Hey guys! It’s the start of another school year, so let’s throw away all the bad habits from last year and start this school year fresh! But this isn’t just any school year for CSA – this year marks the Golden (50th!) Anniversary of CSA, which means a lot is expected from the org as a whole, so let’s all pitch in to make this year the best year CSA will have so far!

As I write this, here are some notable things that come to mind:

As you may have heard, we have a lot of upcoming fund-raising events this school year so don’t stop sharing our merchandise posters! The funds help us run bigger, better, and more fun-filled events both inside CSA and for the community! Coming soon also is a BIG university wide fun run so please stay tuned for that! We will definitely be needing a lot of helping hands and effort to make it a huge success!

The application process has already started so be nice to all the kiddos! I’ve met quite a few of them and they’re really a fun bunch! They will be tambay-ing a lot so please get to know them and try to reach out. Let’s make them feel at home here in CSA! The tambayan has also been renovated, after quite a while, to give our members a better tambay

experience. Hooray for a better tambayan!

We celebrated our Opening Week last June, too! Thank you to all those who put their effort into making the event a success! Let’s continue to work for the organization we love! And again, since this is our golden anniversary, let’s give it our all and make it a year to remember!

Recently, we’ve also launched the member of the month to give thanks to all the extraordinary efforts our members give to the organization and to motivate other members to actively participate in activities too! Make your presence felt through the org and who knows, you might be the next member of the month!

The Research and Academics Committee exerted a lot of their effort in preparing for this first issue of Currents. Yay Currents! So please take time to read what they have prepared for us in this awesome issue of currents, as well as the succeeding issues! I’m sure there’s a lot to read and enough content to entertain you guys!

Regards,

Charlene Chua

A Message from the President

Hello dear CSA!This is the first issue of Currents for this year and I am excited just as you

(hopefully) are excited to read it from cover to cover.The Research and Academics Committee has been making every effort to

improve Currents year after year. Currents has undergone a makeover again to make your reading experience better. The hope is that readers will be more enticed to read every article. The layout may be new, but I assure you that the articles will still make you smile, laugh, and wonder.

Before every semester of hard work, CSA devotes a day to relax, bond and simply enjoy each other’s company. Semstarter is something that most members get really excited for, so if you missed it, well Currents is here for you to extend the fun of Semstarter. A few weeks after the Semstarter mark the 50th anniversary of our beloved org. Let’s take a few moments to reminisce the unforgettable moments that have happened in our Opening Week. Also, the application process has already started. Have a sneak peak on what happened in the Acquaintance Party!

The article CSA Siblings is now up again since there are new sets of siblings in the org. Find out also CSA members’ stories when they were freshmen. Of course, our every loyal CSA Cat is back with a new bunch of stories!

But before digging up this issue, let me introduce to you two special members of our organization who have volunteered to make their own columns. They are Chelsea and Rebecca, who through their creative skills, made Silver Lining Intersections in Currents. Now those are two columns you could look forward to every issue!

More featured articles await you, so you know the drill! Read, read, and read! Thank you for your continuous support for Currents. If you have comments or suggestions, feel free to approach us. Enjoy reading!

With warmest thanks,

Rachel Sarah Lim

TheEditor’sLetter

C U R R E N T SEditor in Chief

Currents Director

Writing Editors

Layout Artists

Publishers

Sarah Lim

Chelsea Ngie

Joseph Changco

Erwin Lim

Janz Chiang

Teb Tan

Rebecca Lee

Lemuel Yu

Erwin Lim

To kick-start UP CSA’s 50th anniversary with the help of Bahay Tsinoy Museum and KAISA Heritage Center, an Opening Exhibit was put up last June 25-28, 2013 at the Palma Hall Lobby. Large boards, red paper lanterns and the smell of delicious food filled the lobby. The exhibit featured two things: the presence of UPCSA through the years in the university and in our community and the very culture that paved the way to the establishment of UPCSA—the Tsinoy culture. The weeklong exhibit was viewed by students, professors, UP Diliman staff and even outsiders. The food tasting corner was also a big hit as the visitors tried Tsinoy favorites like ma-pa (meat jerkey), ma-hu (pork floss), tikoy (sticky rice), and Chinese sausage.

CSA also held a two-day Mini Fair at the A.S Parking Lot from June 26 to 27. UP students and visitors of the campus were treated to games, prizes, and drinks. Many of CSA’s members were helpful in preparing the event—going to school early, carrying the heavy game boards, designing the booths, and even manning the game booths during their free time.

Aside from all the help in the preparations, the members were also supportive in playing (and paying for) the games. For the non-CSA members, it was an avenue to learn more about what CSA is all about. For the members, it was an avenue to bond and support each other as one team and as one family.

On the last day, CSA had a

NEWS

CSA’s 50th Anniversary

Opening WeekRebecca Lee, Chelsea Ngie, Daniel Ratilla, and Bernie Tan

Grand Pakain to wrap up the 50th anniversary week celebration. Food was served at the AS-CAL area where more than a hundred people lined up and were fed lumpiang shanghai, siomai, and pansit as the CSA members gave out food and entertained the students. Carla Cucueco played host as she asked random CSA trivia to keep the event lively. Those who were able to answer correctly were given extra amount of food. The Grand Pakain was surely a great way to close the week as people ate and went home happy with filled tummies.

But amidst all the festivities for Opening Week in celebration for CSA’s 50th anniversary, the organization is not only showcasing huge events like the Opening Week

Exhibit, Mini Fair and the Grand Pakain, it’s also giving back to the community.

The plan was conceived by the Community Event sub-committee of CSA’s Ad Hoc Committee. This year, instead of the usual orphanage visitation, CSA will be donating something to the university. This will be done in the hopes of being more involved in the UP community, and so that fellow students and other members of the university can actually see what the organization is contributing and what it can actually bring to the table, not just something in photos and write-ups.

Don’t think that CSA’s 50th celebration is over because something’s red and ticking.

“#CSAat50 ”Wow, I saw a lot of this on Facebook

this June. And let me tell you, there were A LOT. In fact I think I saw a Tweet with this hashtag.

It’s not surprising that so many student organizations are promoting their associations through these social networking sites. But there’s something about CSA this year. And I’m not just talking about them turning 50.

I’ve watched the members of UP CSA for quite some time now. A lot of people don’t usually notice me lingering near their Tambayan, and that’s good most of the time. I get to observe them better. And what I see really warms my heart.

Most people see these Chinese dudes (“Mga Intsik na ‘yan!”); I see a family.

I see org-mates who treat each other like siblings, smiling and laughing (while constantly being told off by someone that they are near an office).

I see a diverse family that does not look at ethnicity (despite what some of my other friends might think) and accepts anyone into their fold – into their family.

It’s not that surprising, actually. Happiness and the sense of belonging aren’t really that strange, in a student organization. But, I guess what really made this one stand out for me, is how everyone has a place here. Sometimes there are quarrels. But for every misunderstanding, there are a thousand milestones this org has accomplished. Troubles become a thing of the past; exactly like a family, I suppose.

There’s a unique culture, here at CSA. And I’m not talking about the Chinese culture (or Chinese-Filipino, if you want to be politically correct) it’s like a Tambayan culture out here, but more. And in every smile and laugh, every scrawl on their… well-endowed log book, there is a culture that spans hundreds and hundreds of members. Hundreds of mind sets, all coming together to make this unique, unexplainable culture. I guess it’s not something you can easily explain, is it? You’ll have to observe them to really begin to grasp it, and even then it’s not that simple.

Someday I will join this family. But right now, I’m content with just watching.

Puro nalang love life, wait iyak muna nang konti. Parang ako nalang waley. Sige, ibang topic naman! Si Girlaloo, parang madaming ine-endeavors sa life! Pero yung work talaga niya, hindi niya inaachib? Ang dami ng chika kahit kakastart palang ng school year! Hala! Ohmyyyyy. Girlaloo, hellerrrr ayos ng konti plez.

FEATURES

What more could you ask for?

On the 8th of June 2013, UPCSA held its semstarter at the residence of Elroy Sy in Ayala Heights, immediately after CSA’s first GA of the academic year at Kamia Multi-Purpose Hall. The event was handled by RC Lupena and Mariel Tan; the former in charge of logistics, food, venue and the like; the latter handled payments in the venue.

It started with the members being whisked off from the venue by their specific “carpool-ers”. They then trekked the slightly hill-like roads of Ayala Heights to reach the venue. Upon arrival, some were faced with the task of poking sticks up the pork pieces to be eaten up later.

Besides the usual pork barbecue,

longganisa and chicken barbecue, members got creative with mini potatoes, pineapples and even garlic! Two different varieties of pork barbecue were also presented: one pre-marinated and the other simply pork on sticks. Different food was also at the semstarter, most of which were different brands of chips, including Lay’s, Pringles and Ruffles. Soft drinks were also part of the barbecue.

Not only did the members use eating and making food to pass the time, but also playing cards. Some groups played the usual bridge and pusoy dos, while others used livelier games which involved name-calling (no, not the offensive type), Slapjack and Heart Attack.

Indeed, once you get in CSA there’s no wanting to turn back.

Heating it Up Under the Sy’sThe CSA Semstarter

Hubert Yao

NEWS

semstarterpics

App season na naman. Syempre, may mga buddies narin! Solo buddy, buddy pair na friends at meron ding lovers. Pero ooooh kinky waz dis isang pair? Balita ay laging

silang magkachika pero hmm chururut can this turn into something more than

friendship? Abangerz abangerz nalang tayo.

NEWS

Last June 29, CSA kicked off its 50th year application process with the acquaintance party at Beehive Events Place in Maginhawa, where we welcomed the newest batch of applicants of the academic year 2013-2014. With around 80 of the applicants and a plentiful of members who attended the Akwe, the events place sure was hyped up. Even before it began, everyone was already busy buzzing and meeting people.

The event opened with an applicants’ orientation, which promised to be more fun and more challenging as it was CSA’s golden anniversary. This was followed by an introduction of all six committees in CSA by their respective heads or representatives. The Akwe was kept lively and going by the hosts, RC Lupena and Chris Ng, who throughout the event did not only entertain us with their humor but also constantly called out to both mems and apps, making the whole thing interactive. The excitement of the apps could be seen as they participated in the ice breaker game, which was the

human bingo. Despite the place being small and a little crowded, they played the game eagerly and mingled with their co-apps. Even the members enjoyed the event, bonding with friends, and reminiscing when they used to be applicants.

This year’s application process, headed by our own Membership Committee, plays by a very nostalgic Disney theme. It can be seen in the cute designs of the sigsheet, and also, in the buddy bidding portion of the event. The buddy-members were disguised as their chosen Disney characters, which served as one of the few bases for the applicants to bid for. The buddy bidding is the most anticipated part of the Akwe, and as usual, the most intense. It was so intense that almost all buddies were sold off at the ceiling bid, which was 5000, with an exception of lucky thirteen. Some of the buddy-members even had more than two buddy-applicants!

Needless to say, for sure our 50th year application process will be filled with interesting applicants and fun packed events! More power to all the applicants and we do hope you will be officially a part of CSA at the end of the semester!

CSA’s

Acquaintance Party

Abigail Magno

CSA Q&AQuestion 1: How would

you stop a dinosaur attack on Manila?

I WILL LET THE DINOSAURS DRINK JOHNNIE WALKER SO THAT THE DINOUSAURS WOULD GET DRUNK AND FALL TO THE GROUND - EarvinIpapakanta ko si pareng Barney :) - BernieShould I stop it??? :o - JadeIma play some Bieber song to scare them away. - ElroyMake them slip on bananas! - AileenI wouldn’t. Dinosaurs are pretty cool!! I want to meet Little Foot, Sera, Duckie… hihi Land Before Time <3 - TashaWhat...but I AM the dinosaur attacking Manila... -PamI’ll attack the giant chicken with mutagenic KFC gravy. - JosephEat the dinosaur - AriannaI won’t. Why would I stop something like that? This life needs some excitement. - LemyUh.... say... bad dinosaur! bad dinosaur! :)) HAHA - EricaMake them clap their hands!!:D LOL - ChristineBy calling on Iron Man - CarlaMaglalagay ako ng stoplight na laging naka-red - Teb

I am often seen going around carrying different kinds of umbrellas, but what is most notable about it is the size. To say the least, it’s big. It’s the kind of umbrella that one wouldn’t normally bring while commuting because of the hassle it brings due to its size, but I say otherwise. The potential that a big umbrella holds is so great, but the sad thing is that it usually goes unnoticed. With this in mind, I bring you Erwin’s “5 reasons why we should always bring a big umbrella.”

1. Protection against the weatherThe weather in UP is really crazy.

One minute it’s pouring like the world’s about to end, and the next it’s like the Sahara desert. This kind of unpredictable weather is a cause for concern, but the question now is, wouldn’t a small umbrella be able to do the same job? No, it can’t. One of the worst feelings I have ever experienced in college is getting drenched by the rain because my umbrella wasn’t able to shield me well enough from the rain. The inadequacy that small umbrellas possess is not enough to be compensated by the convenience it gives. 2. Self defence

The times are more dangerous than one might think. And in the off chance one is caught in a life or death situation, the umbrella could be your best hope of survival. With a reach similar to a sword, you will be able to keep your distance from your enemy, attacking until you

U M B R E L L AErwin Lim

FEATURES

Image (c) Edward Boatman, The Noun Project

either defeat them, or help arrives.3. CaneWhen injured, the support it

gives is really useful, especially when your legs are barely working. Imagine the umbrella acting as a cane; to give you all the stability a 3rd leg would give you.

4. You’ll never forget itBecause of the size of the

umbrella, you will never forget it. It would feel so weird when you’re without it. Those who are usually forgetful and would often misplace their umbrellas would find their problem solved.

5. A chance to share a momentFor all those people looking for

the one, this might be the “BEST.WINGMAN.EVER”. Imagine it’s raining really hard, and you see someone walking in the rain. You see this person is clearly having a bad day. The simple act of asking them if they want to share an umbrella with you to escape the rain does more than you think. Sparks ‘yan. Promise. Take it from me, it worked as an easy way to get to know someone. At the time I did it, I wasn’t really thinking of that, but the payoff was pretty awesome. Kudos to my umbrella! ;)

These are but 5 of a lot more reasons on why people should start bringing big umbrellas and I hope one day more and more people would realize the true beauty of a big umbrella.

#NungFreshieAko“Nung freshie ako I wore pants everyday.” –Jason Dela Torre

“Nung freshie ako gusto ko pang maggraduate with honors!” –Edgene Dy

“When I was a freshie, every TTH, I always looked out for the hottie that went to class in the classroom beside mine.” –hello

“Nung freshie ako walang kumakausap sa akin kasi takot sila na fratman ako.“

“Nung freshie ako nagkocommute ako pauwi errday.” –Xavier Su

“When I was a freshie, konti pa lang Chinese friends ko.” –RC Lupena

“Nung freshie ako, naglalakad ako to class.” –Elroy Sy (Si Edge din daw.)

“Nung freshie ako may dala na akong malaking payong.” –Erwin Lim

FEATURES

CSA Siblings Version 1.0Sam Cinco and Henny Liao

CSA has become our family here in UP Diliman. It is that group of special people that we spend most of our time with, share our laughs with, and have fun with. It is also that group of special people that we turn to whenever we have problems. CSA listens. CSA cares. That is why it is no wonder that siblings also choose to apply to CSA. For this issue of Currents, we’re giving special attention to siblings Meryl and Xavier Su!:) We got to have a talk with the two Su’s and asked how they felt about each other.

Meryl Louise Wee Sit Su

3rd Year BS Biology20 yrs oldFinance Committee

Xavier Francis Wee Sit Su

4th Year BS Psychology21 yrs oldCulSoc Committee

What is your earliest childhood memory with your sibling?

Going to Whimsy Land! heheheAt 2 years old, I was feeding her off the bottle already

Describe your sibling and his/her personality

Grizzly bear on the outside, teddy bear on the inside

Teddy bear on the outside, grizzly bear on the inside

What was the funniest thing you ever did with your sibling?

Once, I didn’t want to share my precious crayons with Ahia, so he ate them

I didn’t want to share my precious toy robot with Meryl. She broke it

Describe a normal morning with your sibling.

HURRY UP DANELLE. WE HATE ATENEO.

HURRY UP DANELLE. WE HATE ATENEO.

What is your sibling’s favorite expression?

Oohbaby. Zzzzzzzz.What is your sibling’s pet peeve?

People eating his fries When boyfriends carry their girlfriend’s purses

Do you meddle in your sibling’s love life? Why or why not?

I don’t care as long as I get free stuff :)

Requirements to date my sisters:

1. Respect them, and treat them right.2. Hurt them, I hurt you.

Seems fair, yeah?

How do you think he/she changed your life and why? How do you think you would have turned out instead if he/she didn’t exist?

I would have to walk to school :) My life would be miserable. I don’t know what I would do without her. We cover each other, we make sure we’ve got each other’s backs. She’s an amazing Subling, and I love her so much. I can’t imagine life without my baby

Describe your relationship in a word.

He’s mah hommie She’s mah nigguh

How does it feel to be with your sibling in the same organization (CSA)?

Convenient Convenient

There you have it, CSA. That’s the Su siblings for you. They’re just one of the few siblings who chose to be together in our big family called CSA. Tune in to the next issue of Currents for our next CSA Siblings feature. Until next time!

There’s nothing special about me if I tell you I’ve travelled to different places. But what if I tell you I’ve travelled to different time periods? Despite all the interesting things I’ve witnessed, what fascinates me the most are simple and timeless—pictures, books, and city lights.

Books and pictures capture moments in the timeline that extends indefinitely in both directions. You may wonder why this is so important, because you haven’t lived in a world when people jump in and out of time. And you’re not like me, whose job is to hold the timeline together.

As for the city lights, the reason is more sentimental. I was born in a time when the city lights replaced the stars. Even though I have travelled to eras that are more peaceful and beautiful to visit, none would be home to me except the era I was born in. Looking at the city lights always makes me feel I am home, even when I’m not.

It also reminds me of my role in the bigger scope of life. I always look in

awe and wonder at the lights on the buildings’ windows, thinking of the stories each window holds. It makes me hopeful that one day, one of those windows would hold my story. That it wouldn’t just end here.

***

I was born in 2030—just seven years after the time machine was invented. People thought making a time machine was impossible, but the maker studied the stars, and used the concept of the earth’s rotation and revolution to craft the perfect way to travel through time. The media went crazy for it. Everyone wanted a piece of the time machine, and I realized that no matter how satisfied and successful everyone seemed to be, people desperately wanted to bring back something—or someone—from the past. So much that they did not think twice to give up their present and their future.

Regret from the past that were successfully buried underneath the pressure of the present became

IntersectionsRebecca Lee

COLUMN: Intersections

too much to bear. People used to be hesitant to talk about regrets, but during that time, it was all that everyone could think of and talk about. Being stuck in lost opportunities, wrong priorities, and ‘the one that got away’ became unbearably haunting.

Leaving your house was a dangerous thing. The TV reported about at least 50 killed because of stampedes daily for the first week it was made. There were 30 more who were killed in the building where the machine was being kept. Some people lost their minds in desperation to get ahold of it. Some even committed suicide. There were pictures of men jumping off buildings, going on a shooting rampage, burning down houses.

I didn’t leave my house for the whole two weeks—until there was no more food left in my house. Even then, I didn’t pass through the highways. I went through the beaten-down roads nobody uses anymore, and went home again as soon as I finished going to the grocery.

Everyone offered huge prices to use the time machine, but the maker knew it could be used for all the wrong reasons. All he wanted the machine for was to go back in time to when he was a teenager. He wanted more time with his family instead of wandering to far places to learn more about the stars. Ironically, now that he knew enough, all he did was to use that knowledge to go back to the time when he didn’t.

He kept the time machine locked

up, but he disappeared from Year 2019 to go back to his teenage years. When there was nobody left to stop others from using the machine, there was even more chaos—but in a different way. People didn’t go killing themselves or killing others. Now that they knew they’d get what they always wanted, people just fell in line. One by one, they disappeared into whatever time they wanted to go to.

They lost track of time. I realized how it was innate for people to be perfectionists—they wanted every little thing to be perfect, or they did it all over again. The perfect thing to say, the perfect shoes for the weather, the perfect gift, the perfect movie to watch—but there were also bigger things people wanted to re-do, like which course to take. Who to love and who to marry. Words which should have remained unsaid. Words they should have said.

When everyone jumped in and out of the past, people lost track of the present. And with the past ever-changing, the definition of reality becomes indefinite.

That’s where I come in. My job is to piece together history. It’s tiring because people are never satisfied, bound by regrets from the past and fear of the future. But there are two things that keep me going.

First, the job becomes fulfilling when people finally decide to settle down despite imperfections. They stop altering the past to give way to their present and their future. When

they come to that realization, they’re usually so lost in the timeline. That’s when they come to me, and I guide them back to their present. These wanderers finally find meaning in everything that happened.

My second reason is that the girl I love is also a wanderer, and she hasn’t found that realization yet. We were childhood friends. We grew up together in the fast-paced city. We

studied together, we achieved together. She graduated high school as our valedic tor ian, while I was s a l u t a t o r i a n . Ever since we were kids, she was the per fec t ionis t . She cried at the smallest mistakes and she thought too much—of what ifs and could haves, of her plans and her dreams. I knew that that her character was the perfect victim of the time machine, so we promised each other that we would never use it. Even

though she was a perfectionist, she was smart enough to know why she shouldn’t use the machine.

I knew she could bear the imperfections and that she would never break that promise to me. That is, until she fell in love with a man who eventually broke her heart.

Suddenly, the questions about her past were too much—she desperately needed answers. She tried talking to me about them at first. What if she knew then what she knew now? What if she waited a little longer? Would they have worked out? What was wrong with her? Was she unworthy of love? What if she never told him she felt the same way? Would they still be friends? What if they were right for each other but met at the wrong time? What if they met in the past? What if they met in the future? Does he miss her as much as she misses him? Would she ever be alright again? Could they ever be friends again?

I did not know the answers. She knew I didn’t. She just needed to ask them aloud. During one of the quiet moments when we sat at the rooftop—watching the city lights while eating fish and chips—she rested her head on her knees. She wasn’t hysterical or panicky. She was calm and had a defeated look on her face. I should have known – that defeated look was more terrifying than the hysterical crying.

(To be continued…)

Kung may m

ga break ups, meron din nam

ang mga ups lang

aka new pag-ibig. <3 hihi love m

oves in mysterious w

ays ika nga ni N

ina. can you imagine, kung kelan ggraduate

na silang dalawa, dun pa nila nafound love in a hopeless

place? ayyy ang daming ants, m

asyadong matam

is! N

agkwento tong pow

er couple na itech recently kung pano sila nagddate incognito style. oooooh kinky. Kung dati shy

shy pa sila, ngayon, out na out na! Ayyyy mas out pa sila

sa lola niyo! Pero ano kaya yung reason bakit nila tinago? Tanong niyo si M

adam Auring!

Haba talaga ng hair ni Miss Beautiful. May

mga nakakita daw ng text messages

from another lover. stop na pleaz di na

keri ung number ng aking paws. Pero si

MB naman, ultimate rejection agad ang

reply kay Kuya Boy. :’( aray koooo. ang dami

pa naman niyang text na sunod sunod

tapos reply lang ni MB napakaikli. ouch.

</3 akin nalang yung ibang boys ha?

Dungeons & Dragons:

Tales of Stark™

[S01E01] Erwin Lim

Vast plains, rich forests, seemingly endless deserts, and colossal mountains make up the continent of Faerun, located on the magical world of Toril. Full of mystery and adventure, adventurers, unwary of what is to come, often flock to this continent seeking treasure and glory. They come to the land believing that they are ready for anything nature can throw at them, but those who believe that soon suffer a fate worse than death. This is Faerun, their final resting place.

Our story begins in a small tavern in the city of Saerloon in Sembia, where four adventurers unexpectedly find each other and, as if willed by the gods, decide to create a company, Stark™. They introduce themselves as Ajax, Ash, Thoros, and Igneel. As they share stories, an old man approaches them and offers them a job to deliver a scroll to a certain man named Inius Olger in the town of Saerb. With the given

state of things and having nothing better to do, they take the job.

As they made their way through the desert lands north of Saerloon, they finally see the town of Saerb, but not all is as it may seem. With the great skills of perception of Ash, they see that the landscape is not as it appears to be. The holes right before the town of Saerb are infested with giant monsters, called Ankheg. When things seemed difficult, the four adventurers hear a loud horn from the distance. Two great adventurers appear, but the question is, are they friend or foe?

With the quick wit of Ajax, he quickly realizes that the two figures were members of Stark™, Yoh and Homer Romeo, thus preventing unnecessary bloodshed. As the last ankheg broodling was slain, the ground shook and 2 ankhegs emerged, flanking the entire party. With great strategy and quick wit, the Ankheg were easily disposed of.

As the last ankheg was brutally mutilated, a guard opened the town gate and called for the adventurers to enter the city. However, before they entered, a glimmer caught the

Lipat naman tayo sa mga kwentong freyndsheep. What is this new pagkakaibigan? May nagiging close na dalawang hmmm... sabihin nalang nating habuling mems. Haba ng huuuuur at macho ng peeeeks. Anong ganap? Baka magkaroon ng bagong fun run puno admirers and fan girls na humahabol sa dalawang itey. pashare naman ng konting appeal dyan pleaz. :’(

FEATURES

a sense of justice, they decided to engage the hobgoblins.

After a heated battle, where half the party was almost wiped out, they managed to defeat every last one of the hobgoblins and capture the encampment. With a perception check, they notice that the ruin tower is a good place to spend the night, and seems to hold many riches as well.

What awaits our heroes in the tower? Do they have what it takes to defeat the enemies to come? Find out next time on another episode of Dungeons & Dragons: Tales of Stark™!

Next issue: Episode 2 and Stark™ member background

eye of one of the adventurers, only to discover that it was a piece of junk. What a waste of time.

Upon entering the city, they met up with Inius Olger as they fended off some corrupt guards and a bandit. With great skill, they ran away from the great rush of village guards by climbing into a crate, successfully manoeuvring through alleys and finally finding the perfect spot under a bridge.

Inius tells them that it is unsafe to be there, and they are soon back in the wilderness. In the distance, a ruined tower was present, with a hobgoblin encampment. Their plan to attack the nearby farms for their women and chicken was overheard by the adventurers and, moved with

Ang on-off couple na itey, cray cray lang talaga. Dati nabalitaan nating waley na sila, pero ano itey? nakikita parin natin ang lovey doves magkasama. So ano na ba talaga? Nung summer, nakita kong laging nag-aaway

‘tong couple, over the phone, in person, lahat na! Pero ngayon, sure na sure na talaga akey! Break na nga sila.

Si guy daw ang nakipagbreak kasi pagod na siya sa kakaaway nila. Ouch my heart. :’( huhu cry cry. Sayang

naman image pa naman sila pag magkatabi.

A wonderful thing about entering the university is you get to start over. Whatever you have been branded for during high school could totally change. If you have been blinded by the thought that you are the best, the smartest, or the most talented of all mankind back in high school then the university is just one of the many places you will be proven wrong. In UP, you will be surrounded by a great variety of people, all who excel in different fields; many who are better than you.

I had no idea what to expect of the UP crowd upon entering the university but for the stereotypes. My first general impression of the people I was able to meet during the first few months was that everyone seemed so good at everything and seemed like such achievers—this, not necessarily a bad thing. Coming from a high school with a small student population, it was easy to pick out who were the ones who excelled in academics and who participated in more extracurricular activities. There were only but a few exceptions who successfully balanced both. But in UP, most of the people I have met are good at so many things. I guess this should not have come as a surprise to me, but it did.

One of the things that comforted me was when I learned that a lot of

my friends felt the same. I figured, in one way or another that each one of us has probably felt intimidated by others at least at one point in our stay in UP.

After a while I began to see the situation from another angle. Why let fear and intimidation get the best of me when this could be an opportunity for me to challenge myself to become a better me? Not to be better than others but to be my best self.

College is one of the best places for rediscovery and improvement. Don’t settle for what you are or what you have been prior to college. If you were scared to do things because of what you’ve been labeled and constricted to back in high school, now you can start over. Now, more than ever is the best time to begin again.

Begin AgainChelsea Ngie

COLUMN: Silver Linings

“Noong freshie ako, I accidentally dyed my hands black :<” –Yao“Nung freshie ako, lagi akong pinagkakamalang foreign student.”“Nung freshie ako, di kinakausap ni Bettina Tan si Jason Dela Torre sa class kasi akala niya Koreano si Torre.““Nung freshie ako, every Friday nagcucut/nalalate kami ng class nila Torre, Jus, Jer, Edge, Albert etc. para maglaro ng CS with sila RC etc.”“Nung freshie ako, pimpin’ ako.”—Pam Toh “Nung freshie ako, lagi nila akong ine-english kasi akala nila Korean ako!” –Sarah Lim

Perhaps your grandpa likes eating at the same Chinese restaurant all year, every year. For this issue of Currents, let’s try something new. Persian food may not be to his taste, but I encourage you to look beyond the notion that it smells like onions (no, not really), or that it’s spicy (Not really, depends on what you get), or even that it tastes weird (doesn’t all new food taste weird?). Nevertheless, it is definitely unique, and Middle Eastern cuisine is both awesome for protein lovers and vegetarians. Without further ado, I present two of my favorite restaurants, Behrouz and Shawarma Snack Center.

BTO stands for Beef, Tomato, Onions.Teb Tan

1.) BehrouzAddresses: 63 Scout Tobias St., Timog, QC; G/F Metrowalk, Meralco Ave, Pasig City; G/F Santana Grove Sucat, Parañaque City.

This is a low-key restaurant that serves tasty and filling Persian food. Behrouz has been around since 1985, and I’ve been eating their kebabs and Beef-Tomato-Onions for the past few years. The good news: for very reasonable prices, the quality of their meals haven’t changed one bit, and they’re opening up a branch in Bonifacio Global City soon. And, hey, the Middle Eastern foreigners who eat in Metrowalk’s Behrouz can’t be wrong about their own cuisine.

The first-timer’s glance at the menu could be dizzying. The staff is quite helpful, though, and eventually my family and I would always end up quite satisfied with Chelo Kabab Kobideh, or ground beef with a generous serving of buttered rice (Yum, it serves two!). Behrouz also serves good yoghurt,

equally good as a dip, a sauce of sorts, and on its own. For those fond of ingesting organs, there’s Ox Brain and LTO (Liver with Tomato and Onion), and for those who like more classic fare... yes, they serve shawarma and shawarma rice. The meat is always tasty and well-cooked, as is the biryani (long grain) rice they use.

2.) Shawarma Snack CenterAddress: 45 Salas St., Malate, Manila

Ah, Shawarma Snack Center. It’s classified under “hole in the wall” territory, though it lies along the street, right across another building that says “Shawarma Snack Center”. Their Facebook page description says “SULTRY TASTES OF THE MIDDLE EAST.” They’re right. With the wide variety and consistent (INCREDIBLY GOOD) quality of their food, indeed, they’re absolutely right.

Go to the one with more ambience and two floors; the quality there’s much better and the area’s quite

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relaxing. SSC is open 24/7, but since it’s in a somewhat offbeat area, I’d suggest going there during lunch. It’s quite the night spot, but on weekend afternoons, there aren’t as much people, save for the Middle Eastern folks who come in and out. Oh, and there’s a TV that shows Arabic channels, and posters in Arabic, and paintings and pictures on the walls, and free Wi-fi. The ambiance here is actually quite unique... And I haven’t even started on the food.

It serves everything Behrouz does, and more! I actually prefer their kebabs. They have a stronger flavor while still remaining quite tender. They serve a lot of rice meals (good for 3!); I’d like to recommend the fish ones. Vegetarian options here are quite plenty as well, as are light snacks like falafels (like a meatball, but with ground beans or chickpeas instead. Healthy!) and tabouleh (cracked

wheat, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and vinaigrette. Another healthy dish that has a tangy and herby flavor. Like salad but better). What’s awesome is that most of their short orders are under P200, and their appetizers are below P100.

Appetizers! Dips and bread! Kebabs! Rice meals! (This would be quite filling, so to get a good taste of everything, you’d want to eat with a group of people.)

And of course, there’s the shawarma.

Ground beef, tomato, onion, vegetables, and some magic ingredients wrapped in warm, heavenly, thick bread. Or rice. Heavenly, warm, rice with the tastes of Persia’s spices in every bite... For less than P100 each. No bland yellow rice here. So there you have it, quality AND quantity in every bite.

Shawarma Center’s Shawarmas. Picture by Anton Diaz, from OurAwesomePlanet.com

To wrap things up, here’s a quick (if very subjective) guide to eating in a Persian restaurant in Manila:

1.) Eat the bread. It’s addictive. Put a piece of meat, maybe a tomato or an

onion, and sauce to your liking. White is garlic yogurt, Red is spicy. 2.) Biryani rice is really good and fills you up.3.) Kebabs are meat on skewers, the other words are modifiers. Most menus

have English translations, and the restaurant’s staff are probably quite used to translating the menu.

4.) Look at what the Middle Eastern people are eating. Chances are it’s quite good. Or strange. But usually quite good.

5.) Dip + Kebab + Rice Meal + Bread = good combo. Good dips would be Hummus or Motabal. Both have this earthy, rich taste that go perfectly with the bread.

6.) Go all-out adventure mode. Eat the meat, eat the onions and tomatoes, try the sauce, and maybe, just maybe, if you’re brave enough, try the Ox brain.

Enjoy your meal!

“Payat ako nung freshie ako.” –Someone“Nung freshie ako, edi pumasok ako sa first class ko, Philo 11. Tapos ang tagal kong naghintay tapos apparently, nag-freecut yung prof. Only then did I realize (mga 45 mins. later) na hindi pala Philo 11 class ko that day, Anthro 10 pala. So yun na-late ako sa first Antho 10 class ko. :))” –MM“When I was a freshie, instead of doing the VAAS way of enrolling I did the process for regular students. So I went back and forth to buildings, having my form 5 unlocked and did the other process. I remembered what the guy in our department said “VAAS ka pala, di ka kasi nagtatanong eh” HAY those were the days :l” –Jesselee Tintiangko

Image: Bread from Shawarma Snack Center, by Anton Diaz of OurAwesomePlanet.com.

I’d like to make one thing clear before you read any further: This isn’t going to work without your cooperation. You’re going to have do everything this article says, as in to the letter. Don’t worry, it’s not going to require standing up and moving about. Just sit back and let your mind do the action.

Now that you’re ready, we can begin.

First, close your eyes. No. Fool. How are you going to read with your eyes closed? But if you do get someone to read this to you, that would be good. Then again, that requires some bodily motion so reading this yourself would suffice.

Picture yourself standing in the middle of a highway. There are absolutely no trees, only a few short shrubs and lamp posts line the road. You look up to see the noon sun blazing down from a hazy, yellow sky. Tumbleweed rolls past at your feet. Somewhere in the distance, you can hear the melancholy notes of a harmonica.

Follow the road. Take your time, there are no cars that will run you over. Now imagine a crossroads and

turn left. That path brings you into a small town. Step to the side quickly. A loud, rude honk and a string of expletives nearly deafens you as a jeepney swerves into view. You hear something about idiots not looking where they’re going. The driver probably means you, but don’t be offended, just keep walking.

Imagine shanties with yero roofs and little piles of garbage all around. You can hear chickens clucking and crowing, vendors calling out, excited kids’ voices and the shuffling sound of feet on concrete along with the muted thud of a bouncing basketball.

The smell of cigarettes and siga pervades the air. You see an odd thing up ahead—a big glass cubicle, like a telephone booth, except…it’s a shower, one of those things you would expect to see in a five-star hotel or a lifestyle interior design magazine. Enter it. Go on, nobody’s looking anyway. Turn on the water. A jet of refreshing ice-cold water bursts forth. Now you’re all wet. But don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that blissful moment of coolness in this heat. This is the only place you can take a shower in the middle of the street without anybody caring.

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Picture This(A Visual Journey)

Now it’s time to step out. There is an open manhole to your right. You’re going to have to jump into it. Yes, I know it’s dark and dirty and you just had a bath, but there is simply no way around it. Unless of course, you stop reading…then you’ll never get to know what the next part is. Trust me, just jump.

Okay, I assumed you did. If you didn’t, you suck.

Anyway, imagine yourself falling down a long icky tunnel. Bats fly into your face, rats’ whiskers tickle the back of your legs, and everywhere you hear the clicking sound of a thousand pairs of insect legs.

Finally, you drop out and land flat on your face on soft white sand. Stand up and open your eyes to see the wide expanse of ocean and the infinite dome of sky. The wind that blows by smells sweet and fishy at the same time. Walk towards the water. There is a little boat waiting for you. Do you get on it and start rowing? Do you break it to pieces, make a signal fire and wait for someone to rescue you? Do you ignore it and start making sandcastles? The choice is yours, but once you make it, there’s no going back.

CSA Q&AQuestion 2: If you could time travel, where/when

would you go to, and why?

1890s, Tejeros Convention, to stand up for Andres Bonifacio para siya yung first president. - MM70’s... because I like disco... :)) - Marian5 years later, to see if I’m able to buy my first own car - JohnMedieval times. Seems like a fun time :))) - PlimI’d repeat Summer, over and over again, until I’ve reached 500 days of it, so that maybe I can learn to love. - ElroyI would go to newton’s time and catch the apple that fell on his head hahaha :))))) - RafaTo Japan, and become a samurai whapak - PamPrehistoric era to get more friends for the dinosaur - EdricI’d like to go to the English Victorian era because I’d like to wear the dresses of that time. - MaxinePre-school days. I’d make myself get into dance at an early age para sexy ako ngayon - AVI’d time travel to whenever and wherever Mao Zedong was born and I’d “deal” with him - JanzThe Dark Ages. My knowledge now would make me king back then, assuming I live. - Jer

Articles don’t grow on trees. If they did, well that would be very interesting. But seriously, I can sympathize with the people whom we ask to write articles for Currents. Squeezing your brain to make as much sense and minimal grammatical errors as possible, just to reach that deadline that has been extended for the nth time is not an easy task to accomplish. Thus I have decided to create this guide to help the current and future members of CSA on how to write specifically for Currents.

Step 1: The TopicSelecting a topic is by far the most

difficult part of this guide. When first asked to write an article, the first question people always ask is: “About what?” WRONG. The first thing you should say is: “I thought you’d never ask!”

Within the committee, we usually have our own assignments with regards to topics; usually a feature on the latest CSA event, or an update on ongoing activities or charities, and also the occasional achievements of our distinguished members. These are what we call the “easy” level articles. The usual articles we ask from the other members are usually works of literature, satirical essays, opinions on current political or non-political matters, reviews on stuff, and almost any article you throw at us, just so we can fill our Currents with articles. Basically, these are the “hardcore” level articles. There is no middle ground, because there is only room for extremes in Currents.

And finally, the best advice I can give in choosing a topic is, spontaneity. (Cue BOOM sound)

For example: How to NOT Write an Article for Currents.

Nailed it.

Basic Instructions:

How to Write an Article for CurrentsJoseph Changco

“May boyfriend ako nung freshie ako </3” –Hopeless Romantic“When I was a freshie, I lost my wallet 3 times and always got it back. Nung freshie pa ako, naka-shades na ako. Nung freshie pa ako, wala pa akong buntot sa ulo. Nung freshie pa ako, kala ko gra-graduate ako with honors.” –Chunkee“#Nungfreshieako, I walked from econ to math and back...using the route past EEE.” –Ryan“Nung freshie ako, nakakatulog pa ako ng walong oras.” -Janz“Nung freshie ako, tatlong beses lang ako nakapagpantalon.” -FBJ“Nung freshie ako, nagsakay ako ng jeep at nakita ko ng isang sobrang gandang babae, yun pala lalaki siya.” -TaiJUAN“Noong freshie ako, nasa high school pa kayo HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA fml“ – Andrew Yap

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Step 2: The Writing ProcessThe writing process is by far the

most excruciating part of this guide. For me, it’s the feeling you get when you hear the sound of two pieces of Styrofoam rubbing against each other just beside your ears.

Imagine that for a moment.

Now start writing that article! Don’t think about your 2 page essay due tomorrow! And stop worrying about your Math exam on Saturday! And don’t even think of touching your readings for English! The level of concentration you need to finish your article is over 9000! For those writing about events, you should always remember to put in the specifics! What, who, where, when, how, now, brown, cow. (Cue *badum-tss* sound) For those doing literary works, they say it helps with the typing/writing when you face East, and cross your legs behind your head, while eating a live bird in the process. Hope this helps!

Seriously though, take some time to conceptualize your framework. It helps when you create an outline, or a flow of how you want your thoughts to go into your article. You should ask yourself what you want other people to know at this point of your narration, after establishing that previous point. But this of course elementary for you, so it’ll be easy. And you’re kind of on a deadline, so you might want to hurry. Go on! Write away!

Step 3: CompletionFinally! After 30 minutes of typing

away, you have completed your article! Yay! That wasn’t so bad right? WRONG! That was like the worst way to spend 30 minutes! You know how you should have spent it? By completing TWO ARTICLES FOR CURRENTS! Or better yet three! The more the better! (Cue evil laugh)

But in all seriousness, good job and thank you! I believe the ending must do justice to the overall concept of what it is you wish to convey to the readers. So I wish to end with an appreciation of gratitude to you, dear writer. You have contributed to the great cause that is the sigh of relief that we the members of the Academics Committee give out after printing every issue of Currents. We could never have done it without you.

It’s sad that the authors of Currents’ articles, except for the cat, aren’t so highly commended. But don’t worry; we know what you are truly worth. You’re the hero CSA deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So you’ll be ignored and sometimes criticized, but you can take it. You’re not just a writer for Currents. You’re a silent guardian, a watchful protector. And you haven’t given us everything. Not yet.

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