Invictus Vol.62 No.6 -2017

VOLUME 62 NO. 6 MARCH 2018

VOLUME 62 NO. 6 • MARCH 2018

VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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About the Cover When you see a woman with a shaved head, what do you see? Do you discern a fit of attention or do you behold an act of bravery?

Better yet, you can ask: What has she seen? Had she been witness to a moment of personal clarity? Or had a private light signalled that it was time to regain control?

So many questions. Yet beyond all the good and bad remarks, notice that smile on her face, that confidence in her stride. Maybe only then, can you catch a glimpse of her answer.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN

THESPECTRUM FOUNDED 1956 A .Y. 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 8

VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6 · MARCH 2018 Member Alliance of Lasallian Campus Journalists and Advisers and College Editors Guild of the Philippines

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrea Nicole C. Farol

LITERARY EDITOR Hezron G. Pios

NEWSPAPER WRITER Adrienne Carl S. Calvo

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Katherine E. Co

ASST. LITERARY EDITOR Lyle John L. Balana

MAGAZINE WRITER Andrea Danielle A. Gamboa

MANAGING EDITOR Robert H. Jerge III

HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR Maria Angelica M. Ape

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR Iris Denise N. Rivera

ASST. HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR Ian Kristoffer V. Ga

ONLINE WRITERS Ida Sarena M. Gabaya Charlene Marie D. Lim Maria Angeline M. Mayor

NEWSPAPER EDITOR Christiana Claudia G. Gancayco

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS EDITOR Nichol Francis T. Anduyan

ASST. NEWSPAPER EDITOR Starlene Joy B. Portillo

LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS EDITOR Jowan Dave G. Guides

MAGAZINE EDITOR Chad Martin Z. Natividad

ASST. LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS EDITOR Glen Jed J. Descutido

SPORTS WRITER Stephine Paul M. Dungca FILIPINO WRITERS Victoria Marian B. Belmis Jyan Martella G. Opena LITERARY WRITER Alvin Brian S. Legario

PHOTOJOURNALISTS Nicci Bernelle D. Aguilar Martini M. Falco Mariano O. Javier Ena Louise P. Apelo VIDEOGRAPHER Kyle Jyrax D. Sevilla LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS ARTIST Shara Mae L. Pelayo ILLUSTRATORS Cedric Lance M. Militar Katrina Y. Nemenzo Karen D. Panganiban Seth V. Pullona WEB ADMINISTRATOR Keanu Kent B. Gargar

ASST. MAGAZINE EDITOR Joshua Martin P. Guanco

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Keanu Joseph P. Rafil

ONLINE EDITOR David Willem L. Molenaar

PUBLICATION MODERATOR Jean Lee C. Patindol

The Spectrum is the Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle. Its editorial office is located at the USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100; it can be reached through the telephone number, (034) 432-1187 local 172 and e-mail address, thespectrum.usls@gmail.com. All rights reserved. No part of The Spectrum may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Media Corps. All contributions become The Spectrum property and the Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to edit all articles for publication.

Editor’s Note When I was a child, I often fell when running. To this day, I still have the scars. Every so often I’d trace them with my fingers and be awed by how easily I could die.

I know it sounds morbid but the vulnerability of us humans is a wonder for me. How could life exist in a state that could easily end it? How do we continue to live in a world where every corner is a possible hazard? When a person you know dies, you feel an unease, the idea of our lives as fragile as that of flies settles in the pit of your stomach.

Shouldn’t it be a given, though? For us to think that we are nothing but soft meat and breakable bones. For us to realize we’re not invincible, not even the slightest.

But, no. We continue to tread the lives we are given. It might be our stories weighing our feet firm to the PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN

Blitz Resistance is often a metric for durability. A watch that can block out water is more practical than one that cannot.

But what about humans? What about the clockwork of people?

We are not reality-proof. We have allowed words to muddle our heads, have let circumstances shock our cores. If anything, we are far from stainless. In history, not even close.

Yet we possess something mere objects do not have. We have souls.

Each time we fracture, our souls recuperate and learn. We actively generate better resistance. So that the next time reality strikes—we can withstand it by knowing better.

ground. It might be the sense of purpose that we seek the moment we are born. It might be the thrill of the possibilities that existing has to offer. It might be the knowledge that our hands could reach more as the decades pass and could grasp further light years away.

Or it could simply be the unconquerable human spirit. Of the burning desire to go on.

Andrea Nicole C. Farol EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Contents VOLUME 62 NO. 6 • MARCH 2018

06 INDAY’S FIGHT — AND EVERYONE ELSE’S SOCIETY

08 BEHIND THE SUGARCANE STALKS SOCIETY

10 THE “GOOD” SLAUGHTERING DISCUSSION

12 MOTHERHOOD: A MONOLOGUE HUMAN INTEREST

14 ACTIVISM IN ART:ONE STROKE, A MILLION WORDS SOCIETY

16 ANG MAKABAGONG ASUKAL NG BUGLAS SOCIETY

18 MALING MEDIA DISCUSSION

20 A BREADWINNER’S TALE HUMAN INTEREST

22 TOWARDS THE BASTION OF PEACE SOCIETY

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27 INVICTUS COVER SPREAD

36 MYSTIQUE IS STORY-DEEP DISCUSSION

38 THE SPINSTER IN THE MANSION HUMAN INTEREST

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DARLA MAMUYAC PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN

SOCIETY

PAGE 27

MARIA CLARA: A SIGN OF THE TIMES

40 POLITICALLY CORRECT, AREN’T WE? SOCIETY

42 OF MEN AND MORALITY: THE OLDEST PROFESSION SOCIETY

44 THE SOCIAL RECORD OF A GUILTY PLEASURE DISCUSSION

46 POSITIVITY AMID THE POSITIVITY HUMAN INTEREST

48 THANATOS ON SPREE SOCIETY

50 THE MIND BEHIND THE MASK DISCUSSION

52 THE COMMON COCKROACH, ABHORRENT PEST OR QUIET HERO? ENVIRONMENT

54 OCEAN WILDFIRES ENVIRONMENT

56 JEJEMON IS UNDEAD DISCUSSION

58 MADSHACK

62 REVIEWS 62 BOOK ALL MY LONELY ISLANDS 63 BOOK SPLIT INFINITY 64 ALBUM CURRENTS 65 ALBUM THE THRILL OF IT ALL 66 GAME BATTLERITE 67 GAME PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS 68 MOVIE SUMMER OF 8 69 MOVIE JUSTICE LEAGUE 70 SERIES KID NATION 71 SERIES YOUNG SHELDON

VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Inday’s fight — and everyone else’s Maybe the battle of the she is not merely of the discriminating treatment they experience in society. Maybe it has something mainly to do with an existing culture—a certain kind of thinking that is covertly poisonous.

BY CHRISTIANA CLAUDIA G. GANCAYCO | PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARIANO O. JAVIER

WELCOME TO THE 21ST CENTURY. In this new world, you are measured according to your potentials and abilities, not for what genital you acquired upon birth. In this new world, women don any apparel they feel like wearing without the burden of having to worry about tugging their skirts a little lower when they round up the corner, bracing themselves for the series of “compliments” they are about to be showered in the form of deep howls and catcalls. In this new world, sisters don’t have to mope about the early curfew while their brother gets none — just “because she’s a girl.” In this new world, the world is just as safe — or dangerous — for men as it is for women.

Or at least that is the ideal picture.

Ours is a culture wherein misogyny and sexism are deeply ingrained in our society to the point they blend perfectly in plain sight and until they turn to become no more than the norm. Needless to say, it is a reality, when it should not be. And yet it exists and persists — in the present tense.

RUNDOWN OF THE BATTLE Back in the early ‘90s, former president of the Development through Active Women Networking (DAWN) Foundation, Inc. and current chair for Provincial Council for Women, Atty.

Andrea Lizares-Si, thought that society has already taken off the blinds of inequality in regards to gender roles. The then 20-something Si thought that equal rights already had a place in the community. But having been exposed to DAWN, her eyes were pried open to the real score for women back then. What was most glaring for her was the violence — and the normalization of it — that women had to grow accustomed with. “No matter what kind of a woman you are, [you are more on guard against] violence because you can always be a victim of violence. Men do not have that kind of fear,” said Si. During then, it was irrefutably apparent that men and women have not yet arrived at an equal footing in society, Si recalls. To attest to this were the gender-specific discriminations and abuses Negrense women were subjected to, such as unequal salary allocations, sexual harassments, and others. For Si, because these cases were attacks 6

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against the female gender, it was also a personal attack against her womanhood.

Consequently, seeing that this issue of violence against women was nursing a culture of gender inequality, Si has since devoted herself to feminism and women’s rights.

Fellow feminist and women’s rights advocate Celia Flor, who was also DAWN’s former executive director, echoes the same sentiments. Flor, who at the time felt that she was one of the very few empowered women, realized that although she as an individual felt secured, it is not a reflection of how majority of the women felt. For her, as long as one woman is violated because of her very womanhood, so are all women violated just the same.

To reinforce her claim, Flor recalls a moment during one of their trainings at DAWN Foundation that has since been embedded in her memory. Addressing a crowd of Bacoleñas, they asked if anyone in the audience has ever experienced violence.

Silence ensued, but no one raised a hand. Upon seeing the response, a follow-up question was thrown: “Do you know of a person in your community who has experienced violence against their person?”

On that cue, every single woman in the audience raised her hand.

“So what does that say?” asked Flor.

“It says that the violence against women is an issue and that we are victims as women but nobody is telling it. Nobody

was talking about it before. This was in the 1990s. So at that time, [we strengthened our] commitment to raise the issue and to do programs which would raise the awareness in Negros.”

Over the years, the advocacy on women’s rights had numerous gains in terms of laws passed, such as the Anti-Rape Law and the Magna Carta of Women, said Flor. In fact, there came a point when Flor and her fellow advocates felt complacent because of the progress their fight was making.

However, the same could not be said for today, both Flor and Si stressed.

“Lately, I think the fight is even more important and critical because of the leadership — not only with the president, but also with all the male [leaders, like] the leadership of congress and even of other institutions like the PNP [and] some of the senate leadership. And these are supposedly leaders who should be protecting or should be expected to respect women,” complained Flor.

Si and Flor call into question the conduct of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has become infamous for his lack of proper decorum, especially for his foul mouth, of which he and some of his supporters do not feel repentant of. Since his ascent to executive power, Duterte has hit the headlines several times for cracking rape jokes. What people might defend as “candidness” or “Bisaya humor” means something graver for the feminist movement. To them, this means decades of fighting flushed down the drain.

Not caring to hide the frustration in her tone, Flor expressed that just when they thought that society has elevated the level of discussion on women’s rights to a hard-earned 99%, a lewd humor bartered for cheap laughs and public preference brutally drag it down back to scratch.

A SHE WARRIOR “When you know that women are oppressed in one way or another and all around the world, why wouldn’t you want to be a feminist?”

Chaela Mirano, a third-year Psychology student and activist, answers a question with another question, when asked on her identifying as a feminist.

The pages of history have not been so fair nor kind to women — not for any other particular reason other than their gender. In the Philippine setting, it has been a long and winding road travelled since feminist and human rights activist Concepción Felix-Calderon established one of the pioneering women’s club in the country in 1905, the Asociacion Feminista Filipina, while Pura Villanueva-Kalaw assembled the Asociacion Feminista Ilonga shortly after, responding to the

call for unity among women in the country. These movements would later lead to the granting of Filipina women the right to suffrage, an act that broke the ice of patriarchy and made the Philippine soil fertile for equal rights.

While this dismantling of a primordial patriarchal societal structure is celebrated by the first half of society, the other half did not greet this with a smile.

Therefore, throughout the years, and in fact even to this day, a lot of grit, blood, and grime had to be overcome just for the scale to be in equilibrium.

In all of this, the word ‘feminist’ has emerged being associated with one too many synonyms it should not be defined for. One of which is being anti-male.

The Google dictionary defines feminism as “the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes”.

And on that note, Mirano would like to set the discourse in the right direction.

While this dismantling of a primordial patriarchal societal structure is celebrated by the first half of society, the other half did not greet this with a smile.

“Since feminism is all about equality, I think it’s not only extremely important but it’s crucial for all genders to support the feminist movement because everybody suffers from inequality,” said Mirano, expounding that the demand for equality includes all. And that for her, the most rewarding part of keeping up the fight is being able to give others — especially men — the correct lens in which to view the feminist’s advocacy.

“I think when you see how much strength and resilience women have, it gives you the motivation. And when you see that they could do more if only we could change the way things are now or we could change how some people perceive women, it makes you want to continue with the feminist movement — it makes you want to continue with what you’re doing right now,” said Mirano.

THROUGH THE LENS OF AN ALLY Twenty-one-year old John Albert

Pagunsan, a Communication Arts student in University of the Philippines Los Baños, debunks the misconception that the battle for women’s rights is theirs alone to march.

Identifying as a gay boy, he declares himself a feminist too.

“Gender equality is often misinterpreted as the effort of one gender but the progress that we’ve made as a society is also because of the efforts of other sectors to sympathize and join our cause.

Women cannot feel safe unless other genders too understand their issues,” he emphasized.

Despite the milestone the feminist movement has achieved in our country so far and despite the supposed liberties and open-mindedness the 21st century is famed for, there are still streets too dark and crowded, clothes too sinful, and parties too late in the night for women.

“Women should encourage other women to speak out as well because generally, Bacolod has a pretty laid-back culture which can make women think that people will not care. Catcalling is still rampant in Bacolod’s streets, but seldom do we think it as an important issue. When our streets are unsafe and men around us are abusive, it makes the environment unhealthy for women to pursue their dreams and aspirations. I think that’s unfair,” said Pagunsan.

He further expounds that perhaps not all men are accountable for women oppression, but all men must address sexist male thinking if genders are to be liberated. Looking at the picture closely, men are also victims the moment they are boxed in society’s concept of who a man and a woman should be, he says.

“Society should offer equal opportunities for all, stop emphasizing our genders, and start seeing everyone as humans, as people who have more worth than what is [in] their underwear.”

The easiest way to accurately understand the essence of the feminist movement and see where they are truly coming from is through going an extra mile in a feminist’s shoes, which is what Pagunsan did. “[What keeps me going is] thinking that maybe that woman could have been me if I was born in different circumstances, thinking that maybe that woman could have had a better life if the streets were safer, if males can be trusted, and if the workplace understood why she had to take a leave for her children,” said Pagunsan. “Women are humans too, their issues are our issues. Every time we look away or be deaf to women’s issues, we too are responsible for the death of that woman — figuratively and physically.” S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Behind the Sugarcane Stalks

Progress is inevitable and so is juxtaposition. Bacolod is slowly becoming Metro Manila, and along with it is a promise of prosperity as well as a huge battery of unsolved road and infrastructure problems.

BY ANDREA NICOLE C. FAROL ILLUSTRATED BY GLEN JED J. DESCUTIDO

THE IMAGE THAT BACOLOD conjures in one’s mind is often the picture of a quaint life amongst sugarcane fields. It is of smiley people in a sepia backdrop, enjoying cakes in Spanish-style houses, and driving in vintage cars. That’s no surprise, though, for the fullfledged Bacolodnon. After all, the media has endlessly depicted the city through rose-colored lenses and people cannot get enough of it.

Contrary to its dreamy reputation brought by its romanticization in shows and films, however, is the reality of how fast-paced the city has become. Piercing through the sweet rise and falls in the local conversations are the horns and screeches in the bustling streets of Bacolod. The sugarcane fields have edged farther away from the heart of the city and in their place, establishments and high-rise buildings bloom.

The sweet life in the City of Smiles used to be always enjoyed in one’s own time but now it’s like everyone can hear the clock ticking.

The city has many times been awarded for its competency. Last May 2017, Bacolod was chosen as the “Top Philippine Model City” by The Manila Times. Earlier this year, it was also ranked as number one in the “The Best

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Cities to Live in the Philippines” list by The Conyo Times. Bacolod has also been hailed as the “Best Place to live in the Philippines” and “Most Livable Philippine City” by MoneySense Magazine last 2008 and 2012, respectively. A place considered poised for rapid growth, Bacolod is attracting everyone—from the affluent to the poor, coming from other cities and from the rural areas. Bacolod continues to remake itself as the greener pasture and a center for the social, technological, commercial, and cultural development.

The flurry of establishments that have flourished throughout the city exhibits the economic growth that continues to hasten day by day. The city’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has driven the growth. BPOs, which are in the form of call centers, have flooded Bacolod with a wealth of job opportunities. With the rise in employment is the increase in retail developments in the city.

In a report by Colliers International, about 80% of the city’s full time BPO employees are single and approximately 90% of their salaries is spent on household expenses which are procured in the city. Food retail outlets are particularly popular to these workers, especially round-the-clock convenience stores. Aside from these, the demand for places that will accommodate the fast inflow of BPO workers also drives the city’s residential market. Citing data from the Bacolod-Negros IT Council, it was found that 59% of BPO workers live in the city. An article from The Manila Times also emphasized on the presence of 27 Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-accredited IT centers, internet connectivity, stable power supply, road improvements, planned modernization of the Bacolod-Silay airport, and “strong coordination of public and private stakeholders” as additional key elements in the urbanization of the city. The growing talent pool requirement of the IT industry also rallies the development of educational programs offered by various institutions in the city.

Although it is transforming into a concrete jungle, Bacolod continues to reap accolades in the livability category due to its efforts in keeping the tourism and environment in check. Reports from the City Tourism Office showed that the first five months of 2017 saw the rise of tourist arrivals in the city compared to last year.

The famous Masskara Festival continues to attract tourists with its new features and programs which are tied tightly with the Bacolodnon culture and traditions.

Also, the city’s environmental efforts do not go unnoticed with its various ecofriendly programs which are supported by its barangays, landing the city a spot in the list of the cleanest cities in the

Despite Bacolod becoming a natural magnet for business, profit, and progress, a sad reality exists behind the curtains of the perfect urbanrural aesthetic— it is the face of poverty, unrest, and problems wandering in its streets. country.

Despite Bacolod becoming a natural magnet for business, profit, and progress, a sad reality exists behind the curtains of the perfect urban-rural aesthetic—it is the face of poverty, unrest, and problems wandering in its streets.

Just this September, the city witnessed one of the worst floods to ever occur within its limits. People, mostly students and workers, were stranded in various areas as the city was submerged in knee-to-waist deep (there were some reports of neck-deep) flood as the rain poured for hours after dark during that September night. Residents of danger zones and low-lying areas were forced to evacuate due to overflowing rivers and many did not sleep in their houses that night as stores, establishments, and institutions opened their doors to the stranded. City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office data showed that the heavy downpour ultimately resulted to 13 houses destroyed and damaged 63 more. Vehicles and livelihoods were also damaged due to the rising water.

Although the unusual rainwater volume that fell was mainly attributed to the effects of climate change, one more culprit in the flash floods was the clogged garbage in drainages in the city. The influx of people has steadily increased the waste thrown out in the city and versus a poor drainage plan, floods were expected. The local government continues to appeal for communities to comply with the waste segregation program but there is little evident change in the participation of individual homes.

Flood or no flood, a thing that has become consistent in the lives of Bacolodnons is the traffic. The increase in population in the city and the continuous development also brought with it an increase in both private and public vehicles. During rush hours, specific areas

in the city become a sight of still cars as commuters fight each other for a few square inches of butt space. Overloaded public utility vehicles race in the emptier roads while cars pile up in intersections which sometimes suffer from dysfunctional traffic lights or an exhausted lone traffic enforcer. Turning your attention to the sidewalks of Bacolod brings another dilemma up right before your eyes. A mother carrying two children at the same time flashes an envelope to a passerby. Car windows are rapped by a handicapped man and sometimes a perfectly well-looking guy who offer people songs or sob stories. Waiting sheds laden with old carton boxes become shelters at night. Along Lacson, a familiar huddle of rugby-high boys fight over cars about to park outside restaurants in exchange for a few coins. The scenic view of the San Sebastian Cathedral is peppered by different beggars, from the blind to the terminally ill. In communities sandwiched by establishments near the downtown area, bone-thin kids play under the scorching heat while their mothers either gossip and gamble. Painting the plight of the lower class in the city shows how even if the city is a prospect of many businesses, there is still a persisting population of people without work. The exodus of people from other places also becomes a competition of locals in landing jobs. Also, this exodus brings even more numbers to the slums, and worst, the streets.

The last few months also saw the sensationalized news of simultaneous series of holdups and robberies around the cities. Riding-in-tandems terrorized residents and commuters for their lack of hesitation to use their weapon upon any resistance from their victims. The alarming rise of crime prompted the increase of armed officers assigned to areas where they monitor and guard. Establishments and the public upped their safety programs and practices in response to the warnings circulating in social media.

For someone born and raised in this city, it is easy to observe the transformation that it has undergone and continues to do so. In its strife for urbanization, Bacolod has begun to dress itself similar to Metro Manila. Bacolod needs to keep up to the transitions that will happen as it develops because failure to do so can lead to burnout. The challenge is to not compromise the quality of life in the city in order to surge up the quantity in terms of business, jobs, profit, and manpower.

Because if not, we could save goodbye to the City of Smiles and welcome a struggling imitation of bustling but generally poor city. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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The “good” slaughtering There are many ways to kill a cat. Still, the cat was killed. Yet again, there are many ways to kill a cat. What exactly is the difference that people are perceiving there is and how is the global community actually moving about in the whole issue of morality concerning the killing of the creatures we look to as our source of food?

BY JOSHUA MARTIN P. GUANCO | ILLUSTRATED BY JOWAN DAVE G. GUIDES

THE GODLY CARE for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. (Proverbs 12:10) An old adage keeps on telling us that “We are what we eat.” That we are the slow-cooked, braised beef topped with mushroom and parsley on our plates.

That we are the golden, crispy, fried chicken wings we partner with our beer.

That we are the smoky, savoury pork barbecue we grill at our backyards.

At the same time, another adage—this time contemporary in nature—keeps on telling us that “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian.” That the food on our porcelain-white plates were previously animals subjected to inhumane methods of slaughter. That the slow-cooked braised beef we ate were cows who were bathed alive in scalding water. That the golden, crispy, fried chicken wings we chugged down with our beers were once poultry encaged in god-forsaken coops that robbed them of their life. That the smoky, savoury pork barbecue we grilled were once pigs squealing as dull-edged knives cut through their throats.

But why say so? Aren’t livestock supposed to be bred and eventually slaughtered for us to consume them? The answer is a definite ‘yes’. However, is man entitled to reap food out of these animals 10

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in the most gruesome ways there are in the world?

THE MARCH Everyday, thousands of farm animals die for human consumption. And every year, it is estimated that 60 billion of them are slaughtered in order for us to fill our plates and stomachs. Looking at this issue at the surface isn’t that macabre. However, looking at this issue at its sources is. And it all starts in farm factories. (Note that there is a huge gap between what a farm factory is and a farm.)

It is very unavoidable that in today’s time, animals are suffering this predicament in farm factories: being crammed into unsanitary sheds by the thousands.

In fact, most of these farm animals cannot even see the light of day—as they are already trapped in hell while unknowingly awaiting the call of an inhumane death.

All of these animals are fattened through medical ways in farm factories.

Pigs and cows are impregnated again and again in order to amp up their population which would later result to a greater profit for their owners. Chickens and other kinds of poultry animals are stuffed into almost spaceless cages wherein they feed off their food and at the same time

their excrement.

Once they’re “ready” for human consumption or their bodies have been worn out from producing milk or eggs, these animals are then transported to slaughterhouses via crowded trucks.

The thought of finally escaping the confines of factory farms might be a breather, however, their death march to the slaughterhouses aren’t. Pigs and chickens are crammed up on the back of trucks while being exposed to different weather conditions. Other than environmental factors, some are also deprived of air as they are all tucked up on trucks whilst on the way.

These “death marches” can last for more than a day—and while some barely make it out alive from this predicament, others have succumbed to death before reaching the destination.

Upon arrival, these animals are then welcomed to the cold recesses of the slaughterhouses they’re on. Cows, horses, and pigs are lined up in the green mile while they await for the inevitable quiescence of their lives.

What happens afterwards are any of the two realities: are their throats slit in order for blood to drain out faster or are they first stunned in order to render them unconscious and then cut off of their throats?

THE CRUCIFIXION The latter option mentioned above is called ‘humane slaughtering’. This term is arbitrarily defined in the US as how farm animals are supposed to be “stunned” before their throats are slit. With this definition also comes a law—the Humane Slaughter of Livestock Act. Stunning is the best option law enforcers could think of due to the fact that slaughterhouses work in a fast pace.

Before there was stunning, there was just letting the animal bleed out from a slit throat (which causes insurmountable amount of pain to the still conscious creature), that is why some countries enforced this “humane” law on slaughtering animals through common stunning methods such as shooting animals with a captive bolt pistol or electrocuting them, therefore, “decreasing” the amount of pain before slashing their throats and bleeding them out.

However, undercover investigations have found loopholes and consumers are starting to question the credibility of humane slaughtering—that the stunning methods enforced by this law are ineffective in rendering livestock unconscious before butchering them, thus, leading to a still painful death plagued with suffering.

Collusion among big time players and slaughterhouse operators make enforcers of this law fight a losing war as shown in various documentaries regarding the issue at hand.

Another loophole is that no matter how humane small farmers raise their livestock for slaughter, some eventually end up suffering the same fate with faulty stunning methods in slaughterhouses.

An example would be in the case of cows which are often conscious even though they have been stunned due to their thick skulls or dull captive bolts. Due to their tendency to be easily distressed, pigs are now subjected to group gassing with carbon dioxide (which is the most “humane” method for stunning them).

However, various undercover investigations have disclosed that pigs still experience immense pain while being exposed to CO2. Lastly, the scope of the Humane Slaughter Act does not cover poultry. Which is why birds such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys can be killed in any way the slaughterhouse operators want—slitting or crushing

What happens afterwards are any of the two realities: are their throats slit in order for blood to drain out faster or are they first stunned in order to render them unconscious and then cut off of their throats? their throats while still conscious, and even throwing them to boiling water.

The Humane Slaughter Act might be the standard for “humane slaughtering”, however, it has been here since 1958— with all its loopholes and imperfections.

It is, in a sense, a Westernized perspective of butchering animals for human consumption.

THE HUMANENESS In other parts of the world, there are also practices that uphold the “humaneness” of slaughtering animals such as the ‘Dhabihah’ of the Muslims.

The Dhabihah is the Muslims’ way of killing lawful halal animals such as goats, sheep, cow, chicken, or buffalo. This slaughtering process has conditions to be fulfilled before eventually killing the animals. First, the butcher must be a Muslim, and should call the name of God upon the slaughter of the halal animal, and with a very sharp blade, the butchering should be a swift incision to the animal’s throat.

Muslims believe that the act of slaughtering is preceded by the name of God, thus, it begins with the word Bismillah (in the name of Allah) as an act of thanking God for receiving food which is the most common blessing.

The halal animal is then taken to a place wherein it is isolated from its fellows. It is then laid down gently to the ground while the butcher’s blade is still hidden from sight until its jugular vein is located. And with one swipe, the animal’s

arteries, along with its esophagus and trachea, are slit.

Meanwhile, here in the Philippines, there is no such thing as a “humane slaughtering” bill. What we have instead is the Amended Animal Welfare Act or RA 8485 that covers all animals—including birds—as livestocks or pets. Though humane slaughtering isn’t mentioned explicitly in the bill, the recurring theme of protecting and promoting the welfare of all kinds of animals in the country through “supervising and regulating the establishment and operations of all facilities utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or training of all animals either as objects of trade or as household pets” is very evident all throughout the sections of the bill. However, despite the presence of law, cases of inhumane slaughtering are a rare sighting in the local news—giving a false impression that the country’s slaughterhouse operators promote humane slaughtering or the other way around.

THE HUMAN It is an unavoidable fact that animals are slaughtered for our consumption. In fact, as researcher Erika Cudworth said, the butchering of livestock for food has become “routine, normative, institutionalized, and globalized.” The animals that are “harvested” on a yearly basis are a part of a long line of data dating back to the ancient times—meaning that society has raised and slaughtered livestock ever since the primordial times.

Slaughtering animals is embedded in our philosophical accidents as humans.

We are called by our very essence as beings to use our rationality to hunt for food at all costs. We too, are animals eating our prey in order to survive; the same goes to our prey who become predators to their own prey.

We might be all similar in killing off our potential food with our primal instincts, however, there is one thing that separates us humans from the rest of the animal kingdom—the power to choose how do we kill our prey and the capacity to have emotions. Combine these two, and how our prey’s lives come to a conclusion lies in our very hands.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. (Genesis 9:3) S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Motherhood: a monologue

When one becomes a mother, no label matters. When things don’t go as planned, the story, from a magical one, becomes a story of demise, disappointment, and disgrace for the people who are quick to speak and ill-tongued in nature. But when one becomes a mother, no label matters.

The being of pure love that comes out of a mother’s womb—amongst all the things that went wrong in the world—is never a mistake.

BY STARLENE JOY B. PORTILLO | ILLUSTRATED BY JOWAN DAVE G. GUIDES

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THESPECTRUM

HUMAN INTEREST

IT WAS A HUMID DECEMBER afternoon when seventeen-year old Maureen* crammed herself into a restroom cubicle at Marby Arcade. She sat on what passed as a toilet seat for minutes which felt like hours which felt like an eternity, waiting.

With both hands, she clasped the tip of the white stick the way one would hold a rosary. The tight-knit space seemed to strangle the breath out of her, or maybe that was just the anxiety of anticipation.

For whatever reason it may have been, Maureen suspected that the cubicle was a minute away from collapsing upon itself.

So she kept her eyes trained on the same stick for stability—and that was when two red lines started to come into view.

A month earlier, Maureen had just capped off her first college semester. It was around the same time she started having her monthly bout of abdominal cramps. I must be nearing my period, she thought. But then, the high fever came with an onslaught of loose bowel movements which compelled her to visit the local hospital accompanied by her two elder siblings. After running a laboratory test, a nurse asked: “Miss, are you pregnant? Because the doctor will give you prescriptions.” Maureen told her she wasn’t, and the nurse left. After a while, the doctor himself came out to ask her: “Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”

Again, she said she wasn’t; this time said with a tinge of doubt.

When she gave the positive pregnancy test stick to Francis*, her then boyfriend of three years, she was met with confusion followed by an instinctual proposal of marriage and the promise of support— both of which were never met.

This all took place six years ago.

SEQUENCE I: FROM THE WOMB TO THE WORLD “I named him ‘James’*, after someone who reminds me of my dream profession: architecture,” Maureen shares.

She was enlisted as a university returnee last school year, and has since become a working student with shifts from the afternoon until evening.

Before being granted the scholarship, she used to squeeze in a promo girl stint during the weekends. Two days would earn her P1,000, which she uses as contingency for the tuition and miscellaneous fees of James, who is now a Kindergarten 1 student at the HawaiianPhilippine Company Elementary School in Silay. “My sister gives me an additional one thousand a week. From that, P250 goes to James’ allowance,” Maureen adds. Although the funds allow them to get by on a day-to-day basis, it sometimes gets in the way of the mother-son relationship.

“I told him I was not denying him our son.

But then again, he was never there when I needed him most. It made me realize I can raise my child without him.”

“I leave the house early and return late,” the single mother complains.

“Sometimes, I wake James up earlier than usual just so we could sit down and eat breakfast together; that is the only time we could get to bond.” Having grown attached to his mother, James cries whenever he misses the chance to dine with her or to send her off on the way to school while his grandmother takes care of him in the absence of Maureen.

“Migo Francis”, as James called him, would only visit once or twice a year.

Whenever the five-year old asked if he has a father, Maureen would tell him it’s his migo. Although James believed it, he would take the subject no further.

“James was never a mistake,” she remarks. “The only thing I did wrong was stick with a guy who could never offer me a future.” She stresses how for all the times he reasoned ‘I don’t have money’, he could have said ‘I will try to look for a way’ because after all, James was half his.

Maureen was under five months pregnant when she started looking for work, but instead found out about Francis’ infidelity. On a night’s break from job hunting, she went out with friends to the Silay City Public Plaza. There, she found him sitting on a park bench with another girl. Not wanting to make a scene, Maureen opted to sit directly beside them, restrained but hoping to send a crisp message. But Francis only flashed her a smile. “After that, I began to loathe him,” Maureen recalls.

SEQUENCE II: MISCONCEPTIONS ON CONCEPTION “I was an Iglesia ni Cristo member.

Pregnancy out of wedlock was considered a disgrace to the family,” Maureen explained, adding that she was sent to live with her aunt in Batangas. With Maureen’s brother on his senior year in college and her sister being a student-call-center-agent, financially balancing was already hard enough as it is for their mother, who was then working as a housemaid. Although the family took turns in lending money for vitamins and check-up, the actual birth

delivery was the main concern.

At seven months, she travelled from Batangas to Antipolo after being hired by her mother’s cousin to look after her third-grader child. During her twomonth stay, she has secured P4,000 which she hoped to cover for her delivery fee but, as it turned out, was only enough for a dextrose and some medicine.

“I gave birth with nothing: no PhilHealth, no husband, no family. I gave birth with only the company of my youngster cousin,” Maureen says. Her aunts took pity on her and helped with the hospital expenses as well, but that was as far as their pockets could offer. Postpartum, Maureen would spend her nights awake putting baby James to sleep. Instead of getting some rest herself afterwards, she would do the laundry of her aunt’s border for P150 to pay for the vitamins and milk.

James was four months old when they returned to Negros. Upon hearing this, Francis visited his son, baby food and a can of powdered milk in tow, asking Maureen to borrow him. “I told him I was not denying him our son. But then again, he was never there when I needed him most. It made me realize I can raise my child without him,” Maureen quips. She went on to reveal that the only help she ever got from him was confined to the corners of a 500-peso bill. “I love him, but if I let it swallow me whole, I lose and my child suffers the consequences.”

At present, Maureen continues to raise James on her own. She reflects on how far she has come, considering how she once thought of giving up her son for adoption with the thought that she would be unable to shoulder everything. But she was able to.

“It becomes a matter of needs over wants,” Maureen advises. “In the end, we all get to live outside of our comfort zones. Learn to depend on no other hands but your own, because help is not always available.”

There are countless of uncelebrated victories inasmuch as there are unsung struggles that Maureen embodies for Lasallian single mothers. But for now, her story ends here. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Activism in Art: One stroke, a million words Not all protests entail force. Some entail works of art. Discover the message behind the artworks that grace the streets of Bacolod through the artists behind the paintbrush.

BY CHAD MARTIN Z. NATIVIDAD AND MARIAN B. BELMIS PHOTOGRAPHED BY ENA LOUISE P. APELO AND NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN

YOU RIDE A JEEP en route to your selected destination. It takes a couple turns here and there, passing several familiar spots and scenes you see almost everyday: a local bank, a market, a popular restaurant, a mall, a church—depending on where you’re going. Occasionally, the commute takes you across long dwindling roads with wide nearby stretches of brick walls. Yet unlike plain blocks of concrete, the ones you spot carry several colors: sprayed, brushed, or splashed.

Oftentimes, they form words, some readable while others aren’t. Unlike other walls, they speak—of stories, of messages, of names. Oftentimes, the walls shout. Other times they cry.

Rarely, they whisper.

While riding that jeep, you expect it’d only bring you to one destination.

Looking at those walls long enough, you feel yourself being carried somewhere else. That is the power of art when it is made from a palette of emotions, from a sense of advocacy, and, occasionally, from issues greater than ourselves. That is the impression of art when inspired by the landscape of activism.

In Bacolod, sights like those are a 14

THESPECTRUM

SOCIETY

staple to the average commuter and pedestrian. There’s a long stretch of murals encompassing the humble walls of Burgos cemetery. Throughout Lacson street, sporadic bursts of wall art scatter near restaurants and cafes.

Large brushed-on portraits mark the city public library beside Rizal Elementary School and another at Bacolod City Evangelical Church along San Juan-Rosario Street.

Usually at the bottom of the collage of figures—written either as initials or through a stroke of signature— are names of the several artists and groups behind those responding display of visuals.

Among those sites, a particular group abounds historically in the local activism scene. Since their peak activity during Ferdinand Marcos’ regime, and unto their yearly projects at present times, this group has its share of art that refuses to remain silent.

The group’s name is Dihon and you may have seen that name beneath the SAF 44 mural beside Bangga Patyo.

Since their group’s establishment after a series of origins, Dihon is a mobile force of art fueled by activism.

Following the events of the Escalante

massacre on Sept. 20 in 1985, their group was in charge of designing the monument that stands in the said city unto this day. But what had really defined their team was their action during the era of the country’s late dictator.

As the late president Cory Aquino waged war against the leftists, it so happened that an intervening movement called “Operation Thunderbolt” was executed. At one point, it led to a massive evacuation wherein several families from the southern Negros fled to Bacolod, seeking makeshift shelter at the Sacred Heart Seminary for months, while the bombings continued at their hometown.

In retort towards the operation, and in rise of several injustices that followed, Dihon launched their own operation through an exhibit called “Thunder Art”. Hearing the needs and aspirations of several sectors, Dihon relayed the cries of the masses through art spreads city-wide. It was called “Thunder Art” because their missions happened in a quick flurry. After agreeing with a strict time limit, they’d arrive at the scene of their choice—be it a wall or the road itself—inject the

Unlike other walls, they speak—of stories, of messages, of names. Oftentimes, the walls shout.

Other times they cry. Rarely, they whisper. message with practiced precision, then leave the minute the agreed time expires.

As the need for spreading information grew, more artists were encouraged to contribute what they could to raise awareness of the regime.

Dihon enacted what was then called as “Comics ng Bayan”. The group would gather the demands and plights of the public and relay that through illustrated representations.

The walls by the provincial high school was Dihon’s visual battleground. Rafael Karlo Burdeos Jr., Dihon’s former chairperson, recalls one of the close encounters the group had with law enforcers while doing their art. They had been painting somewhere near their battleground for almost half an hour while marchers occupied much of the road, building a supportive wall around the group, and causing traffic in the process. As the group was about to make their way to an evacuation jeep, a couple of nearby police that had been sighting them

for some time began to approach.

The mass of marchers huddled close, devouring the artists, whom of which then quickly changed their clothes, just in time so that they could blend in with the marchers and make their escape.

When asked on the relationship between art and activism in general, Rafael expressed, “It’s very natural [for] artists to be active.” Dihon practices Social Realism in their artworks.

Social Realism is a form of art, wherein the artist depicts the real and exact situation of the society. For Dihon, Social Realism is better than using abstract or cubism, for the forms doesn’t connect to the general public well.

Dihon’s main thrust has always been to use their skills as a means of service to the community. Their art attempts to relay that which the public could not so easily express. According to Rafael, it is difficult work, but tough times call for tougher responses. Rafael shared that the talent they have is with a purpose and that is to educate the public and inspire social change through their

artworks.

Then there is vandalism, which involves destruction of both public and private property and is often confused with graffiti. To be clear, graffiti are writings or drawings often scribbled, sprayed, or painted on walls or surfaces and within public view. While it is considered a form of art, it becomes vandalism and a violation to the law if it is done illegally and with the intention of destroying or defacing property.

Vandalism is rampant in the City of Smiles, which is why the Association of Negros Artists (ANA), together with the Bacolod City Police Office, is pushing an anti-vandalism campaign through artistic activism. According to ANA President Joan Honoridez, the advocacy of the association is not just to hone the talents of artists in the province but also to side with the law enforcers in the fight against vandalism.

“If you can see the writings on the wall, it is more about the self. The overall message that you can get is all about seeking attention,” Honoridez commented on the prevalent vandalism in the city. She added that today’s vandalism can be activism but in a negative way. Those times where vandalism is the only method to publicly express sentiments against the oppressive government is over. Times have changed. Today, we have the all the freedom to express how we feel and also to write anything on walls of public places.

In response to the prevalent vandalism, ANA have completed a number of murals and street paintings to cover up the walls and make a call to the public, especially the vandals, that the purpose of art should not be as shallow as writing names, and other insignificant words, on walls. Honoridez encourages young artists and vandals, to use their gifts for something worthwhile like doing exhibits that would showcase their talents and advocacy.

May it be the fight against vandalism or being critical towards political and other social issues, surely art is a gateway for ANA and Dihon to trigger the drive for activism inside every Negrense artist. To conclude, Rafael Burdeos wants to tell other artists to stand up and fight for what is right no matter what the consequences are.

“As long nga nakita mo nga tsakto gina-himo mo, tindugan mo (As long as you know that what you’re doing is right, you should stand up for it),” Burdeos encourages everyone. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Ang Makabagong Asukal ng Buglas Para sa mga millennials wala na ng panahon para ipamalas ang kanilang mga talento kundi ngayon kung saan ang lahat ay nakatingin. Dito sa Negros, mayroong bagong henerasyon isang makabagong henerasyon—na handang ipamalas sa entablado ang tamis ng kanilang mga talento.

NI JYAN MARTELLA G. OPENA DIBUHO NI KEANU JOSEPH P. RAFIL KUHA NI MARIANO O. JAVIER

MATATALIM NA TINTA at pananalita, sugatang mga daliri dulot ng maninipis na kwerda ng musika, pag-indayog sa bawat kumpas ng ritmo ng mga daliri ng kamay, manikang pilit na binubuhay ng mga hugis at metal at pagtilamsik ng pintura sa puti. Naririnig ko ang matinis na pagsigaw ng tila bagong silang na sanggol—ang hudyat ng kapanganakan ng mga bagong alagad ng sining.

OBRA SA HIRINGGILYA Katulad ng mga kapwa pintor, maingat sa pagtitimpla ng kulay si Kimberly Joy Magbanua. Kalkulado at tiyak ang bawat hagod ng kanyang paleta sa kuwadrado, samantalang taimtim ang kanyang isipan sa mga hugis ng kanyang pinipinta. Ngunit kakaiba siya sa mga ibang pintor sapagkat sa halip na brotsa ang gamitin ay ultimong mga syringe o hiringgilya ang gamit niya.

Nagsimula ang kanyang pagkahumaling sa sining noong siya ay bata pa lamang. Madalas iguhit ng kanyang mga magulang sa isang papel ang mga eksena ng mga kuwentong binabasa sa kanya bago siya matulog. Sa halip na laruan ang pasalubong, pakete ng mga materyal sa pagguhit at pagkulay ang kanyang natatanggap mula sa mga magulang at ibang kamag-anak. Ayon sa kanya, nagsimula siyang gumuhit sa pamamagitan lamang ng lapis at papel.

Sa ngayon, nagsisilbing medical-surgical nurse si Kimberly sa isang government hospital sa probinsya. Habang siya ay nagbibigay ng gamot sa pasyente, natuklasan niya na maaaring maging alternatibong brotsa ang mga hiringgilya. Sa puntong iyon, nabuo ang ideya ng syringe art.

Kalimitang inaabot ng tatlo hanggang anim na oras bago matapos ni Kimberly 16

THESPECTRUM

SOCIETY

ang isang painting. Madali mang pakinggan, mahirap ang proseso ng sining na ito. Inaalis niya ang needle shaft o ang mahaba at matulis na parte ng hiringgilya at gumamit ng ilang needle gauges depende sa mga detalyeng kinakailangan. Dahil gumagamit siya ng acrylic na pintura, mabilis ang pagtuyo nito at kinakailangan niya itong palitan nang paulit-ulit upang maiwasang magbara ang likido.

Bukod sa pagkontrol ng kanyang galaw habang gumuguhit, kinakailangan niyang maglapat ng saktong puwersa sa syringe plunger upang lumabas ang tamang dami ng pintura.

Sa pagkakataon na mapasobra ang kanyang diin, maaaring matanggal ang karayon at masira ang kabuuang larawan.

Mahigit 20 larawan na ang kanyang naipinta sa dalawang taong paggawa ng ganitong uri ng sining. Iilan dito

ay ang “Kristo”, ang kauna-unahang syringe art na tanging kulay itim na pintura lamang ang gamit; ang makukulay na love birds, “Pajaros del Amor” at “Curves” na tampok sa isang eksibisyon sa pagdiriwang ng Women’s Month noong nakaraang Marso.

KWERDA AT MUSIKA Isa-isa niyang inilalapag ang mga dala sa lamesa. Inilabas niya ang kanyang byolin at inayos ang pyesa.

Sinimulan niya ang pagtugtog ng musika ni Beethoven.

Nakapagtapos ng kursong BS Psychology si Ian Bañez nitong nakaraang Marso. Isa rin siya sa mga maswerteng nakapasa sa Psychometrician board exam. Pagkanta ang unang kinahiligan ni Ian. Madalas siyang kumakanta sa component na binili ng kanyang mga magulang noong siya ay maliit pa. Suki siya ng iba’t-ibang

patimpalak sa pagkanta sa paaralan noong elementarya at sekondarya.

Naging kalahok rin siya ng iilang singing contest ng mga malls noon.

Sa pagtuntong niya ng ikaapat na taon sa sekondarya, kanyang natutunan ang pagtugtog ng byolin. Biro niya, nakuha ng isang karakter na tumutugtog ng byolin sa sikat na palabas sa telebisyon ang kanyang atensyon kaya niya ito sinubukan. Paminsan-minsan niyang hinihiram ang byolin ng kanyang kaklase hanggang paunti-unting niyang natutunan ang pagtugtog nito nang mag-isa.

Naging bahagi si Ian ng De La Salle Chorale noong kanyang unang taon sa kolehiyo at kalauna’y naging myembro ng La Salle Vivace Strings. Naging malaking bahagi ng kanyang buhay kolehiyo ang organisasyon kung saan nagkaroon siya ng isang bagong pamilya at nakakilala ng mga taong mayroong parehong hilig sa musika.

Estudyante tuwing umaga at musikero sa gabi, kaliwa’t kanang gigs na ang naisagawa ni Ian. Maging solo man, o kasama ang Vivace Strings na ayon sa kanya ay naging malaking tulong sa kanya. Naging finalist rin siya sa Corps D’ Elite, isang prestihiyosong seremonya ng unibersidad na kumikilala sa mga namumukod-tanging mga mag-aaral sa larangan ng musika at sining.

Pinapangarap niyang makasama sa iisang entablado ang batikang musical director na si Ryan Cayabyab at kung mabibigyan ng pagkakataon, ay makatugtog kasama ang internasyonal na mga musikero na Clean Bandit.

Kasalukuyang tagapangulo ng La Salle Vivace Strings si Ian at abala sa kanyang music studio na nagtuturo ng byolin, byola, at tselo sa mga kabataang nasa edad sampu at pataas.

Naririnig ko ang matinis na pagsigaw ng tila bagong silang na sanggol— ang hudyat ng kapanganakan ng mga bagong alagad ng sining.

Ayon sa kanya, “Bilang isang musikero, isa sa mga pangarap ko na makilala ng mga Bacolenyo ang kagandahan ng pakikinig sa live at klasikong musika.”

HULMA NG SINING Maliit man sa inyong paningin, malaki ang papel ng mga laruang gawa ni Mark Juaniza sa paghubog ng kanyang pagkakakilanlan bilang isa sa mga inaabangang manlililok ng probinsiya.

Mabusisi ang pagbuo ni Mark sa mga iskulturang ito. Umaabot ng halos mahigit dalawang buwan bago matapos ang isang piraso. Ayon sa kanya, ang pinakamahirap na bahagi ng paggawa nito ay ang proseso ng baking at sculpting. Nabebenta niya ang mga ito sa halagang 20,000 hanggang 80,000 pesos.

Bata pa lamang siya ay nakahiligan na niyang magmanipula. Sa hirap ng kanilang buhay ay hindi siya nabibilhan ng kanyang mga magulang ng laruan kaya nama’y natutunan niyang maging maparaan. Bumubuo siya ng laruan gamit ang tangkay ng kangkong habang abala ang kanyang ina sa kanilang maliit na babuyan. Bilang isang bata, kontento siya sa mga maliliit na laruang kanyang ginagawa. Maliban sa paggamit ng patapong tangkay ng kangkong ay nasubukan niya ring gumamit ng mga krayola at toothpick sa paggawa ng kanyang mga obra maestra.

Nitong nakaraang Enero ay inilunsad ni Mark ang kanyang kauna-unahang

solo exhibit na pinamagatang Dream Toys. Biningyan niya ng buhay ang mga kilalang karakter sa pelikula at DC na komiks. Kamangha-mangha ang pagkopya ni Mark sa mga robot at superhero fight scenes sa kanyang mga iskultura.

Agaw-pansin ang makatotohanang fight scene sa pagitan nina Spiderman at Rhino kung saan walang kapintasan niyang nakuha ang itsura, katawan, at costume ng dalawang karakter. Maliban dito, mayroon ding mga replika ang mga karakter nina Deadpool, Professor Charles Xavier ng X-men kung saan perpekto mong makikita sa malapitan ang mga kulubot ng kanyang mukha at maliliit na detalye kagaya ng pilikmata at pores ng balat. Agaw-pansin din ang iskultura ni Antman na kung sa malayong tingin ay aakalain mong isang pistol lamang nito. Singlaki lamang ito ng kuko ng hinliliit at gawa sa mga materyales katulad ng toothpick.

Ayon sa kanya ang sekreto upang makagawa ng detalyadong iskultura ay ang masidhing pagbibigay ng atensyon dito. “Bilang isang self-taught artist, nag-uukol ako ng panahon sa panonood ng mga Youtube video at mabusising pinag-aaralan ang bawat parte ng imahe,” sabi niya.

Sa darating na panahon, nais ni Mark na magbukas ng isang museo ng mga laruan sa lungsod. Pinatutunayan ni Mark na wala man siyang pormal na pinag-aralan sa larangan ng iskultura ay maaaring siyang makagawa ng isang sining na makilala ng mundo. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Maling Media Kahit gaano pa kahali-halina at napakapambihira na naging ang imbensyon ng media, mula noon, hindi naman talaga ito nakaiwas sa pagkakamali at pang-aabuso. Alamin kung paano ito—sa mga maliliit at malalaking bagay—ginamit para sa lahat na mali-maling layunin dito sa ating bansa.

NI IAN KRISTOFFER V. GA AT IRIS DENISE N. RIVERA DIBUHO NI JOWAN DAVE G. GUIDES

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THESPECTRUM

DISCUSSION

“DAHIL ‘YAN SA KAKA-TV MO, EH!” Isa ito sa mga linyang ibinibitiw ng mga pinakamamahal natin na mga ina. Hindi na maipagkakaila na halos lahat ng Pilipino ay may telebisyon sa kanilang mga bahay. Sa kadalasan ng pagtutok natin sa telebisyon, mapapaisip ka na lang kung tama nga ba si Mama? Ano nga ba talaga ang mga impluwensiyang nakukuha natin mula sa mga palabas na ating napapanood araw-araw at gabi-gabi?

Ang unang katangian ng mga palabas sa telebisyon ngayon ay ang pagka-makapamilya nito. Mula kay Mama at Papa hanggang si Bunso ay nakatutok sa TV lalo na’t habang kumakain ng hapunan. Sa mga oras kasing ‘yan ipinalalabas ang mga primetime na teleserye. Kadalasan, mayroong mga maseselan na eksena sa mga palabas na linalagyan naman ng mga SPG ratings. Pero may mga tsansa pa ring makasilip si Baby mula sa likod ng sofa. Nakasalalay ngayon sa mga magulang at mga nakatatandang kapatid ang paggabay sa mga bata. Ngunit paminsa’y hindi pa rin sapat ang ratings-ratings lang dahil nasanay na tayong makakita ng mga eksenang katulad ng mga nakalahad sa ilalim.

Hindi mawawala sa ating mga screen ang mga babaeng kumekendeng-kendeng sa gilid habang nakasuot ng mga makikintab at makukulay na damit. Siguro nga ay nakatatak sa isipan nating mga Pinoy ang male gaze o ang pagpapalabas ng mga imahen at iba pang media na nakalaan para sa kasiyahan ng mga lalaki. Kaya nga siguro hindi nabubulok ang mga galaw ng SexBomb Girls kahit halos dalawang dekada na ang nakalipas simula nang mabuo ang grupo. Kahit malaos man sila, patuloy pa rin ang pagtangkilik ng ating mga mamamayang Pilipino sa kahit sinong grupo ng mga sumasayaw na seksing babae na para bang ang tanging silbi lamang ay akitin ang mga mata at patamisin ang mga gabi.

May mga host din na kitang-kita ang pagkabastos ngunit dahil siguro sa pagka-patriyarkal natin bilang isang bansa ay pinapalampas natin ang mga ganitong ugali. Tatawanan pa nga. Panonoorin ulit. Edi dumami pa ang mga ratings ng mga ganitong klaseng tao. Katulad ng pagkamalaswa at pagkagaspang ng ugali ng dating host ng Wowowee sa TFC na si Willie Revillame. Mapapatanong ka na lang, “Kailan pa naging sexy ang pagiging bastos?” Noong 2009 nga’y na-suspinde si Revillame sa kanyang

Nawa’y matandaan natin na tayo ang may kapangyarihan sa kung ano man ang ipalalabas ng mga korporasyon sa ating mga TV. mismong show sa pambabastos umano sa libing ng dating Pang. Cory Aquino. Habang ini-ere ang pagdala sa libing ni Aquino sa huling hantungan ay ninais ni Revillame na itigil muna ang pag-ere ng libing sapagkat mali raw na nagsasaya sila at sa kabila naman ay may inililibing. Umani ito ng batikos mula sa mga madla. At ang hindi matapos-tapos na pag-objectify ng mga kababaihan sa palabas niya, mula sa co-hosts hanggang sa mga audience nito.

Madalas naipapalabas ang mga karakter na matagal nang nasa telebisyon. Dala sa pagkatagal nila sa kanilang propesyon ay ang mga mentalidad ng nakaraang dekada. Katulad nga ng isyu kay Joey de Leon ng Eat Bulaga noong nakaraang taon. May ininterview sila de Leon na umamin na may depresyon daw siya. Nawa’y tandaan niyo na na-ibroadcast ito sa nasyonal na telebisyon. Imbes na unawain ni de Leon ang kalagayan ng kanyang iniinterview at magbigay ng kahit kaunting panggastos para sa treatment man lang, ay ininsulto niya pa ang babae. Sinabihan niyang hindi makatotohanan ang sakit na depresyon. Nakasakit na nga siya ng damdamin ng tao, nakuha niya pang maliitin ang mga taong mayroong mental illness.

Habang nasa punto tayo ng mga nakapagdududang mga host, nasa kanila rin ang responsibilidad kung sino ang pagtatawanan ng mga manonood. Kadalasan, ang nadadamay ay ang mga kalahok o bisita sa palabas. Kadalasan, ang pinagtatawanan ay ang mga kamalian nila sa pananalita o imperpektong Ingles.

Minsan nga ay pati ang itsura nila ay hindi nakaliligtas sa pamimintas ng madla. Kapag nakikita nating tumatawa ang mga nasa TV, napapatawa rin tayo. Kaya naman siguro ay naiisip din ng mga kabataan na pwede rin nilang pagtawanan ang mga pagkakamali at pagkukulang ng mga kalahok.

Katulad ng sikat na komedyanteng si Vice Ganda na hindi rin nakawala

mula sa mga pambabatikos. Noong 2013, habang nasa concert siya, tinalakay ni Vice ang sensitibong paksa na rape at si Jessica Soho ang i-binida niya rito. Sa isang bahagi ng kanyang concert noong Mayo 17, ginamit niyang halimbawa ang ilan sa mga kilalang personalidad sa senaryo ng pagiging bold star. Kabilang sa mga binanggit nito ay sina Kris Aquino, Boy Abunda, Willie Revillame, at si Jessica Soho.

Kung magkakaroon umano ng rape scene si Jessica, dapat daw na laging “gang rape” ang eksena, biro ng komedyante. Umabot ng dalawang minuto ang tuloy-tuloy na pagpapatawa ni Vice tungkol kay Jessica Soho. Ayon kay Gabriela party-list representative Luz Ilagan na ang joke raw ay hindi akma sapagkat ang rape ang tinuturing na sukdulan na pang-aabuso sa mga babae.

Sa isang soap opera, hindi rin mawala-wala ang mga kabit or mistresses. Ang pagyakap natin sa mga storylines na ito ay napaka-normal na lamang. Pag may sabunutan at sampalan, mas nagiging totoo ang mga kaganapan kung mismong ang legal na asawa at kabit ang nagkakaharap.

Nandiyan ang The Legal Wife at The Secret Affair para magpatunay nito.

Sadyang mababaw na talaga ang pagkahumaling natin sa mga paksang ito at hindi natin mawari na ito’y kasuklam-suklam sa unang banda. Inaatake nito ang ultimo’y pundasyon ng ating lipunan: ang pamilya.

Nawa’y matandaan natin na tayo ang may kapangyarihan sa kung ano man ang ipalalabas ng mga korporasyon sa ating mga TV. Kung nais nating mawala ang mga ganitong klase ng mga karakter at tropes, dapat ay maging mas mapili tayo sa ating mga pinipiling panoorin. Hindi naman magtatagal ang Ang Probinsyano kung walang nanonood, diba? May kakayahan tayong baguhin ang media na isinusubo nila sa atin at sa dahan-dahan na mga hakbang, maaring makita ng ating henerasyon ang gintong kapanahunan ng telebisyon. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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A Breadwinner’s Tale Perhaps it takes one rags-to-riches story at a time to constantly remember that one’s circumstances can never completely stop one’s passion and hardwork from reaching one’s dreams. This time, take it from Eleanor Moquite.

BY MARIA ANGELINE M. MAYOR AND CHARLENE MARIE D. LIM | PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELEANOR MOQUITE

“IF YOU ARE BORN POOR, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it’s your mistake.” – Bill Gates The quote above coming from one of the co-founders of Microsoft Corporation was not meant to offend. Rather, it is meant to inspire people that poverty is not, in any way, a hindrance to success.

And Eleanor Moquite’s story is just one example among many others.

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THESPECTRUM

On a typical Sunday afternoon, while kids play patintero with their friends and families, a naive Eleanor would chop off sugarcane to help in meeting her family’s daily expenses.

Born to a very humble family of ten, Eleanor was the second oldest of eight children, comprising of four boys and four girls, from the town of Isabela, Negros Occidental. Their house, made

HUMAN INTEREST

of nipa and bamboo, was left unfinished due to lack of money.

Their mother was a housewife who stayed at home to take care of the children. Their father was a local photographer for special occasions such as weddings and birthdays. Since these occasions only happen once in a while, his earnings were not enough to provide for the needs of the whole family.

With eight children to feed, there were times when they ate their meals only twice a day, consisting mainly of boiled cassava for dinner and sometimes boiled bananas or boiled corn during the harvest season.

When there isn’t enough rice for lunch, rice porridge was served instead.

Eleanor said that they often imagine that the bananas they ate was pork adobo which they could only taste when they had enough money. She could hardly forget the times when she had to walk her way to school without any shoes or even slippers to protect her feet.

“When I was in grade four, I went to school barefoot for several days because my parents had no money to buy me a pair of slippers and I did not want to be absent from class,” she recalled.

Despite their poverty, Eleanor enjoyed her childhood.

“I enjoyed working in the sugarcane field during weekends, even on Christmas and summer vacations as it enabled me to earn for my personal and school needs,” she expressed, adding that they work in the fields together as a family.

She remembers that during her high school days she usually had to take special periodical examinations as her parents could hardly pay her tuition fees on time.

“When I graduated from high school, my parents told me to enroll in college next to our town and to take up Commerce,” Eleanor narrated.

But Eleanor had another thing in mind.

“I did not agree with them because I did not want to become a saleslady. It was in my mind before that Commerce graduates will work as salesladies,” she explained.

Eleanor’s dream was to become a nurse. Unfortunately, because of their poverty, her parents could not afford the tuition fees for a degree in nursing.

Destiny intervened when someone advised her to enroll at the West Visayas State College (WVSC), now West Visayas State University, in La Paz, Iloilo City, for a degree in elementary education.

“I was so ambitious at that time that I persisted even when my parents would not allow me to go,” Eleanor admitted.

Eventually, she was able to convince her parents.

According to Eleanor, one’s grade in the National College Entrance Examination should at least be 80% and up. Aside from that, she has to pass the interview and physical examination.

Luckily, she was able to make it.

Eleanor had to leave her hometown to pursue her studies at WVSC with the hope of giving a better future for herself and her family.

In college, Eleanor had to juggle her studies and her responsibilities in her work as a student helper in the college library to earn additional allowance. And perhaps, because of Eleanor’s strong character, she did not let any chances pass. She grabbed every opportunity where she can earn money for her allowance.

“I was also cleaning the three classrooms of Quezon Hall of WVSC and my classmates who were the cleaners for the day were paying me in exchange,” she recalled. Later on, her sideline grew as students from three sections had decided to pay her every month in exchange for cleaning their classrooms every day.

In addition, Eleanor also accepted the work to clean the Science Park and Rizal Park of the college. She used the money she had earned to meet her requirements in school.

When Eleanor graduated in college with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1980, she immediately landed a job as a teacher in St. Scholastica’s Academy in Bacolod City in the same year. She then moved to Bulad Elementary School and Isabela East Elementary School — both located in the town of Isabela — for four years and then moved back to Iloilo to teach at the Iloilo Central Commercial High School in 1985.

Eleanor transferred again to another school in the District of Pototan in Iloilo wherein she was promoted to Elementary Head Teacher. And while fulfilling her work as the head teacher, Eleanor decided to go back to school to study for her Master’s degree in Education major in Educational Management in Aklan State University in 1997. Two years after receiving her diploma in her master’s degree, Eleanor was promoted to Elementary School Principal.

Eleanor is now 58 years old and is still happily and actively working as the Public Schools District Supervisor of Department of Education-District of New Lucena.

Married to Nathaniel Moquite, a retired employee, she has three daughters who have all completed their studies and are now working for a living. Two of Eleanor’s children followed their mother’s footsteps and took up Education. Her eldest, Frances Rene, is a public elementary school teacher who is now happily married with two children. Eleanor, as a proud mother, added that her youngest daughter, Catherine, graduated as Magna Cum Laude and is currently taking up her Master’s degree at the University of the Philippines - Visayas.

Elaine Joy, the second eldest daughter, on the other hand, fulfilled her mother’s dream to become a nurse and is now in Alberta, Canada working as the team leader of their institution according to

On a typical Sunday afternoon, while kids play patintero with their friends and families, a naive Eleanor would chop off sugarcane to help in meeting her family’s daily expenses.

Eleanor.

When asked how she was able to overcome all the hardships in life, Eleanor did not hesitate to say that it was her ambition, hard work, and faith in God that led her to reach her goals. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Towards the Bastion of Peace Where do we find the frontrunners of hope and peacebuilding in a reality full of social unrest, political wars, fear, and a national divisiveness? Maybe they’re at the back—right behind the scenes. And little do we know about their presence here in the region, which has for years become a true shield of Negros.

BY KATHERINE E. CO AND JOSHUA MARTIN P. GUANCO | ILLUSTRATED BY SHARA MAE L. PELAYO AND JOWAN DAVE G. GUIDES

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THESPECTRUM

SOCIETY

NOT ALL MIRACLES ARE SEEN; not all heroes are known. Sometimes they are blurred behind the daily rush of life— the aggregation of both the pleasures and the great mess of societal activity— and are, most of the time, miles beneath every news and story the world has to hear from the loud, alarming musings of media. Yet, they are there.

And their force is reconnecting humanity one step at a time—one stitch at a time, one conversation at a time, one relationship at a time, one blessing of peace at a time. And it is rebuilding, and has been protecting over the years, Negros—our place of beginning, the motherland that has kept us warm and breathing with her bounty for many centuries, and our people who have, since time immemorial, lived with each other in a strong sense of shared being and pride rooted in each other’s spirit. And this mediating force has, in a sense, acted for the region as a shield—a graceful yet fighting presence manifested in small ways amidst the violence and unrest in our places.

It is an active army of nonviolence that believes from its very core: “Peace is attainable.”

This living presence is a global peace movement by the name of Pax Christi.

Formed to existence in Europe right after the epilogue of World War II in hopes of reconciling the Germans and the French, this autonomous Catholic faith-based coalition has been bringing member organizations and social structures together for peacemaking since 1945. It is set in its campaign of representing its advocacy of spirituality through the act of “active nonviolence” in its goal of conflict resolution within and among societies. Their peaceful crusade continues, branching out today to 120 member organizations in over 50 countries.

For us here in Negros, the headquarters of Pax Christi is the Niall O’Brien Center for Peace, and up to this day, it has been officiating regular forums, or “dialogue spaces” that bring together different sectors of society including the church, the military, the police, and other law enforcement agencies.

For the head of the Negros-based Pax Christi center, Jack Pamine, their mission is encapsulated in a simple yet powerful principle: “If there’s a problem, let’s talk about it. [...] Because war will bring us nowhere.”

According to Pamine, they and these different sectors still meet regularly.

They discuss peace and security concerns, most especially with issues regarding human rights and international humanitarian laws, and how the

military and the police should adhere to them. They oversight the security function and also try to make sure that there are no human rights violations.

Their process is essentially rooted in how the movement itself was created in the form of Christianity, Pamine says.

They first analyze the situation, study it, identify stakeholders and actors in the context of the issue, and then they proceed to prayer. “Our actions are guided by faith, especially as Christians with Jesus Christ. [...] Whatever denomination you are in, it’s all guided by the Almighty—the God Almighty.”

The members of Pax Christi follow the principle of active nonviolence.

“We are advocating that conflict will hopefully be resolved by dialogue… because conflict is inevitable, but it should not be resolved by annihilation but rather by dialogue,” Pamine says with persisting faith, also adding that on the international level, there are also interfaith dialogues such as a commission between Muslims and Christians as part of their peacebuilding process. In relation to nonviolence, they are also advocating nuclear disarmament, believing that nuclear arms do not take anyone anywhere and are for destruction.

Pamine explains the system of direct dialogue facilitation as their tool in quelling conflict: those involved in the conflict from different perspectives are simply brought together to talk things out.

“We talk, we share together, [and] we also engage the government on whatever happens,” Pamine adds. “For me as coordinator, I want people to talk to each other; maybe conflict can be resolved, as long as there is goodwill.”

Their goal is to be reconciliatory in

But for the people of Pax Christi, there is something that quite sets them apart from a lot, if not most, of the population of the world today.

They still do very much believe in something people have frequently lost faith in.

the whole process while not compromising their gospel values. In all this, he says, as Pax Christi, their main role is to be the mediators between the conflicting parties, and not be additional characters in the fight. “If we join in the conflict, there would be three of us now,” he asserts with sense. And then following mediation would be reconciliation. “But before we reconcile, there should be truth,” he speaks with a deep sense of conviction. He says the truth should be cleared out from all sides and be likewise coupled with the acceptance of this truth, because there could never be real reconciliation without this acceptance. In other words, mistakes should be admitted and certain actions should be accounted for. He continues, “Then, when we accept each other, let’s move on. We should not be trapped in our own negative feelings because it will bring us nowhere.”

But what exactly is making the whole peace process a lot more difficult?

“Mistrust,” Pamine voices out. “[That is why] we also try to figure out where the mistrust came from,” he adds. At the same time, he says they are not in a rush with the process. The most important thing, he emphasizes, is that the line of communication is constantly open, because the bigger problem comes when this bridge is severed. In addition to this, he also remarks, “Some people hear but not listen.” To be able to pursue their goals and stay true to their calling, one needs to have great patience, he explains. There are also a lot of subcultures they encounter in their undertakings, so they all should be understood from their point of view, he adds. “The important thing [in all this] is you know how to listen,” he draws his point to a close.

In situations when concerns would be about the programs of the government, they would invite representatives from the government as resource speakers and make them share to the members in order to enlighten them, he says. “So in a way, the line of communication was [bridged], because before, there was nothing—no official line of communication between the Church and the security sector.”

They also encourage the poor to participate in these dialogue spaces and peace talks as much as possible. “[The poor] are also affected [by such societal issues], and they are the ones who can best represent their sector,” Pamine remarks. He also adds that it is their sworn responsibility to listen to all sides in the issues tackled.

But for the people of Pax Christi, there is something that quite sets them VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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apart from a lot, if not most, of the population of the world today. They still do very much believe in something people have frequently lost faith in. “Because we believe in the principle that man is [made] in the image and likeness of God, [and] that man is basically good— that [becomes] our basis [by] which we engage,” Pamine shares in a deep, sentimental tone. “[All this is] because we believe in the goodness in each one of us, regardless of ideology—[so] let’s just talk.” And in line with this, he further elaborated how maybe the root of conflict could just be a matter of perspective, a mere misunderstanding.

“We want to settle problems in a more productive way, [an] ideological way…” he states.

Upon the nativity of extrajudicial killings cases last 2016, the four dioceses—Bacolod, Kabankalan, San Carlos, and Dumaguete—of the recently dissolved Negros Island Region convened and issued a collective pastoral statement against the accumulating phenomenon in the archipelago which was slowly engraving a “culture of death” onto it.

“While we commend the government for its political will and determination in addressing the terrible drug menace that has long plagued our country, we strongly urge that this be done within the bounds of law and with full respect for human rights,” the pastoral manifesto said.

However, what sparked during that certain meeting of the island’s ecclesiastical leaders was the presence of some policemen, who, despite their Director General and Commander-inChief’s tacit stance on the matter, didn’t just attend but even lead in the praying of the Holy Rosary.

The call for peace and value for human life prompted the bishoprics to hold the convention along with Pax Christi Negros who was already facilitating dialogues between the Church, police, and the government for a long period of time. Furthermore, National Coordinator of Peace and Conflict-Sensitive Journalism Network (PECOJON) – Philippines Jean Lee Patindol explained that “these free-flowing dialogues helped build 24

THESPECTRUM

understandings of different perspectives as well as relationships among the different sectors.”

In a Facebook post, Patindol shared the key to achieving peace was to first have open, transparent communication and relationship building between differing entities, then look for commonalities, and finally cooperate on achieving and building these shared ideologies and needs. As an expert in peace studies, she also shed light onto a certain ritual of Indigenous People wherein they would share food in order to build peace.

“They tear us down with fear-mongering, lies, and all forms of violence; we resist by building and nurturing our precious social capital—our relationships of trust and respect with each other, with the people in our communities that we know and get to know,” Patindol concluded.

The path taken by the members of Pax Christi is continually being paved and led to various directions, although their destination—peace—will always stay the same. They have vowed for themselves a mission to be in constant solidarity with the world—their troubles and difficult situations. As of now, they are opening themselves to more venues of study to extend their service and peacemaking advocacies. Pamine says they are willing to learn more on issues regarding women, gender sensitivity, poverty, and the environment.

“Let’s study them. [Let’s see] what we can do,” he positively urges.

And at one point, despite all the mess and the hopelessness of this world, it all boils down to what they choose to believe in again: “We still believe in the goodness of persons, with all his imperfections.” Stubborn and persisting as it may sound, but it may be the light that will ultimately guide us back to what could be the real truth about us: that there is God, with all His glory, grace, and goodness, in each person. “In spite of our frustration, we continue, because we believe that as we, as human beings in this world, and especially if we believe in God, that this is just God’s mission for us—to make this world a better place to live in, [and] if not only better, the best place for His human creation to

live in,” Pamine expresses with a strong warmth of hope.

Many have given up on the concept of the proliferation of peace in today’s time. The wars, injustices, killings, and impunities have all reduced the essence of peace as a far cry existing only in the ideals of the hopeful. To some, it is just a state of mind. But for the people of Pax Christi, peace is a destination: a bastion at the farthest corner of the earth waiting to be unlocked once again by human hands. The walk towards the bastion of peace has already begun since time began shedding its fragments. And while some may have given up along the way, others have persevered to reach the coveted destination in order to share it with everyone.

The work of Pax Christi is not theirs alone. Being inspired by the same spirit of love and peace, it becomes ours also—a grand participatory effort to reconnect humanity that is divided by cultures, geographical boundaries, religion, and by small-turned-monumental misunderstandings.

Perhaps it seems like several mountains to cross before we can resolve our conflicts and build lasting peace altogether, but it may also be just a budding but unwavering desire to continually communicate with our fellow being—regardless of all sorts of social structure and divide—to start something that may only cost us our pride, but will repay us in multitudes more of actual peace, joy, and harmony from our shared existence as a humanity in the future. S

Maria Clara: A Sign of the Times The evolution of a traditionally-upheld persona and how that change manifests in our society today. Become reacquainted with Philippines’ Maria Clara.

BY MARIA ANGELICA M. APE | PHOTOGRAPHED BY ENA LOUISE P. APELO

VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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A QUINTESSENTIAL FILIPINA representation and is probably one of the most influential Filipinos who never existed—Maria Clara. An iconic name that portrays how a Filipina should become. Era after era, Filipinos have adapted to the ever-changing culture of the world but the definition of Maria Clara remains the same.

THE PAST Maria Clara was the frankenstein of Jose Rizal when he wrote Noli Me Tangere. Dubbed as beautiful and charming, Maria Clara becomes the epitome virtue religiousness and values. A Maria Clara wears long items of clothing, stays at home to do household activities, leaving men to participate in community affairs, becoming the productive ones. A Maria Clara becomes the ‘ideal Filipina’ women aspire to become because of the adoration of men.

Deriving from the Latin word conservāre which is defined, “to keep, guard, observe,” conservatism is a political philosophy that usually favors traditional values and strong foreign defense. Since different cultures have different established values, conservatives in different cultures have different goals. Some conservatives seek to preserve the status quo, while others seek to go back to the values of the past.

In the fashion industry, women in general a more covered and didn’t show a lot of skin not until the 70s were cropped shirts and off-shoulder garments were being adored by women all over the world. Since the Philippines has been heavily influenced with Spanish culture, fashion-wise, women adapted to what appropriate for the Spaniards.

The 80s was an empowering year since women in the workforce had increased. During this era, women feel stronger and more confident. It was a decade where the then Maria Clara finds herself with more choice in how she wanted to live her life in the previous decade. The 80s Maria Clara then started sporting shoulder pads in a bid to be treated in the same way as men. Then comes the rise of the Power Dressing phenomenon where smart business suits are considered as casual wear and not just left in the office.

THE PRESENT “Come on guys, it’s 2017.”

In July, Filipino celebrity Nadine Lustre expressed her opinions about 26

THESPECTRUM

Her old self would have followed tradition with waiting for a long period of time to give a suitor her sweet yes.

living together with a partner even if they are not married yet - which sparked a lot of controversies to older audiences who believed otherwise.

Filipino psychiatrist Lourdes Lapus in her study in psychopathology says: “The Filipino culture, for all the increasing signs and protests to the contrary, still has a large hangover from its ego-idea for women of many bygone years. This is the so-called Maria Clara image of a woman who is shy, demure, modest, self-effacing, and loyal to the end. The openly provocative, sexually aggressive female who is frequently associated with the American female image is still comparatively rare in Filipino culture.”

Upon entering the modern era, things change quickly that it resulted to modern thinking. The present Maria Clara explores her options - looks and career-wise. This made Filipinas adapt to the western influences in terms of norms and styles - straying away from the once demure. Because of this, behavior has changed in the modern Maria Clara.

She is outspoken,

self-motivated, proactive, and more confident. Today’s Filipinas are given a voice to choose freely, and to speak without hesitation. The modern Maria Clara then decides who she wants to date despite societal norms. Her old self would have followed tradition with waiting for a long period of time to give a suitor her sweet yes. Today’s Maria Clara ever explores her sexuality.

THE FUTURE Conservative ideology generally regards liberty as a valuable aspect in life. However, freedom is only considered substantial under certain circumstances. These circumstances are aimed to uphold social order by controlling one’s actions and thinking to be wise instead of a result of an immediate passion.

With the advent of new technologies such as the internet, and other technological innovation – the mores and attitudes of Filipinas when it comes to sexual behavior are also changing.

The future Maria Clara is more accepting of herself, more passionate, more understanding.

The present and the future Maria Clara will be ever dynamic. Gone are the days compromising; despite the evolution of the once classic image of a Filipina, it is the idea of how proud she in her involvement for the greater good.

DARLA MAMUYAC PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN

Invictus

by William Ernest Henley Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

Mystique is Story-Deep Long before foreign influence began to breeze through Negros Island, the natives had their own—including folklores. These two folktales speak of an aspect the island’s culture in anchored on.

BY LYLE JOHN L. BALANA | ILLUSTRATED BY SETH V. PULLONA

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THESPECTRUM

DISCUSSION

MYSTERY. The word by itself is unremarkable. Sitting on top of your unfinished writeup or plastered across a cheap, tacky movie poster in red font that warbles like spilled wine above some histrionic showcase, it is nothing more than a word. But once upon a time, mystery in words was very much real for the people of the past.

Their world was not of the electronic lights of the city, nor the carved, tire-trodden dirt paths of the rural furlongs now open to much faster travel and trade. It was a world where the trees cast night over paths that never quite saw daylight. It was a world where the flickering ward of a candle was the only hold man had over the all-consuming darkness of the night. It was a world where people huddled close to their families, in body, in house and in commune, for when the sun went down the rules change. They become foreign to life. They come to serve hunger, confusion, a morbid amusement that murders and harms. And what could not be seen became the stories of that world.

The folklore of Negros Island was shaped around the unknowable, but it also has its roots in two distinct influences—local animism and spiritualism, and the mythological pinnings that take hold of every developed culture. The former is subdued in its splendor—it takes stock of the forests, the hills, the small places and the moon—but the latter sets its legend elsewhere: in mighty deeds, in heroes, in gods that walk and sprites that serve.

There is one story centered around the city of Dumaguete, where a certain tuba seller, poor in his trade, once lived. This seller’s name was Banog, and he made his round among all the houses with his long bamboo stem, from which he poured his sole ware— the sap of the coconut tree. He had a daughter, Catalina, who was as mysterious as she was silent. She stood, clasped hands and all, looking over the sea with wondering eyes. The locals considered her an enigma that might bear powers, and such was the mystery of the girl.

One day the Moros attacked from the south, killing and plundering, among them the poor Banog. After this was done, they captured all the women they could find and set sail for home.

Among the spoils they have captured was Catalina, the silent daughter, who sat on the bow of one of the ships, but said nothing. Suddenly, she leapt off her boat and set for shore, walking across the water. The shocked

Moros were too astonished to stop her. She walked back to Dumaguete and towards its Thunder Mountain, Dalugdug, whereupon climbing it scared off its resident monster, a fierce Sigbin. The Sigbin, upon seeing Catalina, bounded off the mountain and fled for the mountains of Cebu, while the girl herself disappeared into the mountain.

But the Moros would return. Though the natives would fight with their blades and the memory of their lost wives and sisters, the sheer number of the invaders worked against them, and they were defeated soundly, but not after much blood was spilled. But before the Moros could enact a repeat of their previous deeds, Catalina emerged from the mountain, beehive

They capture but a small amount of the unknown in their words, for the Thunder Mountain has never again disgorged the quiet daughter of Dumaguete, nor had Kan-Laon ever finished his smoking session from underneath the mountain he owns. in hand, and unleashed the bees on the invaders, transformed into little black men with spears that made swift work of all the invaders. Once more, after her deed, Catalina disappeared into the mountain, and the men after her.

There is another story centered around Mount Kanlaon, speaking about the deity Kan-Laon and his ownership of the mountain. He was the supreme deity of the Negrenses, responsible for the richness of their island and the good quality of their life. A group of tobacco farmers, wishing to plant on good land, came to Kan-Laon and requested his permission to plant on his mountain. Being a kind god, KanLaon saw no harm in letting them do so, but warned them of a definite limit to his benevolence. He drew a line near

the peak of the mountain and asked the tobacco farmers never to plant beyond the line, for he kept his home there.

The tobacco farmers were all too happy to agree to the terms, and so they planted all the tobacco they could on Kan-Laon’s mountain. And so it went for many years, until the deity announced to them that he was off to meditate in a faraway place. Once more he redrew the line and told them never to cross it, then went on his merry way to enjoy his meditation. The tobacco farmers carried on, but as they were good and industrious farmers, soon they had filled all the corners of the mountain except for Kan-Laon’s territory. Then they despaired, for greed took hold of their hearts, and they desired to acquire more than they already have. One of them, foolish in his bravery, planted a single tobacco plant beyond the line. The farmers all scolded him, for now they had broken the creed of the god, but days passed, and nothing happened to them. Soon the unpunished act was seen as the absent approval of the god, and so the farmers covered the whole mountain in their product, never doubting their act.

One day, sure as thunder, Kan-Laon returned and saw that his home has become a plantation. Keeping his wrath in check, he waved his hand and all the tobacco became dried and withered. The farmers all cried out and begged his forgiveness, which he, a kind god, gave. But before they could once more plant on his mountain, he decided to try out all their tobacco for the season. He made a crater on the peak of the mountain, then jumped in with all the bundles. And so unto this day Kan-Laon enjoyed the tobacco bundles, and the farmers never again dared to plant on the mountain.

Stories like these are not made in a single day. Thousands of voices have shaped them, molded them into the format that has been handed down to the digital and paper pulp-pressed archives of today. They capture but a small amount of the unknown in their words, for the Thunder Mountain has never again disgorged the quiet daughter of Dumaguete, nor had Kan-Laon ever finished his smoking session from underneath the mountain he owns. But of course, we cannot profess to know everything, only see what has been revealed. For with all of the foresight science and the march of technology has given the human race, they all must still tread lightly, lest a mystery of their own design reveals Itself from beyond and strikes them down back into the darkness to tell tales evermore. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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The Spinster in The Mansion Love does mysterious things to people under it. It strengthens and inspires yet it also changes and bewitches. This is an olden tale from Silay that delves on the bliss and tragedy of the unexplainable force.

BY IRIS DENISE N. RIVERA | PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARITINI M. FALCO

STORIES ARE ONE of the building blocks of any society. They give context to the culture and lifestyles of families within a given time. The haciendas and mansions of Negrenses have their own tales to share. Some may be based on real life and then exaggerated and overdramatized for flair or for poetic license. Some may have been spun from the minds of Doñas and titas about peculiars in their towns to spice up a soiree.

There is one particular story often whispered about behind the olden doors of Silay, from grandparent to grandchild; from generation to generation. Its verity has been difficult to pin down but it is an interesting read whether one decides to take it for fact or fiction. Not unlike most stories, it was about love, prominence, and heartbreak. It went a little something like this: Once upon a time, in the Paris of Negros, there was a grand two-storey mansion home to a beautiful young girl we shall call Amelia. She lived with her mother and father, and being the unica hija, she was showered with enough love and riches that other girls could only ever dream of.

Her grandfathers from both sides were prominent figures in the recent war and are plentily affluent. Thus, she was brought up like a princess, and perhaps she was the closest Silay could ever come to having one. From sunrise to moonrise, her day was rehearsed like an orchestra. She never had to lift a finger nor worry about the food on the table. The mayordoma would wave her wand and the numerous maids would flutter about washing, clothing, and preparing meals for the princess. A perfect life, indeed.

As she grew older, Amelia fell in love. Whether with a suitor or a lover, it is difficult to say. The passage of time has blurred the details. He came from an affluent family but nowhere near the level of Amelia’s family. Their love, 38

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however, was not meant to be. For reasons beyond us, perhaps even Amelia, herself, was prohibited from marrying him.

When it came to the point where Amelia was kept from leaving her home, the couple would find ways to trade sweeping declarations of love in the form of handwritten letters. The messenger was Amelia’s best friend, and a common cousin between the two.

In the letters, her lover told her that he

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would wait for her no matter how long it took. Even if he had to wait until her parents passed or until the afterlife, so long as he could be with her.

Love is a confusing thing. At one moment, Love will shout in glee from the rooftops, and another, Love will lay weeping on their bedroom floor. For our dear Amelia, Love grew tired of waiting. The Love that was supposed to last beyond the grave, lasted only a few living years.

After her parents passing, the love of her life lost interest in her. He gained affection for Amelia’s best friend (the same one who delivered their love letters) and they soon married and lived happily ever after. Amelia, however, did not. The man of her dreams would remain just that: a dream.

Allegedly, the happy couple settled into a house across the street from her home, and she could see them from the second floor of the mansion. In some versions of the story, they say that Amelia could not bear to see her beloved in the arms of another that she had the entire second floor leveled and confined herself in the living room area of the ground floor.

Amelia became less sociable, preferring to stay indoors despite the galas, balls, and orchestras she was invited to. The heartbreak led her to become a shut-in in her own home.

She had a wall built in the middle of her living room, sectioning a part for her bedroom. Her ebony hair grew out past her waist and soon turned gray then white. She remained unmarried until she died at the age of 97 in 2012.

A tragic story, but in essence, just a story. Amelia’s life and love and loss have inspired a handful of short stories and plays. One of which is Professor Rosario Lucero’s fictional Doreen story in the Feast and Famine Stories that follows the life of a girl named Deling.

It has become difficult to confirm which parts of the stories that have been told are true and which are fictional unless placed in specific contexts. For instance, it is highly unlikely that Amelia refused to speak or leave her house after the heartbreak. It is important to remember

Love is a confusing thing. At one moment, Love will shout in glee from the rooftops, and another, Love will lay weeping on their bedroom floor. For our dear Amelia, Love grew tired of waiting. the context in which the story is set.

Amelia supposedly grew up with her life laid out for her. When her parents passed, her social circle and influence grew smaller leaving her to attend only family gatherings such as birthdays and reunions. This might have made her appear more like a recluse in some circles. Besides, if we set the story to the late 1900s, the number of galas and extravagant parties would have dwindled down especially after the Marcos era out of respect for those who suffered the atrocities of the administration.

And with regards to the dramatic destruction of the mansion’s second floor, her lack of management skills come into play once more. Amelia could not have known how to maintain an entire household by herself.

It may have been a suggestion from her family members to get rid of the second floor to make it easier to manage. If she were born a man, or if she had married, or if she had a brother, the lifestyle she took upon herself may have ended up differently.

The secrecy of the story boils down to the Filipino trait of delikadeza. In a city where all families are either distantly or closely related, it is considered taboo to speak ill of one’s neighbor in public. But that hasn’t stopped the tale from circulating. The appeal of Amelia’s story may stem from our love of tragic love stories.

Details were exaggerated or made up in order to pique the interest of a larger audience. In addition to all that, it hits close to home. Silay being a few minutes away from Bacolod makes this telenovela-worthy story uniquely our own and something we can talk about over coffee and piaya.

Love and tragedy. Fiction and reality. When all these components are put into a story and repeatedly told, readers tend to blur the lines together. In some circles, it would be called gossip, and in others, an inspiration for literature, as with Lucero. To believe in Amelia’s story, however, and all the other stories like hers, is up to those who want to distinguish the lines between history and fiction. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Politically correct, aren’t we?

An ethical employee is an empowered employee. Understand the extent of public opinion and how we are all expected to be (critical) just as we are woke.

BY ADRIENNE CARL S. CALVO | ILLUSTRATED BY KAREN D. PANGANIBAN

40

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ACTIVISTS AND PARTISANS all around the country have established a culture where everyone’s woke and active in voicing out critiques, opinions, and political views — a culture wherein we are free to express our minds. Although everyone is entitled to their own opinions and views, we still have to learn that there are codes and laws that we are bound to.

Trainings for legal ethics are usually given to employees of public and private institutions, binding them to the country’s Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards (RA 6713). This Republic Act has been created by the state to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. While this applies to public officials and employees only, private institutions may issue their own code.

According to Section 4 of RA 6713 entitled Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees, every public official and employee shall observe the following as standards of personal conduct in the discharge and execution of official duties: (a) Commitment to public interest.

— Public officials and employees shall always uphold the public interest over and above personal interest. All government resources and powers of their respective offices must be employed and used efficiently, effectively, honestly and economically, particularly to avoid wastage in public funds and revenues. (b) Professionalism. — Public officials and employees shall perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence and skill. They shall enter public service with utmost devotion and dedication to duty. They shall endeavor to discourage wrong perceptions of their roles as dispensers or peddlers of undue patronage. (c) Justness and sincerity. — Public officials and employees shall remain true to the people at all times. They must act with justness and sincerity and shall not discriminate against anyone, especially the poor and the underprivileged. They shall at all times respect the rights of others, and shall refrain from doing acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, public safety and public interest. They shall not dispense or extend undue favors on account of their office to their relatives whether by consanguinity or affinity except with respect to appointments of such relatives to positions considered strictly confidential or as members of their personal staff whose terms are coterminous with theirs. (d) Political neutrality. — Public officials and employees shall provide

The essence of the RA does not only apply to government officials and public and private employees, but also to us normal people just casually doing our routines. service to everyone without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference. (e) Responsiveness to the public. — Public officials and employees shall extend prompt, courteous, and adequate service to the public. Unless otherwise provided by law or when required by the public interest, public officials and employees shall provide information of their policies and procedures in clear and understandable language, ensure openness of information, public consultations and hearings whenever appropriate, encourage suggestions, simplify and systematize policy, rules and procedures, avoid red tape and develop an understanding and appreciation of the socioeconomic conditions prevailing in the country, especially in the depressed rural and urban areas. (f) Nationalism and patriotism. — Public officials and employees shall at all times be loyal to the Republic and to the Filipino people, promote the use of locally produced goods, resources and technology and encourage appreciation and pride of country and people. They shall endeavor to maintain and defend Philippine sovereignty against foreign intrusion. (g) Commitment to democracy.

— Public officials and employees shall commit themselves to the democratic way of life and values, maintain the principle of public accountability, and manifest by deeds the supremacy of civilian authority over the military. They shall at all times uphold the Constitution and put loyalty to country above loyalty to persons or party. (h) Simple living. — Public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.

These are the things that public officials and employees must follow and abide by in order to best serve the country. Violators of the provisions of this act shall be punished with a fine not exceeding the equivalent of six (6) months’ salary or suspension not exceeding one

(1) year, or removal depending on the gravity of the offense after due notice and hearing by the appropriate body or agency.

On the other hand, a perfect example for the RA 6713 can be represented by the recent Mocha Uson spectacle. Recalling the recent senate hearing about Fake News last October, Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson insisted that bloggers have the right to express themselves online.

Citing the RA 6713, Senator Nancy Binay said, “Under Section 4, we cannot use the excuse of doing things in our capacity as a private individual. Hindi mo na puwede ihiwalay ‘yung pagiging blogger mo sa pagiging Asec mo.”

Having said this, the appointed Asec must decide on what personality she should go with. Just like what the aforementioned section of the act said, public officials and employees shall always uphold the public interest over and above personal interest, they shall provide service to everyone without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference, and lastly, they shall remain true to the people at all times.

The essence of the RA does not only apply to government officials and public and private employees, but also to us normal people just casually doing our routines. In a school scenario, proper ethics can be practiced by serving the student body, may it be through classroom officership, student council or government, or just being a concerned classmate during meetings.

Some debates about our opposing views and beliefs may also happen during class discussions that would trigger us to say regretful things. In times like this, we must first ask ourselves the question, “How politically correct are we?”

After answering the question, we should come to a realization that picking our battles isn’t a sign of cowardice, but a mark of learned person. Instead of impulsively spatting childish rebuttals, fact-checking and in-depth research will surely put us on higher pedestals. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Of Men and Morality: The Oldest Profession

Occupation and gender are two separate subjects of stigma. Notice how both set distinctions in evaluating one of the oldest professions in the world.

BY ROBERT H. JERGE III AND ALVIN BRIAN S. LEGARIO | PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN

A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN—slim, tall, and beautiful—enters a bar looking for a way to relieve her stress after a long day at work. It was hard to get attention for it was happy hour, so she asks around, and after getting the attention of a waiter, he points her to a young man sitting alone in a bar.

“Over there,” the waiter said with a hint of distaste, “He’ll get the job done, for a price.”

She made her way to the bar to get a closer look. She decides to sit beside the young man— tall, handsome, and robust. He orders a drink and gives her a smile. After striking up a conversation, she whispers something in the young man’s ear and he promptly whispers something back. They go at this for some time and after a while, they both head out to fulfill an evening of pleasure.

The profession itself predates the Bible; it can be traced back to all 42

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modern and ancient cultures, and has been described as “the world’s oldest profession”. Sumerian accounts of ritual sex acts portray male prostitution as a way to make the land and the people fertile. They would be practiced in the temples of their fertility gods and the ritual would be acted out by their priests. The prostitutes would also aid in the reenactment of their chief god, Marduk, and his heroic bout with Tiamat, the dragon of chaos. This “bout” was played out with the emperor “mounting” the prostitute and effectively conquering the dragon. In Ancient Greece, prostitutes were generally slaves according to the Encyclopedia of Homosexuality. One story of a Greco slave turned prostitute turned philosopher is that of Phaedo of Elis. Phaedo’s home, Elis, was conquered by the Spartans, who captured him and sold him as a slave-prostitute to a friend of Socrates. Phaedo was later sold to Socrates and was his student till Socrates’ death. Phaedo would later return to Elis where he would open a school to pass on Socrates’ teachings. Phaedo’s story is told in Plato’s dialogue, Phaedo. Today, in the 21st century, males who exchange sexual activity for payment are referred to as escorts, or more commonly known as “call-boys”. A male escort may either work in a brothel, or in an escort agency. The change in the use of male prostitution has drastically altered the way we view the occupation. The use has shifted from a sacred act to a more assisted self-pleasuring activity and the accompanying stigma is a result from an equal shift in moral standards.

“It doesn’t matter which political direction you come from: the topics of sex work, sexual exploitation, prostitution and sex trafficking seem like a Gordian Knot,” Laura Agustin, an anthropologist specializing in studies on migration, trafficking, and the sex industry, once claimed in an article published in the Jacobin Magazine.

Male prostitution, unlike their female counterparts, do not generally fall in the stigma of shame, but in the stigma of being improper. Their clients are mostly male, and due to this, it is

Male prostitution, unlike their female counterparts, do not generally fall in the stigma of shame, but in the stigma of being improper. assumed that these male sex workers are homosexual. Elements such as the age difference, and status in social hierarchy, are also the main topics brought up whenever prostitution is stigmatized. In male prostitution—as well as female—the relationship of the client and the worker may differ, but the client usually is the older member, and is referred to as a sugar momma or sugar daddy. In the homosexual community, the relationship of prostitute and client couple are usually referred to as “daddy” and “son”—but are usually not connected to incest. Society’s distaste is mostly reflected on the age difference and social stature; discrepancy in this immoral relationship is and always has been brought up only in certain places of the world, but this relative distaste for the age difference doesn’t stop people from seeking out companionship.

Why is such a profession so appealing enough to tempt people to go out and sell themselves? Money is one of the popular reasons for entering the domain of prostitution. A popular scenario painted by ScienceNordic is that of a partner filing for divorce, taking all the money, and their partner settling for prostitution as the main source of income. Monetary dependency was “cited by 85% of the prostitutes” surveyed by the research firm. In the case of sugar daddies and mommas, they

help their sugar babies financially in return for companionship (not necessarily sexual in nature). It is also interesting to point out that men in this industry do not make as much as their female counterparts, but also don’t suffer from the same stigma.

No matter how you slice it, there will be stigma against prostitutes. There are laws in place to deter people from going into the profession, or attaining the services of prostitutes, but that won’t stop people from following through with it. Plenty of people have and will continue to put it in a negative light due to the nature of the service and the selling of the person’s body, but that won’t stop one of the largest and oldest industries in the world from making bank.

“Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” Sex, has always been an issue of controversy since the very beginning. It is the very nature of human beings, and to the core, sex can be dissected as one of the root of evils in the world. Humans are always craving pleasure, and making money while satisfying your inner cravings are more than enough to entice most male prostitutes.

At its simplest, sex is procreation. A way in which a species reproduces and replenishes their population. Humans are no strangers to primal instincts, and in this day and age, prostitution is a gateway to easy sex and the relief of a person’s sexual drive. That is why prostitution will never be toppled.

Legislation may make it near impossible to join or attain services, but it will always be around. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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The social record of a guilty pleasure It is in naming that we acknowledge an existence. And it is in using that name when discussing it that we may tackle it unto its core.

BY CHAD MARTIN Z. NATIVIDAD PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICCI BERNELLE D. AGUILAR

NOW MANY THINGS are possible. The person reading hereinafter is either someone already accustomed to the subject discussed in this article, passive towards it, or principally opposed to it. This article does not attempt to promote the practice in any way, rather it hopes to share the transition of the practice into a taboo and re-evaluate it as to its possible potential at present times.

We have a tendency to provide nicknames for the words we cannot easily say. This is, perhaps, so we can discuss them without feeling uncomfortable—as if we are discreetly hoping that monikers can somehow decrease the sensitivity of a given subject.

The same goes for practices, specifically taboos. Despite their heft, nicknames can disarm taboos for a moment in conversation. But eventually, the impact of a word changes over time. So we revisit them again, weighing them anew with the social scales that dominate at present. And while there are many out there behind the reassessment line, for now we will focus on one.

This is a word sometimes dressed in figures of speech, to lighten it; wrapped in innuendo, to humour it; weighed in religious context, to rebuke it; and implanted with medical terminology, to record it.

It has been called, but is not limited to: jerking/jacking/wanking off, selfsex, self-love, self-stimulation, milking the cow, flogging the dolphin, playing with yourself, and auto-eroticism.

At this point, we will discuss it in its rawest term only, so as to weigh the subject without its shoes: the act known by many, simply, as masturbation.

The moment you stimulate your genitals, maybe manually, with the slightest intention for pleasure, then 44

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DISCUSSION

…the greatest and only risk of masturbation is when chronic masterbaters allow it to directly impede daily functions or social responsibility, such as compromising work to focus on “me-time”. you are performing masturbation.

According to psychologist Sigmund Freud, masturbation occurs as early as infancy, wherein newborns are first exposed to sexuality as they explore pleasure in their bodies. The act of masturbation also transcends gender, being executable either via the male or female sexual genitalia. Overall, it is as biological as sexual intercourse, and yet many still have trouble discussing that which occurs when you’re not necessarily “making love”.

The earliest depiction of masturbation traces back to as far as the prehistoric period, in the form of rock paintings. A 4th millenium BC clay figurine from a temple site on the island of Malta, portrays a woman masturbating. In ancient records, the first urban civilization, Sumer, considered masturbation as a popular technique for enhancing potency.

For one ancient culture, masturbation was regarded as an act of creation.

According to Egyptian cosmogony, they believed that before there was anything, there was the creator god of the Egyptian pantheon named Atum.

To put an end to his long solitude, he created the world and the rest of the Egyptian gods by simply masturbating them into existence.

It was in the 18th century, when the act of masturbation received its major criticisms from across various institutions. Following a pamphlet distributed in London in the year 1718 which ostracized masturbation (then called onanism), several echoes of displeasure followed throughout several centuries.

At a certain point, masturbation was associated as a psychological issue. In 1743, British physician Robert James published a medical dictionary

in which he described masturbation as being “productive of the most deplorable and generally incurable disorders”. Through Des Maladies Mentales, Jean Esquirol, a French psychiatrist, declared masturbation to be “recognized in all countries as a cause of insanity”.

Then there were cases where masturbation took lives. In his own words, Dr. John Kellog, a zealous campaigner against masturbation, speaks of masturbation-related deaths as “such a victim literally dies by his own hand”.

For the Puritan colony of New Haven, Connecticut, among other types of offenders included in their 17th-century law code, masturbators were among those eligible for death penalty when caught.

Yet above are just a few examples among the dozens of other critics against masturbation. Historically, the most influential of those opposers, whose stand against the act is firm even until now, is the Catholic Church.

When weighed through Catholicism, masturbation goes against several biblical teachings such as Matthew 5:28 in relation to lust and 1 Corinthians 6:1920 in connection with honouring one’s body.

It was in the 20th century, when regulatory statements from professionals began to shake the narrative of masturbation. Sexologist Alfred Kinsey, in his public reports during the 1940s and 1950s, insisted that masturbation was an instinctive behaviour for both males and females. Previously an undiagnosable condition, the American Medical Association declared masturbation as normal in 1972.

Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz even went on to point out a shift in the scientific consensus. “Masturbation: the

primary sexual activity of mankind. In the nineteenth century it was a disease; in the twentieth century, it’s a cure,” Szasz claimed.

Last 2015, Dr. Teesha Morgan, a licensed sex therapist and couples counsellor in Vancouver, gave a talk on TEDx, an idea-sharing platform, weighing masturbation to the present sexual issue at large. She went on to debunk several myths about masturbation, separating what she considers fact from fiction.

She mentioned several benefits brought by masturbation such as it’s ability to alleviate headaches, decrease stress, aid sleep, improve immune function, and alleviate menstrual cramps. According to her, the greatest and only risk of masturbation is when chronic masterbaters allow it to directly impede daily functions or social responsibility, such as compromising work to focus on “me-time”. But even that to her is a result of personal choices.

The list goes on, and masturbation continues to rack on more nicknames onto this day. From a taboo it’s slowly becoming a stigma. Yet eventually, labels can only be newfound ways of judging masturbation as right or wrong. That’s normal in an attempt to bring clarity to a sensitive issue, but at some point, the value of masturbation will inevitably continue to vary for as long as people find opportunity to reason.

Instead of rephrasing the main word itself, Morgan suggests that we develop new terminology on the words used to address it. This means changing the frames, not the painting. In that way we might be able to appreciate masturbation in its progressive form which, to Morgan, means tapping our potential at being better as partners, lovers, and even communicators.

And whether or not you practice masturbation, it’s always wise to invest a moment of introspection towards any habit. Weigh the boons and banes objectively and you might be surprised that some guilty pleasures could evidently be innocent. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Positivity amid the Positivity Break the stigma of HIV-positivity through this story chronicled with the eyes of someone who has been through the harsh winds of stereotyping and still remained on his feet.

BY JOSHUA MARTIN P. GUANCO | ILLUSTRATED BY GLEN JED J. DESCUTIDO

THERE HE WAS: draped in insulating clothes and a blanket– shivering his body out. He looked at the nearby clock suspended on his wall; it was just 6 in the evening– yet there he was– quivering his body out at an unlikely time of the day. In his head, he thought that it was just a fever. So Marco* took a pill of analgesic, the authentic kind, and then decided to go to sleep. As he closed his eyes, a thought crossed his mind, but he ignored it and continued to quiver through his slumber.

Just like any other day of his life, he wakes up at 10 in the morning.

But something was very peculiar the moment he opened his eyes: he was still shivering. Confused, he rushed to the nearest window. Thoughts of an upcoming thunderstorm rushed into his mind– maybe it’s the cause of his extreme shivering. However, it seemed like the earth was at its perihelion; the sun was gleaming, the soil was dry, the 46

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air was arid, and there was no trace of impending rain at all.

Disarrayed, he hurried to find another pill of analgesic, praying and hoping that upon taking the drug, his extreme sensation towards the cold would dissipate, along with the troublesome thoughts he had the night before. But it never happened. The next days, nausea and diarrhea started to torment Marco as well. All these sensations persisted, along with thought of a nagging possibility, until he finally decided to go to the hospital and find out what’s really wrong with him.

With his mother beside him, he conceded his body for a medical test.

Needles and tubes were inserted into his body and his bodily fluids were inspected. When they left the facility, he had a certain feeling that it was coming– a tempest of severe proportions. The tempest his thoughts were whispering inside his head since the

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day he got extremely ill.

Months passed since the day he went to the hospital, and there he was holding an envelope with a letter inside. He opened it and then proceeded to read the results of his test. Then there was silence, like the calm before the storm.

The next moments ushered in the tempest he feared of. As his gaze danced through the bare skin of the note he was reading, he found out that his thoughts were correct– that he has an incurable disease and there was no turning back for he has Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

HIV gradually destroys a person’s immune system. The virus attacks and eliminates a special type of white blood cell called a CD4 cell that plays a major role in protecting the body from any form of infection. Once the virus eliminates the CD4 cells, it mimics its machinery and makes copies of itself, thus spreading throughout the human *not his real name

anatomy, slowly crippling the immune system. If left untreated, this cycle will perpetually go on until the infected person’s immune system is compromised, making them vulnerable to many serious infections and diseases.

In the country, HIV cases bloomed into a whopping 10,500 by the end of 2016. In the month of May 2017, the country saw 1,098 new cases—the highest recorded number of cases ever since the 1984 infections.

Statistics from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that there were 739 new HIV cases recorded in the country, with 687 (93%) of those cases happened via sexual transmission, particularly from men-having-sex-withmen (MSM), which comprised 689 (68%) of the cases—all in 2016 alone.

Negros Occidental was among the top feeder provinces during the recording of the 2016 HIV cases. Including Bacolod City, the DOH recorded 451 new HIV/AIDS cases in May 2016. The total cases of the province rose to 1,211 from the period of 1984 to early 2016.

Furthermore, the DOH noted that sex is still the most common reason for contracting the disease, which is 99% of the province’s recorded cases.

Every Friday he would usually go out clubbing along with his friends. But when he got diagnosed of the disease, things started to go downhill for him, most especially towards the people who know about his illness. “When [people] found out I have HIV, they instantly concluded that I am a very dirty person and that I shouldn’t be pitied on,” he explained.

The stigma of having HIV didn’t just stop with people discriminating him; it also started within himself. He experienced depression. He isolated himself away from the world. He was tugged by the unreality of the situation that his life was now inextricably linked to this disease.

“I really felt isolated from the world. I never went out of our house… I was also depressed [about] what was happening with my body. There came a time that I was hospitalized, and my body was so tired that it drove me to the point of giving up on this battle,” he said. He also expressed the difficulties as well as his limitations when it comes to his everyday life.

However, Marco knew that his life shouldn’t just stop there. He realized that he should stand up and fight his personal upheaval because it will continue to weaken him if he lets it win over him. He is HIV-positive, yet he told himself that it is not yet the end of his life.

And that’s when he decided to leave *not his real name

And that’s when he decided to leave behind the onset of external stigmas and internal afflictions HIV has inflicted on him. behind the onset of external stigmas and internal afflictions HIV has inflicted on him.

Instead of sulking in a corner, he found the will to fight HIV. Gone was the Marco who was depressed and who isolated himself from the world. He started to go out of his house and talk to people. He also changed his lifestyle into a healthy one and followed his doctor’s advices. “I have already accepted the fact that I am going to die someday, but as long as I’m alive, I will continue to live this life of mine,” Marco said valiantly.

Three years after his diagnosis, Marco is now a part of the local DOH “Anti-HIV-AIDS” advocacy wherein he and his friends conduct seminars about the risks of getting and having the disease. Being a member of the campaign, he also informs non-HIV-positive people about the stigma caused by the stereotypes attached to people like him. Other than that, he and his friends from the province’s HIV-AIDS Core Team (HACT) which is a group of HIV positive patients that tend to go to DOH-sponsored seminars who, in turn, preach HIV awareness to the public.

They usually go to clubs and bars in Bacolod City which have Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) customers in order to give them condoms and remind them of the dangers of unprotected sex and having multiple sexual partners. “I’m not just surviving for my own self and my family– I’m surviving for those who are in the same position with me as well,” he said.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Marco’s view on being HIV-positive changed as well. It became his motivation to do more productive things while he’s still alive. He looked for a job in order to sustain and help his family– most especially his mother who has been the breadwinner of their family.

As for his aspirations, Marco shared that it would be really nice if the government would make a project that would dismantle the discrimination in the job opportunities for people with HIV. He also hopes that the government could provide a fund that can help them when it comes to their medical treatments.

But what is really Marco’s aspiration in life? “I really dream of being with my family for a long period of time despite this condition of mine,” was his answer.

When asked if there was a person he would like to thank, Marco said it was his mother who was with him through his good and bad times. “She never gave up on me,” he said. “I am really blessed to have a mother who would sacrifice everything just to see her children smiling,” Marco added.

The life expectancy of HIV-positive patients varies from person to person.

There are those who would contract the disease and then die a year or two after, yet there are also those who had been living with the disease for more than 15 years; in fact, a cure for the disease is on the horizon. Scientists in the US have discovered a possible method for eliminating the virus by literally cutting it away from the DNA of the infected cells. However, the said breakthrough is yet to be clinically tried for the next three years, meaning HIV-positive individuals are still expected to take their medications perpetually before the said method is approved. But Marco isn’t scared of the undeniable fate of his life; furthermore, because of his ailment, he is never afraid of looking at death straight in the eye.

It might be hard for those who are diagnosed with the disease to remain optimistic about their fate, but for the likes of Marco, he claimed that he has no choice. He has to keep on fighting or else his disease would best him; he has to remain strong for his family, and most of all he has to remain positive amid his positivity of HIV. While the stigma towards HIVpositive individuals continues to linger in the midst of society, Marco is also busy investing his time bending the stereotype towards people like him. He is currently on a personal crusade to empower those HIV-positive patients who have decided to give up on their lives; furthermore, his family is with him. In his battle of survival against it, not only does he aim to live for himself or his family, but for the people who are facing the same tempest with him. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Thanatos on Spree Psychology has continually evolved over the years to attempt in making us finally understand ourselves, in our own indiscernible ways, even if it meant piece by piece at time. But sometimes, it also turns to mythology for a little help—and maybe it also makes concepts easier to imagine, such as the concepts of life and death.

BY HEZRON G. PIOS | ILLUSTRATED BY SHARA MAE L. PELAYO

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THESPECTRUM

SOCIETY

Freud speculates that repetition compulsion is a form of relieving pressure originating in trauma— granting relief to self-destructive forces, clarifying that masochism precedes sadism, not vice-versa.

A BOY FAILS his prerequisite subject thrice in a row. By means of contemplative isolation, one whisper echoes in his mind: toughen up, look for help, please don’t do this. To him, his world already seems like a candle wick—extinguishable, holding on to whatever gentle light that persists to shoo the shadows. When the boy finally collected the guts to cancel his initial scheme, an otherwise sinister whisper strikes his equanimity: stop being a pussy and be done with it. So he pushed through in exchange of his life. Therefore where, then, does the finger of blame go? The finger points to Thanatos.

Australian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud surmised the binary of human behavior when faced with a stimuli: the life instinct and death instinct. Likewise, Freud’s theory further supposed that sex and aggression prevail over man’s everyday life, stressing on aggression as an outward depiction of the ‘death drive’, a term coined in his essay Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920) in which he likened the concept to the Greek god of death, Thanatos.

Deviating from concepts of libido, or sexual drives, and a pain-free lifestyle, the death drive signifies a more violent and self-destructive principle; that no matter how one desires to live, he/she also desires to die and destroy.

Through this discovery, the duality of man was revealed on the critical lens of psychoanalysis.

Freud also regarded that most individuals channel their death instinct outward while others direct it at themselves. These instances could be exemplified through mental health illnesses such as depression (dubbed as anger turned inward) and suicide.

In addition, he also claimed that some people are driven to destroy themselves seeing that behavior is said to be self-sabotaging when it begins to yield problems and meddles with long-term goals. And by self-sabotaging, it pertains to the behaviors in the likes of procrastination, self-medication with drugs or alcohol, comfort eating, and forms of self-injury such as cutting.

These practices may seem alleviating in the moment yet, in the long run, they become no longer potent but instead harmful, especially when engaged repeatedly.

On the contrary, in Sections 4-7 of the essay, Freud speculates that repetition compulsion is a form of relieving pressure originating in trauma—granting relief to self-destructive forces, clarifying that masochism precedes sadism, not vice-versa.

In the country, cases of extrajudicial killings are met with skepticism. Given that the public takes no full interest in diplomatic discourses, this worsens the supposedly level-headedness of every Filipino in the 21st century. This compels unattended death drive into graver consequences such as the culture of death.

According to Michael Boylosis of Philippine Daily Inquirer, “[Culture of death] was a phrase once loosely used in reference to secular society’s supposed disregard for life, but now even non-Catholics sense it creeping into the recesses of our sentimentality, our subconscious, and even in popular culture.”

Emphatically, the culture of death pertains to evil behavior that degrades the value of human life, such as abortion, euthanasia, or contraception.

Roman Catholics may have a contesting say regarding when life begins, or whose life it is trying to protect, but the said principle has forged sympathy where there used to be none, and it offers extra emphasis on body counts when it used to be just names and figures. All these taking roots from subtle death drives.

Last year in February, a 17-year-old male senior high school student from Silay City jumped off of the second floor of a local mall. Although the student was with his best friend at the time, the victim was said to be having ‘love problems’, thus prompting him to end his life. As of now, the student is recuperating and needs extra medical attention since the incident.

The aforesaid event was driven by a complicated regard to emotional distress. Not only that the student suffered prior to his attempt, the latter would imply more challenges and arduous tasks given that the student has his own social media circles.

Cyberbullying by toxic interactions and stressful remarks would negate his physiological health. Anyhow, his death drive had placed him in the worst case scenario.

Hence, being aware of these Freudian concepts of life and death instincts can help us understand ourselves and our behaviors a bit better.

A thorough and frequent research is one method of getting a healthier view of this sensitive matter, thus one must seek professional advice should his/ her condition goes unchecked and demands immediate help.

In this dark epoch, disregard for topics pertaining to mental conditions seems inadvertent. After all, what can subtle whisperings do against ears tone-deaf to falsity? S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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The Mind Behind the Mask

In the vast world of comic books and movies, there exists characters who are not simply labeled as the antagonist or the protagonist. Here’s a closer look into those complex personas and how they’re not so different from us.

BY ROBERT H. JERGE III | ILLUSTRATED BY CEDRIC LANCE M. MILITAR

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DISCUSSION

NOT ALL WHO DO GOOD are heroes, and not all heroes do good. In the great battle between good and evil, there is a small denomination that contains the anti-hero and the vigilante. Both are prompted to do relative or conventional good by their own desires or by their organization. So, what’s so good about being neither good nor evil, and what’s keeping these individuals from being on a side?

The anti-hero is a morally-mixed “hero” dipping his toes in some unrequested tasks and getting his hands dirty with forced decisions. An antihero is currently the most popular superhero class because of their perfectly imperfect decisions. A hero is right and just all the time, their armor glistening from their noble acts, and their words speak nothing but the truth.

Anti-heroes, on the other hand, are forced to act against their will, and have their own unique moral code, however peculiar. They are also the most relatable, in that they make their decisions on the spot, not always thinking about the consequences that later add to their story.

Frodo Baggins, a very passive little hobbit, was pulled into events that led him on a journey from Bag End in the Shire to Mount Doom in Mordor. His journey, however heroic, does not make him a hero, but an anti-hero. Heroes do not feel burdened when completing a mission. Superman doesn’t complain when he has to save Lois Lane for the hundredth time since last Thursday while Frodo refers to the ring as a burden several times while making his trek across Middle Earth, along with his repetitive longing for home. The decisions Frodo has made set him down the road to anti-heroism.

Enter the vigilante, an individual whose motives are derived from the relative lack of local law enforcement, or driven by a feeling of victimization.

Vigilantes firmly believe their actions are for the good of either themselves or others. Their actions, depending on who you ask, are perceived to be either good or bad (not inherently evil per se).

Robin Hood, probably one of the bestknown fictitious vigilantes, alongside Little John and his Merry Men, has been referenced in many early English ballads depicting anti-authoritarian deeds, most notably “stealing from the rich and giving to the poor”. It’s a rather heroic prospect he and his gang have perused, but it was wrong in the eyes of the law. One ballad of Robin Hood sees our “hero” loan an impoverished knight some money to pay his debts.

Then, Robin robs a dishonest monk for twice the amount that he lent to the knight. When the knight returns to pay his debts, Robin lets him keep the money and gives him half of the monk’s cash. Sure, the monk was dishonest, but is robbing him the proper course of action? Vigilantes, however noble their actions, have conventional heroism.

They’re heroic and just in the eyes of people they help, but are immoral and criminal to those they have mistreated.

Dr. S. David Bernstein denotes three factors that emerge as most common among people who commit vigilante justice: feeling marginalized/victimized, suicidal thoughts/plans, and access to firearms. The feeling of victimization stems from the oppression brought upon the common people by the rich via taxes. Suicidal thoughts, even though not entirely referenced, is present in the apparent risk of death if he were to be caught stealing from noblemen. Robin’s time didn’t have access to firearms, but what they did have were swords and bows. Having weapons of the same caliber as those defending his targets gives him the impression of a winning chance. Vigilantes aren’t wrong in expressing their need for justice; they’re wrong in carrying out justice as

In the grand story of life, we are our own anti-heroes—central characters who, in most cases, lack conventional heroic attributes.

they deem necessary.

But wait, aren’t vigilantes anti-heroes? This is true—all vigilantes are anti-heroes—but not all anti-heroes are vigilantes. An anti-hero becomes a vigilante when he is willing to submit all of his efforts for the reform of a broken system. Robin Hood puts all his effort into bringing justice to those who have managed to sneak their way under the morality radar and help the helpless.

This initial move towards vigilante-ism was caused by a realization of a flawed system and he took it upon himself to fix it, no matter how morally imperfect his methods may be.

These two hero subclasses alter the way we see people moralize decisions and give us an opportunity to stretch the conventional heroism into other perspectives. In the grand story of life, we are our own anti-heroes—central characters who, in most cases, lack conventional heroic attributes. We are thrown into situations that require us to make on-the-spot decisions, and of course, the occasional burden. We can’t all be flying humanoid aliens in red spandex, doing good all the time, but we can be adventurous hobbits, doing what good we can for ourselves and for others. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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The Common Cockroach, abhorrent pest or quiet hero?

Sometimes, it’s those that we despise who’ve help us the most.

This is a justification to the little insects who have done more for the environment in ways we could only imagine.

BY ANDREA DANIELLE A. GAMBOA | ILLUSTRATED BY JOWAN DAVE G. GUIDES

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THESPECTRUM

ENVIRONMENT

ELUSIVE, cunning, and whose existence dates back farther than your ancestors, a shriek and a cry brings to light one of the most despised creatures in human existence—the common household cockroach.

There are a multitude of reasons as to why people seem to have an aversion to these pesky creatures. Some say the mere sight of an insect is enough to entice a blood-curdling scream from them. Others say that cockroaches are filthy and disgusting creatures (and with reason) but one thing is certain: their existence is important—if not, vital, to our survival as a species.

We all understand the food chain.

Our time in uncomfortable metal chairs, chewing on the ends of our wooden pencils, listening to the monotonous tone of our ancient, grey-haired science teacher, taught us that there is a chain of command when it comes to the way the world functions. The “fish eats shrimp, shark eats fish, we eat the shark, global-warming-kills-us-all” sort of thing. But where do cockroaches play a role in all of this?

The second to last tier on the food chain tells us about primary consumers, a large word that essentially encapsulates every organism that feeds on plants. Insects like moths, caterpillars, ants and cockroaches. Basically, they are the minuscule little bugs that you find snacking on your chips after leaving the table for a few seconds. A nuisance to mostly everybody, most folks are quick to squash these annoying pests without second thought. However, there is a noteworthy reason as to why they exist, and why they keep coming back.

Cockroaches, for one, aren’t picky eaters. They will survive off of anything; book bindings, makeup that you accidentally left open overnight, and yes, sewage.

Known as detritivores, cockroaches act as Mother Nature’s tiny janitors. Think of them, morbidly, as the pigs bred for consumption of the food chain. They feed on anything they can find and subsequently, end up as the delicious (and crunchy) meals of their prey.

Imagine a world in which love and peace were abound, your skin—clear, love life—in tact, and most importantly, a world where cockroaches have been completely wiped out. No need to be extra careful leaving your expensive makeup in a mess, or mourn over ruined books. Imagine a world in which cockroaches were non-existent. What would happen then?

According to Joe Kunkel, Research professor at the University

of Massachusetts, Amherst, “Cockroaches as a group are part of the worldwide food web.” They serve as food for small mammals, birds, amphibians, and lizards. Not only would their disappearance cause a massive imbalance in the world, they would significantly affect the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary consumers. Somewhere in that food pyramid lies us, human beings. So, aside from the obvious disintegration of the entire world and humankind as we know it, the poor little house mouse in your home might be in for a shocking discovery as well.

However, if a drop in the mice population isn’t enough to scare you into a crippling anxiety about the next anticipated doomsday, take a step back and take a look at the wider picture. Life happens at a constant balance and the nature of organic matter is no exception to that. Cockroach extinction, for example, would decrease the population of mice, which would in turn, reduce the number of birds, snakes, and et cetera.

This domino effect of a phenomenon is messy and detrimental to all living things in the world.

According to Kunkel, cockroaches have a much bigger purpose than most of us are aware of; that they are “omnivorous scavengers which clean up our environment and help recycle the organic litter that would accumulate if it were not decomposed by organisms which include cockroaches.” This means that cockroaches are sort of the rummagers for inorganic material that otherwise would not be consumed.

Think of a pocket-sized, six-legged crawling vacuum.

In addition to that, cockroaches play a big role in the nitrogen cycle. Without delving too deep into the bottomless pit that is the scientific side, cockroaches, or more specifically, cockroach poop, is one of the biggest contributing factors to the world’s lush green environments.

According to Srini Kambhampati, a professor and Biology Chairperson at the University of Texas in Tyler, “Cockroach feeding has the effect of releasing that nitrogen (in their feces) which then gets into the soil and is used by plants,” he said. In other words, extinction of cockroaches would have a big impact on forest health and therefore indirectly on all the species that live there.

So before you reach for your tsinelas the next time you see one of these bothersome six-legged headaches, make sure you know what that cucaracha does! S

This means that cockroaches are sort of the rummagers for inorganic material that otherwise would not be consumed. Think of a pocket-sized, six-legged crawling vacuum.

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Ocean Wildfires There’s a new environmental dilemma ravaging beneath the surface of our seas, and its victims are the so-called “rainforests of the ocean”. Read how coral bleaching is slowly becoming the mirror image of the burning jungles of the planet.

BY JOSHUA MARTIN P. GUANCO | ILLUSTRATED BY JOWAN DAVE G. GUIDES

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ENVIRONMENT

IF CORALS HAVE VOICES, people are deaf. Why? It’s because they’re slowly dying.

The widespread occurrence of coral bleaching all throughout various regions in the world has trapped the “rainforests of the ocean” in a tango to the death with climate change as its primary suspect. It is a dilemma that has decreased fivefold in terms of the interval of its occurrences; it is a dilemma that has been plaguing the oceans for years; it is a dilemma that has scientists all around the world claim no coral reef can recover from; it is a dilemma that has been started by mankind’s very own hands.

Coral bleaching is in the forefront of the consequences brought about by climate change, and the soon-to-be casualty of it is Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef along with other coral reefs around the world cover 0.1% of the ocean floor, yet that same 0.1% houses over 25% of marine life forms which sustains its inhabitants as well as people who depend on its bounties, thus the moniker “rainforests of the ocean”. But after years and years of suffering from other extraneous factors such as pollution and overfishing, these reefs have undergone a “global bleaching event” wherein coral anatomies lose their vibrance—turning into white, bleached-out skeletons of their former selves, an inch closer to the doors of death.

It was in the Northern Hemisphere where the global bleaching event drew first blood—corals around Guam, Northern Marianas Island, Hawaii, Florida, and the Marshall Islands started to don the color white on the whole.

Furthermore, the bleaching spread down the equator, hitting the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, as well as Asian and African coasts. Within 2014 to 2016, global ocean temperatures remained on a record high due to El Niño and global warming, bleaching Hawaii’s coral reefs for a second time as well as hitting the Great Barrier Reef which was dubbed as its worst bleaching account.

Within just a year, the Great Barrier Reef was maledicted again with bleaching, costing severe devastation to about two-thirds of its corals. But this was not the first time that scalding ocean temperatures caused this type of calamity. In fact, it was in 1998 when the first bleaching events were recorded, wherein the temperature rose to 14.7 degrees Celsius, the very same temperature that stirred the second global bleaching event last 2010. With the third global bleaching event, scientists predict that the rising temperatures have

If the global bleaching event continues for the next three to four years, the coral reefs of the world will become a graveyard of the organisms’ calcium carbonate skeleton. nowhere to go but up, and that the next generations might never see what coral reefs look like.

This is what is happening in the macroscope of coral bleaching, but to understand the uprising phenomenon, one must look at the factors behind it in the micro level. For starters, it is not just warm marine temperatures that beget coral bleaching, it’s the zooxanthellae (pronounced as Zo-zan-THEL-lay) algae—the vital microscopic plants that reside within corals. The relationship between the two organisms is that of mutualism, wherein both benefit from each other. Corals house the zooxanthellae within them, and in turn, the microscopic algae photosynthesize nutrients that are essential to their host’s growth and survival. However, these microscopic plants aren’t the most stable inhabitants. Zooxanthellae algae are very sensitive to temperature, thus when they are exposed to extreme cold or warm temperatures, it secretes toxic excrements (hydrogen peroxide) that poison the coral, which in turn, expels them from the colony. With this, the coral sheds its once vibrant cloak— revealing a white visage, hence the “bleaching”. However, bleached corals aren’t necessarily dead. When temperatures return to normal, the microscopic algae go back to the corals, rebuilding once again the mutualistic relationship with its host—if ocean temperatures don’t skew past the border of normalcy.

If the global bleaching event continues for the next three to four years, the coral reefs of the world will become a graveyard of the organisms’ calcium carbonate skeleton. These “graveyards” would then become the sight of seaweed and kelp forests, and even though fishes who are dependent on these plants may grow in numbers, coral-dependent species will slowly decline and eventually become extinct—an inevitable death sentence to the marine ecosystem.

Coral bleaching struck the map of international news when obituaries for the Great Barrier Reef started to pop out all throughout the course of 2016 to 2017. Many thought that the famous reef

had “died” when in fact it didn’t—but it is dying. An assessment by a group of scientists last 2016 found that the northern part of the reef was terminally dying, with 86% of it severely bleached while 26% of it had already died. Meanwhile, the reef near the northeastern coast of Australia had 67% of its corals dead.

Although the southern parts of the reef still showed hope through its lower cases of bleaching and mortality, the coordinator of the Coral Reef Watch at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mark Eakin, explains that time is running out for the rainforests of the marine world.

In an interview with Newsweek, Eakin explained that bleaching events occur once per 25 to 30 years, however, the timeframe has shrunk ever since the 2010 events happened. Furthermore, the Great Barrier Reef alone had four bleaching episodes since 1998, one of which has lasted for over a year.

But it is not too late for the coral reefs of the world. Despite the white visages caused by subsequent bleaching episodes, some corals have developed tolerance towards the extreme heat of the ocean like those in the Samoan islands. In fact, some corals have acquired other symbiotic algae that can withstand the warm currents, as what researchers from Penn State discovered in the Indian Ocean last 2010—a proof of the constant evolution and adaptation of nature’s organisms.

Despite this glimmer of hope, the fate of the rainforests of the ocean still lies in the hands of us, humans. Yes, global warming is an inevitable, unavoidable scourge in this world, but we humans are more powerful than it. In fact, man is the most powerful being in the world. With free-will and rationality as its primary edge, man has the power to destroy or to nurture the organisms of the world. In other words, if we choose the latter, we have the power to protect these valuable treasures of the world—to reduce our greenhouse emissions, to curb pollution in our oceans, and to voice out the unheard pleas and cries of the dying coral reefs of the world in our spaces. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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Jejemon is Undead

An efficient evolution or a transient trend? Witness the life, death, and subjective reanimation of a subculture whose origins reflect its philosophy.

BY IAN KRISTOFFER V. GA | PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN

THERE’S TIMEHOP AND FACEBOOK’S On This Day feature, to relish the glorious days we had as typically impulsive and childish 2000s babies. Who won’t forget catching up with our favorite afternoon shows upon arriving at home from school and the endless fun and laughter from our playtime that followed thereafter? It was such pure bliss. Come puberty and we were subjected to becoming melodramatic, a phase we don’t really care revealing, except for one thing: being a jejemon.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN Before lodi and werpa, the term “jejemon” already entered in the picture.

In 2010, the Filipino culture witnessed the birth of a subculture—jejemon—a trend so viral that it triggered some meeting of eyebrows. The word came from people who like to write “hehehe” as “jejeje” due to it sounding Spanish.

On the other hand, the suffix “-mon” is added at the end. This is from the Japanese anime Pokémon where “-mon” means “monster.” Deductively, they are “jeje-monsters”. Jejemon is a pop culture phenomenon in the country, involving mostly the young. A person who alters the already established language—either English or Filipino— to the point of incomprehensibility by others, is called a jejemon. It is not only limited to either spoken or written communication, but it also encompasses demeanor and fashion. The particular language that a jejemon uses is called Jejenese. It is mainly an internet and texting slang that has been thriving and continues to evolve in the country. Jejemons are the new hipsters of this generation.

Jejemons mostly come from the lower economic strata, although some come from the higher brackets as well. Because text messages a few years back had a 56

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DISCUSSION

Jejemons are the new hipsters of this generation.

160-character limit, the Jejenese was perhaps a way to deal with such limitation.

It is thought that jejemon originated from people who wanted to draw attention by being different, and by different, it is in the way of communicating. This way of communication ignores the grammatical rules on capitalization. Instead of spelling “hello” for example, jejemons spell it as “HeLouWH” or “Eowwwh”, while the expression “oh, please” becomes “eoowHh.. puhLeaZZ”.

Or, throwing a bit of the local language Tagalog into the mix, you can tell your significant other “lAbqCkyOuHh” (I love you) or “iMiszqcKyuH” (I miss you), and convey that you’re happy by texting “jAjaja” or “jeJejE”. Letters are mixed with both numbers and punctuation marks to make up words that are aesthetic for them. Even with the onset of better smartphones with better features, jejemon texting is still unmoved, especially now with the existence of emojis to help them by.

Spoken jejenese can be likened to gay lingo, that has eventually been embraced by the general population. Fashion is also an essential element for this culture. For example, jejemons play with color and style so much. They are known to sport the emo or gangster look. They also come in big baggy pants, oversized shirts, and bandanas while adorning themselves with trinkets, jejecaps, and sunglasses, with total disregard whether everything mentioned come together so pleasing.

This, in turn, had raised people’s

eyebrows, even causing the Department of Education (DepEd) to rally the purging of the subculture and the mentality anchored in it. Then DepEd Secretary Mona Valisno strongly “discouraged” young Filipinos from using jejemon spelling and grammar, especially in popular communication platforms such as text messaging as it can deteriorate young Filipino students’ language skills. Valisno believed it could blunt the Philippines’ edge in English proficiency, which has long helped the impoverished country attract foreign investment and sustain its lucrative outsourcing industry.

In 2010, however, the word “jejemon” was voted as the word of the year and then included in the Filipino dictionary of the same year. Dean of University of the Philippines-Diliman’s College of Mass Communications, Rolando B. Tolentino, nominated and defended the word. In his presentation, Tolentino said that the word is part of the evolution of the language of the jologs, or people belonging to the lower economic class that the elite and social climbers would call baduy.

Gary Mariano, a professor at De La Salle University-Manila and an expert in new media, said he had mixed feelings about jejemon.

“I’m torn between efficiency and formal correctness,” Mariano said, pointing out jejemon was borne out of people simply adapting to a digital lifestyle.

Furthermore, jejemon advocates have found an unlikely ally in the influential Roman Catholic Church, whose position on key social issues shapes public opinion.

It said jejemon was a form of free expression, comparing it to the language of hippies decades ago.

“Language is merely an expression of experience,” said former Catholic

Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines Commission on Youth Head Joel Baylon, saying what is more important are the values behind the language.

ON BEING BADUY AND LOWLY Matthew* admits being a jejemon before entering the University and still having the remnants of being one until now. He even struggled with his clothing preferences as he did not want to be an eye-turner, with a negative connotation to it.

“My high school years can be defined solely by the word ‘jejemon,’” Matthew shared.

He confessed that he was once a part of a text clan where people are anonymously acquainted and an eyeball or meet-up soon follows.

Matthew added that being a jejemon was not much a big deal during his high school years until he transitioned to college.

“Maybe it’s a part of fitting in, to stray away from [being a jejemon],” he said.

Kesha*, on the other hand, experienced embarrassment for being a jejemon. She was once a subject of ridicule because of her over-the-top fashion preferences and texting style, often labeled as “baduy”.

“I never thought that being a jejemon can be irritating to some to the point of a jejemon being picked on,” she cited.

For Kesha*, nothing is really wrong with being a jejemon as long as she is not undermining others.

“I believe that I don’t need to change all of a sudden just because I am not eye candy for some,” she said as she firmly stood her ground.

SLOW DEATH FOR JEJEMON CULTURE Spanning for seven years now, Jejemon is undeniably not as influential as it was during its prime life. From early 2013 onwards, with the rise of smartphones which began to overtake feature phones in terms of sales in the country, the phenomenon seems to have made a gradual decline in mainstream popularity.

Social experts are not alarmed, though.

They actually foresee the subculture’s decline both in acceptance and practice and later on, its vanishing in the scene.

In the meantime, those who are for it may continue doing so and those who abhor it may just continue to raise their brows.

For Matthew* and Kesha*, who have outgrown it now in their demeanor and attitude, being a jejemon will always have a soft spot in their lives. It might not have been widely accepted, but they had a good time—and for them, that’s what matters after all. Jejemon is undead for them, at least. S *not their real names VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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THESPECTRUM

In the year 2099, the concept of truth is nothing but a void chrysalis of its former self. In a society plagued with the glamour of silenced injustices and messianic falsehoods, these individuals are the very spectres of truth—unfazed, unbowed, and unconquered. Together, they will set the golden flames of truth ablaze once more, no matter where fate leads them to.

WRITTEN BY JOSHUA MARTIN P. GUANCO PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICHOL FRANCIS T. ANDUYAN AND MARTINI M. FALCO

VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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All My Lonely Islands

by Victorette Joy “VJ” Campilan

BY HEZRON G. PIOS

“One crisp March evening, Crisanta and Ferdinand arrive on the remote Batanes islands for a mission: locate Graciella, whose son, Stevan, they saw die in a tragic accident a decade ago. But they need to confess something to her: Stevan’s death is not all what it seems.

Oppressed by a decade of painful memories, Crisanta and Ferdinand must race against time—from the wild swamplands of the Sundarban forest in Bangladesh to the back alleys of Manila to the savage cliffs of Batanes—to offer Graciella the truth that they themselves cannot bear to face.”

All My Lonely Islands (AMLI) by Victorette Joy “VJ” Campilan swashes with undeniable grace. Its contained use of geography, biblical references, and Filipino traditions coalesce with the polished narrative flow and thematic framework. At times, the reader reminisces his own version of religious education. Other times, the reader queries with scrutiny about stock knowledge pertaining to continents, local slangs, and superstitious views.

Although AMLI presents its protagonist Crisanta as a typical, struggling writer— what with the harsh realities a writer ventures with—her humanity remains an intact element. Crisanta, and her personal truths, do not overshadow other truths displayed. Instead, hers acts as a unifying platform and supplies often unprecedented and deconstructed truths.

Upon closer look, the book almost brims with a 62

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memoir-like structure and edgy personal accounts.

Perhaps if this were not penned into a fictional work, this could have been passed as creative nonfiction.

Nonetheless, this testifies Campilan’s forte in weaving expositories with such poignancy.

To add, it's charming how the plot was written. It orbits Crisanta’s recollection of life from childhood up to her teenage years in Dhaka, and the instances that transitioned between the past and the present times, jiving with the reader witnessing Crisanta’s reconciliation with her inner demons.

Furthermore, Batanes, Dhaka and Sundarban have also been depicted with certain imagery and impressive eloquence.

Campilan also illustrated these settings with no sugarcoating gimmick.

The realism she conjures contribute to the overall beauty of the book, thus highlighting several Filipino ways of living despite the book being fleshed out in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Without a doubt, it exhibits the haunting beauty of the Philippines and its multifaceted inhabitants.

The somber tone of the book really mimics a burnt-out soul looking for forgiveness or redemption.

This places Crisanta in an introspective standpoint.

The story cuts between the past and present Crisanta who “hate each other.”

For a careless reader,

REVIEWS

what really occurred was just some incident like a high school urban legend, but for the ones involved— Crisanta, Ferdinand, and Graciella—it’s a shocking turning point turned gloom turned personal tragedy that lingers. Ergo, their grief and guilt reverberate with a crystal clear message: sorrow is relative. The reader, then, is no longer displaced as the pages go by.

To spill more details would be a shame for All My Lonely Islands. This book deserves a week’s worth of sitting and attention. This book deserves its 2015 Carlos Palanca Grand Prize award.

This book is doubtlessly astounding. S

BOOK REVIEW

Split Infinity

by Piers Anthony

BY ROBERT H. JERGE III

Draw the curtains and step into the magical world of Split Infinity: this novel is a technological fantasy that encompasses the advances in technology and the popular role-playing game of the time, Dungeons and Dragons. This 1980 fantasy novel is the first of a trilogy that follows Stile, a smaller-than-average human gamemaster on the planet of Proton, as he attempts to make his way up its rungs in the Game. This series of pre-categorized oneon-one competitions is the only hope the serfs of Proton have of attaining true freedom.

Proton is a martian-esque planet with no habitable atmosphere, dotted with biospheres. The inhabitants of Proton are put into one of two classes: serfs and citizens. The citizens are the free folk of the world, while the serfs are the servants to the citizens. Moving up enough rungs would aid in Stile’s chances of winning in this year’s tourney and a chance at becoming a citizen one day.

Piers Anthony explains The Game through Stile’s venture to the top rung.

The Game is used to rank serfs works by pitting them against other serfs of the same age bracket. To move up, the serfs would obviously have to win. The most interesting thing about The Game is how the games are assigned to the contending serfs. The challenged serf would choose among a combination of categories, for example, Stile’s bout with Tome was an actionair game which meant that they were going to do some sort of firearm dual. The games selected in the book

were chosen by Stile’s opponents to disadvantage him.

It is through his adventures in Phaze that give him the advantage in the Game. The fencing lessons Neysa, his unicorn companion in Phaze, gave him the upper hand in a match against a higher rung holder.

Stile crosses between worlds by entering a curtain that almost randomly presented to him. His first encounter was when he was fighting with a demon he thought was a bad dream.

Crossing between the science-fiction planet of Proton and the magical land of Phaze can be a bit daunting.

The enemies on Phaze consist of goblins and a demon who grows stronger the more Stile uses his magic, on Proton however, we are told that there is someone who is out to kill him before he can be placed on the top rung before the end of the tourney.

Piers Anthony’s ability to combine the phantasms of fantasy and the advancement of science-fiction has made this book a pleasure to read.

The book has some elements and monsters inspired from Dungeons and Dragons, such as demons, unicorns, and powerful warlocks and some science-fiction elements such as extraterrestrial biospheres. I think this book hit home with a lot of young adults (of the time) due to the popularity of Dungeons and Dragons.

On Proton, Stile engaged by threats of somewhat known potential, while Phaze has a seemingly endless line up of antagonists to throw our hero into peril. Unlike some magic based fantasy novels, Stile conjures up magic in a way I deem peculiar and

a bit odd. He must speak in rhyme in order to make anything happen in the world, the only downside is that he can only utter an incantation once and can never say the same rhyme twice.

There was a scene where he accidentally sent his unicorn companion to hell with some goblins they were fighting.

He returns her back to the world of Phaze shortly after, but the recent traumatizing experience forces him to use his magic sparingly so he doesn’t endanger anyone else, or himself.

Overall, the book is a pretty good read. It is not in anyway similar to many of the novels I’ve seen published today, but that shouldn’t hinder anyone from grabbing a copy and diving into the Apprentice Adept Trilogy. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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ALBUM REVIEW

Currents

by Tame Impala

BY IDA SARENA G. GABAYA

Venture deeper into an electric-disco hybrid creation—Currents will take you into a psychedelic joyride with fuzzy dream-like beats that complement perfectly with the lush vocals of frontman Kevin Parker of the Australian indie-rock band Tame Impala.

Currents is the third and much anticipated album of the band that was released on July 2015, which moves toward a different direction compared to their previous album in which the grooving psychedelic guitar riffs found on Lonerism are replaced instead by a myriad of synths and pinpoint production tweaks. The ‘70s inspired album cover by designer Robert Beatty is a visual representation of a vortex shedding, which he based from the reference images of sci-fi books and Czech film posters that Parker sent him.

What sets Currents apart from Tame Impala’s other albums besides being more lyrical is that the music has something to tell—is it about self-reinvention; a breakup album in disguise?

All 13 tracks break the barriers of electronic music, crossing between hazy late-night dance floor jams to slower paced groove harmonies.

The opening track “Let It Happen” is the perfect introduction: from the foggy synths, the looping, and the electronic vocals to the familiar albeit brief return of an electric guitar. The song runs nearly 8 minutes long 64

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but is still full of surprises.

Aptly titled, the passage is to just let things happen and accept change, which is one of the main themes of the album. The music video that was directed by David Wilson brings the lyrics to life, where a nervous man’s plane ride reaches him to oblivion, depicting scene by scene his escape from the airport to another unexpected destination, as the song centers on accepting life transitions.

“The Moment” also has a strong resemblance with the first track “Nangs”. However, the former primarily accentuates living in the moment, as its first verse sings: “In the end, it’s stronger than I know how to be and I can’t just spend my whole lifetime wondering,” somewhat reaching out to its listeners that life does not come with a guarantee of second chances.

The fourth track, “Yes, I’m Changing” comes out as a turning point for the entire album. Parker pours his heart out in the vocals, and it seems that he is narrating the loss of a lover but also a beginning of something new as he sings, “Life is moving, can’t you see?

There’s no future left for you and me, I was hoping and I was searching endlessly but baby, now there’s nothing left that I can do.”

But the plot twist to the album is the concluding track, the final song, “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” which contradicts change with self-doubt, as the album

REVIEWS

records a tough, painful sort of personal transition.

Currents was awarded Best Rock Album and Album of the Year at the 2015 ARIA Music Awards and was nominated for “Best Alternative Music Album” in the 2016 Grammy Awards. Recently this November 17, Parker released Currents B-Sides & Remixes, an EP for the collector’s edition of the album, revealing three new songs and two remix version of the album’s tracks. S

ALBUM REVIEW

The Thrill of it All

by Sam Smith

BY SETH V. PULLONA

After a long hiatus, Sam Smith once again did not fail to amaze us of what was next after his well-acclaimed debut album In The Lonely Hour. The English singer-songwriter has announced via Twitter the title of his record, The Thrill of It All, and released the full-album on November 3rd, the day after the announcement.

The 25-year-old singer is far forward beyond his years, as shown in his debut album as well as in the next one. His spectacular voice still possesses the charm in telling the listeners his story through music. However, despite his growth in the scene, he is still that man who sings about the fragility of love. In his songs, it almost seems like he is, until now, in search of his true love, and we could only just wait until he’s had it right this time. His debut and sophomore album speak the same language: the acquaintance with loneliness and the search for intimate, reckless romance. He finds no embarrassment of preaching to the world his desires, which obviously brought him to the top as one of the famous musicians of this millennium.

Before the Thrill of It All was released, its lead single, “Too Good At Goodbyes”, served as a teaser of what is in store in his long awaited LP. “You must think that I’m stupid / You must think that I’m a fool / You must think that I’m new to this / But I have seen this all before,”

the first lines of the single explicitly speak what the song is all about— Smith having been rejected by the one he loved multiple times.

With him hitting the same wall over and over again, the award-winning singer seems to have mastered the art of saying goodbye. It seems like all his heartbreaks had prepared him for the ending of another upcoming relationship. Rejection had taught him that whatever happens, he is ready to face it without having to numb his heart in loving once more. The release of the lead single was accompanied by a memorable music video.

In the video, he started it off with him belting vocalizations accompanied by a piano ballad. The next parts of the video visuals portray different types of love and loss: the heartbreak in a relationship, the grief in losing a loved one, and reaching for an almost impossible dream.

The theme of the music video fits to how he struggled from his previous relationship, how he had coped up and learned from them, and how he incorporated all those tragedies into his art.

The phrase “hopeless romantic” sounds like an understatement to what The Thrill of It All is telling us about. Smith’s songwriting is very bold and honest with what he had experienced the past years. He has laid all his emotions in lyrics we all can universally understand. The debut album has established him and his musical style, but with the release of his

second record, Sam Smith proved that the praise with the streak is well-deserved.

The delicate lyrics were beautifully interpreted by his mournful voice, stripped piano accompaniment, and a choir arrangement.

Surprisingly, the gospel-like gist of the compositions built a strong impact to what he intends to interpret in each.

Every song speaks of different perspectives, different sentiments, and different responses to what he had experienced throughout his journey of making music.

The Thrill of It All can stand on its own. Although having the similarity of Sam’s first album, the record will mold a new era of the same perspective— love, loss, and heartbreak is universal. And he will continue to speak into our hearts, telling us that his experience is ours, and ours is his. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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GAME REVIEW

Battlerite Stunlock Studios

BY JOWAN DAVE G. GUIDES

There’s no denying that Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) is the most popular genre of video games. Games like Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) and League of Legends (LoL) are in the top most played games ever since their releases.

The possibilities in playing MOBA are endless: you “farm” for gold in order to buy your hero or champion items, you level up its skills in order to suit your battle style—the list goes on and on. Typical MOBA games have a three-lane, five-versus-five format that usually last around 30 minutes to an hour or even more depending on the game. But what if we take away the 20-minute laning stage and go directly to the teamfights—no lanes, no bases, just champions going at it in a small arena setting? Well, you have Battlerite.

I’ll just go straight to the verdict—Battlerite is immensely fun! The graphics, the orientation, the point and click style of gameplay—it screams of traditional MOBA. However, the developers from Stunlock Studios call it a Player vs.

Player game. It’s more Super Smash Bros or Tekken than DOTA. Something that stands out in Battlerite is how intense and fast-paced it is.

As of press time, there are 23 champions that are classified into three categories: melee, ranged, and support. Each of these categories does exactly what you expect. You have two 66

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bars to keep track: the health bar and the energy bar. The way it works is like a traditional fighting game—the energy bar fills up as you deal damage to the enemy.

Additionally, you also gain energy by “winning” the orb in the center of the arena that also gives you health; when you fill up your energy bar, you can use your ultimate ability which deals a significant amount of damage.

The game is limited to 2v2 and 3v3 matches wherein you can play in casual, ranked, or co-op mode. The match is a best-of-five format. Whoever wins three rounds wins the game.

The graphics and interface are extremely intuitive.

It contains very user-friendly buttons and layouts that don’t confuse new players. The tutorials give you rewards and make it easier for the learning curve. The graphics of the actual gameplay are good although it might confuse traditional MOBA players as the controls are totally different. It’s a WASD-based movement compared to the traditional right-click navigation. The champion is centered in the screen and it turns to wherever you point your cursor.

What’s impressive about the experience is how the animations are executed— different champions have unique animations that represent their personality.

When you’re disabled, you would know it. When you deal damage, the animations show it well.

Overall, Battlerite is an

REVIEWS

extremely fun game. It fills in that craving of MOBA players to play intense teamfights without all the dragging laning phases and farming. Of course, the game is not perfect. There are flaws you can point out like the cursor design and the limited number of players per match. But these are just really nitpicking. The heart-racing gameplay and the attention to detail by the developers no doubt overshadow these tiny flaws. I’m certain these issues will be fixed in future patches and updates as the game is quite young. S

GAME REVIEW

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds Bluehole Studio Inc., PUBG Corporation

BY DAVID WILLEM L. MOLENAAR

Last-man-standing games have been with us for quite a while now, featuring in a lot of games in the early 2000s and up to this day we still see it in new title releases. Released in early 2017, Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds popularized the game genre still selling over 10 million game copies in the six months of its initial release. Coupled with a rapidly growing community of game enthusiasts, the numbers just keep going higher.

Inspired by the film Battle Royale in 2000, the game was developed by Korean game development company PUBG Corporation— a subsidiary of Korean publisher Bluehole.

The movie was about how the Japanese government captured ninth-grade students and forced them to kill each other on a deserted island.

Game Director and Head Designer Brendan Greene created the game using the most successful video game engine, Unreal Engine 4— the same engine used in Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds is a PC game at most but you would also be able to play it on Xbox One. The pre-game lobby starts in a small island filled with all the players that are about to engage in a battle to the death.

There is an in-game option to enable your microphone to talk to the other players, granted that they are standing near your character in the game.

With this feature, one could expect the inevitable virtual death threats and trash talking this game brings. Surprisingly, the community is quite nice

and respectful. Some players use this feature to form an alliance between other players before the 60-second pre-start timer ends. I doubt one minute would be enough time to know if the other players are really your allies or enemies, though.

After all, they could just shoot you behind your back.

At the end of the pre-game lobby, all players are set to travel to a larger island via cargo plane with the back door of the aircraft open. Players are free to parachute down wherever they want in the island. As soon as they land, they’re free to roam and do whatever they wish to do. Most of the time, players would loot houses and bunkers everywhere around the map just so they would be ready for when they encounter another player.

As for the other players, they just want to roam around and enjoy the scenery.

In an island filled with 100 players who all want to be the last man standing, there really isn’t any other strategy in this game but to play smart and be cautious. Loots and vehicles randomly spawn on the map so it’s quite hard to set a specific area to loot and think you’re all set. Even if having the best guns and armour in the game would yield advantageous, running on an open field with a sniper around is still a kamikaze wish.

The thrill you get as you enter the top twenty is just something you simply can’t ignore. You start to have perfect posture while sitting down and your vision seems to enter a whole new level of clarity. You tend to hold your

breath longer and feel anxious with everything that moves.

Nothing beats the hype-inducing moment as you near the compelling “Winner! Winner!

Chicken Dinner!” victory.

Games of this genre make its players experience the feeling of triumph over one’s adversaries at the cost of well, a bloodbath of all proportions.

In this game, finishing last is definitely better than finishing first.

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds is currently just in its beta version; the game is in its early form and the final release of it is yet to be made public. Hence, it is poorly optimized and leaves even the expensive video cards to suffer with a case of heating due to maximum workloads.

So you can expect your laptop or desktop to sound like an air conditioner while you are playing the game. There are also a

lot of bugs and glitches in the game that would sometimes cause it to randomly crash; you would have to restart and reconnect to the game you are currently in. At least they do give users the option to reconnect if some unintentional interruption comes up (e.g. unstable internet connection and overheating hardware.)

Overall, the game has so much potential so there is no doubt why players are so passionate about it. It allows players to log in, click play, and simply enjoy—no more heavy backstory, no more complex game mechanics to learn before playing, no more pay to win. It is every casual gamer’s dream to play this game, may it be solo play or multiplayer; either way, players can expect the peak of enjoyment. So what do you think? Got what it takes to be the best of all 100?

I’ll see you in game. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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MOVIE REVIEW

Summer of 8 (2016) Orion Pictures

BY KEANU JOSEPH P. RAFIL

“Who am I? Who will I become? What does it all mean?”

Produced by Steven J. Berger and Michael M. McGuire, Summer of 8 is a day-long-shot movie released on the 26th of April 2016. This Ryan Schwartz masterpiece revolves around a group of eight friends comprising of four girls and four boys, who decided to spend their last day before college together in the sands of Little Corona Del Mar Beach, California. It is an 88-minute film packed with self-discovery, disclosures, emotions, and celebration of youth.

The film connects with both young and adult film viewers alike by giving them fresh acumens as the individual characters decipher realizations among themselves. These realizations range from the subtlety of each character’s young love and ambitions to the rawhefty loads of childhood’s past.

The main role player of the movie, Jesse (Carter Jenkins), starts the movie with a scene where he writes on a journal addressed to his late father along the beach sands of Corona. In that particular scene, he wrote the quotation at the beginning of this review.

He was then accompanied by his three friends, Aiden (Michael Grant), Oscar (Matt Shively), and his childhood buddy Bobby (Nick Marini) and mused on how could their last day before college could be spent perfectly. For that day, he also 68

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invited over his girlfriend, Lily (Shelley Hennig), and her three friends, Serena (Bailey Noble), Emily (Rachel DiPillo), and Jen (Natalie Hall) to spend the last day with them on their favorite beach strip of the town near the house where Jesse and his mom, Diane (Sonya Walger) stays.

The film’s cinematography is the strongest as to why it is not only intellectually and emotionally pleasing but as well as visually-enticing.

This was made possible by the keen eyes of cinematographer Martim Vian and was evident throughout the film, from Jesse’s first dawn by the beach up to his last.

Though the film was produced under a low budget and was shot on a single place and setting in time, the film did not fail to satisfy its viewers’ eyes by merging the beauty of a day in one and a half hour.

Ryan Schwartz, the director as well as the scriptwriter of the film, created a shallow but straight-to-the-heart liberation of words from the characters. From a simple question of “What will make this day perfect?” to the substantial notions of asking “Who am I?”, Schwartz processed and resolved his viewers in an unfathomable, meaningful way through the resolutions delivered by each character to themselves.

Their choice of music tracks is also a factor that made the film prodigious by integrating it well on each scene. The track “Growing

REVIEWS

Up” by CANVAS perfectly garnished the first few scenes where the eight friends are making their way to the beach, happy and scared but aware of what is to come. The film’s end credits played the track “The Meaning” by Fruition which is a spot-on for what the film wants to say—that every moment of our lives is important and must be welllived. Other tracks include “Wonder If She Knows” by Family Wagon, “Over The Water” by Raphael Pearlman and Jonathan Plum, “Another Story” by The Head and The Heart, and “Me And My Friends” by Tim Myers. One thing that adds beauty to a film is through its musical scoring. These

scores help the film penetrate its viewers’ emotions, seeping through deeper down to their spines.

The film does not only focus on the importance of friends or family that surrounds our lives. It also delivers the importance of time and the art of acknowledging the things that we may regret not doing. It speaks more about the inconsistency of things and the consistency of change, the agony of staying behind and the fresh-breath of leaving. It enunciates that our lives are lightnings, and what we do with it is the thunder.

That every action we make is subject to either regret or contentment. S

MOVIE REVIEW

Justice League (2017) Warner Bros. Pictures

BY GLEN JED J. DESCUTIDO

Trailing behind the critically acclaimed 2017 film, Wonder Woman, Justice League— the culmination of a four-year buildup, is DC’s newest addition to their Cinematic Universe. With almost a year of accumulated fan hype and impressively good teasers, the most-awaited ensemble of superheroes hits the bullseye where Suicide Squad did not, but misses where Wonder Woman succeeded.

With the Man of Steel buried six feet under the ground— Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) together with the help of Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), attempt to unite other superhumans in an effort to stop the impending threat brought about by a prehistoric alien named Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) to the world.

The film was definitely better than its darker predecessors— presenting a smoother, lighter story transition, on-point humor, and a generous amount of testosterone-driven battle scenes.

However, the problem is that the film remains as such, only better when pitted against the films from its own universe. Even with a lighter tone, Justice League felt confused— a mix of childhood joy and premature drama.

After the film’s original director, Zack Snyder, stepped out because of a family tragedy, The Avengers’ director, Joss Whedon, was brought in for reshoots and to finally finish the film. This is where the inconsistent stride seems to come in. Their combination doesn’t seem to work out.

Whedon’s Avengers-esque humor sticking out of Snyder’s technical, bleak, and serious direction further increased its mortality.

Question! Is Steppenwolf after us? Obviously yes. But he’s actually in for something bigger, one of the three Mother

Boxes—a living technology that when combined together, releases a massive power of terraformation. Together with him are a vast army of Parademons, a sentient species that feed on fears and looks like a scarier version of Suicide Squad’s Killer Croc donning a steampunk armor and moth-like wings.

The film’s script doesn’t seem to stray away from its inconsistencies either; it was a 50-50. Bruce Wayne answering Barry Allen “I’m rich,” after the latter asked him what his superpowers were, was the strongest and wittiest line it had. Meanwhile, the reiteration of the line “Do you bleed?” this time coming from Superman, comes in close. Some of the dialogues were plainly uninteresting. Even the Mother Boxes, which were supposed to intensify the audiences, were just plainly regarded by Diana as “powers”.

With all these happening at the wake of Superman’s death, humanity seems to be hopeless and fearful. Standing firm despite this is Batman who’s ironically inspired by how Superman was a beacon of hope, and at the same time hopeful he might save mankind from its imminent doom with a little help.

The ensemble cast was a mixed bag of nuts. Bruce Wayne takes the spotlight but unfortunately doesn’t own it. Ben Affleck’s Batman still just happens to be the brooding brawler who smashes his way through battles. Sure, he does fight more accurately like Batman, but it doesn’t outweigh the fact that his version lacks the reason as to why he fights so hard for justice— his parents.

Ezra Miller’s The Flash seemed to be the star of the show with his witty remarks and well-delivered lines that illuminated the dark tone of

the film. He is the heart and humor of the league; the actor even described his character as an “endearing and altruistic nerd”, a firm reason to watch the film. Despite his character being underdeveloped in the movie, he shows how superheroes can be frail, broken, but still full of hope.

Tangential to his character was Wonder Woman who was just as wonderful as before, fighting with sheer precision and poise, embodying the true strength of an Amazonian woman. Contrarily, DC’s new heroes on the block, Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher), felt more of a sideshow, manifesting subpar performances and disestablished stories leaving the audience not caring much for the two.

Despite missing almost ¾ of the film’s runtime, Superman was a show-stopper. He was the Justice League. His comeback, although expected, still gave the most feels throughout the whole film. What emerged from the grave was a Superman done right, paired with scenes that exhibited his most famous abilities (yeah, you actually get to see his cold breath and his x-ray vision

along with his super-speed).

Ironically, the most worthy character to look out for is the one who wasn’t in the promotional posters.

Ares from Wonder Woman was a great villain; Steppenwolf, not much. He looked like a video game villain and fought like one. He even had slow-mo flares tailing his big axe as if he’s using Kratos’ Blades of Chaos from the video game series, God of War. The final battle was pretty neat if not for its overthe-top sepia tone.

DC still struggles to find the right tone despite having four films under its wing. With only Wonder Woman being the fresh one, the movie seems to suffer from some of the same consequences the previous films had: overused CGI, underdeveloped characters, and a generic villain. On the brighter side, the film’s saving grace was its overall pace, storytelling, references, and The Flash.

All in all, Justice League actually delivered. Just like any other superhero, Justice League can soar, it can fight, but it can only do so much and just like the world, some parts of it might need some saving. S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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SERIES REVIEW

Kid Nation (2007) CBS

BY MARIA ANGELICA M. APE

In the year 2007, 40 children from across the United States were gathered to live in a ghost town by the name of Bonanza City in New Mexico. What’s the catch? These kids were tasked to rebuild the entire city in 40 days all by themselves with no adults, doing everything from leading, cooking, and cleaning the town. While the youngest kid had just turned 8 at the time and the oldest one was 15, the kids or the ‘Pioneers’ were all aiming to prove to their parents that they can be adults and can withstand being away from the comfort of their homes and make a living in the middle of nowhere.

The Pioneers were divided into four districts— green, yellow, red, and blue—and were led by their respective District Councils. To fairly distribute tasks, the city hosts a ‘showdown’ every couple of days where the districts battle it out to win. First place gets the “Upper Class” status where they receive a dollar each and get the privilege of having no chores to do for the time being; in second place are the “Merchants” where they have to run the city saloon and dry goods store and receive 50 cents each; third place are the “Cooks” where they have to prepare meals for 40 children and have to clean the dishes; and in last place are classified as the “Laborers” where they have to clean Bonanza City’s toilets, take out the trash, and have to pump out water all while being paid only 10 cents. The district’s status only fueled disputes where the Cooks do not stay in the kitchen and the other classes had to do the dirty work. A recurring argument in the whole season was the laziness of those in the lower 70

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classes who happen to be in the district with the youngest members. Despite the status of the four districts, there were some instances wherein everyone in the city gathered and helped with the hard labor of refilling the water tank and washing the dishes.

Every three days, the Pioneers gather for a town hall meeting where they would express concerns if their council was doing a good or bad job and this is where any of them is free to leave the city and go home. Also during the town hall meeting, the council decides who among the Pioneers is the most hardworking and will then receive a literal gold star that’s worth $20,000. The audience can tell whether or not one of the Pioneers is working hard just for the sake of the gold star.

This was perfectly captured by the show and this portrays that even in 2007, some kids get blinded by cold hard cash.

The show is basically a reality show since inspirational speeches were said, conflict grew and created drama between Pioneers and District Council, but it’s also somewhat similar to a game show wherein physical challenges were tasked and had to be completed for the Pioneers to win a reward.

Kid Nation looks like it’s the love child of Survivor and the nostalgic Legends of the Hidden Temple. It’s quite easy to pick favorites among the 40 Pioneers because the producers are doing a pretty good job in putting the limelight on them (aside from the extra screen time, of course.)

The producers also did an amazing job to stir some conflict between the entire city through what the journal

REVIEWS

left by the ‘original Bonanza City Pioneers’ from the 1880s dictates. The journal served as a guide for the kids where lessons and experiences from the previous Pioneers were used for references; it may be through establishing curfews, deciding to reflect spiritually, and whether or not the Pioneers should decide to butcher livestock. Amazingly, the show has managed to insert religion, violence, and discrimination into the conversations of the Pioneers.

One of the most memorable Pioneers during the show’s run was Yellow District’s first council leader, Taylor. The then 10-year old was a pageant queen and was labelled to be one of the brattiest and laziest kids in the entire city. She was famously known for her motto, “Deal with it!” which would only cause more drama within the Pioneers and District Council. Another controversy Taylor was involved in was the discriminative things she had said even if it was through chickens. In the earlier episodes, Taylor had developed a fondness over the town’s chickens where she and a couple of the squad protested against eating them. She was very strong in saying, “I think all ugly chickens deserve to die and all the pretty ones should

stay.”

Basically, what Kid Nation was trying to tell their audience was that children can too, have a voice and they can actually do stuff like running a city without any adult supervision. Like any good reality show, Kid Nation’s strengths are in its characters where the older kids— even if they were projected to be the big bad wolves— cared for the younger ones, and where 8-year-olds trying to tell the council leaders that combining every kid with different religious beliefs into one service is a bad idea.

When CBS first released Kid Nation, it already sparked controversy.

Then-CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler took the issue in stride, saying that in order for a reality show to “change the landscape of television, you have to stir public debate.”

CBS truly reached their aim which was to curate a unique show and have people stir debates over it.

Kid Nation seems to be shaping up to be an interesting social experiment. It would be really cool, however, to see the show be rebooted to commemorate its 10th year.

What would make this funnier, though, is to see how times really have changed kids and their lifestyle. S

SERIES REVIEW

Young Sheldon (2017) CBS

BY STEPHINE PAUL M. DUNGCA

“Bazinga!”

Despite his apathetic social skills, Sheldon Lee Cooper, Ph.D, Sc.D, has won the hearts of the audience not just with his sheer intellect but as well as his proposal stint with Amy Farrah Fowler in the last episode of the tenth season of The Big Bang Theory (TBBT). Now on its 11th season, the Big Bang Theory will continue to depict the now adult life of Sheldon as portrayed by Emmy award winner Jim Parsons.

But behind the understanding of Sheldon’s persona, co-directors Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro went on to illustrate how this train-lover’s life came to be.

Not that we’re talking about Mary and George Cooper’s reproduction process.

It’s more on the 9-year old “young” Sheldon character played by child prodigy Iain Armitage.

Young Sheldon goes back to 1989 East Texas where Mary’s tater tots are a big deal. Knowing to have skipped three grades and now a freshman in highschool at age nine, young Sheldon identifies himself as the intellectual minute being of superiority.

Sheldon’s religious mother (Zoe Perry), his older brother George (Montana Jordan), twin sister Missy (Raegan Revord), and football coach father (Lance Barber) will have to deal not only with applied-to-home advanced mathematics and science but also with Sheldon’s attitude as a young genius

in general (which includes debating with the pastor at church, not holding hands in fear of dying and etc).

Jim Parson’s narration throughout the whole series is a factor that will continuously attach Young Sheldon to TBBT. But the catch is that Young Sheldon—in its four episodes so far— has presented quite clean comedy and family-oriented humor as compared to TBBT’s comedic style. Without the fake laughs in the background, audience will have to understand some jokes as coming from a 9-year old character to actually make it sound humorous. With Armitage’s on-point effort to imitate Parsons’ illustration of adult Sheldon, the potential with this prequel is still limited in building the protagonist’s character in contrast to what Sheldon has actually become. It’s more like having the answer already and formulating the most appropriate equation that will make the answer reasonable with it (quick maths).

Likewise, Perry would also have to work with the pressure since Laure Metcalf did an outstanding job as adult Sheldon’s mother in TBBT. So far though, Perry’s excellent acting and comical transitions are providing the right spices for the show.

Perhaps it is because Laure Metcalf is Perry’s real life mother.

To conclude, Young Sheldon is not far in becoming “as good as” The Big Bang Theory. After all, it’s

still in its fourth episode. It can be anybody’s game right now. What we’re hoping for is that this show doesn’t break the Sheldon we’ve grown to love. If and when it would be on the verge of doing it wrong, we’ll just hope that Young Sheldon will hysterically shout at the end of the series, “Bazinga!” S VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6

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THESPECTRUM