VOLUME XXXIX - ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 - 16 PAGES
100% passing rate for 1st batch of ND graduates LETRAN proved its education excellence once again as seven nutrition and dietetics (ND) graduates gave the Colegio a 100 percent passing rate in the recently-concluded Nutritionist-Dietitians Licensure Examination on August 20 and 21. The newly registered Nutritionist-Dietitians from Letran are Ariane Belino, Majelyn Lo, Ma. Bernadette Priela, Alyssa Remojo, Jenny Sarmiento, Maika Soco, and Crisllaine Villanueva who are all part of the batch that graduated last April. Priela shared her joy when she first learned that she passed the board exam. “I was happy beyond words. Not just for me but for all of us,” Priela said, adding, “It feels so surreal especially when I woke
up the next day because we’ve also been through many hardships as students.” Priela also shared the hardships that they went through to make this achievement. One of those was that they were the first batch of ND graduates of Letran. “When we came to Letran in our first year there was no [senior] to guide us and our curriculum wasn’t finalized [yet] which was really a challenge.” She also explained that being the first batch, they needed to excel at once because of the pressure. “We needed to prove something. That’s why we really worked hard. All of us enrolled in the review centers and most of us even enrolled in two review centers. It may sound 100% PASSING, PAGE 2
Accountancy senior bags 3rd in NCR Cup BY ISABELA PARTEZ
Gerald Eric Hernandez PHOTO FROM PAMD
GERALD ERIC HERNANDEZ, a graduating BS Accountancy major and a scholar, gave pride to Letran as he placed third among 109 other participants in Theory of Accounts in the NCR Cup: Accounting Frontier on July 25 at the Asia Pacific College. Hernandez received a medal, certificate and plaque after winning in the said competition. He shared that this triumph is a big achievement for him since it was his first time
joining a contest outside the school, and he didn’t expect to win. “Achievement po ito for me since that was my first time, tapos nanalo pa po ako.” He also narrated the struggles he encountered in his preparation for the competition. “Kasabay po siya (competition) ng hectic schedules at mabibigat na major courses kaya di ko po talaga natapos yung preparation ko, pero pinilit ko naman po magbasa-basa kapag may time.” Asst. Prof. Kenji Asano, assistant dean of College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), shared his pride and delight regarding this triumph that Hernandez brought to the Colegio. “We are very proud that out of many schools which
ACCOUNTANCY, PAGE 4
fb.com/thelanceletran
BY JEDRICK PAZ
From top left, clockwise: Majelyn Lo, Ma. Bernadette Priela, Alyssa Remojo, Ariane Belino, Crisllaine Villanueva, Jenny Sarmiento, and Maika Soco | PHOTO FROM PAMD
Letranites rank 4th, 10th in Psychomet board LETRAN continues its journey towards academic excellence as BS Psychology graduates Christelle Janer and Karen Anne Desengaño ranked fourth and 10th place, respectively, in the recently-held Psychometrician Licensure Examination. Janer passed the board exam with a grade of 83.6 percent while Desengaño attained a grade of 82.2 percent. Desengaño shared her excitement when she first heard that news. “I was very happy. Passing the licensure exam is an answered prayer but being a topnotcher is unexpected. Pero ang sarap sa feeling, sobra.” She also said she was just an average student which is why everyone was surprised to
BY JEDRICK PAZ
hear that she topped the exam. “Lahat ng effort, puyat at pagod sa pagrereview worth it. It feels good to see that everyone is proud of your achievement,” she said. Desengaño also narrated the hardships that she went through to get this recognition. “Ang mindset ko agad is kailangan ko pumasa, hindi talaga pwedeng hindi,” adding, “I had to sacrifice sleepless nights, holidays, Sundays, and time with my family and friends. May times na feeling mo nabigay mo na lahat ng effort mo sa pagrereview pero kulang pa din pala. May times na naiiyak na ko kasi lahat ng exam ko sa review center hindi pumapasa kahit araw-araw naman na ko puyat kakareview.” “Well of course we’re happy,
because that is a reflection of the kind of training that we give to our students and these students were able to at least achieve their goals. We’re happy because the institution is now making a name in [the field of] psychology on the basis of board exams, not only that we have high percentage of passing but also we were able to have people who top notched the exam,” said Asst. Prof. Darwin Rungduin, program chairman of psychology. Rungduin also commented that there will be continuous improvement in the psychology program of Letran. The first step is evaluating the qualifying exams that sophomore students are required to take before getting to the next year
LETRANITES, PAGE 4
iCOMM’s documentary Sukat wins in Cinemalaya BY RAFAEL OMEGA
LETRAN’s Institute of Communication (iCOMM) was once again recognized in producing films and documentaries as Sukat, a documentary produced by AB Communication seniors, wins second place as Best Documentary Film on August 11.
@TheLANCELetran
Out of 17 documentary finalists showcased in Gawad Alternatibo Documentary B, Sukat bagged the second spot. The documentaries were shown at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Manuel Conde. The night was also the first out-of-school public screen-
@thelanceletran
ing for Sukat. Sukat is about Zenaida Navarro, a senior handicapped vendor found in the middle of Mabini Street, with a dwarfism condition. Despite her state, she still makes her way to provide for her family’s sake, esICOMM, PAGE 3
letran.thelance@gmail.com
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NEWS
Int’l film fest features two Comm TV documentaries BY JEDRICK PAZ
min yung [documentary], hindi pumasok sa isip namin yung ganito, more on basta maikwento lang namin ng maayos yung kwento ni Nanay Zeny.” Reyes on the other hand, had From top left, clockwise: Leslie Cardenas, Marian Santos, Bettina Bonillo, Abigail Venmixed emoturanza, Rafael Omega, Duane de Castro, Jae-re Liwanag. | PHOTO FROM PAMD tions, “At first, I was TWO DOCUMENTARY dancers and how they purfilms from the Institute of sue their passion and reach shocked but of course I’m Communication produced their dreams despite their super happy, pabagsak na nga luha ko lalo na nung by then AB Communica- disability. tion juniors, namely SuJai-Re Louise Liwanag, di- nabasa ko yung messages ng kat and Hataw sa Katahi- rector of Sukat, and Jan Ash- staff, friends, at professors mikan, were featured in ley Reyes, director of Hataw ko.” Bettina Bonillo, producGlobal Health Forum Film sa Katahimikan, both gave tion assistant of Sukat, Festival 2015 at the Phil- their statements regarding shared the hardships that ippine International Con- this recognition. their team went through in vention Center (PICC) on “Nung nalaman ko na namaking the documentary, August 24 to 27. kapasok kami sa festival, Sukat focuses on the life sobrang saya namin at di “Conceptualizing was our of Nanay Zeny who suffers makapaniwala at the same biggest challenge because from dwarfism while Ha- time,” Liwanag said. “Kasi our Writing for TV teacher taw sa Katahimikan tells the nung ginagawa pa lang na- had the last call on which concept we should use,” story of hearing-impaired
she said, adding, “then later, we struggled with our approved concept itself because of time and financial constraints.” Bonillo also pointed out that they had so many concept revisions and their production name Plan Z was based on their countless conceptualizing struggles, “We are only blessed to have pulled it off eventually. What matters now is that we are happy with the outcome and a lot of people were touched by Nanay Zeny’s story.” They also gave their messages to the incoming senior communication students who want to achieve the same recognition. “Ang advice ko sa kanila is wag silang matakot magtake ng risk. Isang opportunity kasi yung pag-gawa ng [documentary] para makapag-kwento ng isang bagay na hindi pa naririnig ng mga tao. Basta tandaan lang nila kung ano ba yung gusto nilang iparating sa mga manonood kasi makikita yun sa gagawin nila,” Liwanag said. Meanwhile, Reyes said, “I
have three principles: first is yung gawin mo lang ung mga gusto mong gawin sa buhay, yung passion mo, may mga struggles pero malalagpasan din yan. Second, maging humble, yung tipong kahit may nagawa ka na puwedeng ipagmalaki, huwag mo ipamukha sa tao na magaling ka. Third, huwag mong kakalimutan to thank Him for the blessings, kasama na dito ang mga mahal mo sa buhay and siguro ung guidance sa ‘yo, and huwag na huwag iisipin ang recognition/ awards, ang isipin mo ay ang tatlong ito, because if you have these three things in you, kusang dadating yan. “ The themes for The Global Health Forum Film Festival were social accountability, increasing investments, country-driven capacity building, food and nutrition safety and security, health in mega cities, and disaster risk reduction. Over 2,000 delegates from 50 countries came to the said event and there were performances from El Gamma Penumbra.
Students attend journ seminar 100% PASSING BY BIANCA BAES
THE ONGOING advancement of the press media in the Philippines has been acknowledged yet again during the 20thJaime V. Ongpin journalism seminar on August 27 in Makati. Students from Letran, particularly those who are taking up media-related programs such as journalism and communication, showed support for their chosen field at the event together with other representatives from different colleges and universities, as well as some faculty members. The discussion for this year’s Jaime V. Ongpin journalism seminar took up two timely issues such as the Bangsamoro Basic Law and coverage of Mindanao and corruption for next year’s national elections. The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the organizer of the seminar, also made use of the power of social media by giving people a chance to take part with the hashtag, #JVOJS2015. The selected panel for the seminar consisted of journalists from the biggest companies in the media industry today. Joseph Morong (GMA Network Inc.), Carolyn Arguillas (MindaNews), Cherry Ann Lim (Sun. Star Cebu), Ed Lingao (TV5), Gigi Grande, Lore Mae Andong, and Raffy Santos (ABSCBN Corp.) were present to give their insights regarding the current status of media freedom in the country. The program started with the opening remarks led by Melinda Quintos de Jesus, executive director of CMFR, followed by the explanation of the selection process by Luis
V. Teodoro, deputy director of CMFR. The panelists then shared the hardship they faced in covering the sensitive news surrounding Mindanao while retaining the interest of the public towards the issue during the discussion and open forum. When the issue of corruption was brought up, the panelists then agreed with each other stating that their profession cannot stop these wrongdoings but simultaneously admitting that they could work more on follow-up stories so the public can keep track of these cases. After the open forum, the awarding of the Marshall McLuhan Fellow took place, naming Joseph Morong as the front-runner this year. Alongside the McLuhan award was the Award of Distinction given to MindaNews represented by Carolyn Arguillas for their outstanding coverage of the BBL. The remaining panelists were also given certificates and honoraria as tokens for their participation. For 20 years, the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism has encouraged the progress of analytical and descriptive reporting in which it recognizes the exceptional achievements of journalism professionals in these fields. The seminar is made to draw out implications for media coverage, and in general, the conduct of the press in the country, as well as the role the press plays in various controversies and issues in development.
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absurd to others because to be honest review centers are not that cheap but we were so eager to pass that we’d do everything no matter what it took. Kahit lagpas eight books na yung babasahin namin all with more than 200 to 300 pages in a month go lang basta makapasa.” Asst. Prof. Kenji Asano Jr., assistant dean of College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), said, “ND is a new program of CBAA, that’s the first batch na graduates natin and yet we achieved an excellent rating already.” Asano is also confident that Letran will maintain this passing rate in the future. “We do commit ourselves to maintain that passing rate because we all know that students who finish ND in our school are competent enough, and that proves in terms of hurdling the ]Philippine
Regulation Commission] licensure of ND.” Asano also said there would be continuous improvement in the ND program in the years to come. “Actually we will really do continuous improvement in terms of our teaching instructions, in terms of facilities that we offer, and of course we will help our students further,” adding, “In the next run, we are hoping to be a part of those in the above rankings of licensure examinations, so we will believe and we will always commit ourselves to higher quality education for every step that we will make.” Inst. Mariel Diongco, RND, former coordinator of the ND program of Letran, said she “already saw their potential from the very beginning. They worked hard and endured all of the challenges during their stay in the Colegio.”
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VOLUME XXXIX - ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 - 16 PAGES
De Lima, Carpio discuss West PH Sea dispute BY BIANCA BAES
Colegio celebrates Quezon’s 137th birth BY JOSHUA FIDEL FERIA, News Trainee
Justice Secretary de Lima enlightens Letranites with her brief speech | PHOTO BY RYAN RONA
ST. THOMAS HALL was immediately packed as two of the biggest names in the field of judiciary, Leila De Lima, Secretary of the Department of Justice, and Antonio Carpio, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court graced the event #mayLAWbanTayo, on September 10. The program, organized by fourth year political science students, revolved around the dispute surrounding the West Philippine Sea. De Lima first had the floor and gave important points regarding the issue, stressing the fact that the Philippines, albeit a small nation battling against China, remains unfeigned amid the situation. “Our opinions in the case of Republic of the Philippines versus the People’s Republic of China can continuously belittle the occasion or proclaim its insignificance... but it cannot ignore its historical or legal value,”
De Lima said. “Here we are, a small nation that cannot compare in a hundred years, that we brought to court for no other reason than, at the least, we are right and that the law is on our side,” she added. She also pointed out the intrusive actions of China, whose ships are currently surrounding the disputed waters, “The situation may not be an invasion, yet... but it already constitutes an intrusion in Philippine territory by mere reason of proximity to the archipelago.” De Lima asked, “Is it a waste of time and resources to show to the whole world how determined our country is in defending our rights and dignity as a people?” She answered, “A big no.” “Lawfare rather than warfare,” De Lima said, ending her speech in a strong manner. Moments later, after showing two documentaries related to the West Philippine Sea dispute, Associate
Justice Antonio Carpio arrived and delivered an informative presentation regarding the issue, dating back from the history of both the territories of China and the Philippines, as well as its current state. Bridget Taguibao, a political science student, said the tension between China and the Philippines is a crucial topic and requires the knowledge of many which is why they chose this as the topic for the discussion. “Kaya nga #MayLAWbanTayo yung name ng program para malaman natin yung karapatan ng nation natin since we (political science students) are taking up international law,” Taguibao said. After the two guest speakers delivered their speech, both were given awards of recognition by Asst. Prof. Louie Benedict Ignacio, dean of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Associate Justice Carpio discusses the international laws on the sea dispute. | PHOTO BY IÑAKI PELONIO
Members of the Quezon and Avanceña families together with Rector and President Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P., pose at the Quezon garden. | PHOTO FROM PAMD
LETRAN took part in the commemoration of the 137th birth anniversary of the Colegio’s most notable alumnus, Manuel Quezon, on August 19. Attended by members of the Quezon and Avanceña families, alumni, faculty, and selected students, the festivities within the Colegio comprised of various art exhibits, Filipiniana outfits, and a Holy Mass officiated by Rector and President Fr.
ICOMM FROM PAGE 1
pecially for her orphaned grandchild (Jasper). The documentary was produced by Plan Z Productions, headed by Jae-re Louise Liwanag: Director, with teammates Juan Domingo De Castro: Technical Director; Abigail Venturanza: Creative Director; Rafael Omega: Production Manager; Leslie Cardenas: Production Assistant & Cameraman; Bettina Bonillo: Production Assistant; Marian Santos: Production Assistant; and Stella Catacutan: Production Assistant. “It’s more than just a documentary, more than just [compliance],” De Castro said, adding, “At first it was
Clarence Marquez, O.P. Gracing the events were a select few of Quezon’s distant relatives, said Randy Din, Filipino professor. Din said, “He wanted to be remembered not as a first president of the Commonwealth, but as a Letranite,” adding, “He wanted to be remembered as a good Letranite who served our country and a productive [citizen] of our nation.”
just a compliance because after all we are students first, who need to beat the deadlines and produce a worthy documentary. Then for some point, it became a learning experience, a realization for the team & for those who’ve watched it.” When asked about where they got their concept and inspiration for their work, Liwanag said, “The story of Sukat came about from a simple question, which is ‘Paano nga ba nabubuhay ang mga maliliit na tao sa malaking mundo?’” Earlier this year, Sukat also won three major awards at the Excellance 2015 for Best Editing, Best Script, and Best Sulyap Documentary. It was also featured on GMA’s “Wish Ko Lang” episode titled “Sinukat ng Tadhana”.
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INC members cry out for separation of church, state
NEWS
CLAS holds annual ‘Colors’ BY ISABELA PARTEZ
BY RAFAEL OMEGA
IGLESIA NI CRISTO (INC) members trooped to the Department of Justice (DOJ) calling the attention of the government for the separation of church and state. This was after DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima was said to issue a warrant of arrest following an illegal detention suit filed by expelled INC Minister Isaias Samson Jr. against eight leaders of INC’s highest governing body, The Sanggunian. On the following day, August 28, the rally continued further with members marching its way to EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard (also known to many as “Crossing”), which caused traffic jams which irked several motorists, also still calling for De Lima’s resignation. On the fifth day, August 31, the rally ended after the INC members created a commitment of self-dispersal. Earlier, Angel Manalo ex-
posed the anomalies inside INC; he said he and his family’s lives were being threatened by the Sanggunian. His appeal to his brother, Eduardo, the Executive Minister of INC, was to stop believing in the Sanggunian, in whom he said his brother deeply trusts. He followed that the “abuloy” or money that INC members give as an offering was diminishing because of the numerous projects that do not have relevance to t heir faith. He said that rampant corruption inside INC was amassing the people’s money. After Angel’s statement, Samson filed a serious illegal detention case against the Sanggunian. The petition was made after he and his family were detained inside the INC compound. He also filed harassment, coercion, and grave threat charges. In their rally, the INC members were continuously calling for the separation of church and state. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the DOJ had not touched the case yet. Valte added that the cases do not directly involve the whole organization, but some of its leaders only.
ACCOUNTANCY FROM PAGE 1
participated in the competition, our student bagged third place,” Asano said, adding, “This only means that the cccountancy education here in Letran is continuously improving and we are gearing towards producing more quality CPAs.” Asano also pointed out the evident improvement currently taking place in the accountancy program of Letran. “Last time, we [surpassed the] national passing rate during the board exam, and now we are starting to earn places and trophies for our program which means that the students are capable of hurdling examinations, and hopefully our programs in the Accountancy Area will already equip them to be more competent graduates.” When asked for tips for people who plan on joining competitions, Hernandez said, “Pray and pray and pray. Magbaon po ng rosary sa bulsa.” Aside from Hernandez, Mary Rose Aquino, Camille Gabriel, Mark Pareja, and Divina Nabata were also picked by Asst. Prof. Ian Dancel, chairman of the accountancy program, to represent the Colegio in the said competition.
Students from different programs under CLAS open the night with a huge production number | PHOTO BY IÑAKI PELONIO
THE COLLEGE of Liberal major narrated his experi- our time waiting in line for Arts and Sciences (CLAS) ence: “Kasi ang nangyari, un- our food from the food truck. held its annual get togeth- like before na yung food eh We spent almost 2 hours, er, The Colors of CLAS, at naka ready na beforehand, and frankly, we were not the Blessed Antonio Varo- yung mga food trucks kasi fully satisfied with what we though cute talaga at some- received. We wholeheartedly na Gym on August 7. The evening opened with thing new, ang mali na talaga appreciate the school’s effort a performance from various is doon lang nila niluluto. Just to try something new for the students and dance groups imagine almost 400 orders students, but the food truck from the Colegio and the ‘yun na pinaghahatian ng 3 was such a time-eater and waving of colorful flags rep- food trucks. Edi yung oras that’s something that needs resenting each program. The diba sa preparation ng food improvement.” However, some students highlight of the event was matagal talaga. Tapos na the annual Clash of CLAS, a offset pa ata yung expected still gave positive feedback sing-and-dance competition number of participants kaya towards the food service, “The soiree food truck was among all CLAS programs naubusan ng stock.” Another student named worth it. I would really spend which made Psychology emerge as this year’s winner. Antonette Guiao said, “Dur- 350 pesos to have such Queen Semana, a Broadcast- ing the soiree, instead of meal.” said Mearra Tubayan. ing sophomore and Romeo dancing the night away, my Quilantang, a senior Adver- friends and I spent most of tising major also stole the spotlight as they won Lady and Gentleman of the night. Despite the fun during the event, the students were dissatisfied with the food service. The three food trucks only catered 150 people each, which made other attendees not able to claim their food despite having food stubs. One of the attendees, Alain Asst. Prof. Louie Benedict Ignacio, dean of CLAS, announces the Lady and Fusana, a senior Journalism Knight of the Night. | PHOTO BY IÑAKI PELONIO
LETRANITES FROM PAGE 1
level. “We are carefully evaluating our qualifying exam. Now we are at the point of analyzing our tool so that we can really see the potentials of our students and we are able to predict their performance in the board exam.” Second is the fine tuning supplemental classes for graduating students to eventually develop a self-sufficient area for providing reviews for Letranites, and lastly, to develop
new kinds of strategies to teach students. Desengaño and Rungduin both shared their insights regarding Letran being recognized in the field of psychology. “Magaling naman talaga ang psychology area ng Letran,” Desengaño said, adding, “Yung requirements namin before patayan talaga which really helped us to be ready for the board exam. And I think having two topnotchers and having a 60 percentpassing rate just proves the quality of education that Letran gives to its students.” Meanwhile, Rungduin said
there are also other things to consider to make Letran more recognized in the said field. “The board exam is just one element for us to be able to map Letran in the field of psychology. There are also other plots to be able to put the psychology program of Letran as a recognized area or department that produces graduates.” Aside from Janer and Desengaño, there were 24 other licensure examination passers from Letran, giving the Colegio an overall passing rate of 60 percent, higher than the national passing rate of 46 percent.
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VOLUME XXXIX - ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 - 16 PAGES
E-trikes offer environment-friendly transportation in Intramuros BY DYLAN AFUANG
BY BIANCA BAES THE ISSUE regarding the hair color policy has always been a huge buzz around the Colegio. In line with that, what do the students have to say now that the new policy led by the Letran Student Council, allowing Asian colored hair is currently trying to be passed?
A loaded e-trike transport passengers around Intramuros | PHOTO BY ALISSANDRINE MARGARET BLANQUISCO
THREE electric-powered tricycles (etrikes), which are part of a study done by the Intramuros Administration (IA) and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of the Japanese government, have been offering free rides for people commuting inside Intramuros since July 30. Both mentioned organizations tasked SoftBank to undertake the project that would be tested until September, after which SoftBank would determine if it is practical and profitable to have e-trikes in Intramuros. The IA, however, desires to make the service permanent after September. According to e-trike project director Elroy Rendor, “If testing and verification become successful, then SoftBank may proceed with
the commercialization of the e-trikes. That is the time when IA will consider availing of its services.” The e-trikes project is also part of IA’s goal to reduce air and noise pollution and, Rendor added, ease traffic density within Intramuros, a heritage spot where Spanishstyle structures like San Agustin Church and Fort Santiago are located. Interested commuters can wait for the e-trikes at the stops in Manila High School, Mapua Institute of Technology, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Plaza Roma, La Castellana, White Knight Hotel, and Seaman’s Hospital from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. The e-trikes’ route pass through Muralla Street before passing either Cabildo or Gen. Luna Street.
Letranites attend Walk for Peace 2.0 BY QUINN PAÑO, News Trainee
Participants of the ‘Walk for Peace 2.0’ celebrate as the event wraps up PHOTO FROM YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE BUREAU
THE DEATHS of Guillo Servando of De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde, Marvin Reglos of San Beda College, and EJ Karl Intia of University of Makati were once again remembered as 18,000 delegates from different schools in Manila convened at Liwasang Bonifacio on August 1 to show their support to the Manila Youth Welfare and Development Bureau’s Second “Walk for Peace: A Walk against
Hazing and Violence” in schools and communities. These students who died from hazing gave rise to the first Walk for Peace that was celebrated last year. This year’s edition did not only require tertiary students but also secondary students in order to increase their awareness on the serious effects that hazing and violence can cause. The walk ended with a ceremonial blessing at the Quirino Grandstand, in con-
nection with the one officiated last year by Fr. Robert Reyes. The ceremony was seen to be a “spiritual cleansing” that had the objective to shun the students’ and fraternities’ want for power and violence. A total of 20 fire trucks which were gathered from various districts in Manila were deployed. The students who had the most participation in this activity were those ones enrolled in the National Service Training Program. Colleges and universities encouraged the students to attend because they saw it as an “enhancement of the youth’s civic consciousness on various social issues in our society.” The city government of Manila organized this event in promotion of its campaign and remembrance of the victims of hazing and violence.
“It’s a good thing that they are considering to allow colored hair for girls. I don’t really think there’s any reason to disallow hair color. If it’s being conservative that they’re trying to preserve, I don’t think hair color affects that.” - Mary Rose Aquino, 5th year, Accountancy
“Agree ako sa pinapasa ng SC na bagong hair color policy. Kasi for me, pointless and unnecessary because our hair color won’t affect our studies.” - Patricia Mendiola, 3rd year, Communication
“Para sa akin, agree ako sa new hair color policy kasi having your hair dyed doesn’t make you a lesser person. Walang kinalaman at hindi nito maaapektuhan yung pag aaral mo kung gusto mo palitan ng kulay yung buhok mo. Kung gusto mo i-express yung sarili mo sa pamamagitan ng buhok mo mas okay yun kasi hindi nito made-define yung morals mo kung ano ka pero pag pinigilan ka nila parang pinipigilan na rin nila yung freedom of expression mo. “ - Nikko Bukid, 3rd year, Political Science “Yes to hair color because I don’t think it would affect academic activities.” - Angelica Mae Nicolas, 3rd year, Marketing Management “Para sakin, mas okay na black yung hair color kasi mas professional. Tsaka para rin naman sa uniformity ng Colegio ‘yun.” - Joshua Gonzaga, 3rd year, Financial Management
“The policy which allows certain hair color is not a bad idea for those who want to express their style and personality through it. Having the freedom to choose another color gives the students the confidence they need for the day (or even for the entire semester) or the satisfaction that they can freely enter the school without the guards confiscating their IDs. Questions are, Can the students discipline themselves in choosing the right shade of color for their hair? Is there an objective way to sort through colors between those prohibited and allowed?” - Jana Derit, 5th year, Accountancy “Sana mapatupad na yung bagong hair color kasi hindi naman nagbe-base sa hair color kung masipag ba yung estudyante or matalino.” - Julia Gamboa, 3rd year, BS Psychology “Agree ako kasi di naman siya nakaka-affect sa studies.” - Rencel Dela Cruz, 3rd year, Legal Management
“Natutuwa ako kasi meron nang freedom yung mga estudyante na magkaroon ng sarili nilang style kasi college na tayo.” - Klyde Manansala, 2nd year, Journalism
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OPINION
EDITORIAL
Caring for the Lumad ON SEPTEMBER 1, Lumad educator Emerito Samarca was found in a classroom, with his throat slit. On the same day, two Lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Datu Juvillo Sinzo were also executed in front of hundreds of children and residents in Surigao del Sur. It is suspected that the September 1 killings were done by a tribal paramilitary force organized by the military to fight the NPA, and because of this, thousands of Lumad refugees are now in Tandag, capital town of Surigao del Sur. But why should we care? Why should we help? And as college students living miles and miles from them, how can we possibly extend a hand? First, we should be concerned with this issue because Lumad is among the poorest and marginalized in our society. And just like every other human and group of people on this earth, we should give them the right to independently make decisions about their domains, natural resources, education system, and basically all matters that are important to them. Second, we should help the Lumad because peace in Mindanao, and in the Philippines as well, will never be achieved if there is a group of people like Lumad whose rights are trampled upon. Lastly, as college students living in the city, how can we help in our own ways? Sometimes, just talking about the issue and taking it seriously come a long way. Trying to educate yourself and other people about it, and simply making an effort to spread awareness about the current situation of our Lumad brothers and sisters is enough. Sometimes, all you need is a voice. Sometimes, even a pen and a paper will do. In our situation, writing an editorial about it is our way of giving a voice to their struggles. With that said, as the official student publication of the Colegio, we take this opportunity to say: We are The LANCE and we stand by the Lumad. Lumad lives matter. Stop Lumad killings.
EDITORIAL BOARD 2015-2016
Kim Daniel Rubinos Editor-in-Chief Angelica Cruz Managing Editor Eumarie Peñafuerte Associate Editor
Angelu Rea Zafe News Editor
Angelica Pauline Sta. Ana Sports Editor
Bryle Suralta Features Editor
Ryan Miguel Rona Photo Editor
Alissandrine Margaret Blanquisco Design Editor
Dylan Afuang, Angela Baes, Bettina Bonillo, Rafael Omega, Isabela Pertez, Jedrick Paz, Trisha Andrada, Kevin Alcantara, Francis Bordador, Risha Fernandez, Angeli Manabat, Onofre Andres, Marian Lacson, Francis Manzano, Camille Terrado
Contributors
Leslie Boado, Louise Dela Paz, Pauline Gonida, John Ryan Padlan Arnel Pancho, Jr., Iñaki Pelonio
Photographers
Kenneth Cabuyao
Cartoonist
Luisa Buñag
Norberto D. Bana III Adviser
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For flag and country THIS TIME last year, our men’s basketball national team, most commonly known as Gilas Pilipinas, was fresh from their historic stint at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Anyone remember the gallant effort put up by our Gilas boys against world powerhouses like Argentina and Greece? How about the heartbreaking losses to Croatia and Puerto Rico? And of course, the lone victory that came in Gilas’ final game, against Senegal; that win was 40 years in the making. And that was one historic and memorable run; full of heartbreaking losses and surprises. Less than two months ago, Gilas Pilipinas was again called for duty; this time, aiming for a berth in the 2016 Olympic Games through this year’s FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China. But the big names in the PBA today, the players we most adore, are not in the latest incarnation of Gilas Pilipinas. Junemar Fajardo, the supposed-to-be centerpiece of
the squad; Paul Lee, a veteran of the World Cup; Marcio Lassiter, one of the country’s premier off-guards; players with high ceilings like Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar that could lessen our height disadvantage; and dependable guys like LA Tenorio, Jeff Chan, even including Arwind Santos. Where are they? Well, most of them are under San Miguel Corp. (San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, Purefoods). Maybe they were told to just hide under that large banner. I’m not saying that players of these teams were told to skip the calling; but the thing is, all points lead to it. From the San M i g u e l teams, only Marc Pingris made it to the team. But the Pinoy Sakuragi also initially wished to skip the event due to “personal matters” but later changed his mind. Some players may say that they have “injuries” or have an injury that needs “time to heal”, while it may
be true to some extent, it is a dishonor to pass a chance to represent the country. The sad thing about PBA today, specifically, the team owners, is that the business side weighs heavier than national pride. Shame on them. What can we do? Perhaps we should ban the products of San Miguel, those companies which didn’t give their love to the country; it won’t hurt the economy, anyway. I’m just not quite sure if we can live without the beer. But seriously, let us not do that. Let us just give acknowledgement to those who know what fighting for and representing the country means. Salute to all the Gilas players who answered the call of duty. The call is more than just putting on a Gilas Pilipinas jersey; it is about being away from their loved ones for a long period of time, risking themselves to injuries, and all those sacrifices which have to be made, be it big or small. As the final lineup of Gilas Pilipinas 3.0 for FIBA Asia is announced, let us all rally behind this brave squad. The Gilas 12 of Calvin Abueva, Andray Blatche, Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo, Matt GanuelasRosser, Dondon Hontiveros, JC Intal, Gabe Norwood, Pingris, Terrence Romeo, Asi Taulava, and Sonny Thoss may not be the best Philippines could offer, but the heart of these heroes is more than enough. Let us support them with all that we can. It is the least we can do. For flag and country.
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VOLUME XXXIX - ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 - 16 PAGES
A leader, not a king AS WE’VE BEEN used to seeing before, another generation of starved children would be most likely pushed to the center stage of the Presidential campaign for the elections next year. There’s certainly a lot to be done by the next president of the Philippines – feed the hungry, educate the illiterate and give jobs to the unemployed. And in the months ahead, you’ve probably had your own President to call – a leader who, for you, is capable of real action. But how are we supposed to pick the right one? What characters should we see in them? Faction before blood As the movie Divergent suggests, the characteristics of all or most factions – erudite, dauntless, amity, can-
dor, and abnegation – are essential qualities which a true public servant must have. We see in the movie how dangerous it is to let alone Erudite rule the faction system, and so does Dauntless. But if one or both of these two powerful attributes are absorbed by those who reject vanity, then the shape of our ideal regime would be a sight to behold. Yet, before you think that Candor and Amity are useless, think again. A leader must function in a friendly political atmosphere. We are a democratic country and we are free to address our humanitarian needs in government. So, we need someone who’s ready to listen and help us when we’re in need. Also, it’s important for a leader to be honest, if not, then we should prepare ourselves for chaos.
Hope for Philippine cinema ADMIT IT OR NOT, we live in a time where watching a Filipino film in the theatres is deemed by most people as a waste of time and money. Most Filipinos would rather spend their cash in Hollywood movies rather than films from our own Filipino filmmakers. And as much as I am saddened by this fact, we really can’t blame them, can we? Especially when most of the mainstream Filipino movies today are built from the same tiring formulas and recycled stories we’ve been seeing for years already, only with different actors and actresses. Let’s take Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) as an example. MMFF is supposed to be a celebration of the best products of Philippine cinema. But it has already been filled with myriad of sequels and movies that prioritize product placements over good storylines for a long time now. And because of the said lack of quality we’ve been receiv-
ing from the mainstream cinema, people tend to search for a breath of fresh air in independent film festivals instead, like the recently-held Cinemalaya which celebrated its 11th year, and the other upcoming film festivals like Cinema One Originals, QCinema, etc. Independent Philippine cinema does offer us new and powerful cinematic masterpieces. For years now, indie films from our country have been establishing a remarkable reputation in the world cinema. Recently, Lav Diaz’s six-hour masterpiece ‘Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon’, which I highly recommend for you to watch if given the chance, bagged the singular highest honor ever accorded to Philippine cinema, which is the Golden Leopard for Best Film in Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. Another recognition for the Philippine cinema is again from Lav Diaz. A 4-hour film titled ‘Norte: Ang Hangganan ng Kasaysayan’, which is just as brilliant as Mula
See, all the elements are needed, but what matters the most is the dedication to service of the candidate, whether he or she cares for the majority or just wants to secure his or her own family’s dynasty. Choosing the lesser evil “You don’t need absolute power for the leaders to be corrupted absolutely, for as long as there’s power, there’s corruption,” someone posted in his Facebook account. For this country, the cost of kindness is simply too much. In case of corruption, you just have to choose a candidate on the basis of of what he or she is most likely to violate. It’s a saddening fact how people now look at politicians negatively. But at least, they choose to dethrone the worst option. At least. At the moment, we’ve got varied options on the list. I suggest you keep an eye on the candidates or make a background check on them because just as when you thought you know everything about them, chances are you have no idea, really.
Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon. It was actually also our country’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards. Aside from these, independent films like Ledesma’s Shift, which is from 2013 Cinema One Originals and Pasion’s Bwaya from 2014 Cinemalaya Festival both won recognitions in Japan. Jun Lana’s Barber’s Tales, which I personally think is the best Filipino film I’ve seen in 2014, is also a recent addition to the many independent films that gave a new name for our cinema that you definitely need to see for yourselves. However, no matter how excellent and rewarding the industry of Independent Philippine Cinema is, we cannot just entirely focus and rely on it and completely disregard the mainstream. Dismissing the mainstream cinema and generalizing all the movies that come from it as trash is a stupid thing to do, especially now that recent mainstream movies are showing a lot of potential and signs of change. Hope was seen in the 2014 MMFF, significantly with Dan Villegas’s rom-com hit English Only, Please which was witty, light with just the right amount of cheesy. Manila Kingpin: Asiong Salonga Story (2011) by Tikoy Aguiluz was also promising both in cinematography and narration. Also as of this writ-
Gripping on grudges
“EVERYONE thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive,” that is something that C.S Lewis would say. To forgive is to forget is an old context everyone is aware of. But what if the only thing you can endure is to forget but not to forgive? Even if the conflict was now a forgotten bygone by all the people around, yet every so often you find yourself reliving those memories that flames that anger again. Shaken, a bit shattered, your heart is pounding its way out of your chest, feeling like you’re suffocated by your feelings, you gasp some air hoping to at least calm your nerves down, eyes darkening, teeth clenching, these are the things a person can feel when in rage; “beast mode” as some would call it, all the reasons to think rationally will be thrown out of the window easily and suddenly your feelings of hatred and anger is all that matters. The moment when you hear the name of the person you despise, vomiting words of disgust and cursing of that person’s ever existence is all you do. Even time has taken its sweet time being laid-back in erasing the glitch of the past, it was carved so deeply and you hold on to it so tight that it has no place elsewhere but live in your mind. The anger you feel starts to take all of you and start to have a life of its own, consuming and eating you. Eventually, it becomes part of you and lives with you. You may not notice it but apparently, the hatred you feel suddenly be-
ing, Heneral Luna, a cinematic masterpeiece that tackles a significant part of our country’s history, is currently being shown in theatres nationwide. But is said to be removed from cinemas shortly to make way for more international movies. See what I’m saying? Films as amazing as Heneral Luna only come once in a while, and yet our own cinema houses wouldn’t even let it have a long run. What I’m trying to say is this: you will find hidden gems in the big dump of tedious and formulaic mainstream movies, if only one does not stop looking. When you finally learn to stop generalizing mainstream Filipino
comes just a normal feeling. Many would say that even God can forgive so why not us humans? But what if letting go of that hatred is worthless? Hearing a sorry from that person would have help you kill the monster consuming you but it appears, that person never tries to beg and ask for forgiveness sincerely. Is it really that hard to utter the word sorry? They act like you’re the one who did them wrong when it’s the other way around and all the people around you know what really transpired. We know holding grudges are huge toxic on a person’s mind. It will make your world shrink, making your social life smaller than it seems. But for me, there are circumstances that in order to keep your pride and heart intact, you have to endure that hatred for others to realize their mistakes. Can we hold onto this hate even just for a while? Maybe God will understand? Let this anger you feel flow in you and be a constant reminder of the reason why you have to feel it in the first place, and all of the mistakes and lessons underneath. Don’t get me wrong, hatred is not relishing. It can be a ticket though that you can ride to overcome your every weakness and fear, so as for you to appreciate life more in a new horizon; teaching you that life is not as colorful as your parents painted in your mind but, life is about taming your beasts and teaching yourself to keep your sanity in times of people who are damaging your every being. Realizing that after all, life is meant to have a villain or two.
movies as trash and just give it a chance, you will get to see how much potential lies in it. Saving the Philippine Cinema is a lot of hard work, and we undoubtedly still have a long way to go. But what’s important is to remember that hope is there, and change will start if only one learns to embrace the good and the bad, and the indie and the mainstream, of Philippine cinema. After all, the real problem of our Cinema industry does not lie in the fact that there are still people who continue to support the “bad and cliché” movies. The real problem lies in our failure to support the good ones.
ONE OF THE MOST awaited Philippine Independent Film Festivals, Cinemalaya, is on its 11th year of opening its doors to local filmmakers. Cinemalaya is back with this year’s theme of “Broadening Horizons”, which aims to showcase more flicks, not just from the local scene, but also from the Asian region.The said independent film festival ran from August 7-15, 2015 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Greenbelt 3 Cinema. In the absence of full-length features this year, Cinemalaya supplemented this with wide array of film categories to thrill the growing numbers of attendees this 2015. The film festival reeled in new categories like The Independents: Asian Showcase, which features awardwinning films from different parts of Asia. There’s also Indie Nation presenting some acclaimed films from the local indie scene that will
Apasol (Chasing Sun) ★★☆☆☆
The Zamboanga native, director and also actor Ryan Joseph Murcia, tells a story of a gay couple, Mark and El, who are in the middle of love, farewell, promises, and non-stop chase of each other. The movie starts with a myth about the love of sun and moon which serves as the metaphor of the entire film.
The film was set in a breath taking yet serene landscape near the sea against the bright sky which starts to fade into orange. The film was never short of cinematic scenes. The issue with the film is that it felt too poetic in a sense you won’t be able to decipher it anymore. They wanted the audience to dwell in a deeper perspective. It lacks in storytelling and just right amount of sting to leave a satisfying end to the crowd. It seems like the director or writer had something in mind but failed to deliver it. The ambiguous ending left the audience in state of confusion.
Gatilyong Baril ★★☆☆☆
Gatilyong Baril is a historical fiction directed by Glenmark Doromal and Eero Francisco, that’s somehow gave an interesting and intriguing first impression. The film revolves around the failed assassination of former first lady, Imelda Marcos, done by Carlito Dimahilig. Dina Estrella interrogates Ronaldo Galman about the case. Tension and conspiracies arise as the movie progresses. The film fell short in sustaining the attention of the viewers. In short, it was somehow dull. The most noticeable flaw of the film is the acting. Both actors gave a sloppy performance. What was a simple yet intriguing film ended up in a chaotic conclusion. Even in the technical aspect, it can still be improved. The mystery that the film could have offered was overshadowed by the terrible acting and poor technicalities. The film can still be saved by the directors but chose not to and settled for the passable.
Sanctissima ★★★★☆
Providing the gore and horror in this year’s film line-up, Sanctissima was an easy audience favorite and it was proven as it brought home the Audience Choice Award. Directed by Cebu local, Kenneth Dagatan, the film’s plot was rather simple; Marissa, an abortionist, feeds the aborted foetuses she gets from her clients to her child. Some may think that the local horror films are nothing but filled with corny and cliché scare tactics, but this film proves that wrong. The terrified faces and screams from the audience filled the theatre which proves that the film was a scream-fest success. Sanctissima doesn’t rely on the usual jump scares but rather on the lingering horror and heightening tension. From the creepy atmosphere, minimal dialogue, and the gradual unfolding of the story, the film was a seamless horror masterpiece. The film was wrapped in irony; the ironic mother’s love. What made it more compelling was the thought it left the audience; demons don’t live under our beds but within us.
Kyel ★★★☆☆
Arvin Kadiboy Belarmino’s Kyel is armed with one room set-up and a profound script. It is the quintessence of the expression “katol pa” as it depictsan unnamed drug addict waiting for its lover. The film takes us to the mind of a druggie as it tries to find escape in the form of drugs and other things addictive like mosquito coil. Off to a good start, the actor of film, Frank Ferguson Jr. portrayed a superb realistic acting for his drug addict role. With an effective editing, Kyel gives the viewer a dream-like and disturbing sequence of a drug-influenced mind. As the film advances, the scenes became more redundant and the dialogue became more ostentatious. It tried to be philosophical too much that it concluded to confusing conclusion. It tried to make the viewers think deeply and more insightful when there’s actually nothing established to think about.
Nenok ★★☆☆☆
An all-around light hearted film by veteran short film maker Rommel Tolentino that features a nine-year-old mischievous yet sweet kid, Nenok, who finds himself a home in the historic grounds of Barasoain Church. Nenok is your typical kid inspired from the goody good teleseryes like Santino or Nathaniel. The familiar mainstream appeal of the film was nothing but usual depicts from family-oriented soap operas. It’s humorous, cute, light-hearted but trying hard to be a tear-jerker kind of film. I wished it stick to being a comedic relief opposed to the much serious selection of shorts this year. There were unnecessary montage of funny pictures (which were actually funny, but they were too many) that felt more like a failed and irrelevant transition effects to disguise sudden cuts. These sudden cuts also tried to jump from the cute and funny scenarios into heart-warming slice of life scenes. The shift from comedy to drama to comedy again was a flop for me.
Lisyun Qng Geografia ★★
Already gaining several awards and recognitions in other film festivals like Cinema One Originals Festival 2014, CineKabalen 2014, Singkuwent Festival 2015, Lisqyun Qng Geografia finds another home in the screens of Cinemalaya 2015. This year’s Best Director, Petersen Vargas, tells an alm in his film that tackles about an old map, two boys, and an u The plot of the film is quite simple, Tib finds an old map given by his high school bestfriend Tric and using this map, he traces back the special pl for the two of them that draws nostalgic memories. The narrative was told gracefully. It may be a familiar tale of friendship hindered by the societal pressure and prejudice, but what sets it apart is that it’s told in a personal perspective. It gives a more in depth view of the emotional and personal struggles of a gay relationship. Apart from the narrative, the treatment and sweet endearing original soundtrack by local indie folk band, Ourselves The Elves, gave the film a more sentimental feel. The beauty of the film also lies in its ability to make the audience relive their personal experiences and find themselves lost with the characters of the film. The ending just leaves a bittersweet taste in our mouth. The kind of closure we need in film.
premiere on Cinemalaya. The Indie Festival’s Best showcased indie films that recently bagged awards from various film festivals. On the other hand, Cinemalaya Retrospective gives you the chance to watch the past Cinemalaya entries as it features the best films in New Breed, Directors Showcase, Short Feature, and Audience Choice categories from the previous years. Additional categories also include Documentaries, Digital Classics, New Short Films in Exhibitions, and Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula. Different from the usual New Breed and Director’s Showcase full lengths every year, the main spotlight of Cinemalaya’s 11th year goes for the short films that are in the main competition. The short films were never short of surprises and delights to offer. And here’s what I can say to these films:
Wawa ★★★★☆ Wawa is one of the quietest entries in this year’s film fest yet it made noise as it won Special Jury Prize and NETPAC
or Network for the Promotion of Asian CinemaAward. Wawa Dam is the witness of grief and mourning of a young boy and his family who send their dead father to its last resting place. Anj Macalanda’s short speaks in silence and the beauty of the landscape and cinematography. Wawa is a simple yet emotional film of coping with loss. The inspiration of the movie is drawn from the stages of grief and relates to the flow of the river where the dead body of the father is sent off. The raw emotion of the family, especially the young boy, shows the vulnerability and melancholy of every man weighted with loss. Wawa successfully captivates the heavy atmosphere of agony and misery with its rich visual and pure sentiments.
Mater ★★★☆☆
Annemikami Pablo’s short film centers on a religious mother and a rebellious teenager daughter. The film subsists on the silence surrounding the main characters and juxtaposition. The repetitive daily routines, the exchange of silence and the polarity between the mother and daughter establishes the conflict. As their relationship grew apart, both of them find a better half in their own kinds of addiction; one with cigarettes and prohibited blunt and the other is obsessed with her religion and faith. The films tries to convey a subtle message as it uses paradoxes competing at each other, as one tries to emerge than the other one. But, this message wasn’t delivered successfully to the viewers. It failed to give a solid message and left the viewers empty handed.
Pusong Bato ★★★★★
This year’s Best Film, Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Pusong Bato is about Cinta Dela Cruz, a middle-aged forgotten actress from her generation and her stone lover – yes, a literal solid stone. The film provides a nostalgic retro appeal to the audience thanks to the dreamy visual and production design. As Cinta rekindles her faded fame and glory as she watched her old black and white film from VHS tapes, we are taken back to the cheesy past of the old Philippine cinema. Pusong Bato was able to capture the audience’s attention with the second half of the film as it tackles about the ridiculously real heart-shaped stone romantic partner of Cinta. Packed with eccentricity, comedy, quirkiness, and romance, Pusong Bato proved that it is worthy of being the best film winner. Whether the stone is a symbol for an unrequited love from an apathetic person, the dreams turned into stone, or just another case of objectophilia, that’s up to us.
Papetir ★☆☆☆☆ Despite being the shortest entry this year, only running for five minutes, Darwin Novicio’s Papetir won the Best Screenplay Award. It tells a story of ventriloquist who subconsciously recalled his dark part while performing in a children’s party. Papetir provides an interesting premise which was brought down by poor directing, bland editing, and over-all unlikely acting. It rather felt like a scene taken from a full length film. It was taken in a direct literal approach when they could have played it a bit more and made it more exciting. This dragged down the opportunity to tell a thought-provoking narrative.
★★★★☆ to International Film
most personal story unrequited romance. laces
A decade and one for
Cinemalaya BY ANGELI MANABAT
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Let ’s talk about
Bookay-Ukay BY RISHA FERNANDEZ
PHOTO BY EUMARIE PENAFUERTE
FEATURES IT’S THE LOW-BUDGET hipster haven book junkies long have pined and searched for; standing stronger than your failing relationship, BookayUkay has been around since 2008. Seated at the everartsy Maginhawa Street in UP Village, it has since then made their mark on the interests of many. But amidst all Instagrammed pictures and shared Facebook posts, is there something more to know about this indie local bookstore? If you still didn’t get the pun, Bookay-Ukay is a clever play on the words ‘book’ and ‘ukay-ukay’, which is a Filipino term for our ultimate paradise of cheap finds which are arranged in rows and heaps that you could actually dig… because they’re just that many. The store comprises an impressively huge selection inside its hole-in-the-wall space, with various literary genres from crime, erotica, and drama up to different types of books such as comics, textbooks,
and novels whether they be in hardbound or paperback and sold at reasonable prices. Furthermore, they also accept orders and sell their very own knickknacks like bookmarks, posters, and mugs. But wait! Just what is it that truly makes Bookay-Ukay tick from the rest? Is it the towers of books stacking up to the ceiling? Why don’t they aim to donate for some children living on a faraway island too? Whether it’s the vibe of its quirky walls or its dingy exterior, what makes this store quite distinct from the others is their own mission: a certain appreciation for our dear indie community. Holding events and even giving online promotions for album launches and open mic sessions, Bookay-Ukay is an avid supporter of the local creative scene. So take a step and jump over the other side – literally. Let the artistic bohemian in you roam because store hours are from 10 AM to 11 PM and open from Mondays to Sundays.
Revisiting J.R.R. Tolkien BY FRANCIS ADRIAN BORDADOR
“You shall not pass!”Gandalf the Grey against the Balrog. Fantasies are a thing t h e s e d ay s . It’s not always the love and comedy genres that always rule the precious pages or the movie screen, dragons, orcs, and wizards also made their mark in the theatrical and literary industry. And who does it better than J.R.R. Tolkien? Born to a family of English roots, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) saw first light at Bloemfonteim in the Orange Free State (now Free State Province in South Africa). His father Arthur Reuel Tolkien (1857-1896) was an English bank manager and his mother was Mabel Tolkien (1870-1904). He had one sibling named Hilary Arthur Reuel (1894). Upon going to a lengthy family reunion in England, his father died of rheumatic fever before he could join them forcing Mabel to move Tolkien to his maternal grandparents in Kings Heath, Birmingham, then to Sarehole (then Worcestershire village). Tolkien loved roaming the places around Sarehole which would late inspire scenes in his later books like the Shire and Bag End. A keen pupil, Tolkien had an ideal look and feel for plants, a result of their mother educating them in botany. He also likes to draw scenes and trees and favored the art of Languages and was taught Latin. Tolkien could read by age four and write soon after. He had developed feelings for books and the art of Literature. He disliked “Treasure Island” and “Pied Piper” and thought “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll as “amusing but disturbing”. However, he liked stories like “Red Indians” and the fantasy works
of George MacDonald. “Fairy Books” by Andrew Lang also caught his attention and contributed an essential foundation being an influential piece to him and is apparent to some of Tolkien’s later works. In his teens, Tolkien encountered his first constructed Language, “animalic” by his cousins, Mary and Marjorie Inceldon. Interest in language faded soon, but not for the three as they invented a more complex language, the “Nevbosh”. The next, “Naffarin” would be Tolkien’s own creation. In 1911, Tolkien went on a summer holiday in Switzerland, a trip that he recollects vividly in a 1968 letter, noting that Bilbo’s journey across the Misty Mountains (“including the glissade down the slithering stones into the pine woods”) is directly based on his adventures as their party of 12 hiked from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen and on to camp in the moraines beyond Mürren. Fiftyseven years later, Tolkien remembered his regret at leaving the view of the eternal snows of Jungfrau and Silberhorn (“the Silvertine (Celebdil) of my dreams”). They went across the Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald and on across the Grosse Scheidegg to Meiringen. They continued across the Grimsel Pass, through the upper Valais to Brig and on to the Aletsch glacier and Zermatt. In October of the same year, Tolkien began studying at Exeter College, Oxford. He initially studied Classics but changed his course in 1913 to English Language and Literature, graduating in 1915 with first-class honours in his final examinations. During the Battle of Somme, Tolkien was promoted as lieutenant and his wife Edith began to dance for him in a clearing among the flowering Hemlock. Upon her death, Tolkien remembered: “I never called Edith Luthien – but she was the source of the story that in time became the chief part of the Silmarillion.” This incident inspired the account of the meeting of Beren and LúthienAs part of Tolkien’s writ-
ing career after his resignation as lieutenant, he began on a translation of the Anglo- Saxon classical epic, “Beowulf”. It was never published, until it was edited and finished by his son in 2014 and has it published. Over 40 years after Tolkien’s death, more than 90 years since its completion. All those studies and experiences weren’t for nothing, apart from minor works of Tolkien, he also produced classical and highly influential works which still lingers to this day and it is still used as inspirations and basis for future literary works especially in Fantasy. Among these works were: Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics, Children’s books and other short works: In addition to his mythopoeic compositions, Tolkien enjoyed inventing fantasy stories to entertain his children. He wrote annual Christmas letters from Father Christmas for them, building up a series of short stories (later compiled and published as The Father Christmas Letters). Other stories included Mr. Bliss and Roverandom (for children), and Leaf by Niggle (part of Tree and Leaf), The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, On Fairy-Stories, Smith of Wootton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham. Roverandom and Smith of Wootton Major, like The Hobbit, borrowed ideas from his legendarium, next is The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, posthumous publications like The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and History of Middle Earth, Mr. Bliss, The Children of Hurin, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, The Fall of Athur, and Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary. From language construction, to poems, to mini stories, to mega classics, Tolkien has pinned it. Whether his legacy dies tomorrow or lives through old age… only us, the current generation of readers can answer that. You decide. “Even the smallest person can change the course of History” – Lady Galadriel to Froddo Baggins.
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VOLUME XXXIX - ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 - 16 PAGES
Honoring
Mother Mary BY TEEJAY OBSEQUI, , Features Trainee
ALL OF US honor our mothers in our own personal intimate ways. We provide them a special place in our hearts. The mother of Jesus Christ, Mary, is honored by many people around the world in their own ways. The Catholics around the world celebrate solemn festivities in veneration of Mary namely, the Nativity of Mary or basically her birth anniversary which is celebrated every 8th of September. Meanwhile, the Feast of Immaculate Conception celebrates the condition of Virgin Mary from being free
from the original sin, every December 8, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, on December 14. Other religions such as Iglesia Ni Cristo, Protestantism, and Islam recognize Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ, but do not practice any veneration for Mary. However, what most can agree on is that Mary provided Jesus motherly love and care. And, they had their intimate and sacred bond – the relationship between mother and child. In different parts of the world she is called the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady, Queen of Universe, the Madonna, and Notre Dame. Who would not notice the copious shrines of Mary in the Philippines? These shrines are always full of people. They come not only as tourists taking pictures for Instagram, but as devotees venerating the mother of Jesus Christ. You may also find the shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baclaran. Along EDSA stands a huge shrine of Mary which was built three years after the peaceful People Power Rev-
olution during the 80’s. That spot of EDSA was where Filipinos toppled a dictator without violent guns as weapons. Rather, praying the rosary to stop the military tanks. The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic nation, a fact manifested in recent Pope Francis’ pastoral visitation of mercy and compassion that drew crowds of millions to the streets. Thus, it is not a surprise to see a street vendor selling your favorite mint candy, or your preferred taxi to place a miniature statue of Mary. You can also find paintings of her in jeepneys and tricycles. She is everywhere in the Philippines. No wonder, Manila Cardinal Antonio Luis Tagle said, “We are a people, a nation in love with the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The Catholics observes only two birth anniversaries of saints, that of Mary and St. John the Baptist because they are believed to be born free from original sins. The feast originated in Jerusalem from the 6th century by Pope Sergius I. Pope Francis, the present leader of the Catholic Church, has a personal intimate devotion to Mary. Whenever he passes by a statue or image of Mary, he kisses it or lays his hand tenderly upon it. During mass services, he uses incense to bless the Mary images. He notices the images and often
comments on them. In Pope Francis’ address to the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major on May 2013, he said, “Mary is the mother, and a mother worries above all about the health of her children, she knows how to care for them always with great and tender love. Our Lady guards our health. What does this mean: Our Lady guards our health? I think above all of three things: she helps us grow, to confront life, to be free.” People around the world from different walks of life venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, it is noticeable that Filipinos has a special personal devotion to her. It could be because of the different Filipino perception for mothers. We always appreciate the radiant unconditional love of our mothers and in return, our respect and love always remain, manifested in the distinct Filipino attitude of personally taking care of parents especially during their seniority. The millennial may fail to physically express their unwavering love for their mothers, but appreciation and love always exist in their hearts. The same goes with Mama Mary, the Filipino millennial never neglect in adoring Mary, the patron saint of all human beings, watching over them with motherly care.
Celebrating The Love For Books BY TRISHA ANDRADA BOOKS. NOVELS. FICTION OR NON-FICTION. Ah yes, the beauty of books, taking you from one magical place to another. They have mainly two edges: either can yield to higher and broader intelligence or live in other’s milieu. Loving books is a high commitment affair and the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) just adds fuel to the flame. MIBF, a huge convention in the country is accompanied by local and foreign publishers and booksellers organized by Primetrade Asia Inc., which was founded in September 1979. MIBF gives book lovers and literary geeks a chance to gather under one roof within the days of its affair (Note: this year, it’s Sept. 16-20, thank me later). Students or even the professionals, as long as you’re one of those people with deep appreciation for written works and academic materials, are all welcome as visitors at the event. Sure,
reaching over three decades of existence and giving book lovers countless feel trips is a pretty cool sign that they’re doing something right. MIBF tolerates your writing and literary juices with the happenings for its whole book fair experience in Septembers yearly. Expect the activities to maximize your literary experience – forums on various related topics that make the event much informative, storytelling sessions to hear and enter other different worlds, fun
games for the young visitors, literary workshops and seminars one at a time, and also, the exciting yet friendly quiz bees and competitions against newfound, random book buddies. Moreover, there are opportunities that should never be missed – the exclusive launching of new published works, more books on academic topics, and writing genres with budget deals that you can make
the best use of, and especially, meeting the author of your most cherished novel and getting it signed right in front of your eyes; however, don’t dare to just stand there and be fascinated, don’t screw up the possibility of being in a photo with them! Books are the darlings of the
convention but MIBF has a lot more than the usual book fair has to offer. This usually happens in mid-September for five days at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia in inexpensive rate of P15-P20.
PHOTO BY EUMARIE PENAFUERTE
12
FEATURES
Raising awareness for Suicide Prevention Month
BY KEVIN ALCANTARA
THE PHILIPPINES has one of the lowest suicide rates in Asia. Sounds good, yes? How about this: the suicide rate in the Philippines is constantly rising over the years? It may not be making too much noise, but suicide-related deaths are snowballing,
A 101 ON MENTAL ILLNESSES Depression? Or just pure sadness? While some people effortlessly throw around the word ‘depressed’ tailed with whining about how Cersei Lannister didn’t deserve her walk of atonement, clinically depressed people actually fight their daily battles against the real symptoms of depression.
and among the most frequent factors that drive people to the edge are mental illnesses. Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and God knows what else, these consume people from the inside until they cave in. Try thinking hard not to fall asleep just so Freddy Krueger can’t get you. Sounds pretty morbid, but
No seriously, you're probably depressed.
When you’re depressed, you don’t just feel sad; you feel generally hopelessly sad. It doesn’t necessarily mean however that you’re miserable 24/7. Sure you can still smile and feel good and all in the company of other people, but once you get yourself alone, the whole rain-inside-your-head starts pouring. Overeating and oversleeping may sound like a typical habit, but this may be indicative of early stages of depression, alongside staying in the shower for too long and staying in your room because, well, you start hating people. When you begin to cry while listening to Uptown Funk or for no reason at all, that’s when you should start to worry. That’d also be the time when you stop eating, sleeping, or showering, and the time when seeking for help would be long overdue.
Mental health is not emphasized enough. For some reason, there is little to no law covering mental health in the Philippines. Many people still think these mental disorders came straight out of imagination, to milk more money from the rich overprotective parents of angsty millennials. Or that it’s just all in the head, and the victims just have to shake the blues off. Nope. Stop right there. Mental illnesses are real,
and what illnesses need more than anything is professional help. And while some victims have already sought this kind of aid, some still can’t, most likely because . . . The stigma is also real. When you show symptoms of depression, it’s more likely that people are going to shrug you off and think of you as some moody
DO exercise regularly.
As much as it helps you physically, regular exercise also contributes in keeping your sanity. Physical activity may sound as bad as the background music to the shower scene of Psycho, but it’s actually very beneficial. It’s probably the oxygen or the blood circulation or whichever way science puts it, but it definitely clears your mind. It might get very exhausting at first, but once you get the hang of it, the tiredness eventually gets sweetly fulfilling.
DO NoT stress yourself too much.
College is depression solidified. Okay maybe that’s an overstatement, but we all know what school is very much capable of. Spending too much time over school works can cause stress, and stress brings nothing but trouble. Taking a break regularly keeps the meter low, so make sure you respect your rest days as much as you follow your academic schedule.
Goth that’s too punk to care. Some parents of children suffering from depression might also dismiss this diagnosis as some psychiatric lie because duh. My son has four limbs, ten fingers, a functional torso, and a reactive face. Does that sound sick to you? It’s also more convenient; they don’t get to spend cash on treating a disease they can’t even see. Not to mention the fact that you’re consulting a “psychiatrist”, a doctor for people screwed in the head. Who would ever want that label?
that’s just the reality of it. September 10 is the World Suicide Prevention Day, and to commemorate the global event, and to pay homage to Bing Bong more than anything, here are a few pointers.
Yes,
IT'S AN ACTUAL ILLNESS. Depression is an illness as much as diarrhea, measles, and herpes are diseases. It can be diagnosed, and there are various treatments available (sorry herpes victims). It is however very broad and complex that the causes of clinical depression widely varies from traumatic experiences to merely being that lucky person picked by genetic coincidence. Mental illnesses however show no visible signs or symptoms, save for the sufferer’s behavior. But just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there, which leads us to our next point . . .
Having a mental illness is NOT cool. Pop culture continues to glamorize things that are not meant to be glamorized. And with the influencing capability of the social media, more and more people get on with the stream. There’s really nothing wrong with romanticism if that’s your way of coping with life, but know that depression isn’t really about wearing heavy eyeliner and writing poetry on a dark alley while smoking reds and listening to Arctic Monkeys. Depression is ugly. And vi-
DON'T EVER tell anyone to kill him/herself.
No matter how much contempt or disgust you have against another person, you are not, and are never ever entitled to tell anyone to end him/herself. Nope. Don’t do it. No. Just don’t. Stop. Hopefully this one’s clear.
Most importantly,
DO seek help.
Nobody understands your body—particularly what’s in your head—better than you do. If something feels suspiciously off, immediately seek help. The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation is an active organization in the Philippines that aims to raise awareness and spread information about depression. Most of all, they help those living with the said condition. If you need help, here are the hotlines:
cious. A n d relentless. It’s n o t something y o u ’ d wish to be diagnosed with just for the sake of bragging it on social media, take it from people who are actually clinically depressed. At the end of the day, Skins is just a TV show, Silver Linings Playbook is just a piece of literature, and you have a real life and a lifetime to realize that things always get better.
DOs AND
DON’Ts 804-HOPE (4673)
Hotline:
Outside Metro Manila:
0917 852 HOPE (4673)
A Toll-free number for Globe and TM subscribers:
2919
13
VOLUME XXXIX - ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 - 16 PAGES
AlDub:
The Street Fairytale
The curious case of JPE
BY KATHRINA PINEDA, Features Trainee REMEMBER the love you had that came unannounced in the middle of an ordinary day that brought you your unexpected fairytale? Remember the moment when you saw that one person then suddenly your tongue got all twisted and a kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttered like crazy in your stomach? Remember when your day could be complete at just the sight of them even from galaxies away? More than that, what is it that makes AlDub such a cultural phenomenon? The country has had its f a i r share of love teams but AlDub, with this new concept, “Kalyeserye” has taken the country by storm in its own unique way. Eat Bulaga’s ratings have sky-rocketed since its initial airing and that’s a fact. Good for you, Eat Bulaga. With a fresh, new take on the modern day approach on how love teams and the typical tanghalian drama is supposed to work, Filipinos all over the country and out are going gaga over the love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza or ‘Yaya Dub’ of Eat Bulaga known as “AlDub”. EB created a new concept for their segment, All for Juan, Juan for All which was also the first ever live KalyeSerye on Philippine Television which stars AlDub. It immediately became EB’s most talked about segment for weeks and from what it looks like, will still be for weeks to come. People of all ages live in their own little teenage dream whenever the two pop up on their
television screens. It was a cause of a lucky twist of fate – sparks first flew on the July 16 episode when the fresh addition to the EB fami l y f i r s t laid e y e s o n the cohost w h o had been a part of the show for two months and the fire grew from there. It was an accidental pairing as they say – with the hosts riding on the grade school teasing of a cast member’s crush for another and the show has ridden it all the way to the top of the charts. What set them different from all other current and past loveteams is that theirs are natural, it’s nothing contrived. The staff found out that Mendoza really had a crush on Richards and asked him to make a surprise appearance for the latter episodes which spontaneity became a hit. From then on, KalyeSerye was made with a storyline of forbidden love co-starring Wally Bayola known as the meddling Lola Nidora and Jose Manalo whom she was forced to marry. Despite all the ruckus, the two still have yet to meet & talk face-to-face because for some sick and twisted reason, they are always caught in different places – Alden on the set and Maine in remote areas (well, except for a picture they had years ago). People are anticipating their meeting “sa tamang panahon” teaching us that true love, waits. Nothing beats real. PHOTOS FROM EAT BULAGA FB PAGE
FROM PAGE 16
Swimmers perform below par THE LETRAN Aqua Knights sent waves in the recently concluded 91st Season National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) swimming tournament after three days of competition at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Stadium last September 18, 19 and 20. Together with the Aqua Knights, gunning also for this year’s accolades
BY MARIAN LACSON were the San Beda Sea Lions, Perpetual Help Tankers, Arellano Chiefs, Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, San Sebastian Stags, St. Benilde Blazers, Jose Rizal Bombers, the Mapua Cardinals, and this season’s swimming competition host, the Lyceum Pirates. Prior to the competition, the Aqua Knights Men’s team captain Christopher dela Pena, junior
Operations Management student, said the team was preparing physically and mentally for their biggest competition of the year. He had also been very vocal about the difficulties the team faced – one, is the loss of senior players. The Letran Men’s Swimming Team finished 7th this year, two steps below from the 5th place last year. Key dela Pena and Julian Villacorta
WITH EVERYTHING Senator Juan Ponce Enrile has dealt with in his lifetime, he has left Philippine history with one of the most complex and confusing legacies as a legislator. No question, the guy is one of the greatest minds the country has ever produced. After a lengthy trial, on August 18, it was reported that Senator Juan Ponce Enrile was bailed out after his house-arrest. His bail was set for P1.45 million and the Senator’s family gladly paid. He’s back, ladies and gents. Is it making a mockery out of the justice system? Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang who said, “We were wondering why they had to grant the petition because the ground given by the court was not even considered by the Sandiganbayan or by Enrile himself. He hasn’t raised that. He has raised that fragile state of health and his motion to be confined in a hospital but not in a motion to file bail or petition for bail.” Strange, isn’t it? Smells like something more on the lines of “hell yeah,” the case is said to be revisited within the next couple of months, let’s see how things unfold. Special treatment? Likely. The former Senate President was back on the job by the next week. This all just seemed a bit odd - a man who’s declared too weak to be imprisoned is still fit enough to actually go through the rigorous task of working again? Heads up, Mr. Revilla and Mr. Estrada, it might be over for you, too, sooner than expected. At 91 years old, a man in that advanced age, you should supposedly cut the guy some
made it to the finals, while swimmers Jorel Lacson, Godric Caringal and Mohammad Damman who almost made it felt more determined to train harder for next year’s competition. Aqua Knights’ Coach Richard Luna saw this coming, as the squad lost potential point makers. Nevertheless, he is still proud of the efforts his
slack. To even just reach the age is an accomplishment by itself. How does the guy stay so young? Well, you can thank stem-cell treatment for that. Mr. Enrile is one of the most controversial figures in Philippine politics and one of the most instrumental in Philippine history. His term during the Marcos years, the unethical treatment, the sheer brutality and the iron fist he imposed among the Filipino people will never be forgotten, as those were some of the most horrible years for the country. Then again, his work in the 1986 EDSA Revolution also leaves him a permanent mark in history as a pioneer. People forget and the younger generation might not know this - Enrile was once considered one of the good guys, even with the dark past; serving as one of the key cogs in the 1986 EDSA Revolution, alongside Fidel Ramos against the Marcos regime, who he was also once part of and served with loyalty. Fast-forward to 2010s, Enrile is considered one of the most polarizing figures in politics. Plunder charges and his involvement in the pork barrel/PDAF controversy back in 2014 have only added to everything Enrile has been linked and involved with in the past. His Defense Minister years, his work in the 1986 EDSA Revolution, the number of republic acts that his stint as part of the Senate has produced, every issue, feud and case against him; what do you call a guy like Enrile? Is he a traitor or a hero? Well, “It’s either you die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” a saying goes.
swimmers exhibited as it was never easy to balance school and sport. Meanwhile, the Lady Aqua Knights finished 8th, maintaining the spot from last year. The San Beda College Sea Lions were hailed champions on both the men’s and women’s division, protecting their 14-peat and five-peat, respectively.
14
Notable Letran personalities off-the-court BY APEC STA. ANA
AS THE COLEGIO witnesses every grueling game of the Knights, we come to recognize different personalities not only on the hardwood floor, but also beyond the bench, in the bleachers, professing their hearts out for their alma mater. 1. STEVE MANINGAT “Grade 1 pa lang kami memorize na namin lahat ng cheers and songs ng school.” Steve Maningat may not be as vocal as the other supporters of Letran but he sure shows his angst whenever a referee makes a dumb call favouring the opposing team. The BS Management-graduate has practically lived all his life with Letran. “Letran is just like home for me. This is where I grew up,” Maningat said. He spent his college days by mere means of joining the bandwagon, and cheering for his beloved school. Steve was a member of the cheerleading squad of the Colegio present in Araneta Coliseum during every game. The businessman reminisced the atmosphere of the games by saying, “Noon, kaming mga cheerleaders naka-spread out kami sa gallery and lead the crowd.” He added, “During our time we use to fill up the Coliseum every game.” Maningat also expressed his thoughts on the huge discrepancy between the support then from now. The grade school, high school, and college Letran graduate admitted that the “Arriba Spirit” during the present times is somewhat lacklustre. Hence, he will continue on supporting what he considers as his second home, and believes from which he owes everything with, “What I am now is because of Letran.” 2. BARBIE ATIENZA “We were so intense that practically dying for the school was not a figure of speech.” Call Barbie Atienza biased but you definitely cannot ask him to be shy about expressing his school pride – whether be it on the game venues or his Face-
book profile. Atienza developed his loyalty and love for the school within his rough 14 years of stay in the Colegio, “The fervor of the school spirit has always been there, and never was it extinguished.” Embedded in the heart, mind, and soul of the BS Psychology graduate (Batch 1980) is his undying love for the school when he entered the cheerleading team during his third grade. Come college, he became the head cheerleader of the squad. Manila Bulletin’s Human Resource (HR) head admits that watching the games of Letran and supporting the team is his own version of the ‘Fountain of Youth’. According to the 36-year old Atienza, the very animated, fastphased razzle-dazzle kind of plays of the team excites him and makes him live his youth. “It reinvigorates me. Siguro it’s a kind of therapy, it keeps me young,” he stated. Atienza confessed also that he loves the intensity of the competition itself which keeps him wanting more, “Yung sinasabi ng Gilas na puso, eto yung puso talaga, not for the money. The level of competition is something else.” He added, “And no other better way of enjoying [the games] than really rooting for your own team.” Barbie’s abiding school loyalty was then credited by Letran. He was given recognition by the Colegio in 2001, and awarded him with a Don Juan Geronimo Award for Letranism. He actually don’t know where the inherent love and passion for the school came from, “Di ko alam kung pano kami natuto nung ganto, wala namang subject sa school na magtuturo sayo ng loyalty to the school and all.” Atienza believes that he owes a lot from the school, not only because of the prestige given to him but also due to the things he learned from the school. “I tell you, if you’re a true blue Letranite with a Letran spirit and character, you have an edge because iba yung dating, intensity, and confidence. You build that all up,” he said. Barbie continued on by saying, “One of the anchors of that is your sense of affinity – that you belong to something that is rich
in history, rich in culture, and rich in character. Once you’ve imbibed that, it will benefit you a lot from all your challenges in life.” When asked how he would describe his relationship with Letran, the spontaneous Atienza simply said, “Letran is me. When it’s sad, I’m sad; when it’s happy, I’m happy. I consider Letran as part of my persona.” “I don’t think anyone will identify me without mentioning Letran.”
3. RICKY PAULINO “When I see young men who have lots of potential but are u n d e r p r iv i leged there, I cannot stop but support.” One of the names that may not be familiar to most would be Ricky Paulino’s, however you will surely notice his face rallying literally behind the Knights during every game. Poised with his well-groomed casuals, Paulino has always been one of the prime supporters of the Knights, inclusive of financial aspects as he is also the co-team manager of Manny Pacquiao. According to him, he acquired basically everything, including his love for the institution after spending his grade school and high school years with the Colegio, “I practically learned everything in Letran.” He added, “After the flag ceremony, there’s this song that they play every day, ‘we are the men from Old Letran…’ Every day, it sits in your ear. You really learn to love the school.” Paulino regarded Letran to be ‘too much fun’; ironically it was also the main reason why he left the school to pursue his collegiate years in University of Sto. Tomas (UST), “Since it was very happy, sabe ko, if I stay here I won’t be able to graduate. It’s too much fun. Sobrang saya sa Letran.” Nonetheless, the now construction firm’s owner carried on to support the Knights. He suffices almost anything he could aid the team with. Ricky said that the main reason why he is doing what he does, aside from his given love for the school and love for the game, is because he wanted to help young guns who have potential but don’t have enough exposure. “When I see people like Apreku, like Almazan, people from
SPORTS
the provinces who deserve to have a break and make it in life – because basketball is one way of making it good in life,” he said, adding, “Rough diamonds, which can make it in the big leagues.”
4. JP BELTRANO “May hi’s and low’s ang pagsuporta ko sa Letran.” Just like most Letranites, JP Beltrano learned to watch basketball games and support the team through consistently being required by his PE teachers, and never did he realize that there will come a time that he will be the one pleading for others to cheer for the Knights. JP is indeed one of the most animated supporters of the Knights. He will catch your attention because of his perfectly-suited long sleeved top or just merely the way he is applauding the players, or cursing the referees. You simply cannot miss JP.
Though what most don’t know is that AB Political Science graduate became the firm faithful that he is today because he was also required by his teachers.
He harvested the fruits of his labor after the time where the former rector of the Colegio, Rev. Fr. Edwin Lao, O.P., excused him just to watch games, and eventually being given a scholarship because of what he does. The bank agent admitted that if not for Letran, he would have not known a single thing about the sport itself, “Nung bago ako mag-Letran, di ko alam ang basketball honestly.”
And after 14 years of support and two championships, he never expected to remain as a solid cheerer as he is today. Beltrano sees a great difference though in terms of during his early 2000’s and today. “Siguro kaya rin nagbago is because of technology,” he said, adding, “Malalaman naman sa social media kung panalo o hindi.” He thinks that other contributing factors affect the support system of today’s batch of Letranites as well, “Tapos yung layo pa mismo nung San Juan Arena. The traffic. Of course, the budget of the student, ticket, pamasahe, tapos pagkain pa.” Thus, JP thinks that those sacrifices will all be worth it if the team wins. He had his fair share of sacrifices too, starting from missing family events or gatherings because of a crucial game
to even accumulating his leaves and rest days at work in order to not miss a single game, “Suporta lang naman. Win or lose, sumuporta tayo.” According to JP though, there are up’s and down’s of being as showy as he is. Some people would often recognize him and commend him for what he is doing for Letran. In contrary, with the presence of social media during the present times, he was also being bashed by few, “noon naman wala yang bashing eh, di naman maiiwasan yan.” Nevertheless, Beltrano believes that the fulfillment he is getting from every win cannot be altered by such negative commentaries on him, “Yung saya naman kasi di mo matatawaran.” 5. ATOY ZAPATA “I just tell them, ‘I am not your usual Knight’ with a smile.” Atoy Zapata is maybe one of the most incomparable Letran devotees as he takes almost everything in a whole different level. Aside from being visible in every game, together with the patrons dubbed as the “rowdy crowd”, Zapata also conquers the social media to demonstrate his love for his alma mater. You may have seen pictures of this BS Economics-graduate flashing extreme gestures and commentaries in some Facebook groups or pages. Ergo, his different ways started back in the days of 1976, wherein he would admit getting into fist fights with the other rival schools. Behind all the unique, vigorous school spirit of Atoy lies his trust with the institution, enrolling his two children, brother and nephew to study in Letran. “There is too much of educational respect with the Colegio,” he said. You may be fooled by his crazy antics but Zapata can be pretty much lauded with his aid to the Colegio, “My support also goes by way of meager monetary help for our Knights basketball team and participation in fundraising by our Colegio when I am invited.” The iconic Zapata is firm by saying that he will render his support to his alma mater as long as he can, with or without his frolics, “It is my beloved alma mater. Thus I will support forever until my passing away.”
15
VOLUME XXXIX - ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 - 16 PAGES
Rebirth of the 1966 championship team
LONG BEFORE the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights were touted as the “House of Chaos” because of their disorganized defense, there was already the 1966 Letran squad steered by the great Nilo Verano – a team built by one sole philosophy same as today’s “offense wins games but defense wins championships”. Every player of the past knows how to die for the ball just to win games. It is a true testament of how intense collegiate basketball was during the 60’s – when four inches above the knee jersey shorts and white high socks to complement those long, skinny ballers’ legs were in.
A look back in the past: 1966 Letran Knights Back then, Letran Knights were known for their pressing defense, making it hard for the opponents to get the ball across the other end. They scored points from turnovers, something that is visible with the present team led by rookie coach Aldin Ayo. The undersized Knights were very cautious and well-disciplined. That just showed how head coach Nilo Verona handled his wards during their prime. Joe Bolido, a 5-foot-9 center who played for the 1966 Intramuros-based dribblers, was a solid proof. He may not have hadcthe height of a legit big man but Bolido could hold his own against bigger opponents. Everyone took extra work just to get offensive and defensive boards. The older version of the present’s “House of Chaos” was tireless and relentless in every game, even switching numbers regardless of their natural position if crucial times required. “Dati all over the court kami, para kaming mga piranha, kung nasaan yung bola, nandon kami,” Nemie Villegas, another member of the squad, said. And during that epic 1966 championship, they withstood the much taller JRU Heavy Bombers bannered by beanpoles Roel Deles and Oscar Tuazon through a vicious second half
BY OJ ANDRES
to turn back the Kalentong-based squad.
In commemoration of the late Augusto Fermin As decades have passed by, the players are obviously far from their black colored hair and good-looking days. A clear evident how time has changed them over the years. And just recently, one of the members of the championship squad, Augusto “Gus” Fermin, passed away. The legendary names such as Larry Albano, Nemie Villegas and Dick Marquez were present during a Mass hosted by the Colegio for the late cager.
Fast forward to 2015 Former Philippine team coach and manager of the 1966 Championship team, Larry Albano, himself, affirmed that there are several differences in terms of their culture, yet the basic principles remain to be intact. “The playing field is still the same, the court is still the same, the hype is still the same, but the actors are different.” With inevitably the same small lineup as before, the Knights definitely want to follow the path of these legends. And maybe the easiest way to the crown is by means of following the philosophy and advice of these icons. “Basketball is the only industry wherein you can borrow or steal the philosophy of other coaches, na hindi ka idedemanda, pero nasa sa inyo na kung pano ibabalasa,” Albano said. Marquez, who is known for his amazing athleticism on court, also gave his fair share of words of wisdom to the questing Knights. “Walang madali, lahat mahirap. Huwag kayong papadala sa pera. Madali na lang yun kapag sumikat na kayo,” adding, “Nothing worthwhile comes easy. Huwag tayo muna magsaya, baka iduyan tayo ng tagumpay.”
Cruz, Racal go pro BY RAFAEL MANZANO
KEVIN RACAL AND MARK CRUZ are are ready for take off as their wish to play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has been granted. There is no doubt that the Knights are already dominating the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), currently with the top seed, proving them to be the socalled cream of the crop in this year’s juncture. Leading the Knights are veterans Cruz and Racal, who by now are obviously at the peak of their collegiate careers. These two relentless gunners share the same mentality entering the competition and that is to give Letran its 17th championship. As they dominate the hardwood every game, Cruz and Racal’s main focus is to beat every team, in which personal numbers are not part of their game plan under Coach Aldin Ayo’s system. Nevertheless, these two young Knights are bound by the same aspiration for themselves – pursue an elite and professional career in the premier basketball league in the country.
Luckily, their wish was granted in the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft. The 6’3” natural forward Racal who averages 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the current NCAA season, was drafted 11th overall pick by the Alaska Aces in the first round. He will be joining the lineup which consists of former NCAA MVP, Calvin Abueva, whom he remembered going up against in past NCAA seasons, former Letran Knight Junjun Alas and former Letran head coach, and currently the associate head coach of Alaska, Louie Alas. The Muntinlupa-native’s versatility and defensive prowess will surely be a fit for Alex Compton’s defensive program especially coming off from Ayo’s chaotic defense that became the Knights’ modus in their bloodshed victories over opponents in the season. “It remains to be seen if he can make as big an impact as Chris [Banchero] who was Alaska’s first round draft pick last year. But he’s a good character guy who will fit in coach Compton’s defensive system,” said coach Alas.
To the shock of many, Cruz was called late in the third round of the draft when he was chosen by the Purefoods Star Hotshots as the 30th overall pick. Standing at only 5’5’’, the diminutive yet immense Cruz was given the monicker of “Ant-Man” due to his speed and high basketball I.Q. and has been the undoubted leader of the Knights this season. Cruz was the second pick of the Hotshots prior to Norbert Torres in the second round. Despite being the smallest, Cruz believes that height isn’t a problem in bringing something to the table. “Hindi ko in-expect. Expected ko na mas malayo pa talaga [than the third round]. Na-realize ko na may chance ako kahit ganito ‘yung height ko,” he said. The 2015 NCAA All-Star three-point king will be joining the likes of PBA stars James Yap, Marc Pingris, and Mark Barocca and will be playing under coach Jason Webb. However, the priority still remains in Letran for both players as they continue their mission to maintain
Expression of freedom or a scapegoat? JUST LAST August 28, Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) members mobbed Justice Secretary Leila De Lima in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) compound on Padre Faura as she was about to leave – this kind of reminded me of a Khaleesi-scene in “Game of Thrones.” The INC faithfuls called for De Lima to stop “meddling” in the affairs of the religious group, particularly not to entertain the illegal detention case filed by ex-minister Isaiah Samson Jr. against INC leaders. They asked the Justice Secretary to focus on the Special Action Force (SAF) 44 case, among many. Samson was, accordingly, the whistle-blower of the alleged anomalies happening within the governing body of the religious group, which include the unscrupulous disbursement of funds and abduction of other ex-ministers and members. They transferred to a much bigger venue to stage their “beliefs” the following day – where else but in the most iconic highway in the country, Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue or EDSA. They camped out at the intersection of EDSA-Shaw Boulevard – blocking both the northbound and southbound lanes. You could just imagine how it was such a nightmare for public and private vehicles passing through EDSA that time, given that SM Megamall was also on a three-day sale. Permit was also not an issue, knowing that Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos gave them one. (And surely, INC will remember the charitable deed by Abalos come election time). All they were insisting and fighting for was the “separation of the church and the state.” Here are my views though. I am all for freedom to express oneself, including one’s religious beliefs or so. But I actually think this is not even about religion anymore. Members were shouting and screaming for the fine line between the church and the state while in fact, most have no idea what it all meant. They were
their spontaneous record and make it into the Final Four. Letran head coach Ayo admitted that his boys deserved such opportunity to play in the professional league. He spoke about how proud he is
basically asked to be physically there without the full knowledge of their stands. In order to prove a point, I guess it is pretty much essential to first understand the real deal. I am not fairly convinced that the entire fad they created was about following a greater entity above, neither about fighting for their rights, which I believe they don’t even see. Secondly, they were asking De Lima not to meddle in the case. As far as I can see, De Lima is just doing her job. The separation of the church and the state that they are insisting is not the issue because in the first place, that only applies if and only if the government interferes with their religious teachings and practices of the religion itself, which clearly didn’t happen. The government was just after one thing, and that is to investigate on the complaints filed. Taking religions aside, everybody within this country must submit to following the laws of the state and abide by the constitution. Religious freedom must not be used as a defensive mechanism when danger calls for it. Stating also what’s obvious, Iglesia caused a huge hassle to commuters and non-commuters. That is a fact. I mean yes, it is quite commendable to actually have a group that united, with that number, gathered all for one cause, you are showing the country how firm you are on your stands, point taken; but I guess, EDSA was not the right place to hold such – well pretty much, social media can attest to that. Though lastly, I am wondering if this whole spectacle was a showcase of freedom or merely a cover-up? Slowly, it seems that the country was swaying away from the actual issue, which is the degradation of human rights, as filed and waiting to be served due by the law. Sugar-coated by all these loud sequence of events is the mere thought of having to identify the rights from wrongs, religiously or non-religiously. with his veterans to partake on a new chapter of their careers. “I congratulated them. Wala ka na masabi sa kanila kasi gawa na talaga ‘yung dalawang yan.”
VOLUME XXXIX - ISSUE 4 | SEPTEMBER 2015 - 16 PAGES
Pacquiao on the ideals of Deus, Patria, Letran BY APEC STA. ANA
“DEUS, PATRIA, LETRAN” – aside from being the ideals of the Colegio, they are now also the common denominators of Letran and Manny Pacquiao after partnering, and building yet one of the most powerful force in collegiate basketball in the country today. DEUS Manny Pacquiao has always been the depiction of faith, which incidentally happens to be one of the cores of Letran. Same as the institution, the new team manager of the Knights believes that God is the foremost important thing to consider in anything, including a team’s success. “Napaka-importante kasi unang-una ang Panginoon, Siya ang nag-go-glorify sa lahat ng ginagawa natin dito,” he said. Pacquiao thinks that the team must not only play for the name of the school itself, but also for the greater glory of the God. Hence, there is a binding element way more than a contract with the Filipino boxing champ and the Colegio. PATRIA Letran remains to stand firm on the idea of not getting any foreign student athlete as it believes in supporting local talents first, more than anything else, which quite vindicates a great sense of nationality. With that being said, the “Filipino Pride” himself expressed how honored and proud he is to be with the only all-Filipino team in the
league right now. “Karangalan natin yun dahil unang-una pure Filipino talaga ang mga players natin, wala tayong import, at naipakita natin na tayo pa ang nangunguna.” He commends the whole coaching staff headed by Coach Aldin Ayo for quite an effective system given the small lineup, “Pasalamat tayo at may magaling tayong coach, si Aldin, at maganda ang pagkaka-handle nya sa mga players natin, at yung mga coaching staff sa pagtatrain sa mga players.” Letran being import-less in the tournament comes with a hefty height disadvantage, though Pacquiao believes that this downside can be overcome. “Sa basketball, depende naman yan kung sumusunod ka sa training, kung sumusunod ka sa disiplina,” the softspoken boxing icon said. “I believe na kahit maliit ka, kaya nating ipakita na kaya nating mga Pilipino, like boxing. Ilang beses na tayong nakakalaban ng malalaki sa’tin, ng mas matatangkad sa’tin, pero dun pinakita natin yung katatagan ng pagiging Pilipino, at galing natin sa pag-eensayo at disiplina,” Pacquiao said. LETRAN Aside from the significant connection of current head coach Ayo and Pacquiao, there are definite reasons why the globally-acclaimed athlete invested in collegiate basketball, particularly in Letran. Manny prides himself in honing young talents who have the potential of making it big.
Cong. Manny Pacquiao gamingly answers questions from The LANCE team at his Forbes Park mansion. | PHOTO BY RYAN RONA
“Ang sa akin ay, happy lang ako na masuportahan natin yung mga bata na future makakapaglaro sa higher na league, like PBA,” he said. Furthermore, Pacquiao shares the same passion in basketball with millions of Filipinos. He said he wants to help the development of what he considers as his second sport, knowing that this is the one thing that our country excels at. “Kaya gusto kong suportahan at i-promote ang sports dito sa Pilipinas especially ang basketball kasi isa yan sa mga sports na kaya talaga nating makipag-compete sa mga other countries.” The Saranggani Congressman seemed to be right with his investment in Letran as the team is performing well in the current season.
Swimming team performs below par BY MARIAN LACSON
Participants in the 91st season of the NCAA swimming tournament dive for success | PHOTO BY LOIS DELA PAZ
STORY ON PAGE 13
He is delighted, and pleads for the Letran community to continue supporting the Muralla-based dribblers as they battle the fierce competition to get its 17th banner. “Thank you for always supporting the team. Keep on supporting Letran because I think we are doing
good right now,” he said, adding, “Lahat ng mga players, coaching staff at buong team ay talagang nag-effort to focus and be disciplined. Sinusunod nila lahat ng disiplina para makapagbigay ng pangalan at hindi mapahiya lahat ng mga fans ng Letran.”
Shuttlers fall to Blazers BY RAFAEL MANZANO
THE MEN’S BADMINTON team of the Colegio placed second in this year’s competition of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after losing to the College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers in the championship round. The shuttlers were unable to defend their championship banner after being swept by the Blazers, 2-0, on September 16 at the Power Smash Arena in Makati. The team lost in both the singles and doubles events. Mark Sabarre lost to former RP team player Lance Bautista in a 9-21, 21-9, 14-21 outing in the singles event. Nathaniel Pineda and Julius Quindoza also fell short in a 21-18, 19-21, 19-21 defeat in the doubles event against Jigo Libiran and another former RP team player, Nico Santos. The shuttlers gained an 8-0 slate in the first round to claim an early spot in the Final Four. San Beda College, however, tested them in the first phase of their twice-tobeat advantage but relent-
lessly conquered the Lions in the second meeting. The team was hoping to clinch a two-year championship spree after defeating the Blazers last year. Lack of training was key to their shortcomings this season, said team captain Nat Pineda, given that they only trained for three weeks before the competition. The team also failed to join preseason games which they used as a way of preparation in the past. Two new coaches were also introduced after the departure of coach Rodrigo Murillo which caused a huge adjustment for the squad. Coach Willy Albo and William Gabuelo replaced him to head the men and women’s divisions, respectively. The women’s division also descended into a lower rank and failed to enter the Final Four. They defeated the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in their last match in both the singles and doubles event to clinch only the fifth spot after placing third last year.