JANUARY 2020
VOLUME XLIII ISSUE 7
FEATURES
NEWS
Rector tags 2020 as blessed year for Letran
SPORTS
OPINION
The kids from yesterday
Duterte failed as a human
A tribute to Kobe Bryant
Our Lady of La Naval comes home after 67 years
VIVA LA VIRGEN. The image of Our Lady of La Naval as She arrives at the Manila Cathedral for the Eucharistic celebration.
PHOTO BY PATRICK ROMERO
BY ANDREA ANDRES
THE ORIGINAL image of Our Lady of La Naval returned to its first home in Intramuros after 67 years. “Viva la Virgen de la Naval, Buenvenido la Virgen!” chanted the devotees at the Plaza Roma as they
welcomed the carroza of the statue with water salute and a performance by the Letran Filipiniana dance group. The statue made of ivory, is considered as the oldest carving in the Philippines. The mass, as well as the
commemoration of the 1907 canonical coronation of the image, was graced by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the Manila Cathedral. Before starting his homily, Tagle also offered a prayer to the families and provinces affected by the eruption of the Taal volcano.
In his homily, Tagle discussed the characteristics of Mary’s prayers namely: silence, memory, and discernment. “Sa mundo na nagmamadali lahat ng salita, sa mundo na lahat may opinyon, sa mundo na ang tingin ng bawat isa, tama ako, paingay nang
paingay at hindi na nakikita ang pagdalaw ng Diyos. Huwag tayong matakot mautal, mawalan ng salita at manahimik,” Tagle stated as he preached about prayer that possess silence. He also wishes the Letran » LA NAVAL/ PAGE 2
CCD launches donation drive for Taal evacuees
BY JOANNA FLORES
THE CENTER for Community Development initiated the “Tulong Letranista” donation drive for the victims of the Taal Volcano last January 15 to 20. Hundreds of boxes containing donations from the Letran community, alumni, and guests were sent to the Lipa Archdiocese Social Action Center (LASAC) on January 22. “Originally, para maintindihan niyo kung saan nanggaling ‘yung donation drive, how [it] was conceptualized. Nagkaroon ng Dominican effort na [mag-organize ng] Dominican family donation drive,” said Prof. Leo Bernadas, director of CCD.
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With the help of the Office of Alumni and Public Affairs (OAPA), publication materials reached various organizations who heed to the call of service initiated by Letran alumni. Bernadas added that the first turn-over of donations were directed to LASAC. “Initially, gusto namin sabay sabay,” he said. “[Pero] we made adjustments kasi kung pagsasabayin namin, hindi kasya sa isang bus. Inuna lang namin para makita namin ‘yung needs sa community,” he added. The second batch of donations will be sent in February. The said donation will be given directly
» DONATION/ PAGE 2
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NEWS
NEWS EDITOR: CHANNY MACARAEG LAYOUT ARTIST: ELDRICK NOLASCO
Rector tags 2020 as blessed year for Letran BY JACKQUELINE PILAR
RECTOR and President of Letran Manila and Bataan, Rev. Fr. Clarence V. Marquez, O.P, encouraged the Letran community to let ‘blessing’ be their first word this new year. “2020, let blessing be our first word. Biyaya ang pambungad na salita ng bagong taon,” the Rector stated on a post shared on the official Facebook page of Letran last January 1.
“As the quadricentennial year of Colegio de San Juan de Letran dawns upon us, let it be a most blessed event,” he added. He also called for Letranites to be more than what they are obliged as students. “Ang Letranista ay Letranista din sa pag-alalay ng sarili, sa pagkukusa sa marangal na adhikain, sa mahusay na pakikipagkapwa-tao, tapat sa paglilingkod sa bayan, sa hindi matinag na pananalig sa Diyos,” he
said. “Not all schools can boast 400 years of existence. Letran survives and is sustained by the supernatural will and providence of God,” he added. As the quadricentennial year is fast-approaching, the Rector reminded the Colegio to celebrate the event, not only in big and monumental events but also in small, simple moments of fidelity and victories of virtue.
PHOTO BY DAVY CHIOA
Letran builds 21st century library BY ANDREA ANDRES
PHOTO FROM LETRAN
WHO names outbreak COVID-19 BY ETHAÑA RAMONES
ON FEBRUARY 11, the World Health Organization named the new flu-like coronavirus as COVID-19. The acronym stands for Corona Virus Disease 19, indicating that was detected toward the end of last year as announced in the headquarters in Geneva during the press conference. The organization explained that the disease will no longer have its reference to either Wuhan, where the first case was discovered, or to its people and the animals on the city that allegedly caused it. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the goal of this action was to avoid the stigma. He also emphasized on Twitter that under the international guidelines, the health authorities, “had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease.” “It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks.” Director General Tedros, exclaimed.
On the other hand, WHO’s Chief scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said that the new found name allows the flexible naming of new coronaviruses that may emerge in the future. “It’s important to have a name that everybody uses — both for scientific purposes to compare ... and also to avoid a number of different stigmatizing or other forms of confusing names,” she added. During the press conference as reported in Consumer News and Business Channel, WHO officials distinguished that establishing names and forum regarding the virus will help in creating an understandable framework that governs everyone. The death toll from the COVID-19 epidemic is continuing to climb, sickening more than 43,100 people in China and 24 other countries. Dr. Sylvie Briand, head of WHO’s Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness division, assured the reporters last Monday that about 15% of the people who contract the virus ended up with pneumonia with 3% to 5% of all patients needing intensive care.
“With 99 percent of cases in China, this remains very much an emergency for that country, but one that holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world,” Dr. Tedros said. The World Health Organization with the Executive Director for Emergencies program, Dr. Mike Ryan was intensively working with Chinese scientists with hopes of breaking the outbreak and learning sources for readiness.
PHOTO FROM THE INTERNET
DONATION FROM PAGE 1 to families from Batangas City with the help of Letran employeevolunteers. Meanwhile, the third phase will consist of the remaining items and in-cash donations. Close to 100,000 families from Batangas, Cavite and nearby areas had been affected by the Taal’s activity since the phreatic eruption in the volcano’s crater on January 12 according to the National Risk Reduction and Management Council two weeks after the eruption. At least 135,365 people or 37,203 families are staying in 497 evacuation centers, while 168,569 persons or 43, 824 families are taking shelter in their relative’s houses, as stated on a published article from GMA News on January 26. Bernadas also expressed his joy upon seeing the “spirit of volunteerism” among the Letranites and outsiders. “Sa gitna ng mga ganyang activities, not only in Letran, nakakaoverwhelm ‘yung volunteers,” he said. “Isa ito sa mga magagandang practice ng Letranites.” He added.
LETRAN alumnus, William Carlos Uy, donates funds for the preparation of a 21st-century library for the students of the Colegio. The Circulation Section of the College library is set to be the first section to undergo renovation. Fr. John Stephen Besa, O.P., was appointed by Fr. Clarence Marquez to lead the project. The renovation will take around twothree months. According to the Asst. Prof. De Jesus, the goal of the project is; to foster a transformative environment for lifelong learning; provide a 21st Century physical set up for the students to be more engaged in reading and learning; and develop inspiring and functional spaces that encourage creativity, collaboration and knowledge among students. Uy graduated high school in Letran batch 1960 and donated the fund in honor of his parents, Carlos and Elena Uy. The renovation of the libraries at the St. Thomas building is a long-term goal for the Colegio and as part of the Quadricentennial celebration.
LA NAVAL FROM PAGE 1
community, who celebrates its 400 years as an institution, to have a year filled with devotion and prayerful discernment. “After 400 years, where is God calling our community? To what mission is the Lord leading us? May you be a community of prayer, patterned after the heart and spirit of the prayer of Mary,” he said The City Mayor of Manila, Francisco Domagoso also attended the ceremony together with other institutions inside Intramuros. The mass was followed with La Naval grand procession along with other Dominican saints related to Letran. “It is a great privilege to witness the return of Our Lady at her former home,” Eldrick Nolasco, a secondyear Communication Arts student in the Colegio and devotee. The event was organized by the Colegio in line with the Quadricentennial celebration and in partnership with the Intramuros Administration. The image stayed overnight at the college grounds for the prayer vigil before returning to Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City.
VO LU M E X L I I I - I S S U E 7
News
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VPAA & chair of the cases department comittee encourages Letranites to stay healthy BY RONI MAE SERRANO
AMIDST the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, (VPAA) Assoc. Prof. Cristina M. Castro – Cabral, Ph.D., released a memorandum with regard to preventive measures to be undertaken by the Colegio. In a post published by Colegio’s official Facebook page on January 29, the VPAA encouraged the stakeholders, employees, students, parents, alumni, and visitors to exercise utmost vigilance in taking care of their health and ensure the safety and protection of all. Safety precautions undertaken by the institution include health screening for everyone who wishes to enter the Colegio’s premises. Those who would be found with the symptoms related to the virus will be restricted access to the campus. A quarantine area is made available for those displaying symptoms. VPAA also asks for full cooperation from everyone in order to prevent further transmission of the said virus. Students are encouraged to wear prescribed face masks and practice healthy etiquette, especially when coughing. The 2019 Novel Coronavirus targets the respiratory system and is first detected in Wuhan, China. Transmission of the virus occurs via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, while symptoms include mild cough, colds, fever, and shortness of breath.
PHOTOS BY JANEA ORATE
DESIGNED BY FREEPIK
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OPINION
JANUARY 2020
EDITORIAL Duterte failed as a human Have you ever trusted the President of his leadership? Leaders were expected to be wise decision-makers, good communicators and an empowering figure that exudes grace and positivity. In the case of the Philippines, things are a little bit different. Governance is quite questionable and the love for his people was considered to be tough and sometimes breaking realities like ‘water is thicker than blood.’ Filipinos slap the government last January 30, expressing their disappointment for the refusal of travel bans from mainland China due to the confirmation of the Department of Health (DOH) on the first case of COVID- 19 here in our country. Netizens were on rage. Some post comments on their Facebook accounts, other tweeted rants on Twitter. On the report of Rappler, Marky Manalastas, a twitter account holder said that, “This government failed to protect its people from #nCoV. Gobyerno talaga ang papatay satin.” Even celebrities from the entertainment industry with the likes of Solenn Heussaff and Khalil Ramos break their silence in supporting the implementation of travel ban for the welfare of our fellow countrymen. Some even compared the action of the government about the recent activity of Taal Volcano holding the possibility to still erupt and the failure of granting the appeal of the mass to ban flights from China, because their planes were still taking off in our airports. This is the sad reality that the government cares more than diplomacy rather than safety. Duterte can disregard the fact that his people must be the first priority in this kind of situation but choose to abandon us in the most unbelievable way. He even pointed out that we should not be scared of the virus even if it meant to sacrifice his own people being infected to achieve the goal of a good relationship to China. The President also questioned the way Filipinos hysterically react about the outbreak. In the contrary, he assured the nation that the government has enough resources to rescue Filipinos abroad. But why bother protecting them if you can’t really protect those who are inside your country? The country might be infected soon, yet you’re not into banning Chinese citizens upon entering our borders yet defending them of their rights. Filipinos have the right to stay safe, aren’t we? Such a reason to deviate us from the real story of how he really wanted to impress China of his diplomacy. Diplomacy could kill Filipinos. We are insisting on the PH- China travel ban as soon as possible but the government showed us another turtle action. Why did it take so long? Let us impose a travel ban. Have the government take action with the health crisis and not just preemptive measures that sugar coats the hopes of all Filipinos.
E D I T O R I A L B O A R D S Y. 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR MULTIMEDIA EDITOR DESIGN EDITOR
ALYSSA AQUINO MEILINDA MALACAT ETHAÑA RAMONES CHANTAL MACARAEG MEILINDA MALACAT PATRICK ROMERO ELDRICK NOLASCO
NEWS WRITERS
SPORTS WRITER
Joanna Flores
Alyssa Aquino
Andrea Andres Roni Mae Serrano
CARTOONIST
Jackqueline Pilar
Rumiel Casanova
FEATURES WRITERS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Raine Cepeda
Jemverick Viray
Justin Santelices
Pinky Genove
Georgina Santiago
King Martin
ANTON VINCENZ L. TANTOCO PUBLICATION ADVISER Published monthly, THE LANCE has its office at 3F Student Center Building, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Intramuros Manila FOR COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Email us at thelance@letran.edu.ph
ARTWORK BY RUMIEL CASANOVA
Phenomena of kindness Last year, we were all caught in a surprise by the release of the award-winning and most nominated comicbook movie in Oscars, the Joker, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. People have started criticizing its violence and have been stirring controversies. The movie made sure that people would think, feel, and be affected by its storyline, emphasizing the characters’ suffering, humiliation and lack of support system. This is about how a simple clown became Joker. This is about him; this is all about us. A lot of attention were spread across the globe from simple moviegoers, actors, and mental health professionals. This is a clear indication that our movies nowadays do not just aim for entertainment and self- satisfaction but for clarification and awareness of something unusual yet widely experienced not just by few people in this world. These few will grow in numbers if we continue with ignoring the manifestations of mental health conditions. While staring at the window, I am thinking things through, usually issues concerning my mind, and I happened to think about Joker after its showing. I realized three things; (1) The role was perfectly executed. The actor who portrayed the Joker as an individual with the condition was really the exact example
CLAIMING STRIDES Ethaña Ramones
@ethanyita_ maned.thelance@letran.edu.ph
of one. If we would look back how Joaquin Phoenix prepared for it physically by losing his weight and mentally by embracing the character completely. (2) Mental illness did not happen in just a day; it was not just a single cause, for it repeats and eats the person alive. (3) Despite campaigns and movies like this about the disturbing increase of mental health illnesses, a lot of people are still not aware and sympathetic enough to address this kind of cases. Imagine how hard it is to always put on a smile, pretending to be happy. The condition in which you’re really sad yet you’re laughing. Joker’s condition has been taken for granted, yet no one sees the worth he has. It’s the value he is all wanting to be recognized. He is a clown, dedicated to his tiring and insulting job. He works for his mother which also has a condition, painting his face with white paint but the irony of him being in the dark side of the world. He made people laugh, but he is sad inside, and for the long time he even is dead inside. Joker has become the joke of the story, to the fact that he felt like
his death would make more cents than his life. The movie calls for an appeal in letting the people understand the effects of the way we treat other people — that simple feelings of exclusion to the group, loneliness that later on leads to the depression and humiliation, when repeated completely, will result to mental illnesses, in which the sanity became dysfunctional at its normal state. Moreover, the movie is meant to open the eyes of everyone to be sensitive enough to notice if there are early signs of mental illness and to help other people overcome when there’s a sign— and reach for the professionals that can immediately help. Mental health condition comes in different shapes, situations and circumstances. Some conditions are inborn or genetic, while some mental illnesses are out of environmental factors, in which society greatly was the culprit. May it be on different causes, still the end point was the condition. Simple frustration, becomes madness and that surely will fall to the darkness. Let us not just be knowledge and aware but be of help. Let us
be hopeful that this will bring a decrease on mental health conditions, in which people should work together to help those in need and refer to a better authority. As a Letranite, let us join this campaign by being patient and polite to everyone, being understanding and accepting that people around us will never be the same as we are, and even when they are different, let us show inclusivity and love. Let us uphold the ideals of Deus-by paying importance to the miracle of life we have; Patria-we are all part of this society and our interacation function the most if we care for each other that’s why show respect and Letran-we are taught to be a holistic Dominican youth, let us show that we are all good, and we are ready to be relevant in the causes of Mental Health issues. When someone makes an effort to make you happy, appreciate them. Greet someone a good morning, or tell them good job because we all know they deserve it! Be compassionate. Give random hugs and smile; they’re free! Share kindness. And if someone needs your help? DON’T HESITATE. Mental health conditions eat someone alive. Don’t let them be consumed by those. Be a light to others and make them feel bright. Let’s try to be the kind and support those who are struggling in their life.
Opinion
VO LU M E X L I I I - I S S U E 7
Overcoming the one-inch-tall barrier “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films,” said Bong Joon Ho amidst receiving the prize for Foreign Language Film in the Golden Globes for his widely-acclaimed film, ‘Parasite’. Cleverly interpreted by filmmaker Sharon Choi, the South Korean director has moved both local and international communities through his acceptance speech and has given rise to discussions on this so-called ‘Hollywood myopia’, which happens to be a prevalent custom among foreign films to be condescended as a marginalized spectrum away from pictures
LIMINALIST Meilinda Marie Malacat
@partyatmosbys assoced.thelance@letran.edu.ph
deemed for greater accolades. In countries outside the United States, subtitles have played a huge role in the audience’s moviegoing experience. As a matter of fact, those who have grown in aid of texts at the bottom part of the screen would find themselves in less trouble than those who have conformed to the conventionality of English cinema. While many would find these texts as mere
distractions, the flip side is the seeming ignorance of well-deserving motion pictures and productions from other parts of the world in attaining more than just local recognitions. It’s not only about the films, rather— and most importantly— the diverse culture that they carry along with them. After many years of non-English movies being overlooked by the industry, such as in the forms of the Academy,
many are rooting for ‘Parasite’ to finally put a halt in the annual snobbism of foreignlanguage films by winning the Oscars for Best Picture this year. However, there’s still a higher peak to mount in surmounting the barricade of nonrecognition towards appreciation, which could only begin through openness and acknowledgment. Let not linguistics be the root of judgment in acclamation but serve as a bridge to a land of new possibilities. It only deserves to be amplified what Bong Joon Ho had furthered—“I think we use only one language: the cinema.”
Advocating for heritage preservation
Nowadays, we see Manila with modernized buildings and high-rise structures to go along with the other countries, but Manila was known as the ‘Paris of the East’ due to the architectural designs of different houses, churches, and buildings. After the second world war, there were a lot of heritage buildings that were torn down and replaced with a modern design most specifically inside the Walled City or known as Intramuros. The Government didn’t make an action to maintain and protect it. Only when in 1979 the Intramuros Administration was established by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1616. To maintain and protect heritage sites and conform to PhilippineSpanish architecture of the 16th to the 19th century. Today, we still witness heritage buildings are torn down little by It’s January—a start of another year, and it is already 2020–a start of a new decade. It brings us a lot of opportunities as we look on the brighter side, bringing us with more blessings and hoping that our prayers would be answered. January sticks with the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene. It’s the 413th celebration of the Traslacion, commemorating the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo Church. Around 5 Million people flocked in the streets of Manila to pray and venerate the Image that stood on a carriage surrounded above by the Hijos del Nazareno. However, things went differently this year. With Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s first year as
FANATICUS Eldrick Nolasco
@EldssGelo designed.thelance@letran.edu.ph
little and people who give importance to it, is helpless to stop the demolition. It is heartbreaking to see it being torn down to rubbles. For some it’s nothing for them because they only care for ‘Modernization’ and some say “Dapat gibain na yan dahil wala na rin silbi”, “Gibain nalang iyan tapos tayuan ng high-rise na building katulad ng mga condo para mapakinabangan naman” and “Nakakatakot naman yang building/bahay na yan dapat palitan na yan para naman gumanda.” They are the ones who didn’t care for heritage preservation but they only care is to get along with the other countries as they also construct modern buildings.
So, what can we do to preserve heritage sites? We should take action whenever we see old buildings planned to be demolished and be replaced with a modern structure by alerting the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) or the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to file a report to hold it. An advocacy group called Advocates for Heritage Preservation is helping to create awareness for the protection, preservation, and promotion of Philippine cultural, historical, religious & natural heritage. Recently, we witnessed the restoration of Jones
Viva pulis! MAGISTER Patrick Romero
@PDRomero1202 multimediaed.thelance@letran.edu.ph
the incumbent mayor, he made a change of route, shortening it to 300 meters. The government units made sure to exert more participation and effort on the procession. The NCRPO Chief, Debold Sinas said that he will make a lot of changes in the procession, and it happened. In the procession, things got heated up between the devotees and the police. During the start of the procession in the Quirino Grandstand, at least 2500 police personnel surrounded the carriage of the Black Nazarene,
forming a huge barricade. It was the first time it happened in the event leaving the devotees in an unusual mood. They were asking the police why would they have to show physical apprehension to the devotees that were just simply following the tradition that was seen for about a decade—ever since the start of the procession was moved at the Grandstand. With anger of some devotees, they threw plastic bottles, towels, and even some small bits of rocks to the police that were ahead
Bridge to its former glory with the help of the current Mayor of Manila, Francisco Moreno Domagoso or known as Isko Moreno, together with his benefactors. It’s a good start to bring back the beauty of ‘Old Manila’ as it is part of Mayor Isko’s plan for the city. According to him, he promises revival of Escolta, Manila Bay, Intramuros, and other historic Manila landmarks by 2021. We hope that someday, we shall again witness the beauty of ‘Old Manila’ on how it was known as the ‘Paris of the East’ and especially for Intramuros to see the old churches’ activities such as processions and holy week season, old Spanish-Filipino houses, government buildings, plazas, and many more. Be part of the advocacy to promote Philippine Heritage preservation to protect our history and culture for the next generations to come. of the procession, shouting “Viva Pulis!” The policemen gave up as soon as the carriage reached the Palanca Street. They even tried to apologize but nothing happened. Purely it was a conflict between tradition and authority. The Church’s explanation on this matter was to ensure the safety of the devotees, and it was never their intention to hasten up the flow of the procession. To look on the matter again, it would really take years if they would retain all the things that happened in the last festivities. The people stuck with the tradition because the police didn’t have to be that strict enough. It’s obedience and understanding that should prevail as always.
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From a storyteller’s POV UNDER SPOTLIGHT Chantal Macaraeg
@chanporaduh newsed.thelance@letran.edu.ph
Last month, our paper got a lot of attention online. From angry Marcos supporters to skeptical alumni questioning if we’re doing our job right. I’m assuring you, The LANCE is operating just fine and is doing its job. The paper serves as a platform for the student body of Letran. If they don’t agree with us, not our fault then. Who are they to tell us, the storytellers, on how to write stories? This might come shocking but it’s what one would call “bias”. Yes, all stories come with a bias whether one likes it or not. Stories come in all forms. From the avant-garde movies to required classroom readings to simple conversations with friends. Stories have the power to challenge one’s perspective on things. That’s why some people feel uncomfortable with certain books and movies. One might feel their beliefs are being challenged by the material. It also pushes certain people to call for ban of books and movies that contain ideas that they don’t agree with. Some authors are ostracized for merely producing controversial works. Which leads us to a question: Do storytellers have responsibility? Should they be held accountable for their works? In Tarog’s TED talk about storyteller’s responsibility, he discussed about how an author’s work can impact the audience. A storyteller doesn’t hold responsibility for what they do. Yes, even your favorite author, director, or even artist can get controversial. Should a storyteller limit themselves to be comfortable and risk sacrificing their story just because some people get squeamish? There are limits to what we can do. In the infinite world of storytelling, we often find ourselves feeling insignificant. As the story moves on its own accord, it’s up to us to interpret the storyteller’s intent. Which would bring us to another point. Netizens have called out the director of Dead Kids for being too proud of himself. A story should be able to tell about itself without having the storyteller to step in and explain themselves to the audience. Admittedly, it might not be his best work. Personal opinion not mine. Go ahead and read this month’s review on Dead Kids though. It’s my PERSONAL interpretation of his movie. Not Dir. Red’s. Not even my fellow writers here. I wrote it based on how I saw it. All of my life experiences to come up with an interpretation. Some people will not agree with my words though. That’s okay. They don’t really matter. So what makes it controversial? Did Dir. Red lack storytelling tools to be able to tell the story successfully? Was his original intention missed by most of the audience and he had to explain it himself ? Did his movie make his audience think or did he have to do the thinking for them? As much as I believe that storytellers have nothing to do with how the audience thinks, it’s making me think otherwise. Controversial works make me think about my own writings. Not the ones for the paper though. I mean, I can’t really show my works to this specific set of audience. They’re not my intended audience, so why should I? I tell stories for a specific subset of people. If they’re not part of the subset but still stumbled upon my work, it’s on them. Restricting a story for the sake of comfort would be like putting a free bird in a cage. All stories are meant to be free in their own right. The audience can criticize a work as they please. But the work does not necessarily represent an author. But sometimes, people would rather believe themselves than actually read. If they think a story isn’t good, maybe they should do it themselves. They might be able to interpret the idea better than the author.
VIEWFINDER
BUENVENIDO A LA VIRGEN. THE VISIT OF THE ORIGINAL IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF LA NAVAL IN INTRAMUROS AS PART OF THE QUADRICENTENNILA CELEBRATION OF LETRAN. PHOTOS BY PATRICK ROMERO & ARALI SANTIAGO
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FEATURES
FEATURES EDITOR: MEILINDA MALACAT LAYOUT ARTIST: ELDRICK NOLASCO
The kids from yesterday
PHOTO FROM THE INTERNET
BY RAINE CEPEDA
Jet-black hair with side fringe, skinny jeans, band t-shirts, studded belts, and skull accessories. Who would’ve forgotten one of the most significant phases where probably most millennials have gone through in the past decade? This subculture is certainly influenced by the bands whose music falls under the category “emo” or “emotionalhardcore” and one of the most notable emo-punk bands of all time — whose break-up broke the hearts
of many — My Chemical Romance, referred to by die-hard fans as My Chem. Their general style of emotional expression through confessional lyrics helped them rose to fame in the early 2000s, thus, My Chem has been the catalyst of the musical movement. However, last March 2013, My Chemical Romance officially announced their split in a statement on their website, which according to their frontman Gerard Way was “nobody’s fault.” The fans of the beloved rock stars were
Hello, Negros!
heartbroken yet, their love and support did not falter. Because of their unwavering support, just recently, whilst everybody’s busy trick-or-treating, MCR posted on their Instagram page: “Like Phantoms Forever… Tickets on sale Friday 11/1/19 at 12:00PM Pacific” which garnered mass hysteria. This marks their first show after a six-year hiatus. Eleven days before the year ended, the Welcome to the Black Parade rock stars graced the stage of Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles
with their cathartic return. In front of more than 6,000 fans, The Shrine was filled with tears, screams, singing, and more tears — anything but silence. Despite all the atrocities, one band brought all these people from different races, with different beliefs, together; And for an hour and a half, everything seemed right in the world. A crowd where everyone not just knew every word to every song, but even roared back big guitar solos, because how could anyone not fall immediately head over heels with a
lyric as great as: “Sing it out for the ones that’ll hate your guts”? That was no understatement. And after 6 years of anticipation, MCR doesn’t want the energy to dissipate. My Chemical Romance did not just reunite for a show. They reunited to bring everyone back to life with the way they make people feel, the art they’ve created, the music they’ve shared with the world, and the stories fans will surely tell for a lifetime. With their grand comeback, undoubtedly, fans will love them like they did yesterday.
Hey, baby PHOTOS FROM THE INTERNET
BY JUSTIN SANTELICES
PHOTO FROM THE INTERNET
BY JUSTIN SANTELICES
The all-Filipino idol boy group SB19 became the talk of the town but not for good reasons. In a tweet made on December 21, 2019, SB19 was met with unpleasant remarks, to say the least. “Hello, Negros! We are now in your zone!”, an innocent tweet that only intended to hype up the fans for their nationwide tour. The tweet caught the eyes of the westerners and they pretty much threw the group under the bus. For an innocent tweet, SB19 was branded as “racist” for using the word Negros, a name for an island in the Philippines. But the comments and concerns were understandably valid, within the right context. The word “negro”,
after all, has historically referred to dark-skinned people. It isn’t so surprising then that the negative feedback came mostly from people of the west, where racism is much more prevalent. However, it should be understood that much like the word “negro”, the island of Negros is also rooted in history, a history that won’t change itself simply to cater to someone who found it “offensive” The intention of fighting racism is commendable but they may have forgotten some of the fundamentals in effecting genuine social change are listening and understanding. While others already explained the reason as to why Negros is called as such, it fell on the deaf ears of those who seemingly only wanted to hear what they already knew. The ethnocentric nature of some
of the claims of those concerned implied that Negros has to live up to the uncompromising standards of others for it to be properly acknowledged. Quite obviously, Negros shouldn’t have to surrender its freedom just because others aren’t pleased with its history. To even go as far as saying that it “could’ve been worded better” is disrespectful not only to centuries of Philippine history but more importantly, to the Negrenses themselves. What needs to be understood is that there is a cultural divide at work here. Culture is relative; no side can completely be “correct”. In other words, the claim that the name Negros should be changed is unnecessary and, SB19 was not being racist.
Comic creator Gerry Alanguilan passed away last December but will forever live in our hearts. The recent generation may have seen his face from the viral meme “Hey, Baby.” His infectious and almost cunning smile is floating around on YouTube making people smile. What most kids don’t know is that Gerry, despite being only a face to a few, has already made a name for himself in the comic book world who helped bring life to the X-Men, the Hulk, the Avengers and beyond. Reminiscing fans, friends, and family came to social media to share their stories of Gerry, much like the way Komikero, a name he is fondly called by, created lasting stories through comics. C.B. Cebulski, the current editor-in-chief for Marvel said it best, “Another wonderful person taken from us too soon. An amazingly talented writer and inker, mentor to younger artists, and advocate for global comics, the comics world and, Filipino art community lost a friend and hero today.” Despite all the awards and
recognition that he has garnered over the years, he never forgot his Filipino roots. This becomes apparent through the Komikero Komiks Museum, a museum in San Pablo that he founded for the purpose of “promoting and preserving the artwork created by the many great Filipino comics illustrators of our past.” To think that someone who was seen as simply a meme has worked with both DC Comics and Marvel is indubitably amazing in itself. But perhaps even more amazing is the fact that Gerry was one of the champions responsible for what is called the “renaissance” of comics during the late ‘90s to the early ‘00s, a time where the medium was in decline locally. Along with many others, Gerry’s efforts made comics and the idea of it what it is today–a respected and recognized form of art and expression. You ask yourself, “Why do the good die young?” and find no definite answer but realize that his legacy will remain through his comics. Some of his most famous and loved works are Wasted, Humanis Rex!, and Elmer. Yep, they are indeed worth checking out. Gerry never really left, just on hiatus.
Features
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Dead Kids: Society as told by Gen Z BY CHANTAL MACARAEG
If there is something, or somebody, in the world that you want to disappear without any repercussions or anything, would you do it? Ask the four unlucky students of St. Anthony of Padua, they will tell you how. Dead Kids is one of the most talked-about film releases of 2019. It is also the first Filipino film exclusively available for Netflix. With Netflix providing easier access to the younger demographic, the youth came to see what was the ruckus all about and came out with mixed reactions. Indie film enthusiasts mostly expressed their disappointment in the film, however, those who are new to the indie film scene were amazed by it. It’s safe to say that the film is indeed worth talking about. The story is said to be a commentary on the infamous Drug War. From the day Duterte assumed office to sometime in 2018, people lived in fear. While the rich sat comfortably in their homes, the poorest of the poor had taken the brunt of the operations. The bloodshed, the cries for justice, the constant barrage of criticism both here at home and abroad. Unlike Brillante Mendoza’s pro-Duterte sentiments, Mikhail Red retells the story through the eyes of Gen Z. Imagine being the smartest kid in the whole school with a bright future ahead. Suddenly this month’s rent is long overdue and the landlord who is also a relative is demanding for payment. A classmate walks up with a seemingly simple solution to a mutual problem.
The movie invites Gen Z to talk about not only social issues but also about media literacy. Yes, some people aren’t happy with the movie. There are characters (see: Gideon Uy, Yssa Miranda) that could have been written better. Take out the kidnapping part and you have your typical, run-of-the-mill high school drama. So what makes Dead Kids stand out? For starters, it weaves in social commentary in its plot. Based on the real-life kidnapping incident, it’s a teen drama gone awry. You got the wallflower, the one with anger issues, the skeptic, and the comedian. It sounds like a perfect mix of friends. While most high school drama films like Bad Genius and I Not Stupid are focused on academic pressure, Dead Kids dealt with reallife issues. As the film progresses, one would be able to point out that its more on a commentary of class privilege. Kids with parents in high places get to live while people like Mark Sta. Maria (Kelvin Miranda) comes to Manila with high hopes only for it to go down in the drain. While it’s a breath of fresh air from the usual dark themes of films revolving around social issues, it holds a lot of promise for aspiring directors. One is that it opened the doors for Filipino independent cinema. Times are indeed changing. With more and more people becoming aware of the media they consume, they turn to alternative media. Not only they are expanding their choices in films but there are also calls for media to become a platform for expressing social issues.
PHOTOS FROM THE INTERNET
Digging into “Ukay-Ukay”
PHOTOS FROM THE INTERNET
BY GEORGINA SANTIAGO
Thrifting shops, popularly known in the Philippines as ‘ukay-ukay’ once more blew up when people started posting their OOTDs that may look expensive, but are actually bought in a thrift store, pairing and styling vintage clothing where consumers can get at a low cost. How did ‘ukay-ukay’ even start? Through the rise of technological methods, online stores like Shopee and Lazada have changed the
way people shop. In fact, online shopping at the time already existed; it became prominent when a lot of people started using it, and ‘ukay-ukay’ is no exception. Before the Ukay Challenge became viral, ’ukay-ukay’ was simply a place where people who couldn’t afford high retail-priced clothing would buy their clothes. Then, when netizens started posting their finds from the store, suddenly a lot of people, including influencers and celebrities, have
started scavenging for different ‘ukay-ukay’ stores. The art of thrifting came into the country in 1943. A journalism professor at UP Baguio who conducted a study about the culture of ‘ukay-ukay’ stated that there’s actually no precise date as to when it started. However, according to Lynne Milgram, an anthropologist, and professor at OCAD University Toronto, Canada, the distribution of secondhand clothing grew after
World War II due to the scarcity of basic human needs at the time. The concept of ‘ukay-ukay’ is actually against R.A. 4653 or the “commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags”. The importing and trade of second-hand clothing violates the law, which is why the Bureau of Customs has been strictly monitoring it as illegal smuggling. The main concern of why it’s prohibited is because of health
concerns. The Bureau of Customs has confiscated millions of smuggled clothing. There have been proposals in making this trade legal in the country, for it was foreseen that the government would earn around P700-million. However, it did not see the light of day. Despite that, the rise of the UkayUkay Challenge didn’t stop people from scouting out thrift stores, browsing through racks of clothing, searching for their own find and posting it on social media.
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NEWS
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TRASLACION 2020
NAZARENO. THE ANNUAL TRANSLACION IN HONOR OF THE IMAGE OF THE BLACK NAZARENE IN QUIAPO, MANILA. PHOTOS BY PATRICK ROMERO & JEMVERICK VIRAY
JANUARY 2020
Dear Kobe, BY PAOLO TRINIDAD
It was a fine morning for the 10 year old me. I woke up, prepared my cereal, I sat in the living room and turned on the tv to watch my favorite cartoon, Spongebob. Then my dad came out of our room, sat beside me and switched the channel. It’s game 1 of the 2010 NBA Finals, the most awaited event for basketball fans. It’s the series between the Los Angeles Lakers vs the Boston Celtics. But the 10 year old me wasn’t interested and would rather watch Spongebob than to witness the most intense rivalry in the sport. I begged my dad to switch the channel back to cartoons but he didn’t want to. I can still remember that day. Not because I was upset, but because that was the day I fell in love with the game. Wanna know why? It is because of the number 24 guy from the Lakers, Kobe Bryant. He scored 30 points that game, and the young me was amazed! After that game, I joined my dad to watch the whole series. Oh, and by the way. The Lakers is the champs that year and Kobe was the finals MVP! After that, I became a fan. I followed the Lakers and Kobe through their ups and downs. From the time Kobe made 2 free throws after he torned his achilles, to the time Kobe dropped 60 points to end his basketball career in the most incredible way possible. Now let me fast forward my story to the year 2019. My family and I visited our relatives in Los Angeles. Then of course, me, being a huge Kobe fan, I messaged him on his Instagram account. I told him that I’m a huge fan and maybe I could see him in person. I know it’s a long shot for it to happen, I didn’t even think he would reply to it. Well, I’m right. He didn’t even see my message. I was upset of course. But still, there is a little hope in me that since we’re both in California, then maybe we can bump into each other somewhere around the state. Well I know there’s a very little chance for that to happen, so yeah, it didn’t happen as well. 2 months passed and we went home to the Philippines and my dream of meeting him did not happen. I told myself that it’s okay, maybe I’ll get the chance to see him the next time we come back. But last month, that dream of mine was crushed. Kobe died in a helicopter crash with his daughter and 7 other people. I didn’t know what I was gonna feel. I just know that my dream of meeting him is not going to happen anymore. I feel like there’s a part of me that is lost after hearing the news. Kobe Bryant is one of my inspirations growing up. Not just in basketball, but in life. He’s an advocate for women and the youth. He helps people. He inspires people. He’s one of a kind. I just want to say thank you to Kobe. Thank you for making my childhood awesome. You have a special place in my heart. Rest in peace, Mamba!
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Sports The Lance
A tribute to Kobe Bryant ARTWORK BY RUMIEL CASANOVA