The Sum of Your
Parts
The human body is a complex interconnected system that functions as a single unit. In anatomy, we divide the human body by systems, by organs, by tissues and by cells. But let’s be realistic. You don’t really want to be defined by the things you read in books. Nothing is ever truly black and white. No one is too simple that they could merely be categorized into simple instances and subgroups. I know you have your own story to tell, everybody has. It is because of your story that you have your own identity. The sum of your “parts” does not necessarily measure who you are as a person. This issue of Dimensions examines the complexity and variation of the human anatomy through various human perspectives, subdivided into various parts. Ergo, the Body Issue was inked on paper. The words contained in these pages do not merely tell you of the stories of other people but was intentionally intended for you to introspect on your own story. Never be defined by the biases of others. Get inspired! Pick your own body part, find a story, and let that story be heard.
JANDI M. NIETES
OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER OF WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY LAPAZ, ILOILO CITY
EDITORIAL BOARD A.Y. 2013-2014
Editor-in-Chief: Jandi M. Nietes; Associate Editors: Ian Leoj M. Gumban, Jenny Pearl A. Infante; Managing Editor: Jeline N. Encarnacion; News Editor/Photojournalist: Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna; Feature Editor: Jesther Rose L. Rojas; Sports Editor: Connie C. Durana; Literary Editor: Alexa Gianne L. Morga; Filipino Editor: Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez; Special Reports Editor: Mark Anthony J. Sicad; Cartoonists/ Art Directors: Rother Johann R. Dadivas, Mark Andrew P. Ituriaga; Editorial Assistants: Anne Franceine Jean B. Corillo, Rodelo G. Lopez, Alyssa Jude M. Montalban, Ann Marie N. Servito; Adviser: Dr. Bonna S. Palma; Co-adviser: Mr. Jemuel B. Garcia, Jr.; Dean, Office of Student Affairs: Dr. Leah Mae C. Cablfin; University President: Dr. Pablo E. Subong, Jr. Letters/comments/suggestions/contributions are welcome in the Forum-Dimensions. Contribution must be sent to THE FORUM-DIMENSIONS Office, Rm. 108, Quezon Hall, West Visayas State University, La Paz, Iloilo City E-mail: fd@wvsu.edu.ph Tel No. :(033) 320-0870 loc 162
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FIRST INK
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NSIDE
eh BODY EUS SI West-V stories
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Flesh-Soul Mismatch The Probable Future Daluhong ng Masilakbong Kapalaran Crownless Princess Nipolet: Tag Ea-om Ko, Wa Eon Ako Pu-eos
PROFILE
COVER STORY
FEATURE
SOCIETY
16 I Survived Bermuda 22 The Champion and his music
19 Saving the Souls in Limbo 24 Milagro gikan sa unod 27 In the Briefest of Touches 28 Anghel sang Manubela
arts and culture
30 The Final Pirouette 32 The Anatomy of a Fangirl
on development
34 Ang Hampanganan: Para sa Paghampang, sa Pagtuga, kag sa Pagkalipay 36 May Pangabuhian sa Ugsaran ALUMNI 38 Now What?
REVIEWS
39 Don’t judge a book by its movie 40 Music: The Rise of the Virtual Stars
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Flesh-Soul Mismatch Words by Jenny Pearl A. Infante Photos by Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna
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ooking back through childhood, he recalls playing with a doll instead of a toy soldier, prefers “bahay-bahayan” over hide and seek, finds “make-up” quite fascinating, enjoys the comforting company of women and fancies men his age. He was different. By the looks of it, he never wanted to be “one of the guys”, yet he dreamed to have “the guy” who will accept him for who he is and not for what he is supposed to be. In today’s culture and societal norms, one important fact has become an understatement. Acceptance is highly regarded by most people as a form of survival in an exacting society. Blending in, fitting in and trying to be “one of them”, become inevitable clichés of the modern
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world. Often, with regard to sexuality and the general self, there is a need for people to validate themselves before others may be able to accept them. Individuals are blinded with the concept of homogeneity that is associated with acceptance. As for John Kenneth Garcera (addressed as “Nethe” by most of his closest friends), a graduating BS Nursing student and a classic example of what many would consider as having an identity mismatch, having accustomed to facing social discrimination by choice gives you an edge of being real.In a diverse society we livein, how can one fit in when he chooses to be different? What difference does it make?
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Sorting out the facts Throughout the lifespan, an individual develops a distinctive character that makes him unique. He learns to establish a personality of his own that is diverse. Erik Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of stages and in his theory he described the impact of social experience across the human lifespan. According to his theory of Psychosocial Development, between the ages of 12 to 18 (adolescent years), one needs to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an ability to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self. Furthermore, he also stated that those who receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control. Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will feel insecure and confused about themselves and the future. By completing this stage successfully, a person will develop fidelity, which Erikson described as an ability to live by society’s standards and expectations.
Biological theories propose that heredity is responsible for personality. Studies on heritability claim a strong link between genetics and personality traits. This has been proven by Hans Eysenck who associated the aspects of personality to biological processes. Defying the Law of Nature “I’ve always felt different. Often, they say that I look more like my mom than my dad. I started to like guys and I treat women as best friends. I grew up trying to hide who I am but sometimes, there comes a time when you feel that you’re about to burst, and all you wanted is to let go, let loose and be free!” says Nethe. In an article written by Jason Koebler, December 2012 in Us News; it states that a group of scientists suggested that homosexuals get that trait from their opposite-sex parents: A lesbian will almost always get the trait from her father, while a gay man will get the trait from his mother.The hereditary link of homosexuality has long been established, but scientists knew it was not a strictly genetic link, because there are many
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pairs of identical twins who have differing sexualities. Scientists from the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis say homosexuality seems to have an epigenetic, not a genetic link. For Nethe, the law of nature doesn’t apply. He may be a biological male, yet he believes he is a woman in all aspects. “I am a man because I was born with a masculine body, and supposed to be, I should be contented with this gift already, but what you are on the surface will definitely not determine who you are inside. If the apple is red outside, does it mean that it’s red inside? A simple analogy that makes us realize not to stick too much with what we see, because behind every masterpiece is a detail unseen by the naked eye.” Divergent Identity “I think I could describe myself more on the feminine side. To be honest, although I am not a biological female, I like and love to be treated as a woman. Some would usually call me gay, bakla, bayot, agi, third sex, homosexual, and the list continues. I’m always criticized
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with the way I act, and people tend to be prejudiced and stereotypical. It is expected that when you oppose the custom and norms of society there will always be a negative feedback from those who tend to live a typical normal life. They think of you as a sort of an outcast. So it seemed.” Since childhood, he found belongingness in the company of girls his age though he never truly understood why he was different. When his classmates started to criticize and insult him when he was in elementary, gradually did he realize he had a different identity. He was a certified cartoon and anime fanatic in his younger years. But, instead of idolizing male protagonists such as Daimos, Steve in Voltes-V, GTX and the like, he ended up fantasizing about them. His attraction with the same sex grew further and so did the social discrimination that challenged his emotional and psychological being. College life had been kinder for Nethe, “I didn’t actually expect that a lot
of people would accept me for who I am especially in college. Of course, there would always be antagonists, but I don’t care that much. College friends and my batchmates as a whole, treated me more like a human. I want to thank them for that, likewise my parents who became very understanding and had accepted my identity wholeheartedly (which I didn’t see coming). I consider myself blessed for having these people.” Beating the Odds Nethe would often be mistaken as a woman because of her physique and feminine acts. “Whenever I’m in an establishment or a restaurant for example, guards, sales clerks, or waiters address me as ma’am, though I could see the confusion in their nonverbal gestures. Mostly, to be honest, I feel flattered and happy, and sometimes I will just smile at them. Believe me, these strange instances happen to me a lot.” He doesn’t only wish to be accepted in society. He has a dream, that is, to become what he desires most but many
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would contradict or consider this immoral. He aspires to become a woman, not only in appearance but in being. Undeniably, though engaging, a society in various forms can also be exacting. But as long as you believe in yourself and you continue to adapt, learn and be flexible, you will definitely survive and overcome any trial. “A taxi driver once told me in a demeaning tone, ‘Ay nanu na man? Nga-a gadamu kamu man? Panu na lang ni ang mga babayi, sunong? Ang mga lalaki gusto man mag babayi, ang Diyos ginhimu si Adan lang kag si Eba, te nga-a gadinamu kamu man?’ Initially, I was shocked because I did not understand why would that taxi driver react that way, and he seemed furious at me. I wanted to be angry at him and answer back with nastier words, but instead I told him in a calm voice, ‘Manong, kung ano man ako subong wala ka da ya nong labot, basta wala ko ya may ginalapakan nga tawo’. I took a deep breath, went outside the cab and slammed the door shut. My own version of a dramatic exit,” Nethe shared.
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The Probable Future Words by Jeline N. Encarnacion and Mark Anthony J. Sicad Graphics by Jeline N. Encarnacion
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Ion is able to see the world in a different perspective. Another dimension as he puts it.
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hat if, just what if, there’s an entirely different dimension in our reality, one that our physical eyes could not breech? What if that realm is beyond the laws of time and physics? What if, to see that world, you need not use your eyes at all? Our lives are being held in a sphere by time, its hands tightly gripping us that all we can do is blindly walk towards the direction it leads us to. For our mundane capabilities, the only clue we have about the next step in the darkness is the regrettable past, and the fleeting present. But there are those who have the gift of sight, those who could look into the probable future.
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Life does have a handful of tricks and ironies that it plays upon our fates. Not being able to see the physical world, a blind person’s other senses get heightened. Scientists have proven this, with studies saying that a portion of our brains dedicated to vision could process the other senses. In Ion’s case, his senses could breech the limits of the present, physical world and reach into the mystics of the “other dimension.” By simply touching the person—his hand, his shoulder—Ion could gaze into this person’s life. Like an old film being rewound, replayed and forwarded at the same time, the person’s life flashes in front of Ion’s mental eye in fleeting images. He could gaze back into the past and look into the future. Ion Joseph Tuares is a Special Education junior of this University and has been blind since birth. He was in his sixth grade at Special Education-Integrated School for Exceptional Children when he first realized he had the gift to “see” the future. “I had a guide back then who told me ‘this is what I see in you,’ that I had a gift which normal people did not. My guide further told me to try if I could be able to handle the gift that God has given me,” Ion briefly recalls. So he tried. At first, it started out as a joke. He prophesied that one of the girls from the other section would get pregnant. What surprised him is that his prophecy was realized. His ability proved to be accurate and, indeed, one girl got with-child. After that, he formally started palm reading. Now in his college days, Ion’s fellow students would come to him and ask him to read their palms and interpret their fates. He accepts anything that a person can offer in exchange for his services. There were also instances when he read palms for free “depending on the situation.” “In our belief, if you don’t pay back any offered services, the pain or the struggle endured by that person will come back to you,” explains Ion.
Human as he is, he admits that there were moments when he incorrectly reads a person’s palm. But he later adds that the accuracy of his readings also depends on the a person’s attitude. “Through palm reading, I have helped people in times of uncertainties,” a positive and happy Ion says. Though unable to see the physical world, Ion is able to see the world in a different perspective. Another dimension as he puts it. He sees a world with different possibilities, a world that only few people can see. Ion is living proof that one does not need to have eyes to see. For most of his life, he has used palm reading as a medium for vision. He sees things beyond the periphery of human vision. For skeptics, Ion could be a scam; this whole palm-reading shenanigan could be a rouse just to get popular. For
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believers, their fate could really have been written in the connection between Ion’s palm and theirs. No one could be the wiser. In the great cosmic mystery of time and space, of science and faith, there ensconced in the middle a tiny seed of doubt and fear. Fear about what could be and what could have been. Maybe, just maybe, that feeling is the driving force for us to wonder what the future holds for us. During the course of our conversation, there was a feeling of positivity exuding from Ion. A feeling that he has accepted the world for what it is and what God has made him. There were no traces of bitterness as he spoke about his disability. Yes, he is blind, but through the palms of the people who seek the services of his gift, a window has opened for Ion through which he can see what normal people can’t. He is special.
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“Dali lang, si Kristal na ho? Daw tomboy man na upod niya?” “Huo dugay na na pro. Lantawa bala sya, ngaa daw ka liberated nagid na sya man? Daw hindi man na sya amu na sang una? Ngaa nag-amo na sya man?”
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alayo man sa kinaroroonan ng mga nag-uusap, nababasa ni Kristal* kung ano at sino ang pinaguusapan ng dalawa. Iyon ay dahil sa kung papaano nila titigan ang maikli at hapit niyang kasuotan at ang magkahawak na kamay nila ng kanyang kinikilalang “nobyo.” Batid ni Kristal ang paksa ng pag-uusap ng dalawa at alam niya na papunta iyon sa mas malalim na katanungang “nasaan na ang dating siya?” Ang dating Kristal na pino at mahinhin, yung Kristal na tahimik at animo’y mongha kung manamit, yung Kristal na di-makabasag pinggan at yung Kristal na maiuugnay sa salitang “mahinhin”. Walang sinuman ang nakakaalam. Walang sinuman ang makakapagpaliwanag sa siklo ng kanyang pagbabago. Maski siya ay walang maapuhap na kasagutan maliban na lamang marahil sa mga gunitang yaon na hanggang ngayon ay nakaukit pa rin sa kanyang alaala. Dahan-dahang hinawi ni Kristal ang kurtinang sumasaklob sa mga gunitang yaon. Paunti-unti, muli niyang ginalugad sa kanyang kamalayan ang mga pangyayaring iyon na nag-iwan ng mantsa sa telon ng kanyang pananaw. . .dahan-dahan. . . pauntiunti. . .naging sariwa ang lahat. . . Mantsa Katanghaliang tapat, Abril 2011. Hindi mapakali si Kristal. Pawis na pawis siyang nagmamatyag kung mayroon bang sumusulyap sa kanya. Nag-iisa lamang siya sa bahay ng kanyang tiyuhin. Dumagundong ang kanyang kaba nang biglang may pumihit sa pinto. Laking pasalamat niya na si Tiyo Gerry* niya lamang ang pumasok. Gayunpaman, hindi mawari ni Kristal kung ano ang kanyang nadarama. Nababagabag ang kanyang loob sa hindi maipaliwanag na kadahilanan. Kanina pa niya nahahalata ang kanyang Tiyo Gerry na panay ang titig sa kanya. Ayaw niyang paghinalaan ng masama ang tiyuhin dahil malaki ang respeto niya rito, subalit parang inuudyok siya ng sarili na umalis at tumakbo, nang biglang. . .
Daluhong ng Masilakbong Kapalaran Ni Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez at Rodelo G. Lopez
“Saan ka pupunta pamangkin? Sandali lang” wika ng kanyang tiyuhin habang mahigpit nitong hawak-hawak ang braso ni Kristal. Ginawa niya ang lahat ng makakaya upang makahulagpos sa pagkakagapos ng tiyuhin. Tinipon niya ang lahat ng lakas subalit sadyang malakas at batak ang pwersa ng kamunduhan. Wala siyang nagawa kundi humikbi na lamang. Ilang minuto lamang ang lumipas subalit sadyang masidhi ang pagnanais ni Kristal na takasan ang bangungot na kanyang nararanasan. Datapwa’t sa pitik ng tadhana, himalang nadulas ang kamay ng kanyang tiyuhin. Habang papalayo, maliban sa rumaragasang emosyon, nagpasalamat na lamang siya na hindi pa “lubusang” nanakaw ang kanyang dangal.
Ayon sa Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), bawat dalawang minuto ay mayroong sekswal na naabuso sa isang bansa. Maituturing man na nonpenetrative na kaso ang naranasan ni Kristal, nararamdaman pa rin niya ang mga sikolohikal na mga konsekwensya katulad sa mga biktima ng penetrative na uri. “Pagkatapos sang natabo nga ato sa akon, daw nahadlok na ko magpalapit sa mga lalaki” wika ni Kristal. “Pati gani ang amay ko, gindudahan ko.” dagdag pa niya. Ang takot na naranasan ni Kristal sa mga kalalakihan ay posibleng bunga ng sikolohikal na depensa ng mga biktima ng sekswal na pang-aabuso. Karamihan sa mga biktima ay nakararanas ng takot at phobia, ang naranasan ni Kristal ay posibleng “Androphobia” o ang takot sa mga kalalakihan. * hindi tunay na pangalan
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Ayon sa Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), bawat dalawang minuto ay mayroong sekswal na naabuso sa isang bansa.
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tiwala sa piling ng nobyo. Binulag siya ng sobrang pagmamahal na umabot sa puntong sobra na siyang nagtiwala. Tiwalang naging mitsa upang mawala ang natitirang dangal. Sa partikular na gabing yaon, tuluyang ginupo ng kamunduhan ang pilit na nanlalabang si Kristal. Luha ang naging dulot ng kanyang sobrang pagtitiwala, tiwalang sa tiyak na gabi ring iyon ay tuluyang naglaho. Simbilis ng magnanakaw at sa simbuyo ng maitim nitong layon.
Kung pwede ko lang maibalik ang oras, gusto ko gid nga balikan kung ano kag sin-o ako sang una pero wala na ko mahimo kay amu na ‘ko ni subong
PAGBANGON Dahil sa ayaw niya sa gulo na maaaring idulot ng pagsusumbong, kahit mahirap man sa kanya ay nagdesisyon siyang itikom na lamang ang bibig. Kinimkim niya lamang ang kanyang takot sa nangyari. Kung mahuhuli man ng ina na tulala at walang ganang kumain ay sinabi niya lamang na siya ay may konting dinaramdam. Lumipas man ang ilang buwan ngunit patuloy pa rin siyang dinadalaw ng bangungot ng kanyang karanasan, subalit pinaglabanan niya ang kanyang emosyon at ginawa ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya upang ibaon sa limot ang nangyari. Bumangon si Kristal sa pagkakadapa kaagapay ang kanyang naging unang pag-ibig. Inalalayan siya nito at
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ipinadama sa kanya ang kahulugan ng pagmamahal. Hindi man tuluyang nakakalimutan ang mapait na karanasan, naging positibo siya at ibinalik sa dati ang tiwala sa lalaki. MULING PAGKADAPA “Nagmigo ako kay gusto ko i-prove nga indi tanan nga lalaki kaya ‘to ubrahon sa akon.” Akala ni Kristal ay simula na iyon ng pinapangarap na uri ng pag-ibig- dalisay, tunay ngunit sadya yatang makamandag ang tawag ng laman. . . Ika-16 ng Hulyo, habang hinihipan ng malamig na simoy ng hangin ang karimlan, magkasama si Kristal at kanyang nobyo sa isang tree house. Ilang buwan pa lang ang kanilang relasyon subalit palagay na siya at
Information Source: www.wikipedia.com
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PAGBABAGO “Nagbugtaw na lang ko isa ka aga nga daw lain nagid ‘ko.” wika ni Kristal. “Indi ko maintindihan kung ngaa daw gusto ko na gid magsuksok lip-ot nga shorts. Ang mga panghulag ko nagbag-o hambal nila, kag ang ginapangita sang balatyagon ko, tomboy na,” dagdag pa niya. Ang mga pagbabagong nararanasan ni Kristal ay posibleng bunga ng Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS) na teorya nina Ann Wolbert Burgess at Lynda Lytte Holmstrom. Isa itong sikolohikal na trauma na nagdudulot ng pagbabago sa normal na pisikal, emosyonal at interpersonal na aspeto sa mga biktima. “Kung pwede ko lang maibalik ang oras, gusto ko gid nga balikan kung ano kag sin-o ako sang una. Tani wala ko man ginhatag ang tanan ko nga salig. Pero wala na ko mahimo kay amu na ‘ko ni subong” wika ni Kristal. **************** “daw hindi man na sya amu na sang una? Ngaa nag-amo na sya man?” Wala siyang maapuhap na kasagutan. Tikom ang kanyang bibig sa mga katanungang yaon. Bakit siya liberated? Bakit siya pumapatol sa lesbiyana? Marahil, ang katanghaliang-tapat ng Abril at ang ika-16 ng Hulyo na yaon ang tanging makapagbibigay ng sagot sa lahat . . .
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Crownless Princess Words by Anne Franceine Jean B. Corillo and Ann Marie Servito
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very girl deserves to be treated like a princess with or without a prince. In our society nowadays, our system is being engulfed by delusions with regards to our judgments. We tend to define “beautiful” on the outside that results to confusing the belongingness of an individual. Not all girls are beautiful in the cornea of envy but all are beautiful in His eyes. Our eyes are windows to our souls as we see our hair to be our crowns. If we accidentally lose these two, does it mean that we lose our souls and crowns too? Perhaps, all we need is a creative and a more matured cerebrum, an organ for thinking, to unravel our imagination in dealing with fictitious reality.
Joy’s life was once a fairytale. She can be an example of Rapunzel in realism. Her long hair was one of her assets being a teenager. Aside from it, she is beautiful inside and out. Rarely can you find a teenage girl like her. Simple. Sweet. Smart. Pretty. Humble. She is not the kind of girl who is sophisticated for simple things can already make her happy. But this life-changing dilemma became the antagonist of her story. The evil witch took part in the story. She discovered that Joy’s life is on the state of boundless happiness. Her loathsome mind and resentful heart dragged Joy in misery— loosing her hair like Rapunzel. But unlike Rapunzel, all that was left
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were strands of hair. Joy doesn’t know how she can survive her miserable life against the evil witch, the Alopecia— a disease wherein a person suffers from baldness. As young as fourteen, there were guys jostling to give her roses, sweets and echoing praises from one tongue to another. She would humbly refuse; in her eyes humor is undeniably shown. But as she smiles, guys will just fall deeper in love betraying her rejecting intention. But above all the fascinating features on her, is her hair— dancing after her quick lithely gestures. The gaze of the envious girls will follow her and they will mutter faint praises with each other. Then this guy attracted to her crown
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She’s still the princess she was before
of glory just like everyone else, comes rushing in and her heart was instantly stolen. It nearly caused a qualm. Their short-lived relationship was over when the time came that they have to part before their dreams would vanish long before them. She had to continue college education in Iloilo— leaving her love ones behind. It was shortly before her departure when she noticed an odd small patch of baldness on her scalp. “I refused to entertain negative thoughts in my mind and pushed the idea out of my head… Until the day came that the odd patch widened and my hair became quite alarming.” She remarked.
It should be a dejected period of her life to find out that her hair, even her eye brows are thinning, threatening to dilute the beauty that she has. In fear to cause anxiety, she kept it from her family, from her father and from the boy she loves. They are in the dark thinking everything is fine. Despite the temporary crown of glory she has, never she did break down and cry. She has always been her usual self— caring, laughing and sees a silver lining even in the hopeless situations of life. She would bang at the door and noisily greet her friends and afterwards relay the tough day she had. Her eyes still gleaming and they will listen to her in awe just like before. The only different thing is there’s no more long wavy hair that dances with her every little move. She would tell about the amusing things she had done with her new friends and how her wig was nearly taken off from her head. She’s stating this without remorse or compunction. “I didn’t expect to have this socalled surprised debut at school where I had the chance to have my 18 roses. The best part was I got to dance with my crush and some of my high school classmates as well (which I really never dreamt of). My college friends did really find time to make it the best birthday in my existence.” Now she is talking without interruption. Thoughts wandering back to the time she swore she won’t go home to her family and reveal her true state. She’d rather endure the lonesome holidays she’d going to have than see herself together with her worried family. “It wasn’t easy at first. I can’t do things that I want because of my
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condition. But of course, life must go on. We just can’t deprive ourselves from being happy and positive.” How everybody wanders if there’s a fragile mournful girl lurking behind her tough self. Her giggles would have spoken as she wears that rustybrown abaca wig with confidence. A replacement that will never parallel the crown of glory she had. Her eyes gleaming eagerly as she speaks eloquently about the fine day she had. She’s still the princess she was before and being crownless will never deluster her glory. We really can’t escape the fact that in reality, happy endings do not always exist. It is up to us on how we deal with our problems maturely. After all, we can still live happily that God has sent us problems in order for us to be a tough individual we can be.
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Nipolet: Tag Ea-om Ko, Wa Eon Ako it Pu-eos Ni Jemuel B. Garcia, Jr. Grapiks ni Rother Johann R. Dadivas
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o anwang ga-euga-eug sa eu-gan eugan. Ro kaea-may gako-eapot sa kaea-ha. Kung habasahan mo ra it mayad, siguro hay akeanon ka, o may nobyo nga taga-Aklan o abo ka nga mga paryente nga taga idto, o basi mahilig ka eang guid mag hambaea it ea-in ea-in nga mga tinaga.O basi, wa ka eang it maubra ag ginsamitan mo man basahon ra dahil first time sa Dimensions nga may makaraya. O basi, ea-ban ea-ban, wa it pu-eos para kimo ra dahil HINDI KO MAINTINDIHAN ang imo nga peg. Hambae kakon dati it akon nga amigo, tanan kuno nga butang may pu-eos. Tapos tag nag online eon ko, may habasahan tang nga article parte sa mga bagay nga wa it pu-eos ag sambilog eon kato ro nipolet, o kung sa atun pa, ayutong. Pero kung ham-an it daya guid mana ang ginpili nga body part sa tanan nga pwede pa ma-sueat par sa daya nga
magazine issue, pabay-i nyo ako nga istoryahan ta kamo tag it mga paniyempo sa akun nga kabuhi nga abi ko, si nipolet ako (indi si Napoles ha)‌tag ea-om ko, owa eot-ang guid it pu-eos. Nakakabit eat-a. Pareho it daya nga censored kuno nga body part, kaabo ta nga eksperyensya sa akun kabuhi nga matyag ko ta, on the edge ta pirme ro drama. Tag ruyong baeatyagon baea nga gina-eagas ka it oras, naku-eangan ka it time, ha-ubusan ka eot-ing it rason, wa ka eon it madaeagnan, indi ka eon kasayod kung maabot pa ro hin-aga, matsa nagka-ea-du-ea ta ing mga ginasaligan, wa ka ting hakita, ina ka pirme pero ing matyag ta hay uwa, ag kung anu-ano pa nga mga tiyempo nga matsa makaruyon. Do pinaka-latest hay tag nag-intra ako sa World Merit: YOUR BIG YEAR, matsa online advocacy competition dun kung
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siin halin sa 66,000 nga entries sa bilog nga kalibutan sa su-eod it tatlo ka bu-ean it pasahay it imo nga personal advocacy sa internet, pagsampit it iba nga mag intra man para makita nanda imo advocacy, ag pag comply sa mga challenges nga ginata-o nanda pareho it Jump for Merit, hay nagbu-eo sanda it 120 nga mga tawo nga deserving para magpadayon sa 2nd round it competition. Hambae ngani nakun hay matsa kadasig ta do tatlong bu-ean, pero indi man gali. May mga moments ta nga ina tang sa atubang it monitor, ag wa eot-ang ka batyag nga 9 hours eot-a gali ako. But anyway, to cut the story short, hadaea mat-ang sa top 120 hasta pa sa top 30. Saeamat guid kinyo tanan, dahil sigurado guid ang, nga kung owa kamu, owa guid ako kung siin man ako makaron. Gintabing it madasig. Kun amat hay masagyadan it atun or
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WEST-V STORIES
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Kung mag-abot guid man ro inoras nga abi mo hay wa ka eon guid it pu-eos, o gin tak-euban ka it kalibutan, o gin eapakan ka nga matsa ea-pok it nubo, panumduma eang…nga tanan nga butang may rason.
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indi man atun nga alima ro raya nga parte. Ag siyempre, ro tendency hay dasigon ta. Matsa abi ta hay kaha-eadlukan nga cactus, nga indi pwede matabing. Matsa sawa nga matsa kanami man himashimason, pero deep inside naga drum rolls eon kita gali nga magpa-eayo. Or tag duyong gusto mo pa ta mag pamati sa speaker nga gahambae sa stage, pero
matsa mahu-eog eon ing piluka, kueang lang hay butangan mo it toothpick para makasarang ag makaagwanta it pamati. Kung ham-an sensitive ro raya nga parte, nga hambae nanda hay indi guid mapuslan, sayod nyo eon karon do sabat. Try nyo baea, batsa siguraduhon nyo eang nga kamo eat-a. Siyempre, baw SPG man. Going back, matsa makaraya man ang haagyan tag una eon ako sa ubra. Pagkatapos nanda nga masayran nga kaya ko ro ueubrahon, ginpaslak dun ro tanan nga makaya it akong ea-was, ag binilin ako. As simple as that. Pero siyempre, ginpabahoe ako nga kaantiguhan magagwanta. Ro akun malang kunta, hay maski ginibhan lang man nanda ako sa akong paghakwat it u-eubrahon. Pero nagtiner ako. Pareho sa body part ngara.
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Owa man it may gapa-bueo. Ro pangutana hay ham an uwa it may gapabu-oe? Hay basi awat, awkward, or wala lang? Basta ro akun nga hasayran, ginbutang dun it Guino-o rikaruyon ay may purpose dun. O diba, profound? Una, ro proseso it pagdede hay rikaruyon nagaagi. Ha-eos nga mga nanay, tawo man o sapat nga gapadede, hay may ayutong guid kung sa siin naagaagi ro gatas nga importante sa pagbahoe it anda nga mga unga. Ikadaywa, isaea ro duyon sa pinaka sensitibo nga parte it ea-was, so dapat gamitun sa mayad ag sa tama nga oras. Ikatatlo, panumduma eang kung uwa it makaruyon do imu nga dughan, makasaho ka ayhan? Ag ham an may una man ro eaki? Hay siyempre, may una man do bayi. Siin baea naghalin ro baye? Kung mag-abot guid man ro inoras nga abi mo hay wa ka eon guid it pueos, o gin tak-euban ka it kalibutan, o gin eapakan ka nga matsa ea-pok it nubo, panumduma eang imu nga ayutong, ag masayran mo, nga tanan nga butang may rason. Ag nakita ko ro akun nga kaugalingon sa ida-eum it aratiles, nagaka-un it humay nga may brown sugar samtang gapangupang ag gakutib-kutib… Ro anwang ga-euga-eug sa eu-gan eu-gan. Ro kaea-may gako-eapot sa kaea-ha.
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PROFILE
9/29/12— I will never forget that day. The day that almost ruined–destroyed my life. We were two days afloat in the open sea from Nola, New Orleans headed towards Karachi, Pakistan with a cargo full of coal. Pushing towards the Atlantic Ocean, we were sailing through the dreaded Bermuda Triangle. Strange things do happen in these waters. I was on deck just four meters away from the edge of the ship next to the raging sea where I was chipping off the rust on the railings on deck along with the other crew members of the ship. Then, instantly, my life changed in an extremely rapid cascade of events.
I Survived Bermuda
Words by Jandi M. Nietes Graphics by Jeline N. Encarnacion
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PROFILE
It started with a loud explosion BOOOM!! then a blast of fire, approximately 20 feet away from behind me. I thought I was still sitting, but before I knew it I was flying in midair. I was completely knocked out on deck, out of the ship and down the dreaded Bermuda Sea. I am Elvin. A 33- year old seafarer with a wife back home and a 2- year old son waiting for my arrival for Christmas. All that flashed in front of me as I drifted along the open sea. Almost immediately, I noticed severe burns in my hands and shoulders that my skin was literally drooping and barely in place. However, I felt no pain or whatsoever discomfort. My adrenalin was pumping. The brine seeping through my wounds was bearable but watching my ship sail away from me was the most traumatic moment in my life. Knowing your chance of survival is slowly fleeting in front of you and you are helpless about it. I shouted my lungs out but to no avail, my efforts were futile. My ship was drifting away, and so was I, not only physically, mentally and emotionally but spiritually as well. At a distance, my ship slowly appeared smaller by the second as I drifted there for hours wondering about my fate. My physical strength was waning not only from keeping myself afloat but from the pain and emotional torment. My wife and son are both young. What will be their future? What will be their fate without me? I pictured my wife and son together, without me. Then I pictured a life together with my wife. The memories we could
make, the moments we could share together raising our son. I wanted those moments. I had to have those moments. I decided to live for my wife and son. At an instant, I knew I need to do something. I had to do something. But what? At that point, my only option was to pray. I closed my eyes and focused all my energy to ask for guidance and enlightenment. I asked for help through prayer. As the sunlight slowly faded, I was on the verge of giving up. I was hopeless. I needed a miracle in order to survive this ordeal. I will stay alive Then, I realized my ship is slowly turning towards me. I was thinking maybe, and just maybe they have noticed I was gone. I was keeping my hopes up. This was completely unexpected. My chances of survival had suddenly surged. I knew they were coming for me. The things that happened next were blurry to me. I could just remember my pals hurling a life ring. Initially, due to the waves and my fatigue, I wasn’t able to grab it. Nonetheless, I didn’t waste their second attempt. As soon as I held it, I grabbed it tightly until I was hoisted
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towards the rescue boat. Immediately as I was pulled into the boat, I told myself, I’m going to live. Then, I just fainted. Instability & Uncertainties Elvin was initially brought to a treatment facility in Bermuda and was assessed with 85% body surface area burns excluding the extremities which were also severely affected by the blast. He was given initial treatment and was sent to another facility which would be able to cater to his medical needs. He was moved to Boston where he underwent ten different surgeries in a span of nine months. His skin tissue was cultured and grafted. He underwent skin grafting, several surgeries, and also suffered complications in his heart and kidneys. ********** I was under a medically-induced coma in order to slow down my metabolism and preserve the integrity of my vital organs. I had complications in breathing, thus I was intubated as well. Most of the time, I remained unconscious and unable to interact with others as I was under isolation in the first few weeks. In one of my dreams, I saw my mother
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PROFILE who has passed away five years ago. I wasn’t able to see her again but I know she wanted me to stay strong and to stay alive. I also recalled seeing a kid, though he didn’t look like someone I knew. I believe he was my guardian angel during my hospitalization. He reminded me of my son which only gave me hope to fight for my survival. Second Life Elvin’s recovery was slow but it was happening. He was transferred to a recovery facility. He underwent physical, occupational and speech therapy. He was also seeing a psychologist in order to process his thoughts and feelings. ********** I was allowed to go out and see things around me after being cramped in my hospital bed. From contraptions, medications and gadgets in the hospital, I was treated to a change of scenery. People around me were curious, even empathetic as they would approach me and ask me my story. Children were equally curios as well. They were
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rather interested to know more about my surgeries and skin graft, some even believing I had super powers. That made my day. Others with other circumstances I realized that I was fortunate to have still been alive and have all my limbs intact. I empathized with them and their undertakings. But I knew my recovery was long. Loneliness was one thing I thought would kill me. Nonetheless with the unfortunate Boston Marathon Bombing, some patients were admitted to the same recovery facility where I was. It was there where I realized how fortunate I was. There were victims who were severely affected physically. There were teenagers and children who have been amputated because of the blast. I was able to put myself in their shoes and they were also in mine. We were all equally rooting for the same positive outlook. We all know we would be able to recover. Never a home away from home I badly missed my family. Although my wife and brothers were able to stay with me, the time was only limited. I wanted to go home and in order for that to happen, I had to be holistically prepared. So, I did whatever I could in order to hasten my recovery. After I was flown back to the Philippines, I was initially put under isolation due to my scars from surgery. But that did not stop my family. It was an instant reunion, typical in Filipino culture. It’s amazing how one traumatic event could instantly turn in to something positive. ********** Elvin is now at home with his family, with his wife and son. Although he’s still under recovery and is scheduled for several appointments to various physicians, he feels fortunate. He is now standing on grounds where he thought he would never be able to. Together with his family, they are making the memories he thought he would never have the opportunity to have.
COVER STORY
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To lose one’s mind, one’s ability to decipher between reality and delusions, one’s sanity, is the most painful tragedy of all.
Words and Photos by Jeline N. Encarnacion
T
he sun’s heat was beating down on our shoulders, the white sand reflecting the sunlight, making us squint. We were on a mental health mission, and were headed towards a rickety house. While we were trekking the whitesand beach, Dr. Rio “Apple” Bistis relayed how it all started; how, without Divine Providence, we wouldn’t even be here on this little island. ............................ Twilight has blanketed the island-barangays of Concepcion in the province of Iloilo. The high tide brought waves crashing further inland on the white-sand shore. The quiet of the evening called the darkness down on the residents as they started to settle in for the night...then, a scream pierced the silence. Loud, hysterical shouts followed. A young man caused the commotion.
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and Ian Leoj M. Gumban
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COVER STORY
For disturbing the peace, he was brought to the police station at the mainland. He has caused quite a stir that barangay tanods and police officers were there to supervise his capture. One look at his bloodshot, unfocused eyes, Doc Apple knew there was something wrong with him. He looks unhinged; his actions were not those of a normal, sane person. Knowing that he could be at the brink of lunacy, Doc Apple advised the authorities to bring him to the mental ward immediately. He was not to be left alone in a prison cell, in fear that his mental condition would further deteriorate and he might, God forbid, commit suicide. But the officials did not heed her words, not trusting the judgment of the “new, young” doctor for it was Doc Apple’s first few days in town. They threw the man into a prison cell. Then everything has quieted down and peace was restored; but not for man in the cell. The four walls has closeted him in, the voices in his head were raging, desperate to find a way out. And they indeed found a way out. The hour was close to midnight. The young man took his own life. After the incident, Dr. Bistis had earned the confidence of the people of Concepcion. Then she found out more about the healthcare status of the town. “I think that first encounter with a mentally ill patient drove me to strive and do my best to provide the service that
they need. Considering the high rate of suicide records in the municipality, I was also intrigued and decided to perform my own research,” she said. Her team found out that, overall, there were 114 cases of medically insane persons in the whole municipality and that 90 of them were schizophrenics, which even heightened the need to address the problem. The situation was alarming and the young doctor knew she had to do something. In 2012 alone, suicide had ranked eight among the top causes of death in the municipality. She wanted—she had—to start treating each of the mentally-ill patients. She started drafting the blueprint of the project but even though the motivation was there, sources of funds were not. The municipality, in its own power, could not support the project in its entirety. And even though the country’s Department of Health (DOH) supports a mental health program, it is but just centered upon the mental institution in Manila.
Poor and Unfortunate Concepcion is surrounded with several inhabited islands which are known locally as “Pulo”. People who live in these places are those that are usually deprived of proper healthcare considering their proximity to the mainland. But the health services of the municipality never wavered with the support and continued service of the local Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and midwives who face the danger of travelling by sea and dared counter the fatigue in walking house to house to provide the service. “We have always seen poverty as a probable reason Dr. Bistis, giving medical advice to Jomar’s mother for these suicide
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cases but we have done everything to address this matter, one of which is this mental health program,” said the mayor of Concepcion, Millard S. Villanueva. Because they are far from the mainland, those who settled on the islands that suffer from mental diseases are often disregarded by their families and the community, and are even looked down as hopeless beings with no chance to recover. When Good Providence Smiles Given the circumstances, Doc Apple knew she had to turn her gaze at another direction for aid, but did not know which way to look. She was lost in limbo. Hopes, prayers and good will were noble sentiments to harbor but are not substantial enough to realize the project. Yes, they were the fuel to drive her dream into reality but her project needed hard, solid cash—one she lacked. Doc Apple was at the brink of giving up when opportunity knocked in the form of MRL Mining Exploration Company. The company was situated at one of the pulo in Concepcion. They requested the doctor at the mainland to conduct a health and check-up drive at the island for the employees and their families. In payment for her services, the company asked her how much she needed. “I told them I don’t need the money. But I do need medicines for this project that I’m starting,” Doc Apple recalled. Good fortune smiled upon her; she said the word and just as quickly, Php30,000.00 worth of medicines were donated for her to start the mental health drive. One by one, she started treatment for the mentally-ill patients. But there were just too many patients and too little manpower and medicines. She did not want to give up. With her own will and guts, Doc Apple managed to gain the support of the psychiatrists here in Iloilo. The Dream, realized With Doc Apple’s efforts, she finally rounded up Php 250,000.00 worth of mental health medicines in total. All
COVER STORY these came from selfless donations of Dr. Ferjenel Biron, the psychiatrists of Iloilo, Local Government Units, and medical representatives. After the approval of the Municipal health officer, Dr. Helen Minguez, and the support of Dr. Ma. Victoria Villareal, Doc Apple finally started treating the medically-insane patients of Concepcion. The chair of West Visayas State University Medical Center and West Visayas Medical Center Consortium(WVSUMC-WVMC), Dr. Euphemio Sobrevega also supported her project and brought along four more volunteer psychiatrists: Dr. Ira Villanueva, Dr. Janice Taleon, Dr. Christine Te, and Dr. Romeo Orcajada. Not only was the young doctor able to treat the patients, she was also able to hold the first ever Municipal Community Mental Health training program in the whole region. With this came the full support of the Chair of the WVSUMC Psychiatry Department Dr. Henrietta Española, Dr. Japhet Fernandez, the President of Philippine Psychiatric Association, and psychiatrists Dr. Kathryn Beluso, Dr. Eunice Sermonia, and Dr. Rey Mollendo. They were the ones who trained the RHU staff in Concepcion. And since the BHWs and the midwives are the most effective tools in providing the mental healthcare pioneered by the municipality, they were also trained. “We have services that concentrate on the mentally ill but there are no written modules or defined curriculum in training the basic services that the mentally ill must get. In order to do that, we have researched and have obtained permission from the Indian publisher of a module on mental health which we adapted for the Philippine setting. We are very proud to say that the training was very successful,” said Doc Apple. After the lobbying of the doctor and her party, the Provincial Government of Iloilo has embedded in their proposed budget for the year 2014 the special budget for mental health services. “If we really are the first municipality to practice this project, I am very proud and I hope that the people of Concepcion will also put this in mind that their government
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Jomar on the day the chains around his waist were removed
is trying hard to provide them the services that they deserve,” Hon. Villanueva said. He further added, “My message for other municipalities is that they can follow what we have done. They should also prioritize those who are mentally challenged.” The Stories Now a year and four months after the conception of her dream to provide treatment for the mentally-ill in the municipality, Doc Apple is thankful for all the help and support that has been given to her for the realization of her project. She proudly said that there are countless success stories that she wanted to share. For one, there’s Jomar* a fish vendor who became addicted to drugs. He became a problem to the community because of his rants and his threats to several young women in the neighborhood. To address this problem, his family chained him below their house for five years. Just three months after the start of his treatment, his rants became less frequent and one of the chains around his waist was finally removed. The second patient was also a fish vendor. He was given a mystery pill by a friend when he complained about not feeling well. He then became addicted to the pill and started becoming delusional. He said he could see some people and angels appearing everywhere. Fortunately, he knows how to take his medication. Then there’s a criminology graduate who became infatuated with a local teacher. When he found out that the teacher decided to marry someone else, he broke down and suffered what is commonly known as “loco de amor.” When Doc Apple and her team visited him, he refused to accept treatment,
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thinking he had to pay for it. These are just some of the stories the more than a hundred lost souls could tell. Little by little, there are new cases discovered and solved. Today, the medical mission still continues at the town of Concepcion. But what Doc Apple and her team, together with the midwives of the pulo feared is that maybe the project would lose its stamina and wane, if the medications run out. Nevertheless, they are hopeful because in its entirety, all these are for the greater good. “We all did this, out of pure service to the medically-deprived and, regardless of how much work and effort we had to put off, because of love,” said Doc Apple. ………… Dr. Rio Bistis is an alumna of West Visayas State University. She finished her undergraduate studies as a BS in Biology student and continued her medical course at the College of Medicine of this University. She is currently taking up Psychiatry as her specialization. * Not his real name
The
CHAMPION
&
HIS MUSIC Words by Jesther Rose L. Rojas
He was born in the middle of an Indian summer, of sweltering heat and blinding lights.
PROFILE
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I
t was the 30th of April 1994, where children basked in the golden sunshine and the summer wind is the music that keeps playing even when the sun has long kissed the horizon. Amidst that warmth of summer, the world welcomed a champion. A small bundle of joy weighing only 975 grams, Luke Esthelo P. Jalandoon, fondly called Champ, came six months earlier due to some complications of pregnancy. Champ, due to frail health stayed in the nursery for three months. He was in a battle every day, fighting for his life. He experienced a series of convulsions and cyanosis or decrease in oxygen in an hourly basis due to sepsis of unknown origin. He would cry in the early hours of the morning and only the soft hum of a radio can greatly put him at ease. The world was somehow ready for the little champion. The skies were blue and the stars were ready to light their lamps when dawn turned to dusk. It was perfect but it turned out that even in complete brightness and the state of seamless perfection, a blanket of darkness was just inches away. In Darkness The doctor briefed the family of the possibility of blindness. “We were lost and we don’t know what to do,” his mother, Juliet recalled. This was later confirmed when they noticed the absence of the “rooting and following” reflexes plus the bluish white discoloration (opacity) of Champ’s eyeballs.” “He’ll grow up blind” the doctor said. With that, hope was like gossamer threadsintangible and slowly disappearing in sight. Thus begun the agony of questioning God’s perfect kindness and Champ and his family’s journey to witness His grace.
Champ playing the piano at two years old
Champ at 19
The Battle Referrals were made, neurologist & therapists were met and ultrasound and diagnostic exams were done. A glimmer of hope began to peek through the canopy of darkness, when Champ exhibited “foot drop” when he was lifted up and recommended series of exercises to be religiously followed. Her mother would then use music’s beat and rhythm during his exercises.
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Rio at six, his second at seven and played the doxology and the Philippine National Anthem during the graduation ceremony in an elementary school. In God’s perfect Note Champ, now 19 still manifests God’s redeeming love. He may be blind but he could see what others has difficulty in perceiving-it is God’s perfect love that drives out fear. The
Thus begun the agony of questioning God’s perfect kindness
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At two years old, Champ was able to walk his way out of their room, trailed on the walls, cabinets and traced the sound of the piano being played. Her mother noticed that he showed great interest in music so they enrolled him at Yamaha School of Music when he was five years old and to also address his fine and gross motor skills. Speech only came when he was four years old, through mumbling and nasal sounds. He had his first recital at Hotel del
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kind of love that lifts you up, saves you and catches you wherever you go. Champ, though blind, is not walking in a tunnel of darkness. He knows that he has God’s burning light to let him “see” what’s important. “Blessed gid ako ni Jesus kag more than enough na na ang love Niya sa akun,” he said. For whatever it is, what is essential is indeed invisible to the eye and Champ will continue to march as God’s soldier telling how faithful he has been yesterday today and for the years to come.
FEATURE
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Milagro Gikan sa Unod Ni Connie C. Durana Grapiks ni Mark Andrew P. Ituriaga
B
ata dyutay pa sadto si Elsa Lachica sang natabo ang indi mapatihan. Lima lang sya ka tuig sadto kag subong naga-edad na sya siyetentaysingko. Sa tuig 1943, nagkaginamo sa barangay sang Casanayan, sa banwa sang Pilar, probinsiya sang Capiz. Ini nga lugar isa ka oras nga biyahe halin sa siyudad sang Roxas. Ang kabangdanan sang gamo, isa ka bangkay ang nadiskubre sa patyo sang barangay nga wala pa nadunot sa pulo sini ka tuig nga pagkalubong. Siling sang mga nakakita, daw gakatulog lamang ang bangkay. “Daw buhi ya si Lola Ibe pagkalkal.” siling ni Lola Elsa nga pilit ginabalikan ang mga tini-on sang sadtong mga inadlaw. Ang gapanag-iya sang bangkay amo si Maria de Juan, o mas kilala sa tawag nga Lola Ibe. Sya nabata sang 1882 sa Cavite kag nagdaku sa debosyon sang Santo Rosaryo. Sang sya yara sa Laguna, nakakilala sya sang isa ka tumandok sang Pan-ay, Capiz, nga si Catalino ‘Iño’ Basañes nga sa wala nagdugay naging iya bana. Sya gindala ni Iño sa Pan-ay kag sila nangabuhi sang simple sa pamaagi sang pila ka negosyo kaangay sang pagbaligya kalan-on kag tela. Sila nagpanag-iya man sang sakayan nga pangpangisda. Ang ila paghigugmaanay nagbunga sang isa ka lalaki nga bata sa ngalan nga Jesus kag nag-angkon pa gid sila sang isa ka
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Daw buhi ya si Lola Ibe pagkalkal, daw gakatulog lang
bata nga babayi sa pag-adoptar sini. Nag abot ang tini-on nga nakabakal sila sang duta sa Casanayan, Pilar, kung diin sila nagpuyo asta napatay na sila nga mag-asawa kag asta subong yara man gihapon sa lugar ang pila ka mga bata nga henerasyon gikan sa ila. Ginkalkal ang nitso ni Lola Ibe nga nagdala sa pagkadiskubre sang sitwasyon sang iya bangkay sang napatay ang isa niya sini ka apo sa nitso niya. Suno kay Lola Elsa, sang sadto nga tiyempo ginpaubrahan gid si Lola Ibe sang balay-balay sa patyo apang sa kada aga masapwan ini nga basa-basa ang iya bayo sang yamog ukon tun-og kag may nagatapik nga mga amorsikos sa sidsid kag pako sang iya bayo nga naging kabangdanan nga ili-ilisan sya adlaw-adlaw. Diri nagsugod ang mga huring-huring sang milagro nga dulot ni Lola Ibe. Si Lola Elsa ang madugay na nga deboto ni Lola Ibe indi lamang kay naabutan niya ang pagkalkal sa bangkay kundi kay sya mismo naagyan ang milagro nga ginbugay umano sang napatay nga tigulang. Sa tuig 1982, sang sya nagbusong sang iya ulihi nga bata kung sa diin sya makabig na nga yara sa menopausal nga ti-on, naiwatan na magbata si Lola Elsa. Suno sa iya naging mabudlay ang iya pagbusong kay dugay ini nagsunod kag nabudlayan na sya magbata.
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”
Nag-abot ang tini-on nga pati ang rebulto sang patron sang barangay nga si San Vicente ang gindala sa halos wala na lumay nga si Lola Elsa. “Dabi ko mapatay na gid ako,” ang siling ni Lola Elsa habang sya nagapungko sa sulod sang iya tiangge kag nagabalasa sang baraha. Ang rebulto amo ang ginpatapak sa tiyan sang gabusong sya apang nadumduman niya ang tubi nga amo ang ginasibin sa kay Lola Ibe kag nagpasugo nga dal-on sa iya ang isa ka baso sinikay ini imnon niya. Samtang gasinako na ang iya pamilya nga pangitaan sya sang tabang, wala pa gani kalab-ot sa ginapangita nga bulig kay natawo na ang lapsag ni Lola Elsa. Indi malayo halin sa tiangge ni Lola Elsa kay masapwan ang balay ni Tito Boy. Sya kasami nagapungko sa papag nga yara sa landong sang dako nga puno sang mangga. Ang iya naman kasaysayan ang nagalaragway sang paglaum halin sa kadulum sang sakit nga kanser sa tulan. Suno sa iya, wala na may mahimo ang mga doktor kundi papulion na lang sya kag pasugtan nga bagtason ang mga nabilin nga adlaw sang iya kabuhi kaupod sang iya pamilya. Sa isa sadto ka ti-on nga sya yara sa madalum nga katulugon, ginpadamgo sya ni Lola Ibe. “Daw mahal sya nga birhen,” amo ang paglaragway ni Tito. Umpisa sadto nga hitabo, masami ang
FEATURE
pagbisita ni Tito sa pulu-an ni Lola Ibe. Nag-inom sya sang tinipon nga tubi nga ginapaligo sini. Naangdan niya ini nga pamaagi sa pila ka tuig bag-o sya liwat nagbisita sa doktor. Sang sya nagbisita sa doktor nabalan niya nga nadula na ang iya kanser kag asta subong mabaskog giyapon ang lawas niya kag nagapadayon ang iya pagpangabuhi sa pagpasalamat sa milagro ni Lola Ibe. May makahambal man nga kunukuno lang ini ang mga nasiling nga milagro. Depende kung magpati man ang kung sin-o nga mangin deboto, wala man gihapon sang malinaw nga pamatuod sang mga hitabo nga nagsugod otsenta anyos na ang nagligad. Ang isa ka butang nga labing ginauyatan sang mga kaangaay ni Lola Elsa kag Tito Boy amo ang ila mabakod nga pagsalig sa ila ginakabig nga santa sa persona ni Lola Ibe.
“
wala pa nadunot sa pulo sini ka tuig nga pagkalubong
�
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SOCIETY
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Words by Alexa Giann L. Morga Graphics by Mark Andrew P. Ituriaga
W
hen a man shakes your hand, almost immediately, you can decipher his character. By the way he grasps your palm and pulls it towards him; you could see then whether he is assertive or passive by nature.In the manner which he shakes, and the strength of his grip, one would be able to determine his qualities as a leader, and perhaps even his masculinity. There’s something about someone’s hands that could reveal so much of what they are truly like, and sometimes, it takes but a single touch to spark a surge of unfathomable emotions. We take our hands for granted. Everyday, we touch people’s lives and we aren’t even aware that by doing this, we are changing them. Little by little. But despite our cluelessness, there are people out there who dedicate their entire lives to touching people. (Therapeutically, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s be professional about it.)Some do it for passion, others do it because they have to. I will introduce to us now our first life changer, and she has the determination and zeal to succeed, that even an Olympic champion would envy her qualities. Anna is a professional masseuse working at a high class hotel here in Iloilo. When she was younger, he parents coerced her to taking up a medical course, like nursing or medical technology as a preparatory for medicine. However, Anna was adamant to take up Physical Therapy, for she had always been interested in that course for as long as she could remember. For years, he parents expressed their obvious distaste towards their daughter’s chosen field, claiming that the minimal amount of money she earned from a single job is not enough to repay the effort she
put into that single day. But Anna, always headstrong, stayed true to her course until the day she graduated, and immediately found work here in Iloilo. It wasn’t that hard, since PT isn’t exactly on demand here in the Philippines. She is passionate about her job, and she refers to it as a sort of artistic therapy. “Each movement I make is like a dance move, and with each stroke, I comfort and I heal.” said Anna, her eyes glinting with warmth. At a minimum, a professional masseuse earns Php. 300 in a day, depending on the institution where they work in and the amount of customers they receive. “I’m tired of the love affair the people have for money.” she said, when asked whether or not her wages bothered her. “Why can’t people just do what they love and be happy about it? Why would it be so necessary to have to be rich? Every day, I go to work and I help people heal their bodies. With that I’m already satisfied. I don’t need money to be rich. I just need to be happy.” Anna’s touch, much like her personality, is warm and caring. She dedicates her life to helping people, and that in turn is translated in her movements of what she calls her “therapeutic dance.” There is a sense of openness in the way she handles people that it’s almost as if you’re long-time friends and she knows all your secrets. Her touch emulates that of a pillow, comforting and soft, conjuring memories of old friends and quiet Sunday afternoons spent relaxing. Enter our next life changer, whose touch is the complete opposite of Anna’s. His hands are riddled with pain and with hardship, strengthened by the will to survive and buffered by responsibility. His
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touch stirs up a different sort of emotion, a deep empathy which we all have within us, to understand the sufferings of others and to feel their pain. Like one kindred soul to the next, separated by circumstance and isolated by social hierarchies. Omar went blind due to the development of Retinitis Pigmentosa in his eyes. He was forced to quit his job as a labourer, and he decided to work as a blind masseuse to fend for his seven children after his wife left them. He lives in a shanty hut somewhere in Dingle, with a measly sign hanging above his doorway that informed passers-by that he was of service. “I didn’t quite know what to with myself after I went blind. It was only made worse when my wife left.” he recalls, his voice tinged with morose. “In truth, I could have just given up. But then I remembered I had kids, seven in fact, and I realized that no matter how disabled I am, it was still my responsibility as their father to fend for them.” Omar ears fifty pesos in a day. With the money he earns, he still has to split it up to buy food for his children and to pay for their taxes. “I wish I could do more for my kids, but what else can a blind man like me do? They’re all I have left in this world, and I have nothing but my hands to help me earn enough money to have at least one meal a day. However, I do not lose hope. I know that God has plans, and though it may seem like a harsh punishment right now, it is all for the greater good.” Though our touches are as different as the lives we lead, we cannot deny the profound influence a touch, or even a person’s handshake, to change our lives forever.
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ala pa ala-sais sang aga nagaparik-parik na sya sa sulod sang ila panimalay. Bag-o mag-ala-syete, nakahigop na sya sang maalaba-ab nga kape upod kay Nanay kag Tatay. Masunod niya nga atubangon ang nakagarahe niya nga jeep—si ‘DREAM’. Limpiyuhan kag trapuhan niya ini sang maayo kay nag-ulan sang mabaskog kagab-i. Basi mangakig naman ang mga estudyante nga nagasuksok sang gabadlak nga puti kag basi pabati-batian naman sya. Bag-o sya magdiretso sa terminal mahapit anay sya kay Toto JC, ang tag-iya mismo ni ‘DREAM’, kay ihatag niya ang iya bawnderi kagapon. Masami nga naga-ulan naman apang padayon gihapon ang pagdalagan sang iya kariton kaangay sang pagtiyog sini
sa nagligad nga walo ka tuig. Mauntat lang sya kadali sa terminal kag isa naman ka panibag-o nga biyahe ang iya paga-umpisahan. Amo ini ang kabuhi nga ginabagtas sa pang adlaw-adlaw ni Angel Melgar, tumandok sang Oton sa iya panglakaton kung sa diin dala-dala niya ang iya mga matayog nga mga handum kaupod si ‘DREAM’. Apang madamo ang iya nga inagyan bag-o niya mauyatan ang manubela. Sa edad nga siyete anyos naagyan na niya ang kapait sang kabuhi. Timprano pa nadula ang mga inadlaw nga naghampang kag nagsinadya sa iya kaupod sang iya mga abyan sa idalom sang gatagi-ti nga adlaw sa tunga sang mayab-ok nga kalsada. Imbis nga tarak-tarak, ang masapnot nga bunot ang gina tulod-tulod sang bata
Anghel sang Manubela Words by Connie C. Durana and Krezyl Joyce Pugna Graphics by Jeline N. Encarnacion
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nga Angel. Sa balay sang iya tiya, kung diin sya una nag ubra, nag-usbong sa iya paminsaron ang kamatuoran nga indi mahapos ang paghimakas para mabuhi. Kada sentimo sang iya pangabudlay, ginahatag niya sa iya nanay. Sa magamay nga kantidad, ini nakahatag sang daku nga pagsalig sa iya nga ginikanan nga tubtob karun masandigan man sya gihapon. Wala preno ang iya nga pagpaninguha asta sa iya nga pagsinultero. Matapos ang pagnusnos niya sang bunot para makalikom sang kwarta, sa pagdala naman sang trisikad sya nagsulod. Wala na sang pang duwa-duwa, ginhimo niya nga kapid ang pagtuon kag ang pagtrisikad. Lima ka adlaw sa isa ka semana, sya isa ka normal nga estudyante sa sekundarya. Pag-abot sang Sabado kag Domingo, sya naman
SOCIETY ang magapadyak palibot sa banwa para makapulot sang grasya. Sa pisuson niya nga ginansya, partidahon niya pa ini sa iya nga pag-eskwela kag sa iya nga pamilya. Nakadangat na sya sa nilainlain nga lugar: halin sa pagbaligya sang mga kalo sa Kalibo kaupod sang iya tiyo kag sa pulo sang Mindoro kaupod ang iya manghod nga lalaki. Apang bangud sa kakulangan gihapon, padayon sya nga nangita sang mas daku nga grasya. Didto, nabilin ang iya utod nga lapit na magduwa ka dekada nga wala may gaangot nga komunikasyon sa ila. Wala magdugay sya naman gindala sang panahon sa Manila kung sa diin niya nakilal-an ang babayi nga nagpabatyag sa iya nga sa pihak sang kabudlay, ang kalibutan wala nagakulang sa paghatag
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Imbis nga taraktarak, ang masapnot nga bunot ang ginatulod-tulod sang bata nga Angel.
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sang mga maayong butang. Sya si Judy, ang nangin asawa ni Anghel. Apang indi nangin madali ang pagpangabuhi nga may asawa. Halin sang sultero si Angel, manubela na kag kariton ang iya naging kaupod gani indi na katingalahan nga sa iya pagpangabuhi ginbalikan Si Nong Anghel kaupod ang iya dyip nga si niya ang bagay nga malapit “DREAM” sa pagbanas sang alagyan sa iya kasing-kasing. Naging isa sya liwat ka Apang sang ginpamangkot sya drayber apang subong indi na sang simple parte sa iya pamilya, wala may gintago nga sikad kundi para sa deliberi trak sang si Angel. “Ato sila subong sa Ajuy,” ang isa ka sikat nga ilimnon. “Tama ka bug-at umpisa sang iya istorya. Diri nasiwalat ang ubra kag indi man igo ang suweldo,” nga sa likod sang pag baka-baka niya suno kay Angel. Sa diri nagdesisiyon si trabaho nga sya malayo mismo kay Angel nga magsugal sa paghawid sang Judy, ang iya asawa, kaupod sang ila manubela sang jeep kag magbiyahe sini duwa ka bunga. Ang iya mga anak para buhi-on ang iya pamilya. Ini isa ka nga kanday Jed, nga ara karon sa ikadesisyon nga iya ginapanghawiran sa walo pito nga grado, kag si Josh Angelo nga na ka tuig sa subong. nagatungtong sa una nga grado, ang Nagatagi-ti ang init sa dalan kag iya nga mga inspirasyon para sikwayon nagaburon na ang panulokan niya sa ang kakapoy sa tunga sang mabug-at malayo apang kinanglan niya magdulong sang iya ulihi nga mga pasahero sa nga pagpanarabaho sa adlaw-adlaw. siyudad bag-o sya magbalik sa terminal sa Didto sa Ajuy kaupod nila ang ila iloy nga Oton kung sa diin magapanyaga sya upod nagapanarabaho man. Sa tatlo ka-gatos niya nga limpyo ang iya man mga abyan nga drayber. Ang sa kita sa kada adlaw, magapabilin nasambit nga panyaga magabalor lamang lamang sya sang iya inugpanyaga kag sang baynte-singko pesos kag maga-unod para sa sud-an sang iya amay kag iloy sang isa ka serb nga kan-on kag gamay nga nagahulat sa balay, kag ang pila ka nga parte nga sud-an ukon pansit. Ini pisuson para sa kape kung aga. Ang mas magapuno na sa iya kagutmon pagkatapos dako nga katunga nga mabilin magakadto sang apat ka libot sang aga kag magahatag na sa iya inugpadala sa iya mag-iloy sa sa iya kabaskog asta sa masunod na man Ajuy nga iya supotan asta sa katapusan nga apat ka libot asta magab-i. sang semana kag kung sya may tini-on Sang ginpamangkot sya kung ano ang kag kuwarta, bisitahon niya sa katapusan iya napanumdum samtang gabiyahe, ang sang bulan. Nahidlaw man sya tani apang iya sabat, “Ang dalan kag ang manubela wala sya may mahimo sa subong kay para sa ikaayo sang akon mga pasahero.” amo lang ini ang iya palangabuhian nga Wala gahalin ang iya panulok sa dalan, kung maghalin man kamakaisa lang. Wala magabuhi man sa iya pamilya kag ini nagabag-o ang iya ekspresyon, ini man trabaho nga iya gid napabugal bisan sa bangud sang iya nga pagdala sang iya mahambal sang iban nga manubo nga kaugalingon ukon sya lamang nahuya, katungdanan sa sosyudad. Sang ginpamangkot sya kung indi man mapakot kay sya matipid sa nakapoy na sya, “Maalay sa likod kag mga butang nga naga-awas sa iya bibig. mainit sa imo dugay nga pagpungko,” iya Magayuhum lamang sya sang kadali nahambal nga may gamay nga kadlaw sa apang ini madula bag-o pa man mabalulihi. “Sa buli gid.” Kag siya maalwan nga an sang kung sin-o man nga gatulok ang nagkadlaw. rason sang iya tago nga kasadya.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Words by Alyssa Jude M. Montalban
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n November 2004, in the middle of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), while other ballerinas perform their pieces, Czarina Othelia Dawn Villegas is confined in an emergency room, miles away from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, her hands joined in prayer, her ballet shoes at her side, making bargains with God and armed with the her iron clad will: I want to dance.
Donning on the Tutu When the ballet competition for the NAMCYA in 2004 opened for the first time in June, NilaClaravall-Gonzales, with two of her best dancers, Czarina and Zyda Baaya submitted their application forms and requirements and hoped for the best. “Joining the competition require months of preparation. It is after all, a national competition. “It is the best of the best,” shares NCG, the ballet mistress of Claravall-Gonzales School of Classical Ballet.
By November, armed with their determination talent and determination, the group flew to Manila for the finals. They were the only provincial school from Visayas and Mindanao to be part of the top 50. They were less than three days away from their ultimate dream: to perform at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, armed with the best they’ve got alongside the best ballerinas the country could offer. The next three days however, reshaped their definition of determination.
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Missing a Step When Czarina was bitten by a seemingly harmless insect in Iloilo a few days before, she never realized that it would alter her destiny dramatically. She never realized that a few hours before the semi-finals of the most prestigious ballet competition in the country, she would be sitting in an emergency room, her feet swollen from a mere insect bite. “When I saw it, it was really bad. Her foot could no longer fit in her shoes and it was painful. That was when I kept asking myself,
PHOTO CREDIT: WWW.BALLETMANILA.COM
ARTS & CULTURE
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He would not place a desire with this intensity in your heart that it will not come to fruition.
She was also vomiting after taking in her antibiotics without food. They were on the point of giving up. “We are here because He knows we can do it. There is always a purpose for everything, not for you alone but for you to give glory to him. That is what I kept telling her, she went well after an hour, the vomiting stopped,” says NCG.
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makakasayaw pa kaya ito?,” shares NCG. Tears streaming from her cheeks, her hands clutched protectively around her treasured ballet shoes, Czarina invested in her determination and uttered the same sentence throughout the ordeal, “I really want to dance.” “That was when I said, ‘let us pray’. I kept telling her that if it’s for you, it’s for you. He would not place a desire with this intensity in your heart that it will not come to fruition. He wouldn’t ask us to spend so much so that it will go to waste,” adds NCG. They knew it will not end that way.
The Final Pirouette She stretched her arms outward. Her body was slender and her movements graceful. She looked surreal to many, a human being who was slowly transforming to a white swan. To an untrained eye, her face is devoid of any emotion. To those who knew what she had been through, her face appeared glowing with so much happiness.
She was after all, performing for God’s glory. The competition paved the way for her to become a demi-soloist of Ballet Manila, under Lisa Macuja’s tutelage. She and Zyda Baaya, also a semi-finalist during the event were also awarded a scholarship grant from La Salle St. Benilde due to their meritorious performance in ballet. After more than 8 years since the event, with Zyda being awarded as 2nd place during the Wi-Fi Choreographer’s Competition in 2012 at the CCP and Czarina being offered with opportunities abroad, they will always remember the purpose of their victories. Did she win? No, the judges’ score sheet declared her fifth. On God’s score sheet however, her name was embossed in gold ink next to a first.
Going Back to the Rhythm At 2 PM, their prayers were answered when a specialist came to check on her. Their determination however, is yet to be recognized with the rehearsal only a few hours away and the possibility of Czarina dancing with her condition unthinkable. “By 5 PM, I went back to the CCP with Zyda for the semi-finals and to explain to the organizers that she will not be able to perform anytime soon, that was when I received a call from her telling me that her pain was gone and that she could perform,” narrates NCG. It was music to their ears. It was not yet the end though. Losing her Balance The morning before the final competition, Czarina suffered yet another allergic reaction to one of her medicines. Reddish marks appeared all over her body.
The rebirth of a white swan. Czarina Othelia Dawn Villegas ends her final act with a striking pose during the 2004 NAMCYA final Ballet Competition held at Cultural Center of the Philippines
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ARTS WEST-V & CULTURE STORIES
The Anatomy of a
Fangirl Words and Graphics by Jeline N. Encarnacion Photos By Mariah Yza G. Jinon
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he’s sitting on her bed with her headphones on. Her bedroom walls are all plastered-up with posters. Images of Asian girls and boys flash on her computer screen. She seems so calm, her face radiant with the hint of suppressed glee. She’s here but she’s someplace else at the same time. Her mind floats to that happy place at the border of reality and dreams. She smiles. Only those who are like her know what she really is – a fangirl. Korean pop (Kpop) music has made it to the Philippine music charts since
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the dusk of the year 2008. The number of Kpop fans has grown since and there’s no denying that Kpop is one of the rising music genres that would define this generation. But the question in every person’s mind outside Kpop fandom is why scream and shout and let everything out for songs that you don’t even understand? For a fangirl, Kpop music is more than just the lyrics. The words aren’t the only element that makes up a good song. The melody and the beat of Kpop songs give her a serious case of LSS, and the
ARTS & CULTURE
music videos keep her media player on the loop. She could really see in the performances of her favorite Korean groups that they’ve really prepared hard for it. The Kpop artists are not afraid to take risks and think original concepts for their songs and music videos. What draws this fangirl to Kpop like a moth to the flame is the fan service. More than the songs, for a fangirl, how the Korean music entertainment companies cater to the fans is what made her love their music even more. Then there’s this little something about Kpop. That feeling that she couldn’t quite put her finger on it but keeps nagging her, pulling her close, sucking her like a black hole. That little something that would always remain inaccessible to Kpoppers and a mystery to those outside the fandom is what gives Kpop its own unique flair. She’s starting to get used to the judging eyes of other people. She knows that the first thing they think is that she’s wasting her time listening to songs she couldn’t understand. But the language barrier is just that – a barrier. She hopes that people would understand and respect her choice of music. She’s still hoping for that day that people would stop giving her the evil eye for being a Kpopper and treat her like any other fan, the way they treat fans of western or local artists. She knows that being a fangirl, she’s nothing more than a screaming spec in the crowd of a hundred thousand, rendered invisible by the blinding glare of the spotlight that shines upon her idols. But she also believes that without her shrieks of undying support, the radiance that light up her favorite Kpop stars would dwindle into oblivion. Alone in her room, she’s floating on the thin line between reality and fantasy. Then she turns off her computer, stops the song playing in her iPod, takes her headphones off, and pulls her head out of the clouds. Just like that, she swings back to reality.
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Ang
Para sa
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on pwede pa man lang naton nga mabuligan ang mga kabataan para ila malipatan ang kabudlayan sang kaimulon, bisan ang pinakagamay nga bagay makahatag gid sang dako nga epekto sa ila pagpangabuhi.� Ang paghampang isa ka bagay nga indi gid madula sa kabuhi sang kabataan ukon sa dalagku man. Bisan pa may mga nagkalain-lain nga klase sang hampang nga mahimo nagakabagay para sa lainlain nga edad sang kabataan, nagasiling ang mga mangin-alamon sa sikolohiya sang pamatan-on nga wala man sang pinakanami nga sahi sang paghampang. Ugaling, indi man amo sini ang kahimtangan labi na gid sa mga pamilya nga nagapangabudlay sa ila panggasto sa ila panimalay nga ginauna gid ang pagkinanlan nila kaangay sang pagkaon, bayo, kag puluy-an kag amo nga nagabuhat na lang sang lainlain nga pamaagi para mahatagan sang halampanganan ang ila kabataan. Maayo na lang kay may yara sang Philippine Toy Library para hatagan sang sabat ang ini nga problema sang kaimulon. Maayo na lang kay may ara na sang Philippine Toy Library Iloilo para hatagan sang sabat ang ini nga problema sa mas dako nga lugar.
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ON DEVELOPMENT
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Hampanganan:
Paghampang, sa Pagtuga, kag sa Pagkalipay Ni Jandi M. Nietes kag Ian Leoj M. Gumban
Ang Mga Tawo sa Likod sang PTL Ang kalipay amo ang balatyagon nga mahimo indi ma-eksplikar kon ikaw naka-eksperyensiya sang kayo sang iban ukon ikaw nagahatag man kag nagapakita sang imo kayo sa iban. Indi man amo sini ang pagkabig sang iban pero amo ni ang kalipay para sa mga tawo halin sa Philippine Toy Library (PTL)-Iloilo. Ila ginapatihan nga ang mga ngisi kag kadlaw nga ila mahimo mahatag sa kada bata oprtunidad para sa mga kabataan nga makahatag man sang sini nga kalipay sa iban. Ini amo ang kinaandan nga paghatag nga amo man ang nagatulod sa iban nga mangin aktibo. Ang grupo sang 31 ka mga estudyante nga maid-id gid nga ginpili para sa Visayas Run sang The Ninoy and Cory Aquino Leadership Journey Batch 11 amo ang nangita sang paagi kag pagkinanlan para sa PTL Manila nga ini madala kag maumpisahan man sa Iloilo. Ang pagkalain-lain sang mga bulothoan wala gid nakapugong sa sini nga katuyuan. Ang mga estudyante halin sa West Visayas State University, University of the Philippines Iloilo, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University kag University of
Iloilo nangisog nga atubangon ang hangkat nga dal-on ang kalipay sang paghampang sa mga indi makasarang nga sila makaagum man sini. Ang mga Kabataan Wala sing may ginapili ang ini nga mga halampanganan nga dala sang sini nga programa. Para ini sa tanan nga nagakinanlan sang lingaw tungod kay sila pamatan-on. Bilang pagpanugod, ginalauman nga ang mga halampanganan mahampangan sang mga kabataan sa indi magnubo sa isa ka oras kada bata para nga ila gid mabatyagan ang kalipay nga ini igadulot kag para bisan paano mahatagan man sila sing ligwa kag malipatan ang kapait sang kaimulon nga ila ginabatyag. Tungod sang ila nga kahimtangan bilang kaupod sa ginakabig nga urban poor sa ciudad sang Iloilo, napilian sang PTL Iloilo nga pagahamtangan ang Barangay Baybay Tanza sa City Proper. Dala na ang kadamuon sang ila mga imol nga kabataan kag sang ila malapad nga lugar, nahatagan pa gid sang motibasyon ang grupo nga didto ihiwat ang ini nga proyekto.
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Ang Lugar Bisan pa ini tuman pa ka bag-o nga proyekto, ang PTL Iloilo magahiwat sang mga aktibidad nga bulanan sa lugar nga ginpili para pagabuksan ini upod na ang pagsugid sang estorya, pagtudlo sang mga tulun-an, art therapy, pagtudlo sa pag-drowing, kag pagusto nga paghampang. Apang, agod nga mapabilin kag mapalig-on ang ini nga proyekto, and kumunidad dapat gid nga magamentinar sang pisikal nga istruktura sang PTL Iloilo. Si Punong Barangay Dominador S. Deocampo, ang mga manunudlo sa day care center, kag ang mga local nga iloy amo ang pagahatagan sang sini nga responsibilidad para mapabilin ang proyekto para magakalipay ang mga kabataan. Pag-Bolunter Kon luyag mo nga makatuga sang kinalain ukon pagbag-o sa kabuhi sang isa ka bata, ini imo na nga oportunidad. Ang mga donasyon lakip na ang mga balasahon kaangay sang libro, art supplies, halampanganan, ukon ang imo mismo nga tiyempo, bisan ano nga imo mahimo ihatag ila gid nga igabatunon nga mag pagpasalamat sa ila tagipusuon.
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May Pangabuhian sa Ugsaran Words by Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna and Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez
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a amon pagpanglakataon sa sadtong ugsaran, amon nakit-an ang nagkalain-lain nga problema nga ginaatubang sang mga pumuluyo labi na sa palibot nga ila gina-istaran. Bilang mga estudyante, nagkari kami didto bangud sa amon tinutuyo nga mabuligan sila kag mahatagan sang pangabuhi-an nga ila magamit sa pang adlaw-adlaw nga tanan. Sang kami nakadangat sa Barangay Barroc, Tigbauan, indi lamang ang amon nga mga tiil, pati man ang amon nga tagipusu-on ang nangin rason sa pagkadto namon sa kada panimalay. Isa-isa namon nga ginpang-imbitar
ang mga pumuluyo nga mag-ugyon sa amon nga proyekto nga ginatituluhan May Pangabuhian sa Ugsaran. Nahangpan namon nga kalabanan sang mga panimalay didto, wala na ginahatagan pag-amlig ang tagsatagsa nila ka ugsaran. Imbes himuon nila ang ila mga ugsaran bilang talamnan sang nagkalain-lain nga mga ulutanon, ginapabay-an lamang nila nga nakatiwangwang nga nagadulot man sang pagdugang sang kaso sang Dengue bangud sa presensiya sang mga lamok. Para mahatagan sang kasulbaran ang ini nga problema, nagpulong
JUNE-OCTOBER 2013
kami kaupod ang mga opisyal sang barangay kag ang mga pumuluyo. Para makahatag sang mas malinaw nga laragway sang amon nga proyekto, ginapakita namon ang mga benepisyo nga pwede nila maangkon kaangay sang pagpatubas sang mga preska nga ulutanon nga makahatag sa ila sang dugang nga sustansiya sa ila ikaayong lawas kag dugang nga pangabuhi-an. Luwas sini, sa tiyempo nga sila wala man sang ginaintyende, ang pag-tinamdanay nila sang ila mga kaingud-balay ang makahatag man sang kalingawan. Bilang pangganyat sa ila, naglunsar
man kami sang pagpaindis-indis sang pagdisenyo sang mga ugsaran kag ang may pinakanami nga tubo sa mga ulutanon amo mangin kampyon. Kinse ka mga panimalay ang nagpasakop sa sadto nga hiliwaton. Sa amon nga pagbalik-balik sa barangay sa makapila ka semana, amon nga nasaksihan kung paano nila gintatap ang ila mga pananom, halin sa liso, nag-amat-amat dalagko kag nangin berde ang ila nga palibot. Sang nag-abot na ang adlaw sang pagdeklara sang nagdaog, nabaton ni Casimero Pandagani ang kadalag-an. Indi lang ang iya nga mga ulutanon ang nagbunga kundi pati man ang iya paghimakas kag pagpangabudlay sa pagpatubo sang mga sini. “Nagsugod lang ako sa pagpananom sang nahibalu-an ko ang nahanungud sa inyo nga proyekto. Kay nakit-an ko nga madamo man gali ang mabenepisyo ko. Dasig lang nagdalagko ang akon nga mga ulutanon kay grabi gid ang pag-atipan ko sini. Maski damo ang ginaubra ko kay nagaisahanon lang ako, ginapangitaan ko gid sang oras ang pagpanami sang akon ugsaran,” siling ni Pandagani. “Dako gid ang pasalamat ko sa inyo nga grupo kay nahatagan niyo pa kami atensyon nga mabuligan kami sa amon nga pangabuhi-an sa pinaka simple nga pamaagi. Ginasigurado ko nga makapadayon ako kag ang iban ko pa nga mga kaupod sa pagpananom bisan matapos na ang inyo nga proyekto,” siling sang isa ka tagpumalasakop. Ang amon tinutuyo nga makabulig sa ila kag makahatag ideya, indi magauntat sa amo to nga hiliwaton. Magahalin kami sa Barangay Barroc nga may pagsalig nga ila padayon nga pagaulikdan ang ila mga ugsaran. Hindi mahapos ang pag-organisa sang isa ka komunidad labi na gid kung bag-uhanon ka pa lang sa sini nga ulubrahon. Kinahanglan nga kilalahon gid sang mayo ang gusto mo pagahatagan sang bulig kag serbisyo para masigurado ang kadalag-an sang imo proyekto.
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ON DEVELOPMENT
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Maski damo ang ginaubra ko kay naga-isahanon lang ako, ginapangitaan ko gid sang oras ang pagpanami sang akon ugsaran.
”
Pumuluyo sang Barroc, Tigbauan samtang malipayon nga ginapresentar ang progreso sang ila ugsaran
JUNE-OCTOBER 2013
38
ALUMNI
?
Now What
What Now After College? Frankly speaking, I don’t know. After realizing that there are zillions of opportunities to use my God-given talents in a pursuit that would get me adequately paid, I am now officially confused. For four years, I swear I was sure I wanted to be in the academe and die a teacher. It was what I dreamt of as a child. Of course, teaching remains to be and will forever be my passion, no doubt about that, but recently, I’ve been on the rocks with the thought of it as a profession. Now that’s the problem. I can’t seem to make up my mind of what I really want to be. That’s not very good. Not at all. By this time, I assume people expect me to be “on
Raimer Gel G. Caspillo Magna Cumlaude, Bachelor in Journalism Graduate JENESYS Envoy, 2010
There is a marked difference between the lives of an awkward college student from that of an independent adult. Undergoing transition from school towards the brutal realities of life is not an overnight phenomenon. One does not simply wake up as a graduate of college through 8 hours of sleep. Otherwise known as the period of disillusionment, the immediate year after graduation is a point of discernment. One differentiates the theories in books, lectures and notes from that of actual practice. It is a period of epiphany for those whom have been long cradled by the academic life.
my way to the stars”. But that’s not the case. In fact, I feel like I’m back on a blank page. I want to take up Medicine or Law or proceed to graduate studies. I want to try a Marketing and Sales course or maybe work with Human Resource. How about working at the bank? Uh-oh. Is this normal? Am I entitled to be confused? I’m not sure if a lot of fresh graduates feel my sentiments but I hope so. The real world is so overwhelming that no matter how many years you spend in school preparing for it, it’s never enough and you find yourself in a frustrating situation like mine. So I pray. I pray for discernment; for guidance. I pray that He would put me in my rightful place and that wherever it is, I am able to grow and be my best. So help me, Jesus.
Mary Jade P. Gabanes Magna Cumlaude, BSPED Graduate Bayer Young Environmental Envoy to Germany 2011
Even before my graduation, I pledged to give myself a break. I was deeply overwhelmed by my undergraduate thesis, curricular requirements and editorial responsibilities. Thus, aside from being too sentimental in the remaining days of my college life, I got too exhausted by everything. I was lost. When my colleagues ask me about my plans after school, I simply reply “I need a vacation”. The Commencement Exercises was held on March 26 and at 6:00am the next day I left Iloilo City. Despite my toga being unreturned, college clearance being unsigned, and presswork still pending, I sneaked away to Calinog. I dropped everything. My whole summer was at home and my mind was not bugged by the idea of working yet. In there, I reflected on what career to pursue. At first, I got scared. I feared to fail in reaching my ambitious dreams. It includes
winning an Oscar and a Pulitzer anyway. If only I can foretell the future, I do not need to worry. Experts say this stage is called Quarter Life Crisis. Those who are in their 20s are prone to it. On the contrary, I simply call it cowardice. I am lucky to have been surrounded by optimistic people. Books and even Tweets of wise quotes gave me hope. After months outside school, I realized that the real world only pertains to responsibility. It is simply learning how to stand on your own. My dear friend Kate told me that “when you lose yourself, you don’t have to look for it because it will be the one to find you along the way”. We see ourselves on the kind of our confidants that we have and our interests, views and character define us. Sometimes, we look for answers that we already have.
JUNE-OCTOBER 2013
REVIEWS
BOOKS vs. MOVIES
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By Jesther Rose L. Rojas and Mark Anthony J. Sicad
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn For the most part, the movie does disappoint. In his own way, the movie’s director Peter Sollett has given his own interpretation of the teenage-themed novel that is not quite as candid and young. Though the main points of the novel which are music and recovery from heartbreak was maintained, the choice of actors and their portrayal of the characters were somehow lackluster. Nevertheless, the movie could be considered as a good romantic-comedy film for those who have not yet read the book.
The story began when Nick, fresh from a break-up, sees his ex in a club and asks Norah, a complete stranger who also happens to be fresh from a break-up, to kiss him and be his girlfriend for the next five minutes. The incident is followed by a whirlwind of romance, coincidences, hilarious epic fails, music and their search for their favorite band “Where’s Fluffy.” The story is an introspective insight to teenage heartbreak and the indie rock music of New York.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel Life of Pi is a moving tale about Piscine Molitor Patel aka Pi who miraculously survives 227 days aboard a lifeboat with a hyena, orangutan, zebra, and a Bengal tiger called Richard Parker in the Pacific Ocean. In the earlier days at sea, the first three animals died through predation, and blood loss. After their deaths, Pi and Richard Parker went through things unimaginable. At the end of the story, Pi and Richard Parker’s lifeboat washes ashore to a foreign island where the tiger leaves Pi on the seashore. Pi is later found and brought to a hospital by natives where he was questioned. What he answers, however,
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Gone with the Wind is a 1936 historical fiction that dwells on the grandeur of a country before the Civil War, the horror that comes with it and the beauty of surviving. Written by Margaret Mitchell, the book is set the set during the 19th century America specifically in the South. The selfish but beautiful Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler the charming but conniving man are the main characters in the story. Both are cold hearted and play by their own rules even when society abhors their ways. Critics would say that Mitchell’s novel is full of racism and sentimental view of the South during the Civil War. Slavery was rampant during that time and how they treat their slaves. All in all, the story weaves a tragic view of the South’s elite and how
brings disbelief and confusion to everyone who’s heard them. Ang Lee, the director of the movie, has perfectly captured the spirit of the novel from its first pages to the last. In contrast to other book adaptations, this film brings home the trophy by encapsulating the famous novel into a two-hour movie about faith and spirituality. Unlike other adaptations, one does not need a to pick the book over the movie or vice versa as both are equally good and does not separate from each other in terms of the overall run of the story.
they find their selves in the mercy of humanity. The book ended with Rhett’s Butler most famous line “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” It demonstrates that he finally given up on Scarlett and no longer cares what happens to her. The movie is faithful as it could be with the book. Vivien Leigh as Scarlet O’Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler brought the characters to life flawlessly. Gone with the Wind, both the book and movie are classics in their own right. So if you want drama and a tale worth remembering, try Gone with the Wind and I’m sure it will occupy a special place in your bookshelf or favorite movies list.
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REVIEWS
MUSIC
The Rise of the
Virtual Stars
By Jeline N. Encarnacion
YouTube has been and still is the hub of a handful of artists who made it to the mainstream music spotlight because of their covers of popular songs, with video hits that go through the roof. These artists’ YouTube clips are not your typical cover videos where they sit in front of the camera, strum their guitars, and sing their versions of an original song. They actually shoot music videos with the quality of those one sees on MTV, that, sometimes, you may think the cover is better than the original. Here is the round-up of some of the home artists who went famous in the virtual sphere.
Sam tsui
Alex Goot
Kurt Schneider
(754,137 subscribers 56,153,037 views)*
(1,419,958 subscribers 212,362,804 views)*
(3,382,052 subscribers 686,833,759 views)*
It seems like your ears are getting a special, sweet treat each time you listen to Sam tsui. This Yale alumnus could perk up your ear muscles with his soulful tenor voice that could cover voice ranges from the likes of Bruno Mars to Justin Timberlake and even female – yes, female – artists like Katy Perry.Some of his viral covers are songs by popular artists likeJust Give Me a Reason by Pink, Clarity by Zedd and lately, Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball. Song mash-ups could go yay or nay, but Sam Tsui’s are always top-off. His Michael Jackson Songs medley mounted up to 30 million YouTube views and his 2011 and 2012 Summer Songs mash-up would tickle your eardrums. In 2011, he released his first album entitled The Covers and on May, 2013, he released his second album Make it Up, with his own, originally composed songs.
His signature horn-rimmed spectacles, beat-up chucks, denim jeans and sweater make him look like the ordinary guy you bump into at school.He may have a guy-next-door vibe but he definitely has the voice that will crack that boyish exterior. Alex’s channel has a long line-up of song covers both solo and collaborations with other YouTube artists. He is the epitome of resourcefulness when it comes to staging your own musical debut. He made a nice niche in the online video hub where he features his own, original songs with music videos that are top-off. What makes a video-marathon in alexgoot’s channel so worth your time is that he shows-off his multiple talents in music with the dash of artistry.
Kurt could be seldom heard singing in his YouTube videos yet his channel got millions of views. While he may not have become three-million-subscriber famous because of his soulful voice, his collaborations with some talented “YouTubers” like Sam Tsui, Alex Goot and Lindsey Sterling got him the spotlight on the YouTube stage. He is actually a producer and had been the one who put the label on Sam Tsui’s albums. Kurt is a pretty gifted guy, being a Magna Cum Laude Yale graduate and the producer of more than a hundred music videos and song covers on his channel. He is the one who does the musical and video arrangements and could be seen in the clips playing a bunch of instruments. After having a video marathon in Kurt’s YouTube channel, you will definitely leave wondering: what famous song would he and his friends cover next? *As of October 2013
JUNE-OCTOBER 2013
Our Body Issues