DAGWAY Vol. 62 No.4 - SEPT-OCT 2017 by TheSpectrum-USLS

T R U T H

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K N O W I N G

Dagway V O L . 6 2 N O. 4 | S E P T E M B E R T O O C T O B E R 2 017

FEATURE Unveil this year’s Masskara Queen’s mask and learn about her journey to the crown. read on page 2

FILIPINO Que Horror! Bago ka pa pangunahan ng kaba, alamin ang mga hakbang para manatiling buhay sa mundo ng katatakutan. read on page 3

LEISURE Treat or treat? Help yourselves to some of the famous Filipino traditional food prepared during Halloween season! read on page 7

NEGROS TOURS: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL Tag along our cemetery-hopping and learn about the spooks that lie among the vine-covered tombstones. read on page 8

PHOTO ESSAY The Masskara Festival is famed for its fun and festive atmosphere. This time, let’s look at those who come for other things—like work. read on pages 4-5 —NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN

SMILE FOR SALE. A miniature mask vendor sits behind his stall waiting for a customer in front of the Bacolod City Public Plaza during the Masskara Festival Celebration last October 21.

Full Circle: A Story Of Redemption BY STARLENE JOY B. PORTILLO

Some say that a difference in perspective requires a 180-degree turn. However for some, change comes in the form of a cycle. One can always go back to where they started, and begin the change no longer solely for themselves, but also in the hopes of saving others. This is one man’s story of moving forward through giving back. 90° Being the third son out of the seven children, 25-year old John Benedict “JB” Villanueva of Brgy. 27, Bacolod City often felt neglected when he was young. It did not help that he often had to fight for rations with his older siblings, and struggle with the attention given to his younger sisters by his carpenter father and stay-at-home mother. “As you grow, you begin to realize you have needs. Not just physical, but also emotional and mental,” JB said, who at the tender age of 10 began skipping classes with friends. He claimed to only go to school during exams. “I felt left behind. I craved attention,” JB

PHOTO COURTESY OF BAHAY PAG-ASA BACOLOD

recalled. He found the attention he was looking for in the form of his friends— and more. Things started to escalate during the sixth grade, wherein he would go for months on end without going home. Sometimes, he would sleep over at a friend’s house. Other times, he’d sleep by the roadside, or nowhere at all. He then started his secondary education at the Bacolod City National High School. At 12 years old, he often hung out with 17 and 18-year olds who offered him comfort in

drugs. In June 2006, JB and his peers were convicted in a case of gang robbery and frustrated murder. JB spent four months in the Metro Bacolod District Jail at Brgy. Handumanan, in a cell with 13 other older inmates. Since he was the youngest, he would often be bullied into cleaning toilets and doing the laundry. “I wanted to go home, but I couldn’t,” recalled JB. “What’s worse was I felt like I was nothing, like I was useless. I can take whatever my relatives and

siblings say about me, but it hurt to see the disappointment from one’s own parents.” 180° However, because of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act which prevents minors aged 15 and below to be jailed, JB was released from prison two months later, and transferred to Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center—a transformational facility exclusive for Children-in-Conflict with the Law and the Children-atRisk from Negros Occidental and surrounding areas. Former Bahay Pag-asa director Br. Vince Fernandez, FSC arranged for JB’s transfer, and he agreed to finish his secondary studies, all the while serving two years in the youth center. “My time served in jail made me realize that I do not ever want to go back to that life,” JB emphasized. “It feels different to be free to do whatever you want, all the while not being of harm to others.” He finished his remaining two years in high school in three FULL / PAGE 2

THE PEARL AND THE MASK BY CHAD MARTIN Z. NATIVIDAD

You first find it in a shell. A tiny object emitting a natural glow. Having defended a biological body from threats—it’s grown through time, layer by layer. While inside the shell, it symbolizes wisdom and wealth, yet to be discovered. In familiarity, we call their kind: pearls. One pearl, in particular, takes the form of an archipelago in the east. Like a pearl, it, too, had been sought out for centuries, coveted and invaded for its rich resources. Yet it prevails, only to glow in splendour another day when struck by the sun. This is the narrative set

forth by Gintong Alab ng Silangan (Golden Flame of the East), a collaborative production under the Cultural Center of the Philippines' (CCP) cultural exchange program, that was written and directed by Dr. Steven Patrick Fernandez. The performance images the storied past of the “Pearl of the Orient" by capturing the centuries of the Filipino people's history, and encapsulating the spirits of the significant eras that shaped the Filipino and his nation. Never-ending Work Since 1987, the CCP outreach program has been providing support to local artists and performing groups nationwide through its Ugnayan sa Sining and the visiting artists'

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEGROS MUSEUM 2017 FACEBOOK PAGE

program by promoting their art forms and culture to other communities in the country. This year, to continue its initiatives, the CCP Cultural Exchange Department brought on a new outreach tour in the form of Gintong Alab sa Silangan. Gintong Alab was toured at

selected provinces across the country from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4. The flame of the orient experience was shone at Agusan del Sur, Iligan, Bacolod, Pampanga, and Marikina. Bacolodnon Crowd The Bacolod tour was held at SMX Convention Center

WELCOME TO BARYO GANHAAN: A GLIMPSE OF BACOLOD'S MUCHANTICIPATED HORROR ROOM

PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMUNICATIONS SOCIETY USLS FACEBOOK PAGE

BY KATHERINE E. CO & ALVIN BRIAN S. LEGARIO

That screeching you hear on your roof in the middle of the night? That’s not the boogeyman who’ll take you away, nor is it a mortified zombie that’s craving for your noggin. It’s a manananggal, and if it’s hungry, you best pray you won’t be its prey. The manananggal is only one of the many mythical creatures in Filipino folklore that lurk in the biggest horror room in the city this year, conjured by the University of St. La Salle’s very own AB Communication students. In cooperation with SM Prime Holdings, Inc., the Communication SocietyUSLS (CSU) came back to the SMX Convention Center again last Oct. 27-31 with a new scare that surely took thrill-seeking Bacolodnons to another world of fear filled with familiar remnants of a superstitious culture— to the haunted realm of Baryo Ganhaan. But underneath the spine-chilling monsters and eerie, finely-detailed sets are young people who worked day and night to breathe life into these supernatural characters. Let’s witness

PEARL / PAGE 2

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Ganhaan’s story through the lens of the minds behind the masterwork. The Sequel Ganhaan director Krishyl Garcia explained that the horror room staged at SMX is the sequel to Lunok, CSU’s horror room exhibit at MM 11 and 12 during the Lasallian week last Sept. 11. In Hiligaynon, ganhaan means "portal or door" while lunok is a Balete tree. According to her, the story of the first horror room is about a lunok on an island filled with mythical creatures, which acts as a portal to another world: a baryo, which is now the main setting of the SMX horror room. CSU Moderator and Communication professor Jade Snow Dionzon believes the choice of concept can serve as a reminder of our cultural roots. “This is also a way of keeping our own literature alive because after awhile, you don’t really get to believe these things anymore, given the technology and the exposure that our young people are having now,” she pointed out. Pre-production stage The Ganhaan experience will make you too scared to ever wonder how much GANHAAN/ PAGE 2

Dagway

More BY HEZRON G. PIOS

How can you face your problem if your problem is your face? has been an ongoing joke that exploded in the Internet because of its sarcasm. With that, individuals who feel a sense of inadequacy over their appearance will start to question if they’re ugly or not. The questioning soon becomes pressure which compels one to alter something in his/her physique regardless of whether he/she is called out for it or not. Be it here or abroad, the concept of plastic surgery spikes the constant tugof-war between self-expression and vanity. New looks are a no-no When Marlou Arizala of entertainment group Hasht5, finally revealed his transition to Xander Ford in an episode

FULL / FROM PAGE 1

years’ time under the St. Joseph School - La Salle night school program. JB served as a working student in the school from 7:30 a.m. - 12 noon, delivered water to offices at Bahay Pag-asa from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, and then attended his classes from 4:30 - 8:30 pm. He graduated in 2011, and by then, has served his time in Bahay Pag-asa. JB can finally go home, but he also chose to visit and report under the youth center’s umbrella. “As a child, my mother used to stay up worrying about me whenever I left, but now, she sleeps in peace knowing that no matter where I go, I will always end up going back home,” JB proudly reminisced. 360° Bahay Pag-asa continued to support JB for college. He ended up sifting through the college programs of USLS, and choosing a course in BS Secondary Education, majoring in Mathematics. JB never had a penchant for Math, but along the way, he learned to love numbers, along with everything college had to offer. However, he never

PEARL / FROM PAGE 1

last Sept. 27. Students and teachers, theater and cultural groups, artists, and the general public came to witness the hour-long, high-impact show. "Among all the provinces in the whole tour, Bacolod had the biggest audience with a crowd of more than 2,800 people in the morning performance and around 1,500 in the afternoon show," explained Masskara Theater Ensemble (MTE) moderator Tanya Lopez. Additionally, the entire production featured some of the country’s most prominent regional performing groups under its Ugnayan sa Sining program, composed of community performances and exchange tours. The groups involved included:

than of Rated K, Filipino netizens erupted into cheer and chaos as the names Marlou and Xander Ford trended worldwide in Twitter, leaving everyone in divisive positions. “Bye Marlou, hello Xander Ford!” “It was painful, but this is my dream. This was my goal, to change myself,” Ford told Rappler. Dr. Eric Yapjuanco, Ford’s cosmetic surgeon, spilled in Philippine News that the operation amounted to P305,000 with added skin care products depending on his choice. In an interview with Philippine News, Arci Muñoz neither confirmed nor denied the allegations circling around her lips and nose (rhinoplasty) saying, “I’m just really happy. I think more than the physical appearance, it’s the inside. Personally, I’m not against it

Faces, (cosmetic surgery). And whatever’s gonna make me feel more comfortable and more confident, I’ll do it.” Despite speaking up, netizens scrutinized Muñoz for being fake, trying hard, and wanting more because she’s already beautiful without “damaging” her looks. Thus the fear of judgment, on a closer look, is perceived as superficial, cited Fashion magazine writer Wendy Schmid. Comedian Emily Askin, however, commented on the issue about her nose job and said, “Regardless of how you look, people are going to judge you, so you might as well like looking in the mirror.” Going global and commercialized According to Business Insider, surgeons in Asian countries perform around 20

SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2017

Under procedures per 1,000 people, and plastic surgery makes up a huge part of the vanity capital economy—includes makeup, luxury cars, fitness wear, and health supplements—all worth an estimated $4.5 trillion, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Thus, "going under the knife” or cosmetic/plastic surgery (breast augmentation, buttocks augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty, and eyelid surgery) seems to be on its way to normalcy especially in nations with the most number of operations: USA, Brazil, Japan, Italy and Mexico, according to a 2016 report from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. American reality TV personalities The Kardashians, K-pop girl group Six Bomb, and Final Fantasy VIII character Squall

the

Leonhart look-alike named Amirul Rizwan Musa, a 21-year old Malaysian entrepreneur, are great examples. The psychological rationale “One factor is that, in contrast to Western cultures, the external aspects of self (your social status, clothes, gestures, and appearance) versus the inner aspects (thoughts and feelings) matter more here,” said Eunkook Suh, a psychology professor at Yonsei University, South Korea, in an article penned by Patricia Marx for The New Yorker. Marx added that Suh described an experiment he did in which he gave students, both at Yonsei University and at the University of California at Irvine (where he once taught) a photograph and a written description of the same person.

Knife Which format, he asked the students, gives you a better understanding of this person? The Koreans chose the photograph, and the Americans chose the description. Suh also cited that in Korea, nobody cares about what one thinks about himself/herself: that other people’s evaluations of you matter more. This relates to Confucianism, that behavior toward others is all-important, holding an incremental theory versus an entity theory about a person’s potential. So is alteration of one’s physical appearance an important case then? The societal tolerance, if not acceptance, still has a long way in doing so. Whether it’s a high-profile celebrity or an average Juan, going under the knife is his or her decision alone anyway. The problem isn’t the face but how you face the problem.

Of Crowns and Sashes

told anyone about his dark past. He did not want to be judged by people. And so, he tried hard to prove those who judged him wrong, and to tell them that he has now changed. During his first two years, he was a working student under water delivery, and he would offer his spare time twice or thrice a week to be a volunteer teacher at Bahay Pag-asa. “I saw this as an opportunity to give back,” according to JB. Having graduated from college last 2015, JB now works as a full-time teacher at Bahay Pag-asa, wherein he teaches 23 boys math, among other subjects. “I see myself in them, because I have been one of them. Sometimes, some of the boys would feel down or lose hope, and I tell them: ‘I was once like you. But look at me now! If I can do it, I’m sure you can all do better than what I had done’,” JB recalled the story. “When I was young, I thought I was useless; that I was nothing but a nuisance. But going through all this had made me realize and appreciate that I can do something, that I can start change,” he concluded.

A pair of heels worn by an aspirant crisscrosses the interior of a living room. Flashing a smile best paired with a hand waving in the air to and fro, she dreams of being a queen. Then an imaginary camera zooms in on her face. Be confident—she tells herself. When Bacoleños crowned their latest Masskara Queen (MQ) by the name of Fercy Lyn Almaiz last October 19 at L’Fisher Bacolod, the aspirant claimed what she aimed for from the first place. But the moment she removes her crown, takes off her makeup and puts down her sash, she takes a glimpse of herself at the mirror and say, “Nothing’s changed.” Almaiz has been described as the pinay beauty typecast— slim, brown-skinned, eyes that pierce. Her ace performance during the competition stunned the audience and judges alike. Taking up Liberal Arts and Commerce, majoring in AB Political Science and Business Economics at University of St. La Salle, Almaiz bested nine other contenders and took home the coveted title. Best in Swimsuit and Best in Festival Costume awards were also given to her. During the Question and

the Integrated Performing Arts Guild of Mindanao State University-Illigan Institute of Technology, Sinukwan Kapampangan Performing Arts from Angeles-Pampanga, the Philippine Barangay Folk Dance Troupe Rondalla from Manila, as well as MTE of the University of St. La Salle. La Salle represent MTE was invited to join last June, and was finalized in the production during Fernandez' visit in Bacolod last July. Six of their graduating members represented MTE, namely, Racine Genada, Noel Pahayupan, Roger Venzal, Venise Buenaflor, Diadem Garrido, and Febbie Meriveles. The members underwent several workshops focused on key routines such as training for Arnis, a martial art that uses sticks and was developed in the

Philippines. "We worked triple time so that we were ready for the September tour," shared Genada, MTE's current president. Curtains half-closed After months of performances and island-hopping, the Gintong Alab ng Silangan tour ended last Oct. 4. But the story may not end there. As relayed by Genada, Gintong Alab director Fernandez announced what may be a teaser for a possible extension and future tours in a Facebook post: "Judging by the overwhelming responses from the large audiences in five cities, not a few standing ovations, plus more invites, Ugnayan through the music-dance suite Gintong Alab sa Silangan will continue its road shows, even perhaps a major one at the CCP and a commitment in a China festival."

BY JYAN MARTELLA G. OPEÑA & HEZRON G. PIOS

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELBERT AMAR PASOY AND MASSKARA QUEEN 2017 FACEBOOK PAGE

Answer portion pertaining to the significance of today’s beauty contests, Almaiz expressed that, “Beauty pageants are still much significant in today’s world because aside from the beauty we celebrate now, we celebrate women as advocates of their own cause.” No wonder why she was acclaimed as one of the best speakers in the group. Being in the Masskara Queen, and championing it, was one of Alamaiz’s recent dreams as a Bacoleña. In the past, however, there was no specific beauty queen contest she considered to join in when she first entered the world of pageantry, stressing that she only admires women who have been the voice of other women, and those who use their craft to make a difference in the

lives of others. Her firm belief on the philosophy that “beauty alone does not make a queen and anything purely superficial does not last” serves as a guiding force which propels her to sustain the passion and interest. The experiences she had way before MQ granted her an edge against potential winners vying for the crown. She also stressed that every pageant is an opportunity to learn and become better. Despite winning and losing titles, humility must be a pivotal trait of a beauty queen, and that’s what Almaiz possesses. During the pageant training, jogging around in heels and public speaking workshops with Ms. Yasmin Dormido were most memorable to her. The said

activities enabled a closeness akin to family within the girls. Krisley Sañor was another Lasallian bet who clinched the Mutya ng NOPSSCEA (Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association) and represented the Negros Island Region in Private Schools Athletic Associations Nationals. As for Almaiz, when asked about the secret of her win, she expressed, “Breathe. Always speak from you heart, trust God and make Him proud then without doubt everything will go smooth.” Fercy Lyn Almaiz is no longer the beauty queen wannabe that she used to be. She’s now a queen herself, with beauty, brains, and a cause that she’s fighting for.

GANHAAN/ FROM PAGE 1

how to make kapres scary since they are just on the trees.” Production Designer Gila Inefable also shared her sentiments, saying, “[The audience] will never know how hard pre-production is because all they could see is the end product.” Fulfillment Although going from a classroom to a convention center brought with it a lot of challenges to the students, it came with a lot of fulfillment. “Some people might look at this as [just] another horror room. [...] Yet, this project entrusted to us by SMX serves as an avenue to enhance our communication skills and expand our connections,” expressed Grijaldo. But despite the exhausting process, they still find everything worth it in the end. “The experience is super fulfilling

because even though it’s tiring, you enjoy it because you are with your batchmates and since it’s our last project together, we are all working hard,” Garcia shared. Ganhaan is a testimony to new heights and milestones reached by the Communication students of the university through sheer talent, innovation, and hard work, being set on a stage known as one of the biggest event platforms in the city and in the country, as well as partnering with one of the largest property conglomerates in Southeast Asia. That being said, this is without a doubt a horror room to be remembered. “My heartbeat went so fast,” exclaimed Lianna de la Cruz, who went inside the horror room with her friends on Halloween. “It was so, so worth it,” she attested, still breathless from her run toward the exit.

time and effort it took to make everything. The production took approximately six months. “Multi-tasking was the key in making everything possible,” shared CSU President Renzo Grijaldo. They had to find actors from outside since their society was low in population. Additionally, they had to balance making thesis papers, attending to several majors, and extracurricular work while they were in the pre-production stage, Grijaldo recounted. Inside Ganhaan, the main challenge that faced the director was the characters. According to Garcia, “Monsters in Western horrors such as clowns and zombies are scary. In Ganhaan’s case, we had a difficulty in giving twists to our characters, such as how to give a creepy vibe to sakadas or

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 62 NUMBER 4 · SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2017

SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2017

Dagway

Wais Pinoy NI JYAN MARTELLA G. OPEÑA

3 Day Sale up to 50% Off in Great Finds! Ihanda na ang inyong mga pitaka sa mga kaliwa’t-kanang sale ng iba’t-ibang mga pamilihan. Para sa ibang mga mamimili, ang pagpili sa clearance racks ay parang pagkain ng tsokolate; mahirap pigilan. Ang pagkakaiba ng mga orihinal na presyo at ang dramatikong pagbaba nito ay nakakaagaw ng paningin ng mga mamimili upang ito’y hindi baliwalain. Ayon sa pananaliksik ng National Retail Federation, ang mga sale-obsessed shoppers ay mas gumagastos ng higit na malaki kaysa sa mga non-sale shoppers. Ang mga mamimiling ito ay pangkaraniwang bumibili ng mga produktong hindi gaanong nagbibigay ng kasiyahan. Dahil dito, bibili sila nang bibili. Bukod pa rito, may kakaibang dating ang mga produktong baratilyo. Bakit natin ito tinatangkilik? Ito ay hindi katiis-tiis para sa wala. Ang Pilipinas ay isa sa mga bansang may mababang katayuan sa ekonomiya. Dahil dito, karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay kumikita lang ng kakarampot upang matustusan ang kanilang pangangailangan sa pang-araw-araw. Ang kakapusan sa sahod ang siyang nag-udyok upang maging matalino ang karamihan sa atin pagdating sa pagbili. Iilan sa mga Pilipino ay mas gugustuhing bumili lamang ng mga produktong nasa mababang presyo o hindi kaya ay nakukuntento sa iisang klase nito. Noong nakaraang Agosto ay naging usap-usapan ang anniversay promo ng Zark’s Burgers kung saan ang kanilang cheeseburger ay nagkakahalaga ng walong piso lamang mula sa orihinal na presyo nito na P149. Hindi mahulugang karayom ang dumumog sa iba’t-ibang branches ng kainan kung saan ang unang 80 mamimili lamang ang makakapakinabang dito.

—JOWAN DAVE G. GUIDES

Nagsulputan din ang sandamakmak na meme at posts ng mga netizens sa Twitter, Facebook, at Instagram kung saan tampok ang napakahabang pila para lamang sa one day promo ng Zark’s. Sinong mag-aakala na magkakaroon ang Pilipinas ng kaniyang bersyon ng Hunger Games. Ito lamang ay isang patunay kung hanggang saan aabot ang kayang gawin ng mga Pinoy kung pagkain at mumurahin ang pinag-uusapan. Sa panahon ngayon ay mayroong napakaraming nagsusulputang negosyo kung saan sila ay nagbebenta ng mga imitation products katulad ng Nike, Adidas, Samsung at iba pa kung saan ito’y mas abot sa bulsa ng mga mamimili. Tandaan natin na mumurahin man ang mga ito ay ating dapat isaalang-alang ang kalidad ng produkto. Maliban dito, inyo na bang nasubukan mag-shopping sa mga mumurahing tindahan para sa inyong OOTD (outfit of the day)? Rak ng mga damit, berdeng mga sabitan, puting pader, walang partikular na magarbong interyor, ang musikang naglalaro sa pamamagitan ng hangin at signages na nakasulat sa mga makukulay na kartolina – tama, ito ay isang ukay-ukay store. Naranasan mo na bang dumaan sa tapat ng isang ukay-ukay at magtaka kung anong mapapakinabangan mo sa loob? Ang ukay-ukay ay ang Pilipinong bersyon ng isang

flea market. Kagaya sa isang department store , narito na lahat ng iyong kailangan mula sa simpleng t-shirt, pantalon, sapatos, bag at iba pa – lahat sa mababang presyo. Ang mga tindahan ng ukay-ukay ang nagbebenta ng mga damit mula sa halagang limang piso pataas. Kaso nga lang, kung ikaw ay naghahanap ng branded items katulad ng DKNY, H&M o Versace na swak sa badyet, pasok din ang ukay-ukay para dito. Dahil ang karamihan sa mga binebenta ay luma, ang paghahanap ng isang bagong item ay maaaring maging kasing hirap sa paghahanap ng isang karayom sa isang tambak ng dayami. Ang tawad o diskwento ay isa sa mga mahahalagang isinasaalang-alang ng mga mamimili sapagkat naniniwala sila na hindi ganoong kalaki ang kanilang magagastos. Karamihan sa kanila ang nagsasabing hindi nila bibilhin ang produkto sa original nitong presyo sapagkat kapos sa badyet. Marami rin sa atin ang nahihikayat ng yellow tag na nangangahulugang binabaan ang kasalukuyang presyo ng produkto. Kapag panahon ng baratilyo ay hindi maiiwasang gumasta nang gumasta ang mga mamimili. Ito ay maaring dahil sa takot sila maubusan ng mga sale items kung saan sila ay nag-uunahan na tila tampok sa isang palaro. Sino ba naman ang hindi mahuhumaling sa 80 porsyentong diskwento?

Ayon sa datos na inilabas ng Nielsen Philippines, humigit-kumulang 76 na porsyento ng mga Pilipino ang nagsasabing sila ay mas naaakit o nahihikayat na bumili ng mga produktong may freebies o libreng regalo. Ito ay madalas na makikita tuwing may bagong bukas na bilihan o di kaya ay holiday sale ng isang establisyemento. “Maaari mang maging handa sa paggastos ang mga Pilipino, subalit karamihan sa kanila ay naghahanap ng mahusay na deal o promo sa pamimili. Ang pag-aalok ng libreng regalo sa mga mamimili ay naghihikayat sa kanila na bilhin ang nasabing produkto,” ika ng namamahalang direktor ng Nielsen na si Stuart Jamieson. Tatlo sa 10 mamimili, alinsunod sa ulat ng Nielsen ay umamin na nahihimok ng mga pag-promote. Sa kabila ng pagkakaroon ng listahan ng mga ihahanda para sa kanilang mga shopping trip, karamihan sa mga mamimili ay bumibilii ng higit sa kanilang plinano dahil sa mga promos na ito, mga presyo, mga diskwento, at ang mga “Buy 1, Take 1” na paborito ng Pinoy. Karaniwan ring nasisilaw ang mga mamimili sa laki ng binaba ng presyo ng produkto. Ang isang pares na sapatos na nagkakahalaga ng isang libo na halos kumalahati ang presyo ay maaring bilhin ng isang mamili kahit hindi naman ito ganoon ka kagandahan o magagamit. Dahil ang kanilang atensyon ay nasa halaga ng kanilang maititipid, karaniwang nakakalimutan kung alin at ano ang dapat bibilhin. Sa pamilihang diskwento ang puhunan, ang mga diskwentong ito ay nakatitipid ng halagang mas mababa sa iyong iniisip. Isang magandang ideya ang diskwento ngunit iyong laging isaisip kung ang mga aytem na ito ay talagang gusto o sadyang bugso lamang ng pagkakataon. Ika nga, mas mabuting nang umuwi ng walang dala-dala kaysa sa umuwing may walang kwentang basura.

Maskara sa Likod sang Masskara

—SETH V. PULLONA

NI STARLENE JOY B. PORTILLO

Masami na sa aton nga mga Pilipino ang magselebrar. Mapa ini man tungod sa kaadlawan sang isa ka parente, pagkadaog sang isa ka abyan, ukon isa ka simple nga pagtinipon-tipon, masunsun ta makakita sang mga inug-pasalamatan. Amo ina siguro ang rason kung ngaa sa isa ka tuig, natantsya nga 600

ka mga piyesta ang gakahiwat sa 7,107 ka mga isla sa aton pungsod. Isa na dira ang aton ginapabugal nga Masskara Festival. Ang kapait sang kalamay Luwas sa pagkilala sa siudad sang Bacolod bilang “City of Smiles”, ini ang nagserbi nga kapital sang “Sugar Bowl” sang Pilipinas: ang Negros Occidental. Nagsugod ini sang nagluntad ang mga dayaw nga negosyante ka nagsugod patukod negosyo sa

industriya sang kalamay. Wala nagdugay kag ginsunod ini sang mga bantog nga pamilya sang banwa. Bangud sini, nagtaas ang ekonomiya sang Negros, nga gilayon nagpa-usbong sang pagkakinahanglan sang mga sakada para magtanom kag mag-ani sang tubo nga amo ang kina-manggad sang mga haciendero sadtong tiyempo. Nangin mainuswagon ang tanan, apang wala ini nagdugay. Sang Abril 22, 1980, ang M.V. Don Juan sang Negros Navigation, nga nagadala sang ginbanta nga 700 ka mga pasahero, nakabunggo sa isa ka tankero sang Tacloban City. Lima ka tuig antis sini, nagsugod man ang pagnubo sang produksyon ka kalamay tungod sang pagpakilala ka mga substitute sa kalamay, parehas sang High Fructose Corn Syrup sang USA. Tungod sini, nagdesisyon ang Negrense artist nga si Ely Santiago, kaupod sang iban nga mga miyembro ka gobyerno, civic groups, kag mga haciendero, nga

mangita sang pamaagi para mapamatud-an nga sa tunga sang kasubo kag pag-antus, makaya sa gihapon sang mga Bacoleño nga magyuhom. Oktubre sang amo man nga tuig una nahiwat ang ginapaambit ta sa subong nga Masskara Festival. Siyudad sang sinadya Humalin sa mga tinaga nga mass (Ingles sang masa, katinlingban) kag cara (Espanyol sang guya), gusto ipakita kag ipabatyag sang Masskara Festival ang isa ka masinadyahon nga katilingban sa pamaagi sang pagparada samtang nagasuksok sang maskara nga gayuhom. Para kay Santiago kag sa iya mga abyan, ang mga nagayuhom nga maskara nagapatimaan sang abilidad sang mga Bacolodnon nga magpakasadya kag magsinadya. Ini kuno naga-simbolisa sang paglaum. Kaupod man sini ang pagbayle kag sinadya sa mga dalanon sang Bacolod. Asta sa karon, namana na ining masobra 20 ka adlaw nga tradisyon sang mga pumuluyo sa siyudad.

PAANO MAGING PETMALU KATULAD NI BARBARA

—SHARA MAE L. PELAYO

NI GLEN JED J. DESCUTIDO

Hindi maipagkakaila na mahilig talaga tayo manakot at takutin ang ating mga sarili— ma pa elemento, multo, o ang nakalipas na anim na missed calls man ‘yan ng nanay mo ay tiyak na pasok na pasok sa ating panlasa. Palibhasa’y namaos na rin si Kris Aquino kakasigaw tuwing nandiyan si Lotus Feet dahil hindi rin tayo nakuntento sumigaw sa iisang pelikula lamang, nagkaroon pa talaga ng ikalawang yugto. Ngunit sa tinagal-tagal na nating nanonood ng mga nakakatakot na pelikula, ang pinakamalaking tanong pa rin ay, paano nga ba natin mapapanindigan ang katagang “Mabuhay!” kung tayo na mismo ang nasa pelikula?

1. Huwag mo nang hanapin pa Natutulog ka na nang mahimbing, nang bigla kang nakarinig ng sigaw na hindi tunog maganda. Bigla kang kinabahan dahil hindi pangkaraniwan ang makarinig ng sigaw sa gitna ng gabi. At dahil pabibo ka at nasa pagkatao mo na rin ang pagmamagaling ay lalabas ka upang tingnan kung saan ito nanggaling. Tama ba ang ginawa mo? Malamang hindi. Ngunit kapag may ipinapahanap ang nanay mo sa’yo, huwag kang mag dalawang-isip kasi mas nakakatakot ang sigaw niyang, “Sige ‘pag hindi mo nakita yan, makikita mo!” kesa sa mga multo. 2. Pero, maghanap ka ng kasama Sige na, oo na. Mahirap naman talaga ang mag-isa (Iiyak na yan!). Pero mas mahirap ito kapag may hinahanap kayong nawawalang kabarkada. Kapag may kaibigan kang nagsabi ng: “Maghiwa-hiwalay tayo, para mas mabilis natin siyang makita,” sapakin mo ng DVD ng paborito mong nakakatakot na pelikula kasi kahit kailan, hindi umubra iyan. 3. Maging isang masunuring bata At dahil parte ka ng isang pelikulang nakakatakot, natural na ang pagiging tanga, kahit na hindi naman

ikaw ang bestfriend ni Bogs na syinota niya. ‘Di to love story, kaya huwag mong sagarin. Sundin mo ang dalawang naunang ginintuang utos at huwag na huwag kang aalis at magsasabing “Babalik lang ako,” kasi 1.) hindi ka na makakabalik at 2.) Hindi ka si Lily Cruz, hindi ka indestructible.

4. Hindi pa raw tapos Ika nga nila, matagal mamatay ang masamang damo. Masyado silang malakas para mamatay sa isang bala o isang wisik ng agua bendita lamang. Kung tatapusin mo lang din naman ang pelikula, gawin mo na with flying colors. Mag pa fireworks ka, hindi yung iiyak ka sa tuwa dahil napatumba mo na siya sa isang hataw lang. Tandaan mo, hindi lang si Popoy at Basha ang may second chance. 5. Huwag mo nang ituloy Napagsabihan kayo ni Aling Tetay na may demonyo ang bahay na iyon? Huwag na kayong pumasok. Biglang bumukas mag-isa ang pinto ng kwarto? Huwag mong imbestigahan; hindi ka naman si Gus Abelgas. May sumpa ang manika? Huwag mo nang pakialaman. Abandonadong resort? Huwag niyo nang ituloy. Sabagay, di rin naman kayo matutuloy kasi puro drawing lang naman ang barkada niyo. Ang mga ito ay iilan lamang sa isang mahabang listahan ng matatalinong estratehiya upang manatiling buhay sa isang nakakatakot na pelikula. Ngunit sa paglipas ng panahon ay mas lumiliit ang pangangailangan natin dahil sa ating mga kakayahan. Kaya na nating malaman agad kung sino ang aswang dahil sa mga chismosa nating kapitbahay, kaya na rin nating makipagsabayan sa mga syokoy, dahil bilang isang mag-aaral, waterproof na tayo. Matatag at makukunat na tayong mga Pilipino. Eh noong isang taon lang nga pati energy gap kinaya nating talunin, eto pa kaya? Hindi namatay sa sindak si Barbara, petmalu si Barbara. Tularan natin siya.

VANTAGE POINT

A Different Side of the Mask The City of Bacolod is home to one of the most famous festivals in the country, the Masskara Festival. Every October, thousands of tourists both local and international come to the city just to witness the festively vibrant celebration. They say the smiles painted on the masks are what make the festivity very inviting. Yet, underneath the masks and beyond the colorful streets are the unsmiling faces of the different workers who toil behind the scenes. PHOTOS BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN, MARTINI M. FALCO, MARIANO O. JAVIER & KYLE JYRAX D. SEVILLA

Dagway

SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2017

MOVIE REVIEW

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong

BY MARIA ANGELICA M. APE

A film that has one of the simplest plot lines, yet leaves the viewers stuck to their seats frustrated but somehow satisfied. Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, since its release in 2015, has been both showered with praises and comparisons to Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise trilogy. But a clear-cut contrast between first-time writer-director Emily Ting’s obra maestra and Linklater's trilogy is that Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong did not end the movie in just a night’s setting but it was divided into two main parts. The first part of the movie centers on the meeting of Josh (Bryan Greenberg), an expatriate residing in Hong Kong working as a banker, and Ruby (Jamie Chung), a Chinese toy designer working in America who is currently assigned in Hong Kong. Ruby asks Josh for directions, who wounds up conversing with Ruby over a period of several hours. The second part opens and picks up when Ruby and Josh coincidentally meet a year later, after she has relocated to Hong Kong. The two catch up and their connection deepens over the course of another nighttime conversation. Ting knows how to keep her audience interested through the conversations of Ruby and Josh. Plus the way Ting sneakily made Hong Kong as a third character in the movie made the audience wait for more. The vague ending, though, is almost identical to Linklater’s Before Sunset which film critics share their comparative commentary on both films. While most romcoms gen-

erate on the budding romance between the main characters, the film emphasizes the importance of both the dialogue and the visual appeal of the film. Hong Kong was more than a backdrop to the film, but another character occasionally stealing the limelight from Chung and Greenberg. The film, dubbed as a romantic comedy, did not show stereotypical slapstick hijinks most romcom generates but with the use of the witty dialogue, a lot of revelations and surprises were being inserted throughout the film causing the audience to chuckle here and there. For her directorial debut, Emily Ting was tedious enough to put in a lot of personal touches to the film, similar to what Sofia Coppola did in Lost in Translation. Ting was able to put in her experiences into finishing the first draft of the script in just a week. In an interview with Shockya, Ting had mentioned that writing the script was easy for her since the story rooted from her own personal experience. Ting had also encountered an expat in Hong Kong where they spent the night together only to learn that he is not available. However, this type of film isn’t new to the audience. Aside from the Before trilogy, the 2014 local Sagada-set Filipino film That Thing Called Tadhana projects a similar vibe to Ting’s film and also the 2014 film Before We Go which was set in New York. Comparing both films to Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, the latter showcased the visual storytelling’s beauty and did not dwell on pointless rambles which the two films showed.

TV REVIEW

Fringe If the TV show CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) and Theoretical Science had a baby, it would be Fringe. Imagine a series packed with action, drama, and a hint of romance, all in a dark color-graded version of Boston, Massachusetts. Get intrigued by the realm of possibility, scientifically speaking, where things could be real or not. A 2008 American science fiction television series directed by Joe Chappelle and Brad Anderson, and written by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci, Fringe is about the Federal Bureau of Investigation teaming up with a formerly-institutionalized doctor, who was performing experiments on the unconventionality of real science, and his son to investigate strange crimes that are seemingly part of a larger pattern. The script was well-researched and well-written that it can make you think twice about a hypothesis’ verity. However, some may sound impossible, but if you really think about it and take into

BY: DAVID WILLEM L. MOLENAAR

consideration why the character thinks so, it actually sounds plausible. Yes, it’s as confusing as it sounds. The beginning of the first season is really just the buildup of the actual storyline and the introduction of the characters. Season two is a bit more episodic. Each episode is loosely connected by the team’s investigations and

problem solving. It makes one wonder how a show can be so unpredictable as it seemed like every episode starts with a problem, having the team solve it only to find a bigger problem arise. Although it may seem repetitive, you would be surprised how the plot can turn to all sorts of directions. As it became clear to the audience that Fringe was only a series with constant problem-solving episodes, season three came in as a shocker. It brought an unexpected twist that is surely mind-boggling, it would really make you wonder if you are still watching the regular episodic Fringe a couple seasons back. The sudden change in the story could leave some viewers unhappy and eventually drop the series altogether. Character development was great with the believable acting that could make the audience step into the character’s shoes. You learn to love and empathize as the seasons progress and the characters open up more to the audience. The cinematography is also on

point as it captures not only the actors and their emotions but their surroundings as well, with good lighting and proper emphasis on the current setting. The place is a huge factor in this series since it plays with the littlest of details and entices the audience to speculate theories about possible outcomes in the series. All in all, Fringe is an interesting take on the usual investigative type of series. It offers confusion and realizations your mind would have never thought of— to have your mind stuck with the possibility that some things that are once fictional, may be true. Unlike other investigative series, Fringe shows that the characters alone are not the only ones trying to solve the problem, but the audience themselves too. In the end, it is just a series with made-up hypotheses to make the audience intrigued and second think the nature of this world. But then again, how much of the series was actually truly fiction?

BOOK REVIEW

Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan In 1997 Payatas, Quezon City, there are no serial killers. At least, that’s what they believe in. In the same breath, an elusive culprit targets young boys, murders them, removes their genitals, and cycles this process to quench his sociopathic, lethal itch. The suspicious series of deaths, in turn, led concerned Jesuit priests Father Gus Saenz (forensic anthropologist) and Father Jerome Lucero (psychologist) to helm the case head-on in collaboration with the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation. As the priests breach underbellies, they get to discover the evils man contains regardless of background and circumstance. Hailed as winner of the Philippine National Book Award, Carlos Palanca Grand Prize for the English Novel, and MadrigalGonzales Best First Book Award, Smaller and Smaller Circles (SASC) by F.H. Batacan possesses potency and a rare ability to convince its readers to yell, Down with the justice system! Yes, that kind of vigor. SASC doesn’t back away from facts for Batacan’s knowledge

BY: HEZRON G. PIOS

and long-term experiences with the Philippine intelligence community for a decade stir a realistic approach and critical eye towards local governance and information interplay at its core. Her detailed shade and sketching of poor forensic and investigative resources offer sobriety on the ‘’stenches’’ that are manning the machinations, leaving justice being a hand’s reach for the rich, and the poor left with nada

but jail. Through Father Saenz’ meticulous personality coupled with Father Jerome’s seemingly psychic approach in conversing, the supporting characters are given focus through the priests’ scope of intellect, expertise and principles. Undertones and casual insertions of child abuse and sexual harassment as subplots were clearly shown as well. How, then, can a priest treated with reverence indulge in so much wealth that it already corrupts the local socio-political climate and smudges his oath for a humbling life? How, then, can a professional teacher get away with sexual offenses towards students unable to speak up because spilling means academic blackmailing and overt power play? These add substances and conflict to one of the points pervading in the novel: finding excuses which creeps even up to now. Despite everyone not taking their sh*t anymore, liars will be liars. Furthermore, Batacan emphatically carries a certain force for sublime imagery in her writing. Although SASC isn’t poetry, the manner by which

it was constructed was almost poetic. To illustrate the point, here’s a sentence from the novel itself, “The front of the child’s body seems to be moving, and it takes the priest a few seconds to comprehend that there are maggots in it, thousands of them. Gaping wounds—no holes—in the chest and stomach.” Ultimately gross but rendered so powerful, that alone sends a chill down the reader’s spine. Considered as the first-ever crime novel in the Philippines, Smaller and Smaller Circles is a material too fearless to orbit around downright political corruption and unresolved criminal cases, but empathic enough to introduce interesting character development. The cover’s aesthetic streaks with that mystery-thriller vibe saying, read this book. It’s a bold claim that this Gus-Jerome duo, who can skate between science and religious fidelity, will soon be among the Philippines’ haunting yet unconventional literary heroes—not to mention its upcoming film adaptation directed by Raya Martin finally arriving on December 6th.

ALBUM REVIEW

Freudian by Daniel Caesar

BY JOSHUA MARTIN P. GUANCO

Love is an uphill climb only the brave and the committed dare trek. It is an ascent to the point of intimacy, passion, and commitment—and sometimes that's what makes it a strenuous endeavor. However, Canadian R&B and Soul singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar has a different take on the hike to the summit of love in his debut album Freudian. Practically a new voice trying to find his own bearings in the mainstream-dominated music industry, Caesar began in 2014 by releasing his own acoustic, soulful tracks imbued with a pinch of gospel and ambient, mellow

electronics online. In 2016, Caesar released “Get You”, which garnered him 20 million global streams on Apple Music and 12 million streams on Spotify which then propelled him to release his lush, romantic, and critically acclaimed Long Playing (LP), Freudian, in August 2017. The 10-track hike begins with the aforementioned single “Get You”, wherein Caesar integrates his smooth, cool falsetto in exclaiming his disbelief of getting a “too good to be true” type of love. Caesar then takes his listeners to the clouds of blissful romance in the album’s most affectionate

track “Best Part”, in which he and H.E.R. sing a duet with lyrics such as “You're my water when/I'm stuck in the desert/You're the Tylenol I take when my head hurts/You're the sunshine on my life,” the serenades of Caesar complement the tender, sweet harmonies of H.E.R. smoothly, letting their listeners imagine those intimate moments spent with their special someone. However, for the next three songs, “Neu Roses (Transgressor’s Song)”, “Hold Me Down”, and “Loose”, Caesar takes in a low tune in these tracks, singing his woes in the midst of a relationship

breakdown. But even love has its own ways of reigniting the flame between lovers, as what he did in “We Find Love”, “Blessed”, and “Transform”. With all the interludes, long pauses, weird object sounds, and pitched voices, one could liken Freudian to Frank Ocean’s Blonde. However, just as the two have similar ways in crafting up an album, Caesar’s Freudian is a lighter exposition on the feeling of love whereas Blonde is its alter ego. In this album, Caesar didn’t just prove that he has a voice that is on par with those in the

mainstream; he also has his lyrical prowess that can cut and melt through once cold hearts that fall into the sweet innocence of bliss his words bring. The upstart stayed true to his gospel and R&B roots all throughout his debut LP just like what he did in his previous releases. Overall, this 45-minute album is as pure as it gets. With Caesar’s talents and the eloquence of his songs, listeners are in for a hike towards love—a sweet escape from the cold realities down under. This album is definitely a “starter” for couples who are down with lovemaking tonight.

SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2017

Dagway

“REPLEKSYON”

7 CROSSWORD PUZZLE #9

—SETH V. PULLONA

How updated were you during this year’s L-Week? Find out by answering the puzzle!

“SHORT”

—KATRINA Y. NEMENZO

“DAMAY DAMAY NA 'TO!”

—KAREN A. PANGANIBAN

ACROSS

DOWN

4. The theme for this Academic Year’s Lasallian Week 9. The college of the new Lasallian Icons 10. The theme of this year’s Lasallian Icon

1. The newly crowned female Lasallian Icon 2. The event that guested The Voice US competitor Anatalia Villaranda and X-Factor contender Jon Klaasen 3. The newly crowned male Lasallian Icon 5. Complete the event’s name: ‘_________: Badge of Honor’ 6. The team who won the 13-station challenge of Jailbreak 7. The Battle of the Greats 8. This year’s U-League Champions

SUDOKU #9 “#WALANGTAKOT”

SOLUTION FOR CROSSWORD #8:

—LANCE CEDRIC M. MILITAR

SOLUTION FOR SUDOKU #8:

WIKATIONARY In the mood for some traditional Halloween Filipino food? Well, these creatures of the night got you covered in this issue's Wikationary.

Camote Delight – Consists of sweet potatoes, which is the main ingredient of the dish, mixed with sugar and margarine.

Biko – a rice cake with caramel topping or what is known in Hiligaynon as latik

Arroz Valenciana – made with parts glutinous and long-grain rice, chicken pieces, chorizo de bilbao, bell peppers, greenpeas, coconut milk and spices. Palitaw – a small, flat, sweet rice cake eaten in the Philippines. They are made from washed, soaked, and ground malagkit

Ginataang halo-halo – Typically made with glutinous rice balls,tubers, tropical fruits and coconut milk

Puto Lanson – made of cassava or balinghoy in Ilonggo

Kutsinta – steamed rice cake often served with puto and is good with freshly grated coconut

Pichi-pichi – Filipino dessert made of coconut and cassava or kamoteng kahoy

Cassava Cake – made of freshly grated cassava, eggs, coconut milk and sugar baked in round “leche and flan” tin molds or the regular rectangular cake pan

Sapin-sapin – made from rice flour or rice that has been soaked overnight thencrushed into a paste, sometimes yams or yam

PREPARED BY JOSHUA MARTIN P. GUANCO ILLUSTRATED BY LANCE CEDRIC M. MILITAR

Dagway

SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2017

NEGROS TOURS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Beyond the graves BY IRIS DENISE N. RIVERA PHOTOS BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN, MARTINI M. FALCO & MARIANO O. JAVIER

Around this time of year, Filipino families stock up on candles, flowers, and rice cakes in preparation for undas or All Saints’ Day. By the 1st of November, families gather in cemeteries where loved ones have been laid to rest. Negros Occidental is home to 13 cities and municipalities, each of which have their own number of cemeteries. These cemeteries tend to have rich histories that aren’t as talked about as ghost stories, so here’s a list of stories, both gloomy and light, that go beyond the graves.

1. Silay Public Cemetery, Silay City

Right at the entrance of the cemetery lies the tomb of Melecio Severino. He was a Cinco de Noviembre 1898 hero and the first governor of the Island of Negros (both Occidental and Oriental). Marvin Bastida, one of the caretakers of the cemetery, said that after Severino’s achievements were acknowledged by the government, they laid him to rest in the public cemetery of the Paris of Negros, along with other veteran revolutionaries. Silay Public Cemetery is divided into two parts: the necropolis (those with tombs) and the potter’s field (those without). The necropolis is home to interesting tombs and statues portraying the grief of those who buried their loved ones. One of the statues is of a woman weeping beside a tomb. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the tomb of Julio Cesar Locsin who died from tuberculosis at four years old. George Valgona is another caretaker who has been working in the cemetery for the past 26 years. He recalls an instance circa 1996 when he was locked out of the cemetery early in the morning. He took a shortcut via Patyo Pari Cemetery where he saw a lady dressed in white near Locsin’s tomb. Valgona focused his eyes on her and tried to communicate with the girl as he approached her. By the time he reached the tomb, the girl disappeared. Bastida also recounts an early morning instance where he was sweeping around the cemetery. He saw “ethereal-like” children playing tag around the cemetery. Both caretakers, despite the initial fear, agreed that the spirits were peaceful and wouldn’t cause harm on the visitors of the cemetery.

2. Bago Public Cemetery, Bago City On a trip to the south of Bacolod, Bago is the first city all travellers pass by. Ceres buses take the route in between two cemeteries. If travelling by night, it would be easy to understand how it could frighten anyone. Along the same route is where Joan Aluhado, a vendor near the cemetery, sets up her shop. She said that in all

the years she has stayed at the place, she’s never been frightened of the admittedly unusualness of the cemetery. “Diri ya to mahadlukan ka kung may ma-holdapanay nga matabo,” Aluhado joked. (“You should be more afraid of getting mugged here.”)

3. Familia Luzuriaga Cemetery, Bacolod City

In a junction known locally as “bangga patyo”, a cemetery lies in the middle of the road. Locals have grown familiar with the small island along Lopez-Jaena street right before it crosses Burgos street. Tourists, however, may question its peculiar location. The private cemetery is exclusively owned by the Ruiz de Luzuriaga clan. Don Eusebio Ruiz de Luzuriaga started a family in Bacolod City after exiling himself from Spain following its defeat in the civil war of 1840. He would later become a prominent figure in Al Cinco de Noviembre. The exact reason for its peculiar location may be difficult to determine. Locals say that it may have originally been part of the Bacolod Public Cemetery and when roads needed to be built, families had to relocate the graves elsewhere. But in order to pay homage to the contributions of the Luzuriaga family, the roads were made to curve around the graves instead of through it. The public is forbidden access into the cemetery, and is only usually tended to by a caretaker nearing undas.

4. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Victorias City

This isn’t a cemetery, but the history behind the structure may be more eerie than a graveyard. Inside the Victorias Milling Company compound is a large unfinished cathedral that has become a tourist spot for its interesting history and “curse” as told by the locals to Nik Rielo of Pinoy on the Road. The story goes that the church was commissioned by rich and prominent families back in the mid-1990’s in order to “buy heaven and salvation”. The financiers wanted to prove that one could “buy the Vatican”, even naming the edifice a basilica (a church given special privileges by the Pope) despite the fact that the construction was not sanctioned by Church authorities. Rielo wrote that the scale of the building, if finished, would have been one of the largest in the country, and last at least a few centuries. He added that the three-meter thick solid walls would have had the capability to withstand a massive earthquake. As stated in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” When Victorias was hit with economic

PHOTO COURTESY OF PINOYONTHEROAD.COM

turmoil, the financiers of the project were also affected. They lost their businesses, families, and financial prowess. As such, the building was never fully constructed nor became a basilica. A lot of contradictions are at place within the building. Despite its name, it was never actually dedicated to the Immaculate Concepcion. Despite being called a cathedral, no bishop has ever lived there and cannot be called as such. Nor is it a Parish church as it does not have a parish priest in its jurisdiction. As of the moment, the Unfinished Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion will probably remain as it is.

5. Lasting Peace Memorial Park, Silay City

There’s not much to be told about this particular cemetery. The park and chapel were both developed by the late Jose Maria Locsin. Graveyard lots

can be found both below and above ground, with “condominium-type” tombs also available. Not much to tell, as mentioned previously. That is, other than a story recounted by Maria Rebecca Fernandez who has worked in the park for eight years now. Her husband, who is also a caretaker of the cemetery, dug up one of the unmarked graves. When they opened the casket, they found the corpse to be fully intact. The body showed no signs of decay. Fernandez said that they placed the corpse back in its casket, and it remains there to this day. So while paying respect to the dearly departed this All Saints’ Day, make sure to take the time to look around and appreciate the stories your local cemeteries have laid out for you. You never know what secrets you might exhume.