The Augustinian Mirror, May 2012

GRAPHICS BY jerson e. elmido

PHotoS BY KrisTine loUise l. AndrAde

There is, indeed, such a Thing as sTrengTh in numbers, as mosT people believe iT.

ediTOr’snOTe T

hinking of a theme for every issue of The Augustinian Mirror is always a hard nut to crack that is why, with deep mirth, we, in the USA Publications, bring forth this issue of The Augustinian Mirror which revolves around the “joke-at-first” theme “Numbers”.

undying support and patience in editing our articles. Thank you for always believing in me.

To our previous Moderator, Sir Erwin Sustento, thank you for accommodating me when I asked for your help in editing the Filipino articles. I would not have been a part of the USa Pub were it not for you. Thank you for your continuous support.

To Nong Jeff, Mommy Donna, Nong Josh, and Nang Darlyn, I really learned a lot about writing, life, and love from you, guys. Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement.

To my co-EiC, Ryan, words are not enough to express my gratitude to you. Take good care of our Pub family.

To my Sissies Joey, Tinay, and Gen, our sisterhood is far from over. I will miss our nail polish sessions and other things better left unsaid (wink, wink).

To Febrielyn, you rock! Continue to enthrall our readers with your sizzling-hot write-ups.

To andre, I know you will miss the Pub as much as I will.

To Tito Jers, thank you for everything. Continue to inspire the readers with your comical works.

To Tita lou (louie), you won’t hear the phone ring every now and then from now on. aww.

To the Pub Babies Ric, Wilhelm, ayah, Jesanny, Marylex, Diane, Joyce, Hannah, Christine, Joel and Kevin, stay as good as you are now. I really enjoyed working with all of you.

To the graduates Mia, Nong James, Nong Nicx, & Nong Kim, conquer the world! You’ll always have the Pub to return to.

To the photojournalists lowee and lanz, welcome and enjoy your stay at the Pub. To Nong Elmer and Nang Narle of Panorama Printing Press, thank you for playing a huge part in the

success of the magazine’s final output.

I will really miss the times when I went to Panorama for the scheduled presswork.

To all those who have had a part in the 1st and 2nd volumes of The augustinian Mirror’s 58th issue, - critics, interviewees, models - thank you for sharing your time in making the two issues a huge success.

To God almighty, thank You for giving me the gift of writing to inspire others.

To all of you, dear readers, a million thanks for making it a habit to “take up and read” The augustinian Mirror every time it gets published, We would not have made it this far without your support.

With that said, my pen now lays itself to rest.

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Why numbers? It could be because of the simple realization that some things present in our life go unnoticed. How does it feel to be only second best? What is wrong with 666? What are the ten most favorite things that students get hooked on? What mystery does the delicacy Soup Number 5 have? These and other topics would surely tickle your inner senses and make you, our dear readers, come to realize that numbers are, and will continue to be, a part of our lives.

Personally, I regret to say that this would be my second and last issue as the editor-in-chief of The augustinian Mirror. all good things must come to an end, they say. With a somewhat heavy heart, I now dedicate the last strokes of my pen to the people who have become a part of me in my three-year stay at the USa Publications: To our Moderator, Nana Confe (Ma’am Gladys), thank you for your

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PUBLISHED BY THE

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usa publiCaTiOns

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

mary Leslie S. eregia Ray Adrian C. macalalag

MANAGING EDITOR

Josefa maria A. Castro

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Jesanny I.Yap Andre Karl S. faculin Genessa A. Buenafe

LITERARY EDITOR WALL NEWSPAPER EDITOR ART DIRECTOR PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR CIRCULATION MANAGER SENIOR WRITERS

STAFF WRITERS

febrielyn S. tumines Jerson e. elmido nicole fernan L. Caminian Kristine Louise L. Andrade John Louie e. esmaya

tABLe of

Ric martin L. Libo-on mia Rose V. emboltura Hannah Grace S. taba James marthy m. esleyer Kim eric J. del Rosario Joyce Gem m. Cañete

MAGAZINE APPRENTICE WRITERS

diane danica C. dy Christine Joy A. Saber Ayah danica V. Granada

NEWSPAPER APPRENTICE WRITERS

wilhelm C. Lizada marylex G. Sumatra Joel S. Sastrillo Kevin Jerrol C. erebaren

MODERATOR

The numbers Society 6.9 DEADLY DAMAGES

cultuRe Do You hAvE thE bALLS?

WHEN MOTHER NaTURE’S DIGITS SHaKE OUR WORlD

TaKING THE ONE-IN-a-MIllION CHaNCE TO CHaNGE YOUR lIFE FOREVER

Gladys t. Confesor

thE AuGuStINIAN MIRRoR is the official student magazine of the University of San Agustin. It is published by the USA Publications. Comments, suggestions, and contributions may be sent to the editorial board. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission and approval from the USA Publications and the authors.

Second floor, Alumni Building, university of San Agustin, General Luna Street, Iloilo City, Philippines 5000

ADDRESS

(+63-33) 337-48-24 local number 189

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[page 04]

EMAIL WEBSITE BLOG FACEBOOK TWITTER YOUTUBE

Ray Adrian C. macalalag this magazine was designed using Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Illustrator CS3, and Adobe Indesign CS3. Characters are set in myriad Pro typefaces.

bridge between life and death [page 07]

Why two is not always better than one [page 08]

[page 11]

destiny on digits [page 14]

Pakakasalan kita sa 29 [page 16]

abOuT The COVer PeRSPectiveS

Numbers do affect our lives in ways we seldom see. This young man here holding a magazine showing himself holding a magazine depicts the infinite roles that numbers play in our lives. We may not be aware of it but as we go through our daily routines, numbers constantly bring about changes in ourselves.

IT’S MORE FUN aT THE USa PUB

[page 13]

issue

PHOTO BY krisTine lOuise l. andrade MODEL dusTin reGile a. arGuelles DIRECTION BY JOseFa maria a. CasTrO DIGITAL EDITING BY ray adrian C. maCalalaG PRODUCTION BY JersOn e. elmidO AND JOhn lOuie e. esmaya

ContentS economy Religion ‘KNoWN SECREtS‘ to INFINItY oF thE bIbLE AND bEYoND

in camPuS to bE oN toP, MuLtItASK!

food & lifeStyle A CuLtuRAL AFtERtAStE

UNDERSTaNDING THE MOST UNIVERSal laNGUaGE OF MaN

DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF VINS MaRY ESTIllORO, NURSING CUM laUDE aND BOaRD EXaM aCHIEVER

SaVOR THE FlaVOR OF aN EXOTIC SOUP MaDE WITH THE IlONGGO TOUCH

[page 20]

UNlIMITED Call aND TEXT, UNlIMITED RICE, UNlIMITED GRaVY, UNlIMITED SODa, UNlIMITED...

[page 25]

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia [page 23]

[page 28]

[page 32]

the dangers of 1-2-3s

the top 10 cloud 9s of augustinians

[page 30]

infogRaPHic uSa in numbeRS [page 18]

[page 33]

movie RevieWS in time [page 35]

i am numbeR 4 [page 36]

t h e a u g u s t i n ia n m irr o r | may 2012

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6.

D society

6.9 DEADLY DAMAGES When moTher naTure’s digiTs shake our World

teXt BY febrielYn s. TUmines And mArYleX G. sUmATrA PHotoS BY mArYleX G. sUmATrA

I

f it were a movie scene, you wouldn’t want to play a role in it. There were husbands looking for their wives, without any other clues but their wedding rings. There were children hoping that under those blood-stained mattresses, it wouldn’t be their loving mothers’ corpses. There were bodies in rows without any identification but grieving relatives’ memories of their faces.

If it wasn’t about the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Central Visayas last February 6, then the sight wouldn’t look like a scene from a zombie film; there wouldn’t be 105 fatalities and about 100 injured citizens. Some children of Brgy. Planas recalled they were still hugging and playing with their mothers when the first tremor struck. It came so fast and unexpectedly that they never thought of that day as real.

Manong Robert, a tricycle driver narrates his experience in the dialect. He says, at exactly 11:49 a.m. , “ …we were on our way to

t h e a u g u s t i n ia n m irr o r | may 2012

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the market when the earthquake happened, I saw that the road was shaking and some parts were already cracking so what my passengers and I did was to hold on tightly to the tricycle and wait for the shaking to stop. We even saw in the distance that a house had crumbled and a carpenter was buried under it; fortunately, the maid had just made it out of there; she could have been buried there, too.”

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that more than 191,000 people were displaced from their

homes; some died in landslides and almost 24,000 sought shelter in evacuation centers.

“Others said that In Brgy.

Planas, a little farther from us, many houses were buried in the landslides because they’re closer to the mountain or on the mountain itself,” Manong Robert shares.

Donations came pouring in after the calamity, and rescue groups, calamity response groups, the Red Cross and even non-government organizations went on active alert. One of these organizations was React International, a non-government

organization affiliated with the local React Philippines Group that specializes in programs on emergency and destruction response. Don Mark Uy, a member of the organization, promotes his advocacy, “It’s quite life-changing ... I think I could change the lives of people... they would be made more aware of the effects of the earthquake. I think this will also be integrated in their daily lives.”

Manong Robert shares his own insight from the tragedy, “When events like this happen, not even the wealthy are safe. This must be Mother Nature’s way of making us pay back.”

society

CrOssinG The bridGe beTWeen liFe and deaTh

being given a 50-percenT chance To live teXt BY GenessA A. bUenAfe And diAne dAnicA c. dY GRAPHICS BY rAY AdriAn c. mAcAlAlAG

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umbers. We see them every day - on candy bar wrappers, in statistics on the primetime news, on Twitter or Tumblr, or on the old blackboard in the unending problem-solving of trying to figure out what the darn X is. Seen practically everywhere, numbers are meaningless by themselves until they represent some ideas; and that’s when they finally make sense. For instance, the number of saturated fat in a chocolate bar, the increase or decrease in your Twitter followers, the number of earthquake casualties flashed on TV, or the exact figure that X stands for – the numbers mean something then.

It’s amazing what these had been raised well by her parents, better, if I’d just follow what the 50-50

tHe little giRl WitH a PeRfect cHildHood

Mae (not her real name) is now thirteen years old and currently a student at the Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, Roxas City. People found her not only simple but also jolly around those close to her. She

both giving her the love and care she needed in a simple yet well-provided home. Nothing could possibly go wrong in the perfect world she was living in until the year 1996 when she was nine years old and a common thief attempted to take it all away.

“When I was nine ..., I had dengue hemorrhagic fever, stage 3.” says May, “I was in school when I started to have a very bad fever. I thought nothing of it because I soon became well, but the fever was on and off again and I think that scared mom and dad.”

Some patients with dengue fever go on to develop dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), a severe and sometimes fatal form of the disease. Warning signs include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, marked change in temperature (from fever to hypothermia), hemorrhagic manifestations, or change in mental status. Dengue, the thief that took most children and infants’ lives in the past years, threatened Mae’s life when she was in Grade 3. The safe world where she grew up shattered, and the fever bouts she had became more frequent and grew stronger.

“I didn’t know that I was in that situation, that I could have died. I knew I wasn’t getting any better because my parents looked nervous even though they tried to make me calm,” recalled May. any parent would be horrified to know that the doctors were certain that there was a five-outof-ten possibility that their child could die at any moment.

Mae had a fifty percent chance to live. Yes, the situation was very hopeful when viewed from the positive end of the spectrum but it was graver, more dangerous, more merciless, and more uncertain from the negative end. Her daily medications and medical support could fully assure her of survival, but one wrong move, one hint of weakness in her body, could swiftly shove her life down the other side that says, “all hope ends here”.

“I didn’t lose hope, even though I got impatient with all the blood tests. Even the food was tasteless.

When my fever went down, I had hope, but when it rose again, I knew I was going to stay in “that” place for a few more days,” says Mae, “Yet, I said to myself, I was going to get

doctor said.”

WHo tHe oddS favoRed

Numbers can define our life - how many days we’ll live until we reach our ultimate end, and how many chances we’re going to have to live a pleasant and happy life. The numbers were initially against Mae and her will to survive, but those digits didn’t define how she believed her life would be. after a few more days of standing on the bridge between life and death, the odds swung in her favor, and she was filled with life once again. “as we went home, I found myself praying. I’m not sure what I prayed for but I remember that moment, when my mom was smiling in the front seat and my dad was talking about how brave I was,” smiles Mae, “…and I still am.”

Now, it finally makes sense when people understand what these plain digits can do, especially if they involve someone’s life; it’s not what numbers can do that defines life after all. Rather, it is how we believe our life should be in the end, by just having a little faith.

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plain digits can do when people understand them, especially, if they involve someone’s life.

We often hear of ‘50-50’ on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, or when someone gets shot in the teleseryes that we watch everyday.

No, it’s not just about removing two wrong answers from choices a to D. The 50-50 figure also pertains to one’s chances of surviving an injury or disease. Yes, it’s like a pie divided in half, the other one says YOU’ll lIVE and the other says YOU’ll DIE. We may watch the travails of the heroes and heroines in teleseryes on a daily basis but it’s not every day that we know of some people dear to us being in the same situation as the TV protagonists are; and, it’s not every day that we find ourselves living the situation.

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society

Why TWO is nOT beTTer Th modeLS lAdY AriAne f. TUlio, AGrein eUGenio, And TYrel doronilA • mAKe-uP rAlP jAson i. eVAnGelisTA t H e A u G u S t I n I A n m I R R o R | may 2012

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There are Things m

H

er world went blank as he dropped the bomb - words that exploded in her mind and numbed her very soul.

“I had a two-year affair with another woman, and now she’s three months pregnant with our child.”

It was as though in that brief moment, time had suddenly stopped.

In silent disbelief, she kept hearing in her mind the words she had just heard. She waited as if for a punch line to dispel the shock of hearing a horrible joke.

But now that the affair had been revealed, she wondered whether their marriage was still as solid as she thought it was. Did she miss something? Did her husband, at some point, fall out of love with her? Did he desire being with another woman, a younger woman, because the spark

they once had just wasn’t there anymore? How could she gain her self-respect knowing that in his heart, she’d merely be second best?

Second best. To some, it means finishing second in a race that they have trained for all year. To others, it’s studying all day and night in the hope of getting the highest score in the exams, only to be beaten out by that genius who has done nothing more than to use his God-given intelligence.

But for a legally-married wife, to be simply second best in her husband’s heart is gut-wrenching. It is like being in a competition for a love that “should have been” rightfully hers, but never was.

damSelS in too mucH diStReSS

Jahnilyn* had been happily married to her husband for five years and they’d been blessed with two wonderful kids. a nurse by profession,

she chose to be a plain housewife in order to attend to her children’s and husband Van’s* needs. But after devoting years of loving and caring to him - having his kids, cleaning the house, washing his clothes, cooking his food, helping to pay the bills, and making more sacrifices than he has even realized, she is now confronted with the reality that she is not the only one in his life now.

“It got to the point that I couldn’t even think about Van anymore without thinking about his mistress, too. I thought about her every time I was with him, every time he was with her, and every time I thought about him at all; especially when I, innocent me who never had any inkling about his secret affair, remembered the lengths he would go to just to deceive me,” shares Jahnilyn between sighs.

Kaye* was in her late 30’s when she discovered her husband Raffy’s* infidelity through a common friend.

“My husband had always been fond of kids, but when the doctors said that our chance of having a baby was very slim, it must’ve upset him a lot,” she recalls.

tHe PitfallS

Ryan agoncillo, as a character in the film, Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, delivers a line that goes, “Di kita pinagpalit, tumikim lang ako ng ibang ulam,” as he tries to explain to his wife (Judy ann Santos’s character) the reason for his infidelity after having been caught.

When asked why they get into illicit affairs, many say that they are not really looking for something “better”; they are merely looking for something “different.”

The best description would probably be “baby steps.” You let yourself get into a position of innocent intimacy with another person. You begin to start conversations which are innocent

always an ONE arriage cannot promise

TEXT BY JESANNY I. YAP PHOTO BY KRISTINE LOUISE L. ANDRADE

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enough—family, friends, and work.

But one baby step can lead to another and another, and before you can turn around and run away, you are already in, way too far and too deep.

According to Peggy Vaughan, author of The Monogamy Myth, affairs may occur when a couple has been married many years and starts taking each other for granted. An affair can add excitement and a sense of purpose to life, and often, this helps to spice up the marriage, too, as long as the cheating spouse does not get caught. In some cases, an affair may start because two people fall in love, and one or both of the individuals may already be married to others.

Boredom and anger are also common reasons why a spouse may have an affair. Boredom can lead to flirtation, which may go far beyond what may have started innocently enough. Sometimes, anger at a spouse may cause an affair to start, especially when the spouse is being difficult and someone else is being nice and pleasant.

Sexual attraction and lust also play a role in some affairs, because in some situations, this attraction can be overpowering, and cause individuals to do things not normally even considered. Sometimes, the need that an affair fills is one for companionship and a feeling that someone cares.

When extramarital affairs are discovered, this can put the marriage under extreme stress, or cause it to break apart completely.

Rocky Road to Healing

t h e a u g u s t i n i a n m i r r o r | may 2012

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Setting aside the homes that were broken by infidelity would be very imprudent.

“I expected a rocky road, but I never expected the road to get steeper and more treacherous with time. It seemed as if, the more I tried to smooth things over, the more pain I got by pretending things were okay when obviously they were not. I had more questions and my anger reached greater depths,” relates Kaye.

She endured the public humiliation of friends and family who knew that her husband had another woman, and the only way to regain her self-respect was to put a stop to their relationship. It was at a deadend anyway.

Rafel Macario, a psychologist and guidance counselor at Aklan Catholic College explains, “Infidelity can have serious effects on the psychological

well-being of the partner especially on her self-esteem. Regaining selfrespect after the betrayal would take time. The wife needs to confront her husband and talk about the situation and after that she needs to talk about it to people she trusts. Talking about her anger, frustrations and disappointments to significant others is important for it will help her cope with her struggles.”

On the other hand, despite all the emotional torment Jahnilyn has gone through, “the thought of getting an annullment due to adultery was beginning to make complete sense as the wounds became deeper.” The intense pain also pushed her to think about self-preservation and less about the “us” part. But through all this, she knew she wanted to survive.

Jahnilyn is just one of the many women in society today who chose to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start. The man who broke her heart and the hearth was her husband, after all. She loved him. She had made a commitment to him before God when she said her marriage vows. She was “in” for life. She was there to stay, and nothing he did or said could change that.

SHOCKING Statistics

Statistics shows that extramarital affairs are extremely common, but why do they happen?

There are almost as many reasons for them as there are people involved in it, but some reasons are much more common than others.

Some individuals may initiate an affair because they are seeking to prove that they are still attractive and have not lost that special touch; for others, it could be an unhappy marriage at home. Some extramarital affairs begin because one spouse feels neglected or unappreciated, so he or she looks for attention from others instead.

Yet, according to the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, approximately 50 percent of married women and 60 percent of married men will have an extramarital affair at some point in their marriage. And since it is unlikely that the people having affairs are married to each other in every case, the current statistics on the percentage of married couples who cheat on each other means that someone is having an affair in nearly 80 percent of marriages!

Men are more likely to cheat than women. But, as women become more financially independent, they are starting to act more like men with respect to infidelity.

Most people know when their partners are cheating. Statistics show that 85 percent of women who believe their partners are cheating are correct; 50 percent of men who

believe their partners are cheating are also correct. Does this mean then that women are much more “sensitive” and “intuitive” than men when it comes to learning about marital infidelity?

On the other hand, 1 out of every 3 men takes off his wedding ring when he goes out without the spouse.

Research also consistently shows that 2-3% of all children are the products of infidelity; and most of these children are unknowingly raised by men who are not their biological fathers. Thanks to DNA testing though; finally, it is easy for people to check the paternity of their children.

When All is Said and Done

No one actually starts a marriage intending to cheat on the spouse.

Vows are exchanged, promises are made and married life begins with love and high hopes. But most often than not, expectations of what marriage should be are set too high.

When these expectations aren’t met, either one of the spouses, or both, looks outside the marriage for one, or two, who can fulfill them. When this happens, the “aggrieved” partner may end the relationship, or forgive and stay in it; but either way, extra-marital affairs will always leave an indelible mark within the homes it has wrecked. *Not their real names

culture

Do you have the balls?

taking the one in a million chance to change your life forever TEXT and PHOTOs BY Joyce Gem m. caĂąete

W

www . us a - pub . b l ogspot . com / t h e a u g u s t i n ia n m irr o r

orking as a bank teller, operating an internet cafĂŠ, running a foodstand, doing a buy-and-sell business these are just some of the many ways by which we can earn an income that would help sustain our daily needs. In this age of global competition, we have found various ways of acquiring money, enabling us to choose from a wide array of unique job opportunities.

Some people engage in myriad businesses - from selling merchandise in retail stores to putting up online shops - in the hope that these economic activities could take them out of the clutches of poverty, while some simply rely on the game of pure luck and destiny, more commonly known as gambling.

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Along de Leon Street going towards Robinson’s Place Iloilo, you will find an old woman in her late 70s, walking and holding a bundle of long, narrow strips of white paper with numbers listed on them. Ilea Cortel, a loyal mayor corridore, decided to join the Small Town Lottery (STL) in 1989. Collecting up to P1000 worth of bets per day (her share is only 10% of the entire collected amount), she never thought that with her meager earnings from this “job”, she would be able to raise 7 children and produce professionals like a dentist and a seafarer out of them.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Loterya ng Bayan, commonly known as Small Town Lottery (STL), is a democratized form of the grassroots-based lottery regulated by PCSO. It aims to stamp out jueteng and to generate charity funds that will provide immediate and localized funding assistance for health and development projects in various localities.

This numbers game features two categories, namely: Pick 2 and Pick 3. As its name suggests, the former consists of two numbers a bettor must hit, while the latter needs three (This triple-number play was introduced to add thrill to the game).

“Unlike in Mega/Superlotto that has 6 numbers, this one needs only a combination of 2-3 numbers out of 40 which, when hit, gives you the jackpot,” Mr. Antonio Si, a cashier-incharge at STL-PCSO, says.

With bets as low as P1 and only as much as P100, anyone would really be tempted to wager on any two numbers representing what they have

dreamed of or what their horoscope says are lucky, and to hope not just to double their prize money but also to increase it by 800 times. Thus, anyone who places a P100 bet and hits the correct number combination will automatically win P80,000. On the other hand, hitting correctly 3 numbers in the Pick 3 category could instantly turn a P1-bet into P20,000 and a P7-bet into P140,000.

A winning combination favors the bet taker. “ What they‘re after is a win for their bettors for if their number is picked, 100 pesos out of the 800 pesos goes to them. If the winner is kind enough, he will give them a tip/ bonus. So it’s on the bet-taking that they depend for their income. Their commission is just supplementary. The number of bettors he has increases all the more because they think he [bet taker] brings good luck,” Mr. Si emphasizes.

“For some people, the prize is just too small because they use it to buy food or to pay off their debts.

But for me, if I didn’t win, what would have happened to my child?” a thankful Aling Garcel, mother of 4, shares. She adds, “Fortunately, my ten thousand peso-winning was just enough for getting treatment for my asthmatic child. I would have had a tough time cadging for loans

especially now that almost everyone is in dire straits.”

Mr. Si further reveals that there are even people who place bets every day - betting on more than 30 different number patterns although, if they are not that flush with cash, bet on only 5. He comments, ”What can you do because, for others, it’s their only source of income. For every peso they have, they hope to win eight hundred pesos.”

According to a research made by the Responsible Gambling Council, however, gambling could increase the risk of one getting into trouble since losses could have a substantial impact on people’s finances and lives. For example, the odds of winning in the lotto 6/49 are 1 in 14 million each and every time one plays. It doesn’t matter how many people have purchased tickets or what numbers they play - the odds are the same, regardless. It also causes gamblers to depend on gambling as a money source .

Alarmingly, STL faces charges of illegal transactions performed by unregistered corridores and conducted outside the Iloilo City area. The Philippine National Police (PNP) is tasked with identifying and apprehending these illegal bet takers who, according to Mr. Si, skim 35% off the total bets instead of the regulated

Gambling can increase the risk of one getting into trouble since losses can have a substantial impact on people’s finances and lives.

12%. Moreover, not all the money they collect is turned over to the PCSO. “..The PCSO could be cheated since the bet takers don’t remit the entire bet collection. Whoever your bet-taker is, he is the one who gives you your prize.” Similarly, Mr. Christoferson Pablo, a member of the STL draw team, points out, “ What’s difficult about doing illegal bet-taking is that you can be cheated...and you have no one to run after, no media or mayor to go to since you’ve already known it’s illegal; and you don’t even pay taxes.”

Mark*, a 20 yr old bettor, confesses he spends P20 pesos on STL and worse, the taker is an unregistered corridore. “They’re all undercover, truth to tell...he isn’t the only bet taker…there are many others. They are not just saying anything,” Manang Felicia, a resident of Molo, shares. “It’s hard for them because if there’s a raid, they will look for ways not to get caught...it’s too risky.” She also reveals the time when a friend of hers got really scared when she was taking to her financer (a highranking city official) a huge amount of bets in cash (his share) at a mall.

Despite the risks, some people would still choose to gamble, exchanging their time and effort , their security, their freedom and even their life, for something they think is better, though it may not be that certain. If there are many ways to kill a cat, surely there are also many ways to survive life’s pressures. After all, it is perseverance that drives us to carry on with life…not our lucky numbers.

perspectives

PHOTOs BY kristine louise l. andrade

THIS IS HOW FUN IT IS as one big family at THE PUBLICATIONS

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It's more fun at the USA Pub

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culture

desTiny On diGiTs

hoW digiTs ‘affecT’ our faTe teXt BY mArY leslie s. ereGiA PHoto BY shilA lowesse PATrYXiA G. lAo

N

umbers. Everything seems to revolve around digits and numerals though we barely notice it.

Running late for your first-period class? You check the time and what do you see? Numbers. The special occasions you always look forward to? Of course they’re dates but what are they made up of? Numbers. Your report card showing how well or bad you performed in the first semester? It shows either the highest grade of 1.0, the mediocre, passing 3.0, or the dreaded redmarked 5.0. All these show how numbers have become a significant a part of our daily activities.

On a deeper note, has it occurred to us that numbers could not only “act” in our lives but also “direct” it? Have we not thought of the possibility that our fate could lie in mere digits?

In a world where people tend to consult tarots, playing cards, crystal balls and even their own palms on how their lives will turn out, another “branch” of the paranormal is being practiced - numerology.

WHat it iS

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Numerology is defined as “the study of numbers that helps determine and reflect a person’s characteristics, talents, motivations and path in life.” according to Prof.

Maria Cristy E. Daguay, sociology teacher in the College of arts and Sciences, numerology has yet to be scientifically studied in the Philippines. “What I mean is, this is one occult practice which is not yet fully understood in our society, in terms of practice and the extent of practice or belief of Filipinos in it. We are more inclined to believe in what cards (tarot or not) tell us as represented by the figures on them. We are more familiar with

manghuhulas with cards rather than those who deal with numbers. Much research has to be done in this area of the occult,” Prof. Daguay explains.

On the other hand, Fr. antonio Reyes, a USa faculty member teaching Theology, says that numerology is “the belief in the religious significance of numbers involving rituals or ritualistic behavior which...man has developed in order to achieve special relations with the supernatural. Some people use numbers symbolically, but numbers can appear as sacred elements in themselves, though they vary according to geography.

Considering such variations, it is difficult to speculate on the epistemology of sacred numbers or numerology.” Fr. Reyes further says, “even the way numerology is defined or their sacred associations are made is inchoate [imperfect].”

HoW it WoRkS

How, then, does this work? To determine which number generally reflects your personality, first, add up the digits that make up your birth date. Then, reduce the sum to a single digit. lowee lao, a Sophomore Nutrition and Dietitics student of

the College of Education says that in numerology the most basic means is the use of karmic numbers. “Here, we use the birth date itself in the computations. For example, if a person was born on December 18, we add 1 and 2 [since December is the twelfth month of the year] and we get 3; then we further add to it 1 and 8 [the day of birth] to produce 12 (1+2+1+8). We reduce the two-digit number to just 1 by adding 1 and 2 to get 3. There is then a corresponding explanation for number 3 which generally describes your personality,” lao elaborates.

HoW it diffeRS fRom tHe otHeR “divination aRtS”

Master Madhu who has been into fortune telling for 17 years, explains that Numerology differs from the others in that “it specifies man’s future based on his birthday - the month and day he/she was born. The numbers are computed and the final number reflects his/ her corresponding characteristics,” Master Madhu adds. Palmistry, on the other hand, “is the map of one’s future because it has a heart line, travel line, life line, etc.” as for tarot reading, Master Madhu explains, “it has several meanings. It is man himself who determines his own destiny, depending on which card he has drawn.” Finally, card readings, according to Master Madhu, are still

based mostly on the numbers picked from a deck of regular playing cards.

being an eXPeRt numeRologiSt

When asked how he has mastered the assigned characteristics corresponding to a particular number, Master Madhu merely said it was through his experiences, “with those whose fortunes I have told. I simply look at them in the eye and get their birthdays. Then I try to see what is in their birthdays that give them the kind of destiny they have. I believe that this is a gift that I have truly developed by myself,” he adds.

When asked about the legality of numerology, Master Madhu merely chuckled and said “It’s only illegal if you cheat people. It is not illegal if you tell them what you’ve ‘seen’ of their future and interpret it right.”

WHy deal WitH tHiS?

“When people believe that certain acts can compel the supernatural to behave in certain ways, it is called magic. Occult can be viewed as a form of magic and numerology is an occult practice. I think the question that should be asked is why deal with the occult? On a broader perspective why adhere to a religion? From the psychological point of view, adherence to religion somehow eases our fears and anxiety, most especially since we cannot

predict the future and we do not have control over certain events in our life, the most significant one being death. Hence, for assurance during uncertainties and comfort in times of distress, we turn to religion. In an attempt to control events to our favor, we turn to practices like the occult,” Prof. Daguay elucidates.

Numbers in life, leisure, and love

According to C*, a student at the College of Arts and Sciences, “man’s fate could be determined through numbers.” This belief has given rise to practices in cultures all over the world in regard to numbers that are considered to bring good or bad luck and believed to influence life in one way or another. The Chinese, for instance, believe that the number four is unlucky because it sounds like the word “death” in their language. Thus, throughout most of Asia where there are Chinese communities, buildings skip the 4th floor by not labeling it as such, just as the Americans also skip the supposedly unlucky 13th floor.

For games which involve “numbers but no skills,” the likes of bingo or lottery, people rely on “lucky numbers” to help them win.

For the women who plan on giving their hard-to-get “YES” to their suitors, be warned. February 14 is not an ideal date for starting a relationship.

The same goes for December 14 since

relationships that develop on these dates usually do not succeed.

What matters

Fr. Reyes would rather think of numerology as a superstitious belief which, in theological language, is a vice contrary to the the virtue of religion, an excess.

He states that “the Code of Canon Law admonishes bishops to be vigilant against the introduction of superstitious practices in the daily lives of the faithful.”

There are two faces in the numerological coin. One face belongs to the skeptics who argue that “numbers have no occult significance and cannot by themselves influence a person’s life.” The other face mirrors those who cling to occult practices in an attempt to ease their fears of the unknown. Whatever the case may be, we should bear in mind that we are the captains of our own ships. The choices we make, the chances we take, the roads we cross, and the things we value have all contributed to the kind of life we are leading now. Thus, we must not rely solely on cards or numbers for how we want our life to become.

We just have to bear in mind what Julius Caesar said to Brutus in Act 1, Scene 2 of the play “Julius Caesar”: “Our fate lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.”

What’s Your Number?

Would you want to know what your birthdate digits mean? Check out the table below and be amused,be amazed, be baffled, and be skeptical as you get to “know thyself.” Enjoy! with reference from A Little book of Numerology by Vijaya Kumar

Number

Birth Date

Interpretations

1

1, 10, 19, 28

creative, strong, successful in anything he/she does, inventive, good leader, ambitious, dislikes restraint, mysterious, tends to be bossy

2

2, 11, 20, 29

imaginative, artistic, romantic, gentle, modest, flexible, lack self-confidence, easily down-hearted, restless

3

3, 12, 21, 30

independent, meticulous, never forgets to be cheerful & happy, ceative, versatile, inspiring, arrogant, desire authority, proud

4

4, 13, 22, 31

practical, cautious not to make mistakes, positive, diligent, responsible, systematic, sensitive, unpredictable

5

5, 14, 23

energetic, friendly, resourceful, loves freedom, irritable, quick-tempered, loves speculation, needs to be patient, has difficulty staying in committed relationships

6

6, 15, 24

generous, artistic, musically inclined, attractive, lovable, humane and just, stubborn, tenacious

7

7, 16, 25

versatile, artistic, poetic, rational, charming, observant, magnetic, investigative, restless

8

8, 17, 26

deep, intense, religious, tough, trustworthy, stubborn, obsessive, ambitious, slightly wayward

9

9, 18, 27

courageous, independent, selfless, affectionate, strong-willed, persevering, reckless, short-tempered, subjected to jokes

Which month were you born?

Here is a run-through of the 12 months with their respective characteristics based on Master Madhu’s numerological interpretations. Have fun!

Month

Interpretation

January

budlay intiendihon kag budlay pa-intiendihon

February

creative, artistic, flexible full of competition; may kacompetensya sa tanan nga sitwasyon

April

may opportunity nga magka-profession with titles ex. doctor, engineer, lawyer

May

may chances of becoming a millionaire or having money problems

June

mata-as ang pride, may psychic ability, may instinctive power, has attitude nga kung ano gusto niya dapat makuha niya guid

July

symbol of chances and choices; almost everything that happens to you is your choice

August September October

travellers or has a chance to travel; ideal professions include becoming seafarers, pilots, among others malambing, may heart problem, sensitive, kabalo magtago sang iya nabatyagan symbol of productivity; kung ano ginahimo mo, mangin productive guid ini

November

symbol of two straight lines (ll); you create your life kung diin iya pakadtu-an

December

maswerte kag always may opportunity nga naga-abot sa iya

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March

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culture

29

pakakasalan

kiTa sa

minsan lang nabibigyan ng opporTunidad ang mga babae na magpakaToToo SuLAt nInA hAnnAh GrAce s. TAbA At jerson e. elmido GRAPIKS nI jerson e. elmido

Sang-ayon ka ba na ang babae ang magyaya ng kasal sa lalaki?

t H e A u G u S t I n I A n m I R R o R |may may 2012 2012

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P

agkatapos ng apat na taon, pumatak na naman sa kalendaryo ang ika-29 ng Pebrero o ang tinatawag nating leap day.

Ayon sa mga nakakatanda, may dala raw na kamalasan ang araw na ito dahil sa paniniwalang magiging kulang-kulang sa pag-iisip ang sino mang ipinapanganak sa nabanggit na araw.

pelikulang Leap Year, na unang ipinalabas noong taong 2010, umikot ang kwento sa karakter na si anna Brady na inabot ng sunudsunod na kamalasan sa kanyang paglalakbay patungong Dublin, Ireland upang yayaing magpakasal ang kasintahan niyang si Jeremy sa ika-29 ng Pebrero, dahil ayon sa tradisyon sa Ireland, hindi maaaring tanggihan ng isang lalaki ang alok ng pagpapakasal ng isang babae sa araw na ito.

Maging sa internet site na Youtube ay nagkalat ang video ng mga marriage proposals na isinasagawa tuwing ika-29 ng Pebrero. Isa na rito ang video ni Rachad at ng kasintahan niyang si Genevieve na dumayo pa mula UaE patungong Edinburg, Ireland upang gawin ang anyayang pagpapakasal sa minamahal.

Bahagi na ng kultura hindi lang sa Ireland,kundi sa Scotland, Finland, at iba pang mga bansa sa Europa, ang pagiging makapangyarihan ng mga babae pagdating sa kasalan. ayon sa kasaysayan ng Ireland noong ika-5 siglo, humingi di-umano ng pahintulot si St. Brigid kay St. Patrick na bigyan ng kakayahan ang mga babae na magyayang magpakasal isang beses sa loob ng apat na taon at iyon ay sa ika-29 ng Pebrero.

Pinaniniwalaang ipinakilala ito para balansehin ang mga tradisyunal na papel ng mga babae at lalake sa parehong paraan ng pag-balanse ng ika-29 ng Pebrero sa kalendaryo.

Noong 1288, nagpanukala si Queen Margaret ng Scotland ng batas na nagpapahintulot sa mga

babae na magkaroon ng proposisyon sa natitipuhan nilang lalake ika-29 din ng Pebrero. Ngunit kailangan daw magsuot ng pulang petikot sa ilalim ng kanilang palda upang balaan ang mga lalake sa maaring mangyari. Sinuman ang tumanggi sa babaeng magyaya sa araw na ito ay may kaukulang parusa at ito ay pagbigay sa babae ng 12 pares ng gwantes (para maitago ng babae ang kanyang engagement ring dahil sa kahihiyan ng pagtatanggi), pagbili ng wedding gown sa babae, o di kaya’y pag-abuloy ng 100 pounds o tumataginting na Php 7,000. ayon kay Vergie Salvoza, isang propesor sa Pamantasan ng San agustin, kumuha ng pagaaral sa Community Development minor in History cognate in anthropology, sa kanyang pananaw, hindi dapat husgahan ang mga ganitong tradisyon, “ Kasi, nagiging ethnocentric tayo, ibig sabihin, binibigyan lamang natin ng paghahatol ang kanilang mga paniniwala, base sa sarili nating mga tradisyon.” Dagdag pa niya, kaya hindi mabisa ang ganitong pamamaraan [pagyayaya ng babae sa lalaki] sa ating lipunan kasi may marka na ang ating mga kababaihan ng pagiging konserbatibo, mahinhin, at hindi mapilit. Ngunit agad niyang binaliktad ang kanyang pahayag, “… per sa modernong panahon ngayon, sumasabay na sa pagbabago ang mga kababihan at hindi natin iyon mapipigilan. ang mahalaga ngayon ay kung papaano mapa-igting ng pamilya ang mga pagpapahalaga na nagbubuklod sa kanila at sa lipunan,”

paliwanag niya.

Kami sa USa Pub, ay nagsagawa ng sariling pag-aaral at nagtanungtanong sa ating mga kapwa agustino hinggil sa isyung, dapat bang bigyan ng karapatan ang mga babae na magyaya sa mga lalakeng magpakasal? lumabas na marami ang mga kababihang hindi sang-ayon na mabigyan ng karapatan ang mga tulad nilang babae na magyayang magpakasal. Mas minabuti nilang panatilihin ang paniniwala ng lipunan sa nakaugaliang tradisyon ng pagpapakasal.

Kung atin namang iisipin, walang masama sa pag-aanyayang magpakasal ng mga kababaihan sapagkat pangarap naman ng bawat babae ang maikasal sa kanilang minamahal. Hindi natin masisisi ang mga ganitong tradisyon dahil ang tanging layunin lang naman nito ay maging pantay ang pagtrato ng lipunan sa ating mga kababaihan at kalalakihan.

Patuloy pa rin si Katherine sa pag-asang matutuloy ang kanyang pangarap na kasalan. Pero hanggang sa nakatali parin siya sa marka ng isang babaeng kailangan magpakumbaba at maghintay, mananatili paring nakalutang ang kanyang pangarap sa alapa-ap.

Nilikha tayong magkakapantay at kapwa hubad sa lipunang Pilipinong ito. Panahon na ng pag-aalis ng piring. Kasaysayan ang nagpamulat sa atin kung paano itrato ang mga babae sa ating lipunan.

Nasa petsa 29 ba ng Pebrero ang kasagutan? *hiNDi tUNaY Na PaNGalaN

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Ngunit ayon sa mga dalubhasa, humigit 2000 taon na ang nakalipas nang ipinakilala ni Julius Caesar ang leap year sa Roman Empire at ito ay upang makumpleto ang 365 araw ng kalendaryo na siya ring tiyak na bilang ng guguguling araw ng mundo upang maikot ang buong solar system.

Kung hindi dinagdag ang leap day sa kalendaryo, mahigit-kumulang anim na oras ang mawawala sa bawat taon at sa loob lamang ng 100 taon, magiging 24 na araw na lamang ang mga buwan.

Sa ika-29 rin ng Pebrero, ang araw kung saan pwede raw yayain ng babae ang lalaking magpakasal, nakita ni Katherine*, 24 na taong gulang ng Mandurriao, Iloilo, ang pagkakataong pinakahihintay niya.

Hindi raw biro ang anim na taon niyang paghihintay sa lalaking gusto niyang pakasalan. Sa katunayan, sang-ayon na raw ang kanilang mga pamilya sa kanilang pag-iisang dibdib at nagsasama na raw umano sila sa iisang bahay. Hindi nga lang daw handa ang lalaki dahil kapos pa di-umano ito sa oras at pera ngunit si Katherine, hindi na kaya pang maghintay. Siya na raw mismo ang magkukusang magyaya na magpakasal. Pero sa kasamaang palad, hindi gaanong tanggap dito sa Pilipinas ang ganitong kultura, pagyayaya ng babae sa lalake upang magpakasal. Kailangan muna nilang mangibang bansa para matuloy sa simbahan ang kanilang buhay pag-ibig.

Hindi na bago sa atin ang kalagayan ni Katherine. Sa

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reliGion

numbers:

‘knOWn seCreTs’ OF The bible “F

ather, into your hands I commend my spirit!” Nanay Cedes (not her real name) tearfully holds her Bible as she reflects upon these words in the flickering light of a candle in her room and murmurs to herself what seems to be a mantra of words taken from Luke 23, verse 46. With this done, she proceeds to the church to attend the liturgical service and join the traditional procession, believing that these activities would complete her Good Friday rituals.

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undersTanding The mosT universal language of man teXt BY Kim eric j. del rosArio GRAPHICS BY jerson e. elmido wItH RefeRenCeS fRom biblesTUdY.orG And jewfAQ.orG

“It is our panata (solemn promise or vow). When I was young, my lola would always take me to church with her on Good Friday to listen to the Siete Palabras, although, being a child then, I didn’t enjoy any of the rituals; in time, however, I grew to love them, and my faith as well,” shares Nanay Cedes.

According to Rev. Fr. Ryan Teves, resident priest at the Archdiocese of Jaro, the Siete Palabras started in the early Christian Church and that it highlights certain passages in the Gospel. Much has evolved then in the practice of the said devotion with the incorporation of popular religious hymns, the selection of seven speakers to share their personal experiences related to each palabra (word), and the utilization of modern media.

Numbers and the Hebrews

one in every five verses in the Bible contains a number.”

Here are some of the commonly used numbers in the Bible and their significance:

Mathematics and Language

It all begins with ‘one’. There can be no doubt as to the significance of this primary number. In all languages, it is the symbol of unity. Significantly, in Hebrew mysticism, the number refers to ‘harmony’ or ‘cohesion’. The Old Testament does emphasize the existence of one God, while the New Testament reveals three personas in one being. This clearly shows how the idea of unity is manifested in the number. Moreover, the First Commandment in the Old Testament which states, “Thou shalt have no other gods besides Me,” affirms this unity.

While almost everyone thinks nothing of numbers and letters as coexisting, the ancient Jews were actually using numbers as a new way of using language. Known as Gematria, this system assigns each letter in the Hebrew Alphabet (Alefbet) a numerical value. These values can be used as numerals, similar to the way the ancient Romans used some of their letters (I, V, X, L, C, D, M). These, in turn, are used for the purpose of deriving the numerical value of words or phrases by adding the value of each letter. Similarly, numbers may have their own meaning as they are formed by the Alefbet. Number 18 is very significant, because it is the numerical value of the word chai, meaning “life” or “living”.

Donations to Jewish charities are routinely made in multiples of 18 for that reason.

Hence, Vavvav-vav which represents 6-6-6, equal to 18, popularly written as V-V-V or W-W-W in Hebrew, is not the evil number which most people believe it is, but a representation of something positive.

Alef (One)

Zayin (Seven)

While six is considered to be an unlucky number, seven is popular for being “heavenly”.

It is used several times in the Bible. One such usage is found in Matthew 18:2122 which tells of the disciple Peter asking his master how many times he should forgive his brother. “Not seven times but seventy times seven” is the reply.

Seven came from the Hebrew root word savah, which means to be full or satisfied, hence, seven primarily means “complete” or “perfection”, while “seventy times seven” means “infinity”. So if you have been wondering why Christ uttered the seven last words before departing from this world, or why there are seven sacraments in the Catholic rites, wonder no more.

It has been said that numbers never lie because they comprise one definite way of refining communication.

Numbers and the Bible

It should be noted that many allusions (literary references) to numbers were derived from the Bible and other Hebrew writings. Seventh Heaven (7), The Thirteen Ghosts (13), The Triumvirate (3), The Eleventh Hour (11), titles of television shows and films, are numerical allusions that point back to how Gematria was used in deriving meaning from numbers in many Hebrew writings. “It is interesting to note that, on average,

Yod - Gimel (Thirteen)

Tracing it back to Hebrew Mysticism in Gematria, thirteen does

indeed have a negative connotation because it is associated with rebellion and depravity. Nimrod, the chief rebel after the flood, was 13th in the line of Ham. In their 13th year of servitude, the kings of the nations rebelled (Genesis 14:4). Twelve represents the governments of God and 13 represents the governments of men in rebellion against God. Further, it should be noted that Moses wrote of Israel’s 21 rebellions in Deuteronomy 31: 27. When the digits in this scriptural reference are added up (3 + 1 + 2 + 7), they amount to 13, the number of rebellion. The dragon, a symbol for Satan, is mentioned 13 times in the Revelations, meaning, Satan is behind all rebellion against God.

Mem (Forty)

‘Forty’ has several other references in the Bible besides Christ’s fasting in the desert. It also refers to the forty-day rainfall during the great flood at the time of Noah, the forty days when Moses was up on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, and the forty years of wandering by the Israelites in the desert after they were liberated from slavery in Egypt. What is common among them is that they are reflections of sufferings.

In Hebrew Mysticism, ‘forty’ symbolizes trial and testing, or probation. It is the product of ‘five’ and ‘eight’. In Gematria, ‘five’ refers to ‘the action of grace’, while ‘eight’ means ‘renewal’ or ‘revival’. This evidently relates ‘forty’ to a period of ‘probation’ or ‘testing’. In the Catholic liturgical observance of Lent, the forty-day period is supposedly a time for fasting and penance to prepare the faithful for the renewal of baptismal vows, thus, forty is a perfect numerical allusion to probation or “period of waiting”.

It has been said that numbers never lie because they comprise one definite way of refining communication. This shows that numbers can also speak for themselves besides being used as medium for quantification. With the examples given, you have now been provided the “secret”means to unravel the mysteries of the Bible.

www.usa-pub.blogspot.com/theaugustinianmirror

What is the significance of number seven in reference to Christ’s last words? The Sacred Scriptures contain a lot of mysteries, most of which have not yet been discovered.

Among the puzzling ones are the numbers and how they are used in the context of the passages.

Fr. Jules (not his real name) talks on the significance of numbers in the Sacred Scriptures. First of all, it should be noted that the Bible was originally written in Aramaic, the Hebrew language. Second, Jewish culture should be taken into account on how the Bible was written.

Although Catholics believe that the Scriptures were written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it should be noted that individual persons wrote the Bible using the human language as their medium. Lastly, the use of numbers is not randomly coincidental. They signify a deeper meaning of the text it supports.

The number of times a person is forgiven, the amount of money given for alms, the number of children in a family – all of these were significant for the Jews, besides being used as the units of measurement and counting. For them, numbers possess not just meanings but also mysticism.

“The Seven Last Words of Christ are not coincidences. For the Hebrews, the number seven means

“complete”, hence, it is supposed to accentuate the completion of Christ’s mission in this world.” Fr. Jules adds, “Take for example the seven capital sins; they are ‘completely capital’, or major, sins.”

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Turns inTO COunTless pieCes.

PHoto BY rAY AdriAn c. mAcAlAlAG

nOThinG remains. eVeryThinG

reliGion

heXakOsiOi-

heXekOnTaheXa

phObia 666, 13, 17 - any more unlucky numbers? teXt BY jAmes mArThY m. esleYer GRAPHICS BY jerson e. elmido

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The infamous number 13, the equally notorious 666, which is the number commonly associated with the beast (demon/Satan/devil) ), and the unlucky 17 (for Italians) - they and other numbers, or all numbers for that matter, have always been intertwined in our lives. From our class time, to our travel fare, to our weekly allowance, to our age, etc., numbers simply indicate that we are dependent on them to count or measure things that happen in our lives. But some people consider numbers in a simple mathematical equation as having a mystical or special connection to certain events

in their lives.

Number 13, often considered unlucky by most, is thought to bring havoc especially when it falls on a Friday. This belief was the basis for the hit horror movie Friday the 13th and its sequels. Thirteen is also said to be unlucky because it represents betrayal. Based on the last Supper, there were 13 men at the table with Jesus - the 12 disciples and Judas, the 13th person who betrayed the lord.

However, the Bible itself doesn't say anything about the order in which the apostles sit at the table. The fear was also heightened by the Mayan-

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RASH!" A sudden rush of adrenaline surges in my veins, the stench of blood and smoke fills the air and sticky splashes of red smear the floor. With my consciousness slowly returning, I find myself in the grip of terror and grief. Lifeless bodies surround me. I can’t do anything because I can barely move my legs. Still in shock, I start to crawl inch by inch out of the bus. I’ve had a blackout and as the light slowly returns, flashes of memories come back to me. Then, I remember someone telling me, “It’s Friday the 13th so, please, don’t go; you know what happens when the 13th falls on a Friday, don’t you?”

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foretold apocalyptic phenomenon which supposedly would take place on December 21, 2012, based on the Mayan calculations of the end of the 13th baktun or the Mayan long-count calendar.

People who fear the number 13 are said to have triskaidekaphobia.

The term came from the Greek words tris meaning "3", kai meaning "and", deka meaning "10", and phobia meaning "fear" or "morbid fear�.

Though some consider 13 as unlucky, the Jewish people believe otherwise for the number 13 is the age of maturity for a boy, the time when he becomes a full-fledged member of the Jewish faith, his bar mitzvah. This means that he is now responsible for his actions, that he is entitled to lead the prayers and religious rituals of his family and the community.

The number 666 is one that is closely associated with the beast, commonly known as the devil.

However, this number was also associated with the number of gold talents the biblical king, Solomon, collected each year.

In Itay, the number 17 has also been considered unlucky. The Roman

numeral for 17 is XVII which can be rearranged into VIXI meaning "I have lived" which could be seen on tombstones, symbolizing death. In Arabic, the number 17 resembles a man hanging at the gallows. according to Mrs. Sylvia Calantas, guidance counselor of the USa College of Nursing, "Filipinos didn’t have a superstition or fear of the number 13 or 666 in early times.

Ours are superstitions on black cats; There may heve been influnces from the West, but Filipinos are really superstitious.�

Numbers have a mystical and special relationship to our life.

Significant decisions may be based on figures but the true essence of numbers varies from person to person, culture to culture. The fear of a particular number is formulated in the brain and responded to by the body through actions. Thus, when one says he is afraid of number 13 and avoids it at all costs, he does so because he thinks he is scared of it.

But if he willfully overcomes this fear, then Friday the 13th may just come and go without him getting caught in the grip of crippling fear.

society

TO inFiniTy and beyOnd

unlimiTed call and TexT, unlimiTed rice, unlimiTed gravy, unlimiTed soda, unlimiTed... teXt BY Andre KArl s. fAcUlin PHoto BY rAY AdriAn c. mAcAlAlAG

“B

uzz!” Her cellular phone startles her into consciousness as she quickly grabs the gadget to prove her never-ending affection for text messaging. Day in, day out, her fingers are perpetually locked on to the worn-out keypad of her antiquated gizmo. As young as her age is her zealous fanaticism. As old as her gadget is her daily routine.

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“I confess: Im a text addict,” Shiela*, 20, shamefully remarks. “My day isn’t complete if I don’t text..” limitless as the horizon, her life begins with a text message not to a loved one but to a beloved subscription—unlimited calls and texts for a day. “Unli is good because it gives value for money,” she adds. Out of 85.95 million mobile phone users in the Philippines as of 2010, according to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Shiela is but a speck in the vast information network; and she is not alone.

Eve*, a housewife, has also been captured by the alluring aroma of unlimited service in a gastronomic sense. “At Mang Inasal, you’ll really be satisfied with unlimited rice,” she admits. Not only that, she adds, “You can also buy unlimited leftover…”

From the pleasures of interaction to the gratification of the taste buds, unlimited services encompass a potpourri of business ventures. literally, “unlimited” denotes having no limits, restrictions or boundaries.

Beyond this, asst. Prof. Teresita Silma Balgos, RMT, Ma Econ, believes that, with the growing trend of unlimited offerings, the word ‘unlimited’ has carried on a new essence which, to put it simply, connotes that “the sky is the limit,” Balgos states.

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The infinite waves

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Telecommunications companies have opened new waves of interaction through unlimited calls, texts or internet browsing. The big three of mobile networking, Smart, Globe and Sun, introduced affordable service packages to entice subscribers to avail of these services.

With the fierce competition in the Philippine mobile phone industry, these businesses are at each other’s necks to offer the best quality and the most number of services.

For instance, Smart Telecommunications and Globe Telecom, the leading companies based on the number of subscribers, offer seemingly mirror images of unlimited services. If you have Manuel Quezon and Emilio Aguinaldo in your pockets (that is, PhP25), Smart Buddy subscribers can text as much as they want to any network and this is open to prepaid and postpaid subscribers.

For the same price, Globe prepaid subscribers can likewise enjoy unlimited SMS to all networks, plus 10 minutes of calls to Globe/TM subscribers, plus 1 hour of mobile internet browsing. Whew! Aside from these, other unlimited text offerings are available at different prices and time periods but limited to the same network only.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Peter Bithos, Globe senior adviser for consumer business, said, “We extend the unlimited ‘fever’ to our Globe prepaid customers who make up the majority of our subscriber base.” He further reveals that “with this new offer, subscribers get more than what they pay for.”

Meanwhile, “our subscribers want a real ‘UNLI’ postpaid plan and so we are giving it to them,”

Smart Mobile Marketing head, Guido Zaballero, said in an Inquirer interview.

“With these new plans, we will further cement our position as the Number 1 wireless service provider in the country.”

Meanwhile, newbie telco Sun Cellular has the cheapest and widest choices of unlimited services.

As a matter of fact, in a report by ABS-CBNNews.com, “Sun Cellular, the mobile brand of the Gokongwei group’s Digitel Telecommunications, initiated the unlimited call and text price offerings in the market. Smart and Globe eventually followed suit.”

Amidst this price war to raid each other’s subscriber base for them to jump over the fence, “new promos by Smart, Globe and Sun are testaments to the benefits of having healthy competition in the industry by making sure that all players are on level playing fields,” Bithos adds.

The bottomless gastronomy

Besides calls and texts, is there anything else that calls for an unlimited offering? You bet there is, if you have a stomach that seems to be always empty and never becomes full.

Then, at this place, you can find your satiation sanctuary.

Mang Inasal has definitely pioneered a concept in the fastfood industry. From its humble beginnings with its first branch at Robinson’s Place Iloilo in 2003, it has now grown to become a household name in the fastfood industry. Through an innovative business recipe that has stuck in the public tongue, the rest is truly history. At present, Mang Inasal has 435 branches across the archipelago. That’s literally going places.

“People really need carbo or rice to be satisfied, when it comes to their dining experience,” Mang Inasal Store Manager Bobby Calumpitao reveals.

Since rice is the staple food of

the nation, the founder, Edgar “Injap” Sia, realized the value of the concept of serving unlimited rice to customers, according to Calumpitao.

“Not all the people who go to the malls are buyers. They need promos for products that they can avail of,” he says, adding that, “…

Filipinos are practical… they believe it is better if they are satisfied... for free.

Let’s admit it, Filipinos like discounts, or anything free.”

To prove this, Calumpitao reveals that their transaction counts (TC) have been on the rise since they started the unlimited promos.

Customerwise, Mang Inasal focuses on customers in Brackets B and C (the upper middle and the middle classes) and encourages them to dine-in instead of taking to-go meals. “… so that we can increase our TCs. If there are many customers or turnovers, we can gain more TCs,” he shares.

The success story of Mang Inasal is also marked by times of depression in the past [due to the global economic crisis] so that, as Calumpitao tells it, “We tried to stop that promo (unlimited rice) last October 2007, but people kept asking for it. Since that’s the public demand, we brought it back.” Recently, the unlimited drink promo was likewise offered by the company.

The magnets

If a bee is lured by the sweet scent of a flower, so is the heavy purse of man magnetized by a market strategy. An Economics professor of the Department of Social Sciences, Balgos points out three principal motivations that will drive a consumer to the road of spending, namely: getting the best value for his money, saving money, and being psychologically attracted to the word ‘unlimited’.

“All buyers in the market are utility maximizers,” Balgos states.

“During the period of economic crisis and inflation, usually, the purchasing power of the peso is low. The buyer’s priority is his basic needs. Buyers, therefore, would look for and welcome commodities offered at a price which gives them the greatest quantity and the highest utility,” she explains.

As classical theories in marketing and economics stress, buyers will always be attracted to goods which are priced low. “As much as possible, they would like to have an extra amount left in their pocket,” Balgos adds. “Goods which are offered in unlimited amounts are usually priced low, rather than when these are sold and purchased individually on a regular rate.” Therefore, consumers can save a portion of their material resources for the lengthy list of needs.

Unlimited. When people hear that, they may imagine an infinity symbol or a cloud nine perhaps.

“Consumer behavior principle emphasizes to the marketers the use of words in their advertisement that can trigger a human response,” Balgos remarks. “Words like free, guaranteed, and unlimited are so attractive that they create a deep psychological effect on the consumer to the extent that even unplanned purchases are overturned.”

The bull’s-eye

Profit is by far the single target that business firms have in their sight.

Like the game of darts, if commercial entities hit the customer’s pocket, the bull’s eye, it’s the crowning glory of their business.

“In a heavily saturated market of competitors and alternatives for consumers, the firm would usually devise a long-term action plan incorporating the economies of scale principle. When the firm uses strategies like unlimited offers, in a way, it discredits the rival’s product or service. The company which has unlimited offers demonstrates what

it can do which rivals cannot,” Balgos discloses.

Moreover, in the middle of economic struggles, businesses will devise marketing strategies to lure people to buy products. “The dynamics of business necessitates that it must be sensitive to the market condition and consumer behavior, more specifically, the consumer’s preferences and budget constraint –which the “unlimited” strategy successfully merges with the aspects of consumer behavior,” she clarifies. “Because in pure capitalism, for business to succeed, it must find ways—manipulation and seduction, if necessary — to get people to buy more and more things.”

Balgos says, “The bottom line of these unlimited offers is demand inducement which ends in profit maximization, though earned over a long-term period.”

and sometimes unreasonable and impractical purchases,” Balgos states.

“And consumerism has given rise to materialism.”

The equilibrium

Taking a closer look at the relevance of unlimited services, one notices that the pros appear to outweigh the cons. In fact, Balgos believes that there is a balance of effects between the households and the firms—the buyers and sellers.

“Both are winners. The impact of positive effect is first felt by the firm

From the pleasures of interaction to the gratification of the taste buds, unlimited services encompass a potpourri of business ventures.

The holes in the wall

which is later translated in society through employment,” she explains.

This kind of marketing strategy reduces, if not removes, the conflict of interests between the buyer and the seller. “The price of the unlimited service or commodity is offered at a low level, without sacrificing profit and consumer satisfaction. Firms using this strategy operate their business in an economy of scale only to derive a profit in the long run, but in a big way,” she states, adding that “the seller is able to maximize his profit, while the buyer is able to maximize the utility.”

The irony

Unlimited is not really unlimited.

After all, it has certain limitations as expected. Balgos cited two significant points: inherent limitations and market factors. To name a few, these inherent limitations are transmitter

is about… Sometimes unlimited is not absolutely unlimited—the rationale of a firm is to give others the chance to access the service, and rulings from the government, directly or indirectly, affect the pricing mechanism and uses of such services,” Balgos discusses.

The beyond

According to English economist, John Maynard Keynes, in his book ‘The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money’, ...demand, not supply, is the key variable governing the overall level of economic activity; aggregate demand, which is equal to the total un-hoarded income in a society, is defined by the sum of consumption and investment.

In a state of unemployment and unused production capacity, one can only enhance employment and

total income by first increasing expenditures for either consumption or investment.

Balgos expounds this economic theory by saying, “It is actually a cycle. Based on a circular flow of money, the spending goes towards another person’s earnings, and when that person spends his or her earnings, he or she is, in effect, supporting another person’s earnings. When these happen, the businesses grow and expand resulting in employment generation.

This cycle continues and helps support a normal, functioning economy.”

In reality, spending within the budget has spill-over effects on the economy and the people. “Keynes’ solution to this poor economic state was to ‘prime the pump.’ To do this, he argued that the government should step in to increase spending, either by increasing the money supply or by actually buying things itself,” she reveals.

So, what are the numbers behind their daily routine? “Don’t tell,” Shiela murmurs. “but usually, I send around 750 texts a day. The most number of hours I have spent texting was almost eight hours.”

Similarly, Eve says that dining at Mang Inasal is a habit. “It even happened that for seven straight days, I had my meals at Mang Inasal,” she bares.

Whatever the numerical value, innovative yet profitable unlimited services have a single point of convergence—economy and quality for a bigger number of Filipinos.

Despite man’s far-reaching vision, the future beyond these limitless services will remain a mystery.

Only one thing is known though. Today, unlimited services undeniably offer the masses the gratifying taste of honey and the rewarding buzz of bees. *Not their real names

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Whether we like it or not, unlimited services create an impact on society as a meteorite would do on earth. As the dart hits the bull’s-eye, it creates holes in the wall, the passages that continue to link closely the buyers and the sellers.

“As firms compete to provide various and quality goods and services, the consumers benefit from this (competition). The Filipinos have become conscious about expecting utility on commodities bought,” she imparts.

However, Balgos notes that “relentless competition through unlimited offers has resulted in excessive consumption.”

A phenomenon dubbed as consumerism has increased through the years as a domino effect of unlimited offerings.

“Consumerism is defined as a social and economic order that puts emphasis on the purchase of goods and services in ever-greater amounts,

or signal inaccessibility, mechanical damage, the consumer’s physiological threshold for the intake of food and beverages and the level of satisfaction or happiness.

“Hypothetically, kung gusto mo talagang magpabusog …, dine in,” Calumpitao suggests when asked on the boundaries of unlimited rice.

On the other hand, “market factors include number of subscribers availing themselves of the unlimited services—the greater the number of subscribers, the more difficult it is to access, which is what fair usage policy

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in campus

to be on top,

multitask!

discover the secrets of vins mary estilloro, nursing cum laude and board exam achiever text by Mia Rose V. Emboltura photos courtesy of vins mary e. estilloro and yearbook office

D

ecember 18, 2011. She was tightly holding the rosary and the crucifix just like the other thousand examinees. She was also as nervous as they were. Seated at her designated place, she tried to drive away the feeling through a last-minute whispered prayer for guidance.

The examination started.

The feeling of anxiety seemed to concentrate in her hands. The first time she was shading her answer sheet, her hands were shaking so much that she had to hold the pencil with both hands. But she knew she was prepared, hence she did not just do good, she did better by topping the exam. Vins Mary Encarnacion Estilloro, BSN Batch 2011, cum laude, came out on the Top 5 spot in the December 2011 Nursing Licensure Examination.

“Being all of it at the same time was both a gift and a challenge.

Pressure was ever present and I knew it could be both beneficial and destructive. Nevertheless, I continued to maintain my grace under pressure.

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I tried not to give up, considering the expectations of others around me, and I went on doing things in accordance to what I believed in.

I’m currently savoring the moment while keeping my feet firmly on the ground,” says Vins.

Hitting more than two birds WITH a single stone

Apart from consistently leading the class from elementary to college, Vins has proven her capability of doing multiple tasks simultaneously and doing them excellently, if not perfectly. She tried to focus well every time she did multitasking. She made sure to make TIME her greatest friend.

If there was an opportunity to study and make her projects ahead of time,

she took it.

“Who has ever seen someone who eats lunch while studying notes on index cards and taking part in a lively conversation all at the same time? Who has ever done charts for a group report while plotting her Clinical Experience Notebook (CEN) case study for duty, at the same time answering questions on pathophysiology to cover the loopholes in a report for a grand case presentation? Who has burnt midnight candles in preparation for the following day’s debate while topping, if not perfecting, the day’s lecture examinations? Who has ever served her department’s student council while preparing for a debate and interschool quiz bowl but still

managed to be the topnotcher?,” Kevin, one of Vins’s closest friends, proudly says .

“I couldn’t help it because I had to accomplish everything within a specific period of time. I was always in a hurry to do what should be done. But amazingly, rarely did I have sleepless nights. I made sure to get a good night’s sleep because if I did, things just flowed smoothly and easily for me despite the multiple tasks I had to do,” explains Vins.

“Libro at Rosaryo”

Kevin reveals that studying had been part of Vins’s lifestyle ever since.

“She considered it as part of her ADL’s (activities of daily living)... Passion for her studies was a big factor, too, not to mention her innate intelligence that she got from her parents… I think, she thought of the NLE as just a long quiz.. She didn’t prepare a lot anymore because she simply banked on what she had learned from every single class before. It then became part of her stored knowledge.

Coupled with her wisdom and critical thinking, that knowledge made her achieve what she did.”

“I always read my nursing books. I covered every topic that I could without exhausting myself. I conditioned myself through getting enough sleep and eating well. In addition, I read previous board exam questions and tried to answer as many as possible in a day. I attended

review classes and always listened to the reviewers. I also developed a positive aura and, most importantly, I prayed,” says a smiling Vins.

Kevin himself enumerates Vins’s unique study habits: (1) burning the midnight oil to the point of getting only an hour or two of sleep then reporting for duty; (2) borrowing all the reference books in the syllabus from the library and, if she was not allowed to borrow more than the maximum number of books set, asking a classmate to borrow the books for her instead; (3) and staying in the library when the rest of the class wanted to hurry home or to hang out somewhere if classes were dismissed earlier than the schedule.

“My principle is studying in advance. I value time and I always see to it that I read my books and notes ahead of time so that I won’t cram.

I also make my own notes if I can’t understand the lesson well,” says Vins.

Mr. Johan Macapar, one of Vins’s clinical instructors, described her as being observant of all that was happening in the environment, in and out of the classroom.

She, a Number

Some of those who knew Vins described her with a number.

“As a student, Vins is like a sparkling empty glass that needs a good solution of teacher’s wisdom, experience and caring to be poured into it and to fill it with confidence.

(Un)like other students

Vins studied in the same way a typical student does. However,

she was filled with much optimism and zealous willpower that made her a can-do-everything type of person.

“Nowadays, students are very competitive but most are too outgoing. Actually, there is nothing wrong in enjoying your life as a student. It’s a natural part of growing up. But then, know your limitations.

Otherwise, you’ll end up wasting your time in senseless deeds. I, too, kept my social life active but I tried not to be overwhelmed by it. Living the student life is a matter of balance but, on top of that, studies should be the priority,” Vins emphasizes.

As one of the believers in the famous line, “Dreams really do come true,” Vins is living proof of what an achiever should be. But she said that if there was a lucky charm of some sort for her, it would definitely be prayer.

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She is number TWELVE, a number that saw the birth of a person who changed the life of others as she inspired the whole Augustinian nursing community. “It is the same number as Florence Nightingale’s birthday,” Mr. Macapar points out.

For Kevin, Vins is number EIGHT “...because her perseverance to succeed and achieve whatever she yearned for was infinite; she had an unwavering passion to strive to become the person she aspired to be. Infinite was her love for all the people dearest to her; infinite was the kindness she extended to those who needed her aid. Indeed, infinite are the opportunities and blessings in store for her.”

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The danGers OF 1 difficulT iT mighT be, There are Ways To survive This Treacherous Journey dealing WiTh numbers teXt And PHoto BY rAY AdriAn c. mAcAlAlAG

O

vercoming the odds of college is the best thing that could happen to students.

Graduating is so fulfilling that a student would think he could die the next day. For non-graduating students, surviving the “hell subjects” is sheer happiness simply by getting straight 3.0’s from prelims to finals. It’s like owning the winning lottery ticket in which the exact number combination is found.

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Generally, the first impression with numerical subjects is that they are difficult to deal with.

Hoping for a straight 3.0 streak is very common among students, especially those taking mathematics, physics, and statistics, the subjects that deal with numbers. The formulas to memorize are either too complicated or too easy that sometimes students make “careless” errors. as a result, courses dealing with numbers generally intimidate students. Mathematics is a skill subject that some students claim to be their Waterloo so they seek help from others who are numerically gifted. Some, however, do away with it altogether by trying to avoid it even in as simple a situation as figuring out the change when making purchases.

This feeling is generally referred to as “mathematical anxiety”, that is, the feeling of inadequacy one gets

while trying out his skills in doing independent mathematical processes. also, it is the feeling of tension in manipulating numbers and solving mathematical problems beyond the needs of daily life. “Math anxiety could cause one to forget or lose his self-confidence,” Sheila Tobias, an american author, states in her book, Overcoming Math anxiety (1993).

tHe fuSe SPaRkS…

Math anxiety could start in the classroom even on a bright, sunny day, with birds chirping and a cool breeze blowing. There could be two possible situations: first, one has much confidence in solving equations but then the results show that his x’s and y’s don’t add up so it turns out that he has over-memorized the formulas; the

second one is more common and all too convenient an excuse that most students make - what they call, ‘the teacher factor.’

Being overconfident sometimes mixes up one’s thoughts so that the different formulas in his mind become a jumbled mess, making him forget or lose the correct one needed to solve the given math problem. Worse, he gets a mental block despite his being well-prepared for a test and then everything that he has studied vanishes seconds before he receives the test paper.

The ‘teacher factor’, on the other hand, is more complex and sometimes unacceptable as a reason for one’s failure in math subjects. according to Tobias, based on the findings of her study, this notion of

1-2-3

in campus

s

…aS it eXPlodeS

Dealing with math anxiety is not as easy as it sounds, especially for honor students like Danny Gicano, a BS Civil Engineering junior. “at first, I thought math was really a complicated subject especially when

I was in high school. I felt I got an information overload after I attended a math class.” This is the same first impression most students have about numerical subjects - that they are tough to reckon with. That is a natural reaction. However, the problem is when students do not learn or do anything to overcome their fear. according to mathacademy. com, there are three unconstructive ways by which a person applies first aid to their math anxiety. The first is by rationalization, when one finds a reason or an excuse for his being incapable of doing math, for which he would usually blame his poor ability; the second is by suppression, when one acknowledges the anxiety he feels but tries to hide or remove the “strangulation” he experiences; and the last, but definitely not the least, is denial, when one carefully

constructs his life in such a way that he will avoid mathematics at all costs, such as taking up college majors and careers that deal the least with math or numbers, and this is usually their last recourse.

in tHe afteRmatH of tHe eXPloSion

a positive outlook in regard to numbers is the best way to overcome the fear. “I think math is not that difficult. It is just a matter of good disposition for one to learn it,” Gicano shares. For him, math is like any other sport in which practice is essential.

“You can’t master the game with one play. You need to play and to play in order to master the game. Since solving math problems is a skill, one needs time to practice over and over in order to master the skill. Errors are unavoidable in math but as you

go along with it, you will minimize committing mistakes.” although self-confidence could be destroyed by digits, it could also become the secret weapon for studying and practicing math. “Number problems are not always the same so it will help a lot if you understand the concepts very well,” Gicano suggests.

Surviving numbers is easy as long as we are brave enough to face them. Moreover, we can practice and no harm will come to us in dealing with them. Remember, whether we like it or not, numbers will always be around. We can avoid them but we can’t hide from them. Whether we are estimating our travel time or preparing our budget for expenses, we will always face numbers. It could be excruciating at times, but at the end of the day, we know we will survive.

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attributing one’s failure in math to the teacher came from asian students whose performance in math subjects depended on how their teachers presented the subject matter. They worked hard if the teacher made the lesson hard – and even harder when the students themselves thought it was hard. On the other hand, in the same study, american students believed that their difficulty in mathematics and the anxiety caused by it depended on their own personal ability and not on the way the teacher taught the lesson.

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FooD & liFestyle

sOup nO. 5 a CulTural aFTerTasTe savor The flavor of an exoTic soup made WiTh The ilonggo Touch teXt And PHotoS BY ric mArTin l. libo-on

F

inally, Soup Number Five is served. Coming out of the kitchen, the soup tickles your taste buds and assaults your senses. With its distinctly unique Ilonggo flavor, this “infamous” yet authentic Filipino soup, made up of flavorful broth and chewy pieces of (gasp!) bull’s testicles and phallus, will satisfy your appetite for exotic cuisine and spice up your adventurous palate. Considered a specialty offering by unpretentious roadside shacks in Sta. Cruz, Villa, Iloilo City, Soup Number Five definitely pumps up the energy of bold food lovers. deeP inSide tHe caSSeRole

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In a country where the kitchen is the ultimate bailiwick, the Filipino reigns supreme with his gastronomic sense that sets him apart from the rest of the world. From a variety of exotic flavors, such as dinuguan (pork blood stew), balut (boiled fertilized duck’s egg), isaw (skewered chicken intestines), papaitan (goat’s intestine and skin cooked in bile) and a whole lot more, Soup Number Five has made its way to the top of bizarre culinary offerings.

With such monikers as lanciao, bull gonad soup, bat and balls, and bull-ball soup, Soup Number Five has become greatly popular in many corners of the Philippines. The origin of its name has faded into oblivion, yet Edgar, who owns a roadside eatery in Villa which serves the specialty soup, jested that it could be due to the size of the bull’s testicles which are usually 5-6 cm long, thus the name. Others say it could refer to the five key ingredients in the recipe,

namely: ginger, vegetables, pepper, salt, and the meat itself.

“The soup has variations depending on the place where it is made. In our eatery, aside from the bull’s genitalia, other innards, spices and vegetables such as cabbage are also added to complete the taste,” alejandra, another roadside eatery owner, shares as she goes back to the kitchen to prepare the soup for the customers.

food foR tHe Soul?

at only 35 pesos a piping hot bowl, one can already get to relish the taste of this delicacy that sets it apart from the usual lutong bahay or homestyle cooking found in a karinderia or the Filipino hapagkainan. It is said that its unprecedented taste and surprising ingredients make it the ultimate aphrodisiac among Filipino dishes.

Edgar says that although there are no scientific claims, some consider it as a food that arouses sexual desire.

“Female or male, many of them come

here, often coming back, because they say the soup whets their appetite and strengthens their body,” he adds.

Some claim that this exotic dish also possesses healing properties.

“Others come here because they say the soup can cure their hangover and other ailments,” Edgar quips.

The belief in the curative effects of the soup is rooted in the emphatic claims of those who have experienced positive changes in their system after taking the soup. a customer opines, “What makes it a popular dish is that people are drawn to it because of its sense of “mystery”; and they crave for more of it because of its delicious taste and soothing effect with every sip.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you believe or not,” Edgar concludes.

cultuRal flavoR

The Philippine smorgasbord is rich and unique in so many ways.

The Filipino food, juxtaposed with a pleasing palate of flavors, mirrors our

distinct ethnicity and our ingenuity.

Soup Number Five, no matter how revolting it may be to other cultures, is only one of the many delectable delights on the Filipino menu.

In an article, “Eating out, Filipino Style”, renowned chef and restaurateur, Millie Reyes, says Philippine food is a spontaneous, flexible affair, based on an intuition for proportions, an innate sense of balance, and a wide array of complementary flavors.

Travel editor Jeremy atiyah, in his book, “Rough Guide to Southeast asia, says that “Filipino cuisine has not been accepted worldwide in the way Indian or Thai [food] has, but those willing to experience will discover it has more going for it than its detractors suggest.”

From the mundane to the bizarre dishes, Soup Number Five is a cut above the rest for it reflects our strongest collective quality as a people - resourcefulness. Our culinary daredevils have transformed the “disgusting” animal parts into one culinary masterpiece of a dish that is in a class all its own.

Breaking the norms of cooking, Soup Number Five is a must-try for every Filipino to have a taste, literally, of its own flavorful culture. and nothing is more satisfying and more distinctly Filipino than Soup Number Five.

TOp 10 sTudenT

ClOud 9’s

W

hether it's listening to old Britney Spears songs or facebook-stalking your latest crush, you can't deny that students, no matter how studious, have their own secret and “sinful” pleasures. But what exactly are these guilty pleasures? Usually defined as highly enjoyable things that induce a minor feeling of guilt, they are often associated with the fear or embarrassment of being found out by others. Or, in the case of students, the fear of their parents finding out about their “extra-curricular activities” apart from doing schoolwork.

Everybody has unique guilty pleasures to help them make it through a tough day at school. College students in particular have some of these interesting Cloud 9’s, and Augustinian students are no exception. Here’s a rundown of the Top 10.

The 10 guilTy pleasures you simply cannoT resisT teXt BY josefA mAriA cAsTro GRAPHICS BY jerson e. elmido

8. clubbing

This one is distantly related to number 9. a person can go partying without necessarily engaging in vices. Clubbing could simply mean dancing the night away at Flow or aura with the barkada after a week of gruelling exams, grabbing a hot cup of caramel macchiato at Coffebreak or even belting out “Super Bass” in one of the videoke hotspots in Smallville. It's really not uncommon for us, students, to engage in any one of the fun activities (especially after exams) since we are, after all, young, “wild” and free.

10. PictuRe-taking

9. viceS

alright, so this might seem like a hasty generalization, but who are we to deny that most, if not all, students find solace in drinking and smoking? College life can take its toll on the average student which is why some of you, augustinians, feel that you can “shape up” with a little help from the stick or the bottle. It’s perfectly understandable, though this particular guilty pleasure has to be done in strict moderation otherwise it will turn you into a Vice Baluga instead of a Vice Ganda!

Music is probably a guilty pleasure that, surely, most students can relate to. It’s universally understood and allows the student to escape reality, even for a few minutes.

The type of music that students listen to generally depends on their mood; and their taste in music is, oftentimes, reflective of their personalities. although, students should avoid listening to music in class in order to tune out boring lectures, still, there’s no feeling that can compare to that awesome moment when you put your headphones on, and the whole world just seems to shut off.

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You don’t have to be a member of the Club of augustinian Photographers to relate to this guilty pleasure. Whether it’s taking pictures like a pro during a photoshoot or simply capturing moments with friends using your handy digital camera, you sure find pleasure in documenting and safeguarding precious moments in your life.

There’s just something about whipping out a camera and making all sorts of crazy faces in front of it, often forgetting the fact that someone could upload those crazy images online, anytime. and to think that this uploading habit is prevalent not just among students but also among Filipinos in general.

7. muSic

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5. movieS

6. bookS

If there’s one guilty pleasure that’s sure to stir the hearts of college students it has definitely got to be books- and no, not like the thousandpage Chemistry book they read in school. From something as simple as nifty pocketbooks to hard-bound novels, books have proven to be a timeless and age-old classic haven that people, no matter what age, find solace in.

Whether you’re watching for the nth time a movie you’ve loved since high school or enduring the long queues to catch the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games, many of you would agree that there’s nothing more relaxing than lying back on a cushioned seat, basking in the artificial light of a cinema, and soaking up the million little pixels making up a film. Much like books, movies arouse the feeling of freedom and allow one to escape the problems of the real world even for a measly 2 hours.

3. eating

2. gaming

Online gaming has proven to be the most tempting option for students when faced with the decision of whether or not they feel like going to class. It’s no wonder that internet cafe’s near schools pop-up like wild daisies.

There have been cases in which students splurge what little is left of their allowance on a few hours of playing; worse, some of them even blow an entire week’s worth of allowance on a single day of non-stop gaming.

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Off the bat, who wouldn’t be able to relate to this guilty pleasure? Eating, apart from being a necessity for living, is, by far, the most primal method of coping that humans resort to. The term “comfort food” was coined to mean exactly just that, though the definition of what a comfort food is may vary from person to person. Since the desire to eat excessively is generally triggered by either depression or stress, it’s no surprise that a student may find solace in wolfing down a pint of Rocky Road ice cream after a bad break-up, or gorging on chips at midnight cramming sessions.

1. inteRnet

4. SleePing

Fact: a person spends about 1/3 of his life asleep. Sleeping not only boosts mental abilities but also regenerates damaged brain cells caused by various day-to-day activities. Generally, a person needs a good 8 hours of sleep per night to fully recover the energy spent throughout the day. It is also advised that students take at least two 30-minute naps within a 12hour period that he/she is awake. Sleeping is the most inexpensive, quick and, obviously, the most effective means of unwinding and recharging one’s self after a long day, and a student may take to it as much as he/she needs... as long as it’s not done in class!

Hands down, computer usage has been the culprit that deprives most students of the recommended 8 hours of sleep. It is quite unnecessary to explain further the effects of the dawn of facebook on the human race since they are rather obvious. apart from facebook, students also enjoy the micro-blogging wonders of twitter or the joy of posting and reblogging offered by tumblr, and spend hours scrolling through the infinite “internet memes” and comedic posts on the new highly-viral site, 9gag. Whichever site students choose to open, the end goal of why they dwell in the haven offered by the world wide web is simple: social networking. It’s through these sites that students are able to embrace the feeling of social acceptance or the sense of belonging to a larger social cirlce than the ones they already have in school and at home. It is for this reason that the internet is (and by the looks of it, will continue to be), undoubtedly, the number one, most guilty pleasure of augustinian students.

review

GOT a minuTe?

in Time movie revieW teXt BY AYAh dAnicA V. GrAnAdA PHotoS CouRteSY of 20Th cenTUrY foX

“T

hat’s your problem?

You’ve been alive too long?”

At first thought, being a mortal sucks. Realistically, more than half of us would be insane to consider living too long a problem - in fact, it would be sweet, sweet heaven. In a generation where people are constantly on the pursuit of avoiding the clutches of aging, and dying, finally finding a

and dies before the transference.

Will heads to New Greenwich, but a timekeeper, their version of the police, strongly believes that he has killed Henry to steal his time. Upon reaching New Greenwich, Will flirts with Sylvia Weis (amanda Seyfried), only to discover that she is the spoiled daughter of the millionaire Philippe Weis; he then kidnaps her. Literally running for their lives with just hours left on their clocks, Sylvia and Will realize how despicable her father is for depriving the poor of their time.

Together, they steal a large quantity of time to fight against the system.

Just ten minutes into the movie, one is quickly absorbed into this timedriven world. The cast is an exciting mix of talent, intensity and chemistry; character development progresses logically. There is enough amount of action, suspense and romance to keep one riveted to the plot and constantly guessing what’s going to happen next, thus, the film is never boring, its ending not something what one expects it to be. “In Time” has a Robin Hood concept and the constant ticking of the clock adds to its unique premise. It gives a refreshing take on what a dystopian “perfect society” is and how the power of technology magnifies the scary underlying fact that all reality ends in the hands of a greedy humanity.

In this film, the line, ‘Don’t waste my time’, is taken seriously, for time is literally money - even gold. The movie reminds its viewers of the significance of every second, minute, or hour of their lives.

So instead of just counting time, let us make our time count for that’s what really matters.

WWW.USa-PUB.BlOGSPOT.COM/tHeAuGuStInIAnmIRRoR

remedy is like hitting the jackpot.

We often feel that life is too short and we don’t have enough time to do everything we want. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in a day, huh? But oddly enough, death is also the same force that drives all of us to be great.

“In Time” is a futuristic sciencefiction motion picture, directed by andrew Niccol, that portrays a world in which everyone stops aging at 25, and is engineered to live only one more year. When their 25th birthday comes around, they get a glowing green digital clock on their left forearm that starts ticking to count down the days of the terminal year and ends when the time reads 00:00:00:00:00. The time ends for good; and so does one’s life. Time IS the currency. Everything food, housing, salaries - is determined by the number of minutes, hours, years or eras each one’s clock reads. The wealthy live in the New Greenwich time zone, while the poor live in ghettos and are exploited and forced to live by the minute. With no time to spare, the poor hurry to work, borrow, beg or steal to stay alive - slaves to time; whereas the rich lollygag and simply gamble away decades of their remaining life span.

Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) saves the rich Henry Hamilton from a dangerous gang of thieves called the Minutemen. later on, Henry confesses that he is 105 years old and is tired of living since there is no need for death in their imbalanced society. While Will sleeps, Henry transfers more than one hundred years to him then commits suicide. Will runs to meet his mother to share his time with her, but she misses him by merely a second

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review

Four-titude

i am number four movie review text By Ayah Danica V. Granada photos courtesy of dreamworks pictures

“T

here are nine of us who escaped. Number one was killed in Malaysia. Number two was murdered in England. Number three was hunted down in Kenya. Before they come for the others, they will come for me. I am number four.”

Opening with the death of “Number Three” in a jungle, the film jumps into the life of John, (Alex Pettyfer) also known as Number Four, an alien from the planet Lorien, who has come to Earth to hide from a group of vicious enemies known as the Mogadorians. Guided by his protector, Henri (Timothy Olyphant), Four is working his way through adolescence, finding himself in possession of several “Legacies” that offer him exceptional powers.

Settling into a quiet life in the suburb of Paradise, Ohio, Four comes across fellow teen Sarah (Diana Agron) at school, enchanted with her sense of kindness and photographic poetry.

Unfortunately, there’s little time for love as the Mogadorians, with their fierce Commander (Kevin Durand), draw near, forcing Four, human pal Sam (Callan McAuliffe), and huntress

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Number Six (Teresa Palmer) to fight back, working to gain full control over their Legacies. But with a new love, part of his desire to be normal, thrown into the mix, John may be in more trouble than he can imagine.

Not everyone is who one thinks they are. Too often, judgments and first impressions are based on a person’s physical features and actions.

A book is judged by its cover even without its story being read first.

Therefore, finding out that your boyfriend is an alien isn’t exactly part of your daily routine, right? Just think of him as the rarest fish ever, the best catch in the sea. Don’t get me wrong.

Four, aka John, the protagonist of “I Am Number Four”, is no E.T., nor does he look anything like an alien.

Nope, but he sure is out-of-this world, literally.

For 110 minutes, the film

churns out frames showing normal teenagers in various crisis situations, with side bars on how to deal with good-looking extra-terrestrial beings.

That old movie rule that makes you decide whether or not you’re going to enjoy a film within the first ten minutes does not apply to this movie adaptation of a bestselling sci-fi novel by the NY Times authors, Jobie Hughes and James Frey, writing as Pittacus Lore. It combines action, scifi, and even a little romance, so there is at least something for everyone to be entertained. This movie isn’t the best action film of the year, but it isn’t another tongue-in-cheek teen movie either. While it seems hopelessly derivative, it has more originality than meets the eye.

In this day and age, everything is trying to be the new teen driving force of fantasy fiction that usually focuses on an outsider belonging to an unusual otherworldly group.

There have been wizards and vampires, and now, aliens . Fans of the novel will most likely have the

the-book-is-better-than-the-movie mindset throughout the film. The sci-fi fans will be genuinely satisfied, but not mind-blown or amazed.

Girls will (most likely) swoon over the protagonist, and guys will approve of the action-packed events. Overall, it is a movie for everyone to enjoy, and it leaves its viewers yearning for a sequel.

Nowadays, movie-wise at least, aliens walk among us, looking and acting like normal people. It was no surprise to H.G. Wells though.

One of the most famous writers of science-fiction and the author of The War of the Worlds, Wells was once quoted as saying, “No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own… With infinite complacency, men went about their little affairs on this earth, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter. It is possible that the infusoria under the microscope do the same.”

GRAPHICS BY RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG

GRAPHICS BY RAY ADRIAN C. MACALALAG • photo courtesy of Revolution revisited website