music itself or the story behind its lyrics – something that many people go through in their lives, and that alone can make your listen worthwhile.

‘Darkest Days’ by Brian Padua It’s a banger! Right now, a relatively large portion of the MCL student populace still consist of teens and young adults who have

grown out of – or still live by – their pop punk alter ego. What could be a better way to satiate their longing for a riff-aggressive entry in Musikamalayan 2018 than to cranking up the volume to 11 with Darkest Days? In a year when alternative rock and pop punk is making a comeback in the mainstream with successful album releases (“After Laughter” by Paramore and “Villains” by Queens of the Stone Age, to name a few), maybe it’s time for the genre’s waves to reach MCL’s shores and celebrate its newfound glory. Thus, ‘Darkest Days’ looms over Musikamalayan 2018 and inadvertently delivers just that. Reminiscent of the popular musical styles of the pop punk era in the 2000s, ‘Darkest Days’ is fast-paced, packed with heavy instrumentation and weighty lyrics. It shines its own light from its contemporaries by its poetic approach in its lyrics; the clever use of literary devices fit well in its overall narrative and are noticeable throughout the entire track. In terms of the narrative of the song, Darkest Days is pretty much Pop Punk 101: an angst-filled ballad of a dreary tale about missing someone.

gaged to another person, AYT is fairly straightforward yet compelling in its narrative while maintaining its general appeal with its joyful tune and millennial trendiness that would probably make you giggle a bit. ‘AYT’s crowning fulfill-

the most generic lines for sad songs. What is great about the lyrics is how every line from every stanza is cohesive, which adds up to the amazing flow of the song. Dana understands well how she wants the song to feel and sound like, and her calm singing translates well on how she wants the song to flow. As for the music, there is something so endearing with the subtle vibration of strings in the background. The production goes on a plain direction; everything you hear in the track is as soft as it can be, and does not overwhelm the ears. Even the climax of ‘Say Goodbye’ where every instrument and Dana’s voice increases in volume does not exceed a certain level of noise that would leave your ears ringing. ‘Say Goodbye’ may bring you into tears especially if you connect with the song’s narrative but the laid-back nature of Dana’s singing performance and its harmonious instrumentation in the song would certainphase has reawakened after ment lies in its musical ly put a smile on your face all those years. blueprint reminiscent of even in your first few lisAYT (Ang ‘Yong a Richard Reynoso clas- tens. But because of how the music’s adrenaline rush go along with its tearful lyrics, the raw emotion of the song is carried in such a weight that you couldn’t help but bang your head (and maybe even cry) along while the song is playing, especially if it hits you that hard – or maybe you’re just happy that your emo

T.O.T.G.A.) by Algene sic from the last century. de Guzman The music is produced nice and simple; the song A celebratory track about keeps a consistent flow moving on from a past re- with a properly synchrolationship; one wouldn’t nized instrumentation imagine banging to a song that compliments Mr. De about seeing your ex-lov- Guzman’s lyrical wit and er on his/her wedding vocal performance. day the way Mr. Algene Mr. De Guzman epito“Sir Algene” De Guzman mizes himself as the undid on ‘AYT (Ang ‘Yong wavering “T.O.T.G.A.” in T.O.T.G.A)’. this gleeful track. Who For such a learned college would’ve thought that beprofessor with an outspo- ing the “the one that got ken and cheerful attitude, away” in a relationship Mr. De Guzman’s story- could be so satisfying? telling prowess shines in AYT, but not in a way that ‘Say Goodbye’ by Eriwe expected. Perhaps, elle Dana Besinga and if you’ve been a student Patrick John Del Pilar of Mr. de Guzman in the past, you would probably Perhaps the most “chill” expect his Musikamalayan track in the compilation alpiece to be filled with rich bum, ‘Say Goodbye’ would and flowery wordplay. have you listening to it But then, you realize that while you’re unwinding Mr. De Guzman also loves from whatever work you’ve been doing in the past few keeping things fun and hours. simple, which makes AYT The lyrics to “Say Gooda pleasant surprise. bye” are perhaps the song’s Following Mr. De Guz- greatest asset with careful man’s character in his use of words that are simstory about discovering ple but are certainly not that his ex-partner is en- handpicked from a box of

‘Sana’ by Cyra Aguilar ‘Sana’ made it to the top 3 in Musikamalayan 2018’s final round, and for good reasons. The display of her singing prowess aided by her group of unobtrusive backup singers and robust instruments blend well together on the seventh track of the Musikamalayan 2018 compilation album. ‘Sana’ may seem like just another song that utilizes the most basic of instruments known in a band. But the song has a sense of ethereality in its overall sound that is evident in how Cyra and her team approached the production for the song. Eerie synthesized organs ring subtly during the first verse (the kind of a harmonious sound so divine that it resembles a medieval Roman ceremony) and Cyra’s group of backup singers appear at the latter part of the song, which adds more vibrancy to Cyra’s already-stellar performance. Again, ‘Sana’ proves how emotions in a song can be amplified through music. In ‘Sana’, Cyra’s angstfilled singing tells the listeners of her agony towards her “T.O.T.G.A.” and unlike other entries in Musikamalayan 2018, the lyrics of ‘Sana’ clings on the possibility that someday, the one that got away will come back. For a theme like “T.O.T.G.A.” that capitalizes on the pathos of the artists and listeners with several entries exploring on “self-love” and “moving on from the past”, the unrelenting passion of ‘Sana’ to uphold its character’s belligerence for a lost love is a bold understatement. “Sana” achieves in maintaining a balance between aggression and calmness. ...Cyra’s team also wasn’t

Opinion

afraid in being ambitious on how they would like to treat their sound, even if it requires more production work and cooperation from their huge team. It may be because of these reasons why “Sana” was ...placed on the Top 3, and if so, I wouldn’t wonder why.

‘If You Only Knew’ by Ace Banzuelo Arguably, ‘If You Only Knew’ might be the most pristine Musikamalayan entry we’ve had in a while. Taking its strength from its vibrant production and cathartic appeal, this eighth track in the Musikamalayan 2018 compilation album had a lot of promising attributes right from the start. The production choices fitted in ‘If You Only Knew’ are gelled up charmingly; warm and jangly techno keys transcend blissfully from one place to another with Ace’s trebly vocals

echoing in the foreground and rich synths gradually fading in the back every once in a while. Not to mention that Ace does have an impressive feat using his head voice in the track. The music production in ‘If You Only Knew’ translates sonically into words as the track’s lyrics, making an elegant mesh of music and lyrics as the song plays out – just like how Sophie Fisher and Alex Fletcher did back in the 2007 romantic comedy Music and Lyrics. The song ponders on regret and remorseful

moments of Ace’s character just like all of the other songs in the compilation album. Musikamalayan 2018 explores on “T.O.T.G.A.” stories, so it makes perfect sense and does not harm the supposed unoriginality of the song’s narrative. It’s no surprise how ‘If You Only Knew’ garnered huge traffic on Facebook during the event’s promotional phase and ended up as the competition’s overall winning piece. It’s a breath of fresh air in the Musikamalayan typecast and the technical grandeur it has presented garnered critical appraisal. You might wonder when it’s best to listen to ‘If You Only Knew’; it’s perfect for those introspective midnight moments while you’re alone in bed.

high-octane drum beats, and some groovy bass chops. The singing is perhaps the most risky gamble for Kaye in ‘Malabo’, as the song challenged her to surpass her own vocal range as each succeeding part. But in the end, Kaye managed to conquer the studio and the stage with proper control to her voice. The lyrics of ‘Malabo’ is straightforward and doesn’t require anyone to dig deep to properly comprehend what the song is trying to tell. Just like most of the tracks in Musikamalayan 2018, ‘Malabo’ capitalizes on its comprehensible lyrics by utilizing catchiness to its tune so that listeners can sing along (audience impact is typically 10% of the criteria in most Battle of the Bands competition) and ‘Malabo’ does that by literally going all-out on

2018 heavyweights stole most of the limelight, leaving some of those that deserve it in the shadows. ‘Kakayanin’ is one of those and is perhaps the most underrated track in the entire Musikamalayan 2018 track list that deserves a spot in the Top 5 – if there is such one. ‘Kakayanin’ does a great job in establishing raw emotions and amplifying them into a tune. The song gradually builds momentum as it progresses – and occasionally falls back down – with each instrument individually coming together, eliciting a tragic mood that is both eerie and explosive. The sudden elevations and descents in the song allow for enough time for Sophia to conserve, release, and recover emotions for another bout until the song concludes. Nothing much

‘Nagtiwala Sana’ Christine Lauguico

‘Malabo ‘by Khrystelle Salcedo this banging track. Packed with a fiery display “Malabo” may not be as of Khrystelle “Kaye” Salcehard-hitting or as lyricaldo’s singing performance ly ingenious as the other entires, but it does what it does best: being an absolute blast of a track that surpasses each of the performers’ limits. After all, ‘Malabo’ was given high regards by the judges of Musikamalayan 2018, and in the end, it earned its well-deserved merit. If given the opportunity to be featured on major record labels or commercial radio stations, people would be pleased to hear this song.

can be said about how the music is weaved and sewn together, anyhow; the production is clean and keeps it consistent that leaves nothing else to be desired. What has been stated about the song’s steep progression, though, cannot be said the same for the lyrics. Although Sophia does project a melancholic and bursting sensation to the listeners through her singing, the words in ‘Kakayanin’ are tragic all throughout. The narrative follows Sophia’s character in a constant struggle of keeping a relationship ‘Kakayanin’ by Sophia alive – or what is left of it – while the other party keeps Rodriguez on convincing the both of A lot of Musikamalayan them that it can no longer

backed up by members of UkiyoPH and The Hovercraft (with Patrick Zarate), Kaye could potentially be the next Kitchie Nadal with the ninth track of the Musikamalayan 2018 compilation album, ‘Malabo’. ‘Malabo’ pulls no punches in creating a Pinoy alt-rock medley that is reminiscent of the classic acts like Moonstar 88 who withstood the test of time. It has everything you would expect in a Pinoy rock anthem: a dominating female vocals, an overdriven guitar filling in before each verse,

work. If the line “Alam ko sa aking sarili, kaya pa kitang intindihin pero ikaw na ang nagsabi na itigil na’t ‘wag nang pilitin” does not encapsulate what the ‘Kakayanin’ stands for, then I don’t know what will. Overall, “Kakayanin” has plenty of attributes needed for a winning piece in Musikamalayan 2018 if not only because of it standing right beside other Musikamalayan 2018 giants that left it flying under the radar. However, this underdog stature of the song doesn’t affect its beauty as it was given the right treatment and still does an impressive job even after several listens.

‘Nagtiwala Sana’ is a fitting conclusion to the Musikamalayan 2018 compilation album. The entire song is blooming in every line with deep lyrical punches and simple but poignant music. “Nagtiwala Sana” may have been structured similarly as most of the songs in the album with aspects that made each track beautiful on its own, but it also has its own feats. The music is dreary but it picks up as the song progresses with careful attention to the keyboards, but the aspect that made ‘Nagtiwala Sana’ a force to be reckoned with in Musikamalayan 2018 is the excellent lyrics. Although there are other songs in the album with outstanding lyrics, ‘Nagtiwala Sana’ approaches its lyrics in such a poetic manner that Christine’s perfect articulation

of words shines a bright light to each line in the song. Add up the punchiness of the chorus, each beat gives stress to each line that provides the same effect to each line. It also worth mentioning that the musical flow of ‘Nagtiwala Sana’ is very dynamic; the song begins in a soft start but as it picks up, it never goes back down until the last note fades away in the distance. For a competition that prompts the participants to dig deep into themselves and write such emotional songs like this one, “Nagtiwala Sana” is, of course, a worthy contender in the final round, but what makes it special is its position in the compilation album. “Nagtiwala Sana” encapsulates what made each track beautiful in its own unique way and is a proper closing track to this collection of pure Malayan talent – if you’re going to exclude the bonus tracks like I did on this one, that is. It just keeps getting better and better. Musikamalayan just proves how competitive Malayans can be, even in the field of contemporary music. Perhaps, this year’s Musikamalayan presented more diversity and creativity in songwriting among our finalists and is, by far, one of the most intense – if not the most intense – that we have witnessed in this annual songwriting competition. If we get to hear more of these kinds of song materials in the succeeding years, the future of Musikamalayan is promising.

Opinion

On Logan Paul:A Fiasco in Three Chapters

ARTWORK BY EDMUND DELA CRUZ

BY IVAN KHALIL DESCARTIN

. Mishima

In 1970, legendary poet-nationalist Yukio Mishima, in a desperate effort to restore the Japanese emperor into power, gathered his private militia (the “Takenokai”) and took the commandant of an army camp hostage. He then climbed atop the military headquarters and delivered an impassioned speech, coaxing the soldiery to stage a coup in support of his cause. Expecting adulation, his rhetoric was instead met with jeers and insults. In a span of a few minutes, the giant of Japanese literature was reduced to a laughing stock, an irrelevant curmudgeon who has been droning on about antiquated ideals for far too long. But proud until his final moments, he went back inside the building, freed the commandant, and committed ritual suicide (or “seppuku”). For Mishima, who has wrestled with identity crisis and narcissism all his life, a grand death, partnered with relative media attention, is its

Yukio Mishimas of yes- should have ended right having suicidal thoughts, teryears, there’s stigma after his group’s discov- encouraging that they ery of the body from a immediately visit an II. Kicking the in suicide as escape. distance, though it can emergency room to seek Bucket III. Logan’s Run also be argued that it help. But by then, it’s shouldn’t have been up- too late, for Paul has al Suicide has a twoLogan Paul, an loaded at all. faced history in Japan. ready transformed from Viner/YouOn one hand, it’s done American an online nuisance into for pride and honor (see: Tuber known for his But misguided a stereotypical western kamikaze bombers and off-kilter humor, recent- westerner that he is, he exploiter, taking somedisgraced samurai). On ly caused a stir online kept on shooting, with thing from a culture he the other, as its deno- when he ventured into his “money shot” being does not fully undertation, as a permanent the Aokigahara, along a zoomed-in medium stand and reprocessing respite from pain. The former is but a hallmark of fringe Japanese traditionalism of years past. But the latter still unfortunately persists. Stemming mainly from problems at the workplace and often done in complete seclusion, the number of suicide cases in Japan has seen an uptick in recent decades. This is why the Aokigahara, a labyrinthine forest located at - Ivan Khalil Descartin the base of Mt. Fuji, attracts the lost and the damaged. With one’s privacy secured by an overwhelming canopy of trees (or “Sea of Trees”, as it is with three other com- close-up of the dead per- (even fetishizing) it to fit referred to) that extends panions (including their son, blurring only the his target demographic. for several square miles, driver-guide), to “vlog” face. He then proceeded His episodic vlogs about it’s the suicide destinaabout their would-be to talk about the inci- his “fish out of the wation of choice for many, experience in spending dent quite insensitively, ter” experiences while second only to San Frana night in the infamous noting how it will easily in Japan culturally apcisco’s Golden Gate “suicide forest”. And make his ‘all-time crazi- prioriate as they do conBridge. And embedded true to his expectations, est experiences’ list be- descend, implying in a within the woods, aside what welcomed them cause he hasn’t seen a sense that it is the white from what some considman’s social media buris a man hanging mo- dead body before. er as black mysticism, is tionless on a tree, dead den to explain to his a genuine promise of anfor no longer than a few In the uploaded followers the nooks and onymity, because unlike hours. Shared sentiment video, he added a dis- crannies of such an eastthose committed by the online is that the vlog claimer card for those ern cultural oddity. own reward.

“Suicide has a two-faced history in Japan. On one hand, it’s done for pride and honor. On the other, as its denotation, as a permanent respite from pain.”

There are also hints of transnational insecurity in some of Paul’s shenanigans, notable being his destruction of a Nintendo Game Boy: a petty gesture of an America still reluctant to accept that an economic giant has hailed from the far east. By showing a dead person in Aokigahara while expressing fake shock, Paul, representative of American culture, proves that Japan, for all its superiority, is a giant that can be slain. By pointing out the elephant in the room (the suicide of its citizens), it has rendered the country open to scrutiny; that as prosperous as it has become, its government struggles to address one thing: the alienation of its own people. Logan Paul may have committed career suicide (a ‘social media seppuku’, if you may) in uploading the video, but in so doing, he has unwittingly struck a significant blow in the name of western neoliberalism. Like a kamikaze pilot without the patriotism or a Yukio Mishima minus the brazen conviction (but thrice the audience engagement), his was an unintentional act of pure ideology.

Opinion

On being #woke: the rise of online activism es in the online community, most notably that of personal anonymity, the fact remains that the virtual world is its very own paradox – it is indeed, a very real one, and it is perhaps time we recognize it as such. Indeed, the arguments on the very stronghold of social media in modern life are endless – and one prime example of this is the rapid emergence of online activism.

ARTWORK BY EZEKIEL TUMBOKON

BY AUDREY RAWNIE RICO

erhaps not since the beginning of time has a generation of humanity been so widely publicized and broadcasted, or a platform so abundant with myriad of voices. This is, of course, a reference to the ever constant – and endlessly lurking – presence of social media and the internet amongst our being. Indeed, it is nearly a cliché to mention social media in reference to its pervasiveness as an entity – it is no longer a secret, perhaps, to state the clandestine obvious: social media, once a place we would visit from time to time, has become our home – we live here now, and it only gets more crowded with each passing day. In scrolling through newsfeeds on Facebook, one would perhaps be likely to encounter a handful of monochromatic-themed profile pictures filtered through the symbol of a semicolon, accompanied with the decidedly cryptic words of “keep going” – an attempt at a deep, meaningful, evocative statement directed

at suicide and depression prevention. For those technologically un-savvy or outdated with social media trends, this is a prime example of the current wave of activism taking over preeminent discourse on social media. Indeed, the “keep going” campaign is a phenomenon popularized by Facebook, in which users apply such frames over their profile pictures to declare that they are, in fact, an advocate of mental health and depression awareness. Perhaps one would recall a similar phenomenon taking place a mere year ago directly following the Paris terrorist attacks – in the wake of such tragedy, social media – most notably Facebook and Twitter – were aflame with declarations of support and love for those affected – indeed, in response, one such user was prompted to create a work of art symbolizing the Eiffel Tower, which in the next few hours would garner thousands of likes and retweets in online support. In retrospect, such youthful passion for activism has never really particularly been out of the ordinary. Generation after generation has seen

century is best marked by the proliferation of the internet, and the subsequent rapid growth of the online community. None perhaps have been more so embraced by such development than the current generation of millennials, defined as those born between the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. For many millennials, growing up amidst and alongside the growth of the internet has made us, collectively, the most technologically advanced and experienced. However, what we perhaps are yet to grasp is the very reality of the online The 21st century – indeed, realm – despite the varyif anything, the current ing degrees of differenccommunities of passionate, idealistic-minded youth devoted to challenging the status quo – the ‘60s and ‘70s gifted us with the birth of the hippie movement, while in a more local context, the very driving force behind the country’s liberation was this very same youthful, idealistic passion. Indeed, the voice of youth is one in an ever-constant clamor to be heard, and one constantly suppressed by others in power. However, fast forward to modern times, and this is no longer the case.

In the not entirely distant past, issues of race, class, gender, and politics were largely terms used solely and primarily in academic discussions, and perhaps the occasional rally chant or protest sign. It is a number of years later, and this very conversation has shifted towards the larger medium of the internet – and it is this very shift that has catapulted it into mainstream conversation. Indeed, the rise of such activism – dubbed as ‘online’ or ‘armchair’ activism – has taken over an arguably significant part of online conversation, perhaps most notably in social media. A prime product of this very phenomenon – and indeed, perhaps its very poster child – is that of the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, a online movement targeting violence against African-Americans, primarily in the US. In the local landscape, one would perhaps recall a particular hashtag of the same nature materializing in early 2016: that of #MarcosNotAHero, a response to the late dictator’s heroic burial, which garnered an arguably sizable number of tweets by netizens. As such, the popularity of the hashtag only proves the very prominence of social issues in modern online conversation – and perhaps more significantly, the willing-

The fact remains that the virtual world is its very own paradox - it is indeed a very real one, and it is perhaps time we recognize it as such. - Audrey Rawnie Rico

ness of modern society to take part in it. Indeed, the wake and rapid development of such forms of online activism have undoubtedly contributed to raising awareness on relevant sociocultural and political issues – this is proven time and again by the continuous participation of netizens on online discussions. However, with this comes perhaps a much larger, looming problem. Indeed, such is the nature of the internet – one is equipped with the presence of a platform – and a very public one it is, too – to express his or her own opinions on matters. And with the current state of society, social media has all but turned into a breeding ground for social justice posts and rants clamoring for sociopolitical change. If anything, social media has become a space chock-full of social justice rhetoric and passionate voices clamoring for reform and revolution, all of which – and here comes the inevitable reality check – the user aims to do through the use of a mere Facebook post, a tweet, a hashtag. This is, however, not to say that such forms of activism have not significantly helped in raising awareness and uniting allies behind causes. It does, however, tiptoe dangerously close to egotism, and imbibing a sense of self-glory in such users. By sharing a post or liking an advocacy-geared tweet, one feels satisfied – justified even – of contributing to significant change. However, the fact remains that despite the ever-increasing volume of voices crying for social change, the true battlefield still remains very much in the real world. Regardless, this is not to shame the multitudes of youth who have taken up on advocacies from online activism. Achieving the change we so badly want requires a great deal of effort from its supporters, both in online and offline realms. Online activism, rather than the be-all and endall for achieving social change, is but a corner of the wider battlefield, a mere prelude to the larger cause. Indeed, real, significant, change is acquired through more than mere talk, and I do believe our hands are capable of much more than typing keyboards.

ART

2017-2018 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 1

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