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Editors’ Note editorial board Academic Year 2020-2021
JB Ryan Babas Orlando Gamilla Jr. Editors in Chief
Phyllis Claire Zarriz Dorothy Joy Espin Associate Editors
Ma. Beatriz Niña Barranco Jessa De Los Reyes Dionessa Grace Galimba Managing Editors
Joey Camilao Filipino Editor
Janna Marie Deocampo Local Languages Editor
Ma. Trisha Nicole Valdez Features Editor
Aimerine Montaño Sports Editor
Paul Aries Valera Literary Editor
Gabrielle Faye Tolentino News and Special Reports Editors
Rosefel Maghuyop Neil Lencio Sophia Angela Docena Online Editors
Dianne Mae Estocado Dona Preter Nickalaine Santiago Queenie Rose Saludares Mary Grace Sanquilos
How do we measure a person’s worth? Is it fair to judge someone based on their skin color, sexual orientation, educational background, religious belief, past mistakes, decision mishaps, and mental condition? For someone with an open mind and an empathetic heart, this question is a no-brainer, but for those stuck in the dark ages the answer is yes. However, just because it is a generally accepted ideology doesn’t mean it is just and fair. In fact, it certainly is biased or, shall we say, inhumane. Human civilizations have come a long, long way in terms of aiming for a pro-human society. We are aware of how the once-discriminated slaves and other people of color were held captive and then freed; how women, regarded as inferior, were granted the right to suffrage. Despite the progress, the present time–sad to say–continues to run like the past. Truth be told, the root of discrimination and disparity has grown so strong it even managed to branch out more stems of systemic injustices. The glass ceilings of stereotypes, prejudice, and stigmas all had cracks and fissures but were never truly broken. The damages that this relentless stigmatizing has incurred are as painful as the burning marks to the skin by a hot iron. Inequities, not just racial or gender-based, have exacerbated drastically because humans who are devoid of rationality and empathy still occupy a large proportion of the population that assumes dominion over parity issues. Instead of building bridges for mutual respect and understanding, they chose to build towering walls of ignorance and indifference that, in turn, divides us further. The words of Martin Luther King Jr., an American civil rights icon, ring true up to this very day. He said: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Although he was referring specifically to the insulting claims thrown against the black Americans by white supremacists, he tells us that the atmosphere of shame—clouded by disapproval and discrimination—will continue to perpetuate unless people stop using derogatory and brainless standards imposed by society’s conservative majority as the yardstick in measuring the true worth of a person. Through these stories, may we learn to unlearn the internalized stigma and prejudice from within.
Orlando Gamilla Jr.
JB Ryan Babas
Editorial Assistants
Euthel Jhon Finlac Toni Gwyneth Boluso Cartoonist
Paulo Bryan David SILAK TV Director
Dr. HAZEL P. VILLA dr. neÑa vanessa cabiles Advisers
JOSELITO F. VILLARUZ, md.PhD,FPPS University President
Artwork by Paul Aries Valera
Young Love By Ma. Trisha Nicole Valdez
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tanding in front of a freshly painted, crowded room, she swiftly turned the pages of a book resting on the worn-out, decades-old teacher’s table. Conscious of the eager gaze of the crowd, she gradually moved her lips as she begins to read a short passage—carefully enunciating every word, accurately conveying every emotion in every paragraph. For Aleosita P. Pedrajas, 56, also known as “Ma’am Ging-ging” to her students and peers, this is a common daily scenario at Pototan National Comprehensive High School (PNCHS) in the municipality of Pototan, Iloilo where she is an English teacher. “ I’ve been in the teaching profession for almost 30 years now,” says this future 6-time Loyalty awardee who will receive her citation this coming Feb. 1, 2021. Have you ever wondered what it took for someone who, at her lowest ebb, was once dismissed by society as someone who’ll never have a future – and here she is, spending 30 long years in the teaching profession—a profession deeply anchored towards shaping the futures of the young and the hopeful?
young and carefree Born in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and raised in Pototan, Iloilo, Ma’am Ging-ging grew up with her four other siblings in a loving and compassionate home. Despite her family’s pockets being half-empty, she never failed to see and enjoy the bright side of life, spending the good old days of her childhood playing Filipino games such as lisiklisik, taguan, and ori-ori under the scorching sun. “My parents weren’t rich but we were raised with love, compassion, care, and support. They did their best in giving us everything we need,” said Ma’am Ging-ging, who was a consistent honor student during her elementary years at Pototan Pilot Elementary School (PPES) from 1971 to 1977. Like children of her age, she was unruffled by the mundane; she waited for Santa Claus and his reindeers on Christmas day; she believed in the exhilarating world of fairies, dwarves, and mages; she was a dreamer; she was young; she was a carefree soul. But like most of us, she grew up.
ALL SMILES. Ma’am GIng-ging who will be celbrating her 30th anniversary in teaching, poses for a photo. Photo by Aleosita P. Pedrajas
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young and madly in love Being in love is part of the physical, emotional, and mental changes we experience that comes along with our transition from early childhood to adolescence. Love comes in different ways and in different forms for different people. For Ma’am Ging-ging, her Prince Charming came in the form of a little over five feet, two inches tall lad, who, unlike those she used to read in her fairytale books as a young lass, rode a raging motorcycle instead of a pristine white horse and wore a basic tee instead of a shining armor. But like in those fairytales, the dashing Prince pierced her fluttering heart in the same manner she had also captured his. He is no knight in shining armor nor is she a princess with a royal court, but they were each other’s greatest love. Unbeknown to them, it was this gratifying affection and outmost devotion for each other that would change their lives forever. “We were only 18, and I was in second year college,” recalled Ma’am Ging-ging who took up Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) at West Visayas State University (WVSU) from 1982 to 1987. Unlike most teens of her age, she was perturbed by the unplanned; she was nervous by the consequences; she was uncertain of her future; she was young; she was madly in love. At 18, she bore her first child.
growing up and growing wise
Teenage moms are often subjected to mad scrutiny, gossip, and stigma— undeservingly getting hurtful words like malandi (flirty) and pabigat (burden) thrown at them and immediately dismissed by society as someone who’ll never have a shot in the future. They are labeled and judged as someone incapable of providing a better future for their children -- you name all possible labels and the could have had it. Ma’am Ging-ging wasn’t an exception either. “Our parents were worried and frustrated. We were upset, nervous, and confused. People were thinking that we could no longer finish our studies and were incapable of doing our responsibilities as parents,” said Ma’am Ging-ging, a former PNCHS English Club Sub-chapter I Adviser. She and her then-boyfriend-
turned-husband for 38 years, Nilo, were determined to prove everyone wrong. “The very thought of giving our child a good life and my desire to show the people around me that I am not a loser motivated me,” she added. While teens her age would change into their outfits of the day for their weekend shopping “spree”, she was changing her daughter’s diapers. While her classmates would hang out after class, she was at home, tending to her child while studying for an upcoming exam. And as her age mates— people who used to be in the same class and the same batch as her not too long ago climbed up the stage and get their diplomas on their graduation day, she could only watch. “That moment, I decided to really finish my studies despite the hardships and sacrifices that may come along the way— and getting that diploma was worth it. I felt happy and fulfilled,” fondly reminisced Ma’am Ging-ging who’s currently a Teacher II at PNCHS. Ma’am Ging-ging is a living proof that we must never scale an iceberg when what we’re seeing at the surface is but a
tip, and not even a fraction of its full size. A person’s potential is limitless. One must not judge, ridicule, ostracize, and discriminate someone based on society’s pre-conceived beliefs and stereotypes. “To my fellow teachers, as custodians of learning, we should not immediately make harsh comments on pregnant teenagers. Instead, if given the opportunity, we can talk to them, give them pieces of advice, and make them feel that they are still accepted. To the students, time is gold, so make the most of it. Don’t be hasty in making major decisions in life. Prioritize your studies,” said Ma’am Ging-ging who is now a mother to three beautiful daughters and grandmother of three. Back in the day, she believed in the exhilarating world of fairies, dwarves, and mages; she was a dreamer; she was perturbed by the unplanned; she was uncertain; she was young; she was madly in love. But now, as she enters the freshly painted, crowded classroom and prepares to read a passage, yet again, she is reminded that she grew up, she thrived and she survived.
People were thinking that we could no longer finish our studies and were incapable of doing our responsibilities as parents.
HAPPY FAMILY. Ma’am GIng-ging with her three daughters, and Nilo, husband of 38 years, enjoy a family gathering. Photo by Aleosita P. Pedrajas
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aulo felt bored spending lonely days at the quarantine facility. Having been excused from academic stuff so that he could quickly recover from testing positive for COVID-19, he decided to have a talk with random strangers online since he didn’t have much to do. Surprisingly, many of them still believe “un-truths� circulating in our society. Here are some of his screenshots:
Maskara Ni Aimerine D. Montaño
Ngiti.
Isang guhit sa kaniyang mga labi na nagpapahiwatig ng saying mayroon siya. Kay sigla ng buong araw kung magugunitang ito palagi’y nakikita sa kanya. Ekspresyong kayang ikubli ang mga nagsasalimbayan at iniindang mga problema. Pero ilang beses na ba tayong nabigo dahil sa maling akala? Tumingin ka sa mata, sa nakatagong damdamin niya. Sapagkat kadalasan, ang ngiti ay sumisimbolo rin ng mga salitang, “Saklolo! Hindi ko na kaya”. Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman ang paglobo ng kagimbal-gimbal na gawang pagpapatiwakal ng mga kabataang may edad 15-19 ngayong 2020. Itinuturing ito ng World Health Organization (WHO) na ikalawang sanhi ng kamatayan ng mga kabataan sa Amerika at nakapanlulumong isipin na sa Pilipinas, isa lamang daw itong trend lalo na sa mga sirkumstansiyang dulot ng bagong normal. Kaugnay sa pahayag ng UPLB Perspective (2020), tungkol sa tatlong estudyanteng nagpatiwakal, karamiha’y tinutukoy na sanhi ang pahirapang pag-adjust ng mga kabataan sa modular o online class kung saan sabay-sabay pinroblema ng mga mag-aaral/kabataan ang presyur sa klase dahil sa kawalan ng selpon na magagamit, malakas na signal at pantustos ng load na siyang pinapakain sa selpon upang makapagluwal ng impormasyong kakailanganin sa paaralan sa araw-araw nilang pakikipagbuno sa hamong dala ng new normal. Pero bago natin bagtasin ang daan tungo sa epekto ng modular o online class, subukan muna nating lipulin ang ugat na siyang pinamumugaran ng ating kamangmangan (o ignorance). Kamangmangan na nagsasabing masyadong mahihina o marurupok ang mga kabataan ngayon. Kamangmangan sa mga nagmamalaking ang pinagdaanan ng isa ay wala pa sa kalingkingan ng pinagdaanan niya. Ayon sa National Centre for Mental Health (2020), sa kanilang Generational Differences in Perceptions of Mental Health, maraming bagay ang nagbubukod sa millennials at Gen Z’s mula sa kanilang mga ninuno at isa na rito ang kamalayan sa mga salitang psychological at mental awareness. Sila raw ang patunay na Ignorance is a bliss. Nagsagawa ng ancestry research ang awtor ng National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH), kaya’t napagalaman niyang kanyang maternal great grandfather at may karanasan ito sa digmaan ng mga hapon sa ikalawang pandaigdigang digmaan. Kwento sa kanya ng lola’y naging mailap sa kanila ang nasabing ninuno pagkatapos ng digmaan. Naging tahimik at may dinadala na pala itong
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trauma. Ipinasa ang nasabing silent trauma sa henerasyon ng ika- 20 na siglo, hindi para tulungang mawala, kundi kung paano itago. Pilit nila itong itinauyod at isalampak sa isipan ng mga susunod na henerasyon sa pag-aakalang pare-pareho lang ang pinagdaanan at pagdadaanan ng lahat. Mula pa rin sa NCHM, mas malawak ang kaalaman ng mga kabataan ngayon tungkol sa mental illness kagaya ng depresyon at anxiety o pagiging balisa. Ayon naman sa artikulo ng blogspot.com, dahil sa isinasawalang-bahala lang ng mga nakatatanda ang karamdamang ito dahil nga maliit na bagay lamang ito sa kanila, napipilitang mag-isip ang mga kabataan na hindi na nila mahanap ang puwang nila sa mundo, na sila’y tuluyan ng tinalikuran ng mundo, na hindi na mahalaga ang nararamdaman nila dahil walang nakikinig at handang umintindi sa kanila. Dagdag pa mula sa artikulo, kadalasa’y natatakot nang pagsabihan na nagiinarte at nagpapapansin lamang- na kung sobrang bigat nga ay nagreresulta na sa hindi kanais nais na pagkitil sa buhay. Sa marami pang pagkakataon, pinipili na lamang nilang ngumiti, tumawa at magpakasaya para sandaling kalimutan ang bigat sa loob nila. Masyadong mapanlinlang ang depresyon. Tsaka na lang natin mapupuna kapag tapos na- kapag wala na. Kaya’t kung kaya mo ang isang bagay, hindi ibig sabihin na kakayanin din yaon ng iba. Madalas kasi sinasabi nilang “desisyon niya iyan”, “ang babaw naman ng dahilan niya” at “parang ganoon lang susuko kaagad”. Hindi magkasintimbang ang bigat na pinapasan ng bawat tao. Ang pagmamaliit sa pinagdaanan ng isa ay masyadong nakasusulasok kung babanggitin pa. Kung kaya’t mas mainam kung marunong tayong magbigayhalaga sa disposisyon at karanasan ng ating kapwa. Bago pa mangyari ang lahat ng ito, nawa’y iwaglit natin ang kaisipang magsisilbi lamang gatilyo ang ideyang pag-usapan ang pagpapakamatay. Mas maiging harapin na ang nagbabadyang panganib para malaman ng tao na sa pakikipag-usap natin ay may karamay sila. Na hindi sila nag-iisa, na hindi kailanman solusyon ang pagkitil sa buhay na hiram lamang nila. Nawa’y magsilbi itong babala at magtutulak sa ating maging mapagmatyag sa pakiramdam ng bawat isa. Ngiti. Minsan nangangahulugang saya, madalas isang maskara- pilit itinatago ang bigat na dala-dala. Sa kasalukuyang henerasyong magbubukas ng bagong pagasa, hayaan nating ang ngiti ay sumagisag rin sa mga salitang, “Karamay mo ako. Tutulungan kita”.
5 Artwork by Ma. Trishia Nicole Valdez
talaksan Ni Janna Marie Deocampo
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uyag ni Toto ang nagakabit nga munî- munî sa baligyaan apang pusil-pusil ang ginbakal sang tatay niya para sa iya. Kinahanglan niya kuno nga magpraktis tiru-tiro bangud isa sia ka lalaki. Indi bala dapat nga mangin malipayon sia kay may hampanganan na sia? Pero indi niya gid ini luyag kay ang gusto niya ang kaangay man sang hampanganan ni Nene. Gusto niya sang monyika. Apang, suno sa iya amay, indi ini pwede sa iya kay sia isa ka lalaki. Yara pa kita sa sosyedad nga kon sa diin tradisyonal pa ang aton tagsa-tagsa ka papel nga dapat naton pagatumanon. Isa na diri ang pagkalalaki kag pagkababayi nga sa madugay na nga panahon ginakabig bilang talaksan kon ano lang ang aton dapat obrahon. Ang talaksan nga aton namat-an amo nga lalaki dapat nga makusog, barako, wala sing ginakahadlukan kag wala nagapakita sang emosyon sa iban. Sa babayi naman, sila isa lamang ka landong sa likod sang ila mga bana. Sila mga maluya kag kinahanglan nga protektaran sang mga lalaki; sila magatuman sang kon ano man ang igasugo sang ila mga bana kag wala sila ikasarang nga mag-obra para sa ila pamilya. Samtang nagadugay kag sa pagpilit nga makaigo sa talaksan nga gintukod sang mga katigulangan, kon kaisa, nagasobra na ang ila pagpanghilabot kag nagalab-ot na sa punto nga dapat dira lang kita kutob sa talaksan nga ina. Wala na kita sang pamilian pa. “Dapat ka magpakalalaki. Indi ka maghibi sa atubang sang iban kay nagabuhin ini sa pagkalalaki mo.” “Dapat ka gid magbusong kay babayi ka. Indi mo sarang obrahon ang mga gawi sang mga lalaki. pagwapa ka lang kag indi ka magpakalosyang kay bayaan ka sang bana mo.” Kaladlawan indi bala? Sa kamatuoran, ang ini nga mga talaksan nagadulot sang indi maayo nga bunga. Pamatyagan mo, ginataga-liog ka na. Una, kon ini magapadayon, mangin balibad sang mga lalaki nga nahimo lamang nila ang pagsumbag sa iya asawa kay lalaki sila. Ikaduha, kay dapat gid kuno nga taguon ang imo tuod nga nabatyagan, indi ka makapakot kon san-o ka nalang magalupok nga makaapekto sa imo mental
nga kaayuhan—kay ang balatyagon dapat gid nga ginapautwas. Ikatatlo, magalapta ang diskriminasyon sa mga lalaki nga mahilig sa pambabayi nga hilikuton kag yaguataon sila nga agi tungod lamang diri. Ikaapat, ang mga babayi may nagakalainlain nga mga potensyal kon sa diin indi lang sila nagakabagay sa sulod sang balay. Sa matuod-tuod, sila makahimo man sang iban nga hilikuton. Kag ang ulihi, magaan lamang sang opurtunidad nga abusado ang mga lalaki tungod may kahadlok nga dako ang ila mga asawa. Madamo
pa sang iban kag indi lang amo ini. Dapat nga buksan sang iban ang ila mga panghunahuna kag imuklat nila ang ila mga mata tuhoy sa topiko sang pagkalalaki kag pagkababaye. Subong nga panahon, indi na sala kon ikaw nagasuksok sang pambabaye nga panapton biskan ikaw lalaki. May mga babaye nga sa ulubrahan kon sa diin sadto, lalaki lamang ang pwede. May babayi na nga nagataguyod mismo sang iya bana kag pamilya kag may mga lalaki pwede na nga magdrama kon bayaan sila sang ila nobya. Ano labot nila kon gusto mo ina? Mga nabun-ag lamang ina sa daan nga henerasyon kag indi na sila makapugong sa kon ano ang ginasinggit sang imo tagipusuon. Luyag ni Toto ang nagakabit nga bata-bata sa baligyaan. Masadya ini nga ginbakal sang iya iloy, kay ang hampanganan nga monyika, pwede sa babayi kag pwede man sa lalaki. Dako nga ngirit ang napinta sa iya nawong samtang nagapanglakaton sila pauli sa ila balay, dala ang iya pinalangga nga monyika.
Artw ork
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by Pa
ul A
ries
Val e
ra
Tears and Powerbanks
on the First Day of Online Class (A Probinsyana Prof’s Narrative)
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By Hazel P. Villa
oday (September 21), I cried during my first online class and I presume my students did, too, going by the emojis in the class group chat on FB messenger. The class is “The Teacher and the Community, School Culture and Organizational Leadership” at the West Visayas State University College of Education in Iloilo City, Philippines. Why aren’t we on Zoom or Google Meet? Because our smart students cannot afford to buy load for that and many have connectivity issues but find a way out of it and are only grateful that the University will give them tablets with their learning packets in all subjects already uploaded. The crying emojis began when in the GC, a student said his phone just had one bar left and that he might just “disappear” from the chat. And I said he could always charge his phone but then he replied he had to walk 1 kilometer to do so. It turns out he was on top of a hill which was the only place where he and several other students and teachers in their sitio (hamlet) could find a signal and attend online classes. There was the likelihood he could not “finish” our class for the week given the distance and if possible, could I just “forgive” (pasensyahan) him for this? Then four of his classmates said they had similar situations: walking for a kilometre or two and more in the muck if it is raining hard. It came to such a point one student said he brought along an old galvanized iron sheet to serve as his roof on the hill. Another was lucky to have the father of a friend build a makeshift bamboo shed to protect him from the sun and rain and still another sheltered in a rundown waiting shed. All this, so that they may graduate as teachers to help young people in similar situations. The solution? A powerbank good for 3 cycles of charging. I told the story to a former student of mine who is now a lawyer and immediately she donated and raised funds all the way from a friend in the Cayman Islands and will personally buy the power banks to be given to the College of Education tomorrow so that our determined students will be further inspired to study. Their parents need jobs, they all need money, they need nutritious food, but meantime, a powerbank will do. 8
Help Comes to Those Who
Conquer Mountains
My freshman class of Bachelor of Science Education students at West Visayas State University in Iloilo City, Philippines thought we were the only ones who cried over the struggles of their classmates just to find a signal no matter how faint just to attend the first day of online class. It turns out the Internet cried with us. As of this writing, their story has had 1,200 reactions and 853 shares and counting.
Their parents need jobs, they all need money, they need nutritious food, but meantime,a powerbank will do. More importantly, help has arrived at 2:30 pm today in the form of five powerbanks donated by my former writing student Atty. Christine Florete and her friend based in the Cayman Islands -the first “responders”. Upon hearing the plight of my students, she said, “We buy tomorrow” and off we went to buy the powerbanks and proceeded to the College of Education to turn them over for distribution. The College will find a way to get the powerbanks to them so they need not travel (and risk Covid infection). Good samaritans have also pledged more powerbanks, scholarships for other students, and the Office of the Presidential Assistant will look into the construction of solar panels in areas where WVSU students converge in mountainous areas. A Globe executive will put up a broadband connection in one of our students’ houses to be shared with other students.
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Pamana Ni Joey Camilao
abihin man natin na niyakap na tayo ng kabihasnan at naiahon na sa kamangmangan, ngunit hindi lahat ay naitawid na sa pampang ng kabihasnan at isa ang ating mga Indigenous People sa mga buhay na patunay na may natitira pa na palutang-lutang sa laot ng nakaraan. Isang komunidad na patuloy na ngumangatngat sa isang pirasong kulturang kanilang namulatan at hanggang ngayon ay hindi nila kayang mabitawan, sila ay ang mga taong hatak-hatak ang isang supot ng kanilang yaman sa nakaraan. Sinubok man ng panahon, hinambalos man ng unos at dagok ngunit sila’y taas-noo pa rin na nakatayo, iwinawagayway ang bandera ng kanilang pagkakakilanlan, ngunit gaano man katigas ang isang bato, kung bagyo na ang sususbok rito, mangagbubuwal at mangagbubuwal din ito. Sa panahon ngayon, hindi na bago para sa ating mga Indigenous People ang magawang pulutan ng mga taong matabil at may mapamintas na mga dila, ito ang sakit na pilit pinaglalabanan ng bawat kasapi ng espesyal na kumunidad na ito ang pamimintas sa kanilang mga uri at pag-apak minsan sa kanilang karapatan. Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman na ang mga pangkat na ito ay maituturing na yaman ng ating pamayanan. Sila ang tagataguyod ng kulturang ipinamana sa kanila ng ating mga kanunu-nunuan. Gayunpaman, may ilan namang miyembro nito ang sumusubok na umangat ang estado sa lipunan, may ilan sa kanila ang nag-aaral upang kahit papaano ay makasabay din sila sa pagbabago at modernisadong pamumuhay. Subalit ang kanilang kultura ay isang panata na nagmistulang isang kalawang na nakapagkit na sa kanilang pagkatao na hindi makakalampag ng anumang modernisasyon at pagiging sibilisado. Ang puso ko’y naguumapaw sa saya sapagkat nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na makapanayam ang isang miyembro ng Panay Bukidnon na tribu ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan, siya si April Kate Tacaisan, tubong Leon, bulubunduking parte ng Iloilo. Sa ngalan ng buong pangkat ng Indigenous People ay maluwat sa kaniya na ibinahagi sa akin ang mga kwentong tiyak na magpapalukot ng inyong mga mukha at magpapakurot sa inyong mga puso.
Taga-bukid gid
Ito ay isa lamang sa ilang pamimintas na naranasan ni April sa kaniyang pamamalagi sa paaralan. Aniya naranasan niya ang panghahamak ng mundo sa tulad niyang Katutubo matapos niyang pasukin ang bulwagan kung saan ang tanging intensiyon lamang ay mapatakan man lang ng inaasam na dunong ang kaniyang murang isipan, ngunit bangungot para sa kaniya ang ginawang pagpasok ng kaniyang sarili sa paaralan. Junior High School hanggang Senior High School nang hindi maiwasang makabitan ang kaniyang pangalan ng bansag gaya ng “Taga-bukid gid” na isang pangungusap na nakapanlulumong pakinggan. “San-o pag Junior High kag Senior High ko nahambalan da kmi taga bukid gid. Pero may ara man gahatag gid respect basta IP ka,” salaysay ni April.
San-o pag Junior High kag Senior High ko nahambalan da kami taga-bukid gid. Buki
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Marahil iyan ay kadalasang maikakabit na salita kung pagiging katutubo ang pag-uusapan, isang katawagang pilit iniiwasan ng mga katutubong mapakinggan. Si April sa kaniyang Junior High School ay nakaranas din na makabitan ang pangalan ng salitang buki. Sapagkat siya’y napabilang sa pangkat na lahat ng mga kaklase nito ay may gintong kutsara sa bibig, si April ay nagmistulang isang alikabok na pilit iniiwasan ng kaniyang mga kaklase, isang sosyokultural na aspeto sa pagkatao ni April ang minsang inaapak-apakan ng kaniyang mga kaklase. Wari’y langit at lupa ang agwat ng katayuan ni April sa kaniyang mga kaklase. Minsan ding nagbigay ang kaniyang guro ng isang pormas para sa isang scholarship partikular sa mga kasapi ng Indigenous People ang kaniyang guro at tinanong kung sino-sino ang mga nasa mag-aaral nito ang napabilang sa komunidad ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan at isa si April sa kaniyang mga napagtanungan, subalit dahil sa hindi pa masyadong batid nito na siya’y isang kasapi ng katutubong Mamamayan ay natagalan ito sa pagtugon kung kaya’t nabalot ang buong silid ng halakhak at tonong panunuya, at ang salitang pilit niyang pinangingilagang marinig ay biglang kumawala sa matabil na dila ng kaniyang mga kaklase ang salitang “buki”. “Bale sa Special Science Class ako na-belong, tapos classmates ko puro rich kid. Pagpamangkot ni Mam if member daw ako sang Tribu Bukidnon, wala paku idea that time kay daw urihi na bala ginpropose sa amon nga mga youth ang pagka-IP kay may scholarship. Nagkinadlaw sila kay kuno taga-bukid gid tapos may gahambal buki daw,” ito ang nakalulungkot na pahayag ni April.
Paghulagpos sa tanikala ng pamimintas. Upang kahit papaano ay hindi rin sila basta-basta malulupig ng mga mapamintas na nakakasalamuha, pinapaalala na lamang nila sa mga ito na kahit ganoon sila, sabihin man nating iba, tayo ay pantay-pantay din. Isa pang nakitang estratehiya nila upang masugpo ang pangmamaliit at pagyurak sa kanilang dangal ay ang pagpapatingkad pang lalo ng kanilang kakayahan at mga angking galing sa samo’t saring patag, taas-noo nilang ipinagmamalaki ang kung anong meron sila, ika nga, “kung hindi mo kayang lupigin, matuto kang sumabay”. “Ginhambalan lang namon sila nga we are all equal naman or mas ginapakitaan nalang namon sila sang amon mga kaya ipabugal kay diri samon damo na nag-professional kag mga talentado.” Isang patunay na sila ay kayang makipagsabayan sa pamamagitan ng pagkamit ng marangal na trabaho ng kanilang mga edukadong kasapi.
Musika sa likod ng Pandemya Ngayong napasailalim ang ating bansa sa isang dagok na humahamon sa ating katatagan bilang Pilipino. Hindi natin maikakaila na mas masilan o apektado talaga ang yaong mga nasa laylayan ng kahirapan. Kabilang na rito ang mga kapwa nating namamahay sa kabundukan at sa mga liblib na bahagi ng bayan. Isa sa mga naging pangontra ng ating mga kababayang Katutubo sa pagkabagot at upang itakas panandalian ang sarili sa pagkabahala, isang gawain ng mga taga-Tribu ng Panay Bukidnon ay ang paggawa ng composo at mga binalaybay na siya namang itinuturo sa mga batang ka-tribu. “Maghimo sang mga binalaybay kag composo. Bale rare na lang gahimo kay mismo mga elders na lang, sa amon generation na-train pa.” Ito ay isinasagawa upang ihanda ang mga ito sa darating na mga panahon dahil sa pangambang unti-unti na itong nawawala at nang sa gayon, ang kultura mayroon sila ay mapanatili.
Mapalad Ka, dahil Katutubo Ka Ang pagiging katutubo ay hindi ibig sabihin na tuluyan ng nakakandado ang pag-asa para sa mga kasapi nito, maaaring puwing lang sa paningin ng iilan ang ating mga katutubo ngunit biyaya naman ito para sa lahat, sapagkat sila ang nananatiling mapursige sa pagpapatingkad at pagsasabuhay ng mga naiwang pamana’t alaala ng ating mga kanunu-nunuan. Si April kasama ang kaniyang mga ka-tribu ay labis na nahihirapan sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. Gayunpaman, sila’y mapalad pa rin na kahit papaano ay nariyan sa kanilang likuran ang lokal na pamahalaan upang sila’y akayin at mabigyan ng karampatang sustento lalo na at sila ngayon ay naipit sa ganitong sitwasyon. “Subong nga pandemya, sa tuod lang nabudlayan kami kay ang amon mismo lugar prone sa landslide kag may ara na signs sang bitak-bitak, delikado nagid. Pero bisan pa, sa other side naman, thankful kami sa government kay gina-prioritize kami. Ginabuligan kami sang government kag mismo mga IP nga officials nga ara sa government nasuportahan amon needs kahit pa-paano.”
Sa dagat ng samo’t saring lahi, hindi natin maikakaila na darating at da rating ang panahon na ang daluyong ng pamimintas at pagmamalabis ay hahamon sa ating katatagan, gayunpaman, samasama nating isagwan ang bangka ng pagkakaisa at maging giya ang kultural na pagpapayabong upang makasampa sa pampang ng mapayapa at walang pangkat ang inaapi. Sama-sama nating iwagayway ang salawal ng ating kultura, sama-sama nating ibandera ang yamang ipinamana ng ating mga ninunong dakila.
Mas ginapakitaan nalang namon sila sang amon mga kaya ipabugal kay professional kag mga talentado. 13
2007
4.3
Ma. Beatriz Niña Barranco
STIGMA
educat ional
Every Child is SPecial
Photo from pinterest.com
Some people would often conclude that not being able to perform good enough in academics would equate to failure. This is what happened to Ishaan Awasthi, the boy with dyslexia in the movie Every Child is Special. He sees letters and symbols dancing instead of being positioned correctly. This makes learning to read a struggle for him, making him a subject of bullying in the classroom. Worse, in this Hindi film directed by Amir Khan, Ishaan was even discouraged and scolded by his own parents because of his poor academic progress. Luckily, when he was about to lose hope in life, he met Teacher Ram Nikumbh, and it was like finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. All in all, my heart was moved by this movie for it depicts that being different does not necessarily mean you are on the wrong path. Everyone is just special in their own way and, oftentimes, it is not the hard words that could provide solutions to the problem, but rather, a thorough understanding of the person and what he’s going through. He might be having difficulty dealing with letters and numbers, but his creative mind and style made him a winner -- not just in the competition but in the real world where he began to transform, love himself, and made everyone around him proud. Success isn’t only measured by the number of medals and the A+ grades you get; it can also be achieved in different forms in different ways.
4.0
2014
Phyllis Claire Zarriz
religious
STIGMA
god’s not dead
We live by our beliefs. Putting our confidence and trust in someone or something we believe in becomes a catalyst to make us more human. Academics rely on the power of science to discover the truth. Philosophers make sense out of the world to understand our existence. Those who are fascinated with the wonders of the cosmos may ultimately find themselves exploring the unknown. However different these beliefs may be, we all end up doing one thing – we believe. But, what will you do if someone cynically challenges your beliefs by forcing you to have an atheistic pledge as a requirement to pass your course? This movie tackles the spar between a fire-breathing atheist professor and a young college believer about the existence of God. It explores the themes of atheism, deep faith, inability to choose one’s religion, and the power of testifying to the Truth. A successful indie film of the decade, this does not only call to the heart of a devout Christian, but also to those who continue to believe in the power of a higher being. Kudos to the director for making an hour-long tear-jerker.
Photo from pinterest.com
1995
4.3
Aimerine Montaño
moral
STIGMA
to die for
A person’s outward appearance does not fully define him. We should not arbitrarily impose labels because every human being has an equally unique character – a character that is sometimes masked with inauthenticity just to fit society’s self-serving standards. For instance, some people usually regard tattooed persons as outsiders from the field of moral goodness. But in reality, tattoos are just expressions of a beautifully explored art. Also, some people view the wearing of ear piercings and having dyed hair as forms of defiance. These are personal choices that deserve respect, if not acceptance. Sadly, we are in an appearancebased society. But, is being innocent-looking the real parameter? Do tattoos automatically imply that a person has committed a criminal act? Is appearance definitive of our moral goodness? The movie To Die For elucidates the idea of being superficially amusing and internally lethal. A fame-aspiring and pleasantlooking local cable-TV weather girl, Suzanne, played by Nicole Kidman, married a rich, family-oriented husband. As the story progresses, the movie reveals that she is only after the condo, car, and cash for figure-hugging, lustrously-colored fashion clothes. Shockingly, she murdered her husband in the name of gratifying the material and worldly thirsts of her body. It implies that being gaudy and uncanny can be concealed and looks are deceitful.
Photo from IMP awards
14
2019
joker
Paulo Bryan David
STIGMA
psychol ogical
4.2
Twisted – a word that perfectly describes the 2019 box office movie, Joker. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, the film narrates the life of failed comedian Arthur Fleck in his descent into madness. The movie takes on a different angle regarding the origin of the DC Comics super villain, centering on the narrative of a man disregarded by society due to his eccentric personality. Dark, disturbing, and undeniably compelling—the movie talks about inequality, discrimination, and the problems faced by people suffering from mental illnesses. Despite being a blockbuster hit, I viewed the movie unfavorably for the reason that it perpetuated the negative stereotypes about people with mental illnesses wherein the film emphasized that people suffering from mental problems are automatically in danger of engaging in extreme and devilish forms of violence.
Photo from IMDb.com
2007
the band’s visit
Ma. Trisha Nicole B. Valdez
STIGMA
cultural
4.9
Photo from kendalhartse.com
The tale is a fictional account of a small Egyptian musical ensemble set to perform at the opening of an Arab cultural center in the Israeli city of Petach Tikva to represent its nation. The band mistakenly took a bus to Bet Hatikva, a remote, sleepy, fictional Israeli desert city. With no bus until morning and no hotel in sight, the locals take these unlikely travelers in. Their lives become intertwined in the most unexpected ways under the spell of the desert sky, and their Egyptian visitors realize that they are all looking for the same thing— human connection. As a show set in the Middle East, it could obviously depict a fraught, politically charged conflict between the Arabs and the Israelis, or conform to the media’s formulaic stereotype of Middle Easterners who are often portrayed as billionaires, bombers, or belly dancers. What makes The Band’s Visit quite captivating and unique is that it is more focused on the innate similarities and newly formed bonds of its Israeli and Arabic characters than on any larger issues that might come between them. This grounded, slice-of-life approach stands out against Middle Eastern life’s more popular portrayals, which mostly concentrate on terrorism or border conflicts and the constant fighting of the Israelis and their neighbours. They are pretty much well-represented in this award-winning musical. ‘Proper’ representation in media and popular culture, I believe, is an integral key in breaking misconceptions and stigmas on certain races and cultures—and The Band’s Visit did just that.
4.5
2020
Photo from flicks.co.nz
Joey Camilao
social
STIGMA
hamilton
In this world full of unruly judgment and reckless criticisms, we cannot deny the fact that there is a rise of stigma in the socio-economic arenas. Hamilton: An American Musical tells the story of the life of Alexander Hamilton, a Scotsman, orphan, and son of a whore, who experienced being discriminated because of his family’s background. Despite this, Hamilton’s hope did not falter that sooner or later, his own better days will come. After years of gruelling life experiences, he rose from dust to gold after his name reverberated when he was officially conferred with the title as the Founding Father of America after he became George Washington’s right-hand man. It is almost unthinkable that an immigrant and an orphan became the brains behind the American banking system. Hamilton’s life is a testament that disproves the notion that just because you’re poor, you’re also bound to be poor for the rest of your life. You can rise and make your own mark. Your time will come. Strive passionately; keep the faith and you’ll get there.
15
Deliver Us from Evil By JB Ryan Babas
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. The Our Father prayer may not have been the first incantation my parents taught me, but since that this nation is primarily Roman Catholic, everyone seems to know its passage without even trying. I unknowingly became one of those who blindly recited the lines just so we could get along with our class. For starters, I grew up in a family with a mix of Christian beliefs, but my mom took me to where her belief was headed. We prayed to a not-so-different, more particular God, Jehovah. A young and naive child, I went along with my mom as I half-closed my eyes while we asked for blessings, good health, and protection from something primordial, beyond the skies above and we could not see it.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Through those daily prayers, what haunted me was the notion (no, not “fact� since it is not entirely a fact at all) that there were demons silently trying to lead us astray from the holy path of God. Of course, who would not want to go to Heaven? Who in their right, sane mind would choose eternal torment rather than sing in the choir with all the good guys, right? Children our age at that time would be scared of anything you tell them. So in the back of my mind, I had to keep these demons away from me as much as possible. My parents and relatives, especially my lola, taught me to praise the Heavenly Father with a pure heart and soul so I could be protected. I used to avoid graphics that signified unholy implications. Pentagrams, dark-schemed comics, anti-Christ figures, anthropomorphic goat-heads, you name it. Heck, I even stopped reading Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons because I thought that it was throwing shade at the church.
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Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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Yet, the more I succumbed to the fear, I sort of realized how irrational and unfair it was. Religion was supposed to bring unity and not further expand the already great divide among people. The indoctrination of religion, where we were forced into it, nourished a seed that cultivated discriminatory tendencies towards others. Hence, I slowly decided to turn over a new leaf. I took my mind off of religion when viewing social matters. Not totally though, because it’s hard to immediately let go of it all, but I set aside most of what I was forced to believe in and opened myself to the repertoire of life’s possibilities and uncertainties. From that moment on, I saw the world better, in finer details and in crisper colors. I found reason. As if religion was the mist that led me astray. When we look at the big picture, our nation could have addressed mental health issues and domestic violence among the many problems we have in society if religious leaders were not so pushy about their beliefs. That prayers and patience were all that everyone needed to survive in life. Newsflash! There are now people who have lost their lives because of them. Why is it so hard for them to understand that the world does not solely revolve around one religion? Why do they blatantly project their unwanted prejudice to people who had to have an abortion, people who are gay, or to people who are non-believers? Personally, it took tremendous amounts of guts to unlearn the stigma and break the barriers that set us apart. Sacrifices had to be made and bonds had to either permanently break or bend.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. And the demons? What also hit me was that these demons are not what we think they are. Tracing the etymological roots of the word, it means to divide. Given the current circumstances, I think it is clear who the demons in this world are. You don’t fight these demons anyway, you need to learn to live among them. I acknowledge their existence until one day we may discover our middle ground where we will be able to live harmoniously despite the differences we hold. I still recite the Our Father prayer in class, but not because everybody does it, but because out of respect and that part of me that still hopes religion can and will progress from its grim dispositions. I pray that one day, they will be ready for that conversation.
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Amen.